A U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist has discovered a natural, biodegradable chelating agent called EDDS that can replace existing fertilizers contributing to waterway pollution. The findings support the use of EDDS in floral and nursery crop industries, promoting environmental sustainability.
A recent study published in BMJ Quality & Safety found that misdiagnosis is alarmingly common in the ICU, with 28% of patients having at least one missed diagnosis at death. The most common fatal flaws included infections and vascular maladies, such as heart attack and stroke.
Typhoon Bolaven appears twice as large as Typhoon Tembin in a stunning image from NASA's Aqua satellite, with Bolaven's visible eye dominating the scene. Both storms show strong uplift and cold cloud top temperatures, indicating intense storm activity.
A systematic review of therapies for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders found limited evidence to support medical interventions. Some treatments showed promise in improving social skills and educational outcomes, but studies had significant flaws and limited follow-up. The study underscores the urgent need for ...
Dr. Margaret A. Goodell is awarded the 2012 William Dameshek Prize for her groundbreaking work on hematopoietic stem cells and their role in regulating the immune response.
The ACCESS-EU study found significant clinical improvements in patients treated with MitraClip therapy, including reduced death rates, mitral regurgitation, and need for surgery. The study's results confirmed the effectiveness of the device in a real-world setting.
A study presented at ESC Congress 2012 found that renal denervation successfully treats patients with resistant hypertension, significantly lowering blood pressure. The procedure resulted in no adverse events or deterioration in renal function, making it a safe and effective treatment option for real-world patient populations.
The Arctic sea ice extent has reached its lowest level on record, according to a research team from CU-Boulder. The decline is attributed to warming temperatures caused by human-produced greenhouse gases, which have led to the replacement of old, thick multi-year ice with young, thin ice that melts quickly.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) advises against routine screening for chronic kidney disease in asymptomatic adults due to insufficient evidence supporting its benefits. Commercial screening tests can also inflate healthcare costs and undermine physician efforts to provide cost-conscious care.
A study found sharp increases in heart failure and pneumonia following the Japanese earthquake, while stroke and cardio-pulmonary arrest rates followed seismic peaks. Blood pressure was also elevated, but medication disruptions may have contributed to cardiovascular events.
A recent study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment found a strong correlation between short sleep duration and worse recurrence scores in post-menopausal breast cancer patients. The research suggests that insufficient sleep may cause more aggressive tumors, but further research is needed to verify this association.
A new study found that extra body fat increases the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Obesity is linked to hormonal changes and inflammation that drive cancer spread and recurrence.
Research by Mayo Clinic found that individuals with a normal body mass index but central obesity have the highest risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality. The distribution of body fat is crucial, even in those with normal weight, and waist-to-hip measurements can determine this.
A study by Pascale Engel de Abreu and colleagues found that bilingual children from low-income families outperformed their monolingual peers in controlling attention and ignoring distractions. Despite linguistic challenges, minority bilingual children demonstrated strengths in executive domains.
Researchers developed a glue mixture that can improve the safety of LASIK eye surgery by reducing the need for cornea transplants. The adhesive, made from fibrinogen and riboflavin, was tested on dogfish sharks and rabbits and found to be effective in keeping the cornea's flap in place.
Human pregnancy length is limited by a mother's metabolism, not birth canal size, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The EGG hypothesis suggests that babies are born when their mother cannot put any more energy into gestation and fetal growth.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have developed a mouse model of Fukuyama's muscular dystrophy, providing insight into disease development. Vitamin B3 has also been shown to aid in fighting staph infections by increasing C/EBPε expression in mice. Meanwhile, a new class of cerebrospinal fluid-based biomarkers for neurodegenerative...
A large nationwide cohort study found that female gender increases the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation aged over 75 years by 20%. The findings suggest that female sex should not be included as an independent risk factor in guidelines or risk stratification schemes.
Harvard scientists developed a method to grow 'cyborg' tissues by embedding nanoscale wires into engineered human tissues. They successfully seeded the networks with cells and encouraged them to grow in 3D cultures, enabling real-time monitoring and control of living systems.
A global study of 154,000 individuals from 17 countries found that healthy foods are consumed more often by the wealthy, while poorer people rely on carbohydrates. The study also revealed lower levels of obligatory physical activity among the poor and higher rates of smoking among richer populations.
