A study published in PLOS Medicine found that using cystatin C with creatinine to estimate GFR for chronic kidney disease diagnosis resulted in increased healthcare costs without improved risk prediction. The test led to a higher number of patients being reclassified to more advanced CKD, requiring more frequent monitoring and referrals.
Researchers successfully built a gene drive to reduce female fertility in malaria-spreading mosquitoes, but mutations soon arose that blocked the spread of new genes. This study documents the emergence of resistance and will help improve future gene drives.
The global Guinea Worm Eradication Programme is highly cost-effective in preventing the spread of guinea worm disease, with a financial cost of $0.0176 per capita per year. The programme's cost-effectiveness exceeds that of no intervention or minimal intervention scenarios, making it a valuable investment for disease prevention.
Researchers create a computational model to simulate focal cooling, a brain-cooling treatment that may ease epileptic seizures. The model reveals insights into the mechanism underlying this technique, which involves suppressing electrical signals in specific brain regions.
A study of Dutch children who lost a parent to intimate partner homicide found that two-thirds had experienced violence at home before the incident. The children were often not previously known to mental health and social services, highlighting a need for better support.
A study published in PLOS ONE found an ornamented bâton percé with antler from a reindeer species, suggesting long-distance exchange between Mesolithic communities. The artifact was likely transported from North Karelia to Central Poland, providing new insight into the flow of goods and ideas in Early Holocene hunter-gatherer groups.
A new study found that gabapentin co-use with opioids increases the risk of fatal opioid overdose. The study analyzed data from Ontario, Canada and found that patients prescribed both gabapentin and opioids were more likely to die from an opioid overdose.
Research has found that most Central American 'kissing bugs' infect people with just two strains of the Chagas disease parasite, TcI and TcIV. The study identified a high level of genetic variation within these strains, which may impact vaccine development and treatment.
Researchers have developed a new software tool that reveals molecular connections between breast cancer tumor cells and immune system cells in the bloodstream. The study found that these connections vary depending on the type of breast cancer, potentially leading to new treatment and monitoring strategies.
A recent study has found that natural killer cells play an important role in protecting against CMV-induced hearing loss in mice. The interaction between NK cells and the viral protein m157 is crucial in preventing hearing loss, with mice lacking this interaction being more susceptible to hearing loss.
A study published in PLOS Genetics found that lethal genetic disorders are more common than expected due to factors such as balancing selection, disease severity, and errors in estimates. This research may help identify overlooked mutations causing these disorders.
New research suggests that male hormones promote infection with the virus that causes Kaposi's sarcoma, a type of cancer. The study found that androgen receptors in cells are activated by male hormones, leading to increased levels of KSHV genetic material detected in infected men.
Geckos using narrower perches exhibit longer limbs compared to those on wider perches, contrary to previous assumptions. This finding suggests a different adaptation strategy for geckos, potentially due to greater frictional and adhesive forces that enable them to cling to narrow perches effectively.
Researchers found that saber-toothed kittens were born with more robust bones compared to other felines, contrary to expectations. The study suggests that the growth of feline species is tightly constrained, even among species with distinct bone structures.
Isotopic analysis of human remains reveals differences in diet and socioeconomic status between cave and megalithic graves, suggesting local land use partitioning. The study proposes two explanations for these findings: socioeconomic class divisions or different populations with distinct subsistence economies.
The Children's Tumor Foundation and PLOS ONE are collaborating on a new funding program in neurofibromatosis (NF) research, integrating the Registered Reports model to enhance rigor, reproducibility, and transparency. The partnership aims to accelerate transparent science and eliminate publication bias.
Postpartum depression affects over 5% of women after childbirth, with a risk of recurrence 21% for those with hospital contacts or antidepressant use. Treatment duration varies, with 27.9% still in treatment a year after first treatment.
A new study published in PLOS Biology found that sexual touch can contribute substantially to the acceleration of puberty in rats. The researchers observed that young female rats housed with male rats experienced an expansion of their genital cortex, a finding that was not seen in females housed with other females or males separated by...
A mass immunization campaign against Japanese encephalitis in Nepal resulted in a 78% reduction in JE cases and prevented an estimated 3,011 cases. The vaccine also cut the rate of acute encephalitis syndrome by 59%.
Researchers have identified a genetic link between host animals, their microbial community, and methane production in a study that won the PLOS Genetics Research Prize. The study found that certain microbial profiles can be used to recognize cattle that use feed more efficiently while emitting less methane.
A new synthetic molecule, SUW133, has been designed to reactivate dormant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in mice and lead to cell death. In a study published in PLOS Pathogens, researchers found that up to 25% of latently infected cells died within 24 hours after treatment.
A study found that a non-burdensome scientific reframing intervention improved patients' understanding of clinical research and its differences from clinical care. The 12-minute slideshow had no significant effect on participants' desire to enroll, but reduced therapeutic misconception scores by about 6 points.
A new hermit crab species, Diogenes heteropsammicola, has been discovered that adopts a walking coral as its home instead of a seashell. The crab transports the coral and prevents it from being buried by sediment, offering an advantage over traditional shell homes.
Researchers monitored students' success in a 17-week online program, finding that time of day had little effect on task completion, contradicting the theory of finite self-control. Students' performance on specific tasks declined after about an hour, regardless of when they started.
