A multipart intervention increased adherence to annual fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening, particularly among vulnerable populations. The study found that 82.2% of patients who received the intervention completed screening compared to 37.3% of those in usual care.
Researchers found a high-volume perennial spring on Ellesmere Island that flows year-round despite extreme cold temperatures. The spring's unique geochemistry suggests a more active hydrogeological system in polar regions than previously thought, potentially driven by glacial meltwater.
Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors of the female reproductive tract, causing abnormal bleeding and pelvic pressure symptoms. New medical and surgical uterine-conserving alternatives have become available, allowing flexible management of fibroid-related symptoms. The Journal Maturitas publishes a position statement outlining tr...
A UCI-Wesleyan study found that caterpillars with varied diets are less camouflaged and easier prey for birds. This increased risk is offset by the benefits of reduced predation on plants that caterpillars with restricted diets consume.
Researchers from Michigan Technological University have discovered a gene, 'Early Bud-Break 1,' that enables trees to start growing again after winter. The EBB1 gene helps awaken plant cells responsible for growth, allowing trees to grow at the right time, avoiding damage from late spring frosts and climate extremes.
Research suggests that high-altitude weight loss is linked to the release of ketones and amino acids, which protect cellular components from low oxygen damage. This adaptation may also benefit critically ill patients by preserving muscle mass.
Researchers propose mailing fecal immunochemical tests to improve colon cancer screening rates among low-income communities, where disparities are most prevalent. Follow-up diagnostic colonoscopies often face cost barriers, which exacerbate existing health inequities.
Researchers have uncovered a key biological interaction that occurs during fertilization, identifying the protein in the zona pellucida that sperm latch onto. The study found that ZP2 is essential for sperm binding, and its absence leads to sterility in female mice.
A new study published in JAMA Neurology found no significant difference in overall disability between military personnel with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) from blast and non-blast causes. Both groups suffered moderate to severe disabilities, as well as similar rates of depression, PTSD, and cognitive impairment.
A Case Western Reserve University engineer has devised a technique to reconstitute collagen into tough fibers and induce adult stem cells to grow into tendons, which could lead to regenerating bulk volume of the tendon. The technology may also be used to repair hernias or urinary incontinence.
A University of Oregon-led study of middle-aged and older individuals found that those sleeping six to nine hours a night scored higher on cognitive tests than those sleeping fewer or more hours. Women reported longer sleep durations and struggled with quality, while men outperformed women in some countries.
Researchers report a significant decline in Antarctic species due to increased iceberg activity, leaving only a single dominant species, Fenstrulina rugula. The study finds that climate change has reduced spatial competition and complexity in shallow waters, allowing nonindigenous species to colonize.
Researchers at EPFL create a novel method to design and optimize photonic crystal nanocavities, which can control the flow of light at the nanometer scale. The approach significantly speeds up the development of optical circuits, with quality factors exceeding one million.
Researchers found that extreme market crashes contradict multi-fractal scaling, a phenomenon where financial data patterns self-similarly scale. The study suggests understanding multi-fractal structure can aid early detection of impending extreme events.
Researchers at UW–Madison have built a version of a parathyroid hormone that can stay around longer and at higher concentrations. This breakthrough could lead to better drugs for osteoporosis and diabetes by protecting peptide hormones from degrading enzymes.
A special issue of Studies in Family Planning examines the reasons behind unmet need for contraception, highlighting factors such as social pressure, insufficient information, and side effects. The articles provide practical strategies to increase contraceptive knowledge and uptake, ultimately improving family planning programs.
A worldwide study by Georgia State University found no link between baby formula consumption and diabetes-associated autoantibodies. The TRIGR study tracked children genetically predisposed to type 1 diabetes for seven years, revealing a lack of correlation between cow's milk protein and autoantibody development.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) has been awarded a five-year $861,000 grant to train Ugandans in basic research on tuberculosis and emerging infectious diseases. The program will provide rigorous training in basic research approaches and enable Uganda's Makerere University to build capacity for conducting basic sciences research.
Researchers discovered that switching off and then reactivating the Pax5 gene can reverse cancer in a common childhood leukemia model. Restoring its function enables normal blood cell development and cures the disease. The findings offer a promising new strategy for treating leukemia with fewer side effects.
