Researchers discover DNA mechanism that regulates how disease-causing mutations are inherited

A live C. elegans animal with the mitochondria in its nervous system decorated with red and green fluorescent proteins. Credit: A/Prof Steven Zuryn University of Queensland researchers have discovered a mechanism in DNA that regulates how disease-causing mutations are inherited. The research paper has been published in Cell Metabolism. Dr. Anne Hahn and Associate Professor Steven Zuryn from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute said the findings could provide a promising therapeutic avenue to stop the onset of heritable and age-related diseases. “Mitochondrial DNA is essential for cell function,” Dr. Hahn said. “But as we age it mutates, contributing to diseases like Read More

A modified peptide shows promise for fighting tumors

Pimonidazole is a marker of hypoxia, or low levels of oxygen at the tissue level, and CD31 can be used to measure blood vessel density. This image of hypoxic cells and endothelial cells within colon tumors therefore shows how the dCNP treatment decreases hypoxia and increases blood vessels. Credit: Serge Fuchs The growth of healthy tissues in the body depends on the development of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis, that enables proper blood flow, meaning nutrients and oxygen are delivered while toxic metabolic products are removed. But solid tumors grow faster than healthy tissues, resulting in deficiencies in Read More

Government report links excessive fluoride in water to lowered IQs in kids

High levels of fluoride in drinking water may dim the intelligence of children, a new U.S. government report shows. Based on an analysis of published research, the potentially controversial report marks the first time a federal agency has determined there is a link between drinking twice the recommended amount of fluoride and lower IQs in kids. “Since 1945, the use of fluoride has been a successful public health initiative for reducing dental cavities and improving general oral health of adults and children,” the report stated. “There is a concern, however, that some pregnant women and children may be getting more Read More

One diet might cut your odds for COVID-19

COVID cases have surged this summer, but a new study suggests that following the Mediterranean diet might spare you from infection. In a review published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, Indonesian researchers discovered that the healthy eating regimen, which centers on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish and heart-healthy fats like olive oil and nuts, lowered the risk of COVID infection. “There have been numerous studies that heavily associated COVID-19 with inflammation [in the body], while the Mediterranean diet has been long known for its anti-inflammatory properties,” senior study author Andre Siahaan, a lecturer at the Center of Evidence-Based Read More

Promising treatment for rectal cancer confirmed in major study

Compliance to preoperative chemotherapy in LARCT-US. Proportion of patients treated with chemotherapy per course. Four CAPOX cycles (or 6 FOLFOX) with at least 3 (5) cycles of oxaliplatin was provided to 208 (76%) patients and 239 (88%) patients received at least 75% of the number of prescribed chemotherapy cycles. Credit: eClinicalMedicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102771 A new treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer shows favorable results in that surgery can sometimes be avoided completely. It also reduces the risk of recurrence. The method has been confirmed as effective in a comprehensive study conducted at Uppsala University and published in eClinicalMedicine. “The Read More

Bioengineers develop hybrid grafts to combat cardiovascular disease

A graphical abstract of the cardiovascular graft, showing how it can help a blood vessel repair. Credit: Advanced Functional Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202409883 Researchers from AMBER and Trinity, led by Dr. David Hoey, have successfully replicated the behavior of a blood vessel and its guiding structure to regenerate damaged tissue. The researchers, who published their work in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, used a Melt electrowriting (MEW) technique to provide an innovative off-the-shelf alternative to address the unmet clinical need for small-diameter vascular grafts to help combat cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity. Current treatments include Read More

Two proteins identified as potential targets to improve ALS symptoms

Credit: Cell Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114626 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that is incurable. The disease is characterized by the selective degeneration of upper motor neurons in the motor cortex as well as the lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. The cause of ALS remains unknown in 90% of cases, which are referred to as sporadic ALS because there is no family history for the disease. Cumulative evidence suggests that sporadic ALS may result from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility and aging. The remaining 10% of ALS cases are hereditary and linked to mutations Read More

