A study of older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found that new use of long-acting bronchodilators was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The study suggests that close monitoring of COPD patients taking these medications is necessary to mitigate this risk.
A study of 16 newborns with posterior fossa subdural hematoma (PFSDH) found that most infants survived and had relatively minor neurological abnormalities, even in severe cases. Surgery was successful in eliminating the hematoma and normalizing intracranial pressure.
Researchers found that ibodutant significantly improved symptoms in over 50% of individuals with IBS-D, while an investigational therapy achieved high response rates in patients with hepatitis C. The studies' findings hold promise for patients who have struggled with current treatments.
Researchers studied 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils to reconstruct their brain and inner ear anatomy. The study found that the brain underwent significant changes during growth, with important parts for hearing and cognitive processes already well-developed in young dinosaurs.
A new UConn study found that video game players are more likely to experience aggressive thoughts and words when battling human-like characters. The research suggests that exposure to violent games can lead to increased aggression, particularly when players perceive the opponents as human-like.
A University of Michigan-led study challenges prevailing theories on whooping cough's resurgence by showing vaccines offer long-lived protection and reduced transmission. The study highlights the success of Thailand's childhood immunization program in reducing pertussis cases, especially among infants.
A team of seismologists has discovered that slow earthquakes, which last minutes rather than seconds, are linked to the type of rock in faults. Laboratory experiments using natural samples from Japan found that clay minerals play a key role in this slip behavior, influencing how rocks react to shear.
Researchers at PNNL and BPA identified two unique methods and two sites in eastern Washington for compressed air energy storage. These plants can store wind energy produced at night and release it when demand is high, providing flexibility to balance the region's highly variable wind energy generation.
Researchers studied fire ants' tunnel networks to discover fundamental principles of locomotion that can be applied to robot teams working underground. The study found that ants use their antennae for both sensing and movement in confined spaces, allowing them to move quickly and easily through tunnels.
A new method developed by Disney Research enables a humanoid robot to receive an object handed to it by a person with natural, human-like motion. By rapidly searching a database of human motion, the robot can predict where the human plans to make the handoff and move its arm accordingly.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic discovered that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at a 37% increased risk of developing melanoma. IBD causes chronic inflammation in the intestines, which may contribute to this elevated cancer risk.
A study found that early provision of intravenous nutrition to critically ill patients with contraindications did not improve survival or reduce ICU length of stay. However, it resulted in a significant reduction in days of invasive mechanical ventilation.
A new measure of genetic diversity within tumors has been found to predict treatment outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Higher levels of genetic heterogeneity were associated with shorter overall survival, and the relationship was seen across different risk groups.
A study by Michigan State University's Zach Hambrick found that practice accounts for only about one-third of the differences in skill in chess and music. Natural talent and factors such as intelligence and age of start may contribute to the remaining two-thirds.
A compound found in plant-based foods like parsley and celery has been shown to re-educate cancer cells into normal cells, making them more susceptible to death. The study, led by Ohio State University researchers, suggests that apigenin can restore normal gene regulation, leading to increased cell death rates among breast cancer cells.
Scientists discover carbon spherules at multiple sites worldwide, indicating a massive comet or meteorite impact altered Earth's atmosphere. This event accelerated global warming and led to mass extinctions, including the demise of wooly mammoths.
A retrospective study of nearly 40,000 proficiency test results found that food laboratories report false negatives for Campylobacter (9.1%) and Salmonella (4.9%), while also experiencing high false positive rates for these pathogens. Improved accuracy is crucial for a safer food supply.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to print highly conductive and bendable layers of graphene using inkjet printing. The resulting patterns are 250 times more conductive than previous attempts, paving the way for low-cost, foldable electronics.
A population-based study found that exposure to both wood smoke and tobacco smoke significantly increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and experiencing more frequent and severe symptoms. The study also found that those exposed to both types of smoke had poorer lung function scores and more phlegm,...
Researchers discovered that woody plant matter is almost completely digested by bacteria living in the Amazon River, fueling its breath and playing a major role in the global carbon cycle. The finding suggests that rivers are more like metabolic hotspots than passive pipes, with only 5% of the rainforest's carbon ever reaching the ocean.
