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Periodic heat waves-induced neuronal etiology in the elderly is mediated by gut-liver-brain axis: a transcriptome profiling approach. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60664-9 Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have found evidence of the molecular causes of the damaging impact heat stress causes on the gut, liver and brain in the elderly. These findings point to the potential of developing precise prognostic and therapeutic interventions. These organs have a complex and multidirectional communication system that touches everything from our gastrointestinal tract to the nervous system. Whether it is our Read More
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Image on the left shows inflammation caused by activated ILC2s in the lungs while image on the right shows inflammation reduced by treatment with iron chelator Deferiprone. Credit: 2024 Hurrell et al. New USC research shows that iron serves as a gas pedal driving certain immune cells that cause inflammation in the lungs during an allergic asthma attack—and blocking or limiting iron may reduce the severity of symptoms. During an attack, immune cells known as group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) can become overactive, causing excessive inflammation and a tightening Read More
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Kids are very likely to make the acquaintance of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at some point, whether they know it or not. An estimated 95% of children with disabilities enroll in regular schools, experts say. “Given the rates of autism diagnosis and our ability to identify it, most kids will meet an autistic child at some point during their school-aged years,” Dr. Taryn Liu, a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said in a news release. Given that, parents should be prepared to help their kids Read More
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A gene previously linked to intellectual disability has been found to regulate learning and memory in mice. The gene, called KDM5B has previously been linked to some intellectual disability disorders and autism. In the general population, some variants are also associated with reduced brain function, although not sufficient to cause an overt disability or behavioral symptoms. Now, researchers at King’s College London, the University of Exeter and the University of California Irvine have found that reduced function of the gene in the brain results in loss of learning ability and Read More
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(a) PET amyloid (18F-Flutemetamol) and (b) tau (18F-PI2620) accumulation in AD meta-ROI and select AD-sensitive ROIs in young adults with Y-DM (T1D n = 5; T2D n = 1) and age-similar controls (n = 5). No statistically significant differences were found between groups. IT = inferior temporal; MTP = middle temporal pole; MT = middle temporal; Fusi = fusiform gyrus; Parahhip = parahippocampal gyrus; Hipp = hippocampal gyrus. Credit: Endocrines (2024). DOI: 10.3390/endocrines5020014 Young people with diabetes may have a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life, Read More
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Association Between Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) and Tau–Positron Emission Tomography (PET) With Corticolimbic Tangle Distribution. Credit: JAMA Neurology (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.0784 Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a series of brain changes characterized by unique clinical features and immune cell behaviors using a new corticolimbic index tool for Alzheimer’s disease, a leading cause of dementia. Their findings are published in JAMA Neurology. The tool categorizes Alzheimer’s disease cases into three subtypes according to the location of brain changes and continues the team’s prior work, demonstrating how these changes impact people Read More
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Credit: Lynn Greyling/public domain When you think about obesity, you may not connect it to cancer. However, researchers long have suspected a link between certain cancers and weight. Among those are endometrial, ovarian, colon, liver, pancreatic and postmenopausal breast cancers, which together contribute to 15 to 20% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. More than one-third of adults in the U.S. are considered obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is the measure of body fat of body fat based on weight and height. Read More
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The most socially vulnerable counties are less likely to have any cancer clinical trial, according to a research letter published online May 7 in JAMA Network Open. Rishi Robert Sekar, M.D., from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues examined the association between county-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and cancer clinical trial availability in the United States. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of county-level trial availability and SDOH were performed. The study included 3,142 counties with a mean Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of 0.50 and median population of Read More
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Children who experience chronic lack of sleep from infancy may be at increased risk of developing psychosis in early adulthood, new research shows. Researchers at the University of Birmingham examined information on nighttime sleep duration from a large cohort study of children aged between 6 months and 7 years old. They found that children who persistently slept fewer hours, throughout this time period, were more than twice as likely to develop a psychotic disorder in early adulthood, and nearly four times as likely to have a psychotic episode. While previous Read More
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Many medical organizations have been recommending lung cancer screening for decades for those at high risk of developing the disease. But in 2022, less than 6% of people in the U.S. eligible for screening actually got screened. Compared with other common cancer screenings, lung cancer screening rates fall terribly behind. For comparison, the screening rate in 2021 for colon cancer was 72%, and the rate for breast cancer was 76%. Why are lung cancer screening rates so poor? I am a pulmonologist who specializes in screening and diagnosing lung cancer. Read More
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Dr. Aaron Potretzke performing a kidney stone surgery. Credit: Mayo Clinic Most small kidney stones can pass on their own. However, kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own or cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections may require surgical treatment. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Aaron Potretzke, a Mayo Clinic urologist, explains some of the different surgical options for removing kidney stones. “Over the last several years, we have worked increasingly to make surgery even less invasive,” says Dr. Potretzke. He performs hundreds Read More
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The virus behind COVID has mutated again, this time producing variants nicknamed FLiRT, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported. The variants are appearing in wastewater sampling, the CDC said, and case monitoring suggests that between April 14 and April 27, one FLiRT variant called KP.2 made up about a quarter of new COVID-19 cases. That puts KP.2 ahead of the prior dominant strain, the JN.1 variant, which now makes up about 22% of cases, according to the CDC. Speaking to WebMD, Dr. Megan Ranney, dean Read More
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Trifarotene plus skin care is beneficial for patients with moderate acne vulgaris (AV) and acne-induced hyperpigmentation (AIH), according to a study published online April 29 in the International Journal of Dermatology. Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H., from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, and colleagues conducted a phase IV, double-blind, parallel-group study of patients aged 13 to 35 years with moderate AV and AIH who were treated with trifarotene or vehicle (63 and 60 patients, respectively), plus a skin care regimen of moisturizer, cleanser, and sunscreen for 24 weeks. Read More