Mouse model suggests proteins cause damage in fetal abdominal inflammation

Inflammation of the abdominal cavity in human fetuses resulting from a perforation of their intestine is likely to be caused by proteins contained in the fetal stool. This is the result of a Kobe University study that established a new mouse model allowing research and drug development for a condition that is otherwise difficult to approach. The fetus’s stool, called the “meconium,” is sterile but nevertheless causes inflammation of the abdominal cavity when it leaks out of the intestine after a perforation. Called “meconium peritonitis,” this is a life-threatening condition for the baby with a mortality rate of 10–15% in Read More

Identifying the true danger of antimicrobial resistance in Australian kids

One out of every 10 children with a bloodstream infection are infected with a multi-drug resistant organism in the nation’s first-ever surveillance study investigating the prevalence of pediatric antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) Kids Report, prepared by the Wesfarmers Center of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, uses data collected from 38 laboratories throughout the country to identify the strains of bacteria responsible for sending kids to hospital. Identified by the World Health Organization as one of the top global public health and development threats, AMR occurs when bacteria develop a defense Read More

Study reveals RNA’s role in regulating gene expression in cancer cells

Credit: Molecular Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.07.032 Scientists have discovered how interactions between RNA and the TOP1 essential enzyme, which is overexpressed in many human cancers, regulate DNA during transcription and may inform the creation of new cancer therapies, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Molecular Cell. “This study offers new mechanistic insights that could pave the way for developing novel chemotherapeutics by targeting the RNA binding interface with small compounds. Our findings reveal that inhibiting RNA binding of TOP1 may work similarly to well-known TOP1 inhibitors like camptothecin by increasing TOP1 catalytic complexes on DNA. “This approach could Read More

Legal challenges in human brain organoid research and its applications

Human brain organoids are three-dimensional neural tissues derived from stem cells that can mimic some aspects of the human brain. Their use holds incredible promise for medical advancements, but this also raises complex ethical and legal questions that need careful consideration. Credit: WPI-ASHBi/Kyoto University A study appearing in Journal of Bioethical Inquiry explored the legal and ethical challenges expected to arise in human brain organoid research. Human brain organoids are three-dimensional neural tissues derived from stem cells that can mimic some aspects of the human brain. Their use holds incredible promise for medical advancements, but this also raises complex ethical Read More

New insights into stress responses in hematopoietic stem cells

Chromatin modifier Hmga2 promotes adult hematopoietic stem cell function and blood regeneration in stress conditions. Credit: Goro Sashida, Kumamoto University Kumamoto University researchers have made a discovery that sheds light on how the HMGA2 gene—an essential transcriptional activator involved in chromatin modification—regulates stress responses in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), thereby enhancing blood cell production recovery. The study is published in The EMBO Journal. Exposure to infections or treatments such as chemotherapy often leads to a rapid decline in blood cells, including red blood cells and platelets. HSCs, which reside in the bone marrow that can develop into various types of Read More

Study reveals why orange netting packaging makes oranges look more appealing

Unripe green orange (A) within the orange net, (B) in isolated view, and (C) with a “Munker-net.” Credit: i-Perception (2024). DOI: 10.1177/20416695241258748 People who shop for groceries at their local supermarket may have noticed that some of the fruit they purchase may not look the same at home as it did in the store—or more specifically, after it is removed from its packaging. This is due to what has come to be known as the “confetti illusion”—in which pieces of colored material partially obstructing the view of an image can change the way our brain processes its coloring. Karl Gegenfurtner, Read More

Universal flu vaccine candidate protects against infection in mice

Annual flu vaccines protect against severe infection, but they vary in efficacy and may not match the most virulent strains of the season. The reality of a universal flu vaccine, which would protect people from all strains, and ideally longer than a single season, remains elusive. Findings published this week in the Journal of Virology suggest we’re getting closer. Researchers at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have reported that their universal flu vaccine candidate, tested on animal models, elicited a strong immune response and provided protection against severe infection after viral exposure. The new work builds on previous, similarly promising Read More

Mpox vaccine maker gets European order for 440,000 doses

Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic said Wednesday it had signed a contract to supply 440,000 doses of its mpox vaccine to an “undisclosed European country”. The World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared the rapid spread of the new, more dangerous mpox strain, dubbed Clade 1b, a public health emergency of international concern—the highest alarm the UN agency can sound. Bavarian Nordic said the order was anticipated and included in the company’s projections for the year. “The latest order was planned as part of our original guidance for this year, and as such, will not impact the remaining capacity that is Read More