A nationwide study reveals that heredity plays a significant role in common forms of atherosclerotic disease, with risk highest for individuals with family history. The study found a strong correlation between early-onset aortic atherosclerosis and increased risk of developing the same type of disease.
The RAND Corporation report highlights emergency physicians' critical role in evaluating, managing, and preventing hospital admissions. The study found that ERs account for nearly half of all hospital admissions, with non-elective admissions increasing 3.8 times the rate of population growth.
LWW's 8 published journals won gold, silver and bronze awards in various categories. Wolters Kluwer Health received the recognition for delivering high-quality publications.
A clinical trial investigated the use of Exenatide, a diabetes drug, in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study found that patients receiving Exenatide showed significant improvements in motor skills and cognitive ability after one year of treatment.
Researchers have developed a new rapid diagnostic test for worm infections that provides substantial improvement over the current standard. The test is expected to be more sensitive and easier to use than existing methods, and will help guide public health efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis affects approxim...
The Academy of Natural Sciences will provide scientific guidance and measurements for region-wide watershed conservation efforts. The grant will support coordinated conservation programs across the Delaware Valley region, focusing on water quality and environmental stressors.
A new Kaiser Permanente study published in Pediatrics found that whole-cell pertussis vaccines were more effective at protecting against pertussis than acellular pertussis vaccines during a large recent outbreak in California. The study examined 138 individuals with confirmed pertussis and found that teenagers vaccinated with four dose...
A study published in Spine journal found that telerehabilitation using Skype and video motion analysis software has good accuracy compared to face-to-face examinations for assessing patients with low back pain. The system showed consistent results for the same therapist at different times and for assessment by independent therapists.
A new study has identified four metabolites that can be used to accurately predict mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The researchers analyzed plasma samples from 90 ICU patients and found that levels of lactate, mannose, gamma-glutamyltyrosine, and stearidonate were associated with high mortality rates.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) may not be more effective than conformal radiation therapy (CRT) after prostatectomy. The study compared outcomes of 457 IMRT and 557 CRT patients treated between 2002 and 2007, showing no significant difference in long-term side ...
A new study published in Pediatrics found that men diagnosed with childhood ADHD were more than twice as likely to become obese as those without the condition. The study tracked the health outcomes of 207 white men diagnosed with ADHD and their comparison group over 33 years.
A new study found a link between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and Alzheimer's disease risk factors in cognitively normal elderly patients. Lean SDB patients showed biomarkers of AD risk, including increased P-Tau and T-Tau levels, glucose hypometabolism, and hippocampal atrophy.
Researchers have identified a potential new risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea: asthma. The study, which followed 1,500 participants over eight years, found that patients with asthma were 1.70 times more likely to develop sleep apnea. Childhood-onset asthma was associated with an even stronger link to sleep apnea.
Researchers found that purified ginger components can work synergistically with beta-agonists to relax airway smooth muscle and improve breathing. The most effective component was 6-shogaol, which dissolves F-actin filaments and inhibits phosphodiesterase4D.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that blocking critical bone regulation protein halts OA progression in mice, suggesting a new therapeutic approach to joint replacement surgery. The theory proposes that initial harm to cartilage causes excessive bone growth, leading to disease exacerbation.
A recent study published in Investigative Genetics found that the genomic diversity of the Dutch population follows a southeast-to-northwest gradient, with the population separated into four geographic groups. The researchers propose that this pattern is due to recent movement within the last 2000 years, rather than ancient events.
Researchers used geological proxies and computer models to understand how sea level affected rainfall patterns in the Indo-Pacific warm pool during the last ice age. The study found that lowered sea levels led to reduced convection over a region of the warm pool, resulting in drier climates in some areas and wetter climates in others.
A new computational method called viSNE enables scientists to analyze high-dimensional cancer data, revealing distinct cell subpopulations and detecting minimal residual disease. This breakthrough technology has the potential to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
New research finds that coherent twin boundaries in metals contain tiny kink-like steps and curvatures, making them stronger but also more electrically resistant. This discovery challenges previous understanding of these materials and could lead to improved engineering designs for high-strength applications.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) will honor important contributions to the field of endoscopy during the ninth annual ASGE Crystal Awards on May 19, 2013. The event recognizes leaders, researchers, and educators who have strengthened the specialty and the Society.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience investigates the ability of climate models to simulate tropical climate change by analyzing preserved geological evidence from the Last Glacial Maximum. The research reveals that only one model reproduces the rainfall patterns found from the geological evidence, with implications for simulatin...
