A new study found that the metabolism of giant pandas is higher than previously reported, but China's existing reserves and other areas in the wild can support their appetite. Rising global temperatures pose a significant threat to panda populations due to heat stress.
Pediatric leukemia patients exposed to higher concentrations of methotrexate are more likely to struggle with mental flexibility, organization, and related skills as long-term survivors. Brain imaging revealed changes in brain regions associated with executive functioning, including increased activity in the frontal lobe region.
A UK drug was licensed for alcohol treatment despite weak evidence, a new study found. Nalmefene's effectiveness in reducing drinking in patients dependent on alcohol is uncertain due to flawed trials.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that over 25% of adults with type 2 diabetes received intensive glucose-lowering therapy, which increased the risk of severe hypoglycemia. Patients with advanced age and co-existing illnesses were at higher risk.
Eating a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetable fats like olive oil and nuts has been shown to have little effect on bodyweight or waist circumference compared to a low-fat diet. The study suggests that current health guidelines recommending low-fat diets may be creating unnecessary fear of healthy fats.
HUMIRA enhances the function of TNF in rheumatoid arthritis patients by increasing its expression on monocytes and promoting membrane-bound TNF-RII binding. This leads to the activation of anti-inflammatory T cells that can suppress inflammation.
A recent study has found that copper is essential for breaking down fat cells, and its deficiency may be linked to obesity. The nutrient can be found in foods like oysters, leafy greens, mushrooms, seeds, nuts, and beans, with an estimated daily requirement of 700 micrograms.
A new study analyzed the gun use, violent crime, and suicide rates of 81,704 people with serious mental illnesses in Florida. The research found that nearly four times the average suicide rate occurred among these individuals, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Scientists have dated the opening of an ice-free corridor in the Rocky Mountains, which allowed for later human and animal migrations between North America's far north and rest. The research used bison fossils to track the movement of animals into the corridor, showing it was open by around 13,000 years ago.
Researchers have designed a molecular catalyst that produces only hydrogen and carbon dioxide when formic acid is decomposed at a low temperature. This breakthrough could pave the way for hydrogen-powered cars by overcoming one of the major challenges: efficient production of clean energy.
A series of studies published in Water Research assesses the ecological and chemical responses to geo-engineering in lakes. While some case studies report dramatic improvements, others show little effect or short-lived responses. The approach is promising when used correctly, but its potential side effects are not well understood.
A University of Central Florida researcher has found a means of controlling materials at the nanoscale, enabling the creation of new-generation manufacturing processes. By exploiting necking phenomena in cold-drawn fibers, Abouraddy's team has opened up possibilities for customized materials with futuristic attributes.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham detected resonant acoustic oscillations in 'M4', a 13 billion-year-old star cluster, using data from NASA's Kepler/K2 mission. This breakthrough enables asteroseismology to study the Milky Way's very early history.
Researchers at MIT develop a theoretical model for topological semimetals, predicting several new ones with unique electrical properties. The model describes the chemical formula and crystal structure of a new material that should exhibit unprecedented electrical characteristics.
Preliminary results suggest that the selinexor combination regimen is active in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Of 10 evaluable patients, two each achieved a very good partial response, a partial response, and a minimal response.
In a phase II clinical trial, pembrolizumab elicited partial responses in 17% of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. The overall response rate was more than triple that of methotrexate, the current standard treatment for resistant cases.
Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have identified a panel of microRNAs in blood samples that can predict patients at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, in individuals infected with hepatitis B virus.
Researchers have developed a culture method that significantly increases kidney progenitor cell proliferation while maintaining their ability to form glomeruli and tubules. This breakthrough finding has major implications for regenerative medicine, potentially aiding in the search for causes of kidney disease and new drug development.
Sheffield scientists capture never-before-seen snapshots of enzymes trimming branched DNA after cell division. The discovery provides insight into the molecular process of DNA replication and repair, essential for all life forms.
Prof. Ki Jin Han of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology has received the 2015 IEEE CPMT Best Paper Award for his work on improved electromagnetic modeling of TSVs, a technology crucial for 3D integration. The award recognizes his research on modeling depletion capacitance and substrate layer thickness effects.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo introduce Tap-Kick-Click, a foot interaction method for standing desks that reduces cyberslacking and increases physical activity. The system tracks user movement using a depth camera and instrumented shoes, encouraging users to stand in an uncomfortable position while viewing distracting content.