Mpox disease presents hard-to-weigh risks

As fears mount globally about mpox, apparently simple questions such as the danger it poses and differences between variants do not have clear and simple answers. The World Health Organization in July declared an international health emergency over the spread of mpox, which first appeared in humans around 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). For decades, the illness long known as “monkeypox” was restricted to a handful of African countries, with estimates of its mortality rate ranging from one to 10 percent of people infected. That uncertainty grew from 2022, when mpox spread elsewhere in the world, especially Read More

UK drug regulator approves Alzheimer’s drug but government likely won’t pay for it

A doctor points to PET scan results that are part of a study on Alzheimer’s disease at Georgetown University Hospital, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File Britain’s drug regulator authorized the Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi on Thursday, saying it’s the first medicine to show some impact in slowing the progression of the neurodegenerative disease. But the U.K. government likely won’t be paying for it after an independent agency separately issued draft guidance concluding that the benefits of Leqembi “cannot be considered good value for the taxpayer.” In addition to the cost of the drug, providing Read More

Cautious optimism in San Francisco as new cases of HIV in Latinos decrease

by Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News For years, Latinos represented the biggest share of new HIV cases in this city, but testing data suggests the tide may be turning. The number of Latinos newly testing positive for HIV dropped 46% from 2022 to 2023, according to a preliminary report released in July by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The decrease could mark the first time in five years that Latinos haven’t accounted for the largest number of new cases, leading to cautious optimism that the millions of dollars the city has spent to remedy the troubling disparity Read More

Inside conservative activist Leonard Leo’s long campaign to gut Planned Parenthood

A federal lawsuit in Texas against Planned Parenthood has a web of ties to conservative activist Leonard Leo, whose decades-long effort to steer the U.S. court system to the right overturned Roe v. Wade, yielding the biggest rollback of reproductive health access in half a century. Brought by an anonymous whistleblower and later joined by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the suit alleges the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and three Planned Parenthood affiliates defrauded the Texas and Louisiana Medicaid programs by collecting $17 million for services provided while it fought state efforts to remove it as an approved provider. Read More

The latest form of medical tourism

In the 18 months after Francine Milano was diagnosed with a recurrence of the ovarian cancer she thought she’d beaten 20 years ago, she traveled twice from her home in Pennsylvania to Vermont. She went not to ski, hike, or leaf-peep, but to arrange to die. “I really wanted to take control over how I left this world,” said the 61-year-old who lives in Lancaster. “I decided that this was an option for me.” Dying with medical assistance wasn’t an option when Milano learned in early 2023 that her disease was incurable. At that point, she would have had to Read More

Study finds ED use high before and after self-inflicted injury among youths

The rates of emergency department (ED) use are high before and after self-inflicted injury among youths, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in JAMA Network Open. Samaa Kemal, M.D., M.P.H., from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study of ED encounters by youths aged 5 to 18 years with self-inflected injuries to examine ED use 90 days before and 90 days after self-inflicted injury. A total of 15,593 ED encounters by youths (median age, 15 years) were identified and included in the analysis. The researchers found that 24.2 percent Read More

Detective algorithm predicts best drugs for genetic disorders and cancer

Ben Lehner (left) and Fran Supek (right), the co-corresponding authors of the research. Credit: Centre for Genomic Regulation A computational model built by researchers at the Institute of Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) can predict which drugs will be most effective in treating diseases caused by mutations that can bring protein synthesis to a halt, resulting in unfinished proteins. The findings, published today in Nature Genetics, mark an important step in helping personalize treatment by matching patients with specific mutations with the most promising drug candidate. The predictive model, a publicly available resource Read More

Macaque study investigates role of interhemispheric pathways in spinal cord injury recovery

Stroke and spinal cord injuries can severely impair motor functions, and understanding how to promote recovery is a critical challenge. While damaged neurons in the brain and spinal cord have limited ability to regenerate, the brain can form or strengthen alternative neural pathways involving uninjured parts of the brain, enabling functional recovery. Such reorganization of pathways in the brain is called neural plasticity, and identifying the involved pathways and understanding their functions can aid researchers in developing more effective rehabilitation strategies. Previous research has shown that when one side of the corticospinal tract—a major pathway that carries movement signals from Read More

