Should AI be used in psychological research?

ChatGPT vs. human moral judgments. Note: a) Distributions of moral judgments of humans (light blue) and GPT (light red) in six moral domains. Dashed lines represent averages. b) Inter-correlations between moral values in humans (?N=3,902?) and ChatGPT queries (?N=1,000?). c) Network of partial correlations between moral values based on a diverse sample of humans from 19 nations and 1,000 queries of GPT. Blue edges represent positive partial correlations and red edges represent negative partial correlations. Credit: PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae245 Mohammad Atari and colleagues explore the promise and peril of using large language models (LLMs) in psychological research, beginning Read More

Confronting factors in the high-transmission urban setting for leptospirosis in Brazil

Elsio Wunder, assistant professor of pathobiology at his lab at the Atwater Laboratory on May 23, 2024. Credit: Peter Morenus/UConn Photo Corkscrew-shaped Leptospira and the potentially deadly disease they cause are tricky to study. The bacteria live in the kidneys of animals where they may or may not cause symptoms, and they are readily released into the environment whenever their host urinates. Though the bacteria can spread anywhere across the globe, the reason you may have never heard of leptospirosis is that it primarily impacts economically disadvantaged regions like slums in developing countries, although the disease regularly appears in urban Read More

Patient-driven discovery reveals potential target for autoimmune diseases

Model summarizing the function of PI3K? in antibody responses. Credit: Nature Immunology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01890-1 A medical mystery served as the genesis for a Yale-led study that has promising implications for treating a range of autoimmune diseases. A young girl entered the clinic suffering from blood cell abnormalities, difficulty breathing, and later, diarrhea. She also had been diagnosed with recurrent infections due to low levels of antibody production. Her doctors treated her with corticosteroids to reduce her lung and gut inflammation and immunoglobulin replacement therapy to restore her antibody levels. The lab of Carrie Lucas, Ph.D., associate professor of immunobiology Read More

Study reveals dual role of protein in cancer treatment

Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114289 Investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered new details about the role of a protein called interferon regulatory factor (IRF1) in cancer progression and treatment response, offering new insight that can potentially help improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. The study, published in Cell Reports, reveals how IRF1 can both hinder and help the body’s immune response to tumors, depending upon which cells the protein is found in. “We know IRF1 plays a pivotal role in modulating antiviral immunity,” said Dr. Philip Scumpia, associate professor of medicine at Read More

Genetically modified mice reveal protein receptor’s role in metabolic health

Excess PAQR4 leads to a buildup of ceramides that prompts green-labeled fat cells to lose their lipids and identity, resulting in the accumulation of undifferentiated and dysfunctional cells. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center A protein receptor called PAQR4 found within fat cells appears to act as a sensor for ceramides, waxy lipids whose overabundance has been linked to a variety of metabolic disorders and cancers, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggests. Their findings, published in Nature Metabolism, could eventually lead to drugs that reduce cellular ceramide levels, much like statins reduce cholesterol levels. “Rising ceramides in the Read More

Scientists develop potential stealth cancer therapy

Credit: ACS Central Science (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.4c00559 Sneaking by cancer’s defenses, by disguising tumor-fighting antibodies inside the molecules cancer uses to nourish tumor growth, is the basis of a novel therapy from Yale Cancer Center researchers at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). As explained in a paper published July 15 in ACS Central Science, the Trojan-horse therapy proved effective against several cancer tumor types in the laboratory, including brain tumors that can be difficult to reach with therapy due to the protective blood-brain barrier. The successes can be attributed to therapy-carrying antibodies that have been strategically redesigned from lupus Read More

Study on origins of schizophrenia in the brain offers hope for targeted treatments, better diagnosis

Experimental design and methodology of epicenter mapping. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk6063 A group of scientists are hopeful their research findings about how schizophrenia originates and develops over time in the brain will pave the way for targeted treatments and better diagnosis of the serious mental health condition. In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers said they used a new method called “epicenter mapping,” to analyze brain scans from 1,124 people with schizophrenia. It allowed the researchers to identify two regions of the brain where structural abnormalities in people with schizophrenia are most likely to start: Broca’s Read More

Research shows psychological risks increases for transgender youth at gender identity milestones

Transgender youth have an increased risk for attempting suicide or running away from home in association with gender identity milestones, with the association driven by children who live in unsupportive families, according to a study published online July 15 in JAMA Pediatrics. Travis Campbell, Ph.D., from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine changes in mental health outcomes among transgender youth who initiate gender identity milestones stratified by level of family support (supportive, neutral, and adverse). Milestones included feeling one’s gender was different, thinking of oneself as transgender, telling another that one is Read More

Study finds hospital-onset SARS-CoV-2 infection during omicron linked to morbidity

During the omicron era, hospital-onset severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remained associated with increased morbidity and mortality, according to a study published online July 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Michael Klompas, M.D., M.P.H., from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute in Boston, and colleagues estimated the effect of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection on hospitalized patients’ outcomes during the pre-omicron and omicron eras. Hospital mortality and time to discharge were assessed as primary outcomes among adults testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 on or after hospital day 5, after negative SARS-CoV-2 test results on admission Read More

Research shows some women in their 40s prefer to delay breast cancer screening

A considerable proportion of women aged 39 to 49 years prefer to delay breast cancer screening, especially after a decision aid (DA) intervention, according to a study published online July 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Laura D. Scherer, Ph.D., from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, and colleagues examined breast cancer screening preferences among women aged 39 to 49 years in a pre-post survey with a breast cancer screening decision aid (DA) intervention. The analyses included 495 women without a history of breast cancer or known BRCA1/2 gene mutation. The researchers found that 27.0 percent Read More

Total dietary quality score improved for U.S. children during 2005 to 2020, study shows

Total dietary scores improved for U.S. children during 2005 to 2020, with increases for all diet adequacy components, apart from dairy, according to a research letter published online July 8 in JAMA Pediatrics. Guodong Ding, Ph.D., M.D., from Xinhua Hospital at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to examine trends in diet quality between 2005 to 2006 and 2017 to 2020 among U.S. children aged 12 to 23 months who were no longer receiving human milk or infant formula. Data were included from 1,404 children (mean age, 17.6 months). The researchers found Read More

Doctors urge patients with chronic vomiting to not suffer in silence

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released new clinical guidance to help clinicians and patients recognize the signs and symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). CVS is a common and disabling condition, affecting up to 2% of the population, but most patients experience years of delays in receiving a diagnosis and effective treatment. The AGA Clinical Practice Update was published today in Gastroenterology. “A diagnosis is a powerful tool. Not only does it help patients make sense of debilitating symptoms, but it allows health care providers to create an effective treatment plan,” said author of the AGA Clinical Practice Update Read More

New study finds early detection of miRNAs in maternal blood may offer potential for predicting preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a significant contributor to the increase in maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, with particularly alarming numbers in the United States, where it affects about 2–8% of pregnancies, resulting in premature birth with associated morbidities for their infants as well. A new study by researchers at UCLA Health finds that early detection of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) packaged in vesicles may offer the opportunity to predict preeclampsia in pregnant people before clinical symptoms manifest. The work appears in Scientific Reports. The study, led by Dr. Sherin U. Devaskar, MD, executive chair of the Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief at Read More

‘Super spicy’ crisps land Japan schoolkids in hospital

Fourteen Japanese high school students were taken to hospital Tuesday after eating “super spicy” potato chips, local media said. More than 30 pupils at a Tokyo high school were reportedly sharing the crisps during recess when some started complaining of nausea and acute pain around their mouths. Fourteen of them were rushed to hospital, with all conscious but at least one feeling so ill they had to be transported on a wheelchair, Fuji TV said. The broadcaster said a male student brought the crisps to the school “just for fun” because he had eaten them before and found them “super Read More

Experts discuss health care and the 2024 presidential election?

