Nigerian women share their CANCER stories

“I believe I will still beat it again.” These are the words of a Nigerian woman, Didi, who feared a recurrence of her cancer—but saw herself as a survivor. Her attitude is becoming more common everywhere as more people are living after a cancer diagnosis. Though populations are growing and aging, and cancer incidence is therefore rising, it’s also true that the likelihood of surviving is greater than before. And identifying as a survivor, rather than a “victim,” matters. Studies show that it’s associated with better health outcomes. Didi’s optimism is inspiring when you consider the challenges women like her Read More

Immune cell transformation can influence stem cell transplant success in cancer patients

Ex vivo expanded murine ILC2s exhibit the phenotypic and functional properties of ILC2s. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50263-7 Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and colleagues have determined that a specific type of immune cell—type II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s)—can change its characteristics and functions after a cancer patient receives stem cells from a donor, thereby preventing an effective, healthy rebuilding of the immune system. This new understanding of ILC2 cells’ transformational flexibility could lead to better strategies for enhancing immune system recovery post-transplantation. The finding appeared July 17, 2024, in Nature Communications. In the U.S., there have Read More

Can texting new parents to report their blood pressure help address maternal mortality? Some doctors think so

Two Penn Medicine physicians had an unorthodox idea for reducing the number of patients who develop dangerously high blood pressure in the weeks after giving birth: Stop asking them to come into the doctor’s office for blood pressure screenings. Dangerously high blood pressure is a leading cause of maternal death and hospital-readmission after birth, and is often preventable with routine screening. But many new parents are too overwhelmed in the first days of their baby’s life to get themselves to extra medical appointments. Physicians Sindhu Srinivas and Adi Hirshberg decided to instead send patients home with blood pressure cuffs and Read More

Fecal matter transplant helps half of patients with GI cancers overcome immunotherapy resistance

Findings from a small, proof-of-concept clinical trial have suggested that fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) can boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy in a range of gastrointestinal cancers. In the study, published July 25 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, six of 13 patients who had previously shown resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors benefited from receiving FMTs from donors who had previously responded to treatment. The investigators also identified specific strains of bacteria associated with better or worse responses to FMT and immune checkpoint drugs. “This research highlights the complex interplay between beneficial and detrimental bacteria within the gut microbiota in Read More

Study proposes ‘liquid-biopsy-like’ alternative to determine cardiometabolic risk in in patients living with obesity

Obesity levels worldwide are rising and therefore, personalized care is becoming paramount. At the same time, scientists believe that not all fat is the same. Previous studies have shown that measuring levels of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation gives a good approximation of cardiometabolic risk. However, currently VAT inflammation cannot be measured without invasive surgery. Now, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev scientists have proposed a “liquid-biopsy-like” alternative to surgery by measuring circulating miRNAs. They found that the combined levels of two or three circulating miRNAs was a good indication of high VAT inflammation. Their findings were published in the March Read More

Chaotic dynamics in the brain may enable probabilistic thinking

(A) Schematics of the cue-integration task. (B) The Bayes optimal posteriors in the cue-integration task. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312992121 Chaos may be behind the brain’s ability to compute probabilities, according to a new analysis by two neuroscientists at RIKEN. The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Our perception is shaped by multisensory inputs. For instance, the brain processes sights and sounds to generate a range of possible locations for an object and estimates the uncertainty associated with each option. But how exactly the brain assesses these possibilities Read More

Study demonstrates ultra-rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing method

Design of the clinical study. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07725-1 A new method for identifying the pathogens involved in sepsis cases, which could help to select optimal therapeutics, is reported in Nature. The test has the potential to reduce the turnaround times normally associated with developing treatments for infections and may improve patient outcomes. Sepsis, a dysregulated immune response brought on by an infection, is one of the leading causes of death, globally. Patient-specific treatment can be developed using antimicrobial susceptibility testing; however, this typically takes two to three days owing to the need for a blood culture sample, which Read More

Sodium channels in breast cancer cells are a promising target for future treatments, study reveals

Mechanism for Nav1.5-mediated cellular invasion. Credit: Oncogene (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03098-x A study on live tissue cells is the first to reveal how channels that allow sodium to enter into breast cancer cells enable tumors to grow and spread. The discovery adds to evidence which suggests treating breast cancer patients with sodium channel blockers could be a promising future treatment to prevent the spread of cancer during the gap between diagnosis and surgery. The research team from the universities of York, Cambridge, Nottingham, Aberdeen, Imperial College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, looked at tissue samples from more than Read More

Cured HIV patients ‘living proof’ of hope in fight against virus

Three people effectively cured of HIV have spoken about how a risky transplant procedure saved their lives, with one saying they are “living proof” of hope in the fight against the virus. The trio spoke about their experience at the International AIDS Conference in Munich, which has gathered experts, researchers and activists to discuss developments in the HIV epidemic. Only seven people are considered to have been effectively cured after receiving a stem cell transplant, a painful and risky procedure only suitable for patients who have both HIV and aggressive leukemia. Adam Castillejo, a 44-year-old also known as the “London Read More

Scientists create novel anti-thrombogenic coatings to overcome endovascular therapy challenges

Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65832-5 A researcher at AIST, in collaboration with the Japan Medical Startup Incubation Program (JMPR) and N.B. Medical Corporation, has developed a novel anti-thrombogenic coating for stents used in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The details of this technology were published in Scientific Reports on July 10, 2024. In recent years, due to progress in medical equipment, minimally invasive endovascular treatment has become the mainstream in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, the main cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In particular, coil embolization with a stent has been reported to be highly safe and effective, and is Read More

Narrowing the radiology gender gap

The radiology gender gap is decreasing, but there remains work to be done, according to an editorial published in RadioGraphics. In 2022, nearly half of residents and fellows in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–accredited programs were female. However, less than 27% of active diagnostic radiologists and only 10% of active interventional radiologists are female. Within the 48 largest medical specialty groups, diagnostic radiology ranks 41st and interventional radiology ranks 47th in percentage of female trainees. To foster a diverse workforce in radiology and to ensure leadership diversity, RSNA established the Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CDEI) in Read More

Organoids mimicking celiac disease show new link between gluten and intestinal damage

A microscopic image of an intestinal organoid in which the nuclei of the cells are blue, epithelial cells are white, T cells are green and other immune cells are red. Credit: Antonio Santos Small, laboratory-grown balls of cells made from the intestinal tissue of people with celiac disease have revealed a previously unknown molecular link between gluten exposure and intestinal damage, according to a study by researchers at Stanford Medicine. The molecule, called IL-7, has been implicated in other autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, but it has never been linked to celiac disease. The study is the Read More

Tiny deletion in heart muscle protein linked to long-term effects on adult atrial fibrillation

Graphical abstract. Credit: iScience (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110395 Millions of adults have atrial fibrillation—an irregular beating of the upper chambers of the heart that yields increased risk of heart failure, stroke and death. Many genetic mutations in the developing fetus can lead to adult atrial fibrillation, including mutations that shorten the massive protein titin in cardiac muscle cells. Now, in a study in zebrafish and human heart muscle cells, researchers show that a tiny deletion in the A-band of titin—the loss of just nine amino acids out of more than 27,000 to 35,000 amino acids of an intact titin protein—causes a Read More

New gene therapy approach shows promise for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Design and test of split intein constructs to assemble FL-dystrophin. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50569-6 Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have made a significant breakthrough in developing a new gene therapy approach that restores full-length dystrophin protein, which could lead to new treatments for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the effectiveness of their novel gene therapy technology in improving muscle tissue and overall strength in mice models with DMD. DMD is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in a lack of the protein dystrophin. This Read More

New protein discovery may influence future cancer treatment

Model of the oxidation-induced amyloid formation and disassembly mechanism of p16. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49581-7 Researchers from the University of Otago, Christchurch, have spearheaded the discovery of a protein function which has the potential to guide the development of novel cancer treatment options and improve the diagnosis of various cancers. The research, carried out alongside Dr. Vanessa Morris from the University of Canterbury’s School of Biological Sciences as well as researchers in Australia and Denmark, centers on the activity of a tumor- suppressing protein called p16. The discovery, published in Nature Communications and first authored by University of Read More