A study of e-cigarette use in Europe found that over 29 million adults have tried the products, with current smokers and would-be quitters more likely to use them. The analysis highlights the need for evaluating the long-term health impact of e-cigarettes and their role in smoking cessation.
Human embryonic stem cell therapy has been shown to significantly reduce MS disease severity in animal models, offering a promising new treatment for the debilitating disease. The therapy also provides an unlimited source of high-quality mesenchymal stem cells, which can be propagated indefinitely in lab cultures.
A new study suggests that the politically induced decline in worker unions may play a more pivotal role than previously understood in growing income inequality. Unions reduce pay differences within companies and lobby on behalf of the working and middle classes.
A Harvard-led team identified a possible mechanism by which normal cells turn malignant in mammary epithelial tissues. They discovered that the physical forces and chemical environment in dense breast tissue can drive cells into an invasive, proliferating mode.
A pilot study at CWRU Dental School and UH Case Medical Center investigates the use of human beta-defensin-3 (hBD-3) to detect oral cancers. High levels of hBD-3 have been found in precancerous tissues and some oral cancers, suggesting its potential as an early diagnosis tool.
Researchers developed a nanoshell to protect foreign enzymes used in chemotherapy, shielding them from the immune system. The nanoshell acts like a filter in the bloodstream, allowing amino acids to feed cancer cells while trapping enzymes that starve cancer cells.
Physicists at the University of Rochester have created a silicon nanocavity that allows light to be trapped for nanoseconds. The innovative design approach mimics evolutionary biology and achieves a 10-fold improvement on previous performances.
A team of computer theorists and evolutionary biologists identified an algorithm to describe the strategy used by genes during sexual recombination, addressing a long-standing paradox in evolution. The multiplicative weight update algorithm helps explain how natural selection and diversity interact.
Despite popular beliefs, a recent Max Planck Institute study of 1,265 volunteers found no correlation between human sleep and lunar phases. The researchers discovered conflicting results may be due to publication bias, which can lead to omitted negative findings.
The first Canadian guideline for managing and treating Bell palsy has been published, emphasizing the use of corticosteroids to reduce involuntary facial spasms. The guideline also recommends a combined approach with antivirals for patients with severe paralysis, while cautioning against unnecessary antiviral treatment alone.
Researchers use mathematical tool to analyze gene networks and determine transition pathways between steady states, providing insight into how stem cells differentiate. The study builds on previous theories, incorporating the role of protein binding to DNA in gene expression.
A new study by researchers at the University of Chicago suggests that examining children's gestures at an early age can help identify those at risk for language and cognitive delays. The study found that early gesture can be used to diagnose language delays before they appear in speech, allowing for earlier interventions.
Tropical storm Hagibis made a brief landfall in China's Guangdong Province, bringing heavy rainfall and significant precipitation. The storm dissipated over mainland China after a short lifetime, with NASA's Terra satellite capturing the event.
Research found that children from low-income families had higher cognitive skills if their mothers went back to work before they were 9 months old, and fewer conduct problems if their mothers worked between 9-24 months old. For middle-income households, there were no ill effects of maternal employment.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that many Canadians overrate their exercise intensity, failing to meet recommended guidelines. The study recruited 129 sedentary adults who underestimated moderate and vigorous effort, even with common descriptors.
A systematic review of 8215 studies found that low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening does not significantly influence overall quality of life or result in long-term anxiety or distress. However, positive results can lead to short-term increases in distress levels.
Researchers discovered that damaged mitochondria in retinal ganglion cells are transferred to adjacent astrocytes, which then degrade them. This process, dubbed transmitophagy, has significant implications for understanding and treating neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers have created a new spectrum for 'hot' methane that can be used to detect the molecule at temperatures above Earth's, potentially identifying signs of extraterrestrial life. The model has been tested and verified by reproducing the way in which methane absorbs light on failed stars.
Researchers analyzed over 70,000 tweets about e-cigarettes and found nearly 90% were commercial ads promoting e-cig products. The study highlights the risks of social media platforms like Twitter in advertising e-cigarettes to youth, which may lead to increased use and smoking cessation.
Researchers developed a new design for preventive health care from birth to age 3 in low-income communities, focusing on family-centered, effective, and efficient care. The study suggests two working groups improved well-child visits by providing longer visit times, trained health educators, and online resources.