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Using cannabis on a regular basis may be significantly more dangerous for adolescents than adults, with adolescents showing higher levels of cannabis use disorder and reporting greater negative impacts on daily functioning than adults, in a new study led by the University of Bath in the UK. The study, published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, is a collaboration between the University of Bath, Kings College London and University College London. It’s the first to show that the quantity and strength of cannabis consumed does not account Read More
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A Midwestern candy company has issued a massive recall due to the risk of salmonella tainting some of its products. Palmer Candy Company of Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling “white coated confectionary items” because they could be contaminated with salmonella, the company announced this week. The products are sold in bags, pouches, tubs and other retail packaging. Brand names include Freshness Guaranteed, Palmer, Sweet Smiles, Snackin’ With The Crew, Casey’s, Sconza Chocolates, Favorite Day Bakery, Sunny Select, Urge!, and Kwik Trip Inc. The recalled candies and treats were distributed nationwide Read More
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James Walter uses a phone at home in the Queens borough of New York, on April 7, 2021. Sleep scientists long ago established that insufficient sleep is linked with poor health outcomes, anxiety, obesity and several other negative effects. The research is equally conclusive that smartphones are particularly disruptive to the circadian clock that regulates sleep and other hormones. Credit: AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski, File Like many of us, Jessica Peoples has heard the warnings about excessive screen time at night. Still, she estimates spending 30 to 60 minutes on her Read More
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What, and how, a baby is fed can weigh on a caregiver’s mind. Thankfully, a University of Otago-led study has found two popular, but somewhat controversial, methods appear to have little significant impact on infants’ appetite and weight. The study analyzed the diets of 625 7 to 10-month-old babies, evaluating appetite-related outcomes of baby food pouch use and baby-led weaning. Lead author Alice Cox, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Medicine, says concern is frequently expressed about babies who consume baby food pouches being at risk of overfeeding, and those Read More
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Do dying patients have a “right to try” illegal drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA if they might alleviate end-of-life suffering from anxiety and depression? That question is now before one of the nation’s highest courts, with a Seattle-based palliative care physician appealing a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration decision barring him from prescribing psilocybin to his late-stage cancer patients. Dr. Sunil Aggarwal says he has a right to prescribe psilocybin—the hallucinogenic compound in “magic mushrooms”—under state and federal “right to try” laws, which give terminal patients access to experimental drug Read More
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With little pomp, California launched two apps at the start of the year offering free behavioral health services to youths to help them cope with everything from living with anxiety to body acceptance. Through their phones, young people and some caregivers can meet BrightLife Kids and Soluna coaches, some who specialize in peer support or substance use disorders, for roughly 30-minute virtual counseling sessions that are best suited to those with more mild needs, typically those without a clinical diagnosis. The apps also feature self-directed activities, such as white noise Read More
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Pink eye is an inflammation of the lining of the eyelid and eyeball. The medical term for pink eye is conjunctivitis. The most noticeable symptom will be a pink or red irritated eye or eyes. Other symptoms can include: Itchiness in one or both eyes. A gritty feeling in one or both eyes. Discharge in one or both eyes. This can form a crust overnight that can prevent one or both eyes from opening the next morning. Watery eyes or tearing. Pink eye is most commonly caused by a virus, Read More
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by Manel Llado, IMBA – Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften GmbH Microscopic image of long-range axons connecting two brain organoids. Magnification shows fluorescence labeling of single axons. Credit: Catarina Martins-Costa/IMBA The brain resembles a road network: Like country roads, small connections link neighboring nerve cells, while, like highways, thick nerve bundles connect different regions of the brain. These thick, heavily used nerve bundles, which for example connect the left and right brain hemispheres or the brain’s front and back, have not been experimentally investigated thus far. Read More
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Research from recent graduate Brock Santi of the University of Hawai?i at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) explored the link between COVID-19, insurance coverage, race, ethnicity and vaccination, shedding light on previously unexplored aspects of the pandemic’s impact in Hawai?i. The study was published in JAMA on May 1. The study found different times during the pandemic provided disparities with different groups. “We wanted to ensure that patients in the hospital, as soon as they were admitted for COVID-19, were receiving equal care,” explained Santi, who graduated Read More
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A tiny, flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord could represent a new approach to the treatment of spinal injuries, which can cause profound disability and paralysis. Credit: University of Cambridge A tiny, flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord could represent a new approach to the treatment of spinal injuries, which can cause profound disability and paralysis. A team of engineers, neuroscientists and surgeons from the University of Cambridge developed the devices and used them to record the nerve signals going back and forth between Read More
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The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have released a new clinical guideline for effectively managing individuals diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The guideline reiterates the importance of collaborative decision-making with patients who have HCM and provides updated recommendations for the most effective treatment pathways for adult and pediatric patients. The 2024 AHA/ACC/AMSSM/HRS/PACES/SCMR Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is published simultaneously in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation. HCM is an inherited cardiac condition most often caused by a Read More
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Researchers at the National Cancer Institute-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) have shown that a breakthrough therapy for treating blood cancers can be adapted to treat solid tumors—an advance that could transform cancer treatment. The promising findings, reported in Science Advances, involve CAR-T cell therapy, which supercharges the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells. The paper is titled “TOP CAR with TMIGD2 as a safe and effective costimulatory domain in CAR cells treating human solid tumors.” “CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of blood cancers such Read More