Health care has often taken a central role in political campaigns, and the 2024 presidential election is no different. But the debate around health care isn’t just about policy. The issues at stake—such as health care coverage and affordability, reproductive health and substance use disorders—affect individuals and families in Pennsylvania and across the nation, making them a high priority among voters. Penn State News spoke with four faculty experts about the pressing issues and how they may impact voters and their families. How has political polarization changed the way government approaches policy making, especially when it comes to key issues Read More

Playing Dungeons and Dragons can support mental health

Playing Dungeons and Dragons can positively support players’ mental health, a new study finds. Conducted by researchers at University College Cork (UCC), the findings pave the way for clinicians and psychologists to further explore the benefits of the game as a therapeutic tool. Dungeons and Dragons—or D&D—is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game that has evolved to become a global phenomenon. Playing Dungeons and Dragons is an inherently social activity, requiring frequent group meetings for a period of months or years, and requiring creativity and collaboration from players. After the game experienced a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, this Read More

Machine learning helps define new subtypes of Parkinson’s disease

A diagram illustrating the present analysis. Credit: npj Digital Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41746-024-01175-9 Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have used machine learning to define three subtypes of Parkinson’s disease based on the pace at which the disease progresses. In addition to having the potential to become an important diagnostic and prognostic tool, these subtypes are marked by distinct driver genes. If validated, these markers could also suggest ways the subtypes can be targeted with new and existing drugs. The research was published on July 9 in npj Digital Medicine. “Parkinson’s disease is highly heterogeneous, which means that people with the Read More

Palliative care is underutilized in nursing homes, says study

Palliative care, specialized medical care focusing on providing relief from the symptoms—including pain—and the stress of serious illness, is underutilized in nursing homes, despite the large number of nursing home residents living with a serious illness such as cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A qualitative study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, analyzes lack of palliative care referrals for nursing home residents and proposes ways to address this health care gap. In addition to examining existing referral patterns, the authors explore recommendations for ideal criteria and create a substantive framework for Read More

Team explores strategies for correcting mutations that cause stroke

HTRA1 interface mutants exhibit oligomeric assembly defects. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49982-8 Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is a rare, severe, and deadly genetic disorder characterized by damage to small blood vessels in the brain. The condition triggers strokes. It is caused by mutations that lead to a loss of function of the protease HTRA1. This enzyme plays an important role in maintaining equilibrium in the extracellular matrix. If its function is disrupted, it can no longer cleave and break down proteins, which eventually results in clinical manifestations. “There is no cure as yet Read More

New template of the human brain enhances neuroimaging data analysis

Variation in vertex properties across the cortex. a, The distribution of vertices in fsavg, fslr and onavg, as measured by inter-vertex distance. b, Standard deviation of inter-vertex distance, vertex area and number of vertices in a 20-mm searchlight for fsavg, fslr and onavg. c, Classic surface templates sample the cortical surface based on the spherical surface, which was obtained by fully inflating the original anatomical surface. For these templates, the distribution of vertices is almost uniform on the spherical surface (right), but far from uniform on the anatomical surface (left), due to the geometric distortion introduced by inflation. Vertices of Read More

Certain diets may protect against heart disease with type 1 diabetes

Certain dietary patterns may protect against inflammation and heart disease in adults with type 1 diabetes, according to a study presented during NUTRITION 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held from June 29 to July 2 in Chicago. Arpita Basu, Ph.D., from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, and colleagues used data from participants in the Coronary Artery Calcification in type 1 Diabetes study (563 participants with T1D; 692 controls) to assess longitudinal associations between healthy dietary patterns with biomarkers of inflammation and atherosclerosis. The researchers found that when adjusting for age, sex, calories, body Read More

Suicidal ideation, behaviors show no increase with GLP-1 RAs for seniors with type 2 diabetes: Study

For older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) is not associated with a significantly increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors, according to a study published online July 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Huilin Tang, from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in Gainesville, and colleagues examined the association between GLP-1 RAs versus sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4is) and the risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors among older adults with T2D in two target trial emulation studies using U.S. national Medicare administrative Read More

Socioeconomic deprivation linked to higher risk of epilepsy related to traumatic brain injury

Socioeconomic deprivation increases the risk for sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and in some age groups, it may also increase the risk for epilepsy after a TBI, according to a research letter published in the July issue of Epilepsy & Behavior. Kasper Lolk, Ph.D., from Aarhus University in Denmark, and colleagues examined whether the sex- and age-specific risk for TBI and epilepsy after TBI differed by individual- and neighborhood-level indices of socioeconomic deprivation. The analysis included all persons with an incident TBI and a matched (5:1) reference population from the general Danish population (2010 to 2015; 448,666 individuals). The Read More

Considerable gaps seen in provision of effective treatment for opioid addiction

There are considerable gaps in provision of effective treatments for opioid use disorders (OUD) at U.S. substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities, according to a study published online July 11 in the JAMA. Tae Woo Park, M.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study of specialty outpatient SUD treatment facilities that treat OUD. The prevalence of available treatments individually and combined was reported. Treatments offered in federally certified opioid treatment program (OTP) and non-OTP facilities were compared. Overall, 17,353 representatives from SUD facilities were surveyed. OUD treatment was offered at 12,060 outpatient facilities: 1,925 and 10,135 Read More

Repurposed drug improves outcomes for patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia

Prespecified Primary and Secondary endpoints. Credit: eLife (2023). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.87030.1 A drug commonly used to treat cystic fibrosis improved outcomes for patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and could be used to treat other respiratory infections, according to clinical trial results from researchers at UCL, UCLH and the Francis Crick Institute. The study, published in eLife, found that the drug dornase alfa reduced hyper-inflammation in COVID-19 pneumonia patients, which occurs when the body’s immune system reacts too strongly and can lead to tissue damage and death. The next step will be to conduct larger clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of Read More

Bitter-taste vegetables in Asian diets may help reduce metabolic syndrome risk factors in children

by Xia & He Publishing Inc. BP, Blood Pressure; HDL, High-Density Lipoprotein; TG, Triglycerides. Credit: Wai Yew Yang Childhood obesity has become a significant health concern in Asian countries over recent decades, leading to a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome among children. Metabolic syndrome encompasses a cluster of conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. These conditions increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A review published in the journal Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine emphasizes the importance of bitter-taste vegetables, particularly those Read More

Research team explores etiologies of splenic venous hypertension

by Xia & He Publishing Inc. (A) Compression. Pancreatic cysts compress the splenic vein, increasing venous flow in the gastric veins and forming varices. Other causes of compression include pancreatic NET, lymphoma, SAA, Bochdalek hernia, enlarged lymph nodes, and RF. (B) Stenosis. Idiopathic splenic vein stenosis increases the venous blood flow in the gastric veins, forming varices. (C) Inflammation. Pancreatitis can lead to fibrosis with subsequent occlusion of the splenic vein, leading to increased flow to the gastric veins and the formation of varices. (D) Thrombosis. ET and PMF can lead to splenic vein thrombosis, increasing blood flow in the Read More

Heavier people are not getting enough vitamin C, says study

An international study involving the University of Otago, Christchurch, has found that inadequate vitamin C status is significantly linked to increased body weight—raising public health concerns due to the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. The results, published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, show that heavier people require a substantially higher recommended daily allowance (RDA) of the essential vitamin to maintain good health, and that much of the world’s population is not covered by the current recommended intakes of vitamin C. “Our data suggests current vitamin C recommended daily allowances internationally are severely underestimated,” says lead Read More

Roles of PEDF in exercise-induced suppression of senescence and its impact on lung pathology in mice

Credit: Aging (2024). DOI: 10.18632/aging.205976 A new research paper titled “Roles of pigment epithelium-derived factor in exercise-induced suppression of senescence and its impact on lung pathology in mice” has been published in Aging. Senescent cells contribute to tissue aging and underlie the pathology of chronic diseases. The benefits of eliminating senescent cells have been demonstrated in several disease models, and the efficacy of senolytic drugs is currently being tested in humans. Exercise training has been shown to reduce cellular senescence in several tissues; however, the mechanisms responsible remain unclear. In this new study, researchers Hiromichi Tsushima, Hirobumi Tada, Azusa Asai, Read More

Researchers discuss HER2-low and HER2-zero in breast cancer

Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumor beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia A new editorial paper titled “HER2-low and HER2-zero in breast cancer between prognosis, prediction and entity” has been published in Oncotarget. In this new editorial, researchers Marcus Schmidt, Hans-Anton Lehr, and Katrin Almstedt from the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University discuss HER2 in breast cancer. HER2 is a well-established prognostic and predictive factor in breast cancer, which is associated with a poor prognosis but also offers the chance of improved survival when treated with targeted therapies based Read More

