A new study from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University found that pregnant urban African American and immigrant Afro-Caribbean women can improve access to prenatal health information through the use of mhealth apps like Text4baby. The study showed a 14% increase in intent to use the app and a 28% increase in intent to speak with pr...
Researchers found that ART may not restore immune protection from childhood vaccinations and infections prior to HIV infection. This could leave patients susceptible to chronic diseases and inflammation, potentially shortening their lifespan.
The NYDOH AIDS Institute awarded a 5-year, $1 million grant to the Health Education Alternatives for Teens Program (HEAT) at SUNY Downstate to provide essential health services for transgender and gender non-conforming youth. The grant will nearly triple the program's capacity to serve over 100 patients annually.
A new study suggests that chronic ear infections caused by a flat Eustachian tube angle may have led to the demise of the Neanderthals. This condition would have been a lifelong threat to their health and survival, making it difficult for them to compete with Homo sapiens for resources.
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is developing a neurotechnology pathway to restore vision in people with age-related macular degeneration. The OBServ system, currently in development, aims to provide patients with limited vision, allowing them to regain independence through wireless streaming and surgically implanted devices.
Research from SUNY Downstate found that novice military pilots can rapidly improve their visual scanning strategies in the cockpit by observing expert pilots' eye movements via eye tracking technology. This breakthrough could lead to a new type of training for aviators based on eye-movement analysis.
SUNY Downstate has been awarded a $10 million grant to form a translational health disparities research program, focusing on recruiting and training underrepresented minority scientists. The program will support junior faculty endowments, research fellowships, and recruit underrepresented minority students to study health disparities.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate aim to develop a breakthrough neuroprosthetic to restore vision by stimulating brain cells with light, avoiding unwanted coactivation of mutually suppressive neurons. The project seeks transformative advances in viral transfection and imaging methodology to improve human medicine.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center found increasing trends in US work characteristics since 2002, including low job control, job strain, and work-family conflict. These stressors are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and contribute to the slowing of declining CVD mortality rates.
Researchers discovered that drugs targeting inhibitory brain receptors can alter synapse number, potentially offering therapeutic strategies for autism and schizophrenia. Targeted therapy during adolescence may help normalize synapse numbers in individuals with abnormal numbers of synapses.
A new test using peripheral vision reaction time can identify mild traumatic brain injury with underlying brain damage, leading to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment. The test is an objective, inexpensive, and rapid assessment that detects patients with a severe underlying injury.
Dr. LeConté Dill received the Women's Caucus Highest Scoring Abstract award at the American Public Health Association conference for her research on gender-based inequities in violence experienced by teenage girls in their dating relationships. Her study explores the role of trauma and resilience among urban girls of color, highlightin...
A study led by SUNY Downstate researchers found that inhibiting liver sphingolipid de novo synthesis in early life impairs adherens junctions and promotes tumorigenesis. Sphingomyelin supplementation partially corrects the defect, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.
Dr. Richard Rosenfeld suggests a pragmatic approach to diagnosing and treating bacterial sinus infections in adults, emphasizing symptomatic treatment over antibiotics. The recommended 'watchful waiting' approach involves monitoring symptoms and reserving antibiotics for worsening cases.
A novel inhibitory brain receptor emerges at puberty, reducing seizure-like activity and suggesting a mechanism for epilepsy remission in adolescents. This finding could lead to new treatments for childhood epilepsy.
A new study by SUNY Downstate resolves the controversy over PKMzeta's importance in forming and retaining memories. Mice lacking PKMzeta recruit a closely related molecule, PKCiota/lambda, to compensate for its absence, highlighting the brain's memory system durability.
A study by SUNY Downstate Health Science University found associations between pregnant women's exposure to butyl paraben, triclocarban, and propyl paraben and adverse birth outcomes. Findings suggest potential risks of these chemicals in consumer products.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University have identified a brain receptor that triggers synaptic pruning in the hippocampus during adolescence. This process is crucial for normal learning but goes awry in diseases such as autism and schizophrenia.
A pilot study examining southwest tribal elders found moderate vascular risk despite hypertension treatment, highlighting the need for culturally fair instruments and biomarkers. Cognitive and depressive symptoms were also significant factors in the research results.
A study led by SUNY Downstate Health Science University found increased risk of obesity among Filipino immigrants living in the New York City metropolitan area. The findings suggest that prolonged US residency erodes the health advantage initially carried by immigrants, a process known as 'unhealthy assimilation'.
SUNY Downstate researchers identified areas of high probability of plague bacteria in the western United States. Their findings can be used by public health agencies to target specific areas for enhanced plague surveillance, particularly in regions with significant animal hosts.
A recent study found that pregnant women in Brooklyn have the highest levels of methyl paraben and propyl parben, preservatives commonly used in cosmetics. The researchers detected these substances in human cord blood samples and raised concerns about potential health effects on fetal development and child health.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University have identified a new approach to lowering harmful lipids in blood circulation. The study found that LPCAT3 enzyme deficiency reduces lipid absorption and decreases levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids in the bloodstream.
A new spectrum disorder called ALPIM syndrome has been identified by researchers, which links anxiety to physical disorders. The study found a high correlation between panic disorder and four domains of physical illness, including joint laxity, fibromyalgia, and immune disorders.
Researchers discovered a link between autoimmune diseases and Long QT syndrome, a potentially life-threatening heart condition. Screening and counseling are now recommended for patients with certain medications or abnormal electrolytes.