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For patients with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compensated cirrhosis (CC), liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is significantly higher than acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) for those with varices, according to a study published online April 23 in Abdominal Radiology. Akash Roy, M.B.B.S., from Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals in Kolkata, India, and colleagues enrolled 108 patients with obesity and NAFLD-CC who underwent MRE and ARFI for LSM and endoscopy for varices screening. Area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curves were used for evaluating performance Read More
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Systemic antibiotic exposure in the first year of life is associated with higher atopic dermatitis (AD) risk in a dose-response fashion, according to a study published online April 24 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Courtney Hoskinson, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and colleagues examined the timing and specific factors mediating the relationship among systemic (oral or intravenous) antibiotic usage, the gut microbiome, and AD. The researchers found that systemic antibiotics during the first year of life, as compared with later, were associated with Read More
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Serotonergic neurons release serotonin when they sense high levels of glucose. This triggers the activation of the kisspeptin neurons, the primary stimulator for releasing reproductive hormones. Credit: Sho Nakamura Scientists from Nagoya University in Japan have clarified the relationship between energy levels and fertility in animals and humans. They identified signaling from serotonergic neurons as important for maintaining reproductive function by sensing glucose availability and subsequently enhancing the release of the reproductive hormone gonadotropin. Their findings also provide an explanation and possible treatment for the decreased fertility observed in people Read More
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A group of researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have led an investigation that offers new insight into the causes of spina bifida, the most common structural disorder of the human nervous system. Work of the group, led by Keng Ioi Vong, Ph.D., and Sangmoon Lee, M.D. Ph.D., both from the laboratory of Joseph G. Gleeson, M.D., at the UC San Diego School of Medicine Department of Neurosciences and the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, reveals the first link between spina bifida and a Read More
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When breastfeeding mothers in a recent study used cannabis, its psychoactive component THC showed up in the milk they produced. The Washington State University-led research also found that, unlike alcohol, when THC was detected in milk there was no consistent time when its concentration peaked and started to decline. Importantly, the researchers discovered that the amount of THC they detected in milk was low—they estimated that infants received an average of 0.07 mg of THC per day. For comparison, a common low-dose edible contains 2 mg of THC. The research Read More
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An Inside Look at a Basement Gym with Air Quality Monitoring Instruments in the Study. Credit: Yele Sun A recent study led by Prof. Yele Sun from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated the air quality in a basement gym. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. “Thinking back to the pandemic, my colleagues and I made a point of hitting the gym in our institute’s basement more often,” Prof. Sun recalls. “[We] couldn’t help but wonder what the air quality would be Read More
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General population (GP) data can provide unique insights into common health conditions, new research looking at insomnia symptom prevalence in England has shown. The University of Bristol-led study, published in BMJ Open, also highlights the value of improving access to this data for future health research. The study aimed to explore how useful GP records are in measuring how many people experience insomnia symptoms. The researchers used data from the UK Biobank, a database which contains health, genetic and lifestyle information on around half a million participants. The research team Read More
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(from left) Dr Julian Alexander Härtel and Dr Nicole Müller from the Department of Paediatric Cardiology at the UKB, who jointly led the study, with study nurse and coordinator Ute Baur. Credit: M. Steinhauer, University Hospital Bonn (UKB) A long-haul flight or an overnight stay in the mountains: For many patients with a Fontan circulation (single-ventricle physiology), this was previously unimaginable, as there was insufficient medical research into how acute changes in altitude affect their cardiovascular system. A study conducted by the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) together with the German Read More
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In Asian countries, where high-salt foods are popular, the link between high salt consumption and stomach cancer has already been proven. A new long-term study by MedUni Vienna has now shown for the first time that this risk is also reflected in the cancer statistics in Europe. The analysis was recently published in the journal Gastric Cancer and shows that people who frequently add salt to their food are about 40% more likely to develop stomach cancer than those who do not use the salt shaker at the table. Data Read More
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Neuropathy, the nerve damage that causes pain and numbness in the feet and hands and can eventually lead to falls, infection and even amputation, is very common and underdiagnosed, according to a study published in the May 8, 2024, online issue of Neurology. “More than one-third of people with neuropathy experience sharp, prickling or shock-like pain, which increases their rates of depression and decreases quality of life,” said study author Melissa A. Elafros, MD, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a member of the American Academy Read More
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New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) explores outcomes of mothers and their babies during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study “Maternal and perinatal outcomes during the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 pandemic” includes information on demographics, uptake of antenatal care, labor and birth trends, and baby outcomes based on the data from the National Perinatal Data Collection. Outcomes during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2020 and 2021 combined) were compared with what would have been expected based on Read More
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Chemographic representation of an “address” within the nECM surrounding the neuron and glial cells. The “address” is depicted as a electron-rich square capable of binding a metal cation and trapping a signaling molecule like a neurotransmitter (NT) or a gliotransmitter (GT) to create a metal-centered ternary complex that functions as a cognitive unit of information (cuinfo). This cuinfo serves as the fundamental unit of memory, including emotional memory, and represents the biochemical embodiment of the molecular unit of memory (MMM) concept introduced by Zeltzer et al., 2022. Credit: Marx and Read More
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Credit: Eating Behaviors (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101863 According to a recent meta-analysis conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, 1 in 4 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes aged 16 years and older also exhibit some kind of eating disorder symptoms. In addition to typical eating disorder symptoms, such as binge eating and food restriction, insulin-dependent diabetes is also associated with insulin omission, i.e., a unique form of disordered eating where insulin doses are intentionally restricted or skipped entirely due to fears of weight gain. “Intentional skipping or restriction of insulin doses will Read More