Will EEG be able to read your dreams? The future of the brain activity measure as it marks 100 years

One hundred years after the human brain’s electrical activity was first recorded, experts are celebrating the legacy of its discovery and sharing their predictions and priorities for its future. Since the first recording in July 1924, human electroencephalography (EEG) has been integral to our understanding of brain function and dysfunction: most significantly in the clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, where the analysis of the EEG signal meant that a condition previously seen as a personality disorder was quickly redefined as a disorder of brain activity. Now, a century on, more than 500 experts from around the globe have been asked to Read More

Clinical trial in Ireland challenges beliefs about Ozempic and similar new obesity treatments

A study carried out in St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) Dublin challenges the belief that weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Monjaro work just by promoting satiety and making you eat less. The randomized controlled trial with 30 patients was led by Professor Donal O’Shea, SVUH and UCD School of Medicine, and examined the family of medications based on the hormone Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The findings, published today in the Journal of the Obesity Society, show that there is a strong relationship between the increase in metabolic activity caused by once-daily treatment with GLP-1 and the amount of weight Read More

Advancing immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer

Summary of current small molecular drugs targeting PD-L1 and CD47. Small molecule chemical compounds block the function of major immune checkpoint molecules by (I) competitively binding with immune checkpoint molecules to block their combination with paired receptors (BMS202, CA-170, and IMMH-010 targeting PD-L1; NCGC00138783 and 1,2,4-oxadiazole compounds targeting CD47); (II) inhibiting the level of PD-L1 and CD47 expression (e.g., fraxinellone, RRx-001, and metformin); (III) inhibiting the translation of PD-L1 (e.g., eFT508); (IV) promoting degradation of PD-L1 (e.g., HIP1R). Credit: Cancer Biology & Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0034 Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) playing a pivotal role. Read More

Macrophage mix helps determine rate and fate of fatty liver disease

A colorized scanning electron micrograph depicts a Kupffer cell. These immune system cells reside only in the liver, protecting other cells by detecting and removing foreign debris, dead cells and pathogens. They also pay a role in the metabolism of many different compounds, including lipids and protein complexes. Credit: Thomas Deerinck, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, UC San Diego. Formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is an inflammatory disease characterized by liver scarring or fibrosis that progressively impairs liver function. It is a major risk factor for cirrhosis and liver cancer. And because treatment options Read More

FDA approves updated COVID shots for fall

Updated shots you may soon get to shield against COVID-19 infection were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. This year’s approval for the updated mRNA vaccines comes much sooner than happened in 2023, when fall vaccines were authorized on Sept. 11. The latest shots from Moderna and Pfizer will now target a variant of the omicron strain of the virus called KP.2, the FDA said in a statement. “The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been updated with this formula to more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization Read More

The molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac repair

In summary, macrophages secrete IFN-?, activating the IFN-?-IFNAR-p-STAT1 axis in MICFs, leading to increased secretion of CCL2/7/12 chemokines and subsequent recruitment of more IFN-?-secreting macrophages. These recruited macrophages further enhance STAT1 phosphorylation, establishing a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop between MICFs and macrophages. Knockdown of IFNAR disrupts this loop, facilitating efficient reprogramming. Credit: Hao Wang, Junbo Yang, Yihong Cai, Yang Zhao A paper, “Macrophages suppress cardiac reprogramming of fibroblasts in vivo via IFN-mediated intercellular self-stimulating circuit,” published in Protein & Cell uncovers a previously unappreciated mechanism by which macrophages influence the fate of CFs post-MI. It demonstrates that macrophage-derived IFN-? stimulates Read More

Mechanisms of antibody gene diversification during somatic hypermutation

AID-induced U/G lesions can be perfectly repaired or may result in C/G transition mutations via DNA replication, C/G transition or transversion mutations via the BER pathway, and A/T mutations via the MMR pathway. Credit: Science China Press In a recent online publication in Science China Life Sciences, researchers from the laboratory of Leng-Siew Yeap at the Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine published a review article entitled “Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Lesion and Repair During Antibody Somatic Hypermutation.” The review comprehensively summarizes the mechanisms involved in the generation of antigen-specific diversified antibodies, with a particular Read More