Large study shows early-onset dementia more common than previously reported

A new major study by the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Oulu and Neurocenter Finland explored early-onset dementia in the working-age population in Finland. The study cohort was one of the largest in the world to date, and the findings were published on 24 July 2024 in Neurology. Current epidemiological data on early-onset dementia is scarce and based on small study cohorts, with no recent data from Finland available. For the present study, researchers analyzed patient data registries of Kuopio and Oulu University Hospitals from 2010 to 2021, reviewing all working-age patients diagnosed with dementia during this time Read More

High levels of a specific antibody may contribute to acute coronary syndrome, investigators say

Graphical abstract. Credit: JACC: Basic to Translational Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2024.04.012 How a person’s immune system responds to a protein called LL-37 may increase the risk of developing acute coronary syndrome, but the response may also serve as a potential target for future treatments. These findings come from a research study led by investigators at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Acute coronary syndrome refers to any condition that involves the blockage of blood flow to the heart, such as a heart attack. The investigators previously reported that the immune system of patients with acute coronary syndrome seems to be Read More

Cell aging discovery could help detect early warning signs for neurodegenerative diseases

Model of mitochondrial homeostasis and cytoplasmic viscosity during aging. Credit: Aging Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1111/acel.14250 A team from King’s College London and collaborators have pinpointed how different areas of the neuron age differently, with a potential knock-on effect on healthy cell function and the development of neurodegenerative conditions. The paper is published in the journal Aging Cell. A neuron is a nerve cell that sends and receives information from the brain and communicates with the rest of the body. Unlike other cells, neurons do not replicate and so must find other methods of keeping healthy and operational. One method of Read More

Pioneering single-cell kidney atlas sheds light on potential treatments

Comprehensive integrated multimodal human kidney single-cell atlas. a, Overview of the multimodal analysis. b, UMAP of 338,565 cells/nuclei in an integrated human kidney snRNA-seq/scRNA-seq and snATAC–seq data generated in this study. c, UMAP of 588,425 integrated human kidney snRNA-seq/scRNA-seq and snATAC–seq data from the present study and KPMP. Credit: Nature Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01802-x Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania revealed the most extensive single cell atlas of the human kidney, capturing the complexity of healthy and diseased kidneys at an unprecedented level and predicting chronic kidney disease Read More

Unplanned pregnancies among active service women likely curb US military readiness, research suggests

Unplanned pregnancies among active service women may be curbing overall US military readiness for action and compromising its Women, Peace and Security objectives, suggests research published online in the journal BMJ Military Health. That’s because they potentially result in the loss of an estimated 2.5 million to more than 4.5 million active-duty days, depending on the denominator used, the findings indicate, with the highest rates among 18–24-year-olds, those of white race, those deployed in junior ranks and those serving in the Army. The researchers set out to assess the impact of unplanned pregnancy on military readiness and the ability to Read More

Southeastern states have highest unintentional gun death rates

There’s more than a 10-fold difference in the rates of unintentional gun deaths across US states, with such incidents claiming more than 12,000 lives between 2001 and 2021, finds research published online in the journal Injury Prevention. Poverty, rural residency, non-white ethnicity and firearms ownership are all associated with higher rates, the findings show. Firearms kill over 130 Americans every day. Most of these deaths are intentional, but of the 48,830 firearm related deaths in 2021, 549 were unintentional, note the researchers. But it’s not clear whether rates differ within and between states. To explore this further, the researchers looked Read More

High levels of ozone and grass pollen expected for Paris Olympics/Paralympics

Credit: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels High levels of the respiratory irritant ozone and grass pollen are likely during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games if hot, sunny weather prevails, suggests an analysis of historic air quality monitoring data for the city of Paris and surrounding area during previous summers, and published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Athletes can be affected by environmental factors, despite generally being in good physical condition, note the researchers. Breathing in air pollution during exercise may pose health risks, depending on exposure levels and underlying long term conditions, they add. Endurance athletes are Read More

As many as 65 million Americans now own firearms for protection, survey suggests

Credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels Some 65 million Americans now own firearms for protection—around 80% of the country’s estimated 81 million gun owners—suggest the results of a nationally representative survey carried out in 2023, and published online in the journal Injury Prevention. This perceived need is changing the profile of gun owners, the findings indicate, with increasing numbers of women and those of minority ethnic backgrounds citing protection as the primary reason for owning a firearm. In 2021, firearms caused the highest absolute number of deaths on record in the U.S., taking nearly 49,000 lives. This death toll coincided with Read More

‘Extraordinary levels’ of ice use at summer Olympics not always evidence-based and bad for the planet

The use of ice at the summer Olympic games has reached “extraordinary levels,” but much of this isn’t evidence-based, and the amount of energy and water needed to produce, store, and transport the ice isn’t good for the planet, to say nothing of its cost, argue a group of international researchers in an opinion piece, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Around 22 tons of ice were delivered to the competition venues of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games for medical purposes. Another 42 tons were provided to the residences of the Olympic Village, in part via Read More

Medicaid policies can increase diverse participation in cancer clinical trials

Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Two Medicaid policies can interact to increase oncology clinical trial enrollment among Black and Hispanic patients, according to a new study by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, and Medidata AI. Black and Hispanic patients are historically underrepresented in cancer clinical trials; equitable enrollment helps ensure the knowledge gained from trials generalizes to the entire population and promotes equitable patient access to the latest treatment options. The study, published July 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, examined the effect of the interaction between two Medicaid policies on the rates of Read More

Researchers close in on new technology for objectively measuring pain

Wunmi Sadik is the director of NJIT’s BioSensor Materials for Advanced Research and Technology (BioSMART) Center. Credit: NJIT On a scale of one to ten, how much pain do you feel? It’s a question many patients get from their doctor in the U.S. each day, often accompanied by the Visual Analogue Scale from 1-10 that was first introduced in clinics in 1921. A century later, the simple assessment is perhaps the most widely used technique for measuring pain—a chronic symptom for 21% of U.S. adults, estimated to cost up to $635 billion annually. However, while relying on patient self-reporting is Read More

Study identifies unique treatment preference profiles in men with prostate cancer

Credit: Alex Green from Pexels A team of investigators from UCLA has identified distinct patient preference-based profiles among men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer regarding their treatment options that could help enhance shared decision-making and patient satisfaction in prostate cancer care. The study, published in Urology Practice, reveals that while there were clear differences in treatment preferences among the profiles, these preference profiles did not significantly influence the patients’ final treatment choices. “Men diagnosed with prostate cancer face a variety of treatment options that can have significant long-term effects on their life, making it vital for physicians to better support Read More

Abbott warns that some of its blood sugar monitors may need replacement due to incorrect readings

This image provided by Abbott shows how to identify the lot or serial number on a FreeStyle Libre 3 glucose monitors to determine whether the sensor inside is one of those being recalled by the company, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The medical device maker said some sensors on its FreeStyle Libre 3 system may incorrectly report high blood sugar levels, prompting patients to take insulin when they don’t need it. Credit: Abbott via AP Abbott is warning that sensors on some of its blood sugar monitoring systems may need to be replaced to prevent inaccurate readings. Testing showed that some Read More

After 2016 Presidential Election, women of color had more underweight, premature babies

In 2016, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to deport thousands of immigrants. His anti-immigration message vilified foreign-born people living in the U.S. as criminals and rapists. Besides making good on many harsh, immigration-related promises, the years after his election stoked the anxieties of millions of people. Now, with Trump once again in contention for the White House, a new study from the University of California, Berkeley, reveals the surprising—and potentially lifelong—association between those early Trump years and the health of society’s newest citizens. In the two years after Trump was elected, there was a significant increase in the number of non-white Read More

Findings suggest few people get sick after bite from ticks infected with Powassan virus

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst-based New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEWVEC) have published new findings on Powassan virus, an emerging tick-borne illness that can cause life-threatening encephalitis and meningitis. The study reports that people bitten by black-legged (or deer) ticks that tested positive for the virus did not show signs or symptoms of disease. The research, led by Stephen Rich, NEWVEC executive director and professor of microbiology—”Passive surveillance of Powassan virus in human-biting ticks and health outcomes of associated bite victim”—was published recently in a letter to the editor in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Read More

