A new blood test provides a fast and accurate tool to diagnose tuberculosis in children, with excellent specificity and similar sensitivity as culture tests. The test features sputum-independent results available within 24 hours after blood sampling, making it a major advance for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children.
Scientists have discovered that the bacterial immune system can distinguish between harmful and helpful viruses by watching for a specific transcription cue. This adaptation allows bacteria to harness viral genes for their own benefit, offering new insights into the complex relationships between microbes and viruses.
A new trial found that darapladib did not reduce the risk of major coronary events or cardiovascular death in patients with an acute coronary syndrome. The study's findings challenge the notion that inhibition of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is a worthwhile approach for patients with coronary heart disease.
Researchers found that complete ablation of main and accessory renal arteries led to greater blood pressure reductions with renal denervation. The procedure was successful in 67% of patients, but incomplete ablation did not significantly impact results. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings.
Scientists from A*STAR's Bioprocessing Technology Institute uncover crucial role of DOK3 and SHP1 in plasma cell development and production. This discovery advances understanding of plasma cells and antibody response, potentially leading to improved treatment for patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus and multiple myeloma.
Researchers found that the hippocampus, a brain region essential for memory, has a bidirectional flow of activity, rather than just unidirectional. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding neural circuitry and dynamic mechanisms controlling memory.
A meta-analysis found that antihypertensive therapy significantly reduces systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in older adults. The therapy also reduces the risk of all-cause mortality, death from cardiac causes, cardiovascular events, and stroke in this population.
A new study by the European Society of Cardiology found that the retrievable and repositionable DFM transcatheter aortic valve is effective and safe for patients with severe aortic stenosis. The device's unique features, such as retrieval and repositioning capabilities, may improve outcomes in these patients.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have developed an 'electronic nose' that can rapidly detect C. difficile infections by identifying unique chemical fingerprints. This technology holds promise for faster diagnoses and tailored treatment options.
Despite effective oral anticoagulant use, atrial fibrillation patients experience high one-year mortality and morbidity. Statins were found to reduce mortality by one-third, while diuretics increased it by 70%. Hospital readmissions are common, often due to AF or heart failure.
EPFL researchers developed a synthetic amino acid that can impact 3D structure of bioactive peptides, enhancing their potency. The amino acid, similar to cysteine, forms bridges influencing overall structure and function of peptides and proteins.
A new study suggests rosuvastatin has an initially more favourable effect on glucose levels compared to atorvastatin in type 2 diabetes patients. This makes rosuvastatin a wiser choice, especially for those struggling to control their glucose levels.
Experts from around the world will participate in a simulated nuclear inspection in Jordan to prepare for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on-site inspections. The exercise aims to refine and test monitoring techniques, ensuring scientists are ready to investigate possible nuclear explosions.
The ODYSSEY COMBO II trial shows that alirocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, lowers LDL-C levels significantly more than ezetimibe when added to regular statin therapy. By week 24 and 52, alirocumab achieved 50.6% and 49.5% reductions in LDL-C, respectively.
Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School have found that invisible blood in urine may be an early warning sign of bladder cancer. The risk of bladder cancer was 1.6% in people over 60 with invisible blood in their urine.
A new study found that moderate wine consumption is protective against cardiovascular disease in people who exercise regularly. However, the study did not find any benefits for people with no exercise habits.
Researchers have developed a new malaria diagnosis technique using magnetic resonance relaxometry (MRR) to detect hemozoin crystals produced by the Plasmodium parasite. This method offers a more reliable and minimally invasive way to diagnose malaria, with potential for low-cost field deployment.
A study published in Nature found that the chemical uniformity of stars in the same cluster is due to turbulent mixing in star-forming clouds. This mixing occurs before much of the gas has turned into stars, resulting in nearly identical chemical signatures among sibling stars.
A study of 131,401 people found that tea drinkers had a lower risk profile for cardiovascular disease and significantly lowered the risk of non-CV death. The study also revealed that coffee consumption was associated with a higher CV risk profile, particularly among smokers.
A new method predicts the optimal number and location of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places to prevent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The study suggests that approximately 350 AEDs are needed in Paris to achieve optimal prevention, with a focus on geographic optimization modeling.
The new pacemaker eliminates the need for battery replacement and leads, tackling two major disadvantages of traditional pacemakers. Researchers successfully tested the system in domestic pig experiments, allowing for batteryless overdrive-pacing at 130 beats per minute.
