A study by Duke University Medical Center found that imaging costs rose faster than overall cancer care for Medicare patients. The use of PET scans increased significantly, with a mean annual growth rate of 36-53% across six cancer types.
A newly discovered strain of virulent airborne fungi has caused several deaths in Oregon and is expected to spread to California and other areas. The fungal disease, Cryptococcus gattii, typically affects transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients, but the new strain appears to be a threat to otherwise healthy individuals.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found a successful pilot program increasing HPV vaccination rates from 0 to 44% among post-partum women. The study suggests that OB/GYN clinics can play a key role in vaccinating eligible adults, particularly pregnant and post-partum women.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center discovered a strong link between rare gene variants on chromosome 16 and the development of various seizure disorders. The study found that deletions in this region can cause a wide range of neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and specific forms of epilepsy.
Adding telaprevir to standard treatment increases hepatitis C cure rate by 52% for patients who initially failed to respond. The experimental drug also confirms the importance of ribavirin in effective treatment, with 24% of patients receiving telaprevir and peginterferon being virus-free at six months.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have discovered a set of naturally occurring antibodies that can block HIV's entry into certain blood cells. These polyreactive anti-phospholipid antibodies show promise as a potential new strategy for HIV vaccine design.
Cryptococcus fungi have an expanded set of genes encoding sugar transporter molecules, allowing them to efficiently move sugar inside cells and thrive. The fungi's love for sugar may be a potential weakness, as scientists can target them by developing low-carbohydrate strategies to block infections.
The Australian zebra finch's genome reveals a complex system for singing, with over 800 genes regulated by the action of singing. The findings may help scientists understand how humans learn language and identify genetic origins of speech disorders like autism, stroke, and stuttering.
Researchers found that a specific subpopulation of heart muscle cells near the injury site contribute to regenerating heart muscle. The study also showed that these new cells integrate into the wound, replacing the injury clot, and form normal electrical coupling with the surrounding muscle.
A new study reveals that Clostridium difficile infections are now surpassing MRSA infections in community hospitals, increasing the risk of life-threatening diarrhea and colon inflammation.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have discovered a new growth factor that stimulates the expansion and regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells. The growth factor, pleiotrophin, has been shown to increase the numbers of human cord blood stem cells in culture capable of engraftment in immune-deficient mice.
A recent study by Duke University researchers explored the possible relationship between US stock market fluctuations and heart attack rates. The study found an inverse relationship between heart attacks and stock markets, but with limitations due to sample size and regional bias.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the University of Oxford conducted a study to find ways to control progression to diabetes and cardiovascular disease in people at risk. Valsartan showed a moderate effect on reducing diabetes progression, but nateglinide proved ineffective at halting this progression.
A new study by Duke University Medical Center scientists identifies a mechanism linking meal anticipation to Type 2 diabetes. Ankyrin-B gene mutation impairs insulin secretion, increasing blood sugar levels.
A new study finds that nearly 60% of chest pain patients without prior heart disease have no significant coronary artery disease, highlighting the need for improved identification methods. The study suggests re-evaluating patient selection processes, including history taking and risk factor assessment.
Nicotine takes much longer to reach peak brain levels in smokers, contradicting traditional puff-by-puff spikes, and may depend on overall rate of accumulation, habit, and sensory cues. Smokers who eventually experience high nicotine levels without becoming addicted still lack clear explanations for their non-addictive status.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new gene-expression test that can detect Candida fungal infections in patients. The test measures how a patient's genes respond to the infection and has shown promising results in mice, indicating it could be an early detector of life-threatening candidemia.
A new technology delivers nicotine directly to the lungs, providing immediate relief of withdrawal symptoms and reducing throat irritation. This innovative approach combines vapor phase pyruvic acid and nicotine for a more effective and tolerable smoking cessation therapy.
Scientists at Duke University have discovered that a genetic alteration linked to a benign enzyme condition protects some hepatitis C patients from developing hemolytic anemia. This finding opens the door to treatment for previously untreatable patients and may also hold the key to preventing anemia in the first place.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center identified specific metabolic profiles associated with coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and death. The study analyzed metabolites in nearly 10,000 patients and found two sets of metabolites that differentiated between those with and without cardiovascular disease.
Researchers track changes to individual dendritic spines in juvenile male songbirds' brains as they learn from adult tutors. The study finds that hearing a tutor song rapidly stabilizes previously dynamic synapses, providing a foundation for learning new behaviors.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that the brain evaluates faces in two distinct ways: for quality of experience and economic value. The study used fMRI to measure brain activation while participants viewed faces and money, predicting how much they would pay to see a more attractive face.
A retrospective study of Red Cross donor and hospital data found that patients receiving female-donor plasma had better lung function, reduced risk of death within 30 days of surgery, and longer hospital stays compared to those who received male-donor plasma.
The study found that molecular pathways involved in women's lung cancer are less complex than those in men, while elderly patients over 70 have a low-risk profile for long-term survival. The findings may help explain why certain groups of patients do better than others despite having the same disease.
