A recent study found that human skin microbial communities remain highly stable over time, retaining unique signatures and resisting external perturbations. However, stability varied across individuals and sites, with oily areas showing more consistent bacterial and fungal communities.
Preliminary research finds that weight loss surgery increases HDL 'good' cholesterol and improves its heart-protecting actions in severely obese teens. The study shows improved metabolic health measured by HDL function after surgery, despite remaining obesity.
A new study of 'The Biggest Loser' contestants found that resting metabolic rate remained suppressed even after significant weight regain. The average rate was approximately 500 calories per day lower than expected based on body composition and age.
Dental drill fragments made of bio-incompatible materials are found in teeth and under fillings, posing a potential risk to patients. Further studies are needed to determine the extent of this biohazard.
Researchers used a world-class camera to observe the atomic structure of proteins as they reacted to light in real-time. This breakthrough could lead to understanding how proteins function and ultimately inform treatment of diseases.
The Occupant Transportation Decision Algorithm (OTDA) helps emergency responders and hospitals evaluate a crash victim's need for trauma care by analyzing data from electronic data recorders on board vehicles. The algorithm can aid in triage, reducing overtriage and undertriage rates.
A Mayo Clinic study found that metformin does not limit the action of hormone glucagon, which may mitigate its ability to lower glucose production in the liver. The researchers discovered a compensatory increase of glucagon in prediabetic individuals taking metformin.
A novel system uses thin slivers of diamond to measure electron beam polarization with unprecedented accuracy. The diamond-based detector provides direct and accurate measurements, overcoming previous uncertainties caused by laser beam distortions.
Scientists discover high Tc superconductivity at the interface between FeSe and SrTiO3 due to strong electron-phonon coupling. The symmetry of the pairing mechanism is also crucial in determining the binding energy and superconducting transition temperature.
A subset of immune cells expressing protein CD146 is associated with the development of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI-GVHD) after hematopoietic cell transplantation. The discovery could lead to the identification of patients at risk for GI-GVHD and personalized treatment strategies.
A decade-long fieldwork project in southern China has uncovered six new fossil species of primates, which survived the Eocene-Oligocene transition due to their tough enamel surfaces. The discovery sheds light on the vulnerability of primates to climate change and provides a unique snapshot of early primate evolution.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center discovered that genetic variants can prevent 'good' gut bacteria from functioning properly, contributing to the development of Crohn's disease. This study provides new insight into the interaction between genes and microorganisms in promoting health and preventing inflammation.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed an antibody that selectively attacks cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. The antibody works by targeting a specific protein on cancer cells, disabling their defense mechanism and triggering an immune response.
Gram-negative bacteria use vesicles to communicate with and influence neighboring cells, triggering a deadly response in the body. The vesicles can lead to inflammation, fever, and low blood pressure, making sepsis difficult to cure.
A team of specialists is working on a project to create new insight into Leonardo da Vinci's life using DNA science. They aim to compare DNA from his relatives past and present with physical remnants associated with the Renaissance figure.
Researchers found that innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are fully prepared for rapid response to infection, with their genetic information set up beforehand. ILCs release cytokines to transmit signals and defend the body's barrier regions against microbes.
LAGEOS, launched in 1976, revolutionized the study of Earth's tectonic plates, rotation, and gravitational field. The satellite achieved accuracies of less than half an inch, enabling precise measurements of plate movement and subtle changes in Earth's center of mass.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital identifies four factors contributing to sex disparities in statin therapy among patients with coronary artery disease. Women were less likely to start or continue statin therapy due to lower cardiologist evaluations and higher rates of adverse reaction reports.
A new study reveals that breast milk immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies play a critical role in helping newborn mice tolerate beneficial gut microbes. This finding challenges previous research suggesting IgA antibodies are primarily responsible for teaching the neonatal immune system to tolerate gut microbes.
A nationwide clinical study aims to prevent and cure asthma in children at high risk, using a bacterial extract as treatment. The study enrolls over 1,000 babies from 6 to 18 months old and documents whether they develop fewer asthma symptoms than those receiving a placebo.
A University of Liverpool study found that people who believed they were food addicts ate fewer calories and spent less time tasting unhealthy foods. This perception reduced their concern about eating behavior, leading to decreased consumption.
