|
 |
Last Updated: Apr 23, 2008 - 5:54:47 AM |
Latest Research
:
Sports Medicine
How exercise changes structure and function of heart
For the first time researchers are beginning to understand exactly how various forms of exercise impact the heart. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators, in collaboration with the Harvard University Health Services, have found that 90 days of vigorous athletic training produces significant changes in cardiac structure and function and that the type of change varies with the type of exercise performed. Their study appears in the April Journal of Applied Physiology.
Apr 22, 2008 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Repeated methamphetamine use causes long-term adaptations in brains of mice, researchers find
Repeatedly stimulating the mouse brain with methamphetamine depresses important areas of the brain, and those changes can only be undone by re-introducing the drug, according to research at the University of Washington and other institutions. The study, which appears in the April 10 issue of the journal Neuron, provides one of the most in-depth views of the mechanisms of methamphetamine addiction, and suggests that withdrawal from the drug may not undo the changes the stimulant can cause in the brain.
Apr 9, 2008 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
U. Iowa study finds biological link between pain and fatigue
A recent University of Iowa study reveals a biological link between pain and fatigue and may help explain why more women than men are diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Apr 7, 2008 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Scientists identify new longevity genes
Scientists at the University of Washington and other institutions have identified 25 genes regulating lifespan in two organisms separated by about 1.5 billion years in evolutionary change. At least 15 of those genes have very similar versions in humans, suggesting that scientists may be able to target those genes to help slow down the aging process and treat age-related conditions. The study will be published online by the journal Genome Research on March 13.
Mar 12, 2008 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Oregon study raises questions on synthetic progestins
The widely used synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) decreased endothelial function in premenopausal women in a study done at the University of Oregon. The finding, researchers said, raises concerns about long-term effects of MPA and possibly other synthetic hormones on vascular health in young women.
Mar 9, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Genetic tags reveal secrets of memories' staying power in mice
A better understanding of how memory works is emerging from a newfound ability to link a learning experience in a mouse to consequent changes in the inner workings of its neurons. Researchers, supported in part by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), have developed a way to pinpoint the specific cellular components that sustain a specific memory in genetically-engineered mice.
Feb 21, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Immune deficiency and balance disorder result from single gene defect
A genetic defect that causes a severe immune deficiency in humans may also produce balance disorders, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Iowa, The Jackson Laboratory and East Carolina University.
Feb 21, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Transparent fish to make human biology clearer
Zebrafish are genetically similar to humans and are good models for human biology and disease. Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have created a zebrafish that is transparent throughout its life. The new fish allows scientists to directly view its internal organs, and observe processes like tumor metastasis and blood production after bone-marrow transplant in a living organism.
Feb 6, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Anemia treatment may be a double-edged sword
Erythropoietin has so far been known to doctors as a hormone that boosts red-blood-cell production. Now, a mouse study led by Lois Smith, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist at Children's Hospital Boston, shows it also keeps blood vessels alive and growing in the eye. The findings not only add a new function to the hormone, but also give doctors a reason to pause before prescribing it to patients with diseases affected by abnormal blood-vessel growth, such as retinopathy and cancer.
Jan 30, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Breakdown of kidney's ability to clean its own filters likely causes disease
Jan. 29, 2008 -- The kidney actively cleans its most selective filter to keep it from clogging with blood proteins, scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveal in a new study.
Jan 29, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Lungs' mast cells could provide new treatment target for asthma, other respiratory disease
NEW YORK (Jan. 29, 2008) -- An enzyme released by mast cells in the lungs appears to play a key role in the tightening of airways that is a hallmark of asthma -- pointing to a potential new target for treatment against the illness.
Jan 29, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
The pitter patter of little feet... climbing straight up a wall
Building upon several years of research into the gecko's uncanny ability to climb sheer walls, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed an adhesive that is the first to master the easy attach and easy release of the reptile's padded feet. The material could prove useful for a range of products, from climbing equipment to medical devices.
Jan 29, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Researchers put the bite on mosquitoes
Few things sting like a mosquito's bite--especially if that bite carries a disease such as malaria, yellow fever, Dengue fever or West Nile virus. But if researchers from The University of Arizona in Tucson have their way, one day mosquito bites may prove deadly to the mosquitoes as well.
Jan 16, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
UVa biomedical engineering study shows magnetic field can reduce swelling
A recent study by University of Virginia researchers demonstrates that the use of an acute, localized static magnetic field of moderate strength can result in significant reduction of swelling when applied immediately after an inflammatory injury.
Jan 3, 2008 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
'Runner's high' may also strengthen hearts
Endorphins and other morphine-like substances known as opioids, which are released during exercise, don't just make you feel good -- they may also protect you from heart attacks, according to University of Iowa researchers.
Nov 8, 2007 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
University of Iowa team discovers first moisture-sensing genes
Researchers in the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine have discovered the first two genes involved in moisture sensing (hygrosensation). The discovery also reveals a two-sensor hygrosensing system in fruit flies that may allow the flies to detect subtle changes in humidity -- an ability that is critical for the flies' survival. The results appear in the Nov. 8 issue of Nature.
