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15.11.2019New cell therapy improves memory and stops seizures following TBI
Researchers have developed a breakthrough cell therapy to improve memory and prevent seizures in mice following traumatic brain injury.
15.11.2019Direct-to-patient telemedicine cardiology follow-ups may safely save families time, cost
Health provider follow-ups delivered via computer or smartphone is a feasible alternative to in-person patient follow-ups for some pediatric cardiac conditions, according to the new findings.
15.11.2019Scientists close in on malaria vaccine
Scientists have taken another big step forward towards developing a vaccine that's effective against the most severe forms of malaria.
15.11.2019Many patients with iNPH develop Alzheimer's disease, too
Up to one in five patients treated for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, iNPH, also develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The researchers were able to predict the development of Alzheimer's disease by using the Disease State Index, DSI, that combines patient-specific data from various sources.
15.11.2019Researchers link sisters' paralysis to an 'extremely rare' genetic variant
Following a nearly 25-year search across three continents, parents of a pair of sisters -- who as children slowly became paralyzed from the waist down -- finally have a diagnosis. Thanks to a chance viewing on French TV of a story about another physically disabled child who regained her mobility after being diagnosed at TGen, the parents of the two sisters contacted TGen, hoping to end their decades-long diagnostic odyssey.
15.11.2019Master regulator in mitochondria is critical for muscle function and repair
New study identifies how loss of mitochondrial protein MICU1 disrupts calcium balance and causes muscle atrophy and weakness.
15.11.2019Early DNA lineages shed light on the diverse origins of the contemporary population
A new genetic study demonstrates that, at the end of the Iron Age, Finland was inhabited by separate and differing populations, all of them influencing the gene pool of modern Finns. The study is so far the most extensive investigation of the ancient DNA of people inhabiting the region of Finland.
15.11.2019Mapping disease outbreaks in urban settings using mobile phone data
A new study into the interplay between mobility and the 2013 and 2014 dengue outbreaks in Singapore has uncovered a legal void around access to mobile phone data -- information that can prove vital in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
15.11.2019Scientists discover how the molecule-sorting station in our cells is formed and maintained
A recent study by a group of scientists has revealed that a different mechanism is responsible for the formation and maintenance of the cell organelle called endosome that sorts and distributes substances entering a cell. Contrary to current knowledge in the field, the scientists show that the functioning of the Golgi is crucial for this organelle's upkeep. This result can ultimately help improve treatments for some diseases.
15.11.2019People who cannot read may be three times as likely to develop dementia
New research has found that people who are illiterate, meaning they never learned to read or write, may have nearly three times greater risk of developing dementia than people who can read and write.
15.11.2019Genetics may determine who benefits from broccoli's effects on kidney health
Deletion of the gene that codes for an enzyme called GSTM1 increased kidney injury in mice with hypertension and kidney disease, but supplementing the diet with broccoli powder lessened kidney injury in the genetically altered mice. In humans, high consumption of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables was linked with a lower risk of kidney failure, primarily in individuals lacking GSTM1.
15.11.2019Wearable and implantable devices may transform care for patients with kidney failure
Wearable and implantable devices may allow for intensive self-care for patients with kidney failure outside of the clinic.
14.11.2019How Crohn's disease-associated bacteria tolerate antibiotics
Bacteria associated with Crohn's disease rely on multiple stress responses to survive, multiply, and tolerate antibiotics within white blood cells called macrophages, according to a new study.
14.11.2019Discovery reveals mechanism that turns herpes virus on and off
New research has identified a new mechanism that plays a role in controlling how the herpes virus alternates between dormant and active stages of infection.
14.11.2019Engineers creating miniaturized, wireless oxygen sensor for sick infants
Researchers are developing a sensor the size of a Band-Aid that will measure a baby's blood oxygen levels, a vital indication of the lungs' effectiveness and whether the baby's tissue is receiving adequate oxygen supply. Unlike current systems used in hospitals, this miniaturized wearable device will be flexible and stretchable, wireless, inexpensive, and mobile -- possibly allowing the child to leave the hospital and be monitored remotely.