Robert J. Lefkowitz, a leading expert on G-protein-coupled receptors, has been awarded the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for his groundbreaking research. His work has led to the development of millions of drugs used to treat various diseases worldwide.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center found that rare genetic variants, rather than common ones, may be responsible for the genetic component of most common diseases. Simulation studies revealed 'synthetic' genome-wide signals of disease risk, suggesting a shift in research focus to detecting rare variants.
A year-long study found that a low-carbohydrate diet was more effective at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat. Participants in the low-carbohydrate group experienced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, with nearly half seeing their medication decreased or discontinued.
Duke University is developing a rapid and accurate genomic-based diagnostic test to determine radiation exposure from a dirty bomb or nuclear attack. The test, which uses a signature of gene expression, shows over 90% accuracy in diagnosing radiation status.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have identified compounds that activate a master regulator to increase the supply of protein chaperone molecules, which help fold proteins properly. This discovery provides a new approach to address protein misfolding, a common factor in degenerative nerve diseases.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified neurons in the songbird brain that convey auditory feedback needed to learn a song. The study lays the groundwork for improving human speech in individuals with damaged auditory nerves, and explores how the brain compares performance-related feedback to a sensory model.
A new study from Duke University Medical Center found that diabetes negatively affects prostate cancer outcomes in obese white men following radical prostatectomy. However, the impact of diabetes on prostate cancer progression varies by race and weight, with lower risks observed in other subgroups.
A large study found that surgical site infections due to MRSA increase hospital readmission risk by 35 times and mortality risk sevenfold. The infections also result in longer hospital stays and higher charges, with estimated costs of over $19 million across seven hospitals.
Researchers found that the immune system produces early-stage B cells with potent HIV-blocking antibodies but eliminates them before they mature. This 'catch-22' prevents the production of these protective antibodies, hindering vaccine development.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that adding ethyl nitrite to carbon dioxide gas used in laparoscopy preserves normal blood flow and organ function. The use of ENO could improve outcomes and reduce recovery time by increasing nitric oxide bioactivity.
Researchers found that combining targeted therapies lapatinib and trastuzumab significantly extends survival in HER2-positive breast cancer patients, with a median overall survival of 60.7 weeks compared to 41.4 weeks alone.
A study by Duke University researchers discovered a commonality in the genetic codes of human sex receptors and those found in other primates. This similarity suggests that varying sensitivity to specific odors may play a role in mate selection, potentially preventing cross-species couplings.
Duke University researchers have found a way to increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy against glioma brain tumors by blocking a specific signaling pathway in cancer stem cells. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with glioblastoma and other brain cancers.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have devised a way to deliver the right therapy directly to tumors using special molecules called aptamers. A tumor-targeting RNA aptamer was found to specifically bind to RNA helicase p68 in colorectal tumors, offering a promising approach for cancer treatment and therapy delivery.
Researchers found a dual-brake mechanism controlling chloride transport, which calms hyperactive fetal neurons after birth. This process may benefit people with epilepsy and neuropathic pain by re-establishing natural inhibition.
Scientists have identified a key mechanism behind the binding action of HIV antibodies 2F5 and 4E10, which could lead to the development of more effective vaccines. The study found that successful docking requires attachment to the virus's membrane containing lipid.
Researchers discovered a new genetic signature that correlates strongly with autism and involves the way genes are turned on and off. The finding may suggest new approaches to diagnosis and treatment of autism, potentially identifying individuals who will respond better to oxytocin treatment.
Researchers found that exercise after whole-brain radiation treatment improved erasable memory in mice, comparable to humans' experience. Exercise also reduced depressive-like behaviors in irradiated mice, suggesting a protective effect against memory loss and depression.
A Duke University researcher has discovered a receptor that receives messages from astrocytes, which can form excitatory synapses in the brain. The discovery may explain why people develop epilepsy or have neuropathic pain, and could lead to new therapies for these conditions.
Most SCID children treated with related donor bone marrow transplants can lead normal lives, says a new study. The research found that those who received transplants within the first 14 weeks of life were more likely to survive and have fewer problems over time.
Researchers at Duke University have found a new mechanism of bone formation that works without inducing bone breakdown, suggesting a targeted approach to fighting osteoporosis and other degenerative bone diseases. The discovery involves the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway and beta-arrestin molecule.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have sequenced the genome of a biofuels yeast that thrives on turning sugar cane into ethanol. The findings could lead to more efficient biofuel production and aid research into converting cellulose from non-food crops like switchgrass into biofuel.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have engineered a way to design drugs and their antidotes together, improving patient care. The new approach allows for the creation of universal antidotes for aptamers, which can reverse the action of any aptamer drug, regardless of sequence, shape, or target.
A new type of genetic change, a second copy of an entire gene, has been identified as a cause of familial chordoma, a devastating and rare form of cancer. The T (Brachyury) gene duplication was found in patients with the disease, but its exact mechanism is unknown.
A team of Duke and Singapore scientists have discovered a new way to classify gastric cancers based on the signaling pathways used to grow and spread. This new system may lead to more effective treatments and improved long-term survival for patients, as it allows for stratification according to tumor pathway profiles.
A new Duke University study has found that leptin plays a crucial role in determining whether obese mice develop arthritis, regardless of their weight. The absence of leptin was shown to prevent osteoarthritis in obese mice, with healthier joint appearance compared to normal control mice.