Neuroscientist shares inclusivity lessons learned in mentor–mentee relationships

Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera, PhD, assistant professor in the UNC Neuroscience Center at the UNC School of Medicine. Credit: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine Diversity is the driving factor for scientific discovery. However, racial diversification efforts among researchers have fallen short. In a perspective published in Neuron, Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UNC Neuroscience Center at the UNC School of Medicine, describes how critical mentor–mentee relationships are for the next generation of neuroscientists, especially for those, like him, who come from racially underrepresented groups. In the piece, Rodriguez-Romaguera and his former mentor, Gregory Quirk, Ph.D., Read More

Cancer drug could treat early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, study shows

Using preclinical models — in vitro cellular models with amyloid and tau proteins, in vivo mouse models and in vitro human cells from Alzheimer’s patients — the researchers demonstrated that stopping IDO1 helps restore healthy glucose metabolism in astrocytes, the star-shaped brain cells that provide metabolic support to neurons. Credit: Michelle Bixby/Penn State A type of drug developed for treating cancer holds promise as a new treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, according to a study by researchers at Penn State, Stanford University and an international team of collaborators. The researchers discovered that by blocking a specific enzyme called Read More

How US hurricane relief and health care policies leave Puerto Rico behind

In the span of a few short years, the residents of Puerto Rico endured a series of devastating storms—including Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Fiona—and were faced with hundreds of earthquakes. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, stressing the island’s health care infrastructure when it was already compromised. “Puerto Rico has experienced multiple, compounding disasters in recent years. It’s been a recipe for health care challenges, to say the least,” said Anna-Michelle McSorley, a postdoctoral associate at the NYU School of Global Public Health and the NYU Center for Anti-racism, Social Justice & Public Health. In an article published in the American Read More

Surgery effective for thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament

For patients with thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL), surgical treatment is effective for improving neurological function, quality of life (QoL), and pain management during a 10-year period, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Sadayuki Ito, M.D., Ph.D., from the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, and colleagues retrospectively examined 51 patients followed for ?10 years after posterior decompression and corrective fusion surgery for T-OPLL to assess clinical, functional, and QoL outcomes. The researchers found a significant improvement in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score from preoperatively Read More

Salivary CD44, total protein ID recurrence risk in head and neck cancer

Elevated salivary levels of CD44 and total protein (TP) can identify head and neck cancer patients with an increased risk for cancer recurrence, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Elizabeth J. Franzmann, M.D., from the University of Miami Health System and Jackson Memorial Hospital, and colleagues conducted a multi-institutional nonrandomized clinical trial testing a novel diagnostic/screening assay to examine whether soluble CD44 and TP are useful for monitoring head and neck cancer recurrence in a point-of-care (POC) test. Oral rinses were collected at pretreatment baseline and at three, six, 12, and 18 Read More

Wounds are common among people who use illicit opioids, but proper wound care is hard to find

Graphical abstract. Credit: Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112390 The animal tranquilizer xylazine is increasingly found in the illicit opioid supply nationwide, leading to severe wounds among people who use drugs. New research led by a University of Pittsburgh physician-scientist and published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence seeks to understand wound care experiences of this population. A cross-sectional survey of people who use drugs identified through three syringe service providers in Massachusetts found the vast majority had experienced xylazine wounds in the prior year. As the need for comprehensive, low barrier wound care grows, access to such care continues Read More

Novel AI algorithm assists in breast cancer screening

The image illustrates the gradient-based saliency maps predicted by the MV-DEFEAT model highlighting the relevant regions of interest and capturing the information that can assist the radiologist in the decision-making process.The picture shows original mammograms on the top from different views. The red parts on the second row are the areas the computer-assisted model focuses on when deciding how dense the breast is. The model learns to find these important areas by itself to help it classify breast density. Credit: University of Eastern Finland Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland have developed a novel artificial intelligence-based algorithm, MV-DEFEAT, to Read More

T cells can manipulate the memory of innate immune cells, researchers show

Graphical Abstract. Credit: Credit: Cell Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114664, https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(24)01015-5 Research from Radboud university medical center reveals that T cells from the adaptive immune system can manipulate the memory of innate immune cells. Previously, it was believed that the memory of innate immune cells operated independently. This surprising connection opens up new possibilities for the treatment of various diseases. A mouse model shows that no immunosuppressive drugs are needed after an organ transplantation if this interaction between T cells and the innate immunity is temporarily blocked after the transplantation. The article was published in Cell Reports. The adaptive immune system Read More

ChatGPT’s diagnostic capabilities evaluated in comparison to radiologists: Could AI boost results?