Scientists identify key protein behind spread of shingles virus

Credit: CU Anschutz Medical Campus Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a new evasion strategy used by the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, that may allow it to affect tissues far from the original site of infection. The study was published today in the Journal of Virology. The researchers, using human neurons and rodent models, honed in on a single viral protein known as IE62 that is packaged and shuttled throughout the body in structures known as small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). They discovered that IE62 packaged inside sEVs can travel from the Read More

Researchers highlight ChatGPT’s role in bioinformatics and biomedical informatics

Topics of ChatGPT use in bioinformatics and biomedical informatics. Credit: Wang J, Cheng Z, Yao Q, Liu L, Xu D, Hu G In a systematic review published in Quantitative Biology, researchers from West Virginia University (WVU) and their collaborators critically examined the transformative impact of ChatGPT in the fields of bioinformatics and biomedical informatics. The study offers a comprehensive overview of ChatGPT’s applications in key areas such as omics, biomedical text mining, drug discovery, image analysis, coding, and bioinformatics education. “2023 marks the first year for the bioinformatics and biomedical informatics community to explore the potential of ChatGPT in advancing Read More

Research suggests preoperative iron infusions work better than blood transfusions for some anemic patients

In a rigorous medical records study covering tens of thousands of patients, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conclude that some patients with preoperative anemia have better outcomes if they get iron infusions before surgery rather than standard red blood cell transfusions. The findings, published July 22 in Anesthesia & Analgesia, contribute to mounting evidence that such iron infusions, which boost the production of a person’s own red blood cells, are better than relying on someone else’s blood. “Anemia is incredibly common, especially in surgical patients, and until recently the default treatment has been blood transfusions prior to the procedure,” says Steven Read More

Posterior surgery is noninferior to anterior surgery for cervical radiculopathy

For patients with cervical radiculopathy, posterior foraminotomy provides outcomes comparable to those of the more commonly performed anterior cervical discectomy, reports a randomized clinical trial in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. “[O]ur findings provide Level-I evidence that posterior surgery is noninferior to anterior surgery with regard to the clinical outcome, with follow-up of two years,” according to the new research by Nádia F. Simões de Souza, MD, and Anne E. H. Broekema, MD, Ph.D., of University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, and colleagues. Updated FACET report provides two-year follow-up data Patients with cervical radiculopathy have pain, sensory, and/or Read More

During COVID-19 pandemic, 18.3% of physicians reported PTSD

More than 18% of physicians reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a review and meta-analysis published online July 24 in JAMA Network Open. Mihir Kamra, from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues examined the prevalence of PTSD among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined variations based on demographic and other variables in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data were included from 57 studies with 28,965 participants in 25 countries. The researchers observed an estimated pooled prevalence of 18.3% for PTSD. In 14 studies that reported sex, female physicians were more likely to Read More

Medicare continues to undervalue lifesaving stroke surgery

Despite thrombectomy’s high success rate in saving the lives of stroke patients, Medicare is paying lower rates over time for the procedure, according to research presented today at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery’s (SNIS) 21st Annual Meeting. Three studies, “The Price of Progress—Evaluating Medicare’s Valuation of Stroke Treatment,” “Fiscal Clots in the Stream of Stroke Care: The Mechanical Thrombectomy Reimbursement Dilemma,” and “From Coast to Coast—the Uneven Spread of Lifesaving Stroke Interventions” highlight worsening Medicare reimbursement rates and their potential impact on the availability of thrombectomy. The first two studies analyzed publicly available data from 34,696 thrombectomy procedures performed between Read More

Antisense oligonucleotide treatment shows promise in treating Parkinson’s disease progression

Researchers from Japan investigated how ASOs administered locally into the brains of mice models for Parkinson’s disease can help prevent the formation and spread of harmful aSyn aggregates through different regions. Their findings show ASOs could be a promoting therapeutic strategy to both prevent and control the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases. Credit: Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, TMDU Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as many other neurodegenerative disorders, has shown a link between the abnormal aggregation of a protein called ?-synuclein (aSyn) and neuronal death. These aggregates, known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites depending on their subcellular Read More

Novel PET imaging tool identifies early signs of inflammatory bowel disease and predicts response to treatment

Visual Abstract. Active bowel inflammation disrupts the bowel cell lining, which causes the inflammatory T cells to secrete Granzyme B into the extracellular space, progressively accentuating the inflammatory response through a feed-forward mechanism. In the normal or non-inflamed bowel, there is no extracellular Granzyme B and therefore, 68Ga-NOTA-GZP PET does not show any uptake in the bowel (upper panel), while with active inflammation, the secreted active form of Granzyme B is detected and quantifiable by 68Ga-NOTA-GZP PET imaging (lower panel). Credit: Dr. P. Heidari and A. Hajmirazaian, et al, MGH, Boston, MA, A newly developed imaging method, granzyme B PET, Read More

Study shows decrease in active hepatitis C infection among risk groups

HCV: hepatitis C virus; IDU: injecting drug use; PWID: people who inject drugs; PWUD: people who use drugs. Credit: Eurosurveillance A study conducted through a mobile screening unit in Madrid, Spain from 2017 to 2023 and published in Eurosurveillance found that active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection decreased from 23% to 6% in that period among people who use drugs (PWUD) that visited the unit. The study found that the use of intravenous drugs was the most significant risk factor for infection among PWUD. It confirmed that HCV screening and treatment programs targeting this at-risk population are effective and can Read More

Recent advances show promise in stemming the growing prevalence of diabetes

Schematic representation of the potential ways in which pancreatic beta cells are damaged through environmental and genetic factors. Credit: Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.029 A study surveying advances in diabetes pathogenesis and treatment explores the complex factors contributing to the onset and progression of the disease, suggesting that an understanding of these dynamics is key to developing targeted interventions to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and managing its complications. In the paper published July 25 in a special 50th anniversary issue of the journal Cell, the authors surveyed hundreds of studies that have emerged over the years looking at the Read More

A new therapeutic target offers a promising pathway for multiple sclerosis treatment

The astroglia (a class of neural cells) of patients with MS overproduce a channel protein known as connexin 43. This overproduction facilitates the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals that trigger a harmful immune response, ultimately causing damage to neurons. In this animal model study of MS, researchers observed that blocking this channel protein with an inhibitor called INI-0602 markedly improved MS symptoms, suggesting the potential of connexin 43 as a new therapeutic target for MS. Credit: Ryo Yamasaki, Kyushu University Researchers from Kyushu University have identified a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), a potentially disabling Read More

Maternal and paternal X-chromosomes show skewed distribution in different organs and tissues

X-linked human genetic variation associated with skewed X chromosome usage in blood-derived polyclonal B lymphoblastoid cells. Credit: Nature Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01840-5 A study published in Nature Genetics by the Lymphoid Development Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences reveals that the contribution of cells expressing maternal or paternal X chromosomes can be selectively skewed in different parts of the body. The study leverages human data from the 1000 Genomes Project combined with mouse models of human X chromosome-linked DNA sequence variation to advance our fundamental understanding of development in biologically female individuals who have two X chromosomes. Until Read More

Study identifies metabolic inflexibility that keeps damage at bay during liver regeneration

Researchers used fluorescents on a regenerative liver. Blue is DAPI, a nuclear marker. Green is HNF4?, a hepatocyte marker. Red is BrdU, marking proliferating cells. White is CK19, a bile duct marker. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center Liver cells have a vital metabolic inflexibility during regeneration to starve dysfunctional cells and keep damage from spreading, according to new research from Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) published in Science. CRI Associate Professor Prashant Mishra, M.D., Ph.D., Xun Wang, Ph.D., and colleagues have found that hepatocytes, the cells responsible for most liver function, normally use their mitochondria to process Read More

Orchestra experiment shows older people can identify and remember musical themes as well as younger people

A team of psychologists at Memorial University of Newfoundland, in Canada, has found via experimentation, that older people are able to identify and remember themes in music pieces just as well as younger people. In their paper published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, the group describes how they asked random volunteers at a classical music concert to participate in a music memory experiment, and what they learned from the behaviors of those who agreed. Prior research has shown that as people age, they tend to lose mental acuity and begin to have trouble with their memory. In this new Read More