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Many parents ponder why one of their children seems more emotionally troubled than the others. A new study in the United Kingdom reveals a possible basis for those differences. Adolescents who view their households as more unstructured, disorganized, or hectic than their siblings do develop more mental health and behavioral problems in early adulthood, according to the study. The findings are published in Psychological Science. In research tracking thousands of twins born in the mid-1990s, Sophie von Stumm, a psychology professor at the University of York, found that teenagers who Read More
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Calibration plots and decision curves of the eFalls model on internal validation (in the model development data) and external validation, before and after recalibration. The pre-defined region of clinical interest (threshold probabilities between 10% and 25%) is highlighted on the decision curves. Credit: Age and Ageing (2024). DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae057 Patients’ risk of falling in the next 12 months could be predicted from their NHS data using a newly developed calculator. eFalls is a falls prediction model which uses routinely available primary care electronic health record data, the first of its Read More
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Proliferating cells in a tumour organoid of triple-negative breast cancer. Credit: Dr Rebecca Marlow, The Institute of Cancer Research, London Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, have increased our understanding of how a cancer drug called a PARP inhibitor stops working in women with breast cancer that has spread. This research could ultimately help predict who’s more likely to respond to these drugs, and could lead to more effective ways to treat the disease. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy that is used to treat breast Read More
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Researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy have discovered that when a higher amount of a protein called AKAP12 is present inside the heart, it speeds up the work of an enzyme called PDE8A and can accelerate cardiac dysfunction. In the journal Circulation Research Bradley McConnell, a University of Houston professor of pharmacology, and Hanan Qasim, the first author of the study and a doctoral student while in the McConnell lab, reported that increased activity of AKAP12 in cardiac myocytes (the cells responsible for contraction of the heart) Read More
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The synergism of cytosolic acidosis and reduced NAD+/NADH ratio is responsible for lactic acidosis-induced vascular smooth muscle cell impairment in sepsis. Credit: Journal of Biomedical Science (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00992-6 A recent study by University Medicine Halle shows how sepsis can lead to dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells. The researchers found that elevated lactate levels and acidosis, which can occur acutely during sepsis due to metabolic derailment, only have a disrupting effect in synergistic combination. The study, published in the Journal of Biomedical Science, also provides a possible explanation for Read More
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Principles of clinical assessment and management of major depressive disorder. Credit: The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1177/07067437241245384 Psychiatrists and mental health professionals have a new standard for managing major depression, thanks to refreshed clinical guidelines published today by the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT). The CANMAT guidelines are the most widely used clinical guidelines for depression in the world. The new version integrates the latest scientific evidence and advances in depression care since the previous guidelines were published in 2016. The update was led by Read More
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Despite the high prevalence of substance abuse and its often devastating outcomes, especially among disadvantaged populations, few Americans receive treatment for substance use disorders. However, the rise of mobile health technologies can make treatments more accessible. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are creating and studying health interventions delivered via smartphones to make effective, evidence-based treatments available to those who cannot or don’t want to enter traditional in-person treatment. Michael Businelle, Ph.D., co-director of the TSET Health Promotion Center, a program of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, recently published a Read More
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Credit: Neuron (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.04.002 In a study published in Neuron, researchers have identified four new genetic risk factors for multiple system atrophy (MSA), shedding light on this poorly understood disorder. The study, which involved collaboration from over 50 institutions worldwide, including the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), marks a significant step forward in the understanding of MSA. Led by Sonja W. Scholz, M.D., Ph.D., senior investigator and chief of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the project Read More
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Structural repurposing of JX22 to develop new skeleton derivatives with anti-HF activity. Credit: Acta Materia Medica (2024). DOI: 10.15212/AMM-2024-0009 Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a class of glucose-lowering drugs known for robust cardiovascular protective properties. However, the side effects induced by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition limit application in cardiovascular medicine. Prior research showed that thoughtful structural modifications can dissociate the anti-heart failure activity from glucose-lowering effects. Moreover, it was shown that the glyceraldehyde derivative JX22, developed by scaffold hopping from empagliflozin, exhibits a superior cardiomyocyte protective effect, albeit with increased Read More
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There’s a fresh call for a lowering of the bowel cancer screening age in Aotearoa New Zealand, in the wake of new University of Otago, Christchurch research showing an alarming rise in colorectal cancer rates in younger New Zealanders—especially M?ori. The findings, published in BMC Cancer, show that while colorectal cancer rates (CRC) in older age groups have actually decreased (possibly in part due to older New Zealanders taking part in bowel cancer screening), rates of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) have risen by 26% per decade on average over Read More
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Doctors under pressure are being prevented from working effectively in teams by power imbalances and negative hierarchies, a new study has found. Continuity, good communication and effective leadership all lead to greater team efficiency and were found to make it much easier to resolve issues, ultimately having a positive impact on patient outcomes. The research, carried out by Hull York Medical School colleagues at the University of York, explored how doctors and other health care professionals work together and across teams, what factors contribute to effective team working and the Read More
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The bird flu has arrived in Colorado, and while it doesn’t represent anywhere near the threat that COVID-19 did at the beginning of the pandemic, people should take some precautions with animals that could carry it, experts say. The Denver Post compiled the latest information on H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, the bird flu virus that has jumped to cows in at least nine states—including Colorado—and has infected a small number of people. While the virus at this point is only a threat to people who work with animals, scientists Read More