As AI advances, its use as a tool in the medical field must be evaluated. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University In radiology, diagnostic imaging requires specialized knowledge to interpret the findings associated with a wide variety of diseases. Fortunately, in recent years, generative AI models, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT), have shown potential as diagnostic tools in the medical field, but their accuracy must be evaluated for optimal use in the future. Therefore, Dr. Daisuke Horiuchi and Associate Professor Daiju Ueda of Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Medicine led a research team that compared the diagnostic accuracy of Read More

Methamphetamine-related deaths in Australia quadrupled over 20 years

Credit: Radspunk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons A new study has found there has been a four-fold increase in methamphetamine-related deaths in Australia during the last two decades. The findings are published in the International Journal of Drug Policy. Australia has one of the highest rates of amphetamine dependence globally, with a 2019 government survey estimating more than 5% of Australians have used amphetamines at some point in their life. However, this figure is suspected to be much higher. The study identified the most significant rise in deaths between 2009 and 2016, peaking at a record high of 2.4 deaths Read More

Finding new treatments for genetic tumor-predisposition syndrome

Clinically diverse cNFs give rise to organoids with similar histopathological features. Credit: Cell Reports Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100772 A new report describes a promising approach to studying neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic condition with limited treatment options. The condition causes a number of different cancerous and non-cancerous tumors to form throughout the body. Among these tumors are cutaneous neurofibromas, benign tumors that grow from nerve terminals in the skin. Current treatment to reduce tumor growth in patients is limited to surgery, which can lead to scarring, re-growth of the tumor and may not be feasible at all when these benign Read More

How insulin, zinc and pH can block harmful protein clumps linked to type 2 diabetes

TEM images of IAPP and insulin aggregates. Credit: Communications Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06388-y An estimated 462 million people around the world suffer from type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease in which the body has problems using sugar as a fuel, leading to a buildup of sugar in the blood and chronic health issues. New research led by Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, a professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, shows how zinc, pH levels and insulin work together to inhibit the buildup of protein clumps that contribute to this disease. The work, Read More

Researchers map brain circuits that signal immediate danger and create memories to help avoid threats

Graphical abstract. Credit: Current Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.006 An article published in the journal Current Biology describes experiments that mapped a brain circuit responsible for instantly detecting threats and forming memories of fear. “We were interested in locating a brain region associated with fear signaling and finding out how it could identify environments previously related to physical or predatory threats, such as a place where the individual underwent an aversive physical stimulus,” said Newton Sabino Canteras, full professor in the Department of Anatomy at the University of São Paulo’s Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICB-USP) in Brazil and last author of the Read More

Brain organoid model implicates gene in disease progression

Huntington’s Disease organoids (right) exhibit almost no neural progenitors (red) and also show defects in cellular polarity (yelllow). These defects have been described in the literature in human fetuses with Huntington’s disease. Credit: Selene Lickefett, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Werner Dykstra, Max Delbrück Center For the first time, researchers have implicated the gene CHCHD2 in Huntington’s disease (HD)—an incurable genetic neurodegenerative disorder—and identified the gene as a potentially new therapeutic target. In a brain organoid model of the disease, the researchers found that mutations in the Huntington gene HTT also affect CHCHD2, which is involved in maintaining the normal function of mitochondria. Read More

Mpox vaccine maker says ‘better prepared’ than in 2022

Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic said last week that it was ready to supply up to 10 million doses of its vaccine targeting mpox by the end of 2025. Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic said Thursday that it was “better prepared” to supply its mpox vaccine for the current surge of the virus than it was for the 2022 epidemic. The vaccine maker said last week that it was ready to supply up to 10 million doses of its vaccine targeting mpox by the end of 2025, with some 500,000 doses currently in stock. According to the company, the level of “panic Read More