Researchers have devised a new method for synthesizing communesins, a group of fungal compounds with anticancer properties, by transforming carbon atoms into radicals and joining them together. This approach enables the production of designed variants with potentially greater potency.
Researchers have discovered two tarantula toxins that target a previously unknown pain pathway in sensory nerves, potentially leading to new drugs for treating chronic pain. The toxins also represent a broadly applicable tool for selectively manipulating sodium channels implicated in numerous neurological disorders.
Researchers found that nearly four in 10 news stories connect mental illness with violent behavior, despite less than five percent of violence being directly related to mental illness. The study suggests that this routine linkage paints an unfair portrait of those with mental illness and may have increased stigma.
Under certain conditions, electric eels attack by raising up out of the water and delivering a series of powerful electrical shocks, effectively deterring predators. This behavior is believed to provide the eels with an evolutionary advantage in defending their territory.
Researchers have developed a non-toxic transplantation procedure using antibodies to target blood stem cells, making it potentially safer and more effective than current methods. The new treatment removes nearly all blood stem cells, offering hope for patients with blood disorders like sickle cell anemia.
Researchers developed an innovative imaging model to track drug resistance and identify a new therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. The study revealed that the Musashi gene plays a critical role in promoting aggressive disease and found effective antisense inhibitors against Msi, halting tumor growth and improving survival.
Elevated sFLT1 levels in mice predict preeclampsia-like symptoms, including increased angiotensin II sensitivity and decreased nitric oxide production. Treating preeclamptic mice with sildenafil reversed symptoms and improved fetal health.
Despite compelling evidence of PrEP's effectiveness, NHS England has yet to commission the treatment, leading to continued delays. The National Aids Trust is taking the matter to court for judicial review, citing discrimination against vulnerable groups.
Researchers developed a new compound to target mutated p53 genes, found in over 50% of cancers, which are responsible for uncontrolled cell growth. The treatment has shown promising results in patients with modest toxicity, and trials will now expand to 400 patients across Europe and the USA.
A new responsive parenting intervention has been shown to reduce the rates of overweight toddlers by half, with benefits seen in both breastfed and formula-fed babies. The study found that mothers who practiced responsive parenting had less likely to have overweight babies at their one-year checkup.
Scientists propose a computational model explaining multisensory integration in humans, utilizing a Multisensory Correlation Detector. The brain detects similarity across visual and auditory signals to integrate stimuli, opening new clinical perspectives for neurological syndromes like Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dyslexia.
A new method aims to spot scientifically viable cancer research projects and eliminate unsound initiatives. By pooling resources and sponsoring multiple ventures, investors can share high development costs and reduce risks.
A collaborative research centre at the University of Konstanz is studying directional properties of particles and their superstructures. The SFB 1214 aims to create a new generation of materials with tailor-made properties by controlling particle arrangement.
Researchers at IBS Center for Genome Editing demonstrate Cpf1's superior specificity in precision genome editing, generating mutant mice with targeted mutations. The study reveals that Cpf1 has virtually no off-target effects, opening up new possibilities for therapeutic treatments and agricultural products.
A recent study found that living through major economic recessions increases a mother's chance of suffering from domestic violence. The researchers discovered that even when the male partner didn't directly experience unemployment or material hardship, rapid economic downturns led to increased controlling behavior and fear of hard times.
A study led by Loyola Medicine researchers found that taking tamoxifen for breast cancer reduces the risk of uterine cancer in postmenopausal patients. The study also showed that a normal ultrasound before treatment may provide additional reassurance.
Experts say women are underrepresented in sport and exercise research due to fears about drug trials and physiologic differences. This exclusion perpetuates a significant gap in understanding the impact of hormonal fluctuations on athletic performance.
The study found that glutathione reduces uranium's chemical toxicity, allowing cells to grow and resist contamination. This discovery is crucial for innovative biological decontamination strategies, particularly in bioremediation of mining waste piles.
Researchers at Rice University found a link between emotional stress and Type 2 diabetes, with low inhibition leading to increased pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6. The study showed that individuals with poor inhibition were more likely to develop diabetes due to the pathway from high anxiety to inflammation.