Experimental drug shows promise in clearing HIV from brain

Phosphorylation activation of CSF1R is increased with simian immunodeficiency virus. Credit: Brain (2024). DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae153 An experimental drug originally developed to treat cancer may help clear HIV from infected cells in the brain, according to a new Tulane University study. For the first time, researchers at Tulane National Primate Research Center found that a cancer drug significantly reduced levels of SIV, the nonhuman primate equivalent of HIV, in the brain by targeting and depleting certain immune cells that harbor the virus. Published in the journal Brain, this discovery marks a significant step toward eliminating HIV from hard-to-reach reservoirs where the Read More

Central nervous system-associated macrophages could modulate post-stroke immune responses

A CNS-associated macrophage (CAM, in red) at the interface between a blood vessel and an astrocyte (cyan) in a mouse brain. Credit: Levard et al. An ischemic stroke is a type of stroke that occurs when a blood clot in an artery, also known as thrombus, or the progressive narrowing of arteries, blocks the blood and oxygen flowing to the brain. This process can cause both temporary and permanent brain damage, for instance, leading to partial paralysis, cognitive impairments and other debilitating impairments. Statistics suggest that older age increases the risk of experiencing ischemic strokes. While neuroscience studies have shed Read More

Researchers find increased activity in part of the subthalamus during mouse mother/pup interactions

The response of ZISST neurons to social interactions with their mother after different periods of social isolation. (A) P16-P18 mice are isolated for 10 min, 3h, 6h or 12h. (B) Average Z score of ZISST neuron activity in response to interaction with the mother after different periods of isolation. (C) Mean Z score of ZISST neuron activity. Credit: Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adk7411 A combined team of physiologists and medical researchers from Yale University and Sorbonne Université, ICM, has found a part of the mouse brain that becomes more active when mothers and their pups interreact. For their study, published in Read More

Scientists sets out seven steps to achieve clean indoor air post-pandemic

Dilution and removal of exhaled bioaerosols in the indoor environment through ventilation measures. Credit: Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adp2241. Seven lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about ventilation’s crucial role in preventing the spread of airborne pathogens have been set out by world-leading air quality scientist Professor Lidia Morawska, Professor Yuguo Li from The University of Hong Kong and Professor Tunga Salthammer from the University of Surrey, UK. “Ventilation and indoor airborne infection transmission: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic” was published in Science. Professor Morawska, director of THRIVE, from QUT’s School of School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences said the Read More

Brazil records world’s first Oropouche virus deaths: Ministry

Brazil has recorded the world’s first Oropouche virus deaths, the country’s health ministry said Thursday, after two women died of the illness spread by infected flies and mosquitos. The women from the state of Bahia in northeast Brazil were “under 30 years old, with no comorbidities, but who had signs and symptoms similar to a severe case of dengue,” the ministry said in a statement. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website states there are currently known outbreaks of Oropouche in parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba and Peru. The Brazil health ministry said there have been 7,236 Read More

Report suggests fake oxycontin pills widespread and potentially deadly

The rate at which young Americans are ending up in hospital ICUs after using fake Oxycontin pills spiked with fentanyl is soaring, especially in the U.S. West, a new report warns. Medical toxicology data from one unnamed hospital in the western U.S. found the number of cases involving overdoses involving fake “M-30” Oxycontin pills rose from just three in 2017 to 209 during 2022, according to a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most patients (81%) required hospital care and more than two-thirds of those patients spent time in the ICU. Two patients died while hospitalized, the Read More

Kids from poorer families less likely to survive cancer, study shows

Children from poor families are less likely to survive cancer, particularly if they are not white, a new study reports. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. A childhood cancer patient’s risk of dying within five years of their diagnosis increases 4% for every one-point increase in their neighborhood’s Area Deprivation Index (ADI), researchers found. The ADI uses 17 factors to measure a patient’s background, with higher scores indicating greater economic uncertainty, researchers said. Results also showed that non-white children had an increased risk of death from cancer. “Despite significant progress in the treatment Read More

Gender-based variation seen in Medicare reimbursement for surgery

Considerable gender-based variation is seen in practice patterns and reimbursement among different surgical subspecialties serving the Medicare population, according to a study published online July 24 in JAMA Surgery. Muhammad Musaab Munir, M.D., from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and colleagues examined variations in practice metrics and billing practices among female and male surgeons in a retrospective cross-sectional study using publicly available Medicare Fee-for-Service Provider Utilization and Payment data. The analysis included 20,549 general surgeons (24.5 percent female and 75.5 percent male), 1,065 surgical oncologists (42.3 percent female and 57.7 percent male), and 1,601 colorectal surgeons Read More

Toxic lead found in cinnamon product, FDA says

An additional cinnamon product sold in the United States has been found to contain high levels of lead, health officials are warning. In a health alert issued Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the ground cinnamon product, sold as El Servidor, joins a growing list of cinnamon products that have contained high levels of lead. Through testing, the cinnamon was found to have elevated lead levels at 20 parts per million. Although the FDA doesn’t set limits for lead levels in spices, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization has a proposed international safety standard of 2.5 parts Read More

Mitochondria support immune response to central nervous system injuries, scientists discover

Confocal images of corpus callosum with staining for Nuclei (DAPI, Blue), myelin (anti-PLP, Green) and microglia (anti-RFP, Red) taken from untreated, 10 week cuprizone and 6 week recovery RISP-cHET and RISP-cKO mice. Credit: Navdeep Chandel, PhD. Northwestern University Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that mitochondria are not necessary for the proliferation of specialized immune cells in the central nervous system, but do help those cells respond to demyelinating injuries, according to a study published in Nature Metabolism. “Microglia we know are connected to many neurological diseases, including decline in cognition during normal aging and Alzheimer’s Disease. People think that mitochondria Read More

Conflicting health advice from agencies drives confusion, but doctors remain most trusted

Distrust of health experts and credulity towards misinformation can kill. For example, during the COVID-19 crisis, high-profile health experts received death threats while misinformation went viral on social media. And already long before the pandemic, easily preventable but potentially serious diseases had been making a comeback around the world due to vaccine hesitancy—often powered by conspiracy theories. But what feeds this lack of trust in reliable sources of health information? Can it perhaps be mitigated? Those are the subjects of a new study in Frontiers in Medicine by researchers from the US. “Here we show that individuals who perceive conflict Read More

Researchers move a step closer to developing at-home test to detect dementia

Screenshots of TAS Test finger-tapping tests with green boxes guiding the participants where to position their hands for good quality data recording; (A) instruction screen, (B) recording screen (mirror view from the participant’s perspective) Tasmanian scientists are a step closer to developing a computer test that can detect dementia, decades before any memory symptoms emerge, recent research has found. In 2020, researchers from the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre developed TAS Test—a new computer screening test that picks up changes in hand movements that could indicate increased risk of dementia occurring 10–20 years later. In the Read More

Study suggests eye-level connection makes a difference in hospitals

Doctors and others who take care of hospitalized patients may want to sit down for this piece of news. A new study suggests that getting at a patient’s eye level when talking with them about their diagnosis or care can really make a difference. Sitting or crouching at a hospitalized patient’s bedside was associated with more trust, satisfaction and even better clinical outcomes than standing, according to the new review of evidence. The study’s authors, from the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, note that most of the studies on this topic varied with their interventions and Read More

What we know about Oropouche virus after first deaths

The first-ever deaths from the Oropouche virus, a little-known disease spread by the bites of infected midges and mosquitoes, have been recorded in Brazil. Here is what we know about the virus so far. What happened? Two women under 30 years old from the Brazilian state of Bahia have become the first known people to have died from the virus, Brazil’s health ministry said on Thursday. They showed symptoms similar to dengue, another mosquito-borne virus which is often confused with Oropouche. What is it? The virus was first detected in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. It is transmitted mostly through Read More

What to know about long COVID and how to reduce your risk

Remnants of COVID-19 (green) lingering in the GI tract. Credit: Henrich Laboratory, Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco UC San Francisco scientists have found that SARS-CoV-2 can linger in the body for years and could be driving a global epidemic in long COVID. They’re also exploring the surprising long-term risks of getting COVID in pregnancy. Assistant Professor of Medicine Michael Peluso, MD, heads UCSF’s LIINC program, short for “Long-term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus,” a university-wide effort to understand one of COVID-19’s most enduring challenges. Peluso and Professor of Pediatrics Valerie Flaherman, MD, MPH, lead components Read More