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Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya from Pexels A major clinical trial has found that an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose led to the majority of clinically extremely vulnerable people mounting defensive antibodies against COVID-19. New research published in The Lancet Rheumatology from the OCTAVE DUO research trial co-led by the University of Birmingham and University of Glasgow found that vaccine boosters led to improved antibody responses among many groups of immunocompromised and immunosuppressed patients. This trial opened in 11 hospitals across the UK and recruited 804 patients across nine disease areas, all of Read More
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Last month, Dr. Sarah Benn became the first UK doctor to be suspended from the medical register after being convicted and jailed for actions relating to climate activism. In an interview with The BMJ, she says the activism that led to her suspension was necessary to raise the alarm over the climate crisis, and also in keeping with a doctor’s mission to promote health and save lives. “The world is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the danger of climate and ecological collapse, and I believe that my actions are Read More
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An investigation published by The BMJ today raises concerns about financial entanglements between US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chiefs and the drug and medical device companies they are responsible for regulating. Regulations prohibit FDA employees from holding financial interests in any FDA “significantly regulated organization” and the FDA says it takes conflicts of interest seriously, but Peter Doshi, senior editor at The BMJ, finds that financial interests with the drug industry are common among its leaders. Doshi reports that nine of the FDA’s past 10 commissioners went on to Read More
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Scanning electron micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB. Credit: NIAID Preventive treatment for tuberculosis (TB) can stop latent TB infections from developing into deadly TB disease. Despite TB infection being fully treatable, there is no global consensus as to which subgroups of individuals exposed to TB should be prioritized for preventive treatment, nor whether the benefits of this treatment vary based on factors such as age or confirmed infection. A new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher provides clarity to this issue, Read More
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AstraZeneca rapidly developed the successful Covid-19 jab during the coronavirus pandemic which erupted in the first half of 2020. Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Wednesday said it was withdrawing COVID vaccine Vaxzevria, one of the first produced in the deadly pandemic, citing “commercial reasons” following a slump in demand. “As multiple, variant COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied,” an AstraZeneca spokesperson added in a statement. Read More
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Nuclear mechanotransduction and myofibroblast memory. Credit: Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00716-0 New research led by Unity Health Toronto that examines how fibroblast cells in the body are activated to cause fibrosis and organ scarring has been published in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. Fibrosis and organ scarring are leading causes of death, with data suggesting they are responsible for up to 45% of deaths in the developed world. Fibrosis is a process by which fibroblast cells in our body produce an excess amount of a protein mixture Read More
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Credit: iScience (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109747 People on the autism spectrum are predisposed to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Queensland has shown. The research also found PTSD can lead to the aggravation of core traits of autism such as repetitive behavior. The study, published in the journal iScience, showed that while generally PTSD is triggered by an extreme stress, a single mild stress can be enough to produce a traumatic memory in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Senior Read More
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In one of the first studies of its kind, UC Santa Barbara researchers have found that the immune status of postpartum mothers shifts with how she feeds her baby. According to a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, certain inflammatory proteins—substances that are secreted as part of an immune response—peak at different times of day, correlating with whether the mothers breastfeed, pump or formula-feed their babies. “It’s a great study; there are so many unanswered questions about maternal health in the postpartum period,” said Amy Boddy, a human biologist Read More
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Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) have published findings in JAMA Pediatrics that show the hospital’s revised clinical guidelines for reporting substance-exposed newborns support family health. In May 2021, BMC revised its clinical guidelines to report suspected abuse after a child is born when there are tangible concerns about the parent’s ability to safely care for the child, rather than automatically filing Child Protective Services (CPS) reports for all cases of prescribed use of opioids or medication for opioid use disorder. This clinical guideline shift reduced reporting to CPS by Read More
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The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased interest in wearable health-monitoring devices among low-income Hispanic and Latine adults living in the U.S., a new Northwestern University study has found. While the pandemic highlighted the need for regular health monitoring, these groups often lack access to affordable health care and sometimes distrust existing health systems. Wearables, therefore, could provide a reliable, at-home alternative to traditional in-clinic health monitoring. But, although interest has increased, several barriers remain that prevent these groups from adopting wearable technologies. According to the researchers, tech companies historically have designed Read More
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A study examining childhood maltreatment in Australia has revealed the shocking burden for Australians, estimating it causes up to 40% of common, life-long mental health conditions. The mental health conditions examined were anxiety, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, self-harm and suicide attempts. Childhood maltreatment is classified as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and emotional or physical neglect before the age of 18. Childhood maltreatment was found to account for 41% of suicide attempts in Australia, 35% for cases of self-harm and 21% for depression. The analysis, published in JAMA Read More
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An estimated 321,566 children in the United States lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry. The rate of children who experienced this loss more than doubled during this period, from approximately 27 to 63 children per 100,000. The highest number of affected children were those with non-Hispanic white parents, but communities of color and tribal communities were disproportionately affected. The study was a collaborative effort led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Drug Read More
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A team of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators discovered that a subset of myeloid and lymphoid leukemias depend on a molecular complex called PI3Kgamma for survival. The study provides both mechanistic and preclinical evidence supporting the rapid initiation of clinical trials for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to test an existing medicine that inhibits the complex, called eganelisib, both alone and in combination with the most used AML chemotherapy, cytarabine. The study was published in Nature. “Given what we’ve observed, we can move very quickly to take these medicines, which Read More
