A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that combining short-term hormone therapy (ADT) with radiation therapy significantly improves overall survival rates for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The treatment also resulted in a 10% reduction in disease-specific deaths among high-risk patients.
MIT researchers have developed a novel method for storing solar energy by modifying carbon nanotubes with azobenzene, resulting in an efficient and cost-effective solution. The new material has a high volumetric energy density comparable to lithium-ion batteries, making it promising for applications such as heating and energy storage.
Researchers discovered that colonizing rice plants with fungal spores from naturally salt-tolerant plants enhances their ability to withstand cold, salt, and drought. This emerging strategy, called symbiogenics, could help mitigate climate change impacts on global food security.
A comprehensive review of respiratory illnesses in the Middle East highlights diverse conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchial diseases, and chest traumas. The study attributes these disorders to environmental factors, infections, and unique cultural conditions.
A surprisingly healthy population of rare snow leopards has been discovered in northeastern Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, according to a new study. WCS-trained community rangers used camera traps to document the presence of snow leopards at 16 different locations across the region.
Researchers at Caltech propose a new wind farm design that places turbines close together, reducing inefficiencies and environmental impacts. The approach uses vertical-axis wind turbines, which provide benefits in turbulent winds, simple designs, and lower profiles.
Researchers have identified a key regulator of the plant's daily growth cycle, which shares similarities with human circadian rhythm genes. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of how clock genes regulate cell division in humans and provide new avenues for developing disease therapies.
A study published in Evolutionary Applications found that genetically modified Atlantic salmon can reproduce and pass their genes to the wild, posing a danger to wild populations. The research explores the potential reproductive implications of GM salmon as they are considered for commercial farming.
A Pew Charitable Trusts study reveals serious gaps in US drug safety oversight, with 40% of finished drugs sourced from overseas. The report identifies links in the supply chain that need strengthening to ensure safe medicines.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich (TUM) have identified two proteins in barley that powdery mildew takes advantage of during its attack. The RACB protein, a molecular switch, supports the fungus by increasing plant cell surface area, while MAGAP1 prevents this effect and limits the fungus's entry into plant cells.
A study of 210 organ transplant recipients with previous SCC found that BetaPV infection is extremely common, with concordant presence of DNA and antibodies increasing the risk for SCC skin cancer. The findings may lead to novel preventative or therapeutic interventions for immunosuppressed individuals.
A Purdue University study found that four popular fungicides have lost effectiveness against apple scab in Indiana and Michigan. The fungus has developed resistance, making it difficult for growers to manage their orchards without using older, more expensive fungicides.
A study found higher pressure ulcer rates among black high-risk nursing home residents compared to white residents, with disparities largely related to facility demographics and staffing. The researchers suggest policy implications for targeted interventions to eliminate racial disparities in nursing home care.
A comprehensive review of 173,687 cases found maternal smoking causes a range of serious birth defects. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of premature birth and related health problems.
A new study has revealed that Trichomonas vaginalis is more than twice as common in women aged 40 and older, with 13% of women in this age group infected. The infection can lead to severe health problems if left untreated, including pelvic inflammatory disease and premature labor.
The Hubble Space Telescope has taken anniversary pictures of Neptune, revealing high-altitude clouds in the northern and southern hemispheres composed of methane ice crystals. The images also show that cloud activity is shifting to the northern hemisphere, with seasons lasting about 40 years.
Research reveals that olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug, promotes overeating, weight gain, and insulin resistance due to reduced body temperature. The study demonstrates altered peripheral glucose metabolism, contributing to impaired insulin sensitivity.
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin reveals that current and proposed border fences pose significant threats to wildlife populations along the US-Mexico border. The study identifies four species listed as threatened globally or by both the US and Mexico, and another 23 with small range sizes.
Researchers at Duke University found that tropical anoles can solve novel problems and remember solutions, demonstrating advanced cognitive abilities. The study's results challenge the notion that reptiles have limited cognitive capabilities and highlight the complexity of animal cognition.
A study found that invasive diagnostic procedures for infants with cystic fibrosis do not reduce lung-damaging infections or structural lung injury. The treatment, which involved culturing fluid samples from the lungs, did not demonstrate clinical benefits but led to increased risks of adverse events.