Research suggests that early life stress can lead to an excess release of serotonin, resulting in a deficit. This could explain why many people with depression and anxiety disorders don't respond well to SSRIs, which aim to increase serotonin levels.
Researchers found a correlation between human population density and vegetation cover in Africa, increasing the risk of animal-to-human Ebola transmission. In contrast, areas with low population density saw a decrease in risk, suggesting that landscape configuration plays a role in transmission.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University found that Neanderthal nasal complexes were not adaptively inferior to those of modern humans. The study suggests competition with Homo sapiens led to their extinction, rather than poor adaptation to cold climate.
A study by researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University found that being overweight is associated with lower levels of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory and emotions. The effect was independent of age, sex, and psychiatric diagnoses.
Researchers discovered that neuroactive stress steroids trigger changes in the brains of methamphetamine-dependent rats during withdrawal. Flumazenil reversed these changes and prevented anxiety by reducing expression of a4βδ GABARs, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for stress-triggered anxiety.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate will develop smartphone apps to help stroke patients manage risk factors and healthcare needs. The project aims to improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations, including the elderly, minorities, and those with limited financial means.
High intelligence and worry both correlate with brain activity measured by choline depletion in subcortical white matter, suggesting co-evolution between the two traits. Worry may aid survival by causing individuals to avoid dangerous situations, leading to higher survival rates.
A new study has found that foreign-born immigrant women from the Caribbean are at a higher risk of elevated mercury levels in their blood. Mercury exposure is particularly concerning for infants and children due to potential damage to cognitive and central nervous system development. The study suggests that community education efforts ...
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center have identified the mechanism by which psychostimulant drugs reduce hyperactivity in ADHD patients. Stimulating dopamine D4 receptors in specific brain regions, such as the basal ganglia and thalamus, depresses motor activity.
SUNY Downstate has been awarded a four-year challenge grant of $220,000 from Research to Prevent Blindness to develop advanced research into blinding diseases. The institution's ophthalmology team is now one of 52 institutions receiving recognition for its eye research.
A recent study published in Journal of Oncology reveals that MAL3-101, a heat shock protein 70 inhibitor, exhibits potent anti-myeloma effects both in vitro and in vivo. The compound boosts the effectiveness of proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib when used synergistically.
Diagnosis-related malpractice claims have risen by 40% since 1996, with total payouts increasing from $21.7 million to $91 million in 2010. Improving notification reliability and work flow through semi-automated systems can enhance patient safety.
SUNY has received $4.3 million in NIH grants to support ROP research and participate in NeuroNEXT clinical trials. The grants aim to develop novel drug therapies to prevent blindness in preterm newborns and accelerate neurological disorder treatments.
A study by SUNY Downstate scientist Ilham Muslimov suggests that molecular competition in neuronal RNA transport may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. The researchers identified RNA motifs that act as spatial codes in nerve cells, directing RNAs to dendrites and synapses.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate have developed a diagnostic test to measure the risk of folate receptor autoantibodies, associated with neural tube defects, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurodevelopmental diseases. The test aims to identify women and children at risk for these conditions, potentially preventing neural tube defect...
SUNY Downstate researchers found that female animals had higher levels of a specific opioid receptor complex that could explain why certain opioids are more effective in women than men. This discovery suggests new molecular targets for pain management in women, taking into account the stage of their menstrual cycle.
A study published in PLoS One suggests that minocycline plus N-acetylcysteine may be a valuable treatment for traumatic brain injury. Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center found a synergistic improvement of cognition and memory after experimental traumatic brain injury, and are planning to bring this combination to clinical trials.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center have identified proteins (Ligatin, MCT-1 and DENR) that can enhance the progression of viruses and cancer cells by promoting eIF2-independent translation initiation. This novel mechanism is a potential target for therapeutic inhibition to counteract viral infections.
A novel brain receptor, alpha4-beta-delta, emerges at puberty and impairs spatial learning. However, reversing this effect with a stress steroid may facilitate learning, offering new strategies for adolescents with learning disabilities.
Dr. Feinman will present on the controversy surrounding dietary strategies for diabetes treatment, stating that carbohydrate consumption raises blood glucose levels. He emphasizes that there is scientific consensus on this issue, but disagrees with healthcare professionals' advice.
SUNY Downstate researchers discovered that the PKMzeta molecule stores complex memories while leaving other brain functions intact. This finding suggests that targeting specific debilitating memories with PKMzeta erasure could be effective in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and addictions.
Dr. Jeanne Stellman urges government policy change to control carcinogenic chemicals in the workplace, citing years of wasted time examining the problem while few have championed efforts to regulate PCBs. Many hazardous chemicals remain unmonitored and unregulated, posing a significant threat to public health.
A low-carb diet has been shown to reduce inflammation and blood saturated fat levels in patients with metabolic syndrome, a condition associated with diabetes and coronary heart disease. The study found that reducing carbohydrate intake led to greater improvements in inflammatory markers compared to a low-fat diet.
Researchers found that PKMzeta is necessary for storing long-term memories in the neocortex, a part of the brain responsible for higher-level cognitive functions. Persistent phosphorylation by PKMzeta is crucial for storing these memories.
Scientists found evidence of a new type of communication between nerve cells in the brain, which may be linked to epilepsy. The discovery suggests that excitatory nerve cells are coupled together by gap junctions, potentially leading to cross-talk and altered brain function.