14.11.2019Faster, stronger rabies vaccine
Every year, more than 59,000 people around the world die of rabies and there remains no cheap and easy vaccine regimen to prevent the disease in humans. Now, researchers report that adding a specific immune molecule to a rabies vaccine can boost its efficacy.
14.11.2019How maternal Zika virus infection results in newborn microcephaly
Researchers have discovered that the Zika virus protein NS4A disrupts brain growth by hijacking a pathway that regulates the generation of new neurons.
14.11.2019Earthquake-like brain-wave bursts found to be essential for healthy sleep
New research in rats shows that cortical arousals and brief awakenings during sleep exhibit non-equilibrium dynamics and complex organization across time scales necessary for spontaneous sleep-stage transitions and for maintaining healthy sleep.
14.11.2019Multidisciplinary transplantation evaluation shows promise for older adults
Older adults with blood cancers can benefit from a team-based, holistic evaluation before undergoing transplantation, according to a new study. The study found that patients treated with this approach experienced better transplantation outcomes and survival rates.
14.11.2019Study reveals urban hotspots of high-schoolers' opioid abuse
A new study has found that in several cities and counties the proportion of high-schoolers who have ever used heroin or misused prescription opioids is much higher than the national average.
14.11.2019Chemists use light to build biologically active compounds
Many biologically active molecules, including synthetic drugs, contain a central, nitrogen-containing chemical structure with a three-dimensional shape. However, there are hardly any suitable methods to produce them, which also makes it difficult to discover new medicinal compounds. A team of researchers have now developed a new method, a special photocatalyst, enabling this reaction.
14.11.2019Rollercoaster weight changes can repeat with second pregnancy, especially among normal-weight women
Everyone knows that gaining excess weight during one pregnancy is bad, but clinicians rarely consider weight gains and losses from one pregnancy to the next -- especially in normal-weight women. But researchers have now found that among normal-weight women, fluctuating weight gain and loss in the first pregnancy is often repeated in subsequent pregnancies -- and is associated with higher risk of several pregnancy-related complications.
14.11.2019Findings could identify aggressive breast cancers that will respond to immunotherapy
Researchers discovered a biological signature that could help identify which triple negative breast cancers might respond to immunotherapy and other treatments.
14.11.2019Newly developed nanoparticles help fight lung cancer in animal model
Scientists have reported a new approach to treating lung cancer with inhaled nanoparticles.
14.11.2019Link between hearing and cognition begins earlier than once thought
A new study finds that cognitive impairment begins in the earliest stages of age-related hearing loss -- when hearing is still considered normal.
14.11.2019Breakthrough in malaria research
Cell biologists have systematically investigated the genome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium throughout its life cycle in a large-scale experiment. The researchers were able to identify hundreds of targets that are urgently needed in drug and vaccine development to eradicate the disease.
14.11.2019We know we're full because a stretched intestine tells us so
We commonly think a full stomach is what tells us to stop eating, but it may be that a stretched intestine plays an even bigger role in making us feel sated, according to new laboratory research.
14.11.2019A step closer to cancer precision medicine
Researchers have developed a computational model, Combined Essentiality Scoring (CES), that enables accurate identification of essential genes in cancer cells for development of anti-cancer drugs.
14.11.2019Stress, plastic additives in late pregnancy raise risk of premature birth
Women exposed simultaneously to stress and plastic additives late in pregnancy are at increased risk for premature birth, according to a new study.
14.11.2019New role for dopamine in gene transcription and cell proliferation
The dopamine D2 receptor has a previously unobserved role in modulating Wnt expression and control of cell proliferation, according to a new study. The research could have implications for the development of new therapeutics across multiple disciplines including nephrology, endocrinology, and psychiatry.