A new registry study from Aarhus University found that severe stress during pregnancy can lead to increased risk of overweight and obesity in adulthood. The study, based on data from 119,908 young men, suggests that mothers who experienced bereavement had a significant impact on their sons' BMI, with those who lost their husbands havin...
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have identified a new mutation in the chikungunya virus that could lead to more efficient transmission and infection. The mutation, which emerged in the Indian Ocean Basin, has the potential to spread to temperate regions where the Asian tiger mosquito thrives.
The study found no difference in mortality rates between patients who received preoperative beta-blockers and those who did not. However, patients who received preoperative beta-blockers had higher rates of new-onset atrial fibrillation compared to those who did not.
Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids can regulate choroidal angiogenesis and vascular leakage by modulating micro-environmental immune cell recruitment. This mechanism suggests a unique pathway for disease resolution and potential therapeutic applications in age-related macular degeneration.
A Georgia Tech study finds that ultraviolet photons emitted by the sun cause H2O molecules to desorb or break apart on the lunar surface. The presence of useful amounts of water on the sunward side is unlikely due to high probability of removal through UV light absorption.
A novel viral method reveals that cells from human skin biopsies show altered cAMP–CREB signaling, predicting melatonin response to light and linked to bipolar disease. This study suggests a common signaling pathway may explain the body clock's link to mental illness in bipolar patients.
Research by the University of Cincinnati found that employees use strategies like collocation, distancing, and crossing to manage work-home boundaries. These tactics can provide control over work flow but also lead to addictive technology use.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) has received a three-year, $2.125 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the CHAMPS program. The grant aims to improve maternal/infant care in Mississippi, New Orleans, and Southern Texas, with a goal of increasing breastfeeding rates among African American women.
A team of researchers from Kansas State University has created a new molecular assay to detect and quantify major genes specific for E. coli O157 in cattle feces. This test can be used in diagnostic or research laboratories to accurately detect E. coli and help with quality control in cattle facilities.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Institute of Arctic Biology is welcoming European Union scientists to conduct research at the Toolik Field Station and Barrow Environmental Observatory. The scientists will study various topics, including climate change, biodiversity, and carbon cycling in Arctic environments.
A recent study found that most elderly women with non-metastatic breast cancer comply with hormone therapy recommendations. However, non-white women were more likely to discontinue treatment, highlighting a need for targeted interventions.
A study by University of Iowa researchers found that pathological gambling runs in families, with first-degree relatives eight times more likely to develop the problem. The study also identified connections between pathological gambling and other psychiatric disorders, such as social anxiety disorder and PTSD.
Researchers found that genetic variants in dopamine-regulating genes influence strategic thinking, with three genes linked to belief learning and two genes linked to trial-and-error reinforcement learning. The study's findings have implications for understanding diseases like schizophrenia and social interaction disorders.
A study of 181 children aged 6 years found no association between breastfeeding and cognitive function, with higher IQ levels observed in breastfed children. The study also showed that IQ was related to drug dosage and maternal intelligence.
A new University of Florida study found that great white shark numbers are likely growing and not endangered along the California coast. The research team reanalyzed data from multiple aggregation sites and estimated a total population of at least 2,000 sharks, contradicting earlier claims of alarmingly low numbers.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered that type I interferons can block the development of T helper 2 cells, which drive asthma and allergies. This finding offers new hope for treating allergic asthma patients by targeting this pathway.
Researchers at the University of Washington have designed a low-power sensor to track eye pressure changes and monitor for glaucoma. The sensor would be embedded with an artificial lens during cataract surgery and transmit data wirelessly, allowing for real-time tracking and potentially preventing vision loss.
Scientists have identified a master regulator in poplar trees that controls the timing of bud break, which could lead to breeding plants better adapted for warmer climates. The discovery enables the engineering of adaptability into trees, potentially improving their ability to cope with changing environmental conditions.
A recent study suggests that e-cigarettes are significantly less hazardous than traditional tobacco products, contrary to common perceptions. Meanwhile, research indicates that alcohol poses the greatest risk to public health, causing more harm than other recreational drugs.
Research suggests that a systolic blood pressure range of 120-139 is optimal for reducing stroke, heart attack, and heart failure risk. The study found no additional benefit in lowering blood pressure below 120 for patients with hypertension.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Stanford University discovered the multi-layered nature of kidney growth using a rainbow mouse model. The WNT signal was found to be responsible for renal cellular growth, allowing for potential therapeutic applications in human kidney regeneration.