The genome-wide significant bipolar disorder (BPD) signal at the FADS1/2/3 cluster shares the same genetic etiology with 27 of the 33 metabolites tested, including arachidonic acid. (A) Regional association plot centered on the FADS1/2/3 locus depicting the BPD (top) and arachidonic acid (bottom) signals. The BPD sentinel variant, rs174592, is indicated. (B) Stacked bar plot depicting posterior probabilities of H0 (no causal variant), H1 (causal variant for BPD only), H2 (causal variant for metabolite only), H3 (2 distinct causal variants), and H4 (1 shared causal variant) returned by Coloc. Credit: Read More
For patients with solid tumors, assignment to an experimental group in trials of investigational drugs yields significant survival gains, according to a review published online April 30 in the Annuals of Internal Medicine. Renata Iskander, from McGill University in Montreal, and colleagues estimated progression-free survival and overall survival advantage of assignment to experimental groups in randomized trials of investigational drugs for six solid tumors. A total of 128 trials with 141 comparisons of a new drug and comparator were included in the sample, with 47,050 patients. The researchers found that Read More
California struck up a new deal with Amneal Pharmaceuticals on April 29 to bolster the state’s supply of the opioid overdose-reversing medication naloxone at a much lower price for schools, police departments and others trying to ease the toll of fentanyl. The deal would put the price tag for a two-dosage pack of FDA approved naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan, at $24, a 40% drop from the current purchase price, state officials said at a news conference Monday. That lower price will allow the state’s health agencies Read More
Overview of strategies for cancer treatment avoiding Darwinian selection of resistant clones. In a development in cancer research, scientists are exploring new therapeutic strategies that move beyond traditional cytotoxic treatments, which have historically targeted uncontrolled cell proliferation. “These conventional methods often result in the survival of resistant cancer cells, ultimately leading to tumor progression and treatment failures,” said correspondent author of the study, professor Jan Brábek from the Faculty of Science, Charles University. In response, researchers are now focusing on alternative approaches aimed at modifying cancer cell behavior to prevent Read More
There is no risk for new-onset seizure incidence for individuals receiving a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine versus placebo, according to a review published online April 29 in JAMA Neurology. Ali Rafati, M.D., from Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies examining seizure incidence among SARS-CoV-2 vaccine recipients versus those receiving placebo. Based on six randomized clinical trials (63,521 vaccine and 54,919 placebo recipients), the researchers found that during a 28-day follow-up after injection, there was no Read More
A Tennessee mother, Monica Kelly, was around 13 weeks pregnant when, according to a lawsuit filed against the state of Tennessee, doctors gave her the devastating news that her baby had Patau syndrome. The genetic disorder causes serious developmental defects and often results in miscarriage, stillbirth, or death within one year of birth. Continuing her pregnancy, doctors told her, could put her at risk of infection and complications that include high blood pressure, organ failure, and death. But they said they could not perform an abortion due to a Tennessee Read More
Image of a murine white pulp of the spleen, in which large amounts of B cells (B220, blue) and dendritic cells (CD11c, green) can be found. The red pulp is highlighted by myeloid cell staining (SIRP?, red). Credit: Technische Universität Dänemark (DTU) / Urs Michael Mörbe While previous studies have investigated the function of the protein Bcl6 in dendritic cells—in some cases with varying results—a new study published in Nature Communications has sought to harmonize the sometimes contradictory data with an in-depth analysis. Dendritic cells are part of our innate Read More
Buzzwords describing the digital dating scene are all over social media. Have you been ghosted? Is someone orbiting you? Are you being breadcrumbed? While these dating patterns may not be new, the words to describe them continue to evolve. As a psychotherapist, I see firsthand the impact these experiences can have on mental health. Given the sheer number of people using dating apps—53% of American 18-to-29-year-olds and 37% of 30-to-49-year-olds—it’s likely you have some first- or secondhand exposure to this world. If you’re curious about the latest psychological research on Read More
Physicians are increasingly seeing cases of syphilis that do not present with typical symptoms, such as rash or skin ulcers, according to a new report presented last week at the 2024 Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference in Atlanta. Instead, patients are presenting with headaches or disruptions in their vision or hearing, said a team co-led by Amy Nham, Pharm.D., M.P.H. Nham is a first-year epidemic intelligence service officer assigned to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Nham and two co-authors gave an overview of these “neurologic, ocular, and otic (NOO)” forms Read More
X-chromosome inactivation varies across different areas of brains. Here, fluorescent imaging data from a mouse reveal where the father’s X chromosome is most active (white) and least active (blue). Credit: Eric Szelenyi A study in mice suggests how chromosome inactivation may protect girls from a type of autism disorder inherited from their father’s X chromosome. Females inherit two copies of the X chromosome, one from their mother and one from their father. Because cells do not need two copies, the cells inactivate one copy early in embryonic development, a well-studied Read More
Dr. Raul Yhossef Tito-Tadeo, first author and postdoc at the Raes Lab (left) and Professor Dr. Jeroen Raes, PI and Vice-Director at VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology and Rega Institute, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven. (Right). Credit: VIB For the first time, researchers from VIB-KU Leuven, UZ Leuven, Janssen Pharmaceutica and multiple international collaborators have introduced quantitative methods and extensive confounder control to discover microbiome biomarkers in colorectal cancer development. While multiple microbial taxa have been put forward as potential cancer-associated biomarkers in the past, this new study uncovers obscured Read More
NIH-led study finds genetic markers that explain up to 12% of the differences between two people’s blood pressure. Credit: Darryl Leja, National Human Genome Research Institute National Institutes of Health researchers and collaborators have discovered over 100 new regions of the human genome, also known as genomic loci, that appear to influence a person’s blood pressure. Results of the study also point to several specific genomic loci that may be relevant to iron metabolism and a type of cellular receptor known as adrenergic receptors. The study, published in Nature Genetics, Read More
Atherosclerosis is a condition affecting the cardiovascular system. If atherosclerosis occurs in the coronary arteries (which supply the heart) the result may be angina pectoris, or in worse cases a heart attack. Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY 3.0 Researchers have discovered that the smooth muscle cells that line the arteries of people with atherosclerosis can change into new cell types and develop traits similar to cancer that worsen the disease. The study has been published in Circulation. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a narrowing of arterial walls and can increase risk of coronary Read More
