A new study published in The Lancet suggests that reducing six modifiable risk factors could prevent over 37 million premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Meeting the targets for these risk factors would reduce mortality by 22% in men and 19% in women.
Researchers have demonstrated that the distribution of dopants in semiconductor nanocrystals is crucial for controlling optical properties. By probing electron distribution using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, they found that surface-doped samples exhibit reduced activation of dopants and symmetric plasmon resonances.
A comprehensive US study found that pregnant women with sleep apnea are five times more likely to die in the hospital than those without the condition. The researchers also linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of severe medical conditions, including preeclampsia and pulmonary blood clots.
The UK has a higher child mortality rate than nearly every other country in Western Europe, with 3800 children under five dying in the UK in 2013. The country's high infant mortality rates are attributed to poor organisation of children's health services.
At DDW 2014, researchers presented cutting-edge data on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapies and the impact of the gut microbiome on digestive health. The AGA Institute showcased its latest advances in GI research, including new treatments for pancreatic cancer and colorectal polyps.
Since 1990, global maternal and child deaths have declined by nearly half, with significant acceleration after the Millennium Development Goals were set. Improved education, income growth, technological advances, and increased investment in maternal and child health have contributed to this progress.
Achieving globally-agreed targets for six important health risks between 2010 and 2025 can reduce deaths caused by the big-four chronic diseases: cancers, diabetes, lung disease, and cardiovascular disease. The study finds that targeting smoking and blood pressure will lead to the largest health benefits.
Recent NASA studies found that spore-forming bacteria like Bacillus pumilus can survive in space for up to 18 months, surviving harsh conditions including UV radiation and extreme temperatures. These hardy organisms may be able to carry life between planets via lithopanspermia.
A Wayne State University team is investigating possible determinants of adult-onset diseases like diabetes and atherosclerotic heart disease. The study aims to understand how sulfotransferase enzymes might impact drug efficacy, environmental carcinogens and metabolic processes.
Researchers have made breakthroughs in developing flexible and stretchable electronic materials that can conform to non-planar surfaces without wrinkling. These materials have potential applications in energy harvesting, biomedical devices, wearable electronics, and consumer electronics.
Jiang and DeAngelis' theoretical paper explores how species modify their environment to gain benefits, affecting community diversity. Their work is likely to foster further research and generate hypotheses for experimental studies.
A study led by Tufts University researchers reveals that SLUG transcription factor regulates stem cell function and determines breast cancer type, with potential implications for targeted therapies. The study found that SLUG-deficient mice exhibited defects in breast-cell differentiation and tumor formation.
Researchers have successfully detected element 117, a key find in the quest for the 'island of stability', with half-lives of about one hour and 11 hours. The observation marks an important milestone in superheavy element research, demonstrating reliable identification methods.
Research clarifies how bacterial red light photosensors change structure when sensing light, revealing amplification mechanism for rapid signal transmission. The study also sheds light on the molecular-level operating mechanisms of phytochrome proteins in plants.
Scientists confirm camel to human transmission of MERS coronavirus, with viruses from infected humans and camels in the same region showing nearly identical RNA sequences. This suggests a zoonotic transmission pathway, allowing for specific reaction measures such as vaccinations.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research have confirmed the existence of element 117. The element's decay chain to elements 115 and 113 has been verified through experiments.
Researchers at Georgia State University identify two enzymes that suppress proteins important for cell survival and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Their findings suggest inhibiting these enzymes could be a novel therapeutic approach to overcoming resistance.
Researchers at UH Rainbow will evaluate treatment guidelines for African American children and young adults with asthma, exploring differences in response to asthma therapies compared to Caucasians. The study aims to identify the best add-on therapy based on patient age.
Researchers identified key neurons in the spinal cord responsible for controlling rhythmic walking movements. V2b interneurons were found to be essential for flexor-extensor alternation, a fundamental component of locomotion.
A team of researchers found a strong correlation between the number of insect species and the types of damage they cause to leaves in modern tropical forests. The study also compared these findings with fossil data from ancient settings, showing consistency in how insects have divided up their leaf resources over time.
Scientists at the University of York studied how Staphylococcus aureus attaches to human blood proteins fibronectin and fibrinogen. The research reveals how binding of these proteins cooperates to cause life-threatening infections, including infective endocarditis.
The US has seen a disturbing trend of increasing maternal mortality, ranking 60th globally with 796 maternal deaths in 2013. The largest increase occurred among women aged 20-24, and possible explanations include lack of prenatal care access and high caesarian section rates.
Scientists have discovered several new species of Sub-Saharan African Ensign wasps that exhibit transverse fore wing folding, a unique mechanism previously seen only in earwigs, cockroaches, and beetles. This discovery has potential applications in aerospace and bio-inspired technologies.
Researchers developed a new gene expression analysis approach to identify cancer-associated genes from microarray data, outperforming traditional methods. The variance-based approach identified high variation in adjacent 'normal' tissue samples and preferentially selected genes specifically associated with cancer.
A comprehensive study of lake water composition reveals its strong connection with environmental factors, such as climate and hydrology. The research found that the chemical diversity of dissolved organic matter in lakes varies significantly depending on these factors.
Scientists at AIMR successfully synthesized three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous graphene with preserved two-dimensional Dirac electronic characters. The material exhibits exceptional electron mobility and a massless Dirac cone system, making it an attractive alternative to silicon-based devices.
Researchers discovered that fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) enhances cognitive function and improves learning and memory functions in the brain's hippocampus region. FABP5 deficiency impairs learning and memory, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for cognitive dysfunction.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that women with high gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels before pregnancy were twice as likely to develop gestational diabetes. The study also suggests a potential risk model to identify women who could benefit from pre-conception interventions.
A new study revisits the evolution of pollen development in flowering plants, finding that both bi- and tricellular lineages gave rise to each other, debunking the long-standing assumption of one-way evolution. Tricellular lineages are slower-evolving but still advantageous in certain lifestyles.
A team of researchers led by David Hughes is studying the role of group size, complexity, and connectedness in driving infectious disease transmission. By analyzing ant colonies, they aim to develop strategies to reduce the spread of diseases, including those affecting humans in schools, hospitals, and farms.
A new study reveals that even light drinking increases the risk of liver fibrosis in people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Researchers found a stark difference between co-infected and uninfected groups, highlighting the importance of counseling patients to reduce alcohol consumption.
A new study finds that higher sleep efficiency is associated with lower mortality in women with advanced breast cancer. Mean survival was 68.9 months for efficient sleepers compared to 33.2 months for those with poor sleep efficiency.
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation has successfully implanted the world's smallest cardiac pacemaker as part of a global clinical trial. The Medtronic Micra Transcatheter Pacing System is a miniature device that delivers electrical impulses to pace the heart through an electrode, eliminating the need for surgical wires.