A hospital-based surveillance study found that infections with nontyphoidal Salmonella and Shigella increased the risk of death in children hospitalized with diarrhea in rural Kenya. The study highlights the importance of using zinc for diarrhea management, promoting oral rehydration solutions, water sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
Researchers developed mathematical models to investigate viral control factors, revealing that innate immune responses, such as natural killer cells and interferon, explain the initial rapid decline and subsequent second peak of viral levels. Ultimately, the adaptive immune response is necessary for eventual viral clearance.
Researchers found that geckos evolved sticky toepads repeatedly, with about 60% of species having adhesive pads. The study suggests that adhesive toepads arose independently 11 times and were lost nine times during gecko evolution.
Researchers tracked elephant movement patterns in Kruger National Park, finding sharp changes at season thresholds. This approach offers a biologically relevant definition of seasons, distinct from arbitrary human-made boundaries.
Research in Namibia's grasslands reveals that 'fairy circles', circular bare spots surrounded by taller grass, exhibit a life cycle with varying life spans. The study finds that smaller circles are generally shorter-lived than larger ones, with life spans ranging from 24 to 75 years.
A long-term study found that problematic peer relationships in adolescence were correlated with all components of metabolic syndrome, including obesity and high blood pressure, in middle age. The study, led by Per E Gustafsson, monitored social relationships and health over 27 years.
Raj Patel argues that understanding hunger and malnutrition requires examining systems and institutions holding power over food. Food sovereignty is advocated as a means to achieve food security and eradicate undernourishment, prioritizing women's rights and community control.
Multinational companies like Nestle and PepsiCo have significant penetration in low- and middle-income countries, leading to rapid increase in unhealthy food consumption. The study highlights the role of global producers in manufacturing and marketing unhealthy commodities, which contribute to non-communicable diseases.
A study by Scottish researchers found that women who experience an initial ectopic pregnancy are less likely to conceive in the future and at increased risk of having another ectopic pregnancy. However, their obstetric outcomes following the ectopic pregnancy were no worse than those in first-time mothers.
A study found that children spend less than an hour a day engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity, with girls becoming more sedentary than boys by age eight. Children of older fathers spent higher percentages of time in sedentary behavior.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found a significant association between traffic noise exposure and an increased risk of heart attacks. The research showed that every 10 decibels of noise above the threshold resulted in a 12% higher risk of myocardial infarction.
Researchers found that majority of Wikipedia pages are peaceful, but edit wars are waged between strongly disagreeing editors. Consensus is generally reached in a reasonable time, even for controversial articles, except in cases of never-ending wars with multiple active editors.
A systematic review found that private healthcare is not superior to the public sector in terms of efficiency, accountability, or effectiveness. The public sector often lacks timeliness and hospitality, while both sectors have financial barriers to care.
Researchers have identified a mechanism by which small heat shock proteins collaborate with other molecular chaperones to disassemble amyloid fibers. This activity could lead to the development of therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
Researchers discovered that dopamine inhibits melatonin production by forming 'heteromers' with norepinephrine receptors, regulating the body's circadian rhythm. This discovery could lead to new treatments for circadian rhythm disturbances and sleep disorders affecting 40% of the world's population.
A new series by PLOS Medicine examines the role of the multinational food industry in shaping global health policies. Guest editors Marion Nestle and David Stuckler argue that public health professionals must recognize Big Food's influence and take action to expose and regulate its interests.
Experts in ecology and conservation science argue that Rio+20 talks should consider physical limits on resource use governed by ecological principles. Human ingenuity may be insufficient to overcome the constraints of the biosphere, but positive approaches can provide solutions for sustainable development.
Experts say soda companies' corporate social responsibility campaigns distract from the health risks of sugary beverages and shift blame to consumers. The campaigns target young people and aim to increase sales, diverting attention from the industry's contribution to rising obesity rates.
Researchers taught a robot to converse with humans as if it were a small child, enabling the robot to move from babbling to producing salient wordforms. This study may be useful for understanding language acquisition in humans.
The Human Microbiome Project Collection provides a comprehensive baseline of the microbial diversity at 18 human body sites, including reference genomes and metagenomic sequences. The studies examine relationships between the microbiome and host health, shedding light on conditions such as Crohn's disease and psoriasis.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals a significant correlation between women's domestic work and higher psychological distress. The research, led by Lisa Harryson of Umea University, also found that perceived socioeconomic and gender inequality in relationships can exacerbate this association.
Researchers discovered a unique trapping mechanism in Nepenthes gracilis pitcher plants, where raindrops dislodge clinging ants, propelling them into the digestive cavity. This behavior allows for efficient capture of prey without manual intervention.
A study found that while improved treatment uptake contributed significantly to reduced death rates from coronary heart disease, socioeconomic disparities persisted. The authors call for evidence-based policies to promote healthier diets and address social gradients in risk factors.
A clinical trial found that nevirapine-based treatment was as effective as lopinavir/ritonavir in controlling HIV levels and reducing mortality among African women. The study confirms the affordability and efficacy of nevirapine-based treatment regimens for initial HIV treatment in resource-limited settings.
