Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are developing a robotic system that may offer wheelchair-dependent people independent, powered mobility and the ability, depending on patient status, to move to and from beds, chairs and toilets without assistance.
The lifting ability of the system, which is called the “HLPR Chair” (for Home […]
For many patients with urinary stone disease, treatment with a calcium-channel blocker or an alpha blocker can greatly improve their likelihood of passing their urinary stones, which may help these patients avoid surgery, according to an analysis by the University of Michigan Health System.
Urinary stone disease is highly prevalent, afflicting 13 percent of men […]
As wild birds get ready to take to the skies for their winter migration, a GPS Navigation Satellite will be monitoring their movements in order to help scientists fight the spread of H5N1, which is a deadly strain of avian flu virus. By utilizing GPS navigation technology, international teams of scientists plan to follow […]
Researchers in Taiwan say they have established for the first time, that the mercury compound which is present as a contaminant in some seafood can actually damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
In their experiments, Shing-Hwa Liu and colleagues exposed cell cultures of insulin-producing beta cells to methylmercury. They used concentrations of methylmercury at about […]
People who eat the Israeli-developed fruit known in Hebrew as pomelit (a cross between a grapefruit and a pomelo) or drink its juice regularly will be able to lower their blood cholesterol and increase their blood antioxidant activity, thus improving their chances of preventing blocked heart arteries and heart attacks, says a researcher at […]
A new study released in San Francisco says that pregnant women should get a flu shot, because it can protect both her and her baby.
Current vaccines are not licensed for babies under 6 months. But, the study says it appears that an expectant mother immunized during the last three months of pregnancy will automatically […]
On Thursday, U.S. scientists reported an initial success in building an extensive catalog of information about how drugs affect various healthy and diseased cells. This so-called “Connectivity Map” will be able to reveal links among drugs, genes and diseases.
The findings, also published in the journal Cancer Cell, may accelerate the search for new drugs […]
University of Virginia researchers say that you can pick up a cold virus from a household object even a day after the item was contaminated. Once on your fingertips, this virus which is lifted from germ-laden doorknobs, TV remotes and light switches is so much closer to your nose and eyes, greatly increasing your […]
One in seven women will develop breast cancer in her life. But how much do most women really know about this disease? Breast cancer specialists from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center say that misconceptions often cause women more anxiety than necessary. And in some cases the fear paralyzes women and prevents them from […]
A recent study reveals that islet cell transplantation may decrease the need of insulin injections for people with type 1 diabetes. This study conducted by James Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada and his team was published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
In this study, processed islet cells […]
