New research reveals that climate change coverage has overshadowed biodiversity issues in media and funding. Biodiversity conservation experts recommend leveraging climate change awareness to secure more funds and attention for critical conservation efforts.
A major public health problem is emerging due to an increase in deaths from prescribed painkillers, with over 16,000 US deaths in 2010 alone. The review identifies factors such as increased opioid prescriptions, combined use of opioids and other substances, and social demographic factors as contributing causes.
A national study reveals that mental health patients are two and a half times more likely to be victims of homicide than the general public. The study found that 6% of homicide victims had been under mental health care in the year preceding their death, with many cases involving substance misuse and a history of violence.
The Geological Society of America has expanded its online body of knowledge by digitizing 23 years of The Geological Society of America Bulletin content published between 1922 and 1944. The milestone includes works from renowned authors such as Joseph Pardee, Beno Gutenberg, and Charles Francis Richter.
A recent study shows that the ecological risks posed by toxic chemicals are considerably greater than assumed on a pan-European scale. Chemical toxicity represents an ecological threat to almost half of all European bodies of water.
Researchers analyzed amino acids in shell beads to determine their origin, revealing a locally sourced alternative to the Mediterranean thorny oyster. The study uses a multidisciplinary approach, combining techniques from archaeology, chemistry, and physics.
A new study found that elevated stress hormones are associated with structural brain changes and short-term memory deficits in aged rats. The research suggests that stress may accelerate age-related cognitive decline by altering brain connections and function in the prefrontal cortex.
A new study by Concordia University researchers shows that even with mental overload, the brain can automatically detect changes in blur across the visual environment. This finding challenges previous theories on the detection of blurred sight and has implications for daily tasks like driving.
A new study found that red blood cell transfusions may benefit patients at high risk of death after trauma, but harm those at low risk. The study analyzed data from the CRASH-2 trial, which included 20,127 trauma patients from 40 countries.
A study of over 59,000 patients found that 3D digital breast tomosynthesis increased overall cancer detection by 28.6% and invasive cancer detection by 43.8%. The technology also reduced recall rates in community-based radiology practice.
A study published in mBio found that fecal transplants partially restored a diverse community of healthy gut bacteria to recipients, reducing the amount of infectious Proteobacteria and increasing Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes bacteria. The transplants also improved metabolic pathways, including those involved in stress response.
Researchers have identified a fast-acting compound, hydroxynorketamine (HNK), that may treat symptoms of depression just as effectively and rapidly as ketamine without unwanted side effects. HNK also shows promise in treating neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
A national team of researchers found that adding clot-busting medications to conventional approaches significantly reduces deaths from sudden-onset pulmonary embolism. The meta-analysis of 16 trials assessed over 2,115 patients and showed a 47% lower mortality rate with thrombolysis.
A study found that adults are heavily exposed to e-cigarette marketing through various media channels, including TV and online platforms. E-cigarette users were more likely than non-users to search for information on Facebook and share it with others.
A new T cell therapy has been developed to protect immunodeficient patients from infections. The treatment involves transferring a few immune cells, which are then used to fight off specific pathogens, and has shown great potential in clinical trials.
Researchers found that Indiana bats make social contacts during foraging and that these connections can influence their roosting behavior. The study suggests that social dynamics play a crucial role in the survival of this endangered species.
SLU's Center for World Health and Medicine has received a $3.13 million sub-grant from PATH to explore new treatments for pediatric diarrhea, which kills about 600,000 young children worldwide each year. The grant aims to repurpose drugs for childhood diarrhea that pharmaceutical companies had developed as therapy for hypertension.
A new study by SAGE found that librarians consider article databases the most useful reference source, followed by statistical databases and abstracting and indexing resources. The study also revealed that use of free resources is as prevalent as use of fee-based resources, with discovery services being the most desired.
A new study finds that most protected areas in Antarctica are at high risk for biological invasions, with five eco regions having no protected areas. The continent's biodiversity is vulnerable to invasion by exotic species, threatening its unique wildlife and plants.
Research at Granada finds that alcohol consumption markedly impairs night-vision and deteriorates the optical quality of images seen. The study concludes that ethanol from alcoholic drinks disturbs the tear-film, facilitating evaporation of the aqueous part, which in turn degrades image quality.
