Experiments in China have shown that changing the incentive system for healthcare providers can lead to improved basic primary health care and reduced costs. Primary-care providers are incentivized to cover more citizens with vaccinations and health education, improving access to cost-effective care.
A longitudinal study by Penn State researchers found that adolescents' input into decisions increases gradually, with more autonomy in areas such as appearance, activities, and schoolwork. The study also revealed differences in decision-making autonomy among children with varying family characteristics.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are working to understand the causes of heat stress in cattle and develop management strategies to mitigate its effects. They have identified 11 influential factors contributing to animal susceptibility, including coat color, health history, and temperament.
A $3.8 million grant aims to address cultural barriers and biases limiting minority participation in cancer clinical trials. A patient navigation model is being established to provide assistance and support to patients considering or enrolled in trials.
Researchers at University of California - Berkeley found an insulin-like signal necessary to keep stem cells alive in the adult brain. Blocking apoptosis genes alone is not enough, as neural stem cells also require an insulin-type signal to persist. The study suggests that manipulating the insulin pathway may be essential for re-growin...
The university's course, 'Kitchen Chemistry Sessions,' uses molecular gastronomy techniques to teach students about chemical and biochemical concepts in food. Students learn to apply these concepts to prepare meals, demonstrating their understanding of chemical processes and scientific principles.
A team of researchers has created a new implantable device that measures the heart's electrical output with greater resolution than current devices. The device uses flexible silicon technology to bring electronic circuits right to the tissue, enabling high-density maps of electrical activity.
Researchers at OHSU School of Dentistry have discovered that inflammation boosts the production of a protein involved in pain signaling, which could lead to new treatments for craniofacial pain conditions. The findings provide a crucial understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying trigeminal pain.
A new Rotman paper finds that physically enclosing relevant materials from unpleasant memories improves psychological closure, creating a sense of well-being. The study's findings have implications for products and services that relieve stress and anxiety related to past events or tasks.
Research reveals that brain damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex impairs judgment of harmful intent, leading to more lenient moral judgments for attempted harms. The study suggests that patients with VMPC damage primarily evaluate actions based on outcomes rather than intentions.
Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) support a variety of habitats and species, including brittle stars, spider crabs, and tube-living organisms. Global warming may exacerbate oxygen depletion and reduce biodiversity in these regions.
Physicists at NYU have created colloidal dispersions with programmable particle interactions, offering opportunities for engineering smart composite particles and new functional materials. The 'lock and key' mechanism allows specific particles to join together based on shape, marking a next step in understanding self-assembly processes.
A new study by Rice University sociologists examines the role of private foundations in supporting religion and finds they have a significant influence despite limited financial contributions. The study highlights the Lilly Endowment's strategic giving, which has a real impact on the religious sector.
Young adults are flocking to EDs instead of outpatient clinics, receiving nearly twice as much care as children and adolescents. Access to primary care is associated with improved health outcomes and lower ED use rates.
The revised CONSORT 2010 statement provides a checklist to ensure randomised controlled trials are reported transparently and reliably. The guidelines aim to improve the quality of trial reports, making it easier for decision-makers to evaluate the soundness of trial results.
Living longer and healthier is possible due to public health efforts and improved medical interventions. However, the aging process itself, including dementia and heart disease, remains largely unchanged, with a steady risk of death after age 110.
The Scripps Research Institute team solved the structure of the 'swine flu' virus, revealing similarities with earlier human flu viruses. This discovery helps explain why older individuals were less severely affected by the recent outbreak than younger ones.
A genetic variation at the GPC5 gene has been linked to a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The study found that individuals with this variation have a 15% lower likelihood of experiencing the heart disorder, which claims over 250,000 American lives each year.
Agricultural Research Service scientists discover that sugarcane can tolerate standing water for up to two weeks without adverse effects on yield or sugar content. This finding provides relief for growers under strict regulations to reduce phosphorus runoff into the Everglades.
A study of UK schoolchildren found that Black Africans, Indians, and Bangladeshis have a similar or lower prevalence of asthma than White children. A family history of asthma and psychological well-being were consistent correlates for asthma regardless of ethnicity.
