Science Daily
Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily
24.09.2020Loneliness levels high during COVID-19 lockdown
During the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown, rates of loneliness among people in the UK were high and were associated with a number of social and health factors, according to a new study.
24.09.2020Accuracy of commercial antibody kits for SARS-CoV-2 varies widely
There is wide variation in the performance of commercial kits for detecting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a new study.
24.09.2020Some severe COVID-19 cases linked to genetic mutations or antibodies that attack the body
Two new studies offer an explanation for why COVID-19 cases can be so variable. A subset of patients has mutations in key immunity genes; other patients have auto-antibodies that target the same components of the immune system. Both circumstances could contribute to severe forms of the disease.
24.09.2020Mapping the human heart, cell by cell
Scientists have mapped and described the function of cells in six regions of the adult heart, providing a new foundation for studying heart disease.
24.09.2020Talc and petroleum jelly among the best lubricants for people wearing PPE, study finds
Talcum powder, a coconut oil-cocoa butter beeswax mixture, and petroleum jelly provide the best skin protection for long-term PPE use, say scientists.
24.09.2020Uncovering a 'suPAR' culprit behind kidney injury in COVID-19
A new observational study finds patients in the hospital for COVID-19 have high levels of soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR), an immune-derived pathogenic protein that is strongly predictive of kidney injury.
24.09.2020COVID-19: Berlin scientists lay basis for a passive vaccination
Researchers have identified highly effective antibodies against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and are now pursuing the development of a passive vaccination. In this process, they have also discovered that some SARS-CoV-2 antibodies bind to tissue samples from various organs, which could potentially trigger undesired side effects.
24.09.2020Researchers examine COVID-19 impact on manufacturing
A new study finds that manufacturing response to COVID-19 has been largely reactive and uncoordinated, and many firms' crisis communication plans do not include managing an infectious-disease outbreak.
24.09.2020Placenta is initiated first, as cells of a fertilized egg divide and specialize
The first stages of placental development take place days before the embryo starts to form in human pregnancies. The finding highlights the importance of healthy placental development in pregnancy, and could lead to future improvements in fertility treatments such as IVF, and a better understanding of placental-related diseases in pregnancy.
24.09.2020Variation in genes associated with viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 unlikely to influence COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, study finds
A comprehensive search of genetic variation databases has revealed no significant differences across populations and ethnic groups in seven genes associated with viral entry of SARS-CoV-2.
24.09.2020New mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2 by antiviral drug remdesivir
Researchers have discovered a novel, second mechanism of action by the antiviral drug remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2. The research team previously demonstrated how remdesivir inhibits the COVID-19 virus's polymerase or replication machinery in a test tube.
23.09.2020Face-covering use up, more people are taking COVID-19 threats seriously, study finds
A new survey of six U.S. states has found that during the past two months, more people are wearing masks, vaccine uncertainty is on the rise, and many people are overestimating their risk of becoming seriously ill and dying from COVID-19.
23.09.2020Statins reduce COVID-19 severity, likely by removing cholesterol that virus uses to infect
Analyzing anonymized patient medical records, researchers discovered that cholesterol-lowering statins reduced risk of severe COVID-19 infection, while lab experiments uncovered a cellular mechanism that helps explain why.
23.09.2020Proof-of-concept for a new ultra-low-cost hearing aid for age-related hearing loss
A new ultra-affordable and accessible hearing aid made from open-source electronics could soon be available worldwide, according to a new study.
23.09.2020Prenatal cannabis exposure associated with adverse outcomes during middle childhood
Research shows prenatal cannabis exposure may impact child behavior later in life.
23.09.2020Gut microbiome plays important role in sleep regulation
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects more than one billion people worldwide. Evidence suggests OSA can alter the gut microbiome (GM) and may promote OSA-associated co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and cognitive problems. Researchers have discovered how OSA-related sleep disturbances affect the gut microbiome in mice and how transplanting those gut bacteria into other mice can cause changes to sleep patterns in the recipient mice.
