A clinical trial comparing a one-page medication handout proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with an updated version developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh that quantifies a drug’s risk and benefits showed that the latter was more informative and helped patients feel better equipped to make decisions. Published today in JAMA Network Open, the study, which used the drug mifepristone as an example, highlights the importance of communicating risks and benefits of prescription medications – ...

From decades of astronomical observations scientists know that most galaxies contain massive black holes at their centers. The gas and dust falling into these black holes liberates an enormous amount of energy as a result of friction, forming luminous galactic cores, called quasars, that expel jets of energetic matter. These jets can be detected with radio telescopes up to large distances. In our local Universe these radio jets are not uncommon, with a small fraction being found in nearby galaxies, but they have remained elusive in the distant, early Universe until now.  Using a combination of telescopes, astronomers have discovered a distant, two-lobed radio ...

Our immune system is armed with an array of defenses designed to detect and eliminate harmful threats. One of its most powerful defense mechanisms is the complement system—a group of proteins that patrols our body, ever vigilant for signs of infection or injury. Now, over 100 years after the complement system was first described, researchers at Mass General Brigham have discovered that a protein known as granzyme K (GZMK) drives tissue damage and inflammation by activating the complement system against our own tissues. Their findings not only reshape the century-old understanding of the complement system but also open new avenues for therapies that could specifically ...

Alcohol use disorder, which affects over 10% of Americans, can lead to persistent and serious insomnia. Difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep can last even after months of sobriety, increasing the risk of relapse. But treating withdrawal-related insomnia is difficult, partly because what’s going on in the brain in this condition remains largely mysterious. Now, research in fruit flies has identified specific brain signals and groups of brain cells that are involved in alcohol-induced insomnia. This work could ultimately lead ...

Key Takeaways: Appalachia is not uniform: There are important distinctions in cancer diagnoses and deaths among different regions of Appalachia, with certain areas of Central Appalachia experiencing the highest rates of cancer incidence and deaths among the greater Appalachian region. Higher death rates from cancers that can be caught early with screening: Although the region has improved in screening rates, people in Appalachia still die more frequently from cancers that can be caught early with routine screening than elsewhere in the  United States. Reason for hope: Research can pave the way for targeted interventions that can reduce these ...

LOS ANGELES — Why do some people who consume a few glasses of alcohol a day develop advanced liver disease while others who drink the same amount don’t?   The answer may lie in three common underlying medical conditions, according to a new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Keck Medicine of USC. The research found that heavy drinkers with either diabetes, high blood pressure or a high waist circumference are as much as 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease.   “The results ...

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — Mayo Clinic researchers have pioneered an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, called OmicsFootPrint, that helps convert vast amounts of complex biological data into two-dimensional circular images. The details of the tool are published in a study in Nucleic Acids Research.   Omics is the study of genes, proteins and other molecular data to help uncover how the body functions and how diseases develop. By mapping this data, the OmicsFootPrint may provide clinicians and researchers with a new way to visualize ...

“Here we present a case of a patient with stage IV CD-74-ROS1 fusion NSCLC discovered initially with RNA next generation sequencing (NGS) who acquired resistance to lorlatinib after 6 months on therapy through a novel RUFY1-RET fusion, detected only through RNA NGS.” BUFFALO, NY - February 6, 2025 – A new case report was published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on February 5, 2025, titled “Acquired RUFY1-RET rearrangement as a mechanism of resistance to lorlatinib in a patient with CD74-ROS1 rearranged non-small cell lung cancer: A case report." In this case report, Jenny L. ...

WASHINGTON — Researchers have designed a single-photon time-of-flight LiDAR system that can acquire a high-resolution 3D image of an object or scene up to 1 kilometer away. The new system could help enhance security, monitoring, and remote sensing by enabling detailed imaging even in challenging environmental conditions or when objects are obscured by foliage or camouflage netting. “Our system uses a single-photon detector approximately twice as efficient as detectors deployed in similar LiDAR systems ...

INDIANAPOLIS – Breast cancer is the world’s most prevalent cancer. Although earlier detection and targeted treatment have resulted in high survival rates, many breast cancer survivors experience fear of cancer recurrence. For some survivors this fear is occasional, for others it is persistent and often debilitating. A new study of breast cancer survivors has found this psychosocial challenge impacts almost every important domain of their lives – the emotional, behavioral, cognitive, relational and professional. A larger number of domains was affected, ...

Korea University Researchers Analysis of Income-Related Disparities in Mortality Among Young Adults with Diabetes   Type 2 diabetics (T2D) under 40 years of age with low income have a threefold higher risk of mortality   Young people with T2D are more affected by income than elderly people with T2D   The research team of Professor Sin Gon Kim and Professor Nam Hoon Kim of department of internal medicine (Endocrinology and Metabolism) of Korea University Anam Hospital, and Professor Ji Yoon Kim of Samsung Medical Center confirmed that young adults with T2D with low income have 3 times higher mortality ...

New research forthcoming in Social Psychological and Personality Science shows that when people understand how income inequality creates disparities in healthcare and education access, they become more likely to support policies addressing economic inequality. Across four studies, the research shows that highlighting connections between income gaps and inequalities in health and education access decreases acceptance of economic disparities and increase support for redistributive actions. "Research has shown that people often tolerate income inequality. However, our study shows that when people perceive ...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Feb. 6, 2025 — Michael S. Gordon, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of HonorHealth Research Institute, today was named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO), the world’s leading professional organization for physicians and oncology professionals caring for people with cancer. “The title of FASCO is a recognition bestowed upon ASCO members who have shown extraordinary dedication for their voluntary efforts that benefit the Society, the specialty of oncology, and most importantly, the patients whom we serve,” according to a letter ...

