A new study found that Lyme disease costs the US healthcare system between $712 million and $1.3 billion a year, with patients experiencing persistent symptoms after completing antibiotics. The condition, also known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, affects an estimated 240,000 to 440,000 people each year.
A new study by Kevin Shafer and Garrett T. Pace found that having multiple parental roles is negatively associated with psychological well-being for both men and women. Childlessness is more negative for women, while specific role combinations affect mothers and fathers differently.
Scientists at USC and UCLA have discovered a way to accurately measure temperatures inside microelectronic devices using a novel technique called Plasmon Energy Expansion Thermometry (PEET). This breakthrough enables better thermal management, leading to faster transistors and lower power consumption.
US culture shifted towards individualism over a century ago, driven by social class structure and economic changes, according to researchers at the University of Waterloo. The study found that as Americans gained education and wealth, they became more self-directed and less reliant on family ties and conformity.
Researchers found that associating foreign-language terms with gestures and images enhances learning outcomes, outperforming methods relying on listening or reading alone. The brain's motor system plays a crucial role in this process.
A new study by Prof. Ruth Defrin and colleagues found that acute psychosocial stress significantly decreases pain inhibition capabilities while increasing pain intensification in healthy young male adults. The researchers applied acute stress tests to evaluate the body's pain modulation mechanisms prior and after stress induction.
Researchers found that chimpanzees can adapt their 'food calls' to refer to specific objects after social interaction and learning. After three years of living together, the chimps' grunt calls for a particular food item changed to match those produced by other group members.
Researchers found that exclusively breastfed babies had microbial communities more ready for solid foods, while those with mixed diets experienced a dramatic shift. This study provides support for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.
Researchers discovered that the heart of bluefin tuna adjusts its electrical activity and calcium cycling to maintain constant heartbeat despite temperature changes. This unique adaptation allows the fish to survive in cold waters, shedding light on how animals react to rapid environmental shifts.
A Yale-led research team has discovered the molecular mechanism behind insulin's role in regulating liver glucose production and how it fails in patients with type 2 diabetes. The findings reveal that inflammation in fatty tissue leads to increased hepatic glucose production, highlighting a potential target for new treatments.
The FASEB MARC Program has awarded 7 travel grants totaling $12,950 to students and post-docs from underrepresented groups attending the 2015 IHCM Short Course. The program aims to increase diversity in biomedical research by promoting participation of young scientists.
A new single-cell gene expression technology allows for the study of large numbers of genes in tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of cells at once. The technology uses cell- and molecule-specific barcodes to enable the analysis of gene activity with absolute quantification.
Researchers from Poland and Denmark demonstrate spontaneous formation of Turing patterns at the nanoscale, which can be used for surface modification of materials. The patterns can be 'imprinted' in other chemical compounds, opening doors to interesting applications.
A new study suggests that increasing individualism in the US over the last 150 years is systematically correlated with socioeconomic trends, particularly the rise of white-collar occupations. The research found that only changes in occupational status appeared to precede changes in individualism.
A recent study published in Blood found that most breakthrough blood cancer therapies have favorable cost-effectiveness ratios, with some treatments providing better value than others. The median ratio for industry-funded studies was $26,000/QALY, while non-industry-funded studies had a median ratio of $33,000/QALY.
Research suggests that immuosuppressives and anti-cancer drugs can reanimate hepatitis B in previously infected individuals, according to a study published in Hepatology. The study authors emphasize the importance of routine screening for HBV before starting treatment with immunosuppressives or anti-cancer drugs.
A new model developed by Harvard researchers explains how motives impact cooperation and why people trust genuine altruists over those who open envelopes. The 'envelope game' helps capture the notion that people value principle-driven behavior, especially in situations where cooperation comes with a cost.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have discovered a way to enhance CRISPR's precision while boosting its efficiency using small molecules. This breakthrough has important implications for correcting disease-causing genetic mutations and creating personalized therapeutics.
Two major studies strengthen the case for abiraterone as a treatment option for men with advanced prostate cancer. The trials found that receiving abiraterone before chemotherapy significantly extended men's lives by an average of four months, compared to those who did not receive it.
A recent study has identified a gene that increases the risk of developing psoriatic arthritis, a condition where patients often experience both skin psoriasis and joint pain. The researchers found genetic changes that distinguish PsA from its counterpart psoriasis.