23.09.2020Fructose made in the brain could be a mechanism driving Alzheimer's disease, researchers propose
New research proposes that Alzheimer's disease may be driven by the overactivation of fructose made in the brain. The study outlined the hypothesis that Alzheimer's is a modern disease driven by changes in dietary lifestyle that has resulted in excessive fructose metabolism in the brain.
23.09.2020UK lockdown and air pollution: Nitrogen dioxide halved but sulfur dioxide doubled
A new study of air pollution in the United Kingdom during the first 100 days of lockdown has revealed that while nitrogen oxide levels were cut by half, levels of sulfur dioxide increased by over 100 percent.
23.09.2020SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy not associated with complications in neonates, study finds
In a new study, researchers examined the association between a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during pregnancy and complications in mothers and their newborn babies. Almost two out of three pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were asymptomatic and the researchers found no higher prevalence of complications during delivery or of ill-health in the neonates. However, preeclampsia was more common in infected women.
23.09.2020Weighted blankets can decrease insomnia severity
Weighted blankets are a safe and effective intervention in the treatment of insomnia, according to researchers who found that insomnia patients with psychiatric disorders experienced reduced insomnia severity, improved sleep and less daytime sleepiness when sleeping with a weighted chain blanket.
23.09.2020Flood risks: More accurate data due to COVID-19
Emerging use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) makes it possible to continuously measure shallow changes in elevation of Earth surface. A study now shows that the quality of these measurements may have improved significantly during the pandemic, at least at some stations. The results show which factors should be considered in the future when installing GPS antennas.
23.09.2020Likely molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis are revealed by network biology
Researchers have built an interactome that includes the lung-epithelial cell host interactome integrated with a SARS-CoV-2 interactome. Applying network biology analysis tools to this human/SARS-CoV-2 interactome has revealed potential molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The research identified 33 high-value SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic targets, which are possibly involved in viral entry, proliferation and survival to establish infection and facilitate disease progression.
23.09.2020Enrolling in health education courses may help change student's beliefs about stress
College students are under a lot of stress, even more so lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New research finds that college health courses could help students develop a more positive stress mindset.
23.09.2020Unraveling the genome in 3D-space
Proper folding of extremely long chromosomal DNA molecules is crucial for the correct functioning of the cell. Scientists developed a groundbreaking method to map contact points between replicated DNA molecules, thereby elucidating how the genome is folded inside the nucleus of human cells.
23.09.2020'Trojan horse' approach to kill cancer cells without using drugs
Cancer cells are killed in lab experiments and tumor growth reduced in mice, using a new approach that turns a nanoparticle into a 'Trojan horse' that causes cancer cells to self-destruct.
23.09.2020Sport and memory go hand in hand
If sport is good for the body, it also seems to be good for the brain. By evaluating memory performance following a sport session, neuroscientists demonstrate that an intensive physical exercise session improves memory. How? Through the action of endocanabinoids, molecules known to increase synaptic plasticity. School programs and strategies aimed at reducing the effects of neurodegeneration on memory could benefit from the study.
23.09.2020New tool mimics human skin to allow detailed study of mosquito biting
Scientists have developed a tool for studying the biting behavior of common pathogen-carrying mosquitoes.
23.09.2020Death counts fail to capture full mortality effects of COVID-19, study finds
A new study finds that for each person in the U.S. who died after contracting COVID-19, an average of nearly 10 years of life had been lost. Researchers claim 'years of life lost' is a more insightful measure than death count since it accounts for the ages of the deceased.
23.09.2020Glycans in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein play active role in infection
Many efforts to develop vaccines and therapies to thwart SARS-CoV-2 focus on the coronavirus spike protein, which binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on human cells to allow viral entry. Now, researchers have uncovered an active role for glycans -- sugar molecules that can decorate proteins -- in this process, suggesting targets for vaccines and therapies.
