A new Northwestern Medicine study found that both black and white Americans have a similar lifetime risk of heart failure, ranging from 20 to 45 percent. The study explored the long-term risk of heart failure in different race groups and found that higher blood pressure and body mass index increased the risk.
For-profit hospitals have outperformed public and non-profit hospitals in treating stroke, heart attack, and pneumonia patients. Despite struggling initially, many public and non-profit hospitals are showing notable improvements in performance.
Researchers at Northwestern University identified a viral protein, VP1/2, that allows herpesvirus to interact with cellular motors and speed through the nervous system. This breakthrough enables the virus to move unobstructed from skin nerves to neuron nuclei, outcompeting most other viruses.
Researchers have developed a new imaging methodology that produces 3-D images of nanoparticles at atomic resolution, revealing new details of defects. This method enables the visualization of atoms from different angles and their arrangement in three dimensions.
A new center at Northwestern University will study over 200 patients to better understand how language is processed and recovers in healthy people and those with stroke or neurological diseases. The center aims to challenge existing clinical practices and promote treatment options for individuals with chronic aphasia.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that infants acquire both nouns and verbs in a more nuanced way than previously thought. The research suggests that the ability to map nouns to objects is robust across languages, but verb mapping is more variable and influenced by linguistic context.
A new chemotherapy drug, arsenic trioxide, has been developed to be less toxic to female fertility while being more effective against cancer. The drug is packed into a nanobin, a tiny Trojan horse that delivers the drug directly to tumor cells.
A recent study by Northwestern University found that antidepressant exposure during pregnancy does not impact infant growth over the first year. Infants born to mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had similar weight, length, and head circumference as infants born to non-depressed women.
Researchers have discovered a set of genes that can predict which women are at high risk for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer, making it possible to identify potential beneficiaries of preventive drugs. The study identifies 13 genes associated with lipid or fat metabolism in women with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.
A large-scale study by Northwestern University researcher Katherine L. Wisner found that 14% of new mothers screened positive for depression, with many experiencing recurrent episodes of major depression. The study emphasizes the importance of prenatal and postpartum screening to prevent mental health issues in women and their infants.
A new project called Wordovators will study how people create, learn and use new words through mathematical modeling and large-scale computer games. Players from around the world will be recruited to perform tasks and challenges in invented languages.
A new study suggests that current CDC guidelines for HIV screening are too restrictive, recommending less frequent testing for both high- and low-risk groups. More frequent screenings, up to every three months for high-risk individuals and every three years for low-risk groups, would be cost-effective in the long run.
Researchers at Northwestern University have identified conditions for a self-healing power grid, which can synchronize spontaneously and recover from failures in real-time. By applying these guidelines, power companies can reduce the frequency of blackouts and improve the reliability of renewable energy sources.
Research from Northwestern University and Redeemer University College found that trusting partners remember transgressions as less severe, while low-trust partners recall them as more severe. This distorted memory affects how individuals think about their partner and relationship.
A new stretchable lithium-ion battery has been developed by Northwestern University researchers, enabling true integration of electronics and power into a small, stretchable package. The battery can be stretched up to 300 percent of its original size without losing functionality.
A new Northwestern University study found that US veterans diagnosed with GERD are frequently prescribed high doses of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and kept on the drug for too long. The researchers evaluated over 1,600 patients and found that nearly 25% were given high total daily dose prescriptions.
Northwestern University researchers found that consistent encoding of sound undergirds the reading process, with unstable representation of sound associated with poorer readers. The study suggests that auditory training can improve response consistency and potentially alleviate dyslexia.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a mathematical model that sheds light on the mechanisms causing bulges in cells' nuclear membranes. This study may provide potential therapies for related diseases by preventing bleb formation.
Researchers at Northwestern University are using bone marrow cells to recreate bladder muscle, vasculature, and nerve tissue, potentially replacing traditional surgery. This approach aims to address complications associated with bowel-based augmentation cystoplasty, a common surgical option for bladder dysfunction.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created a new set of building blocks for materials science using nanoparticles and DNA, enabling programmable control over material properties. The new approach allows for the creation of novel crystal structures with tailored physical properties.
New materials mimic mussel adhesive proteins to deliver self-setting antibacterial hydrogels, seal fetal membrane defects, and target cancer cells with precision. Researchers collaborate on in-vivo testing of these innovative biomedical applications.
Researchers at Northwestern University have made significant breakthroughs in understanding the effects of brain damage on language processing and recovery. Studies have shown that with targeted training, patients can regain speech abilities years after a stroke.
A study by Northwestern University's Noshir Contractor aims to enhance cross-cultural mentoring among women in sustainable development. The researcher has created a social media recommender system that connects mentors and mentees across different regions and cultures.
A computational model developed by Northwestern University's Dirk Brockmann can pinpoint the source of an outbreak and predict disease spread using transportation data. The model generates accurate findings on origin and predicted arrival times, providing a lifesaving advantage in responding to diseases.
Researchers at Northwestern University develop spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) for biomedical applications, offering improved delivery and targeting of therapeutics. SNAs show promise in treating genetic diseases and neurological disorders, including glioblastoma and Alzheimer's disease.