Researchers identify molecular mechanism that transports important dietary fats to the fetus

Transcriptional analysis of LC-PUFA-phospholipid biosynthetic pathways in the pregnant liver. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51089-z Research in mouse models has identified a new mechanism for how long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), like omega-3s, are transported from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. The results, published in Nature Communications, could help to identify ways to tackle LC-PUFA deficiency in the developing fetus. LC-PUFAs are a group of fatty acids that are essential to the functioning of the body. They are used in cell walls, provide an essential layer of insulation (known as myelin) around nerve cells, and are involved Read More

New insights into blood flow fluctuations offer hope in fight against cardiovascular disease

Proposed mechanisms of and contributors to Piezo1-mediated shear-induced NETosis. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51211-1 Researchers have uncovered how fluctuations in blood flow that occur when there is a narrowing in the arteries contribute to harmful inflammation and blood clot formation, revealing the critical role that blood flow–driven forces play in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. These new insights from researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, published today (August 22) in Nature Communications, have led to the identification of a target that could mitigate harmful inflammation and blood clot formation, and potentially have a significant impact Read More

What is ‘sloth fever?’ And how can I avoid it when traveling to South America?

Biting midges are much smaller than mosquitoes but can still spread pathogens such as Oropouche virus. Credit: A/Prof Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology) International authorities are issuing warnings about “sloth fever.” Despite the name, it’s not contracted via contact with sloths. Rather, you should avoid contact with mosquitoes and biting midges. So how can Australians protect themselves from sloth fever when traveling to South and Central America? And how does “sloth fever” compare with other mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika? What is ‘sloth fever?’ Sloth fever is caused by Oropouche virus and is formally known as Oropouche virus disease or Read More

Research suggests Americans face disparities in exposure to tobacco on streaming platforms

Credit: Jill Burrow from Pexels Tens of millions of Americans are being exposed to tobacco content on streaming services, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The researchers found that the odds of encountering tobacco products being advertised, marketed or promoted on these platforms increased based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and smoking habits. The nationally representative study, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed an estimated 12.4% of American adults were exposed to tobacco promotion on streaming services. Exposure was highest among those with a high school education or less (16.4%), Black/African American respondents Read More

Olaparib may be effective without hormone therapy for some men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer

The anti-cancer drug olaparib may be effective in treating biochemically recurrent prostate cancer without accompanying hormone therapy for men who have mutations in genes such as BRCA2, according to results of a Phase II clinical trial of 51 patients conducted at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and three other sites. The study was done on men experiencing signs of cancer recurrence after surgical removal of the prostate, as measured by a high level of the protein prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Following treatment with olaparib, 13 participants, including all 11 who had BRCA2 mutations, had a decrease in PSA of at Read More

Reading your biological age in your blood or saliva? It’s not as simple as that, study shows

Epigenetic clocks are impacted by the differentiation stage and proliferation history of cells, as well as by age-associated changes in cell type composition. Credit: Rebecca Gorelov How old are you, really? Your chronological age is the number of years you have been alive. Your biological age is how old your cells are, which scientists believe may better assess one’s age-related health and disease risk. People biologically age at different rates, depending on genetic and environmental factors, so that a person’s chronological age does not necessarily match their biological age. In recent years, direct-to-consumer biological age tests have become increasingly accessible Read More

Thyroid hormone fuels the drive to explore by rewiring brain circuits, new study suggests

Thyroid hormone plays a key role in regulating a range of physiologic functions, including metabolism, temperature, heart rate, and growth. It accomplishes this impressive array of activities by interacting with almost every organ system in the body. Yet despite a long history of research on how thyroid hormone influences different organs, its effects on arguably the most crucial organ—the brain—have remained shrouded in mystery. Now, scientists at Harvard Medical School have gained new insights into thyroid hormone’s effects on the brain. The work, conducted in mice and published Aug. 22 in Cell, shows that thyroid hormone changes the wiring of Read More