A study found that overweight children with a common gene mutation are more likely to have elevated liver values. The research highlights the importance of healthy lifestyle habits from an early age, particularly for children carrying the risk gene.
A study of over 56,000 patients with inflammatory bowel disease found no association between TNF inhibitor use and increased cancer risk. However, the authors emphasize the need for continued long-term follow-up to monitor potential risks.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified a new strategy for treating neuroblastoma using a modified version of heparin. The study found that the derivative suppressed and shrunk neuroblastoma tumors in mice without causing severe bleeding.
A new approach to mammogram interpretation takes into account a woman's health risk profile, reducing missed cancer diagnoses by 3.7% and false positives by 3.23%. The method uses statistical weighting based on profile risk to improve biopsy decisions.
The TRMM satellite captured heavy rainfall in dissipating former Hurricane Cristina, with rain rates reaching almost 97 mm per hour in the northwestern side of its eye wall. The storm's powerful thunderstorms reached heights above 13.5 km, and its eye wall was broken on the eastern side.
A new study reveals that gene expression profiling tests, such as Oncotype Dx, have a heightened perceived value among patients with early breast cancer due to access barriers. The carefully administered technology has led to unintended consequences like gatekeeping and perceived inequalities in access.
A specific protein, protocadherin-15 CD2, is crucial for hearing by forming tip-links that convert sound into electrical signals. The absence of this protein leads to profound deafness in mice and humans, providing a major breakthrough in understanding the auditory mechanotransduction machinery.
Researchers develop a crowdsourcing game to tackle the phase problem, achieving successful results in low-resolution phasing puzzles. The approach leverages human pattern recognition capabilities to guide the search process.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have identified a genetic pathway that suppresses the spread of ovarian cancer. By studying the genetics of platypus and humans, they found that piRNA genes play a crucial role in preventing the growth of cancer cells.
A new study found that heart attack patients with kidney problems are less likely to receive recommended treatments, including angiograms and invasive procedures. However, recent studies suggest these risks may be overstated, and clinicians can ensure patient hydration reduces the risk of injury.
Researchers at San Raffaele Scientific Institute developed a new method to convert fibroblasts into neurons, which improved motor function in rodents with parkinsonism. The study used technology that allowed the neurons to express engineered proteins and respond to specific drugs.
Researchers found that deleting the APC gene from select neurons in the mouse brain led to reduced social behavior, increased repetitive behavior, and impaired learning and memory formation. The study provides insights into how the loss of APC affects brain development, learning, and behavior.
Four Monash researchers have been awarded top prizes in the NHMRC's Research Excellence Awards for their groundbreaking work on MAIT cells, infection prevention, and population health. Associate Professor Allen Cheng and Associate Professor Terry Haines will lead projects to develop new treatments and improve healthcare services.
Researchers at MIT's Quantum Photonics Laboratory have developed novel optical sensors with predicted detection levels in the parts-per-billion range. The sensors use microscopic polymer light resonators that expand in the presence of specific gases.
Researchers found that interventions for diabetes distress significantly reduced symptoms of depression in people with type 2 diabetes. In contrast, patients with type 1 diabetes who reported high levels of depressive symptoms had a higher mortality risk. These findings suggest that 'diabetes distress' may not be a co-morbid psychiatri...
A significant genetic component of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) has been discovered, implicating a mutation in the gene for protein cotransporter KCC2. The study found a clear association between two variants of KCC2 and severe IGE in French-Canadian patients.
A survey of urologists and radiation oncologists found that most specialists view active surveillance as an effective treatment option but often fail to recommend it for their own patients. Instead, they tend to recommend treatments provided by their own specialty.
Researchers found that combining low doses of bortezomib with an oncolytic virus significantly improves the ability to kill cancer cells. The combination treatment suppressed tumor growth by 92% in a glioma model and improved survival rates, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for solid tumors.
A recent survey found that 10 new e-cigarette brands enter the market every month, offering over 7,700 flavors. The study also highlighted a shift in marketing strategies, with newer brands focusing on consumer choice rather than health benefits.
Researchers pinpointed common perioperative procedures with little clinical evidence, recommending elimination to reduce costs and improve quality of care. The 'Choosing Wisely' campaign supports these findings, encouraging physicians to adopt evidence-based medicine.