Study validates diagnostic tool for identifying amyloid beta plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease

P200 target amplitude and P200 standard latency. Credit: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2024). DOI: 10.3233/JAD-231038 Amyloid PET scans provide in-vivo evidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. However, due to their high cost and limited insurance coverage, they are not widely used in clinical settings outside of the VA Healthcare System. A special form of electroencephalograms (a test that measures electrical activity in the brain) referred to as event-related potentials (ERPs), measures electrical activity that reflects both sensory and cognitive responses to stimuli. A new study from researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and the Icahn School Read More

Decline in global adolescent fertility rates is counteracted by increasing teen births in Sub-Saharan Africa: Study

A new report from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia Aging Center, with colleagues from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, highlights a troubling trend: While global adolescent fertility rates have significantly declined, sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing an increase in teen births. This region’s share of global adolescent births surged from 12% in 1950 to 47% in 2020, and is projected to reach a clear majority—a full 67%—by 2035. The findings are reported in the journal Studies in Family Planning. “This divergence we are seeing is related to limited use of modern contraception, lower education levels, Read More

Self-imposed use cessation dates tied to ophthalmic drop waste

Self-imposed use cessation dates (SUCD) for multiuse eye drop bottles leads to significant drug waste and associated costs, according to a report published online July 1 in Ophthalmology. John M. Tan, from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, and colleagues quantified the volume of drugs discarded in ambulatory clinic settings due to SUCD (discarded after 14 or 28 days) for multidose ophthalmic drops. Bottles slated for disposal at three 14-day intervals from three hospital-based ophthalmology clinics were analyzed for remaining volumes. The researchers found that over six weeks, 297 bottles were discarded, with an Read More

Current asthma at age 7 linked to chronic rhinosinusitis in middle age

Current asthma, head colds, and tonsillitis at age 7 years are associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) at midlife, according to a study published online July 10 in Allergy. Jennifer L. Perret, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., from the University of Melbourne in Australia, and colleagues examined relationships of respiratory infective/allergic conditions in childhood with asthma and allergies across the life course and CRS in middle age. Data were included from the population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, first studied at ages 6 to 7 years in 1968 (8,583 participants) and serially followed into middle age (3,609 participants). At age 53 years, participants were Read More

Do protective policies in elite sports safeguard athletes?

With the 2024 Summer Olympics around the corner, all eyes are on Paris. Over 10 thousand of the best athletes from around the world will gather to compete in 32 sports, push the boundaries of athletic achievement and break records along the way. But behind the athletes, their tremendous skill and accomplishments are protective policies designed to protect athlete health, well-being and the spirit of fair play. Think age-eligibility restrictions, anti-doping policies and Paralympic classification, which determines which athletes with disabilities can compete against each other. In her new book, “Regulating Bodies: Elite Sport Policies and Their Unintended Consequences,” Jaime Read More

Patterns and prognostications in immune-related adverse events from immunotherapy treatment

Yevgeniy Semenov, MD, MA, a physician-investigator in the Mass General Department of Dermatology and an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, and Guihong Wan, Ph.D., an Instructor of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, are the senior author and the first author, respectively, of a new study in The Lancet Oncology. The study is titled “Multi-Organ Immune-Related Adverse Events from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and their Downstream Implications: A Retrospective Multicohort Study.” Here, they answer questions about their latest research. What question were you investigating with this study? What are the patterns and prognostic implications of Read More

Bartonella and Babesia co-infection detected in patients with chronic illness

Photographs taken by the parents of a rapid onset, homogeneous, non-pruritic red rash on the upper left arm (arrows) in a 2.5-year-old girl (study participant 7) co-infected with Babesia odocoilei, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. A Image obtained at 9:30 p.m., June 6, 2022, when the rash was first noted. B Image obtained at 2 p.m., June 7, 2022, roughly 15 h after the rash was first visualized, illustrating an expansive lesion and bullseye-like appearance. Written permission was granted for publication of the photographs. Credit: Parasites & Vectors (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06385-4 A small pilot study has found evidence of human Read More

Accident research finds running elementary school children need 1.8 meters to stop

The researchers carried out tests with children aged between six and 10 in which they had to walk or run and stop as quickly as possible at the sound of a whistle. Credit: Martin Nußbaum The reconstruction of road traffic accidents provides important insights into how they can be avoided. If pedestrians are involved, experts use kinematic models that include typical values for acceleration, speed, reaction time and the distance required to stop. Until now, however, there has been no corresponding data for children, although their movement patterns differ significantly from those of adults. As part of the KISIMO research Read More

Novel protein detects and responds to changes in blood flow

Model for junctional endothelial shear stress mechanotransduction. Credit: The EMBO Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00142-0 When blood moves through your body, it exerts a frictional force on the walls of blood vessels. This force, known as fluid shear stress, has important effects on vascular development, function, and disease. A team at Yale, led by Martin Schwartz, Ph.D., Robert W. Berliner Professor of Medicine (cardiology), has identified a protein that helps your body sense and respond to changes in this shear stress. The study, “Latrophilin-2 mediates fluid shear stress mechanotransduction at endothelial junctions,” is published in The EMBO Journal. This protein, latrophilin-2, Read More

Female Australian football players are taking more hits, says study

Injury burden plot. Credit: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.05.008 New research from the University of South Australia has for the first time identified the most common and burdensome injuries experienced by sub-elite female Australian football players in the South Australian National Football League Women’s (SANFLW) competition. The findings show that female Australian football players experience different injury patterns to their male counterparts, highlighting a need for targeted training, injury prevention strategies and potentially match regulation changes. The paper, published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that ankle sprains, concussions, and anterior Read More

Survey shows teens need more support than they get

As millions of American teens continue to struggle with their mental health, a new survey reveals a sizable gap between how much support teens say they get and how much support their parents think they are getting. In the report, published Tuesday by the National Center for Health Statistics, just over a quarter of teens said they always get the social and emotional support they need while parents were nearly three times more likely to think they did. “This suggests a systematic bias where parents consistently report higher levels of social and emotional support compared with their teenager’s perception, and Read More

Australian teenagers say alcohol-free products are appealing and could act as a gateway to alcohol use

Zero alcohol product displays and products shown to focus group participants. Credit: Appetite (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107582 New research led by The George Institute for Global Health and published today in Appetite, found that more than half (56%) of Australian teenagers aged 15–17 surveyed agreed zero alcohol products looked appealing, and said the packaging was attractive (54%). More than a third (37%) of Australian teenagers surveyed had tried zero alcohol products. In focus group discussions, some participants identified that zero alcohol products could act as a gateway to future alcohol use by enabling young people to become accustomed to the taste Read More

Researchers achieve success in allowing a patient to ‘speak’ using only the power of thought

An image from the experiment of the speech neuroprosthesis (a.k.a speech brain-computer interface). It shows the participant who is completely silent, with his mouth closed, imagining saying a syllable. Credit: Tel Aviv University A scientific breakthrough by researchers from Tel Aviv University and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) has demonstrated the potential for speech by a silent person using the power of thought only. In an experiment, a silent participant imagined saying one of two syllables. Depth electrodes implanted in his brain transmitted the electrical signals to a computer, which then vocalized the syllables. The study was led Read More

Young people’s experiences of vaping

Young people in Aotearoa New Zealand are struggling with the effects of vaping addiction, with physical and mental cravings disrupting their school and work routines, researchers at the University of Otago have found. The researchers interviewed 22 young people between the ages of 16 and 20 based in the Dunedin or Christchurch areas to ask about their experiences with vaping. The results of the study are published in Drug and Alcohol Review. The co-leader of the study, Anna Graham-DeMello, a Research Fellow with the ASPIRE Aotearoa Research Center at the University of Otago, Wellington, says the young people spoke of Read More

Electronic patient-reported outcome tool reduces cancer care disparities

The proportion of visits intervened by pharmacists, stratified by symptom types and race/ethnicity groups. Credit: JCO Oncology Practice (2024). DOI: 10.1200/OP.24.00050 A University of California, Irvine, research team has developed and implemented an intervention to enhance cancer care support services for racial and ethnic minority patients undergoing chemotherapy. The electronic patient-reported outcome tool is a web-based application that allows individuals to enter their health data into a smartphone, tablet or computer. In this study, the ePRO was available in multiple languages and coupled with digital analytics. At each treatment visit, participants digitally recorded and submitted their symptoms and side effects, Read More