A recent study by Washington State University researchers found that adding more natural buffers to farm landscapes can not only slow soil erosion but also create more visually appealing fields and valleys. The study surveyed residents in the Palouse region of eastern Washington State, who preferred landscapes with more nature and fewe...
The Center on Health Services Training and Research (CoHSTAR) will focus on three areas of research: rehabilitation outcomes measurement, implementation science and quality assurance, and analysis of large datasets. The center aims to build the evidence base for physical therapy care and improve delivery.
This year's winners are Dr. C. Robert Matthews, Dr. Eva Nogales, Dr. Marina Rodnina, Dr. Sachdev Sidhu, and Dr. Anna Mapp. They were honored for their groundbreaking research in protein folding mechanisms, structural biology, protein synthesis, engineering, and chemical biology.
A large meta-analysis involving over 200,000 people with type 1 diabetes found that women face a 40% increased excess risk of death from all causes and have more than twice the risk of dying from heart disease compared to men. Women with type 1 diabetes also face a greater excess risk of strokes and kidney disease.
The octopus-inspired robot can accelerate up to ten body lengths in less than a second, surpassing the performance of traditional underwater vehicles. Its unique design allows it to use water to propel itself, resulting in 53% energy efficiency.
A novel class of materials has been developed to remove greenhouse gas from power plant emissions, offering a safer and more energy-efficient process. The microcapsules contain liquid sorbents encased in highly permeable polymer shells, achieving an order-of-magnitude increase in CO2 absorption rates.
G1 Therapeutics, a UNC-Chapel Hill spinout, has secured $33 million in Series B funding to accelerate clinical development of its lead CDK4/6 inhibitor for cancer treatment. The company aims to develop more effective and less toxic methods to treat patients with cancer.
The NASA OMPS team detected a moderate to high aerosol index off the southwestern coast of Western Australia, indicating intense smoke from bushfires. The satellite captured data on February 4, 2015, showing a plume of smoke that reached up to 9.3, prompting emergency warnings and alerts.
A new study reveals that higher spending on emergency care produces lower mortality rates and improved patient outcomes. The research analyzed ambulance-dispatch patterns in New York state to compare the treatment received by patients at different hospitals.
High school students Anya Dunaif and Nell Kirchberger collected bacteria from NYC subway stations that resisted two common antibiotics. The samples are part of a city-scale environmental DNA sampling effort to profile the microbiome and assess biological threats.
Despite growing interest, there is a lack of studies showing cannabis benefits in children with autism and ADHD. Regular marijuana use can have harmful effects on developing brains, increasing the risk of addiction and mental health problems.
Research by UT Southwestern Medical Center Emergency Medicine physicians found that deeper chest compressions result in decreased survival due to collateral damage, while faster compression rates are crucial for survival. The ideal compression rate is between 100-120 beats per minute.
Researchers have visualized the molecular process behind a protein that punches holes into cancer cells, using edible oyster mushrooms as inspiration. The findings could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases, malaria, and pests in agriculture, while also introducing a powerful tool against infectious diseases.
A simple test using furosemide and urine output can predict which patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) are at risk of developing serious kidney problems. The Furosemide Stress Test (FST) improved predictions of outcomes in patients with early AKI, paving the way for robust clinical diagnostic tools.
New research reveals that established HIV epidemics conserve 'founder effects', slowing the spread of secondary strains. This means the dominant strains may not be the most transmissible, but rather lucky to have been picked up early in the pandemic.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, found that oxygen causes titanium to become brittle by acting as bumps in the road for dislocations. This discovery has the potential to open up more practical uses of titanium in various applications, including construction and aerospace industries.
Lawrence Livermore scientists have developed a new type of carbon capture media composed of core-shell microcapsules that react with and absorb CO2. The capsules use sodium carbonate, a household ingredient, to capture carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use in power generation and other industries.
A package of scientific papers reveals that private wells in many US states and parts of Canada are contaminated with arsenic, threatening public health. The reports highlight the need for better regulation and mitigation measures due to low levels of oversight and inadequate measures.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed an MRI-based technique to detect and evaluate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children. The new method estimates liver fat content using a standardized biomarker, PDFF, which correlates well with standard liver biopsy analysis.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have successfully created a roton structure in an atomic superfluid of cesium-133 using the shaken lattice technique. This breakthrough enables experimentation on long-cloaked mysteries of the roton, potentially paving the way for increased robustness in superconductors.