Researchers develop new method to quantify and correlate biological aggregation effects on radiofrequency heating and MRI contrast of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The study presents a platform for accounting for aggregation in clinical applications, such as cancer hyperthermia.
A clinical trial found that darapladib, a Lp-PLA2 inhibitor, did not reduce the risk of recurrent major coronary events after an acute coronary syndrome event. The study involved over 13,000 participants and followed them for two and a half years.
A new study suggests that changing global diets can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from food production. The study reveals that a shift towards healthier diets, reduced food waste, and sustainable agricultural practices can significantly reduce the environmental impact of food production. By adopting balanced eating habits, includin...
Research reveals seven critical areas that must be addressed to ensure doctor revalidation's success, including consistency in appraisal processes and clearer remediation procedures. The study aims to improve the quality of healthcare by assessing doctors' skills and standards.
Researchers found that renal denervation significantly reduced the likelihood of recurrent atrial fibrillation in patients with moderate to severe resistant hypertension. The procedure was shown to be beneficial in reducing blood pressure, with significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure observed.
A study from the FRANCE 2 registry found that local anesthesia for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is as safe and effective as general anesthesia. Outcomes for patients were identical regardless of the type of anesthesia used, with improved post-procedural patient recovery seen with local anesthesia.
Astronomers used computational simulations to show that rapid mixing in cloud formation creates uniform chemical composition among born stars, supporting the idea of 'chemical tagging' and potential discovery of Sun's siblings. The study also found that even clouds without many stars produce similar abundances.
Researchers at the University of Warwick discovered that methylglyoxal damages 'good' HDL cholesterol, reducing its protective function against heart disease. Low levels of HDL are linked to increased risk of heart disease, and MG levels can be managed through diet and supplements.
A study found that energy drinks cause heart problems, including angina, cardiac arrhythmia, and sudden death. The researchers analyzed adverse events reported to the French agency for food safety between 2009 and 2012 and found that 95 of the reported events had cardiovascular symptoms.
Patients with resistant hypertension have higher risks for cardiovascular events than those with non-resistant hypertension, with elevated risks mainly contributing to increasing stroke events. Subgroup analysis showed that resistant hypertension increased the risks of stroke in females by 35% and in elderly patients by 20%.
The ODYSSEY LONG TERM trial demonstrates alirocumab's efficacy in lowering LDL-C and reducing cardiovascular events. The study showed a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events and improved lipid profiles, suggesting a useful addition to statin therapy for high-risk patients.
Neuroscientists found that sensory stimuli, even when neurons are silent, can generate long-term synaptic strengthening. This discovery challenges traditional models of synaptic plasticity and has implications for understanding learning and memory, as well as therapeutic possibilities.
A new study reveals that the sea-level around Antarctica's coast has risen by 2cm more than the global average of 6cm due to fresh water from melting glaciers. This excess freshwater reduces ocean salinity and is corroborated by ship-based studies.
Investigational alirocumab produced superior results compared to placebo in reducing low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The study found that 72.2% of patients treated with alirocumab reached an LDL-C goal, significantly higher than the 11.3% on placebo.
The study found that obese boys had a nearly six-fold increased risk of hypertension compared to normal weight boys, while obese girls had a more than four-fold greater risk. General and abdominal adiposity are already significantly associated with prehypertension and hypertension in children and adolescents.
A study of 360 cardiac surgery patients found that colchicine reduced postpericardiotomy syndrome, but not postoperative atrial fibrillation or pericardial/pleural effusions. Colchicine also increased the risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects.
A new study has failed to identify a medical treatment for post-operative pericardial effusion (POPE), a potentially serious condition that can lead to cardiac tamponade. The POPE-2 study showed that colchicine had no effect in reducing the volume of fluid around the heart or preventing the risk of cardiac tamponade.
A study of 34 patients with persistent clinical symptoms and neurologic signs of impaired nerve function found that ultrasonography had a concordance rate of 98% with surgical results. The majority of patients (86%) showed good recovery after neurolysis, anastomosis, or transplantation.
The new guidelines provide a risk calculator to estimate five-year risk of sudden cardiac death in HCM patients. The guidelines also recommend genetic testing, specialized tests, and multidisciplinary team referrals to improve diagnosis and management.