Nov 7, 2007 - 5:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Hearing changes how we perceive gender
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Think about the confused feelings that occur when you meet someone whose tone of voice doesn’t seem to quite fit with his or her gender.
Oct 24, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
MSU researcher helps develop computer game for Ugandan children recovering from cerebral malaria
EAST LANSING, Mich. —The computer program Captain’s Log – originally used with individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, brain injuries or learning disabilities – is being adapted to rehabilitate Ugandan children who are survivors of cerebral malaria.
Oct 23, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Endobronchial valve significantly improves emphysema
CHICAGO, Oct. 22 – Emphysema patients whose lungs are implanted with a pencil eraser-sized, one-way endobronchial valve experience significantly improved measures of lung function and report better quality of life, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researcher Frank C. Sciurba, M.D., reported today at CHEST 2007, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. Scientific sessions continue through Thursday, Oct. 25, at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago.
Oct 22, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Spinal cord injury expert to be honored by research foundation
NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Dr. Wise Young, the Richard H. Shindell Professor of Neuroscience at Rutgers University and founding director of Rutgers’ W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, is receiving the Melvyn H. Motolinsky Research Foundation’s 2007 Distinguished Service Award.
Oct 18, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Immune cells promote blood vessel formation in mouse endometriosis
A discovery in mice of immune cells that promote the formation of new blood vessels could lead to new treatments for endometriosis, a painful condition associated with infertility that affects up to 15 percent of women of reproductive age.
Oct 18, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Massive microRNA scan uncovers leads to treating muscle degeneration
Researchers have discovered the first microRNAs – tiny bits of code that regulate gene activity – linked to each of 10 major degenerative muscular disorders, opening doors to new treatments and a better biological understanding of these debilitating, poorly understood, often untreatable diseases. The study, to be published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by Iris Eisenberg, PhD, of the Program in Genomics at Children’s Hospital Boston. Louis Kunkel, PhD, director of the Program in Genomics and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, was senior investigator.
Oct 17, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Testosterone turns male juncos into blustery hunks -- and bad dads
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The ability to ramp up testosterone production appears to drive male dark-eyed juncos to find and win mates, but it comes with an evolutionary cost. Big fluctuations in testosterone may also cause males to lose interest in parenting their own young, scientists have learned.
Oct 15, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Marines land at UO, leave with plans to wear Oregon-made training suits
EUGENE, Ore. -- (Oct. 10, 2007) -- A few came. They ran. They left. As a result of their August visit the U.S. Marine Corp begins training in 2008 in new running suits chosen after tests of competing products in the University of Oregon's environmental chamber.
Oct 10, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Appendix isn't useless at all: It's a safe house for bacteria
DURHAM, N.C. – Long denigrated as vestigial or useless, the appendix now appears to have a reason to be – as a “safe house” for the beneficial bacteria living in the human gut.
Oct 8, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
New thoracic imaging approach can pinpoint underlying venous problems
CINCINNATI— University of Cincinnati (UC) radiologists have developed a new technique for capturing images of chest veins that eases diagnosis of venous diseases.
Oct 8, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Evil genes made me do it
While there have been numerous medical studies investigating the physiological and biochemical basis for behavioral disorders such as antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, there have been virtually no comprehensive studies aimed at providing a physiological explanation of malignant narcissism—a term that characterizes individuals who exhibit malevolent behavior but are still able to function effectively in society.
Oct 8, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Study links chemical to inhibited milk synthesis, secretion in humans
CINCINNATI—University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have identified the neurotransmitter serotonin as the chemical responsible for inhibiting milk production and secretion in human mammary glands.
Oct 8, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Treatment blocks pain without disrupting other functions
A combination of two drugs can selectively block pain-sensing neurons in rats without impairing movement or other sensations such as touch, according to a new study by National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported investigators. The finding suggests an improved way to treat pain from childbirth and surgical procedures. It may also lead to new treatments to help the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic pain.
Oct 3, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
UAB wins $5.7M neurofibromatosis grant
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A team of UAB geneticists, doctors and biostatisticians has received $5.7 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to study and test new treatments for neurofibromatosis, or NF.
Oct 2, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Scientists say sabercat bit like a pussycat
In public imagination, the sabre-toothed cat Smilodon ranks alongside Tyrannosaurus rex as the ultimate killing machine. Powerfully built, with upper canines like knives, Smilodon was a fearsome predator of Ice-Age America's lost giants.
Oct 1, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Discovery supports theory of Alzheimer's disease as form of diabetes
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Insulin, it turns out, may be as important for the mind as it is for the body. Research in the last few years has raised the possibility that Alzheimer’s memory loss could be due to a novel third form of diabetes.
Sep 26, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Pathway to cell death redefined in landmark study
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 20 -- A new study led by investigators from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrates that the process of necrosis, long thought to be a chaotic, irreversible pathway to cell death, may actually be triggered as part of a regulated response to stress by a powerful protein, SRP-6, that can potentially halt necrosis in its path. Further, the research team realized that this protein might be harnessed to direct some cells -- those in cancerous tumors, for instance -- to die, while saving others, such as degenerating neural cells responsible for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The work appears on the Sept. 21 cover of the journal Cell.
