A Concordia University study shows that a veil of shame surrounds suicide in cultures worldwide, forcing those affected to grieve alone. Researchers used arts therapy to facilitate dialogue and find common themes across diverse communities, promoting healing and hope.
A mutant protein variant called Progerin impairs cells by reducing nuclear levels of RanGTPase and limiting nuclear import of large cargoes. This exclusion may contribute to cellular defects in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome (HGPS).
Researchers at Monell Center have identified a critical protein, Ggamma13, essential for mammalian odor detection. Mice lacking this protein were functionally anosmic, highlighting its role in smell disorders in humans.
A consortium of scientists found that breathing ultrafine particles from engineered nanomaterials can cause lung inflammation and damage. The study examined the health effects of two types of nanomaterials and showed similar findings across different labs.
A new class of drug targeting skin cancer's genetic material has been successfully tested in humans for the first time. The drug, Dz13, was found to be safe and showed positive effects in reducing tumour growth and spread.
A new study by Columbia University found that teenage girls who engage in regular physical activity are at a lower risk of being involved in violence-related behaviors. The study analyzed data from 1,312 students and found that exercise was associated with decreased odds of being in a gang, carrying a weapon, or participating in fights.
A new study found that prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is associated with lower intelligence and hyperactivity in early childhood. The study, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, suggests that maternal exposure to PBDEs can disrupt thyroid hormone and cause learning problems.
A new study proposes a 'Medicare Essential' plan that combines Medicare's hospital, physician, and prescription drug coverage with private supplemental coverage to simplify benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs. The plan aims to save $180 billion over 10 years while improving care for beneficiaries.
Researchers at Lund University are testing an antibody-based treatment for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer without a cure. The antibody, BI-505, has shown promising results in cell studies and animal experiments, and a clinical trial is currently underway to test its effects on patients.
Researchers found that Wip1 mutations can lead to the shortening of this protein, allowing cancer cells to circumvent p53's protective mechanisms. These mutations were detected in colorectal and breast cancer patients, suggesting they may be a new target for cancer treatment.
The study found that couples with larger age gaps have lower earnings, less education, and reduced cognitive abilities. Physical attractiveness was also negatively affected in these relationships. The researchers suggest that social networks play a key role in shaping marriage choices and earning potential.
Researchers found that a new antiviral treatment could halve chronic HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 15 years. In cities like Edinburgh, where chronic prevalence is lower, the treatment is projected to reduce HCV rates by 25%. Doubling treatment rates and increasing budget may be needed to scale up the therapy.
A survey by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that nearly 90% of drivers engage in distracting behaviors while driving their children, leading to a higher risk of crashes. The study also highlighted the importance of using age-appropriate child restraints and finding internal motivations for safety seat use.
Researchers discovered that nectar-feeding bats use blood flow to erect tiny hair-like structures on their tongues, allowing them to gather nectar from flowers. This unique technology enables the bats to slurp up nectar quickly and efficiently.
Researchers found that male spiders of the Micaria sociabilis species are more likely to consume female spiders than be consumed by them. This behavior is linked to male size and age, suggesting a possible type of male mate choice.
Researchers used ancient DNA to reconstruct past plankton communities in the Black Sea, shedding light on climate-driven changes and human impact. The study found that marine ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change and human disturbances.
Researchers have developed a new, more precise form of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) called FEAST, which shows promising results in reducing depressive symptoms with minimal adverse cognitive effects. In a feasibility study, patients experienced significant improvements after just 10 sessions over four weeks.
A KAIST research team developed in vivo silicon-based flexible large scale integrated circuits for bio-medical wireless communication. The devices were monolithically encapsulated with biocompatible liquid crystal polymers and demonstrated stable operation in live rats.
Using 3D printing, researchers have created a simple and inexpensive way to produce plastic cloaks that can deflect microwave beams, making them appear invisible. The technique involves designing algorithms to create holes in the cloak, which allows it to suppress scattering from objects, effectively making them invisible.
Researchers analyzed data from the RV144 HIV vaccine trial, which showed a 31% protection rate. They found that specific antibodies may interfere with the protective effects of other antibodies, reducing the vaccine's efficacy. This discovery can inform future vaccine development strategies to overcome these limitations.