Study finds targeting inflammation may not help reduce liver fibrosis in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Researchers at UCLA Health uncovered new information about the role inflammation plays in mitigating liver fibrosis, which is associated with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), one of the most common diseases in the world affecting up to 40% of U.S. adults. While inflammation in the liver has long been considered a prerequisite to developing liver fibrosis, the scarring and thickening of tissue that can impair the liver’s ability to function, this new research suggests that reducing inflammation may not influence the extent of fibrosis. “Liver fibrosis is the critical feature that creates chronic liver disease and liver cancer. If we Read More

Double mastectomy may offer no survival benefit to women with breast cancer

Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast, even in the early stages, sometimes opt for a double mastectomy, due to the fear that the cancer will migrate to the other breast. But that decision may not offer any real benefit in terms of survival, an exhaustive new study of more than 600,000 patients tracked for two decades has found. Canadian researchers report that while having an unaffected breast removed did lower the odds of cancer appearing in that area, that did not translate to any change in the patient’s odds of death from breast cancer. “Prevention of Read More

Nasal spray clears proteins linked to Alzheimer’s

Scientists in America have developed a nasal spray that can remove proteins in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease—at least, in mice. There are two proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s: amyloid and tau. Most of the drugs—included those recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—focus on removing amyloid. To date, though, there has been little focus on removing tau “tangles.” However, the new nasal spray, developed by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, focuses on this protein. In a healthy brain, tau, among other things, helps to maintain the support structure of neurons (brain cells). In Read More

Research finds microglia rescue neurons through tunneling nanotubes

Microglia rescue neurons through protein removal and mitochondria donation. Credit: University Hospital Bonn / University of Luxembourg The brain contains many cell types, from the prominent neurons to the lesser-known microglia. The latter are integral to the brain’s immune system and play a crucial role as the brain’s cleanup crew. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University Hospital Bonn and the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg, in collaboration with colleagues from France, Hungary, and Germany, highlights that microglia establish connections with neurons through tunneling nanotubes. The researchers observed that microglia utilize these Read More

Weight loss surgery found to reduce widespread pain among people of color, although disparities persist

Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels Surgical weight loss reduces pain in Black and Hispanic patients, yielding the greatest benefit for pain reduction within the first three months after surgery and decreasing pain faster among Hispanic patients in the early phases of weight loss, finds a new study. However, despite Black and Hispanic patients having significantly less pain after bariatric surgery, their pain burden is still much higher than the general population. “Medical providers and researchers tend to underestimate the burden of widespread pain in minoritized populations living with higher body weight, leading to widening disparities and poor management of the Read More

Physicians’ role crucial in using AI in patient care

Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming the health care landscape from helping to diagnose diseases to assisting in surgery. Its rapid progression has the potential to transform how health care teams work by streamlining processes and improving patient outcomes. As AI is used more in health care, researchers stress that the technology should be a tool guided by bioethical principles and safeguarded by human decision-making. Focusing on ethics from the start, not as an afterthought, is crucial for the responsible development of AI-driven tools and also for ensuring that health care teams feel at ease using AI for patient well-being. “Often Read More

Expert explains warning signs of bad circulation

Cramps, tingling and pain in the extremities can be symptoms of poor blood circulation. Left unchecked, bad circulation can turn into worse health outcomes. An expert with Baylor College of Medicine breaks down some warning signs of bad circulation and treatment options for this condition. “The body tries to protect blood flow to the vital organs, which is why symptoms of poor circulation are usually first noted in the extremities,” said Dr. Veenadhari Wang, assistant professor of family and community medicine at Baylor. “Blood delivers oxygen and other important nutrients to the rest of the body and then carries away Read More

What you need to know about listeria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an alert after a listeria outbreak in several states. There have been at least two fatalities, and dozens have become sickened. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases expert, discusses the risks associated with listeria. “Listeria is a type of bacteria that is usually transmitted through food and food products. It is especially a concern if you’re pregnant, if you’re elderly or if you have a weakened immune system for some reason,” says Rajapakse. The contaminated food may be linked to sliced meats from deli counters. When it comes Read More

Do Hydration supplements really work?

You see them crowding checkout counters at grocery stores—a rainbow of bubble-gum pink, lime green and blueberry packets, slender and upright, like a multicolored chorus line of dancers tempting an impulse purchase. At the gym, they’re dissolved into enormous jugs of cherry-tinted water. “If your water isn’t turning your mouth blue, you’re apparently hydrating wrong,” one skeptical dietitian observed on TikTok last year. Hydration supplements in the form of powders, tablets and liquid additives have become a norm among consumers over the last decade, and are more popular than ever. The global electrolyte hydration drinks market was valued at $1.72 Read More

Does organizing your page help organize your mind?

If you have ever wondered how you manage to keep track of the immense amount of information coming to you each day, you might want to thank the positional tagging system in your mind. A recent study from Murdoch University investigated the Spatial Positional Association of Response Codes (SPoARC) effect to determine just how organization in our cognitive systems is impacted by the way we receive our information. The research, “Spatial organization in the human mind as a function of the distance between stimuli,” is published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. Murdoch University Pro Vice Chancellor of Health Read More

Sitting less, moving more helps stroke patients recover mobility, research shows

University of Alberta research is creating new recovery advice for stroke patients based on a precision health approach. “There’s a lot of associations between how much people sit, or don’t move, and health problems,” says Victor Ezeugwu, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute whose research in clinical settings focuses on movement behavior. “We kind of use a one-size-fits-all approach, but we know that doesn’t work for everyone,” Ezeugwu notes. “Getting people to work at higher intensities of physical activity after stroke continues to be a major challenge. We Read More

Yes, blue light from your phone can harm your skin—a dermatologist explains

Social media is full of claims that everyday habits can harm your skin. It’s also full of recommendations or advertisements for products that can protect you. Now social media has blue light from our devices in its sights. So can scrolling on our phones really damage your skin? And will applying creams or lotions help? Here’s what the evidence says and what we should really be focusing on. Remind me, what actually is blue light? Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum. Sunlight is the strongest source. But our electronic devices—such as our phones, laptops and TVs—also emit Read More

The dangers of heat-related illnesses

Prolonged exposure to both heat and humidity can lead to heat-related illnesses—from heat cramps to exhaustion to life-threatening heatstroke. Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, a Mayo Clinic family physician, offers recommendations on what to do if you begin to feel ill. Prolonged exposure to the heat and humidity can put you at risk for a range of heat-related illnesses, from mild to severe. “Heat can affect people’s bodies by increasing the core body temperature, ability to sweat and cause dehydration that’s causing further medical problems and ensuing issues, and eventually can lead to heat exhaustion — in some cases, severe heat illness, Read More

How stress might be the root of problems like pain, ulcers and a broken heart

The English actor Kate Beckinsale recently lost her stepfather. She experienced such intense grief at the loss that it “burned a hole” in her esophagus, causing her to “vomit copious amounts of blood.” Beckinsale spent six weeks in hospital recovering. People often speak about the emotional toll of grief and stress, but often less is said about the effects it can have on other parts of the body. Is it true that grief can cause such profound physical symptoms as vomiting blood? Perhaps. What we do know is that stress is linked to many other conditions that affect almost every Read More

Researchers highlight the limitations of a specific commercially available clinical genetic test in dermatology

Earlier this year, Department of Genetics professor Joel Sax, along with Christopher McFarland, assistant professor at the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and Bryan Carroll, associate professor for the Department of Dermatology, published an article titled “Limitations of the Commercially Available Gene Expression Test in Predicting Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis and Clinical Outcomes” for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. In an independent investigation into the original study and validation studies of this test, the team uncovered issues in the presentation of statistical accuracy metrics and the use of a limited training dataset. The article also Read More

Study finds unhealthy air quality from wildfires may impact fertility treatments

As climate change fuels increases in wildfires, researchers at OHSU’s Center for Women’s Health are investigating the effects of chronic smoke exposure on reproductive health outcomes. Credit: OHSU As wildfires throughout the West rage on, Oregon Health & Science University researchers have continued to investigate poor air quality’s effects on health, and have discovered potential impacts on reproductive outcomes—including for patients undergoing fertility treatments. In a study published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, OHSU researchers investigated the impact of unhealthy air quality from the 2020 Oregon wildfires on outcomes for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment, or IVF. They Read More