Microscopic view of a hypothalamus brain section. The third ventricle (black) is visible. The red dots show the receptor. The nuclei are blue. Credit: Albert Ricken, Leipzig University The rapidly escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity poses a significant medical challenge worldwide. In addition to people’s changing lifestyles, genetic factors also play a key role in the development of obesity. Scientists at Leipzig University and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have now identified a new regulator of eating behavior. The findings have been published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. “Our Read More
Axial chest CT scans at (A) visit one and (B) visit two at the level of the takeoff of the right middle bronchus of a participant with 1.2 annual percentage quantitative interstitial abnormality progression. The female participant was 62 years old at visit one and 67 years old at visit two and a current smoker at both visits, with a 47.5 pack-year history at visit two. This participant had four subsequent acute respiratory disease (ARD) events and three subsequent severe ARD events. Credit: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Smokers Read More
Forest plot with smoking quantity variables on the y-axis and the causal estimate from the MR with placental weight as the outcome on the x-axis. The colors indicate the results for the different studies and the fixed effect meta-analysis. Credit: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06431-0 A new study from the University of Bergen and the University of Exeter shows that pregnant women who quit smoking may prevent an abnormal mismatch between the weight of the placenta and the growth of the fetus. The researchers in Bergen and Exeter Read More
Credit: Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels Researchers led by Queen Mary University of London have discovered over a hundred new regions of the human genome, also known as genomic loci, that appear to influence a person’s blood pressure. In total, over 2,000 independent genetic signals for blood pressure are now reported, demonstrating that blood pressure is a highly complex trait influenced by thousands of different genetic variants. The study, published in Nature Genetics, is one of the largest such genomic studies of blood pressure to date, including data from over 1 Read More
Credit: Cell Metabolism (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.03.016 New research from the University of Aberdeen could lead to the development of medication for disease that affects 1 in 4 people worldwide but is currently untreatable. The study, which is published in Cell Metabolism was carried out by an international team of scientists, led by Professor Lora Heisler from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute and Dr. Fiona Murray from the University’s Institute of Medical Sciences. More than 400,000 individuals’ genes were studied from the UK Biobank, and researchers discovered that variants in Read More
Crystal structure of compound Mpro61 bound by the SARS-CoV-2 main protease . Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320713121 A combination of two antiviral compounds may be a promising alternative to Paxlovid when treating COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, according to Karen S. Anderson, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and of molecular biophysics & biochemistry at Yale School of Medicine. People who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, currently have two options approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for antiviral treatment. The more Read More
IMT treatment prevents diet-induced obesity and improves glucose homoeostasis. Credit: Nature Metabolism (2024) DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01038-3 Researchers at Karolinska Institutet may have found a new way to treat obesity and related disorders by targeting the cells’ mitochondria. A study published in Nature Metabolism shows that a specific class of drugs that block mitochondrial function can reverse diet-induced obesity, fatty liver and diabetes in mice. Mitochondria are essential for human health, as they process the nutrients in the food we eat and harvest the energy needed for various processes in the cell. Read More
Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels A team of neuroscientists from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Queen Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Center, both in Spain, has found that so-called superagers maintain memory as they grow older because they do not experience a decline in the integrity of their white brain matter. In their study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the group conducted multiple tests with 100 octogenarian volunteers over a 10-year span. Prior research and anecdotal evidence suggest that as people grow older, they tend to lose neurological function—thinking skills decline, Read More
Lab-grown human nephron progenitor cells. Credit: Biao Huang/Li Lab In a study published in Cell Stem Cell, USC scientists report significant progress in cultivating nephron progenitor cells (NPCs), the cells destined to form the kidney’s filtration system, the nephrons. NPCs hold immense promise for understanding kidney development, modeling diseases, and discovering new treatments. “By enhancing our capability to grow NPCs from human stem cells, we create a new avenue for understanding and combating congenital kidney diseases and cancer,” said corresponding and lead author Zhongwei Li, an assistant professor of medicine, Read More
scRNA sequencing of day 11 VM progenitors patterned by F5L6.13 and CHIR99021. Credit: Development (2024). DOI: 10.1242/dev.202545 Researchers at the University of Toronto have found a way to better control the preclinical generation of key neurons depleted in Parkinson’s disease, pointing toward a new approach for a disease with no cure and few effective treatments. The researchers used an antibody to selectively activate a receptor in a molecular signaling pathway to develop dopaminergic neurons. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical to brain health. Researchers around the world have been Read More
When SARS-CoV-2 breaks through the first layer of neutralizing and binding antibodies, T cells and memory B cells shield us from symptomatic and severe disease. Credit: NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine As COVID-19 becomes endemic, an important group of people who continue to require vaccination is future birth cohorts of children. Yet, in the face of everchanging variants, as well as the waning of antibodies with time after each dose, key questions remain: What is the threshold of immune response against SARS-CoV-2 needed to protect against COVID-19 and Read More
Inhibitory control brain activity increases from baseline to follow-up in the iHUD group compared with the HC group. a,b, Right aPFC (a) and right dlPFC (b) activity during successful versus failed stops showed significant increases from baseline to follow-up in the iHUD group compared with the HC group. Credit: Nature Mental Health (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00230-4 In line with their previous work, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai showed that individuals with heroin use disorder have lower activity in the anterior and dorsolateral PFC when performing an Read More