14.11.2019Bisphenol-A structural analogues may be less likely than BPA to disrupt heart rhythm
Some chemical alternatives to plastic bisphenol-A (BPA), which is still commonly used in medical settings such as operating rooms and intensive care units, may be less disruptive to heart electrical function than BPA, according to a pre-clinical study that explored how the structural analogues bisphenol-S (BPS) and bisphenol-F (BPF) interact with the chemical and electrical functions of heart cells.
14.11.2019The ways astronauts prep for spaceflight could benefit cancer patients, say researchers
During spaceflight, astronauts experience similar physical stress as cancer patients undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Researchers suggest that by mimicking a NASA astronaut's schedule of exercising before, during, and after a mission, cancer patients could reduce the long-term impact their treatments often have on their bodies.
14.11.2019Bacteria in the gut may alter aging process
Microorganisms living in the gut may alter the aging process, which could lead to the development of food-based treatment to slow it down.
14.11.2019Smokers and hypertensive individuals have higher risk of sudden death from brain bleed
Contrary to the previous data, a Finnish study clarifies that smoking and high blood pressure do not protect from death in patients suffering from subarachnoid haemorrhage, the most lethal stroke subtype. In fact, subarachnoid haemorrhage kills smokers and hypertensive individuals already before they reach hospitals, and therefore studies that cannot include these outside hospitals deaths in analyses may reach erroneous conclusions.
14.11.2019At what point does click-bait susceptibility become a mental health disorder?
A new study found that one third of a group of patients seeking treatment for buying-shopping disorder (BSD) also reported symptoms of addictive online shopping. These patients tended to be younger than the others in the study sample, experienced greater levels of anxiety and depression, and were likely to exhibit a higher severity of BSD symptoms.
14.11.2019Women more likely to survive stroke but have poorer recovery than men, study shows
Women are more likely to survive a stroke, but have worse disability and poorer quality of life afterwards compared to men, according to new research.
14.11.2019Eliminating common bacterial infection significantly decreases gastric cancer risk
Researchers have assessed Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer risk in Americans, certain demographics and ethnic groups.
14.11.2019New study dispels myths about what makes youth sports fun for kids
A new study looks at what makes organized sports fun for kids, and some of the findings might surprise you. The new study dispels the popular myth that what makes sports the most fun for girls are the social aspects, like friendships, while for boys the fun factor has to do with competition.
14.11.2019Blocking a survival mechanism could tackle melanoma treatment resistance
The effectiveness of current treatments for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, could be improved by using approaches that wipe out the 'survival system' of cancer cells according to a new study. Researchers have demonstrated an approach, used in parallel with existing treatments, which is effective at triggering tumor cell death and delaying treatment resistance.
14.11.2019A potential new way to diagnose male infertility and pharmaceutical treatment options
New research has discovered infertile men have identifiable patterns of epigenetic molecules or biomarkers attached to their sperm DNA that aren't present in fertile men. The scientists also identified biomarkers among infertile patients who responded to hormone therapy to treat their condition versus those who did not.
14.11.2019'Nudging' heart patients to take their statins leads to better adherence and better outcomes
In a new study presented to heart specialists from around the world, researchers found that simple 'nudges' in the form of texts, emails and phone calls, not only help patients fill that first statin prescription, but also continue to help them take their medications over the long term.
14.11.2019Unhealthy habits can start young: Infants, toddlers, and added sugars
A new study found that nearly two-thirds of infants (61%) and almost all toddlers (98%) consumed added sugars in their average daily diets, primarily in the form of flavored yogurts (infants) and fruit drinks (toddlers). Infants were 6-11 months, and toddlers were 12-23 months.
14.11.2019Inoculating against the spread of viral misinformation
In the first study of public health-related Facebook advertising, newly published in the journal Vaccine, researchers at the University of Maryland, the George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University show that a small group of anti-vaccine ad buyers has successfully leveraged Facebook to reach targeted audiences and that the social media platform's efforts to improve transparency have actually led to the removal of ads promoting vaccination and communicating scientific findings.
