Public attitudes toward gays and lesbians are changing to reflect greater acceptance, with younger generations at the forefront. A significant trend toward greater tolerance regarding homosexuality has emerged, particularly in support for same-sex marriage.
The MVA-B vaccine has been shown to induce an 90% immune response in humans against Human's immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with 85% of volunteers maintaining this response for at least one year. The vaccine works by training the immune system to recognize and respond to HIV particles and infected cells.
A new study found that blocking Toll-like receptors reduces the effects of alcohol on the brain, which could lead to treatments for alcohol dependence and acute overdoses. This shift in understanding may help identify individuals at risk of brain damage after long-term drinking.
A City College of New York-led research team is developing wearable sensors to assist the visually impaired in navigating their environment. The project aims to create devices that can convey information about surroundings through touch, hearing, and other senses.
A new study published in Journal of Hospital Medicine found that discussing end-of-life care with physicians does not affect survival rates. Patients who have advance directives in their medical records also have similar survival rates as those without these discussions and documents.
Three international teams describe in unprecedented detail the workings of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a major molecular target for drugs. GPCRs are essential to human life, involved in almost every physiological function, and malfunctions have been linked to dozens of diseases.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that oxaliplatin, a widely used chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer, causes permanent nerve damage in some patients. A new study suggests using simple skin biopsies to track nerve cell degeneration and develop new treatments to prevent or slow the damage.
The IDS Bulletin report explores how global crises are affecting poor people worldwide, questioning core development ideas. Emerging powers and aid donors' responses to crises are being reevaluated, with the report's findings highlighting the struggle of new ideas to replace established concepts.
A randomized controlled clinical study demonstrated that RESPeRATE can significantly relieve symptoms of heart failure in elderly patients. After 4 weeks of twice daily treatment sessions, patients showed a reduction in the severity of CHF measured by NYHA classification and dyspnea.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have modified HIV to trigger an immune response, a major hurdle in vaccine development. The altered virus activates the adaptive immune system's response against HIV, negating its immunosuppressive properties.
Researchers identified a new pathway of stem cell activity in the subventricular zone of the human brain, which targets the prefrontal cortex in newborns. This discovery challenges previous reports that suggested neural stem cells remain active into adulthood.
A recent brain-imaging study challenges the historical understanding of dyslexia by showing that children with reading difficulties have the same brain difficulty in processing sounds regardless of their IQ. This finding could change the way educators help poor readers, as all can benefit from the same interventions.
A recent study found that most feline intestinal cancers are lymphoma and tend to occur in the small intestines. The researchers also identified a higher risk of intestinal cancer in Siamese breed males over seven years old.
A study by the University of Granada found that low plasma levels of copper and zinc are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. The research involved 265 pregnant women, with 132 experiencing miscarriage, and revealed significant differences in maternal plasma concentrations of these essential minerals.
A two-year study by Montana State University researchers found that heifers can safely reduce their feed intake during the seven months between weaning and breeding. This results in cost savings of $21 per animal, with industry-wide savings being significant, especially in drought areas.
Researchers at UCLA developed a risk scoring system to predict long-term survival after liver re-transplantation, identifying eight key risk factors for potential failure. The predictive index will help guide physicians in determining patient risk and provide patients with informed consent information.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found a way to halt life-threatening arrhythmia using lower amplitude, high-frequency alternating current. This approach may prove less painful for patients and could lead to a new device that replaces painful defibrillator shocks.
The Lancet study finds that tobacco control measures immediately benefit health and reduce healthcare costs. The economic benefits of tobacco revenue are greatly offset by the savings from reduced smoking-related illnesses.
The supplement highlights the importance of integrating public health and prevention principles into medical education. Experts emphasize the need for physicians with a better appreciation for these issues to address complex public health challenges, such as rising chronic disease burdens and persistent health disparities.
Research from the University of California - San Diego School of Medicine found that people with prehypertension have a 55% higher risk of experiencing a future stroke than those without. The study analyzed 12 prospective cohort studies involving over 518,000 participants and found that even high-but-normal blood pressure elevates stro...