Nearly half of reviews that assess harm in biomedical research found to contain some type of spin

An international team of researchers specializing in spin and reporting bias created a framework to provide guidance for authors, peer reviewers, and editors to recognize and rectify “spin,” or the misleading reporting, interpretation, and extrapolation of findings in primary and secondary biomedical research, such as systematic reviews. The authors say it is important for reviewers to be clear about the limitations of the evidence that they have for harm and to not overstate confidence in their findings, as readers may draw the wrong conclusions or inferences. Spin was found to be fairly common, especially when reporting harm. The framework is Read More

A widespread practice among athletes harms both performance and health, says study

Graphical abstract. Credit: Redox Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103250 Whether selected to swim, row or run in the Olympics, or gearing up to ride in the Tour de France, achieving the “right” weight has been a focal point of many elite athletes for decades. It could be to look lean and mean in a swimsuit or jersey, or to qualify for a certain weight category. But there is also a belief that losing weight enhances performance. As such, it is a widespread phenomenon among athletes—especially in endurance sports like running, swimming, cycling and rowing—to reduce their dietary intake in the run-up Read More

Study uncovers unknown interaction between leukemic cells and immune cells

Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). The protein STAT3 helps the immune system to recognize leukemic cells. This interaction, which is important for future immunotherapies, is now understood in detail thanks to a study at the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems). The study showed that STAT3 influences the formation of surface structures on leukemic cells that make them vulnerable to the immune system. If these structures are missing, leukemic cells can escape the body’s innate immune surveillance. The expression of STAT3 in and the surface structures on leukemic cells could be a potential biomarker for future immunotherapies. Acute myeloid Read More

Subcutaneous therapy improves inflammatory bowel disease treatment, clinical trial finds

Linear scale mean (SD) serum infliximab concentrations up to week 54 (PK population) in the CD (A) and UC (B) studies. Concentrations below the lower limit of quantification (BLQ) before first study drug administration (wk 0) were set to 0. Concentrations BLQ after study drug exposure were set equal to lower limit of quantification. For patients who underwent dose adjustment, only data collected before dose adjustment were included in the figure. Credit: Gastroenterology (2024). DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.05.006 Subcutaneous delivery of an anti-TNF inhibitor drug improved remission rates in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, according to recent phase 3 Read More

Is it safe to give jet-lagged children melatonin to help them sleep?

Dealing with time zone changes and jet lag can eat into the time we have to enjoy our holiday, or make adjusting to life at home all the more difficult. It can be even harder for children—and when children don’t sleep well, parents don’t either. Around 1 in 4 children already have trouble getting to sleep, or getting back to sleep when they wake in the night. This can worsen when traveling internationally. In a bid to help children’s general sleep problems, some parents have resorted to giving their children lollies, or gummies, containing melatonin. Some parents have also turned Read More

Olympic swimmers improving by … running? How exploration can help elite athletes and weekend warriors alike

The 2024 Paris Olympics are fast approaching and we can imagine the elite athletes maintaining a strict and grueling training regimen in order to give themselves every chance of standing on the podium with a gold medal. Unrelenting discipline and structure. Blood, sweat, and tears. That’s what it takes to excel, right? But what if that’s not the only way? Thinking outside the box Earlier this year, world champion Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy spoke about the benefits of a new training schedule, which included a reduced training load: “I can do the Olympics, worlds, then have 12 months exploring other Read More

Taking Ozempic or other weight-loss meds? Watch your diet to avoid ‘exchanging one problem for another,’ says dietitian

GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro have emerged as a game-changer for weight loss, slowing digestion and increasing how satiated you feel after eating. But South Florida dietitians caution that taking weight-loss drugs can be risky if you don’t have the right diet. Everything from your bones to your muscles can atrophy as you shed pounds too quickly. They guide patients on how to eat while on medications without causing their body harm. “If someone does not know how to eat on these medications, they may be exchanging one problem for another,” said Lillian Craggs-Dino, a licensed dietitian Read More

Study finds 1 in 3 farmers have multiple drinks a week

Farming communities face many of the same barriers to health care as rural communities, but farmers often face additional stigma when asking for help with their mental health. Credit: Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA A new University of Georgia study reveals that 1 in 5 U.S. farmers report binge drinking when they experience high levels of stress. The paper underlines the link between farmers using alcohol to cope with stress. Farming is a uniquely stressful vocation. Farmers work long hours performing labor-intensive, repetitive and often dangerous tasks. In fact, farming is among the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S., according Read More

Joe Biden has COVID. Here’s what someone over 80 can expect

If US politics leading up to the 2024 presidential election was a Hollywood thriller, it would be a movie full of plot twists and surprises. The latest twist is President Joe Biden has COVID and is isolating at home. Biden’s doctor says his symptoms are mild and include a runny nose, cough and generally feeling unwell. His temperature, oxygen levels and respiratory rate are said to be normal. Biden, who has been diagnosed with COVID twice before, has received his COVID vaccine and booster shots, and has taken the first dose of the antiviral drug Paxlovid. No doubt, Biden will Read More

Study finds tobacco industry is specifically targeting Arab and Ultra-Orthodox news media in Israel

A recent study has revealed that there are significant disparities in how Philip Morris International’s IQOS heated tobacco product is portrayed in newspapers and other media aimed at different demographic groups in Israel. Specifically, news media targeted at Israel’s Arab population tends to present IQOS more positively and is more likely to include misinformation regarding its safety, social benefits, and accessibility, often relying on PMI as a primary information source. This contrasts with the portrayal in mainstream media and media aimed at the general public. These differences suggest potential biases which may influence consumer perceptions and behaviors regarding tobacco products. Read More

Multiple concussions in rugby players associated with higher levels of proteins linked to neurodegenerative disease

Retired rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions have higher levels of certain proteins in their blood, which may make them more prone to developing diseases such as motor neuron disease (MND), according to a new study. The research, led by Durham University, shows that it may be possible to measure specific key biomarkers. These biomarkers can indicate disease or predict possible future disease in the blood of athletes who have suffered multiple traumas to the head. This is the first study to explore a range of specific biomarkers as part of the UK Rugby Health project. If athletes’ blood Read More

Irritable bowel syndrome following gastroenteritis may last 4+ years in around half of those affected

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habit—may last 4 or more years following a bout of gastroenteritis in around half of those affected, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published online in the journal Gut. Aggressive and pro-inflammatory bacteria, such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, and the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection, SARS-CoV-2, are possible culprits, the findings suggest. IBS and recurrent indigestion of unknown cause (functional dyspepsia), are disorders of the gut-brain axis. Although common worldwide, their causes remain poorly understood, note the researchers. But a sudden bout of gastroenteritis, usually brought Read More

Study suggests reviewing current recommendations that discourage exercise before bed

Findings of a small comparative study published in the open access journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine suggest resistance exercise ‘activity breaks’ at night may improve sleep length. Three-minute breaks every 30 minutes over a period of four hours may be all that’s needed, the findings indicate. Current recommendations discourage intense exercise before going to bed, on the grounds that it increases body temperature and heart rate, which can result in poorer sleep quality, say the researchers. While activity breaks can improve metabolism after a meal, it’s not clear if they have any impact on sleep. Poor sleep is Read More

Children with conduct disorder show widespread brain structural differences, finds new international study

Conduct disorder in young people is associated with differences in surface area across much of the brain, compared to the brains of typically developing children, new research shows. Conduct disorder (CD) is a common yet under-recognized condition with symptoms including antisocial or aggressive behaviors, such as fighting, bullying and rule-breaking. It is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, and often leads to poor social and mental health outcomes. Unlike more widely recognized disorders such as ADHD and autism, CD is far less researched and understood, even though it is estimated to affect around 3% of children and adolescents worldwide. In Read More

World-first international guidelines weeds-out potentially critical scientific fraud

The number of retractions issued for scientific research articles in 2023 exceeded 10,000—smashing annual records. To date, publishers have struggled to clean up a slew of papers with serious integrity concerns. Now a world-first framework for assessing research integrity in clinical guidelines, has been published in eClinicalMedicine. Monash University researchers in Australia developed the Research Integrity in Guidelines and evIDence synthesis (RIGID) framework. Clinical trials which lack integrity or present concerns over trustworthiness, can compromise patient care, both directly through unnecessary or harmful treatments, or indirectly through wasted resources and misdirected future medical research. “It is estimated that at least Read More

