A new study published in PLoS Medicine found that removing user fees for primary health care changed health utilization behavior but did not improve health outcomes among children under 5 years old in Ghana. The study's findings challenge the assumption that free healthcare leads to better health outcomes.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found a genetic variation in the neuropeptide Y gene that increases susceptibility to early coronary artery disease. The study found six related variations in the gene associated with transmission from generation to generation and association across a population of patients.
A recent study suggests that Neanderthals went extinct due to competition with Cro-Magnon populations. The researchers used a predictive method to analyze the distribution of archaeological sites and reconstructed climatic conditions during this period.
A systematic review found that homeless people in the US, UK, mainland Europe, and Australia have higher rates of mental health problems than the general population. The editorial argues that 'imaginative and collaborative solutions' are needed to address these complex needs.
A new study found that British American Tobacco used a multi-pronged strategy to undermine China's secondhand smoke policy. BAT funded the Beijing Liver Foundation and promoted ineffective ventilation systems, diverting attention from SHS issues. Researchers call for policymakers and media to be aware of these tactics.
A trial conducted in northwest Thailand found that artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is safe for pregnant women with malaria, but its efficacy is inferior to single-drug artesunate treatment. The study suggests that longer regimens of ACT may be more effective in treating pregnant women.
A recent study found that nearly 90% of women in eastern Burma gave birth at home without a skilled attendant present, while only a third had any antenatal or postnatal care. The research also revealed high rates of anemia, malaria, and poor nutrition among the population.
A new study reveals that a Philip Morris scientist established close connections with the Chulabhorn Research Institute in Thailand, which is designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre. This link raises concerns about the tobacco industry's ability to influence medical research and teaching at an academic institution allied with the WHO.
A population genetics expert argues that cousin marriage laws are ill-advised due to a smaller risk of birth defects than previously assumed. The laws, which vary by state in the US, reflect outmoded prejudices and oversimplified views of heredity.
Scientists have found a genetic variation at the hexokinase-1 gene associated with glycated hemoglobin, an index of long-term blood glucose concentration. The study analyzed 14,618 women and found that variations at this gene are an important determinant of glycated hemoglobin concentrations.
Researchers introduced the 'Dirty War Index', a tool linking prohibited outcomes to international humanitarian laws. The DWI ratio helps analyze and prevent harmful effects of armed conflicts on populations, with examples from the Colombian civil conflict showing paramilitaries had the highest civilian death rate.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine has found that individuals with visual impairment caused by cataracts are disproportionately represented among the poor. The research analyzed data from Kenya, the Philippines, and Bangladesh to determine the relationship between poverty and blindness, revealing a significant association.
Researchers found that root shape determines hormone concentration and triggers new growth regions, sharing a deep evolutionary relationship with shoot patterning. This discovery uses computational modeling and highlights the power of interdisciplinary approaches in probing organismal architecture.
A new study published in PLoS Medicine reveals that China's antinarcotics policies compromise the health and human rights of detained injection drug users. The study found routine HIV testing without consent, lack of medical treatment, and inadequate information on HIV prevention.
A new framework proposes national surveillance, monitoring, and research to inform future guideline development in low-income countries. Local data will optimize the management of childhood diseases like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea by capturing country-specific differences.
A newly discovered species of microsporidia infects the roundworm C. elegans, providing a powerful system to study these mysterious microbes and develop new drugs. This discovery has the potential to identify new treatments for human microsporidian infections.
Gene expression varies among African Americans based on European ancestry proportion. Small population differences found in gene regulation compared to individual variations within the same population.
Researchers have discovered novel prion infectivity in white and brown fat tissues of mice, shedding new light on the pathogenesis of prion diseases. This finding may have significant implications for preventing prion infection in animals and humans, particularly in ruminants suspected of exposure to or infection with prions.
Researchers have identified MEDNIK syndrome as a debilitating genetic disorder characterized by mental retardation, enteropathy, deafness, and other symptoms. The AP1S1 gene mutation is found to cause impairment of neural networks, including the spinal cord, inner ear, and brain.
A new study reveals invasive garden ants (Lasius neglectus) originated from the Black Sea region and are able to thrive in temperate climates. They can spread rapidly through large potted plants and human movement, posing a significant threat to natural biodiversity.
Cognitive neuroscientists successfully created an illusion of body-swapping by manipulating sensory impressions, allowing subjects to perceive a mannequin's body as their own. This discovery sheds light on how the brain constructs an internal image of the body and has potential practical uses in VR applications.
Researchers discovered that butterfly species with similar wing patterns have evolved to live in the same territory, maximizing benefits of their appearance. This adaptation highlights the role of protection from predators in evolution beyond pure competition.
The African AIDS Vaccine Programme (AAVP) is a network of African HIV vaccine stakeholders working towards an AIDS-free continent. The programme, established in 2000, supports and represents diverse communities involved in HIV vaccine research and development.
Research suggests ovarian cancer subtypes have distinct biomarker profiles, affecting patient outcomes and treatment strategies. The study analyzed 500 ovarian cancer samples to identify correlations between biomarkers and survival rates, highlighting the need for subtype-specific approaches.
A new study found that senescent cells secrete proteins into their environment, causing inflammation and setting conditions for the development of age-related diseases, including cancer. The research provides a molecular description of how this process drives aging and age-related disease.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that homeless people in Western countries experience substantially higher rates of mental health problems compared to the general population. The prevalence of serious mental disorders was found to be raised, with notable increases in alcohol and drug abuse, as well as psychosis.