Researchers found a surprising regularity in human behavior using quantum theory to analyze survey questions. The study identified 'quantum question equality,' where people switch their responses systematically when the order of questions is reversed.
Inhibition of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) and subsequent cofilin dephosphorylation can promote neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, a key step towards treating neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation has shown promise in repairing and protecting damaged brain tissue after traumatic injury.
A recent study found that a 5-year low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening protocol can detect lung cancer effectively, with a high proportion of cancers being treated and good long-term survival rates. The results show improved diagnostic performance compared to other studies, including the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new technology that uses microwaves to quickly and accurately diagnose stroke patients. The system, called Strokefinder, has been shown to differentiate between bleeding strokes and clot-induced strokes with great certainty in clinical studies.
The American College of Physicians recommends assessing a woman's health history for unique events that increase her risk of stroke later in life. For chronic hepatitis C patients, routine screening for liver cancer may not lead to greater survival.
A soft-drink tax has been found to be an effective way to reduce consumption and lead to significant weight losses. The study estimated that middle-income heavy consumers would lose up to 3.64 kg, making it a cost-effective solution for obesity prevention.
Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) affects young, well-educated women with severe symptoms like dizziness, fainting, and excessive fatigue. The syndrome is often misdiagnosed and inconsistently treated, leading to significant disability and impact on quality of life.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new and efficient approach to 3D metal parts using selective laser melting. They used simple simulations and experiments to identify optimal parameters for high-density metal parts, which can be used to certify properties of metal parts built using SLM.
A UNSW Australia-led team found a class of cryptophytes where quantum coherence is switched off due to genetic mutations, allowing them to thrive in low-light conditions. This discovery could lead to technological advances in organic solar cells and quantum-based electronic devices.
Scientists use LiDAR to create detailed topographical models of the Haiyuan fault zone, providing new insights into tectonic geomorphic features and displacement measurements. The high-resolution digital models enable accurate identification of fault traces and improved site-specific fault activity studies.
A new study by Prof. Gennaro De Libero and his team at the University of Basel identifies a lipid molecule, methyl-lysophosphatidic acid (mLPA), that stimulates specific T cells to kill leukemia cells. This breakthrough discovery offers new avenues for non-invasive cancer immunotherapies.
A recent study has found that caffeine consumption by children and adolescents triggers different physiological responses in boys and girls, particularly after puberty. The study revealed significant gender differences in cardiovascular responses to caffeine, including varying effects on heart rate and blood pressure.
The study found that participants who received lifestyle intervention or metformin had lower rates of type 2 diabetes development, with reductions of 27% and 17%, respectively. However, the interventions did not reduce microvascular complications such as eye, nerve, and kidney disease.
Research by Johns Hopkins University reveals that most millennial mothers who don't attend college also delay marriage and have children outside of wedlock. According to the study, 74% of non-college graduate mothers had at least one child out of wedlock.
A research team at UC Riverside has created a computer programming language that automates laboratory-on-a-chip technologies, enabling the automation and miniaturization of biochemical reactions. This technology has the potential to reduce healthcare costs by eliminating human error and speeding up analysis.
A UMD-led public computational biology web service, MolecularEvolution.org, has gained popularity by giving back to its users. The Lattice Project, built on the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing, offers a service called GARLI, designed to reconstruct and predict genetic relationships between biological samples.
Researchers at UGA report that Tpl2 plays a key role in directing immune system components, which may lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases. The study found reduced chemokine receptor activity in mice lacking the enzyme.
The number of battle-related deaths remained relatively stable over the past decade, with 33 active conflicts causing at least 25 casualties in 2013. The deadliest conflict was Syria, accounting for 40% of the total estimated 38,000 casualties in 2012.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has identified five tests and procedures commonly performed in anesthesiology that may not be necessary, potentially saving patients time, money, and preventing harm. These recommendations include avoiding baseline laboratory studies, cardiac testing, pulmonary artery catheters, blood tra...
Researchers have created composite particles that can be injected into patients and guided by magnetic fields, allowing for improved detection of diseases. The nanoconstructs, made up of thousands of iron oxide particles, can be heated to kill malignant tissues or trigger the release of drugs at specific sites.