Proof-of-principle study shows protein isoform inhibitors may hold the key to making opioids safer

Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences identified a new way to make opioids safer, increasing the pain-relieving properties of opioids while decreasing unwanted side effects through the spinal inhibition of a Heat shock protein 90 isoform. Opioids are the gold standard of chronic pain treatment, but they come with a host of negative side effects including constipation, addiction potential and respiratory depression that can lead to death. This study, published in Scientific Reports, offers a potential new way to treat acute and chronic pain by reducing the amount of opioid needed for pain relief while also lowering its Read More

Automated appointment scheduling, reminder messages may improve postpartum health for those with chronic conditions

Many pregnant people have chronic medical conditions, and although they are usually closely monitored during pregnancy, they often face barriers when transitioning to primary care following delivery. A new study in JAMA Network Open has found that an intervention involving automated appointment scheduling and reminder messages may improve post-partum health and well-being for these individuals. The research was led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Individuals with chronic and mental health conditions typically have frequent contact with obstetrical care providers while pregnant but often are largely left to navigate ongoing care needs on their own after delivery—referred to as the Read More

Many breast cancer survivors do not receive genetic testing, despite being eligible

As cancer treatment and survivorship care relies more on understanding the genetic make-up of an individual’s tumor, a new study from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center finds that many breast cancer survivors who meet criteria for genetic counseling and testing are not receiving it. The paper is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The good news: Among those who do get testing, nearly two-thirds who have a genetic variant are reaching out to family members to talk about their results. “Our findings support a rapidly growing movement to simplify clinical guidelines to increase access to genetic Read More

Scientists find small regions of the brain can take micro-naps while the rest of the brain is awake and vice versa

Hengen’s artistic interpretation of the varied brain wave patterns that produce the fundamental states of sleep and wake. Credit: Keith Hengen Sleep and wake: They’re totally distinct states of being that define the boundaries of our daily lives. For years, scientists have measured the difference between these instinctual brain processes by observing brain waves, with sleep characteristically defined by slow, long-lasting waves measured in tenths of seconds that travel across the whole organ. For the first time, scientists have found that sleep can be detected by patterns of neuronal activity just milliseconds long, 1,000 times shorter than a second, revealing Read More

Adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment: Several unanswered questions

ICI, immune checkpoint inhibitor. Credit: Jian-Hong Zhong, Liang Ma, Le Li, Zhen-Zhen Li Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies globally and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The primary curative treatments for HCC are liver transplantation, hepatectomy, and local ablation. However, the recurrence rate of HCC following hepatectomy or ablation remains alarmingly high, up to 70%, severely impacting patient prognosis and overall survival (OS). To mitigate postoperative recurrence and improve patient outcomes, various adjuvant therapies have been explored. Despite the efficacy of several adjuvant treatments in reducing recurrence rates and enhancing survival, there is Read More

The origin of BPH and prostate cancer in different prostate zones and the impact on the incidence of prostate cancer

by Xia & He Publishing Inc. PRISMA flowchart for literature search and study selection, modified according to Page et al. Credit: Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.14218/ERHM.2022.00120 Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are two of the most common prostate conditions among elderly men, with a significant percentage experiencing one or both conditions. Prostate cancer is the most prevalent non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men in the United States. Despite the coexistence of BPH and PCa, their interaction and the reasons behind the zonal origin of these diseases remain Read More

First health care device powered by body heat made possible by liquid based metals

Credit: Carnegie Mellon Unviersity, College of Engineering In the age of technology everywhere, we are all too familiar with the inconvenience of a dead battery. But for those relying on a wearable health care device to monitor glucose, reduce tremors, or even track heart function, taking time to recharge can pose a big risk. For the first time, researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering have shown that a health care device can be powered using body heat alone. By combining a pulse oximetry sensor with a flexible, stretchable, wearable thermoelectric energy generator composed of liquid metal, semiconductors, Read More

Ultrasonography of hepatocellular carcinoma: From diagnosis to prognosis

by Xia & He Publishing Inc. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prominent contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Early detection and diagnosis of liver cancer can significantly improve its prognosis and patient survival. Ultrasound technology, serving has undergone substantial advances as the primary method of HCC surveillance and has broadened its scope in recent years for effective management of HCC. This article is a comprehensive overview of ultrasound technology in the treatment of HCC, encompassing early detection, diagnosis, staging, treatment evaluation, and prognostic assessment. In addition, the authors summarized the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of HCC and assessment Read More

A disease influenced by complex social factors that should not be neglected

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses liver damage caused by chronic, excessive alcohol consumption. Credit: Tao Sun, Bing Zhang, Xiaofeng Feng, Nafei Huang Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality globally. Chronic alcohol consumption, a primary driver of ALD, leads to a spectrum of liver conditions ranging from fatty liver to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In China, the incidence of ALD has been rising at an alarming rate, reflecting the country’s rapid economic growth and changing social norms around alcohol consumption. This paper explores the complex social factors influencing ALD in China, the complications associated Read More

Phytic acid-based nanomedicine shows promise for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis therapy

CePA exerts a liver-targeted mTOR repressive function, alleviating MASH progression and fat accumulation in high-fat diet-fed mice. Credit: Fenghua Xu, Shoujie Zhao, Yejing Zhu, Jun Zhu, Lingyang Kong, Huichen Li, Shouzheng Ma, Bo Wang, Yongquan Qu, Zhimin Tian, Junlong Zhao, Lei Liu Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases, primarily caused by metabolic disorders and systemic inflammatory responses. Although the incidence of MASH is gradually increasing, there is a lack of effective drugs and methods for its treatment, thus limiting therapeutic options for MASH. Professor Liu Lei’s team has long focused on the treatment Read More

Weight loss linked to improved mood and reduced risk-taking in obese individuals

Credit: German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) People who are severely overweight (obese) not only exhibit altered risk behavior, but also changes in their metabolism and psyche. It was previously assumed that severely obese people are more impulsive and show an increased willingness to take a risk. Scientists from the DZD partner German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) have now investigated whether massive weight loss leads to an improvement in metabolic and psychological states and whether decision-making is improved. The results were published in the journal Clinical Nutrition. Being overweight can cause metabolism to slip Our behavior depends Read More

New imaging guidelines for head and neck cancers, a step toward practice change

Newly published research in The Lancet Oncology lays the foundation for many patients with head and neck cancers to be treated with tailored therapies that are less invasive and to avoid major, potentially debilitating surgeries. This step toward a major shift in practice is prompted by new imaging guidelines established in the study. As a result, imaging techniques like CT, PET and MRI can be better utilized to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer and point patients toward radiation therapy instead of surgery in certain cases. Christina Henson, M.D., a University of Oklahoma faculty member, is the lead author of Read More

Supplements found to slow disease progression during late stage of ‘dry’ age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration affects the macula, the part of the retina that provides central vision. Credit: National Eye Institute In a new analysis of data, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that taking a daily supplement containing antioxidant vitamins and minerals slows progression of late-stage dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), potentially helping people with late-stage disease preserve their central vision. Researchers reviewed the original retinal scans of participants in the Age-Related Eye Diseases Studies (AREDS and AREDS2) and found that for people with late-stage dry AMD, taking the antioxidant supplement slowed expansion of geographic atrophy regions Read More

Large study confirms siblings of autistic children have 20% chance of autism

Siblings of autistic children have a 20% chance of being autistic themselves—about seven times higher than the rate in infants with no autistic siblings. That’s the key finding of a new paper by UC Davis MIND Institute researcher Sally Ozonoff and the Baby Siblings Research Consortium. The consortium is a collection of more than 20 research groups at universities worldwide. Ozonoff is a distinguished professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She has studied the recurrence of autism in families for decades. The new study is based on a large, diverse group of families at research sites across Read More

Ultra-processed food makes up almost two-thirds of calorie intake of UK adolescents

Adolescents consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), new research from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol has found. The study found that UPF consumption was highest among adolescents from deprived backgrounds, those of white ethnicity, and younger adolescents. UPFs are food items that are manufactured from industrial substances and contain additives such as preservatives, sweeteners, colorings, flavorings, and emulsifiers. UPFs vary greatly, but tend to indicate poor dietary quality, with higher levels of added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, as well as decreased fiber, protein, and micronutrient content. They have been suggested as one of Read More

