Researchers created tiny robot bugs that can navigate hard-to-reach spots and inhospitable environments. The robots use polymeric artificial muscle to replicate the jumping movements of small creatures like ants and fleas, enabling them to move across surfaces with ease.
A nationwide survey of COVID-19 guidance for emergency medical services (EMS) reveals that nearly half of states lack online access to protocols, leaving frontline workers vulnerable. The study highlights the need for standardized guidance and improved resource allocation to mitigate the impact of future pandemics.
Researchers are exploring how bacteria form biofilms, which can be detrimental to health but also have potential uses in medicine and environmental cleanup. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind microbial growth in biofilms and develop new materials and treatments.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in predicting heart attacks and strokes by developing a non-invasive method using super-resolution ultrasound imaging. The technology aims to detect high-risk atherosclerotic plaques that are prone to rupture, allowing doctors to prescribe life-saving interventions.
A new study led by the University of Pittsburgh psychologists has found that regular exercise can help older adults prevent declines in episodic memory. The research pooled data from dozens of studies to show that exercising about three times a week for at least four months is effective in improving memory.
Scientists found a protective gene that counters a deleterious mutation causing atrial septal defects, allowing some people with the mutation to thrive. The discovery provides valuable clinical information for families affected by congenital heart disease.
A study by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that blood levels of seven out of ten commonly used anticonvulsant medications dropped dramatically during pregnancy, leading to breakthrough seizures. The study aims to improve outcomes in women with epilepsy by better managing their medications over the course of pregnancy.
The Advanced Magnetics for Power and Energy Development (AMPED) Consortium has received a $60,000 planning grant from the National Science Foundation to address the growing need for improved soft magnetic materials and enhanced device applications in emerging energy technologies. The consortium aims to create an interdisciplinary workf...
A new symptom management approach, WRITE Symptoms, guides patients to reflect on their symptoms and develop strategies for addressing target symptoms. Both nurse-led and self-directed versions of the tool improved women's sense of control over their symptoms after eight weeks.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered how 'polyglot' neurons encode and decode sensorimotor chatter, enabling the differentiation between motor and sensory signals. This breakthrough has vital applications in brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics, where accurate decoding is crucial.
A multidisciplinary research team from the University of Pittsburgh seeks to improve vascular graft integration by developing fully biodegradable tissue-engineered vascular grafts. The goal is to keep compliance-matched as it degrades and remodels, reducing long-term graft failure rates.
A recent study by University of Pittsburgh biologists found a wide range of plant viruses associated with pollen grains from 24 plant species across the US. The research, published in Nature Communications, identifies six new species and three variants of known viruses, highlighting the potential for honeybees to spread these diseases.
Researchers found that exposure to addiction medicine consult teams led to a significantly reduced risk of death within three months of discharge. Medication played a key role in reducing mortality for patients with opioid use disorders, while other components may be crucial for those with alcohol use disorder.
A novel technique transplants patient fat into the sole to reduce plantar fasciitis symptoms, improving quality of life and sports activities. The study laid groundwork for a larger clinical trial with promising results.
A recent study has found that older adults who scored higher on a fatigue scale were more than twice as likely to die within 2.7 years compared to those with lower scores. Researchers say this can serve as an indicator for earlier mortality and encourage people to stick with exercise goals.
A new study found that hospitalized children who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to develop neurological symptoms, including headache and altered mental status. The research also showed that these symptoms were more common in kids with MIS-C, a condition characterized by fever, inflammation, and organ dysfunction.
A new study has found that children in sub-Saharan Africa who are hospitalized with COVID-19 are dying at a rate far greater than children in the US and Europe. Children under 1 year old had nearly five times the risk of death compared to adolescents aged 15-19 years.
A new graft strategy has reduced chronic graft-versus-host disease in leukemia patients by depleting naïve T cells from donor blood. The approach has shown promising results, with only 7% of patients developing chronic GVHD compared to 30-60% with standard treatment.
A new study led by a Pitt father-daughter duo found that people's emotions play a significant role in the spread of fake news on social media. The researchers discovered three distinct groups: 'hot' individuals who are highly emotional and likely to share fake news, 'upset' users who react negatively to misleading headlines, and the 'c...
A qualitative study of 40 youths and young adults with mental health challenges reported mostly negative perceptions and experiences when faced with police involvement in crisis intervention. The researchers found that officer involvement contributed to 'inappropriately punitive' responses, further stigmatizing young people.
New research introduces adaptable smart window design that can heat or cool a house. The film changes its properties to absorb sunlight in winter and reflect it in summer, reducing energy consumption by 20-34%.
Middle-aged women with higher self-compassion had thinner carotid artery walls and less plaque buildup, linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk. The findings persisted even when controlling for behaviors and psychological factors.
Researchers simulated an attack that falsified mammogram images, fooling both AI breast cancer diagnosis models and human radiologist experts. The study highlights the need to develop ways to make AI models more robust to adversarial attacks, which could lead to incorrect cancer diagnoses.
A new study links the composition of gut microbiome before infection to HIV susceptibility and progression. Men who contracted HIV in the early days of the pandemic had a greater relative abundance of pro-inflammatory vs. anti-inflammatory gut microbes, which contributed to their increased risk of developing AIDS.
A new study reveals that extracellular vesicles deliver genetic instructions for the longevity protein Klotho to muscle cells, which declines with age. This finding suggests that EVs could be developed into novel therapies for healing damaged muscle tissue and improving functional recovery in older individuals.