Researchers found that immune responses to a partial dose of a meningitis vaccine were comparable to a full dose, making fractional dosing an alternative in mass vaccination campaigns. This strategy could help control outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, where meningitis epidemics occur nearly every year.
Researchers have uncovered how a bacterial pathogen interacts with blood coagulation protein fibrinogen to cause MRSA infections. They found that agents could be designed to inhibit the ClfA–Fg interaction without interfering with platelet activation, offering new avenues for anti-staphococcal treatment.
A genome-wide association study reveals genetic variants influencing metabolic capacity, affecting disease susceptibility. The study identifies four SNPs associated with variations in polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis and breakdown of triglycerides.
Undergrads are enlisted by lecturers to tackle DNA annotation challenge using innovative Annotathon approach. This teaching method trains students as apprentice bioinformaticians to analyze unknown metagenomic DNA fragments and gain confidence in bioinformatics.
A new study published in PLoS Medicine finds that artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) can reduce malaria transmission in low-transmission areas, comparable to the use of insecticide-treated bed nets. Longer-acting anti-malarial regimens may also be effective in reducing transmission in high-transmission areas.
In a breakthrough study, researchers discovered that social amoebas form multi-cellular organisms with genetically similar 'kin' to ensure survival. By aggregating based on genetic similarity rather than true kinship, cells can increase their chances of reproducing and passing on their genes.
In response to environmental stress, yeast cells trigger a protein-misfolding mechanism that reveals hidden genetic variation, allowing them to adapt and evolve rapidly. This 'prion switching' enables cells to digest previously inaccessible materials, such as certain nutrients and antibiotics, without prior genetic mutation.
Researchers identify COPI complex as a regulator of lipid homeostasis, finding it reduces PAT protein expression at the lipid droplet surface. This study reveals COPI's role in energy storage and shedding, with implications for treating obesity and metabolic disorders.
Private sector involvement in delivering healthcare could be a solution for low-income countries struggling with weak health systems. However, critics argue that private risk-sharing schemes and insurance are not accessible to the poorest groups, highlighting the importance of public financing of healthcare.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that peer-led sex education in English schools did not reduce teenage abortions, but pupils preferred the approach. The trial involved 9,000 students and showed no significant difference in abortion rates between peer-led and teacher-led sessions at age 20.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine found that a quarter of submitted drug trials remain unpublished five years later. Trials with favorable outcomes were more likely to be published, while those without favorable outcomes often had outcomes omitted or altered to favor the test drug.
Experts call for more focused efforts on delivering better quality food aid to prevent and treat malnutrition in high-burden areas. A broader strategy involving local agricultural development and empowering women is needed to address global food insecurity.
The discovery of Bundibugyo ebolavirus represents a significant addition to the puzzle of the Ebola virus genus. The new virus is genetically distinct from all other known Ebola virus species, differing by more than 30% at the genetic level. This finding has implications for the development of diagnostics, antivirals, and vaccines.
A team of scientists has discovered a new green fluorescent protein in a deep-sea creature, which can be used as a marker in living cells and tissues. The protein, named cerFP505, has similar brightness and stability to existing fluorescent proteins, making it an ideal lead structure for super-resolution microscopy.
A new study by Anna Dornhaus found that individual rock ants specializing on one task are no more efficient than those performing multiple tasks. Despite concentrating their work on a specific job, specialized ants do not perform better or faster, but instead spend more hours working.
A new study finds that antibiotics like ciprofloxacin significantly affect the diversity and abundance of health-associated bacteria in the human gut. The study reveals that even after treatment is stopped, some strains of beneficial bacteria may take up to four weeks or longer to return to pre-treatment levels.
A team of scientists discovered that novel genes are responsible for morphological differences between two closely related species of freshwater polyps called Hydra. The study found that a secreted protein encoded by one such gene controls the pattern in which the tentacles develop, leading to species-specific traits.
A survey of researchers found that many engaged in self-censorship after public debate about NIH grant funding, removing politically sensitive language and stopping certain topics. The study also showed that some researchers strengthened their commitment to complete their research despite controversy.
A team of researchers argues that the success of ACT in curing malaria demands a new approach to assessing new antimalarial drugs. The authors discuss the design and interpretation of clinical trials for new antimalarial drugs, emphasizing the need for improved efficacy and public health utility.
A new study identifies a genetic pathway that determines the pattern of flower growth in tomato plants. The researchers found that manipulation of this pathway can turn a single stem into hundreds of branch-bearing shoots, increasing crop yields.
Researchers found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses foamy macrophage formation to survive in infected individuals. These 'foamy' cells provide a nutrient-rich reservoir for the bacteria, allowing it to persist in a dormant state.
Researchers found that wounded plants produce jasmonates, which inhibit cell division and stunt plant growth. This discovery opens the possibility of improving crop growth through the manipulation of the jasmonate signal pathway.
Researchers have created a new strategy for controlling autoimmune responses in rheumatoid arthritis by genetically engineering Foxp3 regulatory cells. These cells can be activated to suppress the immune response, potentially reversing or inhibiting the disease process.
A study found that inactivating a specific gene in adult neural stem cells causes nerve cells to form connections in the wrong part of the brain. The research suggests that cdk5, a protein necessary for correct neuron development, is essential for accurate maturation of newborn granule cells.