Can AI be used to help in suicide prevention? Exploring technology in the mental health space

From diagnosing cancers to the development of new drugs, artificial intelligence is helping reshape health care in transformative ways. When it comes to mental health, AI tools have the potential to help treat more people in a sector that has struggled to find enough workers to meet demand, says Annika Marie Schoene, a research scientist at Northeastern University’s Institute for Experiential AI. As a researcher at the institute working in its Responsible AI team and AI+Health group, Schoene’s focus is to understand how companies are developing these tools, their shortcomings and their ethical implications. Schoene’s area of focus has been Read More

New study finds cell donor’s socioeconomic status shapes cancer treatment outcomes

A research team led by the University of Minnesota Medical School demonstrated that the socioeconomic status (SES) of cell donors affects the health outcomes of blood cancer patients who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The work is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study examined the health outcomes of 2,005 blood cancer patients treated with HCT across 125 hospitals in the United States. The research team found cancer patients who were transplanted with cells from donors of greatest socioeconomic disadvantage experienced a 9.7% reduction in overall survival and 6.6% increase in transplant-related mortality at Read More

Distinct signaling pathway identified as key driver for epithelial cancer development

Side section of the skin with epidermal stem cells (green) with one particular clone in red. Cell nuclei are stained in blue, the white dashed lines indicate hair follicles. Credit: Peter Renz, University of Zurich A distinct signaling pathway called TNF-? drives the transformation of epithelial cells into aggressive tumor cells. During cancer progression, cells activate their own TNF-? program and become invasive. This finding could help to improve early detection and treatment of patients with cancers in skin, esophagus, bladder or colon, as University of Zurich (UZH) researchers state. How does a normal cell in the body develop into Read More

New gene therapy for muscular dystrophy offers hope

A schematic illustration of a multi-shuttle system to deliver full dystrophin protein to muscle cells body-wide as a genetic therapy for muscular dystrophy. Credit: Hichem Tasfaout A new gene therapy treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy shows promise of not only arresting the decline of the muscles of those affected by this inherited genetic disease, but perhaps, in the future, repairing those muscles. The UW Medicine-led research focuses on delivering a series of protein packets inside shuttle vectors to replace the defective DMD gene within the muscles. The added genetic code will then start producing dystrophin, the protein lacking in patients Read More

Immune cells monitor blood platelet maturation in bone marrow, researchers discover

Tissue homeostasis: plasmacytoid dendritic cells monitor bone marrow, initiating on-demand megakaryocyte formation. Uniform distribution of megakaryocytes (green) controlled by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (magenta) within a human bone marrow section. Credit: Hellen Ishikawa-Ankerhold Platelets play an essential role in wound healing. Underproduction can cause devastating bleeding, while overproduction increases the deadly risk of thromboses. Maintaining a constant level of platelets in the blood (homeostasis) is therefore vitally important. Platelets are continuously formed by megakaryocytes (MKs) and released into the blood. Researchers at LMU University Hospital and the Biomedical Center Munich (BMC) have now made a groundbreaking discovery: innate immune system cells Read More

Calcium, zinc intake tied to lower risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

People with higher intakes of calcium and zinc before pregnancy appear to have a significantly lower risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), according to research presented during NUTRITION 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held from June 29 to July 2 in Chicago. Liping Lu, M.D., Ph.D., from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and colleagues used data from 7,737 pregnant women without chronic hypertension participating in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-To-Be to assess the association between preconceptional calcium intake (three months before pregnancy) and odds of HDP. There was a modest inverse Read More

Scientists define new type of memory loss in older adults

Graphical abstract. Credit: (2024). DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae183 Researchers at Mayo Clinic have established new criteria for a memory-loss syndrome in older adults that specifically impacts the brain’s limbic system. It can often be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease. The good news: Limbic-predominant Amnestic Neurodegenerative Syndrome, or LANS, progresses more slowly and has a better prognosis, and is now more clearly defined for doctors working to find answers for memory loss patients. Prior to the researchers developing their clinical criteria, now published in the journal Brain Communications, the hallmarks of the syndrome could be confirmed only by examining brain tissue after a person’s Read More

Boost in infant genetics research could change lives

Infant phenotypes listed in the ICF. Credit: Nature Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01822-7 Investment in research into genetics could dramatically improve educational policies and understanding of parenting in ways that could help all children, according to a new paper led by the University of Surrey. In a paper published in Nature Genetics, researchers describe a range of evidence demonstrating that genetics play a role in influencing infant development. While much focus is already directed toward rare genetic disorders, the researchers argue that differences in the DNA that are commonly found in children and constitute the individual’s genetic make-up also have the Read More

Scientists develop first bone marrow model that supports human stem cells

Schematic of the bone marrow (BM) niche microenvironment. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50054-0 Scientists have created the first bioengineered bone marrow model that can support the type of human stem cells that are crucial for bone marrow transplants and in vitro study work. The research—published in Nature Communications and led by the University of Glasgow—replicates key aspects of the human bone marrow microenvironment, to enable the support of rare long-term hematopoietic stem cells, or LT-HSCs. LT-HSCs are vital for bone marrow transplants as they are the cell type that can replenish the blood cells after treatment for blood cancers. Read More

Grad student uses animation to create an online community for abuse survivors

Nitya Mehrotra uses her skills as an animator to create more than just art—she’s building a community. The Chicago grad student is the founder of an online platform called “Stories by Strangers” that supports the physically and mentally abused. Mehrotra, 23, created the safe space for abuse survivors to anonymously share their struggles and trauma. It’s an outlet to help others with similar stories that also provides resources for those still coping. According to the site, over 2,000 stories have been submitted via email since 2023. Mehrotra, who uses the pronouns she and they, collaborates with people who submit their Read More

Study advances efforts to harness psilocybin’s mind-altering power to treat mental illness

People who consume psilocybin-containing mushrooms—otherwise known as magic mushrooms—typically undergo a surreal experience in which their sense of space, time and self is distorted. Advocates have long argued that, under the right conditions, psychedelic experiences can alleviate mental distress, and a smattering of scientific studies suggests they may be right. Understanding precisely how the drug affects the brain will help scientists and doctors harness its therapeutic potential. In a new study, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report that psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, temporarily scrambles a critical network of brain areas involved in Read More

Study shows multiple home moves during childhood can increase the risks of depression in later life

People who experience a significant number of moves before the age of 15 are over 40% more likely to be diagnosed with depression in later life, a new study has shown. The research, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed all residential locations of almost 1.1 million people born in Denmark between 1981 and 2001 and who stayed in the country during the first 15 years of their lives. It then tracked those same individuals into adulthood, and found at least 35,000 of those still living within Denmark had subsequently received a medical diagnosis of depression. As part of a Read More

Scientists identify interleukin-11 as key driver of aging

Asst Prof Anissa Widjaja viewing experimental data as part of her study on IL11. Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School, Norfaezah Binte Abdullah An aging population will bring colossal health, social, and economic challenges over the coming decades. As people live longer, staving off the physical decline and frailty that come with age has become a holy grail, with effective interventions projected to unlock significant societal and economic benefits. Estimates suggest that a slowdown in aging that increases life expectancy by one year alone is worth US$38 trillion. In a discovery published in Nature, a team of scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School Read More

Electronic prompt for surgeons may reduce breast cancer overtreatment

University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center researchers have developed a novel prompt, or ‘nudge’ embedded in the electronic health record that flags, for treating surgeons, older patients with early-stage breast cancer who may be at risk for unnecessary lymph node surgery. In a paper published in JAMA Surgery, the team found that the rate of a surgical procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was almost halved among eligible patients after implementing the nudge, suggesting that this simple reminder could reduce overtreatment of older patients with breast cancer. “In breast cancer, there is a growing movement toward precisely Read More

Study addresses a long-standing diversity bias in human genetics

The new gene expression dataset covers 26 populations across five continents. Credit: Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University Most research in human genetics has historically focused on people of European ancestries—a long-standing bias that may limit the accuracy of scientific predictions for people from other populations. Now, a team of Johns Hopkins University scientists has generated a new catalog of human gene expression data from around the world. The increased representation of understudied populations should empower researchers to attain more-accurate insights of genetic factors driving human diversity, including for traits such as height, hormone levels, and disease risk. The work deepens the Read More