A simple point-of-care test has been adopted in six low- and middle-income countries to diagnose syphilis in pregnant women, resulting in over 100,000 screenings and 90% treatment rates. The test has improved health worker job satisfaction and increased the adoption of syphilis screening programs in these countries.
The article highlights the importance of methods for ensuring independence in trial analysis and clearly defined early stopping guidelines. However, issues around liability for data monitoring committee members remain unclear.
Conducting clinical trials in developing countries can bring significant improvements to health outcomes with simple interventions. However, locally led research is challenged by one-size-fits-all requirements, which push up costs and deter investigators.
A cost-effectiveness analysis found that improving quality of care for sick children in district hospitals in Kenya is affordable and effective, with a significant increase in care quality and low additional costs. The intervention was estimated to be approximately $3.6 million annually, or 0.6% of the annual child health budget.
A recent study found that pre-existing mutations in HIV patients can cause the virus to develop resistance to drugs used to slow its progression. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, suggests that understanding how resistance evolves may lead to the development of more effective treatments.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that exposure to psychoactive pharmaceuticals in water can induce autism-like gene expression in fathead minnows, specifically in those with genetic predisposition. The findings suggest a potential environmental trigger for autism spectrum disorder in vulnerable individuals.
Researchers have identified and characterized a new behavior in geckos and cockroaches, allowing them to run off ledges and execute a pendulum-like motion to swing underneath. This discovery has inspired the development of robots that can also perform this acrobatic move, with potential applications in search-and-rescue missions.
Researchers measured hormone levels to distinguish between two theories for the whale's decline, supporting the inadequate prey hypothesis. The data suggest that recovering Chinook salmon populations is critical to killer whale recovery.
International experts emphasize the need for concerted global efforts to address climate change and its substantial health impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations. Encouraging individual actions like walking, cycling, and healthier eating can bring co-benefits for both public health and reduced climate impact.
A re-analysis of data from the InterAct case-control study found that waist circumference is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, independent of body mass index (BMI). Waist circumference was a stronger risk factor in women than in men.
International expert Jerome Singh argues that climate change deliberations must consider the human health implications of climate change, highlighting the need for ethically sound principles to guide policy-making. The author proposes a multi-disciplinary synergized framework incorporating bioethics, public health ethics, and global he...
A study published in PLOS ONE found that office bacteria are most abundant on chairs, phones, and human skin, with over 500 bacterial genera identified. The study also revealed that men's offices have significantly more bacteria than women's, but the diversity of communities didn't show significant differences.
Research finds that belief in God is associated with better theory of mind, a cognitive ability to understand others' thoughts and feelings. The study also explores the gender gap in religious belief, suggesting that women tend to be more religious than men due to differences in mentalizing abilities.
Researchers found that people can intuitively sense changes in body odor composition across the lifespan, with odors from older individuals being rated as less intense and less unpleasant. This ability is driven by specific chemical components, contrary to popular belief about old age odor.
Researchers developed a program to screen and treat pregnant women for mental health disorders, achieving high uptake and acceptability rates. The model demonstrates the feasibility of stepped care approaches for primary healthcare settings.
A systematic review found that trafficked women experience high levels of physical and sexual violence, as well as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The study also highlights the lack of evidence on the health consequences experienced by trafficked children, men, and individuals trafficked for labor exploitation.
The REMARK checklist provides criteria for assessing the completeness of reporting tumor marker studies, aiming to improve quality and relevance of research. Good reporting reveals study strengths and weaknesses, facilitating sound interpretation and application of results.
A new series in PLoS Medicine aims to address the gap between public health approaches and clinical methods for addressing mental disorders. The series seeks case studies that demonstrate global mental health practices in real-world contexts.
A case study from Afghanistan reports a substantial increase in mental health consultations, from 659 to 20,000, after integrating psychosocial problems into basic health services. The authors argue that concurrent community-based approaches and capacity building are crucial for fostering structural changes within the healthcare system.
A new type of male contraceptive could be created by regulating the Katnal1 gene, which controls sperm maturation and development. This finding offers an alternative to hormone-disrupting treatments that can cause side effects.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that warmer, drier conditions associated with El Niño led to higher mortality rates for leatherback turtle eggs and hatchlings. Climate models project that these conditions will become more common, threatening the already endangered species.
Researchers suggest that older-looking candidates may have an advantage in wartime elections due to implicit biases towards leaders who appear older and more dominant. The study found that altered images of Barack Obama and John McCain showed a preference for the older-looking version of each candidate.
Researchers used image analysis software to determine that octopuses reproduce specific features of objects in their surroundings for effective camouflage. This strategy may make the approach more flexible and increase success in different environments.
A systematic review of 2008 data reveals that most prediction studies lack proper reporting and methods, limiting their usefulness. Only a small minority employed effective approaches like external validation or model impact assessments.
A new tool has been developed to help healthcare professionals make informed decisions about which drugs to include in health care formularies. The tool, consisting of a checklist with 48 questions, evaluates the evidence of need, efficacy, medication safety, and other factors.
The study confirms that studying genes shared with other animals is a viable means of extrapolating information about human biology. Researchers analyzed 400,000 pairs of genes and found only a weak decrease in functional similarity between orthologs.