A new study projects that heat-related deaths in Manhattan will increase by 20 percent by the 2020s and potentially up to 90 percent or more by the 2080s. Higher winter temperatures may offset some of these deaths, but overall temperature-related mortality is expected to rise.
The AGA recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to gastroenterology through its esteemed recognition awards. The 2013 awardees include Dr. Chung Owyang, who received the Julius Friedenwald Medal for his lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology.
Researchers have identified an immune protein called CD52 that can suppress the immune response and prevent or reverse type 1 diabetes. This discovery has wider implications for treating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers engineered bacteria to produce electricity solely from hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide, enabling the growth of a biorenewable energy source. The breakthrough utilizes Geobacter species, which can transfer electrons over long distances via conductive filaments.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. A molecular marker obtained from pancreatic 'juices' can identify almost all cases of pancreatic cancer, with a detection rate of 75%.
Scientists at the University of California, Davis have successfully engineered a strain of photosynthetic cyanobacteria to grow without light. This breakthrough allows for cost-effective and controllable biofuel production in diurnal conditions.
A recent study found that traditional fisheries targeting large predators like cod have declined, while shellfish such as prawns and scallops have increased in value. However, this shift is at risk due to disease, species invasions, and climate change, which threaten the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems.
A study by Georgia Tech researchers reveals that RNA can catalyze single electron transfer in oxygen-free environments with the assistance of iron. This process suggests that complex biochemical transformations may have been possible when life began on Earth, and could even revive a latent function of RNA.
A University of Michigan Health System study found that peripherally inserted central catheters more than double the risk of blood clots in critically ill patients and those with cancer. The device is often used for IV medication delivery and has lower infection risks, but may not be suitable for all patients.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck and Complutense University of Madrid use a quantum simulator to study quantum mechanical phase transitions in many-body systems. They observe how competition between two processes takes place, leading to fragile long-range correlations between distant particles.
A study found that optimal treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP improves glucose levels and reduces cardiometabolic risk in patients with prediabetes. Insulin sensitivity is also enhanced without affecting insulin secretion.
In a surprise twist, female strawberry poison frogs in Costa Rica prioritize the nearest singing male over physical appearance and vocal quality. The research found that females fail to discriminate between different call rates or frequencies, instead opting for the closest speaker.
A new grant will fund research into the relationship between diet and specific microbes, genes, and colorectal cancer. The study aims to associate red meat intake with the gut microbiome on a population scale.
Researchers examined new methods for managing digestive health through diet and lifestyle changes. Vitamin D supplementation was found to significantly relieve symptoms of Crohn's disease, including muscle strength and fatigue.
A new colonoscope allows doctors to see more of the colon, significantly improving adenoma detection rates and reducing polyp miss rates by up to 80%. The Full Spectrum Endoscopy (FUSE) colonoscope also optimizes withdrawal times during colonoscopies, decreasing polyp miss rates by almost twice as much with longer procedures.
A new study suggests that more objective testing can substantially reduce the cost and risk of managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with potential cost savings of up to $7,300 per patient over 10 years. Additionally, researchers identified risk factors associated with surgical readmissions in major gastrointestinal resections.
Researchers found ketamine to be effective in treating treatment-resistant depression within 24 hours, with a response rate of 63.8% compared to 28% in the placebo group. The antidepressant benefits were durable after seven days, making ketamine a promising new treatment option for patients with severe and refractory forms of depression.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health found that combat veterans with PTSD exhibit abnormal brain activity in key fear and anxiety regions even at rest. The study sheds light on which areas of the brain provoke traumatic symptoms and represents a critical step toward better diagnostics and treatments for PTSD.
A new smartphone application has been shown to significantly improve colonoscopy preparation by providing personalized guidance and reminders for patients. The study found that 84% of individuals who used the app received a good score on the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale, compared to 56% of those who did not use the app.