23.09.2020A cheaper, faster COVID-19 test
Researchers have developed a method for fast, cheap, yet accurate testing for COVID-19 infection. The method simplifies and frees the testing from expensive reaction steps, enabling upscaling of the diagnostics.
22.09.2020Kidney damage from COVID-19 linked to higher risk of in-hospital death
In an analysis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, kidney damage associated with the infectious disease was linked with a higher risk of dying during hospitalization.
22.09.2020Silk offers homemade solution for COVID-19 prevention
A new study finds that silk fabric performs similarly to surgical masks when used in conjunction with respirators but has the added advantages of being washable and repelling water, which would translate to helping to keep a person safer from the airborne virus.
22.09.2020COVID-19 'prediction model' uses data that can help determine if patients' conditions are likely to worsen
Using a combination of demographic and clinical data gathered from seven weeks of COVID-19 patient care early in the coronavirus pandemic, researchers have published a 'prediction model' they say can help other hospitals care for COVID-19 patients -- and make important decisions about planning and resource allocations.
22.09.2020Complications from diabetes linked to worse memory, IQ in children
A new study uncovered that even one severe episode of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is linked to cognitive problems; and among children with a previous diagnosis, repeated DKA exposure predicted lower cognitive performance after accounting for glycemic control.
22.09.2020COVID-19 opens a partisan gap on voting by mail
A new study documents a growing divide in the United States on preferences for absentee ballots. Before the pandemic, there wasn't any difference in the rates at which Democratic and Republican voters actually cast their ballots by mail or in-person. That may change now.
22.09.2020Neurological consequences of COVID-19: The 'Silent Wave'
Is the world prepared a wave of neurological consequences that may be on its way as a result of COVID-19? A team of neuroscientists and clinicians are examining the potential link between COVID-19 and increased risk of Parkinson's disease, and measures to get ahead of the curve.
22.09.2020Is rheumatoid arthritis two different diseases?
While disease activity improves over time for most rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, long-term outcomes only improve in RA patients with autoantibodies, according to a new study. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that RA with and without autoantibodies are two distinct conditions.
22.09.2020Nationwide study shows disparities in COVID-19 infection for Black and Hispanic people
A study of around 5.8 million people who receive care from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that Black and Hispanic people were substantially more likely than their White counterparts to test positive for COVID-19, although no differences in 30-day mortality were observed between these groups.
22.09.2020Small increase in risk of autism seen for pre- and post-term births
A study of more than 3.5 million Nordic children suggests that the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may increase slightly for each week a child is born before or after 40 weeks of gestation.
22.09.2020Test, isolate, communicate: Keys to controlling a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility
A new study reveals the role that communication played in quashing a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility.
22.09.2020COVID-19 mortality rates higher among men than women
A new review article shows people who are biologically male are dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than people who are biologically female.
22.09.2020UV-C light is effective for killing COVID-19 on N95s, study demonstrates
Researchers have demonstrated that certain N95 respirators tainted with COVID-19 can be effectively and safely decontaminated for reuse using ultraviolet-C light (UV-C), a method commonly utilized for treating rare skin diseases.
22.09.2020Smart cells: Chemists develop tool with potential to treat illness at the cellular level
New research by an international team of chemists describes a new type of artificial cell that can communicate with other cells within the body -- with potential applications in the field of smart pharmaceuticals.
22.09.2020How night vision is maintained during retinal degenerative disease
New insight on how people with retinal degenerative disease can maintain their night vision for a relatively long period of time has just been published.
22.09.2020Most infants are well even when moms are infected by COVID-19, researchers find
Infants born to women with COVID-19 showed few adverse outcomes, according to new research. The study suggests that babies born to mothers infected with the virus generally do well six to eight weeks after birth. However, there was a higher rate of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions reported if the mothers had COVID-19 up to two weeks prior to delivery.
22.09.2020When does a second COVID-19 surge end? Look at the data
Using data from all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, two mathematicians have developed a new method to analyze COVD-19 rates to help policymakers identify demonstrable turning points in infection surges.