Study finds depression can reduce survival among women with breast cancer

New research from New Mexico State University shows depression can reduce survival rates among American women diagnosed with breast cancer. Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health sciences at NMSU, led a study to understand the long-term impacts of depression among American women with breast cancer. Khubchandani’s study partners included the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Walden University, and the National Institute on Aging, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. “More than 4 million American women are living with breast cancer today, and more than a quarter-million American women will Read More

Prognostic and therapeutic insights into MIF, DDT, and CD74 in melanoma

Tumor infiltrating immune cell profiling according to high (cyan) and low (salmon) CD74:MIF levels (A) and CD74:DDT levels (B) using TIMER2.0 deconvolution analysis. Credit: 2024 Valdez et al. A new research paper was published in Oncotarget entitled, “Prognostic and therapeutic insights into MIF, DDT, and CD74 in melanoma.” Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and its homolog D-dopachrome Tautomerase (DDT) have been implicated as drivers of tumor progression across a variety of cancers. Recent evidence suggests MIF as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) resistant melanomas. However, clinical evidence of MIF and particularly of DDT remains limited. In this Read More

Biotech companies can sustain the pipeline of new drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act, research finds

Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels New research from the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University shows that differences between the financial structures of large pharmaceutical producers and smaller, emerging biotechnology companies creates synergies that contribute to the pipeline of new, innovative products in response to reductions in drug prices anticipated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). While large pharmaceutical producers would likely reduce R&D spending in response to lower product revenues, R&D in smaller biotechnology companies is not likely to decrease and could sustain both corporate profits and new product approvals at current levels. This analysis Read More

GLP1RAs tied to greater risk of diabetic retinopathy progression than SGLT2is

In patients with diabetes and established diabetic retinopathy (DR), treatment with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) is associated with increased risks of DR progression compared with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), according to a study published online July 19 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Donna Shu-Han Lin, M.D., from Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and colleagues examined the effects of GLP1RAs and SGLT2is on the development or progression of DR. Analysis included 1,517 patients treated with a GLP1RA with DR and 9,549 without DR and 3,034 patients treated with an SGLT2i with DR and 19,098 Read More

Higher CEO pay in large health care systems linked to hospital consolidations, study suggests

A study from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy reveals that CEO salaries for nonprofit hospitals and health care systems increased significantly from 2012 to 2019. The study, “The Determinants of Nonprofit CEO Compensation,” is published in the journal PLOS ONE. This rise in compensation may be a factor driving the ongoing consolidation of health care systems, particularly among larger organizations, according to the researchers. The research team analyzed compensation data for 1,113 independent hospitals and nonprofit hospital systems in 2012 and 868 such organizations in 2019, combining IRS filing information with hospital statistics. “Many hospitals merged or closed Read More

Antidepressants may increase risk of relapse in some people with alcohol use disorder

According to a new study, antidepressants may reduce the risk of relapse in people with alcohol use disorder—but only if the antidepressants are effective in reducing their depression symptoms. People whose depression symptoms do not improve with antidepressant treatment may have an increased risk for relapse into problem alcohol use. The authors of the study, published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, urge clinicians treating people with alcohol use disorder to vigilantly monitor depression symptoms when prescribing antidepressants. Alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder are among the most prevalent mental disorders and often occur together. Research suggests that alcohol Read More

Researchers discover potential therapeutic target for degenerative eye disease

Akt2 upregulation triggers lysosomal dysfunction and an AMD-like phenotype in mice. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50500-z Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered the source of dysfunction in the process whereby cells in the eye’s retina remove waste. A report by scientists at NIH and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, details how alterations in a factor called AKT2 affect the function of organelles called lysosomes and results in the production of deposits in the retina called drusen, a hallmark sign of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). According to the researchers, the findings suggest drusen formation is a Read More

Hydroxychloroquine safe, effective treatment for anogenital lichen sclerosus: Study

Hydroxychloroquine appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for anogenital lichen sclerosus that only has mild adverse effects, according to a study published online July 19 in the International Journal of Dermatology. Christeebella O. Akpala, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues analyzed the demographic characteristics, clinicopathological features, treatment response, and outcomes of 70 patients diagnosed with either anogenital or extragenital lichen sclerosus who received hydroxychloroquine therapy (2018 to 2023). The researchers found that 36% of patients had a connective tissue disorder, prompting hydroxychloroquine therapy. Of the 30 patients treated solely for lichen sclerosus, 21 showed Read More

Sports psychologist shares how pro athletes handle stress

Credit: Pixabay from Pexels In recent years, the intense pressure professional athletes endure has come under scrutiny, highlighted by incidents like gymnast Simone Biles withdrawing from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and tennis player Naomi Osaka stepping back from the French Open, both citing mental health reasons. As Biles told reporters at the time, “Whenever you get in a high-stress situation, you kind of freak out,” adding: “It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head.” Kelli Moran-Miller, a certified mental performance consultant at Stanford Sports Medicine and a U.S. Olympic Committee registry member, specializes in helping athletes navigate such Read More

Something to chew on before you sink your teeth into those gummy vitamins

Whether in the grocery aisle, at the pharmacy, or at a dispensary, little gummy treats containing vitamins, supplements, or THC have become ubiquitous. But do the benefits of gummies (and closely-related chewies) outweigh the risks they can pose to oral health? Here’s some advice from Aikaterini Papathanasiou, professor and chair at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine’s Comprehensive Care Department, and Cheen Loo, professor and chair of Pediatric Dentistry at TUSDM. We hear all the time that sticky substances, especially those containing sugar, are bad for our oral health. Is that true? Aikaterini Papathanasiou: Sticky substances that contain sugar can Read More

European medicines watchdog rejects new Alzheimer’s drug

Europe’s medicines watchdog on Friday rejected a marketing request for a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment, saying the risks of the medicine’s side effects, including potential brain bleeding, outweighed the benefits. The decision by the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency was met with dismay, but experts said effective treatment for the degenerative mental disease affecting millions in Europe alone, was getting closer. “The CHMP recommended not granting a marketing authorization for Leqembi, a medicine intended for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” the European Medicines Agency said, referring to its committee for evaluating drugs for human use. Leqembi, which was developed by US Read More

Navigating nutrition for heart health

Could a short diet questionnaire encourage patients to make better food choices and improve heart health? In the past, your health care team had to rely on lengthy surveys to better understand what you were eating. But that’s all changed with the Mini-EAT assessment tool. Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, explains how this free, relatively new technology is helping patients and health care professionals. Eating habits play a significant role in your health. So how much and what kinds of foods do you eat in a week? Health care professionals often ask these questions during an exam, which Read More

Why men should be screened for the ‘breast cancer gene’

More and more studies show that men face risks of cancer from BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations that are most often associated with breast and ovarian cancers in women. According to a JAMA Oncologyreview article by experts at Fred Hutch Cancer Center and University of Washington, newly developed national screening guidelines offer hope for identifying the cancer risk of BRCA mutations in men through genetic testing and tailored cancer screening. “Not enough men are getting genetic testing to see if they carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variant that increases their cancer risk,” said lead author Heather Cheng, MD, Ph.D., Read More

Drone food delivery is spreading across Australia. Research suggests people will eat more junk food as a result

Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from cafes and restaurants via the DoorDash app and have it brought to them in minutes by a small aircraft. This is the first large-scale rollout of autonomous food delivery in Australia. What does it mean for our food ordering, and our health? Research (including ours) into online food delivery platforms suggests this extra convenience may come at a cost to public health. Online food delivery is booming—but Read More

Research shows 4 in 10 Australians in aged care are malnourished. What can be done about it?