Credit: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2024). DOI: 10.1172/JCI176390 A multi-institutional team of investigators has discovered that targeting a specific protein interaction within immunosuppressive breast cancer cells may increase antitumor immune responses in otherwise difficult to treat solid tumors, according to recent findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. “Our findings uncover a novel strategy for targeting immunosuppressive OTUD4-CD73 proteolytic axis in treating immune-suppressive breast cancers with the inhibitor ST80,” said Bin Zhang, MD, Ph.D., the Johanna Dobe Professor of Cancer Immunology and a co-corresponding author of the study. “Immune-cold” Read More
Relative proportions of intact and defective viral genomes measured longitudinally in A) untreated acute infection for 2 years B) late (chronic) treated infection for 1 year and C) early (acute) treated infection for 1 year. Credit: eLife (2024). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.96617.1 A study has compared the development of HIV reservoirs—locations in the body where the virus persists in a latent state—between patients who receive either early or late medical interventions. The findings highlight the importance of timely treatments for managing the virus. The research, published today as a reviewed preprint in Read More
Action potentials from dozens of individual neurons recorded in mouse postsubiculum. Credit: Adrian Duszkiewicz. Brain cells can be broadly divided into two categories: inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Excitatory neurons are cells that support the generation of electrical impulses in postsynaptic neurons, thus prompting the activation of cells in specific brain regions. Inhibitory neurons, on the other hand, contribute to inhibiting these electrical impulses and thus reducing activity in specific brain regions. The balance between inhibition and excitation contributes to the healthy functioning of the brain. While the neurobiological processes underpinning Read More
Supramolecular drug with on-demand reversibility. Credit: Nature Biotechnology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02209-z Researchers at the University of Sydney and University of Geneva have developed a new anticoagulant, whose anticlotting action can be rapidly stopped “on demand.” The result could lead to new surgical and post-operative drugs that minimize the risk of serious bleeding. The research team applied a completely new method to discover the molecule. The anticoagulant combines a short protein molecule (a peptide) from a tsetse fly—a blood-feeding insect—with a second, synthesized peptide. The bonds holding the two peptides together Read More
Early-life BMI trajectories categorized by tertiles of childhood cognitive function Simple line graphs connecting mean predicted values of BMI z-score at various ages across early life based on tertile of childhood cognitive function at age 10 years. Highest tertile of childhood cognitive function is indicated by blue lines, intermediate tertile is indicated by green lines, and lowest tertile is indicated by red lines. (A) NSHD, NCDS, and BCS70 adjusted for sex only. (B) NSHD, NCDS, and BCS70 adjusted for parents’ BMI, child’s birthweight, childhood socioeconomic status, and childhood household overcrowding. Read More
Kaplan–Meier curves of overall survival in patients diagnosed with cancer in the prison and general populations in England between Jan 1, 2012 and Dec 31, 2017. Credit: The Lancet Oncology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00035-4 Cancer patients diagnosed in English prisons do not receive the same level of curative treatment as those in the general population, meaning they are at increased risk of death. A study led by King’s College London, University of Surrey and University College London, shows that patients with cancer face several barriers to diagnosis in prison and once Read More
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic and debilitating pain disorder, typically considered lifelong with limited treatment options. Now, new research finds that early detection and effective treatment can lead to significant recovery within 18 months, offering hope to millions of people worldwide. The findings are published in The Lancet Neurology journal. Led by NeuRA’s Centre for Pain IMPACT and conducted in partnership with the University of South Australia, the findings could deliver life-changing outcomes for people with CRPS, with up to 80% of patients recovering within the first Read More
The “birds and the bees.” The “facts of life.” Whatever you call it, many parents dread discussing sex and sexuality with their teenagers. They may be embarrassed, or worried that they don’t understand some concepts. In some countries, cultural norms may mean it’s considered inappropriate for adults and adolescents to talk about sex. However, these are conversations worth having. A large body of research has shown that teens who openly discuss sex and sexuality with their parents reduce their risky sexual behavior, leading to improved reproductive health. It’s also important Read More
Frequent teen vaping might boost the risk of exposure to lead and uranium, potentially harming brain and organ development, suggests research published online in the journal Tobacco Control. The findings underscore the need for implementation of regulations and prevention efforts targeting teens, emphasize the researchers. Vaping is popular with teens. In 2022, an estimated 14% of US high school students—around 2.14 million—and more than 3% of middle school students—around 380,000—reported vaping in the preceding month, note the researchers. Certain metals have been identified in e-cigarette aerosols and liquids. Their absorption Read More
Running, cycling, or swimming—if you regularly exercise, you’re well on track for a long and healthy life, as new research from the University of South Australia finds that an increased cardio fitness level will reduce your risk of death from any cause. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the study found that for every 1-MET increase in cardiorespiratory fitness—the amount of energy used for quiet sitting—a person can reduce their risk of death by 11%–17%, and specifically, their risk of heart disease by 18%. Comprising 26 systematic reviews Read More
Credit: Wikimedia Commons Inhaling the synthetic opioid fentanyl may cause potentially irreversible brain damage (toxic leukoencephalopathy), warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports, after treating a middle-aged man found unresponsive in his hotel room after snorting the drug. Leukoencephalopathy refers to inflammation and damage to the brain’s white matter—the network of nerve fibers that enable the exchange of information and communication between different areas of the brain’s gray matter. Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a sudden or longstanding neurological syndrome, which has been reported after heroin inhalation, known as “chasing the Read More
Compared with people without opioid use disorder, those with opioid use disorder were less likely to receive palliative care in clinics and in their homes, and were dying at younger ages of causes other than opioid use, according to new research published in Canadian Medical Association Journal. “The majority of conversations about the opioid crisis focus on the high number of opioid toxicity deaths. The unfortunate reality is that people with opioid use disorder are dying young from other causes as well,” says author Dr. Jenny Lau, medical director of Read More