Researchers found that ambrisentan treatment worsened IPF progression and hospitalization rates. Assessing acute changes in Lung Allocation Score can inform organ wait-list strategies to reduce post-transplant mortality. Inexpensive behavioral interventions helped TB patients in poor countries quit smoking, offering a basis for effecti...
The NOAA GOES infrared and visible imagery created a 17-second animation of the smoke plume from May 3 to May 5, showing it blow westward into the eastern Pacific. The fire consumed 28,000 acres of brush in the coastal area northwest of Los Angeles.
Professor Federico Rosei, INRS director, wins Canadian Association of Physicists' 2013 Herzberg Medal for his pioneering work on nanomaterials. His interdisciplinary research has led to new discoveries and applications.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a process called Lifelong Robotic Object Discovery (LROD) that enables a two-armed robot to discover objects using color video, Kinect depth camera, and non-visual information. The robot can refine its understanding of objects over time, focusing on those most relevant to its goal.
Serguei Triapitsyn, an entomologist at UC Riverside, has discovered a new wasp species, Gonatocerus ucri, from the Russian Far East. The wasp is mostly brown in color and has long antennae and wings, with its host unknown but potentially beneficial insects.
A recent study has found a significant link between certain antidepressants and an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection. People with major depression were 36% more likely to develop CDI, while the use of mirtazapine and fluoxetine doubled the risk. Researchers stress that the exact cause of this association is unknown.
A national study estimates 2.9 million Canadian adults have chronic kidney disease, a risk factor for death and significant healthcare burden. High blood pressure and diabetes are more common among those with chronic kidney disease.
A recent analysis found that the rise in treated disease prevalence and spending per treated case accounted for most of the increase in US healthcare spending between 1987 and 2009. The study, published in Health Affairs, also revealed that obesity contributed to 10.4% of the overall rise in spending.
A new study shows that minimal dose computed tomography (MnDCT) is more sensitive than conventional chest X-rays in detecting new or recurrent lung cancer, while delivering a similar amount of radiation. The study found that MnDCT detected 94% of recurrent cancers compared to 21%, allowing for earlier treatment and longer survival rates.
A new study found that strategies to lower Medicare costs, such as increasing premiums and raising the eligibility age, could lead to some seniors losing coverage, prompting concerns about access to healthcare. The analysis suggests that premium support programs or voucher plans could cut spending by up to 24%.
A new study finds that half of high school football players would continue to play with headache symptoms, and only 54% report concussions to coaches. The study raises concerns about concussion education in adolescent athletes.
A study by Dr. Ann-Marie Conn found that out-of-home placements can lead to significant improvements in mental health problems among school-age children who have been maltreated, with a decrease in symptoms for 6- to 10-year-olds. However, the benefits were not seen for younger or older children.
A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that states with mandatory helmet laws have significantly lower rates of fatalities and incapacitating injuries among children. The research showed a 2-per-1-million-child difference in fatal and incapacitating injury rates between states with and without helmet laws.
A study by Henry Ford Health found that ER visits for urinary tract infections result in nearly $4 billion in unnecessary costs each year. The research analyzed data from 10.8 million patients with a primary diagnosis of UTI who visited emergency rooms from 2006 to 2009.
Policies in California's Salinas Valley are prioritizing food safety over wildlife habitat, resulting in the destruction of wetlands and riverside areas. The measures, driven by powerful buyers, create unnecessary costs for farmers and harm wildlife, despite low risk from animals.
A recent review of evidence suggests that humans were unlikely to have been the primary drivers of megafauna extinction in Australia, with climate change instead being the main culprit. The study challenges long-held assumptions and highlights the complexity of this issue.
A slowdown in healthcare spending growth could result in Americans saving up to $770 billion on Medicare costs over the next decade. This decrease is attributed to a decline in new drug development and increased efficiency in the healthcare system.
The SCAMPs platform, developed at Boston Children's Hospital, helps healthcare providers continuously improve their medical practice by reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. Successful outcomes associated with the platform include lower costs, reduced practice variation, and improved outcomes for various pediatric conditions.
A study of 120 high school football players found that one-quarter had suffered a concussion and more than half acknowledged continuing to play with symptoms. Most players knew common signs and symptoms but were reluctant to report them to their coaches.
Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed by relying on the art of medicine, as physical findings or laboratory tests are often absent. Primary care physicians are best positioned to manage this condition due to its prevalence rate, with a combination of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies being the most appropriate management strategy.
A Johns Hopkins Medicine review of 34 clinical trials found that oral drops are effective in alleviating symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma in children. The study suggests that oral drops can be a reasonable option for providing relief to millions of children who suffer from these conditions.
A new study found that hydrocarbon exposure incidents increased significantly during summer months, with most cases occurring in boys between one to two years old. The study also highlights the importance of proper storage and supervision to prevent these types of injuries.
A major international TEDDY study found no evidence of a causal link between early viral infections and the rapid onset of Type 1 diabetes in young children. Despite analysis of over 8,000 children and blood samples, researchers discovered little association between viral infections and disease progression.
University of Illinois researchers created a novel approach to produce highly uniform Pt icosahedral nanocrystals using the hot injection-assisted GRAILS method. The synthesis results in high-purity products with ideal models for studying structure-property relationships.
A study published in PNAS found that a compound in breast milk may prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Breast milk contains high levels of sodium nitrate, which is converted to nitrite by gut bacteria, producing the vasodilator nitric oxide.
A study found that media reports about electromagnetic hypersensitivity can trigger symptoms in susceptible individuals, even if there is no objective reason. The nocebo effect, where expectation of negative effects increases likelihood of experiencing symptoms, was observed.
A new study from Harvard Medical School reveals that millions of eligible seniors are turning down free prescription drug coverage due to impaired cognitive abilities. The researchers suggest that the design of the program needs to be changed to make it easier for low-income adults to enroll and access the benefit.
Researchers at Columbia University developed a technique to isolate a single water molecule inside a buckyball, enabling controlled transport of a nonpolar molecule through an external electric field. This method holds promise for effective ways to control drug delivery and assemble C60-based functional structures.
Researchers identified a key protein responsible for stress hormones' detrimental effect on brain cells. A new compound was found to block this effect, increasing the number of new brain cells in a potential new avenue for drug discovery.
A new study suggests that African-Americans are more likely to develop multiple sclerosis, contradicting the widely accepted notion that they are at lower risk. The study found a 47% increased risk in African-Americans compared to Caucasians.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine developed a new technique to visualize cell interactions in living mice, pinpointing metastatic cancer cells' locations after breaking off from initial tumor sites. The method uses light-emitting proteins and has potential applications in studying various cell interactions.
A recent study by Henry Ford Health reveals that prostate cancer patients with metastasis are more likely to die after weekend emergency department visits compared to weekdays. The study found that these patients have a 23% increased likelihood of death after weekend visits, despite being older and healthier on average.
A randomized trial found targeting oxygen saturations of 85-89% compared to 91-95% had no significant effect on death or disability in extremely preterm infants at 18 months. The study included 1,201 infants with gestational ages of 23-27 weeks and monitored them until postmenstrual age of 36-40 weeks.
A new study reveals that surgical volume significantly affects the outcome of procedures, especially for robotic-assisted surgeries. High-volume hospitals demonstrated superior results in terms of complication rates and blood transfusions, while low-volume centers struggled with inferior outcomes.
Researchers found a key role for chaperones in protein assembly and regulation of the proteasome's functionality. The study may reveal new targets for anticancer drugs and advance research on Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
A Stanford study reveals that a protein complex called BAF may play a crucial role in preventing many forms of cancer. The complex, which affects DNA packaging in cells, works to suppress tumor development in various tissues.
Researchers used a microwave oven to produce a nanocrystal semiconductor for more efficient photovoltaic solar cells and LED lights, biological sensors, and systems to convert waste heat to electricity. The method produces the material quickly and uses less toxic metals than other semiconductors.
Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco have made a breakthrough in treating epilepsy by transplanting new inhibitory nerve cells into the brains of adult mice. This innovative approach has shown promising results in reducing seizure occurrence and reversing associated learning and memory problems.
A new study finds that preterm infants require a daily dose of 800 IU of vitamin D3 to reduce the risk of vitamin D insufficiency. Higher doses led to better bone mineralization, but excess levels caused no major effects.
The Cassava Brown Streak Disease has been identified as the most serious threat among various cassava viruses, with outbreaks reported in several countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The disease is caused by a highly infectious virus that can claim 100% of a farmer's harvest without their knowledge.