New research into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is leading to a better understanding of its underlying neurobiology, risk factors and long-term implications. The findings are published in a recent issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences and were revealed at a conference jointly sponsored by the New York Academy of Sciences and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
A group of scientists representing the UCLA School of Dentistry; the UCLA Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, and C3 Jian Corporation have succeeded in creating a pheromone-guided “smart” anti-microbial peptide capable of selectively eliminating Streptococcus mutans, a leading bacterial cause of tooth decay, in 30 seconds.
In a first-of-its-kind study, UCLA researchers have shown that segments of the HIV-infected population who have little to no consistent outpatient medical care ? and yet are most in need of such services ? are overwhelmingly minorities, the poor and substance abusers.
UCLA radiologists and Siemens Medical Solutions have jointly developed remote-control software that enables an off-site imaging expert to log onto a personal computer and operate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine by remote control. Reported in the November issue of Radiology, the study found that the quality of the remote scans were superior to onsite scans by a less experienced technologist, suggesting options for helping facilities or regions with limited medical staff and expertise.
African-American women have the highest mortality rate for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), according to new research. The study, presented at CHEST 2006, the 72nd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), revealed that racial disparities exist in pulmonary hypertension mortality and morbidity, with African-American women exhibiting the highest mortality rate when compared with all other groups.
Preventing cavities could one day involve the dental equivalent of a military surgical strike. A team of researchers supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research report they have created a new smart anti-microbial treatment that can be chemically programmed in the laboratory to seek out and kill a specific cavity-causing species of bacteria, leaving the good bacteria untouched.
A new NIH-funded study shows that a specific gene variant in humans affects both sensitivity to short-term (acute) pain in healthy volunteers and the risk of developing chronic pain after one kind of back surgery. Blocking increased activity of this gene after nerve injury or inflammation in animals prevented development of chronic pain.
Beginning with the winter season of 2004-2005, influenza vaccination has been recommended for all children 6 to 23 months old in the United States. However, its safety in young children has not been adequately studied in large populations. A study was conducted by Simon J. Hambidge to screen for medically attended events in the clinic, emergency department, or hospital after administration of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children 6 to 23 months old.
Although moderate alcohol intake is associated with lower risk for myocardial infarction (MI), guidelines generally suggest that adults seek other lifestyle measures to reduce cardiovascular risk. Physical activity, smoking, and diet, moderate alcohol intake is associated with lower risk for MI.
Young people who get a new meningitis shot may be at a slightly higher risk of developing a paralyzing side effect, federal researchers said. Even so, U.S. health officials said the benefits far outweigh the risk of getting the rare condition, Guillain Barre syndrome. They are not backing off their recommendation that most students be vaccinated.