A Japanese retrospective study found that ultralow-dose CT can accurately quantify emphysema disease without excessive radiation. Researchers suggest that this technique could stratify lung cancer risk and reduce radiation exposure in COPD patients.
A meta-analysis of phase I clinical trials involving thousands of patients found that precision medicine treatment arms showed a higher response rate (30%) compared to non-personalized arms (4.9%), leading to improved outcomes and longer disease remission.
Researchers found that location and communication data from mobile phone carriers show predictable patterns in human behavior, enabling predictions of epidemic spread. The study's mathematical equation allows for forecasting of virus spread and identification of cultural trends.
Scientists at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology discover that interleukin-33 (IL-33) rescues contextual memory deficits and reduces beta-amyloid peptide deposition in AD mouse models, suggesting a new therapeutic intervention.
Key fossil discoveries in Africa confirm the co-existence of multiple early human ancestor species between 3.8 and 3.3 million years ago. The new review outlines a diverse evolutionary past, raising questions about how ancient species shared resources and adapted to their environments.
Seattle researchers deciphered how tuberculosis bacteria tolerates bedaquiline by silencing regulatory genes or pairing with pretomanid, disrupting tolerance gene networks to improve efficacy. This systems-approach represents a significant advance in the fight against tuberculosis.
Marine invertebrate larvae of sea urchins demonstrate active responses to turbulence and flow conditions by adjusting their swimming speeds. This behavior has significant implications for the adult populations' transport, survival, and recruitment.
Two studies found that a significant proportion of British adults, including older adults, have sex with new partners while traveling overseas. The research emphasizes the importance of providing safer sex information in pre-departure travelers' health advice to mitigate risks of sexually transmitted infections.
Researchers at JMU successfully stabilize beryllium in its elemental state, marking a significant step towards developing alternatives to toxic heavy metals. This achievement opens up new possibilities for catalyzing challenging chemical reactions with abundant main group elements.
A new study reveals that human activity has shaped the world's landscapes for thousands of years, leading to significant extinctions and ecosystem changes. The research highlights four major phases of human impact, including global expansion, agriculture, island colonization, and urbanization.
Creating a confidential reporting system in Canada about organ transplant tourism could help reduce the practice and disrupt international networks. Physicians can discourage transplant tourism by discussing risks with patients and providing continued care pre- and postoperatively.
The study reveals how Syntrichia caninervis moss collects and transports water using its specialized awn structures, allowing it to survive in extremely dry conditions. The findings also have potential applications in industry and public hygiene, such as reducing splash-back in urinals.
Operation IceBridge completed its eighth spring Arctic campaign, collecting data on key portions of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic sea ice. The mission focused on measuring changes in sea ice extent, thickness, and elevation, with implications for predicting melt season patterns.
Scientists have developed a set of universal protein tags that enable accurate quantification of proteins using targeted proteomics techniques. The new tags, named PQS, are designed to work with selective reaction monitoring (SRM) and eliminate the need for labor-intensive assay development.
A clinical trial found that smokers who received pictorial warnings on their cigarette packs were more likely to try to quit during the four-week trial. Researchers also discovered that 5.7% of smokers in the pictorial warning group had quit smoking for at least a week by the end of the trial.
Researchers found that larger wine glasses led to an almost 10% increase in wine sales, with consumers drinking more due to perceived volume changes. The study suggests that avoiding larger wine glasses could reduce consumption, but further research is needed to confirm this effect.
A phase 2 study shows that epigallocatechin gallate and a cognitive stimulation protocol improve visual memory recognition, inhibitory control, and adaptive behavior in individuals with Down's syndrome. The treatment may be a promising approach to enhance quality of life for those affected.
Researchers discover potent activity of oxaboroles against malaria parasites, highlighting a promising new class of antimalarial drugs. The compounds target the LeuRS enzyme, which is essential for protein synthesis, making them a potential cure for malaria with minimal resistance risk.
A small clinical trial found that combining checkpoint inhibitors with T-cell therapy may boost treatment effectiveness for metastatic melanoma. Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center suggest this approach could be beneficial for fighting other cancers as well.
Researchers developed a new animal model to test HIV vaccines, combining the envelope of HIV with simian immunodeficiency virus to replicate in monkeys. Changing a single amino acid in the envelope coat protein improved the model's ability to infect monkeys while retaining native-like features.