Researchers at Northwestern University have implicated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the development of tissue fibrosis, a hallmark of scleroderma. The study found that mutations in the TLR4 gene made mice resistant to experimental scleroderma and that patients with scleroderma had abnormal TLR4 levels in affected tissues.
A new Swedish study reveals that adolescents with lower peer status are at a higher risk of becoming regular or heavy smokers in adulthood. Researchers found that marginalized students, those nominated few times by their classmates, were more likely to adopt smoking as a behavior.
A study found that extreme rainfall in the UK is expected to shift later in the year, especially in the south-east, where it will peak in autumn. This could lead to an increased risk of flooding, particularly when river catchments are at their maximum water capacity.
A study of over 1,200 participants found no significant improvement in cognitive and functional status for those treated with citicoline after traumatic brain injury, contradicting its widespread use as a neuroprotective agent.
A new system can identify a single target molecule from millions of water molecules within milliseconds by trapping it on gold nanoparticles. The technology has potential uses in detecting illegal substances and pollutants, offering a compact, reusable, and easy-to-assemble solution.
A new rapid test for tuberculosis has been found to substantially reduce TB deaths and improve treatment in southern Africa. The study found that implementing the test would prevent an estimated 132,000 TB cases and 182,000 TB deaths over 10 years.
Researchers recommend that mobile phone operators record users' dates of birth and implement age-based content classifications to block access to adult sites. The study also suggests that the government should work with families and schools to promote awareness campaigns on proper mobile phone usage.
Pituitary centers of excellence could provide optimal clinical management for patients with pituitary tumors, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary collaborative environments. The proposal suggests three key missions: comprehensive patient care, residency training, and research contributions.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a non-toxic nanoparticle that can deliver nitric oxide to specific cancer cells, reducing chemotherapy doses by a factor of five. This could lead to improved treatment outcomes and reduced side effects for neuroblastoma patients.
Classic studies on obedience and conformity have been revisited to show that people do not blindly conform but actively identify with and believe in the authority's actions. The authors' own prison experiment found that participants only acted in terms of group membership and empowered themselves to resist their assigned position.
Researchers found that eccrine sweat glands store adult stem cells that can quickly aid wound healing. This discovery advances understanding of the normal healing process and paves way for designing better targeted therapies.
The Vision for Change project aims to increase cocoa yields and improve farmer livelihoods through agroforestry practices, research on improved varieties, and market support. By leveraging private-public partnerships, Mars Inc. and ICRAF hope to scale up the initiative to millions of farmers across West Africa.
Patients who attended five follow-up office visits lost an average of 113 pounds, compared to 57 pounds for those with only two follow-ups. The study highlights the importance of patient follow-up in achieving optimal weight loss after gastric bypass surgery.
A new study reveals that climate change is altering the Northern hardwood forest ecosystem, affecting maple syrup production, wildlife health and timber resources. The research highlights the need for long-term studies to understand and manage these complex effects.
Scientists at UCLA have created a new type of solar cell that produces energy by absorbing infrared light, making it 66% transparent. The technology is lightweight, flexible, and can be produced in high volume at low cost.
A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health links impulsivity in first grade to problem gambling in late adolescence. The research found that high-impulse boys were twice as likely to meet criteria for at-risk and three times more likely to meet criteria for problem gambling.
Middle-aged adults are experiencing a significant increase in suicide rates, particularly through hanging/suffocation. Suicide by firearm remains the leading cause of injury death, but hanging/suffocation has increased dramatically, especially among middle-aged men and women.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that patients with online access to their medical records had a significant increase in office visits and telephone calls compared to those without online access. This association was seen across different age groups, including those with asthma or diabetes.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered a natural fungus, Beauveria bassiana, that can effectively control bed bugs. The study found that the fungus infects and kills bed bugs within five days, even when they are in close proximity to uninfected individuals.
