Researchers have discovered the functional importance of enhancer-directed RNAs, also known as eRNAs, which boost or enhance nearby genes. The discovery could provide a new way to alter gene expression in a cell-specific manner, potentially treating diseases.
A study published in Nature found that patients with type 2 diabetes have an altered gut microbiota, which can predict the risk of developing diabetes. The researchers developed a new model to analyze the metagenome and distinguish between patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy women.
A new study by the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that some hominids added grasses or sedges to their diets around 3.5 million years ago, marking a significant change in their survival and evolution. This shift likely contributed to the emergence of human-like species.
Researchers found that 30% of people with colorectal cancer did not act on genetic screening results, missing the diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. This study assesses the impact of routine screening for Lynch syndrome and highlights the importance of individuals taking action on test results.
A team of Indiana University neuroscientists has identified GLT1, a protein clearing glutamate from the brain, as critical to cocaine craving. The researchers found ceftriaxone, an antibiotic, increases GLT1 production and decreases craving in rats withdrawing from cocaine. This combination may lead to new treatments for addiction.
A recent University of Chicago study reveals that couples who met online have higher marital satisfaction and lower break-up rates. The research found that online relationships benefit from selectivity and advance screening, providing a larger pool of prospective partners.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a promising strategy for defeating neuroblastoma by targeting the MYCN protein. The approach involves inhibiting the MYC gene, which leads to the accumulation of fat droplets in cancer cells and ultimately causes cell death or development into harmless neurons.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have made a breakthrough in understanding how induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are created. They found that the process is not just a reversal of normal cell generation, but involves changes to skin cells during reprogramming. This discovery could lead to more efficient and cost-effectiv...
Srikanth Singamaneni aims to create novel biosensors using self-assembled metal nanoparticles with artificial antibodies, improving specificity and sensitivity. He also plans to educate high-school science teachers and develop a nanotechnology kit for students.
The university has received a five-year, $1.76 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research for a pre- and postdoctoral fellowship program in palliative care. The goal is to train nurse scientists to advance knowledge on effective palliation for patients with advanced diseases.
A Saint Louis University study found that obese women who lost weight between pregnancies were more likely to have normal-sized babies. This weight loss period provides a unique opportunity for behavior change and counseling from healthcare professionals.
Researchers can now study song acquisition, storage, and regurgitation in songbirds using MRI, providing parallels to human language acquisition. This technique allows for repeated, long-term developmental measurements of the brain, shedding light on learning, language, and neuroendocrinological plasticity.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine discovered a novel mechanism that suppresses tumor growth by stabilizing heterochromatin, a form of chromosomal DNA. This finding suggests a potential new approach to inhibit cancer gene expression and may represent a new class of tumor suppressors.
A study by Ben-Gurion University found that oncologists face difficulties in communicating about end-of-life issues, despite high patient needs. Common barriers include physician factors, patient reluctance, and institutional stigmas.
Researchers have developed a faster method to identify Salmonella strains, reducing the time it takes to detect outbreaks from one to three days. The new approach, called CRISPR-MVLST, is comparable in accuracy to existing methods and has the potential to be much cheaper.
Doctors' treatment recommendations depend on medical aspects, individual patient relationships, and their own life situations. Cancer patients' desires for participation change over the course of the disease, with initial trust in doctors crucial, but later seeking more information and involvement in decision-making.
Scientists have developed a safety test for human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) that can identify unwanted cells forming tumours and assess cell stability. The breakthrough could improve the quality of iPS cells and lead to safer cell therapies.
A new RAND Corporation study suggests that states choosing not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act will face significant financial costs, including $1 billion more in uncompensated care spending and foregone federal payments of $8.4 billion annually. This would leave an additional 3.6 million people without health insurance.
A study found that early-life risk factors, such as rapid infant weight gain and non-exclusive breastfeeding, account for the disparity in childhood obesity rates among black and Hispanic children compared to white children. The researchers suggest designing interventions during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood could help elimin...
NASA's Swift satellite has created the most detailed ultraviolet light surveys of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two closest major galaxies. The new images reveal about 1 million ultraviolet sources in the LMC and about 250,000 in the SMC.