A new study found that few websites provide high-quality patient information on treatment options for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Researchers evaluated 50 websites using various criteria to assess their quality and accuracy.
Non-human animals, including gorillas and chimpanzees, exhibit knowledge about what they have seen in experiments. The apes reduce checking before choosing when provided with auditory information about the food's location, suggesting metacognitive abilities.
Researchers at Medical College of Georgia have developed a synthetic peptide that mimics the body's natural ability to reduce excess fluid accumulation in lung transplant patients. The peptide, called TIP, has been shown to improve oxygenation and reduce inflammation, potentially reducing mortality rates.
Researchers have developed a flexible silicon electronics device that can map waves of electrical activity in the heart with high density and speed. The device uses 288 contact points and has the potential to localize and treat abnormal heart rhythms.
Researchers successfully controlled x-ray pulses using laser light, enabling new possibilities for quantum information storage and processing. This breakthrough has the potential to shape x-ray pulses on a femtosecond time scale.
Scientists have developed a new diagnostic method using Raman spectroscopy to detect biochemical changes in retinal cells, revealing the presence of glaucoma. The test detected glaucomatous changes with 90% accuracy in animal retinal tissue testing.
A randomized trial found that octreotide acetate did not reduce the incidence or severity of diarrhea in patients with anorectal cancer. The study included 215 patients who received either a placebo or long-acting octreotide before and during radiation therapy, but no significant differences were observed between groups.
The article highlights the risks of incorrect online information and its inability to substitute for human interaction. It emphasizes the need for physicians to weigh information and advise patients, as the Internet cannot replace human judgment and empathy.
Researchers analyzed 439 soil respiration studies and found that the total amount of carbon dioxide flowing from soils has increased by about 1-2 percent per year since 1989. The study suggests that higher temperatures are unlocking old carbon, but more boreal data is needed to reach statistical relevance.
Researchers have developed 'filters' that can be used to weed out compounds likely to show up as false positives during high-throughput chemical screening. This will reduce the time spent on medicinal chemistry and optimize the compound selection process for drug development.
A large six-year review found that many children with severe food-related allergic reactions needed a second dose of epinephrine, highlighting the importance of carrying multiple doses. The study recommends that all children at risk for food-related anaphylaxis carry two doses of epinephrine.
A UCSF study found that delivering HIV prevention services to people living with HIV in clinical settings can sharply reduce their sexual risk behaviors. The intervention, led by medical care providers during routine visits, resulted in a consistent decline in risky behavior over the 12-month study period.
Scientists identified alternative routes for pharmaceuticals to enter the environment through bathing, showering, and laundering. These routes may lead to higher environmental impact for certain medications applied topically. Reducing consumption and developing better drug delivery systems can minimize environmental harm.
A study published in Respiratory Research reveals that older people and those infected with HIV are at higher risk of contracting and dying from tuberculosis. The research identified factors linked to treatment abandonment and deaths, including lack of understanding, injection drug use, and age over 50 or HIV infection.
Researchers developed a strategy to overcome the issue, highlighting the importance of communication between healthcare providers. The study showed that changing drug therapy at an early stage can help patients get the full benefit of tamoxifen treatment, leading to improved breast cancer efficacy.
A new study suggests that emotions are crucial for making moral judgments. Patients with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) have difficulty responding emotionally to hypothetical situations and may judge others' actions as morally permissible even if they intended harm.
A new study found that economic booms can lead to increased illness and mortality rates among children in coffee-producing counties. When coffee prices spike, workers spend more time tending fields and less time on activities beneficial for child health. In contrast, when prices fall, people work less and child health improves.
A recent study published in Cognitive Development found that teenagers take the most risks compared to other age groups, particularly between 14-35 years old. The researchers discovered that teenagers enjoy the thrill of taking risks more than other age groups, especially when they have a 'lucky escape'.
The Norwegian Influenza Study (NorFlu) aims to understand the effects of influenza in pregnancy on maternal health and childhood development. Pregnant women in Bergen and Oslo will participate in the study, providing a blood sample and completing a questionnaire.
Researchers found that infants as young as 7 months old display sensitivity to human voice and emotional prosody in their brains, mirroring adult brain activity. The study suggests that critical neurodevelopmental processes underlying impaired voice processing in disorders like autism may occur before 7 months.