Sep 20, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Velociraptor had feathers
A new look at some old bones have shown that velociraptor, the dinosaur made famous in the movie Jurassic Park, had feathers. A paper describing the discovery, made by paleontologists at the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum of Natural History, appears in the Sept. 21 issue of the journal Science.
Sep 20, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Species still have more viable offspring if they can choose their best mate
Athens, Ga. -- When it comes to picking a mate, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had an answer: “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” As it turns out, that may be a cardinal rule in the animal kingdom, too.
Sep 18, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
New research seeks to enhance quality and security of wireless telemedicine
A team of researchers led by Fei Hu, assistant professor of computer engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, is working to advance the integration of radio frequency identification technology, also known as RFID, into cardiac sensor networks, a new wireless technology for telemedicine delivery. The team will also work to enhance the security of the systems used in the process, thereby reducing the possibility of identity theft and cyber-terrorism. The effort is being supported by a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Cyber Trust Program. Hu, the principal investigator, will collaborate with Yang Xiao, professor of computer science at the University of Alabama.
Sep 17, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Women prescribed drugs linked to birth defects not often advised to use birth control
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 17 – Although prescription medications that may increase the risk of birth defects are commonly used by women in their childbearing years, only about half receive contraceptive counseling from their health care providers, according to a large-scale study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine reported in the Sept. 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Sep 17, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Researchers discover correlation between GERD and obesity in females
A group of scientists recently discovered an association between being overweightand a disease called gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in women.
Sep 14, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Nicotine may accelerate atherosclerosis, may be as dangerous as tar
NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2007) -- It's well known that smoking cigarettes increases risk for a host of serious health problems from cancer to heart disease. Now a new study from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City looks at how they do their dirty work by contributing to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. The evidence points to nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes.
Sep 12, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
MIT: Leveraging learning for artificial respiration
CAMBRIDGE, MA- MIT researchers have found that the body's innate ability to adapt to recurring stimuli could be leveraged to design more effective and less costly artificial respirators. The new approach could minimize the need for the induced sedation or paralysis currently necessary for some patients on mechanical ventilation.
Sep 11, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Low vitamin D during pregnancy linked to pre-eclampsia
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7 – Vitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences reported this week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Sep 7, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Specific brain protein required for nerve cell connections to form and function
CHAPEL HILL — Neurons, or nerve cells, communicate with each other through contact points called synapses. When these connections are damaged, communication breaks down, causing the messages that would normally help our feet push our bike pedals or our mind locate our car keys to fall short.
Sep 5, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Mice stressed in simulated weightlessness show organ atrophy
New Brunswick, N.J. – A ground-based, experimental model used to simulate astronaut weightlessness in space has provided Rutgers scientists an opportunity to study the effects of stress on immune organs.
Sep 3, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
High and mighty: first common height gene identified by researchers behind 'obesity gene' finding
Whilst we all know that tall parents are more likely to have tall children, scientists have been unable to identify any common genes that make people taller than others. Now, however, scientists have identified the first gene, known as HMGA2, a common variant of which directly influences height.
Sep 2, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Flies prefer fizzy drinks
While you may not catch a fly sipping Perrier, the insect has specialized taste cells for carbonated water that probably encourage it to binge on food with growing microorganisms. Yeast and bacteria both produce carbon dioxide (CO2) when they feast, and CO2 dissolves readily in water to produce seltzer or soda water.
Aug 29, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Gene triggers obsessive compulsive disorder-like syndrome in mice
Using genetic engineering, researchers have created an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - like set of behaviors in mice and reversed them with antidepressants and genetic targeting of a key brain circuit. The study, by National Institutes of Health (NIH) -funded researchers, suggests new strategies for treating the disorder.
Aug 22, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Elephantnose fish 'see' with their chin
Originating in Central Africa, Peters' elephantnose fish (Gnathonemus petersii), finds its bearings by means of weak electrical fields. Scientists from the University of Bonn have now been able to show how well this works. In complete darkness the animals can even distinguish the material of objects at a distance or dead organisms from living ones. The results have now been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Aug 21, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Scientists tackle mystery mountain illness
Experts at the University are studying an illness known as HAPE (high altitude pulmonary oedema), which causes fluid to build up in the lungs can and can occur from as low as 2,500 metres, affecting people of all age groups and fitness levels.
Aug 21, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
Understanding hypertension in African Americans proves elusive
Exercise cannot reduce a sodium-retaining hormone in African Americans known to potentially cause hypertension, found Michael D. Brown, Ph.D., the senior author of a study in the September issue of Experimental Physiology. Brown is an associate professor of kinesiology at Temple University�s College of Health Professions.
Aug 16, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
Latest Research
New Joslin research identifies sirtuin protein instrumental in fat production and metabolism
BOSTON--August 15, 2007--A new Joslin Diabetes Center-led study has identified a protein found in fat cells that may play a major role in how fat is produced and stored, offering a new target for treatments to prevent obesity and reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. This latest research appears in the August 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism.
Aug 15, 2007 - 4:00:00 AM
|
|