Self-monitoring of blood pressure at home is associated with a significant reduction in clinic blood pressure, particularly when combined with individually tailored intensive support. The effect was strongest in people on fewer antihypertensive medications and those with higher systolic blood pressure before self-monitoring.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that HPV testing detects a higher number of precancerous cervical lesions compared to cytology-based Pap smears in women offered HPV vaccination. The study showed significant improvements in detection rates for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) with HPV testing.
New research reveals sepsis disrupts immune system function by impairing TRM recruitment to infected skin, increasing risk of life-threatening secondary infections. In mice, sepsis stymied TRM's ability to recruit bystander T and B cells to fight infection.
A new study in Miami-Dade County, Florida found that time spent outdoors affects Zika virus transmission and spread. Residents who spend more time outdoors are more likely to be infected, while those with high indoor exposure risk infect fewer people but spread the virus faster.
Researchers found 60 genetic variants influencing HbA1c measurements and ability to diagnose diabetes. These variants, including one associated with lower HbA1c levels despite high blood glucose, may lead to underdiagnosis of type 2 diabetes in African Americans.
Two brief psychological therapies targeting depression and harmful drinking delivered by lay counsellors were effective and sustained over 12 months. The interventions, Healthy Activity Programme (HAP) and Counselling for Alcohol Problems (CAP), showed significant symptom reduction and remission rates.
A systematic review of 35 studies found that over 26% of papers identified as systematic reviews or meta-analyses contained spin, while up to 84% of non-randomised trials did. Researchers highlight the need for better tools to identify and address 'spin' in scientific literature.
A study found that ungroomed areas on bees' bodies match the position of flower pollen-sacs and stigmas, facilitating pollen transfer. The researchers also discovered that these 'safe sites' are contacted by flowers' reproductive organs, allowing for efficient pollination.
A study found that listening to happy music, specifically classical music with positive valence and high arousal, facilitates more divergent creative thinking. Participants who came up with the most original solutions scored higher in divergent creativity.
When two people walk one in front of the other while carrying a stretcher-like object, they typically synchronize their gaits. This synchronization is associated with quadrupedal gaits, particularly pacing and trotting. Mechanical coupling changes walking gaits, reducing step length and movement speed.
A systematic review found that indoor spraying had some effect on either mosquito populations or dengue case numbers, with stronger evidence for adult mosquito populations. The study concluded that more research is needed, but the results are promising as a vector control method.
Researchers found that honeybees fed plant microRNA supplements developed more slowly and had smaller bodies than those not receiving the supplements. The study reveals a previously unknown function of plant microRNAs in fine-tuning larval development.
A new study provides in-depth analysis of human mouth clicks used in echolocation, revealing brief and focused clicks with distinct acoustic patterns. The findings enable the creation of virtual human echolocators, allowing researchers to investigate object features without impractical measurements.
Researchers date skeleton found in Chan Hol cave near Tulum, Mexico to ~13k BP, suggesting human settlement in the Americas occurred during late Pleistocene. The finding provides one of oldest examples of a human settler in the region.
Researchers developed a peptide mass fingerprint technique to identify whale species from old baleen samples too degraded for microscopy. The method accurately identified 10 species of whales and helped archaeologists understand which species prehistoric groups hunted and how resources were used.
A new study reveals that networks formed by patient transfers between hospitals in France are similar among three patient populations: HAIs, suspected HAIs, and the general patient population. This similarity could help predict HAI spread and inform efforts to reduce its transmission.
A new virtual model of mouse lung function has been developed to better understand the relative importance of different factors contributing to lung changes in chronic inflammation. The study found that changes in lung recruitment and elastic fiber density were mainly responsible for declining lung function.
A new study found that Zika virus preferentially replicates in the female reproductive tract after vaginal transmission, suggesting a higher risk of fetal Zika disease. The research used rhesus macaques to investigate the effects of mosquito and sexual transmission on Zika infection.
A new study suggests that airblast injuries from the black powder torpedo may have killed the crew of the Confederate submarine HL Hunley. Researchers reconstructed the blast using a scale model and found that it could have caused pulmonary and brain trauma to the cabin crew.
A new fossil discovery in the Dominican Republic provides evidence for a major radiation of flies (Calyptratae) during the Cenozoic Era, with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event playing a crucial role. The study estimates that this diversification occurred around 50 million years ago.
A study found associations between parental BMIs and offspring metabolic traits, but the link was not significantly stronger for maternal BMI, arguing against an intra-uterine mechanism. After accounting for offspring BMI, the data suggested that familial factors rather than intra-uterine overnutrition explain the relationship.
A new study published in PLOS Biology reveals that different firing patterns of neurons alter proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursors, which provide insulation to neuronal axons. The findings suggest a complex interplay between neurons and non-neuronal cells supporting them.
A new mathematical approach has identified brain regions that contribute most to epilepsy seizures, allowing surgeons to select specific areas for removal. The method has shown promise in reducing the number of seizures experienced by patients, providing a potential breakthrough in epilepsy treatment.
Computer simulations show moxifloxacin kills bacteria more quickly and performs better when doses are missed, making it a superior option for tuberculosis treatment. The research also found that levofloxacin killed bacteria more quickly than gatifloxacin.
Children with low gut microbiome diversity are more susceptible to severe Entamoeba histolytica infection. The study found that antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome in mice led to decreased white blood cell activity and increased severity of colon inflammation.
A variation in the Cell Size Regulator gene enabled the domestication of large, plump tomatoes thousands of years ago. Farmers selectively cultivated plants with this genetic trait, which boosts fruit weight and increases profit margins.