Researchers at Butler Hospital and Bradley Hospital found a sharp decline in the availability and use of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for severe depression in general hospitals across the US. The annual number of hospital stays where ECT was administered fell by 43% over 17 years, from over 1.2 million to 720,000.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a robotic fish that can attract live zebrafish using real-time visual feedback. The study found that zebrafish are more attracted to robots that replicate the behavior of informed fish, demonstrating the effectiveness of real-time visual feedback in influencing live animal ...
A Swedish study of 112 adolescent girls found that regular dance training significantly improved self-esteem and reduced symptoms of depression and fatigue. The results persisted at follow-ups four and eight months after the dance training ended.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that generate heat to kill cancer cells using infrared light. The new particles showed no toxicity and were able to withstand repeated heating cycles.
The Journal of Forensic Nursing, published by Wolters Kluwer Health, will continue its quarterly publication schedule and introduce a new iPad app edition. The journal presents original research, reviews, and editorials addressing healthcare, legal, and ethical issues in forensic nursing.
Researchers at Durham University found that some grey seal mothers adopt a flexible parenting style, adjusting their behavior to local conditions. This approach allows them to give their pups a better chance of survival, but also carries risks if they misjudge the environment.
The foundation has awarded $400,000 grants to researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to identify subsets of AML cells resistant to chemotherapy. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and The University of Chicago will receive $400,000 to study a new type of AML.
Researchers discovered that thrombin activity propagates through blood in steady waves, crucial for sealing large wounds but potentially leading to complications. This finding sheds light on the mechanisms behind severe bleeding in hemophilia patients and has implications for other cardiovascular disorders.
Scientists have developed a new 'smart material' made from Scotch tape that can change shape in response to humidity and collect water samples. The innovation uses laser-machined fingers to capture droplets of water, making it ideal for environmental testing.
Researchers at McMaster University discovered a novel molecular basis for depression, finding the FTO gene is associated with an eight per cent reduction in the risk of depression. The study found no link between obesity and depression, contradicting common perception that obese individuals are more likely to be depressed.
A new study aims to determine driving fitness in individuals with multiple sclerosis using a simple and accurate testing protocol. The test, developed by GHSU researcher Dr. Abiodun Akinwuntan, has shown promise in predicting pass or fail outcomes on a road test with 91 percent accuracy.
Researchers identified potent antiepileptic fatty acids in the ketogenic diet, which could lead to a new pill for controlling seizures. The discovery aims to replace the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet with a safer treatment option.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London have sequenced the genetic code of a dwarf birch tree, a species crucial to British conservation. The decoded genome will aid in understanding disease resistance and growth shape, helping protect against the bronze birch borer pest threatening UK birch populations.
A new study found that rapid tumor growth in pregnant women with meningiomas is linked to blood flow changes, not hormonal fluctuations. Most of the tumors showed an unusual 'hypervascular' pattern and high edema rates.
Scientists have engineered Escherichia coli bacteria that can deliberately die to protect their population, promoting the survival of survivors. The altruistic behavior emerges after sufficient time has passed and can be controlled by tuning the extent of programmed cell death.
Researchers at University of California, Santa Barbara, have designed a detector that uses microfluidic nanotechnology to mimic the biological mechanism behind canine scent receptors. The device can detect trace amounts of certain vapor molecules and identify specific substances.
A new study from Nationwide Children's Hospital found that adenotonsillectomy is effective in most children with Prader-Willi syndrome who have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, but may not be curative for those with severe forms. The procedure helped normalize sleep patterns in 89% of patients.
Researchers found that rituximab can improve outcomes in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies who suffer from non-criteria APS manifestations. The study showed that rituximab may be effective in treating cognitive dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, skin ulcers, and kidney disease in aPL-positive patients.
A new diagnostic method for Parkinson's disease is noninvasive and effective in over 90% of cases. The method tracks speech patterns to detect the disorder's early signs.
Researchers have identified two species of wood-boring beetles as the makers of wormholes in European printed art since the Renaissance. The study, published in Biology Letters, uses printed art as a trace fossil to precisely date species and identify their locations.