Doctors reluctant to treat addiction most commonly report ‘lack of institutional support’ as barrier

A new study has identified the top reasons why some physicians may be reluctant to intervene in addiction. The comprehensive review, pulling 283 studies published on this topic within the last 61 years, showed that “institutional environment” was the reason most frequently reported in these studies. “Institutional environment” refers to factors like lack of support from a physician’s institution or employer; insufficient resources, such as staff and training; challenges in organizational culture; and competing demands. This reason was cited in 81% of the studies reviewed, followed by insufficient skill (74%), lack of cognitive capacity to manage a certain level of Read More

Scientists discover switching off inflammatory protein leads to longer, healthier lifespans in mice

Credit: MRC Laboratory of Medical Science Scientists at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science and Imperial College London have discovered that ‘switching off’ a protein called IL-11 can significantly increase the healthy lifespan of mice by almost 25%. The scientists, working with colleagues at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, tested the effects of IL-11 by creating mice that had the gene producing IL-11 (interleukin 11) deleted. This extended the lives of the mice by over 20% on average. They also treated 75-week-old mice—equivalent to the age of about 55 years in humans—with an injection of an anti-IL-11 antibody, Read More

Study finds irregular sleep patterns may lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Getting consistent sleep could help stave off type 2 diabetes, new research suggests. A study led by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, analyzed sleep patterns over the course of seven nights and then followed participants for more than seven years. The researchers discovered that irregular sleep durations were associated with increased risk of diabetes, with individuals with the greatest irregular patterns having a 34% higher diabetes risk than their counterparts. The findings, published in Diabetes Care, suggest the importance of regular sleep for diabetes prevention. “Our study identified Read More

‘Google Earth for the human heart’ set to accelerate cardiovascular medicine

Rendering of the healthy heart, showing external vasculature and muscle fibers.Credit: Siemens Healthineers 2024; Data UCL led ESRF Beamtime 1290. University College London Two whole adult human hearts, one healthy and one diseased, have been imaged in unprecedented detail by researchers from UCL and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), providing an invaluable resource for better understanding cardiovascular disease. The study, published in Radiology, is an atlas of the human heart that captures the anatomical structure of the whole organ down to 20 micrometers—half the width of a human hair. In certain areas imaging has been done to the cellular level. The Read More

More Black Americans die from effects of air pollution, study shows

Differences in the age-adjusted PM2.5-attributable mortality rate between race/ethnicities at the county level for the period 2000 to 2016. Credit: Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03117-0 Everyone knows that air pollution is bad for health, but how bad depends a lot on who you are. People of different races and ethnicities, education levels, locations and socioeconomic situations tend to be exposed to different degrees of air pollution. Even at the same exposure levels, people’s ability to cope with its effects—by accessing timely health care, for example—varies. A new study by Stanford Medicine researchers and collaborators, which takes into account both exposure Read More

Obesity modifies link between birth weight, metabolic phenotypes

Associations between lower birth weight (BW) and adverse metabolic phenotypes are more pronounced in children with obesity, according to a study published in the July issue of eBioMedicine. Sara Elizabeth Stinson, Ph.D., from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and colleagues used data from the cross-sectional HOLBAEK Study with 4,263 participants to examine the modifying effect of childhood obesity on the association between BW and a polygenic score (PGS) for BW with cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. The researchers found that BW and a PGS for BW were associated with cardiometabolic risk and plasma protein levels in childhood and Read More

2016 to 2021 saw increase in number of periprosthetic fractures

The number of periprosthetic fractures of the hip and knee increased in recent years and is projected to continue increasing, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Gregory T. Minutillo, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues captured all International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes for periprosthetic femoral and tibial fractures in a large, public and private payer database to examine and project trends in operative treatment. Overall, 121,298 patients underwent surgical treatment for periprosthetic fractures from 2016 to 2021. The researchers found that the Read More

What fat cats on a diet may tell us about obesity in humans

Pet cats may be excellent animal models for the study of obesity origins and treatment in humans, a new study of feline gut microbes suggests—and both species would likely get healthier in the research process, scientists say. Veterinary researchers analyzed fecal samples from fat cats as the animals lost and maintained weight over the course of four dietary changes, including strict calorie reduction. The team found that food-related changes to the cats’ gut microbiome—the assortment of bacteria and molecules those bacteria produce and consume—have striking similarities to dietary effects on the gut previously seen in humans. Though there is still Read More

Direct calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibition found to reduce acne, rosacea in patients with migraine

For patients experiencing migraine, direct calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibition with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is associated with reduced rates of acne and rosacea compared with no inhibition (topiramate) or indirect inhibition (triptans), according to a research letter published online July 10 in JAMA Dermatology. Christopher J. Thang, from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and colleagues examined whether CGRP inhibition is associated with reduced rates of developing acne or rosacea in a cohort study. Patients experiencing migraines were stratified into four treatment cohorts: CGRP inhibitor (CGRPi) mAbs, CGRPi nonpeptide small molecules (gepants), triptans, and topiramate. Cohort comparisons were Read More

Despite past storms’ lessons, long-term care residents again left powerless

A power outage can be difficult for anyone, but older adults are especially vulnerable to temperature extremes, with medications or medical conditions affecting their bodies’ ability to regulate heat and cold. Additionally, some medications need refrigeration while others cannot get too cold. Federal guidelines require nursing homes to maintain safe indoor temperatures but do not regulate how. For example, facilities face no requirement that generators or other alternative energy sources support heating and air conditioning systems. States are largely responsible for compliance, said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. And if states are failing Read More

New atlas aims to replace uniform traumatic brain injury treatment with precision medicine

Researchers at Phoenix’s Barrow Neurological Institute and the University of Pittsburgh have created a vast interactive atlas that may eventually help doctors use precision medicine to target treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients—and could replace the existing uniform treatment model. The research is published in the journal Neuron. With 40–50 million new cases each year, the global incidence of TBI outstrips common neurological diseases, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Effective treatments have remained elusive because each TBI is different, but treatments are not. The atlas, the first of its kind, includes 334,376 cells and information about how they responded Read More

How out-of-pocket TMJ costs drive patients into debt

Over three decades of relentless pain, Jonna Tallant has tried about every TMJ treatment: mouthguards, six sets of braces, dental crowns and appliances, drugs, physical therapy, Botox, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and surgery. Nothing has helped. Tallant, 51, of Knoxville, Tennessee, said she lives in agony and cannot eat any food that must be chewed. Despite spending a small fortune on treatment, she can barely open her mouth enough to squeeze in a toothbrush. Tallant estimates she has paid at least $200,000 for TMJ care. She provided medical records showing more than $60,000 in out-of-pocket spending in just the past Read More

Heat may have contributed to four human cases of bird flu in Colorado

Credit: Alexas Fotos from Pexels Heat probably played a role in at least four cases of bird flu in poultry workers confirmed by U.S. health officials Sunday—the first cases in poultry workers in two years. Sweltering temperatures in Colorado rose to at least 104 degrees, which is suspected to have contributed to the human cases, according to Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The barns where poultry workers were culling chickens were “no doubt even hotter,” Shah said during a press conference on the most recent outbreak of bird flu in humans. Read More

How tapering maximizes your potential on marathon day

The taper is an essential aspect of training that many new runners need to remember to incorporate into their training program. Tapering means reducing your training load before a competition to optimize performance on race day. It’s the rest period before race day to reduce the effects of muscle fatigue brought on by months of rigorous training. During marathon training, muscle power diminishes, stores of glycogen (a form of glucose) deplete and overall muscle fatigue accumulates. The tapering period minimizes the adverse effects of a long-distance training schedule, so your muscles will be fresh and fatigue-free on race day, significantly Read More

Your teens aren’t coping nearly as well as you think they are

Most U.S. teens aren’t always getting the social and emotional support they need, and most of their parents have no idea, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a nationwide survey conducted after the most isolating period of the COVID-19 pandemic, only 28% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 said they “always” received the social and emotional support they needed. However, 77% of their parents who responded to a related survey said they thought their children “always” had that support. At the other end of the spectrum, 20% of the Read More

