A USC neuroscientist re-analyzed data from the Viking landers, finding a distinct biological rhythm in the soil that suggests the presence of life. The signal has a precise circadian rhythm of 24.66 hours, entrained to temperature fluctuations on Mars.
Researchers found that raloxifene stimulates cell growth in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells with estrogen receptors, increasing the risk of recurrence. The study suggests caution for women with a history of breast cancer and estrogen receptor-positive ovarian cancer.
A USC study found that administering a drug to lower insulin resistance in women at high risk for type 2 diabetes successfully prevents or stalls its onset. The study tested whether reducing the demands on beta cells could prevent diabetes in Latinas with recent gestational diabetes.
A USC study found that teenagers and young adults with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in their arteries. The study suggests that physicians should monitor lipid levels in these patients, even at an early age, to prevent cardiovascular problems.
A USC-developed nutrition and exercise program has been shown to significantly reduce weight gain in children, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and enhance physical activity. The Kids N Fitness program is effective in promoting healthy eating habits and regular exercise among obese children.
A study from the University of Southern California found that regular use of permanent hair dyes increases the risk of bladder cancer in women. Women who use permanent dyes at least once a month for one year or longer have twice the risk of bladder cancer as non-users, with increased risks observed in frequent users over 15 years.
A new national collaborative network for advanced earthquake engineering research and experimentation is being developed, enabling engineers to pool their experience and perform experiments and simulations on a larger scale. The network will also improve the design of infrastructure to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers at USC's Information Sciences Institute have developed an AI system called 'elves' to manage their daily lives, using GPS tracking and automated scheduling. The system has shown success in handling the team's professional lives over an extended period.
Researchers at the University of Southern California are developing modular robotic units called CONRO, which can autonomously seek and find each other to form a unified system. The units can perform various tasks, such as clearing debris or carrying medicine to people trapped in rubble.
The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a $300,000 grant to lead a national partnership in planning and designing the NEESgrid, a virtual laboratory for earthquake engineering. This grant could potentially lead to a $10 million integration grant.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have discovered a unique nuclear DNA structure that helps elucidate the process of immunoglobulin class switching. This finding may provide insights into B cell cancer, such as Burkitt's lymphoma.
Researchers found that local communication, such as talking to neighbors, is crucial for a sense of community. The study also highlights the importance of strategic community organizations and media in building a stronger sense of belonging.
The FDA has approved Visudyne therapy for the treatment of wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness among people over 50. The therapy involves a two-step procedure that can be performed in a doctor's office, causing closure of abnormal blood vessels and potentially restoring central vision.
Researchers at USC found no significant change in average sperm count over three decades, contradicting previous studies. Sperm abnormalities were common, but did not impact overall fertility.
A new anti-angiogenesis drug delivered as a nose drop has shown promising results in treating AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma. The study found a major response rate of 36% among patients, with some experiencing complete remission and others experiencing stabilization or regression of their disease for several weeks after stopping treatment.
A study conducted by the University of Southern California found that reducing co-payments for substance abuse treatment following detoxification increases participation rates. Almost 79% of managed care patients received follow-up treatment, with lower co-payments associated with higher participation.
John P. Holdren receives Tyler Prize for his leadership in research and policy on global energy and environmental issues. His work has shaped new understanding and policies on sustainable development, climate change, and nuclear nonproliferation.
A study of postmenopausal women in Los Angeles County found that long-term use of hormone replacement therapy combining estrogen and progestin increases breast cancer risk by 24%. The risk was highest for sequential therapy, but continuous combined therapy showed lower risks. Researchers suggest lowering doses to decrease disease risk.
Researchers found that men with Antisocial Personality Disorder have significant deficiencies in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region enabling moral sensibilities and self-restraint. The study bolsters the link between damage to this region and the acquisition of antisocial behavior.
The University of Southern California has received a $12.8 million grant to establish a national center studying tobacco use and prevention among teen-agers from Pacific Rim cultures. Researchers will investigate how culture, immigration, and adaptation affect smoking habits and design effective ways to discourage smoking.
A study led by University of Southern California researchers found that tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer increases the risk of endometrial cancer by about 50 percent. The risk is higher in women who have previously used estrogens, are overweight, or have a history of estrogen replacement therapy.
Researchers at USC created a machine system that recognizes spoken words better than humans, with the ability to distinguish words in vast amounts of random noise. The novel neural network architecture mimics the biological system's temporal dimension, allowing it to process information structured in time.
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in African-American and Latino men, with a five times greater risk compared to those without the mutation. The mutation affects the enzyme steroid 5a-reductase, leading to increased production of dihydrotestosterone, a potent form of tes...
A new test developed by USC scientists and colleagues can accurately detect hidden breast cancer cells in lymph nodes, improving the detection of metastases. This breakthrough enables customized treatments tailored to individual patients' characteristics, such as tumor size and hormone receptor status.
A new study by researchers at the University of Southern California found that children with asthma are significantly more affected by severe air pollution than other children. Living in communities with high levels of pollutants is associated with higher rates of bronchitis and phlegm among children with a doctor diagnosis of asthma.
Scientists have discovered a highly error-prone DNA copying system in bacteria that causes genetic mutations under ultraviolet radiation. This 'sloppier copier' reveals how cells can intentionally introduce mistakes to survive and evolve.
