A study performed by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo shows swimming is as effective as walking to relieve pain and improve quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia, that experience chronic diffuse non-inflammatory pain in the musculoskeletal system deriving from malfunctioning of the system that transmits and modulates the transmission of nervous stimuli between the periphery of the body and the brain. The study involved 75 sedentary women who had fibromyalgia.

Researchers from University of São Paulo (USP) and University of Texas at Austin studied the genetic diversity and differentiation patterns of the native pioneer understory tree Miconia affinis. They collected leaf tissue from approximately 30 reproductive trees bearing inflorescences or infructescences in 11 different populations and estimated the influence of geographic distance, elevation and deforestation on the genetic structure. The genetic differentiation of this tree species significantly increased with elevation and geographic distance between populations.

In a recent study, researchers show that sex hormones can stimulate production of telomerase, an enzyme naturally found in the human organism. The strategy was tested in patients with genetic diseases associated with mutations in the gene that codes for this enzyme, such as aplastic anemia and pulmonary fibrosis. The authors say that the results suggest that the approach can combat the damage caused to the organism by telomerase deficiency.

Daily meetings between physicians, implementation of care protocols and the presence of pharmacists are associated with increase in survival rates in ICUs.