Why the election may slow plans to replace lead pipes

With the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest—and strictest—plan to minimize the risk of Americans drinking lead-contaminated water on the horizon, the debate over whether the rules go too far or not nearly far enough is reaching a tipping point. Although lead was banned from new water service lines in 1986, it’s estimated that more than 9 million such lines still carry drinking water to homes and businesses throughout the country. Under the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements proposal, water utilities would be required to replace all lead-containing lines within 10 years. The proposal from the Biden administration builds on different Read More

Researchers develop hydrogel implant to treat endometriosis

a) Illustration of functional fallopian tube occlusion serving two main purposes. b) Formulation of two degradable hydrogel systems based on AMPS (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and NHEA (N-(2-hydroxyethyl) acrylamide) along with main advantages of the gels. Credit: Advanced Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310301 Hydrogels have a variety of use cases, including contact lenses, delivering doses of medication within the body, moisturizers, water storage in soil, cleaning polluted water and as gelling and thickening agents. A hydrogel is a gel made of a type of plastic that can bind water. Researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa have now developed the first hydrogel implant designed Read More

Study shows autoantibodies behind lifelong risk of viral infection

A new study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, shows that about 2% of the population develop autoantibodies against type 1 interferons, mostly later in life. This makes individuals more susceptible to viral diseases like COVID-19. The study, conducted by UZH researchers together with a USZ team, is based on an analysis of a large collection of historical blood samples. Virus infections trigger the cells of the immune system to release type 1 interferons. These proteins act as early messengers that warn uninfected cells and tissues that a virus is spreading. This allows cells to prepare themselves so that Read More

Researchers use MRI scans and karaoke to better understand the nature of blushing

Associations between task activity and individual differences in blushing as indexed by cheek temperature increase. (a) Regions with parameter estimates for watching singing associated with individual differences in cheek temperature changes. (b–c) Regions with significant differences in association with individual differences in cheek temperature change as a function of the singer. Credit: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0958 A small team of psychologists and neurologists from the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and D’Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara, in Italy, has found that blushing may be more related to an increase in emotional awareness and Read More

‘Diabetes distress’ can increase risk of mental health problems among young people living with type 1 diabetes

Children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are at significantly higher risk of a number of mental health issues, including mood and anxiety disorders, a study from a team in the UK and the Czech Republic has found. The findings highlight the urgent need for monitoring and support for the mental health of young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The work appears in Nature Mental Health. According to the charity JDRF, there are 8.7 million people living with type 1 diabetes around the world, including over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a chronic, life-threatening condition, usually diagnosed in Read More

Trump falsely claims babies can be seen to change ‘radically’ after vaccination

In an excerpt of a recent conversation between former President Donald Trump and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted online, Trump suggested vaccines given to children to protect them from disease are harmful. He also exaggerated the number of vaccines given to children and he falsely claimed they lead to sudden, visible changes. Neither campaign has responded to requests for comment. TRUMP: “A vaccination that is like 38 different vaccines and it looks like it’s meant for a horse, not a, you know, 10-pound or 20-pound baby” and “then you see the baby all of a sudden starting Read More

New figures reveal more Americans struggling to afford health care

The percentage of Americans who can afford and access prescription drugs and quality health care stands at a new low of 55%, a six-point decline since 2022, according to the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index. The index was developed in 2021 to track the percentage of Americans who say they have avoided medical care or not filled prescription medications in the last three months and whether they believe they could afford care if they needed it today. The downturn is largely attributed to two groups—adults aged 50 to 64 (down eight points to 55%) and those aged 65 and older Read More

Gut protein may protect brain cells in Parkinson’s disease

Functional GUCY2C protein and mRNA are expressed by DA neurons within the SNpc. a Schematic of mice used for analyses. b–d Immunofluorescence staining reveals that guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C) protein is expressed in 98% of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)+ neurons, but not in astrocytes or microglia, in the mouse midbrain (n?=?3). Scale bars represent 20?µM. e–l Combined immunofluorescence and RNAscope identifies high levels of Gucy2c mRNA co-expressed with TH protein and mRNA. Scale bars represent 200?µM (e–h) or 20?µM (i–l). m Gucy2c mRNA is not expressed by TH-negative cells (n?=?3). n Gucy2c mRNA is expressed at nearly a third of Th Read More

A simple treatment offers significant improvement for stroke survivors with a disability known as spatial neglect

More than half of stroke survivors do not receive rehabilitation after the first days of advanced stroke care. Instead of living for months or years with visible or hidden disabilities, stroke survivors can now take advantage of new techniques of advanced rehabilitation to improve their function and freedom. One condition, called spatial neglect—in which a person’s three-dimensional reality and spatial movements are distorted on one side—is particularly underdiagnosed and undertreated among those who have suffered strokes and other brain injuries. The Conversation asked neurologist A.M. Barrett and optometrist Kevin Houston, both from UMass Chan Medical School, to explain what causes Read More

The risks of eyelash extensions aren’t pretty, from cornea erosion to cancer-causing glue

Ultra long, thick eyelashes might be in vogue, but are they worth the expense—and the risk to health? Our natural eyelashes perform important functions. The eye is exposed to the elements, so it’s a window for bacteria and viruses to enter the body—potentially causing death. Eyelashes protect our eyes by diverting air away from the surface of the eyeball, keeping airborne particles out of the eye by making us blink, as well as making sure the eyeball stays lubricated. Eyelash extensions are individual fibers that are attached to each natural lash, one at a time. Eyelash extensions can be made Read More

Modulating in vitro lung fibroblast activation via senolysis of senescent human alveolar epithelial cells

Summary of in vitro and ex vivo systems to mimic alveolar epithelial and fibroblast damage and dysfunction in the IPF lung. Credit: Aging (2024). DOI: 10.18632/aging.205994 A new research paper titled “Modulating in vitro lung fibroblast activation via senolysis of senescent human alveolar epithelial cells” has been published in Aging. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an age-related disease with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Activation of lung fibroblasts and differentiation to myofibroblasts are the principal effectors of disease pathology, but damage and senescence of alveolar epithelial cells, specifically type II (ATII) cells, has recently been identified as a potential Read More

Researchers create smart routes to ensure all rural areas have access to health care

Distribution of primary care centers in municipalities in Spain. Credit: Socio-Economic Planning Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2024.101828 The equivalent to the 15-minute city in rural areas is the 45-minute territory. These are areas where the inhabitants can access everything they need for a good quality of life in 45 minutes, either on foot or by bicycle. Some 85% of Spain’s territory is considered to be rural, with an average population density of 17.7 people per square kilometer. In this large and sparsely populated rural Spain, “It’s estimated that 9% of municipalities don’t meet the 45-minute criterion,” said Cristian Castillo Gutiérrez, a Read More

The risks and benefits of being on the pill

The 20th century saw humanity develop in leaps and bounds, and without a doubt one of the most revolutionary advances was oral contraceptives, more commonly known as “the pill.” Until the 1980s, the majority of women had extremely limited and ineffective options when it came to contraceptives. Many left a great deal to chance, using methods such as prolonging lactation after pregnancy or fertility awareness, which involves avoiding intercourse at certain times of the month or monitoring cervical mucus and body temperature. Other methods—such as condoms or interrupted coitus (also known as “pulling out”)—gave women little control, but the pill Read More

Inflatable cushion designed to help health care staff move patients to enter clinical trial

The BathMat inflatable prone repositioning device, being demonstrated with a healthy volunteer. Credit: University of Bath An inflatable device created to help doctors and nurses safely move critically ill patients is set to enter clinical trials at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (the RUH). Designed by engineers at the University of Bath in collaboration with doctors at the RUH, the Inflatable Prone Repositioning Device (IPRD), known as the “BathMat,” is a flat balloon-like cushion made to assist health care staff move the most critically ill patients on the intensive care unit. The project has now received funding Read More

Stress-related cell damage links to negative mental and physical health effects among caregivers

Credit: Kampus Production from Pexels It’s no secret that the caregivers of spouses with memory impairment face enormous amounts of stress. Researchers at Rice University have found that this intense pressure can be felt at the cellular level and is linked to negative physical and mental health effects, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The study titled “Mitochondrial health, physical functioning, and daily affect: Bioenergetic mechanisms of dementia caregiver well-being,” is published online in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. It is one of the first studies to examine how cellular health may impact the well-being of spousal dementia caregivers who are experiencing Read More