Two NASA sounding-rocket missions aim to investigate coronal nanoflares and oxygen atom escape into Earth's magnetosphere. FOXSI-3 will study hard X-ray imager/spectrometer signatures of tiny energy releases, while VISIONS-2 will observe outflowing ions from Earth's upper atmosphere.
A new study by the IBS Center for RNA Research has found that poly(A) tail length is not linearly correlated with translation efficiency in somatic cells. The researchers used two techniques to compare poly(A) tail length and translation efficiency, finding a correlation between the two in a limited range.
Researchers have found the lock for a cellular 'trap door' that could lead to more efficient and less harmful delivery of proteins into cells. This breakthrough has potential applications in treating diseases such as HIV, cancer, and regenerative medicine.
A new study found that online information about pancreatic cancer is often written at a reading level beyond the sixth grade, making it inaccessible to the general population. The research highlights the need for accurate and understandable health information to empower patients in making informed decisions about their care.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a gene replacement therapy to treat and control Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type 1 (SMARD1). The therapy, administered in a single dose, has shown significant improvements in muscle strength, protein expression, and life span in SMARD1 mice. This study provi...
A recent Temple University Health System study analyzed over 600 reports and studies on elastic compression stockings, finding no significant reduction in post-thrombotic syndrome development. The results highlight the need for new and more effective therapies for this condition.
Researchers found that pre-treatment with an Alk5 inhibitor enhances the delivery of ferumoxytol to tumors, allowing for improved imaging. The study demonstrates potential for Alk5 inhibitors to improve tumor imaging and diagnosis of solid tumors.
The Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize recognizes the first observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO team, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's theory of general relativity. This achievement opens up new means of studying the universe and provides direct evidence for the existence of black holes.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discover that antibodies in mother's milk help promote a healthy balance between gut microbes and the mammalian host, preventing chronic inflammatory conditions. The study sheds light on how these antibodies interact with the newborn's immune system to establish lifelong immune responses.
Physicians urge sweeping single-payer reform with publicly financed system, citing high administrative costs and profits in private insurance. The proposal aims to save $500 billion annually by eliminating overhead and profits.
Researchers found a direct correlation between increased life expectancy and the rise in type 1 diabetes cases globally. The study suggests that advances in medical care have reduced natural selection, allowing the underlying genetics of the disease to be passed from one generation to the next.
A team of researchers developed a CRISPR-based technique to rapidly identify gene variants, improving efforts to map genes and determine their function. The method induces mitotic recombination, allowing for detailed mapping of trait variants, as demonstrated by identifying a genetic mutation affecting yeast sensitivity to manganese.
Research suggests that climate change and resulting water shortages are linked to an increase in chronic kidney disease caused by dehydration and heat stress. The study found that rural hot communities are disproportionately affected, with risks increasing for cognitive dysfunction, malnutrition, and other conditions.
Researchers developed a rapid diagnostic method for Niemann-Pick disease type C using bile acid measurement in biological fluids. Early diagnosis is critical to limit neurological damage and treatment should be initiated promptly.
A recent study by Oregon State University researchers found an unprecedented abundance of juvenile sea star offspring along the Oregon coast, but warns that a second wave of the deadly 'sea star wasting disease' could be disastrous. The disease nearly wiped out the population in 2014 and its impact on the ecosystem is still unknown.
A research team from Northwestern University and Lund University has identified a sensory system in fruit flies that directly detects air humidity, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. Understanding this ability could lead to new tools for mosquito control and inform the prediction of species distribution under global warming.
A study from Kings College London and Oxford University found that training in concrete processing can reduce PTSD symptoms by altering the way people think about traumatic memories. Concrete processing involves focusing on how a situation is unfolding, whereas abstract processing involves analyzing why something is happening.
A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases describes a suitable small animal model for testing ZIKV interventions. The A129 mouse model accumulates virus in the brain and other tissues, exhibiting symptoms similar to those in humans.
Researchers use ALMA's high-resolution data to map the rotation of cold molecular gas and dust orbiting a giant elliptical galaxy, determining the massive supermassive black hole at its center has a mass 660 million times greater than the Sun. The precise measurement is among the most accurate for a galaxy's central black hole.