A Northwestern University study found that adolescents can be insulated from the negative influence of their peers by having characteristics respected by friends, such as close friendships with members of the opposite sex. Insulation also occurs if individuals have something their friends need, like a car.
A Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center research team found that activation of synaptic NMDRs increases COX-2 levels, while extrasynaptic NMDR activation boosts arachidonic acid. Sequential activation of both receptors leads to increased neurotoxic inflammation and disease progression.
Four Washington-based teams will receive grants to develop and test prototype health products, including a device for atrial fibrillation detection and a technology to monitor older adults. The Life Sciences Discovery Fund aims to promote the translation of promising technologies into marketable products.
A study by UK researchers found parents of children with genital ambiguity experience shock, anxiety and a need to protect their child. The parents sought harmony between their child's ambiguity and the sex they raised them as.
A new study has identified subtle markers of heart damage hidden in hours of EKG recordings, allowing doctors to identify high-risk heart attack patients. The researchers found that these anomalies can predict patient mortality within 12 months, enabling targeted treatments to save lives.
Researchers at NTNU's Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience discovered that memory is divided into discrete packets, with each packet lasting around 125 milliseconds. The brain switches between these packets rapidly, allowing it to 'flip' between different maps of location and experience.
Researchers used a computer simulation to compare demographic stability and migration rates for egalitarian and unequal societies. They found that class structures contributed to destabilizing effects, driving migration and the expansion of stratified societies.
Researchers used long-term data from Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory to examine the feasibility of managing forests for water supply. The analysis revealed significant increases in temperature and extreme wet and dry years, with conversion from hardwoods to pines decreasing streamflow.
A recent study by Christine Aurich's group at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna found that short-term branding stress levels are comparable to microchip implants in foals. However, branding causes more prolonged tissue damage and alterations in body temperature, leading to increased welfare concerns.
Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activation patterns of poor readers with and without low IQs. Both groups showed reduced activations in left inferior parietal lobule and fusiform gyrus, indicating impaired phonological processing. This study provides biological evidence against using IQ to diagnose dyslexia.
The study found a slow but steady increase in prescribed stimulant use among children and adolescents with ADHD, with higher rates among boys and white children. However, the rate of growth has slowed in recent years, suggesting that more children are being diagnosed and treated for ADHD.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that embarrassment can be a positive trait, fostering trust and cooperation in everyday life. Subjects who were more easily embarrassed reported higher levels of monogamy and generosity, indicating a stronger tendency to affiliate with others.
Research reveals that stronger motivation leads to increased connectivity between brain regions regulating motivation and motor learning. Rehabilitative training advances motor function recovery by activating the brain's motivation centers.
The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) is now offering free subscriptions to developing countries through the HINARI initiative. This move aims to address information inequality by providing access to visual content, including over 1,300 video-protocols on experimental approaches in various fields.
Dr. Andrei Yudin's innovative process makes linear peptides circular, increasing their stability and ability to enter cells effectively. A library of macrocycles will be built to test properties and identify potential therapeutic compounds.
Researchers have developed a new model to evaluate seismic wave velocities at shallow depth in the Seattle Basin, offering refined seismic hazard assessments. The study also exposes two faults in the eastern Sierra Nevada, providing new details about active faulting in the area.
A new method developed at NIST enables the creation of unique features in diamond, allowing for precise cuts and potentially leading to improvements in nanometrology. The method could also improve MEMS devices used in cell phones, gyroscopes, and medical implants, making them more durable and efficient.
Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for EKC, a highly infectious eye disease affecting millions annually in the US. A molecular wipe targeting viruses responsible for EKC could relieve symptoms, speed up healing and reduce transmission risk.
Researchers found that high-volume transplant centers used more high-risk donor livers, but achieved better graft and recipient survival rates. The study's findings suggest that increased organ utilization can improve outcomes for transplantation patients.
A fish has been observed using a tool to crack open a shell, similar to previous reports of tool use by other fish species such as wrasse and blackspot tuskfish.