The 2014 ESC/EACTS revascularisation guidelines emphasize the therapeutic benefit of revascularisation in coronary artery disease (CAD) for patients with stable CAD. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reduces the risk of death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularisation compared to medical treatment. DES are favored over b...
A new study found that pre-surgical colchicine administration reduced post-pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) in cardiac surgery patients, but was associated with high gastrointestinal side effects.
The PARADIGM-HF trial found LCZ696 to be superior to enalapril in reducing cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for heart failure. The study showed a 20% reduction in death from cardiovascular causes and a 21% reduction in hospitalization for heart failure.
The NEART-HF trial found no clinical benefit of vagus nerve stimulation for heart failure patients, despite robust pre-clinical data suggesting a potential therapeutic effect. However, the treatment did show improvements in quality of life and functional classification.
The new document provides clear recommendations on how to identify ACS patients at risk for arrhythmias and manage tachy- and bradyarrhythmias using drugs, devices, and catheter-based approaches. The paper also offers guidance on the use of antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with ACS and ventricular arrhythmias.
The European Society of Cardiology publishes first recommendations on new oral anticoagulants for pulmonary embolism. The guidelines provide detailed recommendations on drug use and risk stratification, including age-adjusted D-dimer cut-offs.
The European Society of Cardiology has published the first expert consensus on ventricular arrhythmias, providing guidelines for diagnosis and management. The recommendations cover a wide range of ventricular arrhythmias, from benign to life-threatening conditions.
The MORE-CRT study demonstrates the safety and efficiency of quadripolar lead technology in managing common pacing complications during cardiac resynchronisation therapy. At six months, patients with quadripolar leads showed a significant reduction in intra- and post-operative LV lead-related complications compared to bipolar lead cont...
A study found that intravenous iron supplementation improved functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients with iron deficiency, reducing hospital admissions for worsening heart failure. The treatment also showed benefits in measures of functional status and quality of life.
The new guidelines cover aneurysms, calcifications, congenital diseases, aortic inflammation, and tumors, with improved diagnostic capabilities using imaging technologies. The guidelines recommend opportunistic screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm and the use of hybrid treatments, as well as establishing aortic teams in hospitals.
The European Lead Extraction ConTRolled (ELECTRa) registry found that transvenous lead extraction is clinically successful in over 98% of cases, with a failure rate of 1.5%. Non-infective indications for lead extraction are becoming increasingly common, accounting for 47.3% of cases.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute identified pheromone in male Mozambique tilapia urine that boosts hormone production and accelerates oocyte maturation in females, triggering spawning. The discovery may help optimize aquaculture of food fish and control invasive species behavior.
Researchers in southern Africa used beryllium-10 and aluminum-26 to measure erosion rates, finding five meters per million years in non-tectonically active regions. This rate is significantly lower than basin-average erosion rates, with stable upland surfaces remaining unchanged since the Pliocene.
A mobile app for emergency cardiac care has been developed by the Acute Cardiovascular Care Association (ACCA) of the European Society of Cardiology. The app provides instant access to diagnostics pathways, treatment algorithms, and guidelines for professionals to make quick decisions in acute cardiovascular emergencies.
A new research study by the University of Adelaide found that adults who were hospitalized for burns as children are at a higher risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. The study, which followed up with 272 people who were burned during childhood, found that 42% had suffered some form of mental illness and 30% experienced depression.
Researchers found that antidepressants reduced pain in over half of the trials examined, but cautioned that more definitive studies are necessary to recommend their use. The review aims to inform future research directions for this area of study.
Coastal regions face both climate-driven and non-climatic changes, requiring an integrated approach to management. Long-term adaptation can reduce impacts, but further research is needed to understand which areas can adapt and which cannot.
A new study confirms the role of invadopodia in cancer spread, showing that preventing their formation can stop cancer entirely. The study identifies a potential therapeutic target for drug development to prevent invadopodia formation.
Researchers analyzed space dust collected by NASA's Stardust mission, finding complex composition and structure, and potentially originating from beyond our solar system. The study provides a first glimpse into the diversity and complexity of interstellar dust.
Hurricane Cristobal is racing through the North Atlantic, losing its tropical characteristics. The storm is expected to remain a powerful extra-tropical cyclone over the region until Sunday.