A study by William Leonard examines the roles of diet and energy expenditure in contributing to obesity. The research shows that human dietary patterns have evolved over time, with a shift from subsistence to modern lifestyles leading to increased energy imbalances.
A brief writing intervention helped couples sustain marital satisfaction by reducing distress from conflicts and improving passion and intimacy. The intervention, which involved just three seven-minute writing exercises, was effective regardless of relationship duration.
The Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts will facilitate interdisciplinary research partnerships in art studies and conservation, offering scientific tools and expertise to users across the country. The new center aims to accelerate discoveries by providing cutting-edge technological innovations.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new organic solar cell design that maximizes light trapping using a geometric pattern inspired by natural evolution. The design achieved a three-fold increase over the Yablonovitch Limit, a thermodynamic limit for photon trapping in semiconductors.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created an exotic new chemical compound that links two identical tetracationic rings together using a mechanical bond. The compound's stable organic radical properties make it useful for applications in batteries, semiconductors and electronic memory devices.
Researchers developed a new method to predict individual patient's brain tumor growth, enabling physicians to rapidly identify effective therapies. The approach accounts for tumor features such as shape, density, and growth rate, allowing clinicians to distinguish between patients with different tumor characteristics.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a new nanoparticle that kills B-cell lymphoma cells by depriving them of natural HDL cholesterol. The nanoparticle, which mimics the size and shape of HDL particles, blocks cholesterol from entering cancer cells, leading to cell death.
A new method amplifies signals in graphene oxide-based electrochemical sensors, enabling applications in medicine, chemistry, and engineering. The findings could lead to rapid and sensitive screening of environmental pollutants.
The new camera combines active and passive infrared imaging capability into a single chip, enabling lighter and simpler devices with lower power dissipation. The device uses novel semiconductor materials to detect thermal radiation in both short- and mid-wavelength infrared ranges.
Farhad Zadeh has discovered a new tool for detecting dusty clouds and stars using radio waves, allowing astronomers to image exotic features in the galaxy's center. The technique reveals dark features that indicate interactions between cold gas clouds and hot radiation fields.
A recent study found that wide binary stars in planetary systems can lead to dramatic events over time. In one hypothetical system, at least one of four giant planets was ejected in almost half of the simulations. The researchers also discovered substantial evidence that this process occurs regularly in known extrasolar planetary systems.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found that obese mothers pass on insufficient vitamin D to their babies, leading to lower levels in newborns. The study also suggests that obese women may need increased vitamin D supplementation to provide sufficient levels for their babies during pregnancy.
Scientists at Northwestern University have identified a subset of immune cells called T-regulatory (Treg) cells in human colon cancer that can either protect against or promote tumor growth. The presence of the protein RORγt is key to this differentiation.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that female faculty in STEM fields face a significant productivity gap, with lower publication rates and fewer resources. The researchers found that disciplines requiring more resources have a wider gap, suggesting historical unequal investment in female faculty may be the root cause.
Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a method to recreate unique shell geometries in lab-made microcompartments by altering the acidity of their surroundings. This breakthrough could lead to designed microreactors that mimic cellular functions or deliver therapeutic materials to cells.
A new code solves crystal structures automatically and sheds light on solids' fundamental properties. By integrating prediction and solution methods, Northwestern University researchers have developed a promising algorithm to understand the arrangement of atoms in solids.
A new Northwestern University study found that a mobile app tracking calories and activity, combined with regular nutrition and exercise classes, helped participants lose an average of 15 pounds and maintain weight loss for at least a year. The technology alone was not enough to achieve significant weight loss.
Lying can be trained to be more automatic, reducing task demands and making it harder to detect. Researchers found that instruction alone significantly reduced reaction times associated with deceptive responses.
A new antidepressant drug called GLYX-13 has shown significant reductions in depression symptoms within hours, with positive effects lasting an average of seven days from a single dose. The novel therapeutic targets brain receptors responsible for learning and memory.
Dendritic spines play a vital role in isolating and amplifying electrical signals received at synapses, enabling neurons to communicate with each other. The discovery sheds light on the brain's complex processing mechanisms and may lead to advances in treating diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's.
Researchers found that people with Type 2 diabetes who received diabetes education after a cancer diagnosis had fewer visits to the emergency room and hospital admissions. They also tested their blood sugar levels more often, resulting in lower healthcare costs.
Researchers at Northwestern University have implicated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the development of tissue fibrosis, a hallmark of scleroderma. The study found that mutations in the TLR4 gene made mice resistant to experimental scleroderma and that patients with scleroderma had abnormal TLR4 levels in affected tissues.
A large international study shows that children with psoriasis are twice as likely to be overweight or obese as healthy children, and US children with severe psoriasis have four times the odds. Lifestyle interventions, such as increasing exercise and decreasing caloric intake, are crucial to reducing the risk of metabolic diseases.
A biodegradable nanoparticle has been shown to halt multiple sclerosis in mice by tricking the immune system into stopping its attack on myelin. This technology also shows promise for treating Type 1 diabetes and airway allergies such as asthma.
A multipurpose medical catheter using stretchable electronics replaces three devices in cardiac ablation therapy, making the procedure faster, simpler, and safer. The device provides real-time information on temperature, mechanical force, and blood flow to surgeons during surgery.