Natural scenery typically conjures up positive emotions and a sense of well-being for most individuals. A new study by INSEAD shows that verdant views can also nudge people to pick healthier food. Published in Communications Psychology, the study suggests that spending time in a natural setting, such as walking in a park (vs. on city streets), or simply viewing greenery outside the window (vs. an urban view), leads people to make healthier food choices afterward. “Our studies suggest that it was not the urban view that led to unhealthy food Read More
by Alexa St. John This electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health shows a human T cell, in blue, under attack by HIV, in yellow, the virus that causes AIDS. Three women who were diagnosed with HIV after getting “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed New Mexico medical spa are the first believed to have contracted the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles, according to federal health officials. Credit: Seth Pincus, Elizabeth Fischer, Austin Athman/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH via AP, File Read More
The social psychologist Jonathan Haidt‘s new book The Anxious Generation delivers an urgent call for action. Haidt argues that the evidence is in. Teenagers’ widespread use of smartphones is causing a mental health crisis. Individual, collective and legislative action is required to limit their smartphone access. Haidt begins his book with an allegory. Imagine someone offered you the opportunity to have your 10-year-old child grow up on Mars, even though there is every reason to believe that radiation and low gravity could greatly disrupt healthy adolescent development, leading to long-term Read More
“Charlie” is an eight-year-old child with autism. Her parents are worried because she often responds to requests with insults, aggression and refusal. Simple demands, such as being asked to get dressed, can trigger an intense need to control the situation, fights and meltdowns. Charlie’s parents find themselves in a constant cycle of conflict, trying to manage her and their own reactions, often unsuccessfully. Their attempts to provide structure and consequences are met with more resistance. What’s going on? What makes Charlie’s behavior—that some are calling “pathological demand avoidance”—different to the Read More
Philips has been battling a series of crises over its DreamStation machines for sleep apnoea, a disorder in which breathing stops and starts during sleep. Dutch medical device maker Philips said Monday it had reached a $1.1 billion deal to settle US lawsuits over faulty sleep machines that have dogged the company. The company’s shares initially soared more than 45 percent in Amsterdam on news of the settlement, which was less onerous than feared by some shareholders, before ending the trading day up just over 28 percent. Philips has been Read More
With current physical and financial barriers to accessing care, people with mental health conditions may turn to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots for mental health relief or aid. Although they have not been approved as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada, the appeal to use such chatbots may come from their 24/7 availability, personalized support and marketing of cognitive behavioral therapy. However, users may overestimate the therapeutic benefits and underestimate the limitations of using such technologies, further deteriorating their mental health. Such a phenomenon can Read More
A new study examining the role of aspirin in breast cancer treatment reveals critical issues related to health equity and aging that have broad implications for cancer and other disease intervention trials, say researchers from Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. They outline their concerns in an editorial accompanying the study’s findings published April 29 in JAMA. The study, called the Alliance trial, was launched after researchers noted that breast cancer survivors taking aspirin as part of another clinical trial for cardiovascular disease lived longer. To confirm the observation, a Read More
Countries returned to the negotiating table Monday for one last push to conclude an international agreement on how to handle future pandemics, with the most likely outcome being a slimmed-down accord that shelves some of the thorniest issues. The 194 countries in the World Health Organization have come to its Geneva headquarters for a do-or-die round of negotiations after a two-year effort to seal a landmark accord on prevention, preparedness and response hit a deadline last month with no concrete wording agreed. The goal of the talks, which run until Read More
Five years of UniSC-led research into the pesky problem of picky eating by children suggests that therapists should focus more on empowering parents to ease family angst at the dinner table. The collaborative research led by Dr. Laine Chilman of the University of the Sunshine Coast also highlighted the effectiveness of an online coaching intervention for parents to improve children’s mealtime behaviors. Dr. Chilman, an occupational therapy academic who graduated this month with her Ph.D., said the findings were novel because previous research focused on how to fix picky eating Read More
Clever bio-inks that sit inside the human body and restore damaged neurons could cure a whole swathe of diseases in the next 20 years: conditions that have baffled scientists and clinicians for centuries. Think blindness, deafness, chronic pain, epilepsy, motor neuron disease, and Parkinson’s disease. According to University of South Australia materials engineer Associate Professor Matthew Griffith, these “incurable” diseases are all linked to misfiring neurons that humans have not been able to control. However, new technology being developed by Dr. Griffith and his team at UniSA’s Future Industries Institute Read More
Gathering data only takes 60 seconds of the infant sucking on the modified pacifier. Credit: University of California San Diego A modified pacifier and AI algorithms to analyze the data it produces could determine if newborns are learning the proper mechanics of nursing, a recent study shows. Specifically, the researchers from the University of California San Diego measured if babies are generating enough suckling strength to breastfeed and whether they are suckling in a regular pattern based on eight independent parameters. The results, published in the April 18 online edition Read More
Across the U.S., there are over 8 million student-athletes in high school and college. Engaging in sports can contribute to physical, mental, and social benefits, and coaches can play a key role in student-athletes’ continued participation in sports. A study led by UNC Greensboro’s Dr. Tsz Lun (Alan) Chu, published in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, examines how multiple aspects of a young athlete’s identity, including gender and race, may relate to their perceptions of their coaches and mental health. “There have been quite a few studies on this topic Read More
Two new studies from the Fairbanks School of Public Health on Indiana University’s Indianapolis campus examined the link between health behaviors, the built environment, and the health status of America’s largest cities. Using data from the American Fitness Index spanning from 2018 to 2022, the researchers determined that the maximum percentage of residents with good health status was 70 percent. The American Fitness Index is an American College of Sports Medicine initiative that quantitatively measures the overall health and fitness level of the 100 largest cities by population in the Read More
Pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including multi-drug resistant “superbugs” have been found on the floors, ceilings, door handles and other surfaces of hospital toilets in the UK, with patient toilets the worst affected, the ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) will hear. Women’s bathrooms contained fewer microbes than men’s, with female staff toilets particularly clean, while unisex and disabled (also unisex) toilets were the most contaminated. Multi-drug resistant bacteria were concentrated in patient toilets. Professor Stephanie Dancer, a consultant microbiologist at NHS Lanarkshire, UK wondered whether toilets Read More
Exhaled breath may be very promising alternative to blood for the therapeutic monitoring of antibiotics, the ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) will hear. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is used to monitor antibiotic concentrations in patients with severe infections and in patients in intensive care units. These patients may metabolize drugs differently and so may not respond to conventional doses of antibiotics (they require higher doses) or be more likely to develop toxic side effects (they require lower doses). The TDM results allow the dosage to Read More
Scanning electron microscope image of Vibrio cholerae. Credit: Wikipedia Mayotte, a French island in the Indian Ocean, said Sunday it had identified a total of 26 cases of cholera, stretching its care capabilities to the limit. On Friday, Mayotte had reported its first three locally acquired cases of the disease, which came in addition to 10 imported cases detected over the past month. After patient numbers doubled in 48 hours, the medical staffing situation at the Mayotte main hospital was “highly critical”, said Olivier Brahic, the head of the ARS Read More
Declines in heart failure-related mortality from 1999 to 2012 were entirely reversed from 2012 to 2021, according to a research letter published online April 24 in JAMA Cardiology. Ahmed Sayed, M.B.B.S., from Ain Shams University in Cairo, and colleagues used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research to investigate the current status of heart failure mortality rates over time and by sociodemographic subgroups. The researchers found that heart failure-related mortality declined with an annual percentage change (APC) of ?1.62 percent from Read More
Large language models (LLMs) are approaching expert-level knowledge and reasoning skills in ophthalmology, according to a study published online April 17 in PLOS Digital Health. Arun James Thirunavukarasu, M.B., B.Chir., from University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and colleagues evaluated the clinical potential of state-of-the-art LLMs in ophthalmology. Responses to 87 questions were compared for GPT-3.5, GPT-4, PaLM 2, LLaMA, expert ophthalmologists, and doctors in training. The researchers found that the performance of GPT-4 (69 percent) was superior to performance of GPT-3.5 (48 percent), LLaMA (32 percent), and PaLM Read More
Graphic on brown fat. Credit: Morten Mosin/University of Southern Denmark Brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue (BAT), is a type of fat in our bodies that’s different from the white fat around our belly and thighs that we are more familiar with. Brown fat has a special job—it helps to burn calories from the foods that we eat into heat, which can be helpful, especially when we’re exposed to cold temperatures like during winter swimming or cryotherapy. For a long time, scientists thought that only small animals like Read More
Brain tissue from a SCA4 patient. Blue marks cell DNA and red marks a protein that increases when protein recycling is disrupted. The bright red ring is a protein clump that only shows up in patients with SCA4. Credit: Mandi Gandelman, Ph.D. Some families call it a trial of faith. Others just call it a curse. The progressive neurological disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4) is a rare condition, but its effects on patients and their families can be severe. For most people, the first sign is difficulty walking Read More
Credit: Jsme MILA from Pexels In societies worldwide, women are frequently expected to assume the role of primary caregivers, and too often, that means putting the well-being of others before their own. This expectation transcends cultural boundaries and manifests in various forms. In 2022, over half of women and girls in Canada aged 15 and older—nearly 8.4 million people—dedicate themselves to caregiving, whether for children or dependent adults, paid or unpaid. Nearly one-third of them were involved in unpaid caregiving for children, while 23 percent were tending to adults with Read More
Overview of the free-viewing experiment. Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01631-5 We may not realize it, but our eyes constantly make rapid movements—two to three per second—even when we’re looking at the same spot. Yet despite these frequent eye movements, we still perceive what we see as a stable whole. How exactly do our eyes and brains work together to make this happen? Neurobiologists at Harvard Medical School (HMS) have now found intriguing clues into this question, which has captivated vision researchers far and wide. The study, done in macaques Read More
While increasingly visible among adults, polyamory also exists among adolescents, and as a new study indicates, so does the stigma that can come with it. A Washington State University study of 323 youth ages 12 to 17 at an LGBTQ+ summer camp found that 54, or about 16.7%, identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous, meaning they were open to either monogamous or polyamorous relationships. These “poly” and “ambi” youth reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than their LGBTQ+ peers. The study, one of the first to investigate polyamorous relationships in youth, Read More
No home-monitoring vision test has the diagnostic accuracy of hospital eye service follow-up clinics to identify active neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), according to a study published online April 25 in JAMA Ophthalmology. Ruth E. Hogg, Ph.D., from Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom, and colleagues evaluated three vision home-monitoring tests for patients to use to detect active nAMD versus diagnosing active nAMD at hospital follow-up during the after-treatment monitoring phase. The analysis included 259 patients (312 eyes; 50 years of age or older) with at least one eye Read More
Routine nutrition interventions to support moderate- to late-preterm infants until full nutrition with mother’s breast milk does not impact outcomes, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Tanith Alexander, Ph.D., from University of Auckland in New Zealand, and colleagues randomly assigned 532 moderate- to late-preterm infants (born at 32 weeks 0 days to 35 weeks 6 days gestation) who had intravenous access and whose mothers intended to breastfeed to one of the following: intravenous amino acid solution (parenteral nutrition) or dextrose solution until full feeding Read More
According to research by Nottingham Trent University, the brain function of older generations is improving, with the gap between old and young healthy adults lessening. The three-part study reviewed evidence from 60 independent research papers regarding cognition in older and younger adults to explore trends and determine whether age differences are changing over time. It also examined the results of a study by lead researcher Dr. Stephen Badham, Associate Professor in Psychology at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, which assessed and compared the cognitive abilities of more than 1,000 older Read More