A Swedish study of over 1,700 children found that more TV time was associated with increased consumption of sweetened beverages. Children who watched more TV were 50% more likely to drink these beverages regularly. The study suggests that TV programs and parental norms may play a role in shaping children's beverage habits.
Type 2 diabetics and people with hypertension are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, which can improve insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment has been shown to have a significant impact on glucose levels and insulin sensitivity.
Scientists have discovered a new enzyme that can break down wood into simple sugars, which can then be fermented to produce liquid biofuels. The gribble cellulase is extremely resistant to aggressive chemical environments, making it ideal for industrial applications and potentially reducing costs.
A new study published by Rice University and the University of California at Davis predicts that US corn yields will decline by 7% and irrigation needs will increase by 9% due to climate change. This could sharply hinder the nation's ethanol production targets, leading to a re-evaluation of biofuel policies.
Researchers develop activated biocarbon to adsorb naphthenic acids, preventing methane gas release. The technology has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands industry.
An interdisciplinary team will analyze soil, crop, and climate conditions at 75 Midwestern corn farms to identify factors influencing farmers' decisions about environmentally friendly practices. The study aims to reduce water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from corn farming, with results expected to inform policy approaches.
A new study by USC's Glenn Melnick and Katya Fonkych found that California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act led to a significant reduction in hospital prices for uninsured patients. Nearly all hospitals (97%) offered free care to those below the federal poverty line, going beyond the state mandate.
Researchers discovered that immune system cells and lymph capillaries regulate sodium balance and blood pressure in the skin, contrary to traditional views focusing on the kidney and brain.
A York University study found that songbirds migrating between the Amazon and North America do not adjust their departure times in response to record-breaking spring temperatures. This could lead to missed peak food supplies, impacting breeding productivity.
A new gene panel may help personalize therapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients by identifying those most likely to benefit from bevacizumab. Researchers observed a significant association between lower mesenchymal signatures and better survival in patients taking the drug.
A new drug called lambrolizumab has shown promising results in treating patients with advanced melanoma, with 77% of patients experiencing tumor response and minimal serious side effects. The treatment works by blocking a protein that allows cancer cells to hide from the immune system, reactivating an immune response to attack the cancer.
Oceanic oxygen levels decrease as ice sheets melt, leading to accelerated denitrification and a shift in the ocean's nitrogen cycle. Phytoplankton growth and productivity are affected, potentially altering atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
A new therapy, magnetic resonance image-guided focused ultrasound (MRIgFU) ablation therapy, has significantly reduced pain in 67% of patients with bone cancer. The treatment uses heat to destroy tumors without invasive surgery.
A new method for manufacturing short, single-stranded DNA molecules has been developed by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Harvard University. This technique can produce large amounts of DNA copies cheaply using bacteria, improving the quality and scalability of DNA fragment production.
Researchers developed a printing process called FLUENCE that produces semiconductors with strikingly higher quality than conventional methods. The technique enables thin films capable of conducting electricity 10 times more efficiently, paving the way for revolutionary advances in organic electronics.
A recent study found that night work can significantly impair glucose tolerance, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes among shift workers. The research showed peak glucose levels were 16% higher during night shifts compared to day shifts.
Researchers at MIT have identified 12 chemical compounds that help liver cells maintain their normal function while grown in a lab dish, and multiply to produce new tissue. The compounds can also mature induced pluripotent stem cells into fully functional hepatocytes.
Office workers with windows in their workplaces receive 173% more white light exposure during work hours and sleep an average of 46 minutes more per night. The research suggests that enhancing indoor lighting may improve office workers' physical well-being and sleep quality.
Researchers found that combining ipilimumab and nivolumab led to long-lasting tumor shrinkage in over half of patients with metastatic melanoma. The combination resulted in a 50% tumor size reduction in 40% of patients, with some experiencing shrinkages of over 80% within 12 weeks.
A Mayo Clinic-led study found that 45% of US oncologists experienced at least one symptom of burnout, despite 83% being satisfied with their careers. The study also revealed differences in practice characteristics between academic and private practices.
Researchers have identified a key growth factor, Fgf9, that promotes hair follicle regeneration after wounding. The study found that overexpressing Fgf9 in mouse models resulted in a two- to three-fold increase in new hair follicles produced.