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Starting people with opioid use disorder on extended-release, injectable naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) within five to seven days of seeking treatment is more effective than the standard treatment method of starting within 10–15 days, but requires closer medical supervision, according to results from a clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open. The findings suggest that this rapid treatment protocol could make XR-naltrexone more viable as a treatment option for opioid use disorder, which continues to take lives at an alarming rate. “When someone is ready to seek treatment for opioid use disorder, Read More
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For children with neurogenic bladder, self-catheterization is associated with lower adherence to clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology. Simran K. Sidhu, from Kuala Lumpur Hospital in Malaysia, and colleagues identified factors that could affect CIC compliance and examined the association between CIC compliance and short-term urological outcomes in children with neurogenic bladder due to spina bifida and caudal regression syndrome. The validated Intermittent Catheterization Adherence Scale was used to assess patient compliance with CIC among 50 patients aged 2 to Read More
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METHOD study design. n?=?177 participants were allocated to the PDP intervention group and n?=?170 participants were allocated to the control group. DBS, dried blood spot finger-prick test. CGM, continuous glucose monitor. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), accompanied by a dietary behavior survey, was administered. Anthropometry measures included waist circumference, hip circumference, height and body weight. Credit: Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02951-6 Personalized nutrition approaches can improve several key health metrics, including lower weight, lower cholesterol, better mood, improved gut health, lower heart disease risk, and better metabolic health. Improvements for Read More
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Mount Sinai researchers took detailed pictures of the serotonin receptor and clinically-validated drug target 5-HT1A using cryo-electron microscopy to show how the psychedelics LSD and 5-MeO-DMT and a 5-HT1A-selective 5-MeO-DMT derivative (4-F, 5-MeO-PyrT) bind. The team further discovered that 4-F, 5-MeO-DMT has antidepressant effects in mouse models mediated by 5-HT1A, which potentially contribute to the therapeutic effects of psychedelics observed in clinical studies. Credit: Audrey Warren, Ph.D. candidate and Daniel Wacker. Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacological Science and Neuroscience at Icahn Mount Sinai Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine Read More
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UCLA Health researchers have discovered a mechanism that creates memories while reducing metabolic cost, even during sleep. This efficient memory occurs in a part of the brain that is crucial for learning and memory, and where Alzheimer’s disease begins. The discovery is published in the journal Nature Communications. Does this sound familiar? You go to the kitchen to fetch something, but when you get there, you forget what you wanted. This is your working memory failing. Working memory is defined as remembering some information for a short period while you Read More
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.008 Tiny, dangerous, and easily transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically affects about 296 million people and kills about 1 million every year. This stealthy virus invades the liver and remains largely asymptomatic until it culminates in cirrhosis or cancer. Most treatments try to inhibit the virus’s polymerase (pol) protein. But those treatments are lifelong and not curative. Now, researchers from the lab of Rockefeller’s Charles M. Rice have revealed never-before-seen mechanisms that may lead to new therapeutic approaches for HBV. They published the Read More
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We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and other profiles were categorized by what they struggled with or couldn’t do. The concept of neurodiversity, developed by autistic activists in the 1990s, is an emerging area. It promotes the idea that different brains (“neurotypes“) are part of the natural variation of being human—just like “biodiversity“—and they are vital for our survival. This idea is now being applied to Read More
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Credit: Oxford University Press The last pandemic was bad, but COVID-19 is only one of many infectious diseases that emerged since the turn of this century. Since 2000, the world has experienced 15 novel Ebola epidemics, the global spread of a 1918-like influenza strain and major outbreaks of three new and unusually deadly coronavirus infections: SARS, MERS and, of course, COVID-19. Every year, researchers discover two or three entirely new pathogens: the viruses, bacteria and microparasites that sicken and kill people. While some of these discoveries reflect better detection methods, Read More
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Credit: Pixabay from Pexels We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and well-being globally. We all see news of environmental degradation and climate change impacts around the world. But environmental scientists, rangers, engineers, advocates and policymakers are at particular risk of ecological grief, due to their first-hand experience of environmental decline. Our author group has heard from colleagues about the impacts of coral bleaching, bushfires and floods on their work and the distress Read More
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New research from a multi-disciplinary team at Trinity College Dublin suggests a “tailored vaccine” might hold the key to treating bacteria-driven flares of eczema in children. The work has been published in JCI Insight. The team has taken several leaps forward in understanding how the immune response works in cases of eczema driven by the common, troublesome Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, and in doing so they have identified new cellular targets for a vaccine. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, affects up to one in four children in Ireland. Common symptoms Read More
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Overall hypertension (a-c) and essential hypertension (d-f) hospitalization risk from 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year PM1 exposure. Credit: Science China Press Hypertension is among the leading cardiovascular diseases. Despite extensive research, evidence concerning the relationship between long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter and hypertension remains limited and inconsistent, particularly with regard to submicron particulate matter (PM1). While randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for causal inference, environmental epidemiological studies typically rely on observational data. Traditional approaches in observational studies are less effective than randomized controlled trials in fully controlling Read More
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Credit: Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2024.104265 Using a computational model representing the full respiratory tract, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have confirmed the safety of CPAP therapy, addressing concerns about potential damage to lung tissues due to high pressure or turbulent airflow. “CPAP works by increasing airway pressure to prevent the collapse of soft tissues during sleep that results in snoring and more seriously, interrupted breathing and daytime fatigue,” said lead researcher for the study Senior Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Suvash Saha. “If not Read More