Houston's population growth was the highest in the US, with a whopping 1.2 million new residents added over the past decade, outpacing New York and Chicago combined. The city's growth can be attributed to its proximity to Latin America, business-friendly policies, low cost of living, and significant job growth.
Regular exercise increases sensitivity to leptin, a hormone that inhibits food intake. Exercise also reveals additional mechanisms that contribute to the beneficial effects of physical activity on managing body weight, including altered gut hormone release and increased responsiveness to CCK, a hormone that limits meal size.
Research shows that feeling connected to one's future self motivates more patient financial decisions. A study found that individuals who felt a sense of continuity with their future selves made better choices regarding long-term rewards.
A new study suggests that growing perennial grasses on underproductive farmland used for corn ethanol production could lead to higher overall corn yields, more ethanol output per acre, and better groundwater quality. The switch would also slash emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
A recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that individuals with high anxiety sensitivity exhibited reduced anxiety reactivity when engaging in high levels of physical activity. Regular exercise was shown to be an effective alternative or complementary strategy to traditional treatments for depression and anxiety problems.
New research shows ghrelin stimulates dopamine release in response to rewarding food, potentially making food more appealing. The study suggests a gut hormone-induced change in the brain's reward system, supporting the interaction between peripheral signals and behavior.
Research suggests that dietary supplementation with molasses extract can reduce body weight and fat levels in mice. After 12 weeks on a high-fat diet supplemented with 4% molasses extract, mice had lower body weight, reduced body fat, and decreased leptin levels.
Researchers developed alternative smear collection methods that are more convenient for patients, yet maintain the same level of accuracy for diagnosis. The findings suggest that a single patient visit could be sufficient to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis, improving access to treatment, particularly in poor countries.
Regular family meals can safeguard teens' health, reducing the risk of disordered eating by 35% and promoting healthy habits. Family members should prioritize three meals a week to foster connection and encourage open conversations about unhealthy behaviors.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge identified a biomarker for autism in siblings of individuals with autism, showing reduced brain activity to emotional facial expressions. This finding provides an opportunity to investigate genes linked to autism and sheds light on why some family members are more affected than others.
Scientists have identified a mechanism that protects the brain from degeneration and aging processes. The discovery of CB1 receptors' role in preserving nerve cells and memory capabilities opens up new possibilities for developing therapies to combat age-related brain changes.
Research found substantial changes in cancer family history between ages 30-50, leading to recommendations for earlier or more intense screening. Updates to family history should occur every 5-10 years to inform risk assessments and screening guidelines.
Researchers from Oxford University found that training tasks can shift how healthy teenagers think about social events, promoting more positive interpretations. The approach, called cognitive bias modification of interpretations, has the potential to change negative thoughts that drive anxiety in teenagers with high anxiety levels.
A study by USC Marshall professors Scott Wiltermuth and Vanessa K. Bohns found that adopting dominant postures decreases sensitivity to pain and increases feelings of power and control.
Researchers at UCI have found a new approach to creating customized therapies for virulent flu strains that resist current antiviral drugs. They used computer simulations to predict how pocket structures on influenza proteins promoting viral replication can be identified, allowing for possible pharmaceutical exploitation.
Researchers discovered a new enzyme called SidD used by Legionella pneumophila to control its host cell and replicate. This finding provides insight into bacterial infection mechanisms and could lead to the design of a new therapy to save lives.
Researchers developed new Coulomb failure criteria for reservoirs and fault slips, taking into account viscous stress and Reynolds stress. The study used flow-driven pore-network crack model and hybrid hypersingular integral equation-lattice Boltzmann method to analyze the Zipingpu reservoir and Longmenshan slip.
A study found that changes in family history of cancer can significantly alter screening recommendations, particularly for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. For patients aged 30-50, the risk of increased cancer risk more than tripled for colorectal cancer and increased by 60% for breast cancer.
Research reveals that teenagers develop a taste for caffeinated, sugar-sweetened beverages due to repeated exposure. Caffeine addition leads to increased liking of carbonated drinks.
Researchers at Yale University found a ceratopsian horn fossil buried just five inches below the K-T boundary, suggesting that dinosaurs did not go extinct prior to the impact. The discovery provides further evidence for the impact hypothesis and may have closed the 'three-meter gap' in the fossil record.