A clinical trial found that adding bevacizumab to standard treatment for glioblastoma did not improve overall survival or progression-free survival. However, patients in the bevacizumab arm experienced a greater decline in cognitive function and symptom burden compared to those on placebo.
Experts urge for clear and unequivocal criteria to diagnose death, citing variability in brain death diagnosis and lack of global consensus. A proposed operational definition states death occurs when there is permanent loss of capacity for consciousness and loss of all brainstem functions.
A new study found that people with narcolepsy have a large increase in the number of neurons producing histamine, which may contribute to symptoms like preserved consciousness during cataplexy and fragmented nighttime sleep. This discovery suggests that drugs reducing histamine signaling at night may improve sleep in narcolepsy.
A subset of metastatic colorectal cancers responds to anti-EGFR drugs but develops resistance within months. The study found that MET gene amplification drives this resistance, and a blood test can detect its presence prior to relapse.
A Phase III study by MD Anderson Cancer Center found no overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) benefits for bevacizumab in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. However, patients on bevacizumab experienced higher rates of toxicities and symptom burden compared to placebo.
Europe's national R&D budgets have stalled, leading to a brain drain and stunted scientific growth. Portugal's former science minister calls for sustained investment to strengthen universities and research facilities, promoting collaboration across borders.
A recent genome study identified genetic markers that can lead to higher yielding cocoa plants with better taste. Researchers sequenced the genome of the most commonly cultivated cacao plant and found a gene involved in pod color variation, which can help improve the quality of cocoa beans.
Researchers have discovered a new oncogene, RET rearrangement, which is present in 15.7% of lung adenocarcinoma patients and may be targeted with existing tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. This finding presents a promising treatment option for patients with this specific mutation.
A randomized phase III trial found sorafenib stops tumor growth and provides effective treatment for thyroid cancer patients who progress following standard therapies. The therapy also thwarts disease progression even among those whose tumors do not regress, with median progression-free survival of 10.8 months.
Researchers have discovered HER2 gene abnormalities in 14 different types of solid tumors, including breast, esophageal, and lung cancers. The study suggests that these irregularities may benefit from existing anti-HER2 therapies, providing new treatment options for patients with advanced cancer.
Researchers found that cytomegalovirus (CMV) can speed the progression of glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer, when particular genes are shut off. CMV was found to stimulate tumor-cell proliferation by activating a biochemical cell pathway called STAT3.
Researchers have discovered that genetically engineered immune cells can promote healing in mice infected with a neurological disease similar to multiple sclerosis. The new finding suggests that immune cells could be engineered to create a new treatment for people with MS.
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical practice guidelines on sleep apnea, sleepiness, and driving risk for non-commercial drivers. The guidelines recommend assessing daytime sleepiness and recent crashes or near-misses due to sleepiness, fatigue, or inattention.
Resuscitation efforts should be guided by expert advice, taking into account scenarios where CPR may not be beneficial. Key considerations include witness status, time elapsed since cardiac arrest, patient wishes expressed through living wills or proxies, and potential risks to medical personnel.
Researchers found that the experimental drug selumetinib significantly improved progression-free survival, with nearly 16 weeks of PFS, and showed significant tumor shrinkage in patients with advanced uveal melanoma. This breakthrough offers a new treatment option for a historically untreatable disease.
Researchers found that crizotinib boosts median disease progression time to 7.7 months, compared to 3 months with standard chemotherapy, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring an abnormal ALK gene.
Mount Sinai researchers identified genetic markers for survival in melanoma patients and found high readmission rates after cancer surgery in non-teaching hospitals and among black patients. They also discovered low prevalence of spousal HPV infection, reassuring long-term partners that their risk is very low.
Two MGH-led studies show crizotinib is superior to chemotherapy for advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, with over double the progression-free survival. A second study reports the first crizotinib resistance in a ROS1-positive lung tumor, revealing the mechanism underlying that resistance.
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical practice guidelines on sleep apnea and driving risk, highlighting the significant role of obstructive sleep apnea in daytime sleepiness and crashes. The guidelines recommend assessing patients for sleepy driving and providing treatment to reduce the risk of accidents.