AMES, Iowa – A farmer notices an unfamiliar insect on a leaf.   Is this a pollinator? Or a pest? Good news at harvest time? Or bad? Need to be controlled? Or not?   That farmer can snap a picture, use a smartphone or computer to feed the photo into a web-based application called InsectNet and, with the help of machine learning technology, get back real-time information.   “The app identifies the insect and returns a prediction of its taxonomic classification and role in the ecosystem as a pest, predator, pollinator, parasitoid, decomposer, herbivore, indicator ...

Restoring Predators, Restoring Ecosystems: Yellowstone Wolves and other Carnivores Drive Strong Trophic Cascade Corvallis, OR — February 6, 2025 — A new study reveals the profound ecological effects of wolves and other large carnivores in Yellowstone National Park, showcasing the cascading effects predators can have on ecosystems. In Yellowstone, this involves wolves and other large carnivores, elk, and willows. The research, which utilized previously published data from 25 riparian (streamside) ...

The domestication of maize is one of the greatest examples of humankind’s impact on evolution. Early farmers’ pre-industrial plant breeding choices turned corn from a nearly inedible crop into the major global food source it is today. Now, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Professors Rob Martienssen and Thomas Gingeras are uncovering the genetics behind choices farmers made 9,000 years ago. They aim to better understand how evolution works and to help today’s farmers update corn so it can grow in harsh conditions. To ...

Boston, MA – Today, the Kraft Center for Community Health at Mass General Brigham announced the launch of the inaugural Kraft Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health. This national prize seeks to honor a transformative organization, program or innovation that is making a measurable impact on health outcomes and has the potential to become a scalable model for addressing community health. “We established The Kraft Center for Community Health with a mission to expand access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare for medically underserved patients, families, and communities,” ...

The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet. It consumes enormous quantities of tiny, shrimp-like animals known as krill to support a body of up to 100 feet (30 meters) long. Blue whales and other baleen whales, which filter seawater through their mouths to feed on small marine life, once teemed in Earth’s oceans. Then over the past century they were hunted almost to extinction for their energy-dense blubber. As whales were decimated, some thought the krill would proliferate in predator-free waters. But that’s not what happened. Krill populations dropped, too, and neither population has ...

Fish is a high-quality source of protein, containing omega-3 fatty acids and many other beneficial nutrients. However, the accumulation of toxic mercury also makes fish consumption a concern, of which tuna is particularly susceptible. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have come up with a novel approach to packaging canned tuna infused in the water-based solution of amino acid cysteine. It was shown to remove up to 35 percent of the accumulated mercury in canned tuna, significantly reducing human exposure to mercury via food. Fish and other seafood, provide people with a broad variety of essential nutrients in their diet However, the consumption ...

Epoxy resins are coatings and adhesives used in a broad range of familiar applications, such as construction, engineering and manufacturing. However, they often present a challenge to recycle or dispose of responsibly. For the first time, a team of researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, developed a method to efficiently reclaim materials from a range of epoxy products for reuse by using a novel solid catalyst. There’s a high chance you are surrounded by epoxy compounds as you read this. They are used in electronic devices due to their insulating ...

Searching for life in alien oceans may be more difficult than scientists previously thought, even when we can sample these extraterrestrial waters directly.  A new study focusing on Enceladus, a moon of Saturn that sprays its ocean water into space through cracks in its icy surface, shows that the physics of alien oceans could prevent evidence of deep-sea life from reaching places where we can detect it.  Published today (Thursday, 6 February 2025) in Communications Earth and Environment, the study shows how Enceladus's ocean forms distinct layers that dramatically slow the movement of material ...

A recent Brazilian study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research has highlighted promising pathways for preventing and treating atrial fibrillation, a condition that significantly raises the risks of stroke and dementia. The research was led by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in partnership with the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR). What Is Atrial Fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. It disrupts the normal rhythm of the heart, causing irregular and often rapid heartbeats. This condition is associated with increased risks of stroke, dementia, and heart failure. It is also linked to other health ...

How would you summarize your study for a lay audience? Heart failure remains a substantial burden for patients due to its high prevalence and limited therapeutic options. Heart failure is classified into two major clinical subtypes— heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). While there have been significant therapeutic advances in HFrEF, the rate of complications and death from HFrEF remains high. Additionally, most drugs that have shown benefits for patients with HFrEF have not demonstrated a comparable benefit in patients with HFpEF, highlighting a critical need for the development of targeted therapies ...

People’s ability to interpret emotions or focus on performing a task is reduced by short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution, potentially making everyday activities, such as the weekly supermarket shop, more challenging, a new study reveals. Scientists discovered that even brief exposure to high concentrations of PM may impair a person’s ability to focus on tasks, avoid distractions, and behave in a socially acceptable manner. Researchers exposed study participants to either high levels of air pollution - using candle smoke - or clean air, testing cognitive abilities ...

Key points: Researchers from the Voigt lab have extended our understanding of how developmental genes are held in a poised state to allow timely expression once they receive the correct ‘go’ signals. The next layer of regulation has been uncovered by the identification of proteins that interact with the epigenetic marks that poise developmental genes ready for expression. The research provides insight into the mechanisms through which the phenomenon of bivalency – where both activating and repressive marks are laid down at the same site on the genome – acts to ready developmental ...