A University at Buffalo study found that a smartphone app for monitoring heart palpitations provides comparable performance to traditional 14-day event monitors. The AliveCor app was found to be significantly easier to use and more acceptable to patients, with 94% compliance rate compared to 58% for the event monitor.
A review of over 1.5 million people found that daily meat consumption, especially red and processed meat, increases all-cause mortality. The study recommends limiting animal products and consuming more plants to promote preventive care.
Researchers discovered that intestinal worm infections trigger a significant increase in lymph node size and B-cell production, leading to enhanced antibody response. The study provides new insights into the complex interactions between the host and parasites.
Research at Gladstone Institutes found that the apoE4 protein disrupts brain activity in mice, impairing memory replay and consolidation. The study suggests that disrupted slow gamma activity during ripples is a major consequence of apoE4 expression, likely leading to impaired memory loss.
Researchers discovered a key mechanism driving a bacterium that kills male insects, which could be exploited to control pest species. The study found that the bacteria targets the dosage compensation complex, leading to genome-wide misregulation of gene expression.
A new study published in Cell Reports identifies microRNA molecule miR551b as a promising candidate biomarker and therapeutic target for treating ovarian cancers. The research found that targeting miR551b expression could block STAT3 activity, offering potential for treating the most common and deadly form of ovarian cancer.
Researchers found that 5-year survival for older lung cancer patients is favorable, with median survival at 6.7 years, and long-term patient outcomes including reduced hospital readmission rates and reinterventions.
Researchers at CSU have made a groundbreaking discovery by imaging RNA translation in real time, shedding light on the fundamental cellular process. They observed proteins forming and maturing at a rate of 10 amino acids per second, and found polysomes to be globular rather than elongated.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham are using synthetic biology and microorganisms to ferment methane gas into valuable nutritional supplements. The project, called PUFA, has the potential to provide an alternative source of Omega 3 fatty acids that are both sustainable and economical.
Researchers identified a vital supply route for cancer cells to obtain nutrients, blocking this pathway led to significant tumor growth reduction. The discovery offers new hope for developing targeted treatments with fewer side effects.
Researchers found that hospice services don't lead to higher care costs for long-stay nursing home residents, despite concerns about cost shifting. Instead, avoidance of costly hospitalization and post-acute care offsets hospice costs.
The study found that fisheries management types, distance to fish markets, and water temperatures are crucial in predicting fish biomass levels. It also suggests a recovery time of 8.1 years for individual reef systems to reach a critical level of 1,150 kilograms of fish biomass per hectare.
A portable artificial vision device improved daily living tasks for 12 legally blind participants, who performed better when using the device than with their best-corrected visual acuity alone. The device recognizes text, faces, and objects, providing an effective low-vision aid despite technical limitations.
A Dartmouth-Princeton study found that people can intentionally forget past experiences by altering the context of those memories. Participants who were told to forget random words showed a 'flushing out' of scene-related activity from their brains, while remembering led to increased recall.
A new NASA analysis of satellite data suggests that the expansion of the tropics is causing high altitude clouds to shift towards the poles. This shift affects Earth's climate by altering the amount of sunlight reaching the surface.
A new antibody, CSL362, specifically targets and depletes plasmacytoid dendritic cells and basophils involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This depletion reduces production of type 1 IFN and prevents expansion of antibody-producing cells, showing promise as a potential therapeutic target for SLE treatment.
Researchers found that increased insulin signaling reduces atherosclerosis development and improves aorta function in atherosclerosis-prone mice. The anti-atherogenic effects were linked to induction of nitric oxide and activation of downstream pathways, including endothelin receptor B (EDNRB).
Researchers found that large storms move about 50% more sediment than typical rainfall, but the overall contribution to erosion is smaller. River channels adjust their size to accommodate flow, setting a speed limit on erosion.
A new staging system aims to explain revision rhinoplasty complexity and manage patient expectations. The PGS Staging System assesses three components: problem, graft, and previous surgical procedures, as well as a 'patient expectations' component.
A study compared four PD-L1 IHC diagnostic assays in lung cancer, demonstrating similarities and differences. The findings support the use of each assay according to its specific indication, recommending utilization for distinct scoring algorithms.