health and well-being

Sep 1, 2010

Fertilizer Chemicals Linked To Animal Developmental Woes

Fertilizer chemicals may pose a bigger hazard to the environment – specifically to creatures that live in water – than originally foreseen, according to new research from North Carolina State University toxicologists. 

Aug 25, 2010

Microneedle, Quantum Dot Study Opens Door To New Clinical Cancer Tools

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed extremely small microneedles that can be used to deliver medically-relevant nanoscale dyes called quantum dots into skin – an advance that opens the door to new techniques for diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including skin cancer. 

Aug 23, 2010

Researchers Find Gene Responsible for Neurodegenerative Disease in Dogs, Possibly in Humans

A North Carolina State University researcher has helped to locate and identify a gene responsible for a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects American Staffordshire terriers. This same gene may be responsible for a similar rare, fatal disease in humans. Its discovery will lead to improved screening and diagnosis of the disease in dogs and is… 

Aug 17, 2010

Study Shows Birth Dates, School Enrollment Dates Affect ADHD Diagnosis Rates

Rising rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and large differences in diagnosis rates have led to fears that the condition is often being misdiagnosed. A new study from North Carolina State University demonstrates that these concerns are justified. The researchers found large discrepancies in diagnosis and treatment rates based on small differences in children’s… 

Aug 16, 2010

Predicting Nanoparticle Interactions in Human Bodies

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a method for predicting the ways nanoparticles will interact with biological systems – including the human body. Their work could have implications for  improved human and environmental safety in the handling of nanomaterials, as well as applications for drug delivery. NC State researchers Dr. Jim Riviere, Burroughs Wellcome… 

Jul 6, 2010

Locker Room Talk: How Male Athletes Portray Female Athletic Trainers

A college quarterback coming into the locker room with a dislocated shoulder wouldn’t care whether the athletic trainer taking care of him is male or female — or would he? A study from North Carolina State University examining male football players’ perceptions of female athletic trainers – and their comfort level in being treated by… 

Jun 29, 2010

Study Shows Age Doesn’t Necessarily Affect Decisions

Many people believe that getting older means losing a mental edge, leading to poor decision-making. But a new study from North Carolina State University shows that when it comes to making intuitive decisions – using your “gut instincts” – older adults fare as well as their juniors. 

Jun 15, 2010

Video Study Finds Risky Food-Safety Behavior More Common Than Thought

How safe is the food we get from restaurants, cafeterias and other food-service providers? A new study from North Carolina State University — the first study to place video cameras in commercial kitchens to see how precisely food handlers followed food-safety guidelines —  discovered that risky practices can happen more often than previously thought. 

Jun 3, 2010

NC State, International Researchers Receive Grant to Examine Why Fido – and His Owner – Get Cancer

Golden retrievers are highly susceptible to cancers arising in the blood, lymphatic and vascular systems. Now, canine cancer scientists at North Carolina State University, the University of Minnesota, the Broad Institute in Massachusetts and Uppsala University in Sweden are teaming up with two animal-health foundations to find out why. Their findings may benefit humans as… 

May 27, 2010

NC State To Develop Next Generation HazMat Boots

The rubber boots that emergency personnel wear when responding to situations where hazardous materials (HazMat) are present may be functional, but they’re not very comfortable. New research coming out of North Carolina State University hopes to provide a next generation HazMat boot that meets both criteria. 

May 24, 2010

NC State Designated ‘Center of Excellence for Watershed Management’ By EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated North Carolina State University a Center of Excellence for Watershed Management, making it the first such center in North Carolina. The designation will allow NC State, through its Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), to continue to develop strong partnerships with other institutions, organizations and agencies in efforts to protect… 

May 19, 2010

New Microneedle Antimicrobial Techniques May Foster Medical Tech Innovation

A team led by researchers from North Carolina State University has developed two new approaches for incorporating antimicrobial properties into microneedles – vanishingly thin needles that hold great promise for use in portable medical devices. Researchers expect the findings to spur development of new medical applications using microneedles. 

May 12, 2010

Getting Enough Calcium in Early Life Could Be Key for Optimal Lifelong Bone Health

There’s no denying that people need calcium for strong, healthy bones. But new research from North Carolina State University suggests that not getting enough calcium in the earliest days of life could have a more profound, lifelong impact on bone health and perhaps even obesity than previously thought. During an 18-day trial involving 24 newborn… 

May 4, 2010

Survey: Hiding Risks Can Hurt Public Support For Nanotechnology

A new national survey on public attitudes toward medical applications and physical enhancements that rely on nanotechnology shows that support for the technology increases when the public is informed of the technology’s risks as well as its benefits – at least among those people who have heard of nanotechnology. The survey, which was conducted by… 

May 3, 2010

Disease Caused By Insect Bites Can Be Transmitted To Children At Birth, NC State Researcher Finds

A North Carolina State University researcher has discovered that bacteria transmitted by fleas–and potentially ticks–can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects. Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, professor of internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences, is among the world’s leading experts on…