A genetic variant associated with a six-fold higher risk of developing certain brain tumors has been identified by researchers at UCSF and Mayo Clinic. The study found that individuals carrying the 'G' version of the variant have slower-growing gliomas, which could lead to better surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment.
A Weizmann Institute study found that people can learn new information while sleeping and retain it unconsciously, modifying their waking behavior. The research used a type of conditioning involving tones and odors presented during sleep, leading to responses similar to those experienced when awake.
A country-wide German registry found that women received a lower percentage of drug eluting stents (DES) compared to men for the same condition. DES are known to decrease repeat target vessel revascularization procedures and provide favorable long-term results, especially in women with smaller epicardial vessels.
A specific genetic variation found in people who carry a 'G' instead of an 'A' at a particular spot in their genetic code is associated with a six-fold higher risk of developing certain types of brain tumors. Researchers hope this discovery will lead to better surveillance and diagnosis.
Researchers developed an agent that blocks cardiolipin oxidation, preventing cell death and preserving function in rats with severe traumatic brain injury. The study suggests a targeted oxidation-blocker may also be beneficial in treating other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and stroke.
A nationwide Danish cohort study found that obese women are at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation than healthy weight women. The risk is more pronounced in very obese women, with a hazard ratio of over 3 times the normal risk.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School have discovered a gene that influences survival time in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study found that blocking the activity of EphA4 receptor substantially extends the lifespan of people with the disease. Additionally, a new ALS gene (profilin-1) identified last month works in conjun...
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have developed a groundbreaking nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus that allows for non-invasive analysis of nanostructures. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for nanotechnology applications in solar energy, computing, and medicine.
Researchers found that adding vorapaxar to standard antiplatelet therapy significantly reduces the long-term risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with a prior heart attack. The study, published in the Lancet, showed a 20% reduction in cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke.
A new study found no significant difference between prasugrel and clopidogrel in preventing death, heart attack, or stroke in ACS patients who do not undergo coronary stenting or bypass surgery. However, prasugrel showed a lower risk of recurrent adverse events after 12 months of treatment.
Researchers found that spinal cord stimulation improves left ventricular contractile function in pigs with ischemic heart failure. Continuous spinal cord stimulation was associated with significant reduction of serum norepinephrine and brain natriuretic peptide compared to medical therapy alone.
Increased copeptin levels are associated with increased frequencies of comorbidities, severity of heart failure, and risk of all-cause death. Copeptin measurements link to the strength of cardiac contractility and predict poorer kidney function. The risk of mortality from all causes increases with rising copeptin levels.
The Aldo-DHF study found that spironolactone significantly improved diastolic function and reduced blood pressure in patients with symptomatic diastolic heart failure. However, it did not improve exercise capacity or quality of life. The treatment also induced reverse cardiac remodelling and reduced left ventricular hypertrophy.
Researchers have discovered a potent adjuvant that enhances the immune response to vaccines against HIV, flu, and herpes. The compound, polyethyleneimine (PEI), shows promise in mice, offering improved protection against these difficult-to-tackle diseases.
New devices, such as Solitaire and Trevo, show significant improvements in restoring blood flow and patient outcomes after stroke. These advancements could lead to better treatment options for patients whose traditional drug treatment has failed.
A novel blood test can predict which heart failure patients are at risk of sudden death and may benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). The test measures changes in the SCN5A gene, which is involved in electrical activity in the heart.
A team of scientists identified a gene that is vital to the transport of vitamin into cells, leading to early diagnosis and potential treatment for a rare genetic disorder. The discovery sheds light on how vitamin B12 functions in the body.
A multi-institutional research team has developed a method for embedding networks of biocompatible nanoscale wires within engineered tissues. This allows direct tissue sensing and potentially stimulation, which could lead to the development of engineered tissues that incorporate capabilities for monitoring and stimulation.
A large meta-analysis found that electrical storms are a strong risk factor for death, with nearly 4 times higher mortality rates compared to those without. Effective treatment involves catheter ablation, which can terminate ES in nearly 83% of cases, preventing relapses.
A global registry study found that women with acute heart failure have similar in-hospital mortality rates as men, but receive fewer treatments. The study revealed differences in clinical presentation, co-morbidities, and treatment patterns between genders.