Credit: Teona Swift from Pexels In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. If you’re not really interested in aged care, you should be. Given these figures, you will almost certainly be engaging with aged care services at some stage—either for yourself, or supporting family members or friends seeking aged care. One service you are likely to encounter is residential aged care homes. In the past few years, this sector has been under more Read More

Vaccines tell a success story that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump forget—here are some key reminders

Vaccinations have provided significant protection for the public against infectious diseases. However, there was a modest decrease in support in 2023 nationwide for vaccine requirements for children to attend public schools. In addition, the presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading critic of childhood vaccination, has given him a prominent platform in which to amplify his views. This includes an extensive interview on the “Joe Rogan Experience,” a podcast with over 14 million subscribers. Notably, former President Donald Trump has said he is opposed to mandatory school COVID-19 vaccinations, and in a phone call Trump apparently wasn’t aware Read More

New study highlights global disparities in activity limitations and assistive device use

A new study of more than 175,000 people in 25 countries revealed that individuals in low- and middle-income countries face greater challenges with daily activities and are less likely to use assistive devices compared to those in high-income countries. These findings raise concerns about the global burden of disability, particularly in low-income countries. Despite decreases in death and cardiovascular disease rates and increases in life expectancy worldwide, people in low and middle-income countries still experience significantly worse health outcomes than those in high-income countries. Less is known, however, about the global prevalence of disabilities and how they differ between countries. Read More

What happens in the brain during a migraine? And what medications can be used to treat it?

Migraine is many things, but one thing it’s not is “just a headache.” “Migraine” comes from the Greek word “hemicrania,” referring to the common experience of migraine being predominantly one-sided. Some people experience an “aura” preceding the headache phase—usually a visual or sensory experience that evolves over five to 60 minutes. Auras can also involve other domains such as language, smell and limb function. Migraine is a disease with a huge personal and societal impact. Most people cannot function at their usual level during a migraine, and anticipation of the next attack can affect productivity, relationships and a person’s mental Read More

‘Prelude’ to neuromuscular disease spinal muscular atrophy may offer chances for better treatment

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurological disease for which there is presently no cure, although current therapies can alleviate symptoms. In the search for better treatment options, scientists at DZNE and the Dresden University of Technology are now drawing attention to previously unnoticed abnormalities in embryonic development. They base their argument on studies of so-called organoids: laboratory-grown tissue cultures that can reconstruct disease processes. Their findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. In SMA, neurons in the spinal cord degenerate, leading to paralysis and muscle wasting. The disease usually manifests in childhood and affects an estimated Read More

How autistic and non-autistic people can understand each other better

Autistic people often experience difficulties with social communication. It’s so common, in fact, that it’s one of the central criteria for an autism diagnosis. For as long as we have been diagnosing autism, doctors and researchers have regarded social communication difficulties as autistic “impairments”. But in more recent years, research has begun to show that—just like autistic people have been saying for a long time—communication breakdowns go both ways. In other words, neurotypical people can have just as much difficulty understanding autistic people as the other way round. This is now sometimes referred to as “the double empathy problem”. In Read More

Why so many people drown at the water’s edge

Just being near blue spaces (the sea, rivers and lakes) can make us feel more relaxed because water triggers our parasympathetic nervous system, helping our body rest and digest. This calming effect, which slows our heart rate and lowers blood pressure, explains why so many people find joy and solace in water-related activities. But enjoying the water also has serious risks that can’t be ignored. In the UK, drowning is a leading cause of accidental deaths, surpassing even home fires and cycling accidents. Each year, around 400 people drown accidentally in the UK’s coastal and inland waters. Notably, 40% of Read More

Western Cape study shows 33% have symptoms of depression

by Mirriam Mkhize, Claire van der Westhuizen and Katherine Sorsdahl, The Conversation In South Africa, little research has been done on depression and anxiety among younger adolescents, those between the ages of 10 and 14. Existing studies have primarily targeted older adolescents and those living with HIV. The age range of 10- to 14-year-olds has been neglected. This age group is important because half of all mental health problems develop before the age of 14. As mental health researchers, we conducted a study focusing on these young adolescents in 10 schools in under-resourced areas within Cape Town and the Cape Read More

Why viruses could be as important for good health as gut bacteria

We often hear about the importance of the human microbiome—the vast collection of bacteria and fungi that live on and inside us—when it comes to our health. But there’s another, equally important part of this microbial community that remains far less known: the virome. The virome consists of all the viruses that inhabit our bodies. This includes those that infect human cells, bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) and the viruses we acquire from our diet and environment. Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, with an estimated 10³¹ viral particles globally and about 10¹³ in each human being. Read More

Researchers explore potential for AI to predict patients’ pain management support needs after surgery

A Mayo Clinic retrospective study of 9,731 patients explored the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict a patient’s need for opioid refills after surgery. The study used deep learning models, a form of AI, to predict which patients are most likely to require additional opioid refills after surgery while ensuring adequate pain management and minimizing the risk of opioid dependence. Refills were defined as any opioid prescribed from one to 30 days after hospital discharge. Researchers looked at a wide range of surgeries, including 280 thoracic, 1,680 abdominal, 1,575 pelvic and 5,952 musculoskeletal or orthopedic procedures. The study also Read More

Children less likely to have type 1 diabetes if mother has condition than if father is affected

New research to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD; Madrid, 9–13 September) shows that a child is almost twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes (T1D) if their father has the condition, than if their mother has the condition. The study, the largest of its kind, suggests that exposure to T1D in the womb confers long-term protection against the condition in children with affected mothers relative to those with affected fathers. Understanding what is responsible for this relative protection could lead to opportunities to develop new treatments to Read More

Boar’s head recalls liverwurst tied to listeria outbreak

Boar’s Head announced Friday that it was recalling all of its liverwurst products because they could be tainted with dangerous Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. “The company is also recalling additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst and, therefore, may be adulterated with L. monocytogenes,” according to a statement published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Overall, Boar’s Head “is recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products,” FSIS noted. The recall is part of an ongoing investigation into a listeria outbreak tied to deli meats Read More

Prostate cancer outcomes comparable for transgender women, cisgender men

Most prostate cancer outcomes do not differ significantly between transgender women (TGW) and cisgender (CG) men, including prostate cancer-specific mortality, according to a study published online July 21 in Cancer. Margaret Meagher, M.D., from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla, and colleagues compared oncological characteristics and survival outcomes between TGW and CG men with prostate cancer using data from the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure database (1999 to 2020) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database (2010 to 2017). The groups were matched in a 5:1 ratio (CG:TGW) based on age, race, Read More

New study shows ‘dancing molecules’ can regenerate cartilage in 3 days

Cartilage cells generate more protein components (collagen II and aggrecan) for regeneration when treated with fast-moving dancing molecules (left) compared to slower moving molecules. Credit: Stupp Research Group/Northwestern University In November 2021, Northwestern University researchers introduced an injectable new therapy, which harnessed fast-moving “dancing molecules,” to repair tissues and reverse paralysis after severe spinal cord injuries. Now, the same research group has applied the therapeutic strategy to damaged human cartilage cells. In the new study, the treatment activated the gene expression necessary to regenerate cartilage within just four hours. And, after only three days, the human cells produced protein components Read More

Chinese medicinal fungus shows promise in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) improved mitochondrial dysfunction in bleomycin-induced BEAS-2B cells. (A) Representative transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of BEAS-2B cells in the control, model, and CS groups. Credit: MedComm – Future Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1002/mef2.91 A study from China has reported that Cordyceps sinensis (CS), a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, can ameliorate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in mice by inhibiting mitochondrion-mediated oxidative stress. The research, conducted by a team led by Huan Tang and Jigang Wang from the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, was published in MedComm-Future Medicine. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is Read More

Combination drug strategy produces promising results by hyperactivating oncogenic signaling

FGF2 impairs cell cycle progression in K-Ras-driven cancer cells. Serum-starved Y1D1 cells were stimulated by 10% serum with or without 10 ng·mL?1 FGF2 to re-entry the cell cycle. Cells were subjected to a BrdU pulse 30 min before sample collection (every two hours). Credit: Cancer Discovery (2024). DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-0216 A combination of two drugs was capable of suppressing tumors in a non-conventional manner. Instead of inhibiting tumor cell division, as the most widely used medications do, the strategy consisted of hyperactivating oncogenic signaling by these cells to the point where they became stressed. The other drug then attacked the stressed Read More

Investigating the effect of alemtuzumab in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

The OS and GEFS of the study cohort. The solid line and the dashed line show OS and GEFS curves, respectively. OS and GEFS at 2 years post-HCT are described with 95% confidence intervals in brackets. Grade III–IV acute GVHD, systemically treated chronic GVHD, second transplantation, and death were defined as failure events for GEFS. OS, overall survival; GEFS, graft-versus-host disease-free, event-free survival. Credit: Department of Child Health and Development, TMDU Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a commonly used curative therapy for individuals with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). HCT involves introducing stem cells from a compatible donor with Read More

