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A newly released software program will let health authorities at the site of an infectious disease outbreak quickly analyze data, speeding the detection of new cases and the implementation of effective interventions.

Using neuroimaging, researchers have identified that among older individuals, brain systems are less likely to be in sync with one another, even in the absence of Alzheimer's disease. Normal aging disrupts communication between different regions of the brain.

Caffeine appears to have the novel benefit of slenderizing thighs. Researchers studied 99 women treated with a cream consisting mostly of a 7 percent caffeine solution. More than 80 percent of the women had a reduction in the circumference of their upper and lower thighs. Nearly 68 percent also reduced their hip measurements.

Robotics engineers and doctors are developing a PC-based system for stroke rehabilitation. Sixteen patients are testing a prototype system. They use joysticks to move objects on a computer screen. Using force-feedback technology, the joystick resists moves in the wrong direction and guides patients along the right path. Researchers hope to refine the system to allow stroke patients to recover more quickly.

Gene-expression profiles might be used to identify prognostic biomarkers for Kawasaki disease, and help to unravel the underlying biology of the illness. The new findings also support the idea that gene-expression profiles might be used to generate biomarkers for other systemic inflammatory illnesses.

This is the first proof of principle for using adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-stem-cell-like state, combined with gene and cell therapy, for successful disease treatment in mice. Similar "induced pluripotent stem cells" were recently derived with human cells.

More than a third of women surveyed about their beliefs surrounding miscarriage and birth defects said they thought that a pregnant woman's foul mood could negatively affect her baby. One in four of these women thought a pregnant woman's exposure to upsetting situations could hurt her unborn child, and one in five believed excessive exercise could cause a woman to miscarry.

Using positron emission tomography imaging with bioluminescence -- the light produced by a chemical reaction within an organism -- researchers are starting to understand the behavior of transplanted or implanted stem cells that may one day be used to develop new treatments for disease.

Increasing numbers of critically ill patients develop fungal or yeast infections, which are associated with high mortality. Now a review compares treatments involving single-drug antifungal prophylaxis or a multi-drug regimen of selective digestive tract decontamination and suggests that both methods reduce yeast-related morbidity and mortality, but to different extents.

A new study has found that elementary schools can significantly increase the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income students by providing a lunch salad bar.