Current risk models have modest-to-acceptable discriminatory performance but require better calibration and external validation to inform clinical guidelines. Few studies tested the models in diverse populations, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers found that e-visit patients were more likely to receive antibiotics and less likely to have relevant testing ordered by their physicians before receiving medication. Despite this, the study suggests that e-visits can improve access to care and convenience for patients without compromising quality.
Researchers observed a long-theorized exception to time reversal symmetry, finding certain particle types change into one another six times more often in one direction than the other. The BaBar experiment provided clear conditions for a direct measurement of time violation, confirming quantum field theory.
A study by University College London reveals that happy adolescents tend to earn higher levels of income later in life. The research found that happy individuals are more likely to get a degree, find work, and get promoted quicker than their gloomier counterparts.
A new study published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology found that male grey tree frogs increase their courtship calls when they can see a female approaching. The research, led by Dr. Michael Reichert, suggests that visual cues play a crucial role in attracting mates in nocturnal anurans.
Research by McElhaney found that companies with one or more women on their boards are significantly more likely to have improved sustainability practices. Additionally, the study found that companies with at least three female board members had better ESG performance.
A type of exploding star that fails to detonate, known as a failed explosion, is probably the cause of most peculiar supernovae. These dim stars are anywhere from 10-100 times fainter than normal ones and may account for approximately 15% of all type Ia supernovae.
A new Johns Hopkins research suggests that uninsured brain cancer patients are twice as likely to die in the hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor. Despite this, patients with government-subsidized insurance through Medicaid had survival rates closer to those with private insurance.
Hydrogen can cause metals to become brittle and fail. Researchers have developed a model that predicts when and where embrittlement will occur, enabling the design of new, resistant materials.
A study found that it takes an average of 20.7 years for a newly collected species to be described, with some species taking up to 12 years. This long 'shelf life' poses a significant challenge for conservation efforts, which may come too late if not addressed promptly.
Researchers have created a new stem-like state of adult epithelial cells, which exhibit attributes favoring regenerative medicine. These cells do not express genes found in embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, making them stable and less prone to forming tumors.
A study of children with psoriasis found a strong association between the condition and excess adiposity, including waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio. Children with psoriasis are more likely to be overweight or obese, increasing their risk for metabolic complications.
A Canadian case-control study found that women in jobs with high exposures to carcinogens and endocrine disrupters had an elevated breast cancer risk. The study highlights the importance of occupational studies in identifying environmental risk factors.
A $243,000 NSF grant will help understand and quantify interactions between human conflict and natural systems in the Lake Victoria region. The project aims to improve regional fisheries management and sustain aquatic resources critical for local inhabitants.
A commonly prescribed inpatient sleeping drug has been associated with a significant increase in falls among hospital patients. The study found that zolpidem use was linked to a fourfold higher fall rate compared to non-users.
Researchers at Université Laval conducted a study examining the relationship between moon phases and psychological problems. They found no connection between the two, contradicting widespread beliefs. Anxiety disorders were slightly less frequent during the last lunar quarter, but this could be due to other factors.
The American College of Physicians releases new clinical practice guidelines for stable ischemic heart disease, emphasizing patient education and risk factor modification. The guidelines address initial cardiac testing, management, and follow-up care for patients with stable IHD.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers links plant-based estrogenic compounds to altered hormone levels and possible changes in behavior among male red colobus monkeys. The study suggests that phytoestrogens may have played a significant role in the evolution of primate biology, including human biology.
Researchers found that immune cells, including microglia, are defective in their ability to migrate in Huntington's disease. The study suggests that changes in immune cell function may underlie some of the symptoms of HD.
A team of middle school students, led by a University of Arizona graduate student, conducted the first systematic study on leaf shrinkage when drying out. They found that leaves shrink about 20% on average, but variables such as species and structural investment determine the amount of shrinkage.
Researchers will track brain development in infants with TSC using advanced imaging techniques to identify those at high risk for autism. The study aims to open new avenues of research and treatment for autism, not only in TSC but also in other causes.