Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Brown University


Study: Door-to-door campaign linked hepatitis C patients to care

A new study shows that a door-to-door campaign in a medically underserved area of Philadelphia was able to help vulnerable patients overcome hurdles and access specialized treatment for hepatitis C. The effort involved a comprehensive approach to nonclinical testing, immediate access to confirmatory testing, and patient navigation to e...

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateFeb 13, 2015

DNA 'cage' could improve nanopore technology

Researchers at Brown University have developed a tiny DNA 'cage' that can trap and hold a single DNA strand after it's been pulled through a nanopore. This allows for the first-time detection of chemical reactions on a single molecule, enabling new biochemistry experiments.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 10, 2015

New center to increase physical therapy research

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.

New findings on how the brain ignores distractions

Researchers at Brown University found that the brain uses specific patterns of brain wave synchrony to suppress attention and ignore distracting stimuli. By harnessing this process, scientists hope to develop new treatments for pain and depressive thoughts through non-invasive brain stimulation techniques.

HIV testing yields diagnoses in Kenya but few seek care

A study published in The Lancet HIV reports that an HIV testing campaign in Kenya's Bunyala subcounty yielded over 1,300 new diagnoses, with only 15% of newly diagnosed individuals seeking care. Home-based counseling and testing provided a diagnosis to nearly 40% of people living with HIV who otherwise would not have sought testing.

SourceBrown University·JournalThe Lancet HIV·DateJan 29, 2015

Gully patterns document Martian climate cycles

Researchers from Brown University found new evidence of glacier-like ice deposits advancing and retreating multiple times in Mars' midlatitudes, suggesting recent climate cycles. The study suggests that the planet's wobbly rotation around its axis may have driven these ice ages.

SourceBrown University·JournalIcarus·DateJan 28, 2015

Reducing Myc gene activity extends healthy lifespan in mice

A study at Brown University found that reducing Myc gene activity increased the healthy lifespan of laboratory mice by 15%. The mice exhibited better health and organ function, with reduced signs of aging. The study's findings offer encouragement for developing cancer drugs targeting Myc and potential benefits for human health.

SourceBrown University·JournalCell·DateJan 22, 2015

On the ups and downs of the seemingly idle brain

A recent study by Brown University neuroscientists has shed light on the brain's cycle of activity and quiet called "up" and "down" states. The research found that all types of interneurons contribute uniquely to these cycles, with inhibitory cells playing a vital role in maintaining balance between excitation and inhibition.

Patients rarely learn of at-home provider quality data

A new study reveals that hospital case managers rarely provide patients with quality data on at-home care providers, despite state and federal reports being available online. The researchers found that only a few case managers were aware of these reports, and even fewer shared this information with patients.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJan 12, 2015

Bacteria could be rich source for making terpenes

New research at Brown University reveals that bacteria have the genetic capacity to produce terpenes, with 262 gene sequences found to code for enzymes responsible. The team used these enzymes to isolate 13 previously unknown bacterial terpenes, providing a new paradigm for discovering natural products.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 23, 2014

New technique reveals immune cell motion

Researchers developed a new technique to study neutrophil motion in confined spaces, revealing a second mode of motion that doesn't rely on integrins. The findings suggest that physical confinement is key to reproducing this motion and may lead to the development of new drugs to optimize neutrophil movement in specific tissue types.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 19, 2014

New research unlocks a mystery of albinism

Scientists have discovered that a genetic mutation associated with type 2 oculocutaneous albinism blocks ion channels in melanosomes, leading to a lack of melanin production. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying albinism and may inspire new treatment ideas.

Racial and ethnic disparities narrow for acute care

A study found that racial and ethnic disparities in acute care narrowed significantly as hospitals improved quality, with nine major disparities mostly disappearing by the end of 2010. Hospitals serving minorities made faster improvements and delivered more equal care to white and minority patients over time.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 10, 2014

Distraction, if consistent, does not hinder learning

A new study published in Psychological Science found that consistent distraction during learning does not hinder learning, but rather helps recall motor skills. The researchers discovered that dividing attention between tasks during learning can create an internal representation that boosts recall when a similar cue is present.

SourceBrown University·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 9, 2014

Molecular decoys help overcome drug resistance

Researchers at Brown University have developed a new strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria by using molecular decoys. By administering fragments of antimicrobial agents alongside the full compounds, the researchers were able to increase their effectiveness against efflux pumps that stand guard along bacterial cell membranes.

SourceBrown University·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·DateDec 9, 2014

Give flawed payments database time to improve

The new federal Open Payments Program database is incomplete, with issues including limited data, vetting, de-identification, and context. Despite these flaws, experts like Dr. Eli Y. Adashi urge patience, as improvements are underway and the site's potential for transparency and oversight is still significant.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA·DateDec 5, 2014

Separate and unequal in suburbia

A new study reveals that suburban blacks and Hispanics live in poverty-stricken neighborhoods with lower test scores compared to their white and Asian counterparts. The research, part of the US2010 Project, highlights the persistent disparities in suburban segregation and unequal access to resources.

Elderly brains learn, but maybe too much

A new study led by Brown University found that older adults learn and retain visual perception tasks as well as younger people, but struggle to filter out irrelevant information. The researchers suggest this may be due to the brain's tendency to learn more than necessary, leading to a 'plasticity and stability dilemma'.

SourceBrown University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 26, 2014

Paramecia need Newton for navigation

Research by Brown University scientists found that paramecia's buoyancy affects their ability to navigate flat surfaces. Under normal conditions, they use their sensory systems to turn and swim away, but with altered buoyancy, they get stuck at an angle, unable to complete the turn.

SourceBrown University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 18, 2014

With rewards, we remember more than we should

A new study at Brown University found that reward overcomes retrieval-induced forgetting, a phenomenon where practicing certain facts suppresses recall of others. Volunteers who earned rewards during practice had improved recall of unpracticed fish category facts.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2014

HIV risks high in Mexico City's male sex trade

A new study reveals a stark assessment of the health dangers faced by male sex workers in Mexico City, with 38% having HIV and 21% having syphilis. The study highlights the need for incentives to promote condom use and improve individual and population health.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the International AIDS Society·DateNov 14, 2014

CT lung screening appears cost-effective

A new analysis of NLST results concludes that CT lung screening is cost-effective in aging smokers, but its implementation will depend on various factors. The ratio of costs per quality-adjusted life-year added was $81,000, below the $100,000 threshold.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 5, 2014

Less reward, more aversion when learning tricky tasks

A new study at Brown University reveals that conflict in learning tasks biases the brain to reduce the influence of reward and increase the influence of aversion to punishment. The researchers used EEG scans, genetic tests, and manipulation with a dopamine-related drug to gather evidence for this link. They found that people who learn ...

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 4, 2014

How a giant impact formed asteroid Vesta's 'belt'

Researchers used super high-speed cannon to simulate collisions on celestial bodies. They found that damage from the impact starts where one would expect, but fails in opposite direction and propagates outward like a blooming flower. The study suggests Vesta's 'belt' formed by an oblique impact.

SourceBrown University·JournalIcarus·DateNov 3, 2014

Can the wave function of an electron be divided and trapped?

Physicists at Brown University have successfully trapped parts of an electron's wave function in liquid helium, a phenomenon that could fundamentally change our understanding of quantum mechanics. The discovery raises questions about the measurement process and the nature of particles at the quantum level.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Low Temperature Physics·DateOct 28, 2014