The University of Southern California has received a historic gift of $110 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation to establish the Keck School of Medicine and enhance its health sciences program. The donation will focus on neurogenetic disorders, with potential breakthroughs in understanding and treatment of debilitating diseases.
Researchers found that CMV infection accelerates the progression of HIV in infants, leading to motor problems, stunted brain growth, pneumonia, and other symptoms of AIDS. The study sheds light on how viruses interact to cause disease and may lead to further understanding of why some individuals have a faster progression of HIV.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California found that regular exercise over a lifetime significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Women who maintained a relatively stable weight throughout their adulthood saw a 45-55% lower risk, with the greatest benefits seen when exercisin...
Researchers at USC and UC Irvine have discovered two independent brain pathways that process visual information, highlighting the importance of integrating color and motion. The 'Third Order' system is found to be critical for detecting pure color motion, allowing humans to perceive movement in 'isoluminant' images.
A new study uses computational tools to track human cancer development, suggesting that adenoma and carcinoma lines can arise from a common precursor but develop in parallel. This challenges the conventional model of cancer progression, which assumes a linear process from normal cell to polyp to cancer.
A new study found that cliques and social sets, as well as marijuana use, are predictors of violent behavior among teenagers. The research also identified other factors such as being male, having been victimized by violence, or feeling vulnerable to violence as risk factors. These findings have significant implications for understandin...
Researchers found that a small peptide, IM862, showed significant anti-angiogenesis activity in a human clinical trial, resulting in major responses in 37% of patients. The peptide inhibits blood vessel formation and modulates the immune system, offering a potential treatment for Kaposi's Sarcoma with improved safety profiles.
A USC study suggests that radiation therapy is not necessary for DCIS patients with margin widths of 10mm or more, and may even be counterproductive due to side effects and costs. Patients with narrower margins may benefit from postoperative radiation therapy.
Researchers have created living nerve cell colonies on silicon chips that can be used to study the brain's functions and potentially develop new prosthetic devices. The colonies, grown from rat hippocampal neurons, can live for extended periods and communicate with each other through a matrix of electrodes.
The USC School of Engineering's Information Sciences Institute has developed a process called EFAB to mass-produce tiny mechanical and electromechanical devices with complex features. This process integrates micromechanics with microelectronics, allowing for the production of sophisticated systems on a chip at relatively low temperatures.
A new instrument helps children understand the difference between truth and lies, and recognize the importance of telling the whole truth. The Lyon-Saywitz Oath-Taking Competency Picture Task has shown that children as young as five can be trusted to understand what they're promising in a court of law.
Researchers found that estrogen activates neurotransmitter receptors, increasing neuronal activity and long-term potentiation, a process linked to memory and cognitive function. The study suggests estrogen may play a key role in delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have developed virtual reality technology to evaluate mental health problems, including Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairments. The study found that virtual reality tests showed no significant gender differences in performance.
The 1999 Tyler Prize honors Te-Tzu Chang's research on rice genetics and conservation, which has led to major advances in plant breeding, productivity, and disease resistance. Joel E. Cohen's contributions to understanding food webs and population growth have also had a lasting impact on both.
The future health requirements of tomorrow's older population will significantly impact their quality of life, with millions expected to be poor and frail. Investing in aging research is crucial to prevent debilitating conditions and reduce healthcare costs.
A University of Southern California study found that DDT and PCBs are widely distributed in the Palos Verdes Shelf water column, leaching from sediments. The substances' concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from the ocean floor, indicating they're being transported by ocean currents.
A USC-led study shows that photopheresis reduces the number of serious organ rejections in heart transplant patients, potentially allowing for a more targeted therapy. The treatment also appears to have an anti-viral effect, reducing levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the bloodstream.
Researchers found that regular multi-vitamin use and long-term hormone replacement therapy can lower homocysteine levels in the blood, potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study tracked 353 men and women with varying levels of homocysteine, revealing significant differences in levels among participants.
Researchers propose that an inactive enzyme may contribute to memory impairment in Alzheimer's patients. A transgenic mouse study found impaired memory in animals lacking the enzyme MMP-9, supporting the idea that its inactivity plays a role in the disease.
A scientific team's findings suggest that tsunamis may pose a significant threat to the Pacific Rim and other coastline regions due to the instability of submarine structures. The team believes that earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater can trigger massive underwater landslides, resulting in devastating tsunamis.
Studies in monkeys reveal a neural mechanism for recognizing and sharing meaning through actions, supporting the idea that human speech evolved from ancient gestural communication. Researchers also found similar brain circuits in humans, linking hand movements to Broca's area.
A study by Adrian Raine found that three-year-olds who are half an inch taller than their peers tend to be more aggressive as 11-year-olds. The researchers also discovered that stimulation-seeking and fearless toddlers were at higher risk for aggression, regardless of gender.
Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy face an increased risk of later developing type-2 diabetes. Using the mini-pill, progestin-only birth control pills, may put these women at a higher risk of developing chronic form of the disease, warns USC researchers.
A new study by USC/Norris Cancer Center scientists raises questions about the potential use of finasteride to prevent prostate cancer. Finasteride, commonly used to treat benign prostate disease, may not be effective as a chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer in men with high PSA levels.