A new study found that extending medication time for varenicline to 24 weeks combined with 24 weeks of counseling sessions improves quitting success rates and reduces relapse risk in cancer patients. For those taking the medication as directed, quit rates increased significantly.
US preschool-aged children exhibit intersectional bias towards black boys, differing from positive responses to other groups. This early evidence highlights the importance of addressing bias in young children.
A comprehensive US study found only 13% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions were appropriate, highlighting the widespread overuse of antibiotics. The study used a novel classification scheme and evaluated all 91,738 diagnosis codes in ICD-10, categorizing each for antibiotic appropriateness.
A new Northwestern University study identifies four factors that can accurately predict the severity and longevity of postpartum depression in new mothers. The study found that early intervention can improve treatment outcomes, and clinicians can tailor care to individual women's needs.
A Northwestern University-led team captures the moment a star collapsed to form a compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star. The team used multiple imaging sources and a comprehensive approach to study the object's makeup, finding evidence of hydrogen and helium.
Researchers discovered that bacteria on the ISS are adapting to survive in a stressful environment, rather than evolving into superbugs. The study's findings provide good news for astronauts and potential space tourists, but also highlight the need for precautions against illness transmission.
A Northwestern Medicine study found that sulfonylureas and basal insulin increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and amputation in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The study suggests a paradigm shift in treatment, recommending newer diabetes medications with more favorable cardiovascular profiles.
Northwestern University scientists discovered two successful therapies that slowed pediatric leukemia progression in mice, according to recent studies. The research focused on stabilizing the MLL protein, which can slow cancer growth and increase survival rates.
A new study at Northwestern University has developed a revolutionary tool to rapidly test millions of nanoparticles for specific applications. The novel approach utilizes a combinatorial library, or megalibrary, of nanoparticles and an in situ Raman spectroscopy-based screening technique to identify optimal compositions.
Researchers discovered a human protein, RBBP6, that interferes with the Ebola virus replication cycle. By mimicking this protein's function, a small molecule drug could potentially block Ebola virus infection in human cells.
A Northwestern University study found that exercise improves women's mood and body satisfaction, but instructor comments play a crucial role. Women who received health-focused comments reported increased positive emotions and self-satisfaction, whereas those with appearance-focused comments felt ashamed and disgusted. The study highlig...
A Northwestern University study reveals that triclosan in dust can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant infections. The researchers found higher abundances of genetic markers indicating resistance in dust with higher concentrations of triclosan, suggesting a link between the chemical and antibiotic resistance.
Despite a decline in overall crime rates, Chicago's safest neighborhoods experienced a greater decrease in crime, leading to an increase in relative inequality. The city's violent crime rate remains higher than other major cities, highlighting the need for targeted violence-prevention policies.
A new algorithm that combines experimental data with machine learning reduces the time needed to find optimal peptide sequences, allowing for faster discovery and synthesis. This method has the potential to revolutionize how peptides are designed and could lead to breakthroughs in materials science, chemistry, and medicine.
A 20-year study from Northwestern Medicine found men with inflammatory bowel disease have four to five times higher risk of prostate cancer and elevated PSA values. Researchers are now investigating the mechanism behind gut inflammation leading to prostate cancer.
The device can measure multiple wavelengths of light, including UVB and UVA, to optimize treatment of neonatal jaundice, skin diseases, seasonal affective disorder, and reduce the risk of sunburns and skin cancer. It enables precision phototherapy and warns users of impending sunburns.
A new study finds that young black gay men are 16 times more likely to have an HIV infection than their white peers, despite engaging in fewer risk behaviors. The study highlights the importance of understanding social networks and access to medical care for addressing these disparities.
Researchers analyzed data from professional sports leagues and online games to find that past shared success among team members boosts their chances of winning future games. The study's findings suggest that team chemistry is a crucial factor in determining team success, transcending cultural differences and industries.
A Northwestern University study found that youth living in high-crime neighborhoods experience worse cardiometabolic health due to neighborhood violence. However, those with higher brain connectivity in the frontoparietal central executive network display better resilience.
A study found that people with a higher sensitivity to bitter caffeine taste drink more coffee due to learned positive reinforcement. Genetic variants play a role in this association, suggesting that our perception of bitter tastes contributes to beverage preferences.
A new study from Northwestern University finds that grieving spouses with sleep problems have a two-to-three times higher risk of chronic immune activation and increased inflammation, making them more susceptible to heart disease or cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective in treating sleep disturbances, and physicians ...
Researchers at Northwestern Medicine have successfully reprogrammed induced pluripotent stem cells into healthy uterine cells for potential treatment of endometriosis. The study marks a significant step towards treating the painful and persistent gynecological disease, which affects approximately 10% of women worldwide.
A Northwestern University study found that inflammation can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to circadian sleep disorders. The research used a genetic switch to turn inflammation on and off in mice, revealing a link between inflammatory diseases and the body's clock.
A wearable device can monitor shunt performance in patients with hydrocephalus, allowing them to detect fluid flow within five minutes. The device could save patients from hospital visits and costly scans, improving their quality of life.
A new Northwestern Medicine study reveals a 'kill code' embedded in every cell that can trigger the self-destruction of cancerous cells. The toxic small RNA molecules can also be triggered by chemotherapy, offering a potential bulletproof treatment against cancer.