14.11.2019Bionic pacemaker slows progression of heart failure
Using brain circuits made in silicon, scientists have alleviated symptoms of heart failure by reinstating the body's natural heart rhythm. This study holds great potential for designing more effective pacemakers in the future.
14.11.2019Lithium can reverse radiation damage after brain tumor treatment
Children who have received radiotherapy for a brain tumor can develop cognitive problems later in life. In their studies on mice, researchers have now shown that the drug lithium can help to reverse the damage caused long after it has occurred. The researchers are now planning to test the treatment in clinical trials.
14.11.2019After decades of little progress, researchers may be catching up to sepsis
After decades of little or no progress, biomedical researchers are finally making some headway at detecting and treating sepsis, a deadly medical complication that sends a surge of pathogenic infection through the body and remains a major public health problem.
13.11.2019'Hyperhotspots' could predict skin cancer risk
Scientists report the discovery of 'hyperhotspots' in the human genome, locations that are up to 170-times more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation (UV) from sunlight compared to the genome average.
13.11.2019Artificial intelligence tool predicts life expectancy in heart failure patients
Cardiologists and physicists have developed a machine learning algorithm to predict the life expectancy in heart failure patients.
13.11.2019Diet trials often amend their outcome measures as they go
A study concludes that 86 percent of diet trials amended their desired study outcomes along the way. That raises the possibility of bias.
13.11.2019New RNA molecules may play a role in aging
Using a new sequencing method, this class of previously invisible RNA molecules were found to be abundantly expressed.
13.11.2019Puberty may offer window to reset effects of early deprived care on stress-response system
The ability to recalibrate how children respond to stress could offer a way to promote resilience.
13.11.2019Improving trauma pain outcomes
Improving acute pain management after traumatic injury remains a priority for policymakers and clinicians as rates of injury and subsequent pain-related disability rise nationally. Yet, innovations in trauma pain management remain understudied.
13.11.2019Men and women perceive their own health differently
A new study investigates differences in how men and women perceive their own health. The study finds that confidence in maintaining good health habits can be influenced by gender.
13.11.2019Phage therapy shows promise for alcoholic liver disease
Researchers linked a gut bacteria toxin to worse clinical outcomes in patients with alcoholic liver disease, and discovered that treatment with bacteriophages clears the bacteria and eliminates the disease in mice.
13.11.2019Researchers unravel protective properties of telomere t-loops
Loops at the ends of telomeres play a vital protective role preventing damage to chromosomes, according to new research. The study showed how the winding and unwinding of 't-loops' at the end of telomeres prevents chromosomes from being recognized as DNA damage. The study also uncovered how this process is regulated.
13.11.2019ELeCt-ing a better candidate for chemo delivery
Chemo drugs are notoriously toxic, in part because so little of the drug actually gets to its target organ, requiring high doses. Scientists have now found a way to deliver nanoparticles filled with chemo to the lungs with 10x greater success by 'hitchhiking' them onto red blood cells, leading to drastically improved survival in mice with metastatic lung cancer.
13.11.2019In states where recreational marijuana is legal, problematic use increased among adults and teens
Problematic use of marijuana among adolescents and adults increased after legalization of recreational marijuana use, according to a new study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
13.11.2019Slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis
Over 77,000 Canadians are living with multiple sclerosis, a disease whose causes still remain unknown. Presently, they have no hope for a cure. Researchers have now identified a molecule named ALCAM which, once blocked, delays the progression of the disease. Their results, obtained from in vitro human and in vivo mouse studies, could lead to the development of a new generation of therapies to treat this autoimmune disease.
13.11.2019Microparticles could help fight malnutrition
Researchers have now developed a new way to fortify staple foods with these micronutrients by encapsulating them in a biocompatible polymer that prevents the nutrients from being degraded during storage or cooking. In a small clinical trial, they showed that women who ate bread fortified with encapsulated iron were able to absorb iron from the food.
13.11.2019Understanding transporter proteins at a single-molecule level
New research reveals the mechanics of how some transporter proteins function with stunning specificity.