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A team led by LDI senior fellow and Perelman School of Medicine faculty member Lauren Eberly at a Navajo Nation hospital in New Mexico has developed a simple intervention that increased the uptake of guideline-directed heart failure therapy drugs by 53%. Titled “Telephone-Based Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Optimization in Navajo Nation: The Hózhó Randomized Clinical Trial,” the study is published in the April issue of JAMA Internal Medicine. “We found a 53% increase in the uptake of guideline-directed medical therapy to be a very significant effect,” said Eberly. “In some ways, Read More
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Patients with lung cancer who were Asian/Pacific Islander, Black or Hispanic experienced a higher intensity of end-of-life care compared to white patients, according to a Northwestern Medicine population-based analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. “When we think about patients with cancer and end of life, there’s a lot of research that shows that most patients would prefer not to be in the hospital. Dying in the hospital or spending last days in the hospital is not associated with better outcomes, it’s not associated with higher quality of life, Read More
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Unintended Cre recombination in all hematopoietic lineage cells in SM22?-Cre mice. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315123121 Most of the time, our immune systems do a great job defending against infection and keeping our bodies running smoothly. Sometimes, though, our immune system actually makes things worse. Case in point—researchers from Japan have now shown that a naturally occurring immune signaling protein may be a key player in the development of an incurable form of lung disease. In a study published last month in PNAS, investigators Read More
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Credit: Adam Connell/LLNL. In a new development for addressing future viral pandemics, a multi-institutional team involving Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers has successfully combined an artificial intelligence (AI)-backed platform with supercomputing to redesign and restore the effectiveness of antibodies whose ability to fight viruses has been compromised by viral evolution. The team’s research—published in the journal Nature—showcases a novel antibody design platform comprising experimental data, structural biology, bioinformatics modeling, and molecular simulations—driven by a machine learning algorithm. The interagency team used the platform to computationally optimize an existing SARS-CoV-2 Read More
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The sensor module, positioned on the thyrohyoid muscle, features a 45-degree pre-curved design and soft, waterproof encapsulation. Credit: Park et al A smart neckband allows wearers to monitor their dietary intake. Automatically monitoring food and fluid intake can be useful when managing conditions including diabetes and obesity, or when maximizing fitness. But wearable technologies must be able to distinguish eating and drinking from similar movements, such as speaking and walking. Chi Hwan Lee and colleagues propose a machine-learning enabled neckband that can differentiate body movements, speech, and fluid and food Read More
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A head-mounted device generates an ultra-low frequency ultralow magnetic field, known as an Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Environment (ELF-ELME). Credit: Mikako Ito, Keiko Itano A head-mounted device that generates an ultra-low frequency ultra-low magnetic field has been found to improve the symptoms of four male patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Future trials using the device may offer a safe and noninvasive way of treating depression. The results were published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry. The presence of a magnetic field with frequencies typically ranging from 0 to 300 Read More
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118149 In the Dai minority region of China, the Aspidopterys obcordata (Hei Gai Guan) has been used as a fork medicine for the treatment of urinary tract infections, cystitis, and urinary tract stones. Previous studies showed that the Aspidopterys obcordata fructo oligosaccharide (AOFOS) from Hei Gai Guan has inhibitory effects on the growth of calcium oxalate crystals of the kidney stones (also known as urolithiasis). However, the effects of plant polysaccharides on the prevention and treatment of kidney stones are poorly understood. Read More
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Approximately 31,000 people are living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the United States, with an average of 5,000 new cases every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells that make muscles work. As these nerve cells stop working, the brain loses its ability to control movement and trigger specific muscles—including the muscles needed for speaking. In a new publication in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, Read More
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by KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. Comparisons of short-term outcomes between FRAS and ERAS. Credit: Huanghui Wu, et al In the 1990s, Dr. Henrik Kehlet introduced the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), pioneering multimodal surgical care. Initially applied to patients undergoing colonic surgery, ERAS has also been dedicated to developing multimodal perioperative care to improve patients’ recovery after major surgery through research, education, audit and implementation of evidence-based practice, aiming to close the “knowing-doing” gap. Representing a paradigm shift in perioperative care, ERAS challenges traditional practices, replacing them with Read More
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New research from City, University of London and the University of Southampton highlights the importance of Healthy Start for low-income families and outlines several recommendations for local and national governments to improve uptake of the scheme. The study was led by Professor Christina Vogel, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London. This work aimed to evaluate the Healthy Start scheme in England and understand how the scheme can be improved to reach more eligible families. The Healthy Start scheme was launched in 2006. It offers Read More
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Smart toys with internet connections and AI-enabled robots, with capacities for sophisticated social interactions with children, are widely available today. This is no doubt driven by rapid development in Artificial Intelligence, with impacts being widely felt. Companies are looking to enhance productivity and revenue, while governments are considering safety measures in their AI strategies. Child-focused AI products include: Parents and professionals working with children may feel pressure to purchase these or other products as alternatives to in-person activities like play dates, therapy or games—or wonder about their usefulness and potential Read More
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Study protocol. Gray and black horizontal bars represent sleep opportunities. Participants were admitted (horizontal dotted line) following a ?21-day at-home preadmittance phase of a 10-hour sleep opportunity per night (gray horizontal bars). Initial in-laboratory sleep opportunities (“Sleep Satiation”) were 16 h/d (12 h/night with 4-hour nap midday) followed by 10 h/d to ensure participants had no sleep debt at the time of baseline 24-hour sampling (blue dotted horizontal bar). Forced desynchrony protocol (“Sleep Restriction + Circadian Disruption”) was then initiated in which participants lived on a 28-hour day for approximately Read More