New data reveals strikingly regular patterns in seafloor volcanoes, which erupt almost exclusively during the first six months of each year. The study suggests that these pulses may help trigger natural climate swings by altering earth's orbit and sea levels.
New Planck analysis confirms Viatcheslav Mukhanov's theory on quantum origin of universe's structure, supporting the idea that quantum fluctuations gave rise to galaxies and clusters. The study also rules out primordial gravitational waves, suggesting that instruments may not be sensitive enough to detect them yet.
A new study by St. Michael's Hospital found that 25% of homeless people surveyed in Toronto had vision problems, including blindness, four times higher than the general population. Glasses or contact lenses would help only two in five individuals with vision issues.
Researchers at NIH identified chromothripsis as the reason for a patient's spontaneous cure of WHIM syndrome. The study showed that a random deletion of mutant CXCR4 gene in stem cells led to normal neutrophil function.
The researchers demonstrated a chain-growth process to assemble supramolecular polymers at room temperature and pressure. They were able to create polymers with controlled chirality, length, and sequence, opening the way for precision engineering of macromolecules. The findings also suggest potential applications in electronics and sus...
A research collaboration found that induced or augmented labor does not increase the risk of children developing autism spectrum disorder. The study, which analyzed data from over 167,000 births, suggests that labor induction or augmentation is safe for mothers and babies.
Researchers at UVA School of Medicine have identified interleukin-33 as the biological trigger for a protective immune response to spinal cord injury. This discovery holds promise for improved treatments and diagnostic tests for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and brain trauma.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a way to grow liver-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells that can be infected with several strains of the malaria parasite. These cells offer a plentiful source for testing potential malaria drugs, which are badly needed due to emerging drug resistance.
Researchers found that non-mutated CLL shows increased gene expression variability, while mutated leukaemia has lower variability. This variation is linked to tumour aggressiveness and may help predict disease subtype.
Human stem cells have been shown to repair damage caused by radiation therapy for brain cancer in rats, regaining cognitive and motor functions lost after treatment. The study uses human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells to replace damaged oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.
Researchers found intact thin sheets of shell proteins preserved for up to 15 million years in fossilized Ecphora shells from southern Maryland. The discovery shares characteristics with modern mollusk shell proteins, providing a unique window into the evolutionary history of these creatures.
Researchers have discovered a new way to manipulate electrons using the spin-orbit interaction induced by curvature in graphitic nanocones. The study found that defects can enhance this effect, leading to significant changes in electronic properties.
Research by Michele Nicolo found that achieving at least 80% protein goal may be important to survival and shorten hospital stay in critically ill patients. The study's findings suggest efforts to maximize protein intake should be prioritized over optimizing energy intake.
Researchers developed a microscale solar concentration technology that enables ultra-high efficiency solar cells to be used on rooftops. The system consists of miniaturized photovoltaic cells, 3D-printed lens arrays and a moveable focusing mechanism, reducing size, weight and cost while increasing power generation.
A team of Caltech chemists has discovered a method to produce silicon-containing organic chemicals without using expensive precious metal catalysts. Potassium tert-butoxide, a cheap and abundant chemical, is more effective at running challenging chemical reactions than state-of-the-art precious metals.
Researchers have developed a new technique called iontophoresis that delivers high concentrations of chemotherapy directly to tumors, reducing the risk of damaging healthy tissue. This technology has the potential to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients by allowing for more potent anti-cancer drugs to be used.
College women who have been sexually victimized often struggle to trust others, but participating in religious activities can mitigate this effect. Research found that regular church attendance and involvement in a religious social network are associated with increased trust.
A team of researchers is exploring the blood of Ebola virus disease survivors to identify antibodies and immune cells that could help doctors fight future infections. The study aims to develop fully human antibodies targeting the Ebola viruses to guide the development of improved therapeutics and vaccines.
The discovery of pALTINK4a/b in naked mole rats could explain their resistance to cancer. The protein is better at stopping cells from dividing than the human version of the INK4 gene locus, which only encodes three proteins.
A new study found that nearly half of patients with respiratory tract infections were inappropriately prescribed antibiotics in an outpatient setting. The study suggests implementing comprehensive education about antimicrobials and stewardship into medical school curricula to prevent establishment of poor prescribing practices.