A new study explains why leaders are often perceived as strong and dominant, despite their generosity. In non-competitive contexts, generous individuals are admired and respected, but in times of competition, they are seen as weak and submissive.
The European Medical Research Councils' White Paper assesses the current status of biomedical research in Europe and its international collaborators. The report highlights five key recommendations to improve the quality of life for Europeans and address global challenges.
A recent study published in the American Sociological Review found that adolescents are more susceptible to drinking habits of their romantic partner's friends than their own friends or significant others. This influence can be either positive or negative, depending on whether the partner's friends drink heavily.
A new Northwestern University study found that adolescents in mixed friend groups were insulated from the influence of peers who were delinquent or low-academic achievers. Neighborhood violence and territorial boundaries constrained their friendship choices.
Researchers found that pressure reduction foam mattresses and foam cleansers for incontinence care are cost-effective alternatives to standard mattresses and soap and water. The study estimated average savings of $115 and $179 per resident, respectively, with clinical benefits confirmed through further research.
Carla Atkinson, a University of Oklahoma graduate student, received the EPA's STAR Fellowship to study freshwater mussels in North America. Her research will explore the role of mussels in altering riverine ecosystems and their impact on human well-being.
A new stratified approach to managing back pain in primary care has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The trial found that this tailored approach can significantly reduce disability scores, fear, depression, and improved general health compared to conventional care.
The VOICE trial will continue testing the safety and effectiveness of oral Truvada and tenofovir gel, while discontinuing daily use of oral tenofovir tablets. The trial enrolled 5,029 women across three countries to evaluate the efficacy of ARV-based approaches in preventing HIV transmission.
Researchers found that later-stage prostate cancer cells lack Pten, a tumor-suppressor gene, leading to rapid cell division and mutations. Plk1 inhibitor BI 2356 showed promise in killing cancer cells without Pten.
A new study found that nearly 1 in 5 dementia patients experience burdensome transitions in the last 90 days of life, including repeated hospitalizations and relocations, which can be unnecessary and stressful for families.
Researchers advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships between academia and industry to improve population health and address health inequities. They also propose training grants to bridge the 'valley of retirement' as experienced researchers retire.
A team of scientists has discovered a link between pregnancy protein and Alzheimer's disease, finding elevated levels in women destined for the condition years before symptoms appear. They found that the protein, pregnancy zone protein, is being produced in senile plaques, a hallmark of AD.
Researchers have developed a new method to evaluate spatially and biologically distinct groups of marine turtles, identifying 11 out of 58 worldwide turtle regions as most at risk. The study highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts for these threatened populations.
The five-year study aims to determine the medication of choice for preventing migraines in children and teens, addressing a significant gap in evidence-based research. The trial will compare amitriptyline and topiramate, investigating their efficacy and safety profiles in this age group.
The Precourt Institute and TomKat Center are funding eight faculty seed grants for innovative renewable energy technologies, including lithium-air batteries and solar thermal energy systems. Researchers will explore ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and make large-scale solar power more competitive.
Asperger individuals display uneven profiles of performance in common intelligence test batteries, but scores are much higher on a reasoning-based test called Raven's Progressive Matrices. This suggests a common information processing mechanism for both Asperger and autistic individuals.
The University of Missouri's Rural Track Pipeline Program has produced nearly 65% of its graduates staying in Missouri, with over 57% practicing in rural areas. The program offers multiple opportunities for medical students to train and live in rural communities, addressing the national physician shortage in rural areas.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a genetic variant associated with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. The variant, located in the TLL1 gene, was found to correlate strongly with the extent of coronary disease, even better than traditional clinical factors.
University of Alberta researchers identified a key regulator controlling the speed of development in fruit flies. Blocking this regulator sped up development, leading to faster maturation. The study defines a novel mechanism for regulating steroid hormone pulses, crucial for human health and disease.
Research suggests that early, intensive therapy is most effective in improving social-communication skills for children with autism. A study of over 1,000 children found that those who received more comprehensive treatment achieved better outcomes.