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More and more of my friends are following the plant-based diet trend. Is that the same as going vegan? Is it healthy for you? What can I actually eat? ANSWER: Plant-based foods go beyond a “boring salad.” With a whole-food plant-based diet, we focus on eating foods that are primarily coming from plants and that occur in their natural state. Veganism also takes that into account but can incorporate other social and justice factors into that lifestyle. Certainly, it can be difficult to go 100% whole-food plant-based, especially if that’s Read More
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Dr. Sherecce Fields, a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University, says caffeine should be ingested in moderation and with caution. Credit: Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications Whether it’s brewing a cup of coffee at home, ordering a specialty $6 latte from a local coffee shop or cracking open a Red Bull on the way to the gym, the consensus is clear: The prevalence of the caffeinated beverage industry continues to grow. According to the National Coffee Association’s Coffee Read More
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Credit: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels Dementia is often described as “the long goodbye.” Although the person is still alive, dementia slowly and irreversibly chips away at their memories and the qualities that make someone “them.” Dementia eventually takes away the person’s ability to communicate, eat and drink on their own, understand where they are, and recognize family members. Since as early as the 19th century, stories from loved ones, caregivers and health care workers have described some people with dementia suddenly becoming lucid. They have described the person engaging in Read More
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“No use of substances” sign. Credit: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs Teenagers are less likely to drink, smoke or use drugs when their parents keep tabs on their activities—but not necessarily because kids are more likely to be punished for substance use, suggests a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Researchers found that contrary to common belief, parents’ “monitoring” does not seem to boost the odds of catching their kids using substances. However, when kids simply are aware that their parents are monitoring Read More
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With half of individuals who use cannabis in pregnancy also using tobacco or nicotine products, OHSU researchers investigated the effects of using both substances on both mother and newborn health outcomes. Credit: OHSU In a new study, Oregon Health & Science University researchers report that combined cannabis and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with significantly higher risk of poor health outcomes for newborns compared with use of either substance alone. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found infants born to mothers who used both substances throughout pregnancy were Read More
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If you’re one of the millions of Americans who have a penicillin allergy listed on your medical record, research suggests it’s highly likely that this label is inaccurate. Having a penicillin allergy label matters, as it can have a significant impact on patient care. For many people, it has resulted in higher costs for antibiotics, delays in getting care, and longer hospital stays. That’s why Anjeli Kalra, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Colorado Department of Medicine, is highlighting the Read More
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Lab tests of counterfeit oxycodone (Oxycontin) pills seized by police in Rhode Island in 2022 found 99.3% also contained dangerous fentanyl. It was typically mixed with another potentially deadly drug, xylazine. Both drugs make overdose more likely and more fatal, experts note. As too many American families have tragically come to know, “counterfeit prescription pills have been associated with adverse outcomes, including fatal overdose,” said a team of researchers led by Dr. Rachel Wightman. She’s associate professor of epidemiology and emergency medicine at Brown University in Providence, RI. Wightman’s team Read More
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Planters peanut products sold at Publix and Dollar Tree in five states are being recalled due to the risk of Listeria contamination, maker Hormel announced. The products are Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts (4 ounces) and Planters Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts (8.75 ounces). So far, there have been no reports of illness linked to the recalled products, the company said. “The products were shipped to Publix distribution warehouses in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina and to Dollar Tree distribution warehouses in South Carolina and Georgia,” the company said in Read More
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Emergency departments nationwide are overcrowded and overtaxed, but a new study suggests artificial intelligence (AI) could one day help prioritize which patients need treatment most urgently. Using anonymized records of 251,000 adult emergency department (ED) visits, researchers at UC San Francisco evaluated how well an AI model was able to extract symptoms from patients’ clinical notes to determine their need to be treated immediately. They then compared the AI analysis with the patients’ scores on the Emergency Severity Index, a 1–5 scale that ED nurses use when patients arrive to Read More
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An illustration of the model fitting and prediction process. We first fitted context maintenance and retrieval to pilot data to obtain a parameter set ? that could capture pilot participants’ free-recall patterns. We preregistered these parameters and then used them in our live experiment in combination with the experimental participants’ recalls to predict post-cue recall behavior, that is, demonstrating the ability of the model to generalize over (1) a different group of subjects and (2) a different period of recall. Credit: Psychological Science (2024). DOI: 10.1177/09567976231215298 A computer model developed Read More
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Researchers have discovered a protein marker to help identify cells able to repopulate in patients with damaged blood vessels. Their findings, recently published in Circulation, could lead to new therapies for people with endothelial dysfunction, a type of disorder that contributes to coronary artery disease that may occlude with plaque and lack ability to carry sufficient blood into the heart tissue causing a heart attack. “This study is the first to establish that a single, prospective marker identifies vascular clonal repopulating endothelial cells (CRECs),” said Chang-Hyun Gil, Ph.D., MS, assistant Read More
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Through the endocytic pathway, the interaction of endorepellin and Neurexin physiologically triggers autophagy and appropriately modulates the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons as a blocker, which is necessary for normal neural tube closure. Credit: Science China Press Neural tube defects (NTDs) rank as the second most prevalent congenital malformation in humans, impacting the central nervous system development in approximately 1 in every 1,000 live births. Over 300 genes, including the HSPG2 gene, are implicated in NTDs in mice. However, a considerable clinical hurdle remains in discerning pathogenic mutations Read More
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A recent review article provides critical insights into the management of acute agitation in reproductive-age females and during pregnancy within the emergency departments (EDs). The study emphasizes the importance of considering the safety of psychotropic medications in this demographic population, given the potential risks to both the patient and the fetus. Agitation in the emergency department is not uncommon and can stem from various causes, including psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and other medical conditions. When a pregnant patient exhibits signs of agitation, the situation becomes more complex due to potential Read More