Research presented at the ESC Congress 2012 found that patients who experience a cardiac arrest during or shortly after exercise are three times more likely to survive than those who experience an exercise-unrelated cardiac arrest. The study also showed that exercise-related cardiac arrests tend to occur in younger, male individuals an...
A team of researchers has developed a nanomechanical device that can weigh individual molecules, enabling biologists to study viruses and probe molecular machinery. The device uses vibrational modes to determine particle mass and position, opening doors for biomedical applications such as disease diagnosis and immune system monitoring.
A study published by the European Society of Cardiology found that passive smoking increases platelet activation and carbon monoxide levels in healthy individuals. The researchers investigated three parameters: mean platelet volume (MPV), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), and lactate.
A new study found that LCZ696 significantly reduces NT-proBNP levels and left atrium volume in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. The results suggest potential benefits of LCZ696 in treating this type of heart failure.
The study found that vorapaxar is beneficial for long-term secondary prevention of heart attacks in patients under 75 years old with no history of stroke and a body weight over 60kg. The drug's cardiovascular advantages are likely to outweigh the bleeding risks associated with it.
Researchers have identified molecular compounds that activate a key enzyme, PKM2, which governs how cancer cells use glucose and its metabolites. These compounds delay the formation of tumors in mice by correcting the altered metabolic state of cancer cells, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
A new study confirms ECG as a cost-effective method for detecting cardiac abnormalities in young athletes, preventing fatal events. The program's mean cost per athlete is €115, with most subsequent examinations being low-cost echocardiograms.
A study reveals that repressor proteins like Set2 recruit de-acetylases and chromatin remodelers Isw1 to block histone exchange and prevent erroneous transcription. This mechanism is crucial for maintaining accurate gene expression, which is often disrupted in diseases such as cancer.
A new study suggests that manipulating the microbiome may be a way to regulate weight gain. Researchers found that mice raised in a germ-free environment did not gain extra weight, even on a high-fat diet. The study highlights the importance of gut bacteria and the immune system in digestion and obesity.
A new device that mechanically removes stroke-causing blood clots from the brain has been proven to be highly effective in reopening blocked vessels, with a success rate of 61% compared to 24% for the standard FDA-approved mechanical device. The device also led to better survival rates three months after a stroke.
Researchers Kevin Speer and John Marshall suggest that the majority of ocean heat transport occurs in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, driven by strong winds. This finding could significantly impact our understanding of global climate processes.
Two multicenter studies show that next-generation clot-removal devices are superior to traditional technology in achieving blood flow restoration and neurological outcomes. The Trevo Retriever outperformed the FDA-approved Merci Retriever, while the Solitaire flow restoration device was more effective than MERCI in removing blood clots.
A new noninvasive diagnostic test using computed tomographic angiography and computational fluid dynamics has demonstrated improved accuracy for detecting ischemia in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease compared to CT angiography alone. The test, known as FFRCT, showed high sensitivity and negative predictive value...
A study found that commercial drivers with sleep apnoea reported lower levels of daytime sleepiness despite similar night-time disturbances. The drivers also received less treatment and made more unscheduled visits to the clinic, suggesting they were struggling with their symptoms.
Research from Bremen, Germany found that non-smokers experienced a 26% decrease in ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) following the introduction of a smoking ban. In contrast, active smokers showed little change in STEMI rates, highlighting the benefits of anti-smoking legislation.
Research presented at ESC Congress found that adolescent smokers have thicker artery walls, indicating early development of atherosclerosis. Early exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with various adverse health outcomes in children and adolescents.
A clinical study found that electronic cigarettes do not cause significant defects in cardiac function, unlike smoking tobacco cigarettes. The study compared the effects of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes on 20 young daily smokers and 22 electronic cigarette users, showing no acute adverse effects from e-cigarette use.
Climate change is expected to lead to a major ecological upheaval in Antarctica as predatory king crabs potentially invade the continental shelf. The invasion could disrupt the primeval marine communities that have lived there for millions of years, leading to a loss of unique biodiversity.
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have identified PHF20 as a novel transcriptional factor that regulates gene P53, a crucial gene for normal cell growth and tumor suppression. The study found that PHF20 directly interacts with p53 and stabilizes it, allowing for its activation in response to DNA damage.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed novel compounds targeting the glycine receptor to treat chronic pain without sedative effects. The project aims to create a safe and effective oral tablet, addressing a huge unmet medical need for 20% of adults in Europe and the US.