A new study by Northwestern University found that facial exercise after Botox injections can make wrinkle reduction occur one day sooner. The exercises included raised motions of the forehead and scowls, which improved forehead wrinkles by two to three days after treatment when followed by facial exercise.
A phase III clinical trial found that palbociclib improves overall survival in women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. The drug, used in combination with standard treatment, led to a clinically meaningful improvement in median overall survival, even in patients who showed sensitivity to prior hormone therapy.
A new study found that athletes with a specific gene variant associated with dyslexia were less likely to suffer concussion injuries. The study suggests that the more diffuse wiring of the dyslexic brain may provide neuroprotection against impact injuries.
A new study found 'timing cells' in the brain that turn on when an animal waits, allowing it to measure a time interval. The research could lead to early-detection tests for Alzheimer's disease by asking people to judge how much time has elapsed.
Researchers have unraveled the complex process of how black widow spiders transform proteins into steel-strength fibers. They found that spider silk proteins form hierarchical nano-assemblies, potentially required for creating strong fibers.
A new study found that medical journals need more support and resources to successfully promote research on social media. The study's authors urge medical journals to define clear roles and responsibilities for social media editors and provide more resources to help them effectively disseminate information to the public. Social media h...
Researchers discovered that coated nanoparticles can form sticky structures when interacting with living organisms, leading to new properties and potential impact on cells. The study's findings may help scientists engineer nanoparticles that are 'benign by design', reducing environmental and health risks associated with nanomaterials.
Researchers found that the brain's premotor cortex uses a 'neural scratch pad' to calculate fine adjustments, eliminating the need for physical change in the brain. This discovery may simplify the development of brain-computer interfaces controlling prosthetic limbs.
Researchers at Northwestern University have confirmed that an electron's charge is perfectly spherical, strengthening the Standard Model of particle physics. The study excluded alternative models that predicted the electron's shape would be asymmetrically squished, potentially revealing unknown heavy particles.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that age-related increases in estrogen levels can weaken abdominal walls and cause inguinal hernias. The researchers discovered that a hormone inhibitor could strengthen muscles and prevent hernias, offering potential treatment for at-risk patients.
A new study by Northwestern University researchers found that male mountain gorillas who spend more time with their group's children are more reproductively successful. The study suggests an alternative pathway to the evolution of fathering behavior in humans, where males may not necessarily know their offspring.
Scientists at Northwestern University have created a bioelectronic medicine that uses electrical stimulation to accelerate nerve regeneration and improve muscle strength in rats. The device, made of biodegradable materials, is powered wirelessly and operates for up to two weeks before naturally absorbing into the body.
Researchers analyzed oxide films at atomic level to understand their impact on metal corrosion. The team found that the growth rate of oxide films determines their structure and composition, enabling new ways to protect metals.
Researchers will combine yeast, C. elegans models with mouse models to identify molecular changes in human aging and predict age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson
A new study emphasizes the need for distinct research methods when studying e-cigarettes due to their varying nicotine levels, vaping method, and ability to be started and stopped. This distinction is crucial in understanding the unique risks associated with e-cigarette use, particularly among teens.
Researchers discovered how the brain encodes speech production, finding that it controls both goals (speech sounds) and individual movements (lip, tongue, and larynx movements). This breakthrough aims to develop better brain machine interfaces to decode speech for paralyzed individuals.
A new study found that an online insomnia program using digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improved not only insomnia symptoms but also daytime functioning and overall health. The program, called Sleepio, was used by 1,711 participants and showed significant improvements in global health and mental wellbeing.
A Northwestern University study shows that obese and overweight pregnant women can safely restrict weight gain through healthy diet and lifestyle habits guided by a smartphone app. This approach resulted in normal birth weights and reduced the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia.
New research reveals infants can acquire object categories using just a few labeled examples, sparking the process of categorization. This 'semi-supervised learning' strategy efficiently integrates all subsequent objects into their evolving category representation.
A Northwestern University study found that historical bias leads researchers to focus on the same 10% of human genes, despite many having strong links to disease. The study suggests that policy interventions promote exploratory research but mainly reinforce established topics.
A Northwestern Medicine study found that medical schools have a median shortfall of nearly $27,500 per year, adding up to $110,000 for veterans, despite receiving the GI bill. This means that only 45% of medical school tuition is covered by aid compared to 85% for law and 100% for MBA programs.
Researchers at Northwestern University have identified four clusters of personality types using comprehensive data from over 1.5 million questionnaire respondents. The findings challenge existing paradigms in psychology and provide new insights into human behavior.
Researchers found that brain anatomy and psychological traits can predict which patients will respond to sugar pills, resulting in reduced pain and cost savings. The study suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing sugar pills for chronic pain patients, potentially opening up a new field.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a simple blood test called TimeSignature that can identify the body's precise internal time clock. The test measures gene expression markers and can be taken any time of day, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's.
The study analyzed the ways children's gender narratives reinforce or disrupt gender inequality, revealing two master narratives that emphasize differences between boys and girls. Alternative narratives, including incongruent and counternarrative types, challenged these dominant stories, with some children explicitly questioning and re...