A new analysis proposes four solutions states can implement to improve Medicaid eligibility for seniors, including eliminating the asset test or increasing its limit. This could lead to lower administrative burdens and improved health outcomes for eligible individuals.
A third of US kids lack good and consistent health insurance, with inadequate insurance driving the trend. Families with private insurance and children with special needs are disproportionately affected.
A new study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine highlights the link between stress and alcohol craving among Black individuals. The research found that higher stress levels are associated with stronger alcohol cravings for Black participants, but not white participants, suggesting a process of drinking to cope with stress.
A study found significant declines in daily steps and increases in clinical depression risk among college students one year into COVID-19. Physical activity levels failed to return to pre-pandemic levels, while screen time remained higher than before.
Researchers found that adding a specific bacterium to the gut microbiome of mice with colon cancer increased immune cell activity and reduced tumor size. The study suggests leveraging gut microbiota to enhance anti-tumor immunity in advanced colon cancer, offering a promising new approach for treatment.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh aim to reduce workplace accidents by creating a predictive model of friction based on floor-surface topography. They will use advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy to measure small-scale features that affect shoe-floor friction.
A new study led by the University of Pittsburgh reveals that 360 million metric tonnes of new plastic were produced in 2018, with only 9% being recycled. The research found that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production are staggering, accounting for 350 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
A recent study found that robots negatively impact marriage stability and fertility, while improving gender pay equity. The research revealed that exposure to industrial robots worsens men's economic stature and reduces their ability to form long-term commitments, but boosts women's earnings and increases their labor force participation.
Researchers discovered that frequency-following responses to speech sounds are highly conserved across species, including monkeys, guinea pigs and humans. This finding could lead to the development of specific markers for speech impairments and improve clinical diagnostics.
Researchers developed EDS-HAT, an AI-powered system combining machine learning and whole genome sequencing to detect clusters of similar infections in real-time. The system identified 99 clusters of infections and prevented potential transmissions in 65.7% of cases, saving the hospital $692,500.
The Covestro Circular Economy Program aims to create opportunities for research, education, and innovation in circular economy principles. The program will prepare students with circular economy training to address the challenge of global waste and material use.
A new study by University of Pittsburgh researchers links econometric models with production profitability to predict the impact of demand shocks on carbon intensity. Small shocks are predicted to displace heavy crudes with higher carbon intensity, but the relation may be counterintuitive.
Researchers discovered that inhibiting a specific signaling pathway can prevent immunotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer, leading to improved tumor responses. This breakthrough has significant clinical implications and will inform a new clinical trial to test the efficacy of this approach.
Researchers have identified genetic mutations in genes CBP and p300 that drive radiation resistance in head and neck tumors. Inhibiting these proteins with certain drugs makes tumor cells more susceptible to radiotherapy.
A new smartphone app, MyHealthyPregnancy, evaluates preeclampsia risk and patient adherence to low-dose aspirin recommendations. The study found that 37% of high-risk patients were unaware they needed to take the medication, highlighting a need for improved communication between providers and patients.
Researchers will investigate brain circuits involved in the placebo effect and paradoxical kinesia, a phenomenon where Parkinson's patients exhibit normal motor function under specific circumstances. The study aims to identify new locations for deep brain stimulation placement and discover new treatments for Parkinson's disease.
Researchers create maps of senescence in heart and lung cells, comparing different types of senescent cells across the lifespan. The goal is to understand how senescent cells contribute to age-related diseases and develop therapies called senolytics.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh and Prairie View A&M University developed an algorithm to repurpose cancer drugs for pulmonary hypertension, a devastating lung disease. Two compounds improved human cells and rodent markers, supporting broader drug-repurposing platform use.
A novel computational platform called scAAVengr uses single-cell RNA sequencing to quickly evaluate viral vectors for delivering gene therapies to the retina with maximum efficiency and precision. This approach saves time and resources by identifying suitable candidates that can deliver therapy to affected parts of the retina accurately.
Researchers found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations in CF patients' sinuses vary widely, with evolution following two stages: pathoadaptive community formation and fragmentation. This discovery may inform new therapeutic approaches by focusing on strongest evolutionary pressures.
A team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and National Cancer Institute discovered why HIV is rarely the direct cause of cancer. The research found that it requires a specific series of events involving changes in HIV and additional mutations in human genes, resulting in T cell lymphomas. However, the occurrence is rare, a...
A new study found that women whose menstrual cycle length increased two years before menopause had better vascular health than those with stable cycles. Changes in cycle length may predict cardiovascular disease risk, allowing clinicians to recommend preventive strategies.
A clinical trial found that convalescent plasma did not improve survival rates in most critically ill COVID-19 patients. However, immunocompromised patients showed a slight improvement with the treatment. The researchers speculate that too few high-quality antibodies and a runaway inflammatory immune response may be to blame.
A telephone-delivered nursing care strategy combining heart failure care management with depression treatment improved patients' clinical outcomes. Patients receiving 'blended' collaborative care showed better mental health-related quality of life, including improved mood and reduced limitations in social activities.
The new MDS-Rely Center aims to produce breakthrough research that benefits the US economy by linking industry innovators, government agency labs, and academic teams. The center will help prepare skilled workers and provide employment opportunities for students and graduates.