Supporting school re-entry of children with special health care needs post extended hospitalizations

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often face significant disruptions in their education due to extended hospitalizations. A recent study published online in Disability and Rehabilitation on July 1, 2024, by a multidisciplinary team of Kessler Foundation and Children Specialized Hospital researchers, highlights critical areas needing attention to ensure smoother school re-entries for CSHCN, ensuring they receive the necessary educational support post-hospitalization. Involving parents, former patients, and rehabilitation professionals, the study underscores the need for better coordination and communication to facilitate seamless transitions back to school for CSHCN. Titled “Experiences of patients, parents, and health care professionals in the Read More

Study finds increased substance use with direct, indirect exposure to mass terrorism

For adults, increased substance use (ISU) is seen in populations with direct, indirect, and media exposure to mass terrorism, according to a study published online July 24 in JAMA Network Open. Roi Eliashar, from the Israel Center on Addiction in Netanya, and colleagues examined which factors are associated with reporting ISU in a population affected by mass terrorism and examined whether psychological distress mediated the association between trauma exposure and reporting ISU. The study was a partially representative cross-sectional survey of the adult Jewish population in Israel (aged 18 to 70 years) conducted four weeks after Oct. 7, 2023. Data Read More

Study uncovers key immune cells for combating aggressive Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive form of skin cancer known for its rapid growth and tendency to metastasize. Despite the promise of immune checkpoint blockade therapy, which can boost the body’s immune response against cancer cells, nearly half of patients do not respond to this treatment. A new study published today in Cancer Discovery is providing insights into why some Merkel cell carcinoma patients respond to this type of immunotherapy while others do not. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers, in collaboration with scientists at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, conducted the largest and Read More

Researchers are exploring new ways to learn that make science more relevant to everyday life, and more fun

Frank Täufer, a scientific assistant at Campus Wiesengut—the University of Bonn’s ecological teaching and research farm—asked a group of visiting 8-year-olds to speculate on why the rye plants in his field were all different heights. He was surprised by their insightful range of responses. Some of the children suggested that the tall plants at the farm received more sunlight. Others thought there could be different types of rye in the field, or that insects may be blighting the crop. One student, after digging up a plant to inspect its roots, thought that the soil must be different across the field. Read More

The answer to job stress? Why, a pet!

Research published in the International Journal of Management Practice has looked at the relationship between job stress and well-being in people who are pet owners. The work suggests that pets can play a significant part in their owners’ lives beyond the obvious role of owning a pet. Jehn-Yih Wong, Ying-Ying Cheng, Chia-Ying ChouHua, and Shih-Hao Liu of Ming Chuan University in Taipei, Taiwan, surveyed 228 pet owners in order to investigate how job stress impacts life satisfaction and emotional exhaustion and to determine whether a strong attachment with a pet can ameliorate these potentially detrimental effects. Job stress is defined Read More

What is sexual ‘aftercare’ and what does it mean for consent education?

Credit: Subodh Bajpai from Pexels Sexual consent is about good communication between sexual partners before and during sex. Far from being a simple act of saying “yes” or “no” prior to sex, affirmative consent involves checking in with a sexual partner throughout a sexual encounter, and tuning into verbal and nonverbal responses. When we talk about consent, however, we don’t always talk about what happens after sex. Communication and care are important in sex. Even if someone has freely and enthusiastically consented, respectful treatment by a sexual partner matters. No one consents to feeling disregarded or uncared for. Respectful sex Read More

What’s really behind the ad label? The dark arts influencers are using to get your likes

Rogue social media influencers are relying on gender stereotypes, bogus claims and deceptive editing to monetize their content and increase their following, a new study has found. Influencers using these questionable tactics, which would otherwise be impermissible under UK marketing rules, are seemingly able to hide in plain sight thanks to the existing focus on ad labeling within the influencer industry. In the absence of a legal definition and comprehensive guidelines on influencers, some are able to operate in regulatory blind-spots, with the only real requirement that sinks its teeth is for them to be transparent about what type of Read More

Strangers trust others more when they put down their phones, experiment finds

Credit: Keira Burton from Pexels It’s practically a ritual: As soon as we sit down on the bus or get in line at the post office, we pull out our phones. Studies show average Americans check their phones almost 100 times a day, spending more than five hours daily staring at that pocket-sized screen. While scrolling through social media or checking sports scores may seem like a good way to kill time it may come at a social cost, according to a new study by Sandy Campbell, Ph.D. 24. “When I was younger, growing up in New York I’d see Read More

Is your child’s photo on their school Facebook page? What does this mean for their privacy?

If you search most primary or high school websites, you will likely find images of happy, smiling children. Student’s images are also used publicly for school newsletters, social media accounts and other school publications like annual reports. Parents could reasonably expect that schools and education departments have conducted thorough checks and evaluations to do this. To some degree this is true, but a recent AI scare where children’s images were used in a massive training data set included some photos from school websites. Research also shows schools can do more to promote children’s rights to privacy. Parents and governments are Read More

People with disability know bodies can be funny—so it’s OK that you’re laughing at the Paralympics TikTok account

Our bodies are delightfully ridiculous. When God created humanity, they knew our short lives would be full of pain, hardship and horror. So they created our bodies absurdly—clumsy, squidgy and bouncy, messy and noisy, with weird dangling protuberances—so we could laugh our way through challenges and crises and find the moments of joy and beauty that make it all worthwhile. Rowan Atkinson’s face is their comedic masterpiece, but we all have bodies designed for comedy. This is especially true for those of us with disability. I have quadriplegia, and my body—which has a life of its own—is a jester. It Read More

Can policy decisions reduce our appetite for meat?

The City of West Hollywood has reportedly adopted an ordinance that requires plant-based food to be served at all city events, with meat available only upon request. The city’s goal is to reduce the impact that meat and dairy production has on climate change: Livestock emit anywhere from 11% to nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet. I caught up with three USC experts to shed some light on the city’s decision. They also responded to some of the wider questions surrounding meat and dairy production and the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Disclosure: Read More

Would you pay to quit TikTok and Instagram? You’d be surprised how many would

Social media is a problem for economists. They don’t know how to value it. It has long been argued that it ought to be in the national accounts as part of gross domestic product. One 2019 study estimated Facebook alone is worth US$40 to US$50 per month for consumers in the United States. But that’s not what we pay. Social media isn’t charged for, and the national accounts measure only the things we pay for, no matter how significant they are in our lives and how many hours per day we spend using them. As the Australian Senate prepares to Read More

Digital food ordering drives increased indulgence and spending, study reveals

As restaurants increasingly embrace technology for placing food orders, a new University of South Florida study reveals that digital ordering platforms significantly influence consumer behavior, often leading to more indulgent food choices and increased spending. Co-authored by Dipayan Biswas, the USF Frank Harvey endowed professor of marketing in the Muma College of Business, the comprehensive study compares the cognitive effects of ordering from a digital screen to traditional methods, including printed menus. As published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, major restaurant chains, such as Panera Bread and McDonald’s, have introduced touchscreen kiosks, while others like Chili’s Read More

Study finds Airbnb hosts who smile get more bookings

A new study shows that Airbnb hosts who smile in their profile photos can get more bookings. Hosts with a smile see an average increase of 3.5% in bookings. The study, done by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, University of Rochester, and Yale School of Management, is forthcoming in the Journal of Consumer Research. Smiling hosts, especially those with higher uncertainty in their listings, e.g., hosts with less experience or those with properties in high-crime areas, see a significant boost in demand. A smile may reduce perceived uncertainty and improve Read More

‘What if there were a butch Barbie?’ Barbie’s gender politics investigated

The exclusion of butch representation in the Barbie movie limits its queer inclusivity, says a paper released in the year of the doll’s 65th anniversary. Dr. Clara Bradbury-Rance, Senior Lecturer in Gender and Sexuality Studies in the Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities, imagines how the film could be different if it featured a butch version of Barbie in the paper published in Feminist Media Studies. “The film has many undeniable pleasures, including its celebration of femininity, its shameless camp aesthetic, and the could-be-lesbian chemistry between its leads. But there are clearly still barriers to queer and trans representability. I wanted to Read More