A new study found that chronic job stress and lack of physical activity are strongly associated with being overweight or obese. Exercise was the key to managing stress and keeping a healthy weight among employees.
Researchers found that domestic guinea pigs excelled in a water maze test due to their improved ability to decipher guidance symbols, while wild cavies were stronger swimmers. The study suggests an adaptation in domesticated animals for efficient problem-solving in human-made environments.
A team at the University of Southern California used a genome-wide association method to locate genes behind important plant traits such as flowering time and disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. The study identified dozens of genes linked to these traits, with potential applications in agriculture and biofuels.
Young women with breast cancer are concerned about their fertility, with treatments like chemotherapy and hormonal therapy affecting egg production. Fertility preservation options, such as egg freezing or ovarian tissue transplantation, can help alleviate these concerns.
The article reviews Massachusetts healthcare reform, which has successfully implemented an individual mandate since 2006. The state's program greatly expanded coverage and access to health services while reducing the fear of insurers dropping coverage.
Researchers found that a specific subpopulation of heart muscle cells near the injury site contribute to regenerating heart muscle. The study also showed that these new cells integrate into the wound, replacing the injury clot, and form normal electrical coupling with the surrounding muscle.
Researchers have identified the source of cells that form the coronary arteries, a breakthrough that could lead to improved bypass surgeries. By studying mouse embryos, scientists found that these cells originate from the sinus venosus and undergo natural reprogramming as they migrate across the heart.
A scientific study argues that sustainable economic degrowth is both desirable and unavoidable to mitigate climate change and the economic crisis. The study presents diverse proposals for social equity and ecological sustainability, challenging conventional economic thinking.
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) has endorsed pay-for-performance (P4P) programs in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. The organization aims to improve patient outcomes by linking reimbursement to quality of care.
A researcher at Case Western Reserve University is developing new materials inspired by nature, including scratch-resistant coatings and durable fabrics. The materials are engineered to mimic the incredible attributes of natural materials like squid beaks and spider webs.
Researchers have developed contact lenses loaded with vitamin E that can deliver more medication for glaucoma and other diseases to the eye, increasing treatment duration by about 100 times. Vitamin E's ant-oxidant properties also provide UV protection.
Researchers at the NIA have discovered a key to ES cell rejuvenation in the gene Zscan4, which restores telomere length through recombination. This process enables infinite generations of functional ES cells, offering new insights into aging research and regenerative medicine.
Certain bird species prefer darkly colored fruits, which are found to have higher antioxidant levels than lighter-colored fruits. These antioxidant-rich foods may help birds combat stress and inflammation during long migrations.
The largest European study on socioeconomic status and breast cancer survival found that women from poorer backgrounds had worse outcomes, even after adjusting for tumor size and stage. Women from the poorest backgrounds were a fifth more likely to die within ten years of diagnosis than those from the wealthiest backgrounds.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Ermolaev was a prominent Soviet Arctic scientist who worked for 13 years before being arrested and sent to the Gulag on trumped-up charges. Despite harsh conditions, he eventually resumed his academic career and established a new department at Kaliningrad State University.
A new study led by UCSF researchers found that unusual femur fractures are extremely rare in patients with osteoporosis, even those taking bisphosphonates for extended periods. The study's findings provide context to reports of these fractures and highlight the importance of weighing treatment benefits against potential risks.
Tropical Storm Imani is taking a unique shape in the Southern Indian Ocean, resembling a question mark. The storm has strengthened slightly and is forecast to continue intensifying before moving into an area of increased vertical wind shear.
Researchers measured dolphin and rodeo bull head movements to study balance systems. Contrary to a leading theory, the findings show that dolphins have similar head motions as the cattle, defying expectations of smaller organs due to overwhelming senses.
A new survey using ESO's Very Large Telescope discovered that most Lyman-alpha light is trapped within galaxies, making 90% of galaxies invisible to traditional surveys. This breakthrough highlights the limitations of current methods and paves the way for more accurate representations of the cosmos.
Researchers tested mecamylamine, a topical drug, in a human clinical trial to treat diabetic macular edema. The study showed significant improvement in vision and biological effects in the retina in approximately 40% of participants.