22.09.2020Evaporation critical to coronavirus transmission as weather changes
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, it is increasingly urgent to understand how climate impacts the spread of the coronavirus, particularly as winter virus infections are more common and the northern hemisphere will soon see cooler temperatures. Researchers studied the effects of relative humidity, environmental temperature, and wind speed on the respiratory cloud and virus viability. They found a critical factor for the transmission of the infectious particles is evaporation.
22.09.2020Targeting the treatment of autoimmune diseases
Researchers have successfully treated two patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Using daratumumab, a monoclonal antibody which targets specific immune cells known as plasma cells, the researchers were able to modulate the abnormal immunological memory processes found in these patients. Treatment induced sustainable clinical responses and resulted in a reduction in systemic inflammation.
22.09.2020Who is the weakest link? A better understanding of global supply chains
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused 'kinks' in the movement of goods and services around the globe, but how important a role do multinational companies play in local economies and supply chains?
22.09.2020Children's immune response more effective against COVID-19
Children and adults exhibit distinct immune system responses to infection by the virus that causes COVID-19, a finding that helps explain why COVID-19 outcomes tend to be much worse in adults, researchers report.
22.09.2020Parkinson's disease is not one, but two diseases
Researchers around the world have been puzzled by the different symptoms and varied disease pathways of Parkinson's patients. A major study has now identified that there are actually two types of the disease.
22.09.2020New drug candidate found for hand, foot and mouth disease
Researchers have identified a potential drug candidate against enterovirus 71, a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease in infants and young children. The compound of interest is a small molecule that binds to RNA, the virus's genetic material, and changes its 3-D shape in a way that stops the virus from multiplying without harming its human host. It's an antiviral strategy that could be used on other hard-to-treat diseases.
22.09.2020Web resources bring new insight into COVID-19
Two new web resources put at researchers' fingertips information about cellular genes whose expression is affected by coronavirus infection and place these data points in the context of the complex network of host molecular signaling pathways.
22.09.2020It is time to embrace cannabis for medicinal use, say experts
Attitudes towards cannabis products for medicinal use need to change with much greater appropriate use of such products to help alleviate patients' pain, suggests new research.
21.09.2020Suspension of fertility treatments during COVID-19 has mental health impacts
The suspension of fertility treatments due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a variety of psychological impacts on women whose treatments were cancelled, but there are several protective factors that can be fostered to help in the future, according to a new study.
21.09.2020Low-cost, frequent COVID-19 screening of asymptomatic people could decrease infections, deaths and be cost-effective
When the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing, low-cost, recurring screening of asymptomatic people could decrease infections and deaths and be cost-effective.
21.09.2020Anthropologists compare a composite measure of physiological dysregulation among humans and other primates
It is well understood that mortality rates increase with age. Whether you live in Tokyo, rural Tennessee or the forests of Papua, New Guinea, the older you are, the more likely you are to succumb to any number of different ailments.
21.09.2020Nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 model may speed drug discovery for COVID-19
Scientists have developed a new tool that mimics how the virus that causes COVID-19 infects a cell, potentially speeding the search for treatments against the disease. The tool is a fluorescent nanoparticle probe that uses the spike protein on the virus surface to bind to cells and trigger the process that pulls the virus into cells. The probe could be used to rapidly gauge how drugs and compounds might block the virus from infecting cells.
21.09.2020Think you have chemical intolerance? Answer three questions
To increase screening of chemical intolerance, researchers have developed and validated a three-question survey that can be incorporated into patient visits within a minute.
21.09.2020Researchers find diminished response by 'killer' T cells in elderly COVID-19 patients
Although people of any age can become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, elderly patients face a higher risk of severity and death than younger patients. New research comparing the immune response among age groups may help explain why. Older patients with the disease have lower frequencies of the immune cells needed to expel the virus from the body, the researchers found.