Human SHARPIN deficiency causes autoinflammation and hepatic glycogenosis. Credit: Nature Immunology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01817-w A team of researchers led by Dr. Hirotsugu Oda at the University of Cologne’s CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research has discovered the role a specific protein complex plays in certain forms of immune dysregulation. The result may lead to new therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing autoinflammation and “repairing” the immune systems of patients who suffer from a genetic dysfunction of this protein complex. The study “Biallelic human SHARPIN loss of function induces autoinflammation and Read More
A multisite collaborative increases appropriate antibiotic use for pediatric community-acquired pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections, according to a study published online April 29 in Pediatrics. Russell J. McCulloh, M.D., from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, and colleagues conducted a quality improvement initiative across 118 hospitals with an aim of increasing the proportion of children older than 60 days of age receiving appropriate empirical, definitive, and duration of antibiotic therapy for community-acquired pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections to Read More
Syphilis cases are on the rise in the United States, and doctors in Chicago say they are increasingly seeing cases that don’t display typical symptoms, such as rash or skin ulcers. Instead, patients are presenting with headaches or disruptions in their vision or hearing, said a team co-led by Dr. Amy Nham. She’s a first year epidemic intelligence service officer assigned to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Her new report was presented last week at the 2024 Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference in Atlanta. Nham and two co-authors gave an Read More
Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans most commonly through mosquito bites. The malaria parasites enter the bloodstream and travel to the liver. When the parasites mature, they leave the liver and infect red blood cells. This is when people typically develop malaria symptoms. Because the parasites that cause malaria affect red blood cells, people also can be infected by exposure to infected blood, including from mother to unborn child, through blood transfusions and by sharing needles used to inject Read More
by Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MS, Ed, FAAP, American Academy of Pediatrics Every parent wants their child to be successful in life. But young people sometimes set excessively high standards for themselves. If something they do isn’t flawless, they may become overly self-critical. Their pursuit of perfection can become unhealthy and actually interfere with what they want to accomplish. As adolescents face the challenges of growing up, we can prepare them to be high achievers rather than perfectionists. You can help your child or teen avoid or overcome the negative Read More
An online program to help children and teenagers beat anxiety has been shown to be as effective in the long term as treatment with a therapist, potentially improving access to care while saving families money. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in children worldwide, even affecting preschoolers as young as three. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold-standard treatment for anxiety for all ages, with more than 50% of children treated in this way seeing significant improvement after 10 to 16 sessions. But with a cost-of-living crisis, Read More
Even though Australia has good quality translation and interpreting services, people who speak languages other than English still struggle to access timely and high quality information that is essential to their health and well-being. The global study, which was published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues, reviewed research from Australia and around the world to find the best examples of multilingual communication models that were both effective and inclusive. Lead researcher Raelene Wilding said while Australia is a world leader in offering multilingual resources access to health care services, Read More
An international team has analyzed the behaviors of more than 2,000 people within a 24-hour day to determine the optimal amount of time we should spend sitting, sleeping, standing and being physically active within a 24-hour period for optimal health. According to the new research from Swinburne University of Technology and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, published in the journal Diabetologia, the ideal daily balance is associated with: Six hours of sitting Five hours and 10 minutes of standing Eight hours and 20 minutes of sleeping Two hours and Read More
A study at the USZ compared the head injury patterns of e-bike accident victims with those of motorcycle and bicycle accidents. Head injuries after crashes with e-bikes are often more serious than in accidents with bicycles. The popularity of electric bikes is increasing. Especially among older people, as they gain mobility with motorized support. This is also reflected in the accident statistics. But is the pattern of serious head injuries (e.g., traumatic brain injuries) in accidents involving electric bicycles more similar to that of cyclists or more similar to that Read More
Credit: University of Science and Technology of China Colorectal cancer stands as one of the leading malignancies in the digestive system, ranking third and second in terms of new cases among men and women worldwide, respectively. Given the high incidence of this disease and the low response rate to immunotherapy, it is imperative to identify the environmental impeding factors to devise more precise and effective therapeutic strategies. A research team led by Professor Zhu Shu and Professor Pan Wen from the Key Laboratory of Immune Response and Immunotherapy of the Read More
IRE1? pathway activation in NK-cells stimulated with target cells. Representative FACS plots showing XBP1s protein expressed in SNK10 cells following activation with target cells (K562, KMH2 and HDLM2), with or without IRE1? inhibitor (4?8c 60?M). Credit: Acta Haematologica (2024). DOI: 10.1159/000536044 A multidisciplinary research team comprising the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD, Griffith University), Mater Research (based at the Translational Research Institute) and The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Frazer Institute, have made a breakthrough discovery in the body’s immune response to the blood cancer Hodgkin Lymphoma. Led by GRIDD’s Read More
Gary Horejsi wrestled with the decision before him, knowing a life could be in his hands. It was the third time that the woman had used drugs or alcohol since coming to CRI-Help, which runs a 135-bed residential facility in North Hollywood where people are treated for substance use disorder. CRI-Help needed to be a safe place for people grappling with their addictions. In the past, others had been removed for less. Horejsi, the clinical director, had the final say on whether she should be discharged. He perused her file Read More