Researchers found that smokers' amygdala activity decreases after abstinence, reducing their fear response to scary images. This could be due to nicotine's role in maintaining normal function.
A new study found that ghrelin, a naturally occurring gut hormone, increases the willingness to pay for food while decreasing it for non-food items. This increase in reward signaling is specifically linked to the nucleus accumbens region of the brain.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics presented several awards to recognize outstanding achievements in air breathing propulsion systems, rocket propulsion systems, ground testing, and combustion engineering. Awards were also given for historical non-fiction literature and graduate research in air breathing propulsion.
Researchers at Dynamic Eye and UB have developed sunglasses that detect bright spots of light and darken specific parts of the lens to block glare. The technology reduces direct glare 10-100 times more than any other sunglasses, allowing users to see more clearly in glare situations.
Physicians can tailor treatment decisions by assessing the outcome of each treatment on smaller subgroups of patients, streamlining decision-making while keeping expenditures low. The approach aims to provide more accurate cost-benefit analysis for individual patients, complementing population-level analyses.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that indirubin blocks the migration of glioblastoma cells and endothelial cells, preventing tumor growth and spread. This compound, derived from Indigo plants, may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating deadly brain tumors.
Researchers found that the Slessor glacier in Antarctica has not thinned significantly since the last ice age due to a large trough in the land. This discovery will help scientists improve their understanding of how ice sheet movements affect sea levels, enabling more accurate projections of future change.
A study from Stanford University discusses how incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) can be used for individual-level decision-making. By tailoring cost-utility information, clinicians and patients can make more efficient and effective healthcare choices.
Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered that rocks beneath Haiti are over a billion years old and originated from 1,000+ miles away. This finding suggests that the Caribbean tectonic plate has captured ancient continent fragments, which can be transported thousands of miles through the upper mantle.
Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine discovered that low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has a potent antitumor effect on human ovarian cancer. Combining LDN with chemotherapy resulted in an additive inhibitory action on tumorigenesis, reducing DNA synthesis and cell replication.
A study by Wayne State University researchers found that self-rated physical ability tops injury severity as a determining factor of health ratings in adults with spinal cord injuries. The study suggests that people with disabilities can still rate their health as excellent or good despite being confined to a wheelchair or paralyzed.
A new study links increased insecticide use in the US Midwest to landscape change, finding that simplification of agricultural landscapes boosts crop pest pressure. The research suggests that preserving or restoring semi-natural lands can reduce the need for insecticides and contribute to agricultural economies.
Researchers have developed a wireless power system that can power ventricular assist devices without a cord, reducing the risk of infection and improving patient quality of life. The system uses inductive power and has been shown to be efficient over medium distances, allowing patients to be free from cords for short periods.
Clinical research identifies 'food addicts' with increased binge-eating disorder, depression, and impulsive personality traits. The study proposes personalized treatment approaches for obesity.
Researchers discovered herbicide volatilization consistently results in losses exceeding those from surface runoff, with a significant impact on groundwater contamination. The study highlights the importance of considering soil moisture levels and air temperatures in models of pesticide volatilization.
A study found that consuming brown seaweed soup daily during the postpartum period can lead to excess iodine intake, potentially causing hypothyroidism and other health issues. The researchers recommend educating healthcare providers about Korean-American dietary habits to provide guidance on healthy eating.
Scientists have created a new map of the potato genome that could improve crop yields and nutritional content. The study's findings suggest that breeding potatoes with improved genes could help feed a growing global population.
A novel molecule, QUASIMODO (QSM), has been discovered as essential for relaying light-information to the circadian clocks of fruit flies. This molecule plays a crucial role in synchronizing the internal biological processes, such as sleep/wake cycles, with external time.
A study published in JAMA Network found that states with higher Medicaid payment levels to dentists between 2000 and 2008 were more likely to provide dental care to their children. The study showed a positive association between state Medicaid dental payment fees and the use of dental care among children covered by Medicaid.
Researchers developed a supramolecular system combining single-walled carbon nanotubes with porous silicate materials, enabling the study of interactions between carbon nanotubes and a wide range of photoluminescent molecules. The platform holds promise for applications in catalysis, artificial photosynthesis, and hydrogen splitting.