Signaling dynamics of early T cell activation. a, Diagram of early T?cell activation and where the time points for the phosphoproteomic analysis were sampled. Pink ovals, kinases; colored circles, transcription factors. b, Heatmap of statistically regulated (moderated F-test) phosphopeptides during the first 27?min of T?cell stimulation. Interactive data are associated with this figure (Supplementary Data File 1). c, Heatmap of PTM-SEA terms for the phosphoproteomics time series data. iKiP, in vitro kinase-to-phosphosite database67; PSP, kinase–substrate pairs from PhosphositePlus; PERT, PSP-curated perturbation. Credit: Nature Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02256-z Imagine riding a Read More
Credit: BMC Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05686-3 Researchers at King’s College London conducted extensive interviews with women who attempted suicide during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. They found three key themes in women’s experiences that could help to identify and support those at risk of a maternal suicide. Suicide is a leading cause of maternal death during pregnancy and the year after birth (the perinatal period). This study was the first of its kind to focus on suicide attempts during this time and nearly half of participants undertook a suicide Read More
Upregulation of CD64+ macrophages during CHIKV infection identified by high-dimensional analysis of mass cytometry data. Credit: EMBO Molecular Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00028-y Researchers have long known that the body’s immune system plays a critical role in fighting off chikungunya virus (CHIKV), but how exactly immune cells coordinate their response has been a mystery—until now. In a new study led by A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), researchers discovered that synergistic interactions between immune cells drive CHIKV disease. This finding sheds light on how immune cells communicate during CHIKV infection, Read More
Key elements for successful nursing home (NH) clinical trials. Credit: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2024). DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18829 Clinical trials are constantly being designed and study participants enrolled to determine if medical treatments and therapies are safe and effective. Much has been written about the importance of including diverse populations in these trials. However, the nearly 1.4 million individuals who live in the 15,600 nursing homes across the U.S. have been largely left out of clinical trials, despite the prevalence of such common conditions as hypertension, depression, diabetes and Read More
Complaints per 1 million riders to the NYPD Transit Bureau, September 2018–August 2023. Credit: Injury Epidemiology (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s40621-024-00501-9 Has the New York City subway become less safe? This is the question Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health researchers sought to answer in their newest paper investigating rates of complaints to and arrests by the New York City Police Department Transit Bureau. The findings showed that anxieties related to crime on New York City transit rose following NYC’s COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency declaration in 2020, leading to declines Read More
Directed acyclic graph (DAG). The DAG includes sociodemographic and work-related factors measured in the NYC-DCWP survey that are hypothesized to be related to dependence, our main exposure, and injury or assault, our main outcomes, among food delivery gig workers. Regression model adjustments were informed using the DAG. Credit: Journal of Urban Health (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00873-9 A study published in the Journal of Urban Health by a team of CUNY researchers finds that food delivery gig workers in New York City face a high risk of injury and assault, particularly those Read More
Credit: Cell Host & Microbe (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.03.012 Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, after decades of research efforts, have developed a mouse model of Kaposi sarcoma that could be key to the development of new drugs to treat the disease. Kaposi sarcoma is a cancer that is the most common cancer in people living with HIV. The findings appear in Cell Host & Microbe. “This is an important development as we have created the first animal model ever of Kaposi sarcoma. Animal models are essential to move new Read More
Young men working in agricultural or livestock settings are the most affected by snakebites, according to research in Paraguay based on data from the last six years. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) highlights the importance of collecting more and better data to estimate the true burden of this neglected disease. The study is published in the journal BMJ Public Health. Every year, between 80,000 and 140,000 people die from the bite of a venomous snake. In 2017, the WHO added poisoning by snakebite to Read More
Discriminatory legal policies and policing that benefit white heterosexual people may be fueling suicidal ideation and behavior within Black LGBQ communities, Rutgers Health researchers have found. While suicide rates are decreasing among white Americans, trends for Black Americans are heading in the opposite direction, according to experts from the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This increase appears to be most pronounced among LGBQ community members, English said. “Structural oppression and policing drive everyday discrimination, which is a strong predictor of Read More
A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that school entry requirements are linked to an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. The findings appear online in Pediatrics. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection, which can cause health problems such as genital warts and certain cancers. To prevent infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that 11- to 12-year-olds receive two doses of the HPV vaccine, given 6 to 12 months apart. However, CDC data from 2022 shows that only 50% Read More
Staff at GHESKIO clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, process laboratory samples. Credit: Bahare Khodabande Early-onset heart failure is alarmingly common in urban Haiti—over 15-fold higher than previously estimated—according to a study conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers in partnership with the Haitian medical organization GHESKIO. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle can no longer pump an adequate amount of blood throughout the body. The study indicates that the nature of cardiovascular disease in Haiti, and perhaps other low- and middle-income nations, differs from wealthier countries where ischemic heart disease, also Read More
Health care providers are a vital resource for autistic adolescents and their families as they prepare for the transition to adulthood, which may include learning to drive, according to a new study from researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), recently published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Researchers with the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) and the Center for Autism Research (CAR) conducted in-depth interviews about independence, driving, and transportation with 15 health care providers aiding autistic adolescents and their families. The findings underscored the Read More
Schematic illustration of transparent film-based air filter, and photographs of Mona Lisa and a person wearing a face mask composed of the proposed transparent film-based air filter. Credit: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) has introduced a new solution in the form of a transparent mask, addressing concerns surrounding microplastic pollution and harmful solvents of conventional fibrous masks. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread adoption of masks became imperative. However, conventional masks fabricated using polypropylene microfibers presented unpredicted drawbacks. Read More
A study led by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) has revealed the mechanism behind the link between a diet high in saturated fats and Alzheimer’s disease. The research focused on how this kind of diet affects certain molecules found in the blood and in other tissues such as the brain that act as markers and regulators of the disease. The study was headed by Mònica Bulló, professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and member of the Metabolic Health and Nutrition unit and the Environmental, Food and Toxicological Read More
The relationship between living in a polluted city like São Paulo (Brazil) and lung disease or cancer is well known. But the problems go further. Unprecedented research shows that long-term exposure to air pollution is directly linked to increased heart risks in residents of the capital of the state of the same name. People with high blood pressure are at even greater risk. The study, published in the journal Environmental Research, was conducted by researchers from the University of São Paulo. The research shows that cardiac fibrosis, an indicator of Read More
A healthy lifestyle may offset the effects of life-shortening genes by more than 60%, suggests an analysis of the findings from several large long-term studies, published online in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. While genes and lifestyle seem to have an additive effect on a person’s lifespan, an unhealthy lifestyle is independently linked to a 78% heightened risk of dying before one’s time, regardless of genetic predisposition, the research indicates. The polygenic risk score (PRS) combines multiple genetic variants to arrive at a person’s overall genetic predisposition to a longer Read More
A health care worker in The Gambia holds up a microarray patch of the type used in the study. Credit: MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM A Phase I/II randomized trial compared results from the measles and rubella vaccine delivered by a microarray patch, a small sticking plaster-like device with an array of microscopic projections that painlessly penetrate the skin and deliver the vaccine, or by conventional injection with a needle and syringe. The trial, which involved 45 adults (18–40 years old), 120 toddlers (15–18 months old) and 120 infants Read More
Human-derived microbiota prevent mucus defects in mice fed a Western-style diet (WSD) in a fiber-dependent manner. A Selection of participants from a previously published intervention study32, in which participants increased their dietary fiber intake for 12 weeks. From the top ten responders, shifts in bacterial composition were calculated B Shift in gut bacteria community structure of the 5 human participants selected as donors for microbiota transplantation before and after HF intervention. C Schematic representation of the human-to-mouse FMT experiment using antibiotic-treated mice. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47594-w A low-fiber Read More
Stem cells and cells in the process of differentiation into neurons (nuclei in blue and messenger RNA in green). In stem cells, the gene messengers associated with their functions leave the nucleus, while they are retained in the cells in the process of transformation into neurons. The opposite occurs with genes whose function is associated with neuronal differentiation. Credit: Miguel Hernandez University of Elche Researchers have discovered the mechanism which allows adult brain stem cells to express genes that maintain their identity and those for neuronal differentiation without conflicts in Read More
A national study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of New Mexico (UNM) Comprehensive Cancer Center found major gaps in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening use in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the U.S., relative to overall screening rates in the country. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, revealed screening use in FQHCs was 45.4% for breast cancer, 51% for cervical cancer and 40.2% for colorectal cancer, compared to cancer screening rates in the general American population of Read More
Microscopy images of mouse thymic epithelial cell (TEC) organoids. The left image shows a TEC organoid in expansion medium, which is a mixture of molecules used to keep the organoids in culture. The right image shows an organoid in differentiation medium, a different mixture of molecules, which directs the cells to specialize into cortical and medullar TECs. The arrows indicate medullar TECs, recognizable by the red dots. Credit: Credit: Sangho Lim. Copyright: Hubrecht Institute. Researchers from the Organoid group have developed a new organoid model that can be used to Read More
Credit: Jiang et al. Given the known risks of consuming high amounts of sugar, today many people are looking for alternative sweeteners that produce a similar taste without prompting significant weight gain and causing other health issues. While research suggests that the brain can tell the difference between different sweet substances, the neural processes underlying this ability to tell sweeteners apart remain poorly understood. Researchers at University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and other institutes in China recently carried out a study aimed Read More
Cell-surface mAb43 binding reduces antigenic exposure of membrane-bound insulin. Credit: Diabetes (2024). DOI: 10.2337/db23-0568 Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say that an experimental monoclonal antibody drug called mAb43 appears to prevent and reverse the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes in mice, and in some cases, to lengthen the animals’ lifespan. The drug is unique, according to the researchers, because it targets insulin-making beta cells in the pancreas directly and is designed to shield those cells from attacks by the body’s own immune system cells. The drug’s specificity for such Read More
Reported attitudes about future potential pandemic preparedness. The sample size for each individual country n?=?1,000. Middle-Income Countries (MIC): Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Turkiye. High-Income Countries (HIC): Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States. (a) “If the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new pandemic threat, would you trust this information?”, (b) “If the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new pandemic threat and advised getting vaccinated, would you?”, (c) “How confident are you that we Read More
Credit: Med (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.007 A recently completed study indicates that circulatory protein levels can provide important information for increasingly accurate diagnoses and personalized care in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Researchers at the University of Helsinki identified a specific protein profile linked to more severe disease. B-cell lymphoma is the most common cancer of the lymphatic system. In roughly 30% of patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma, the disease relapses. At the moment, risk profiling for the disease derives from clinical estimates, such as a risk classification based on the Read More