Higher thiazide doses shown to reduce kidney stone events

Higher thiazide doses are associated with greater reductions in urine calcium, which in turn correlate with fewer symptomatic kidney stone events, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) study published in JAMA Network Open. Thiazide diuretics, commonly prescribed to prevent kidney stone recurrence, are drugs that act directly on the kidneys to promote diuresis (urine flow) by inhibiting the sodium/chloride cotransporter located in the distal convoluted tubule of a nephron (the functional unit of a kidney). Thiazides are also used as a common treatment for high blood pressure and to clear fluid from the body in conditions such as Read More

Smartphone eye-tracking could expand autism research reach

High-accuracy gaze estimation with smartphones. Credit: Autism Research (2024). DOI: 10.1002/aur.3140 One of the most effective means of investigating and understanding autism is eye tracking. Participants are shown photos or videos, and computer software records where their gaze rests. Autistic individuals are more likely to focus on nonsocial aspects of an image, such as objects or background patterns, while neurotypical subjects have an increased propensity to focus on people’s faces. Ralph Adolphs, the Bren Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Biology and an affiliated faculty member of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, has been researching autism for decades Read More

Strengthening senior well-being through generational bonds

Watching your children frolic in a playground is one of the many joys of being a parent or grandparent, but new research has found that engaging in play with kids could help improve mental health. Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Canberra (UC) have explored the benefits of intergenerational play through specially designed playgrounds for kids and adults. Intergenerational play brings young children and older people together to engage in enjoyable and creative activities such as storytelling, using playground equipment, and games. The world is facing an aging population, with the proportion of over Read More

Marriage strongly associated with optimal health and well-being in men as they age

A new study that followed over 7,000 Canadians, middle-aged and older, for approximately three years found that married men or men who became married during the study period were twice as likely to age optimally compared to their never-married male peers. Among women, those who had never married were twice as likely to age optimally compared to married respondents who became widowed or divorced during the study period. Married women did not differ significantly from never-married women with respect to optimal aging. “Little is known about the relationship between marital trajectories in old age and successful aging. Our goal was Read More

Mental health and chronic diabetes complications strongly linked both ways

Graphical Abstract. Credit: Diabetes Care (2024). DOI: 10.2337/dc24-0818 Heart attack, stroke, nerve damage. These are just some of the complications for which millions of Americans with diabetes are at greater risk. When a person has any of these chronic diabetes complications, they are more likely to have a mental health disorder, and vice versa, according to a University of Michigan-led study. That is, the relationship goes both ways: having a mental health condition also increases the risk of developing chronic complications of diabetes. “We wanted to see if chronic diabetes complications led to mental health disorders or if mental health Read More

Taking a trip down memory lane could be the key to drinking less alcohol

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have explored the role memory plays in alcohol consumption and believe it could help people drink less booze. Previous research has found people don’t eat as much food when they are reminded of an earlier meal just before tucking in. The new study wanted to further investigate the relationship between memory and consumption, but with alcohol instead. The team conducted a study involving 50 women aged 18- to 46-years-old who were randomly split into two groups: The first group were asked to recall a recent alcohol experience in detail, and the second had to Read More

Separating the physical and psychosocial causes of pain

Graphical abstract. Credit: Med (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.07.016 Not all pain is the same. Depending on the cause, it requires different therapies. A team led by ETH Zurich has now developed a method that enables physicians to better distinguish between physical and psychosocial pain. Severe pain often has physical causes. But emotional, psychological and social factors can influence how we perceive and react to pain. “Pain is usually made up of a physical and a psychosocial component,” explains Noemi Gozzi, a doctoral student at ETH Zurich. Physicians do their best to take this into account in their treatment recommendations. So far, Read More

Constipation increases your risk of a heart attack, new study finds—and not just on the toilet

If you Google the terms “constipation” and “heart attack” it’s not long before the name Elvis Presley crops up. Elvis had a longstanding history of chronic constipation and it’s believed he was straining very hard to poo, which then led to a fatal heart attack. We don’t know what really happened to the so-called King of Rock-n-Roll back in 1977. There were likely several contributing factors to his death, and this theory is one of many. But after this famous case, researchers took a strong interest in the link between constipation and the risk of a heart attack. This includes Read More

Can injectable weight-loss drugs improve heart health?

Injectable weight-loss medications called semaglutides are helping people with obesity by reducing appetite. But could these drugs also be the next breakthrough in keeping your heart healthy? The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Wegovy, a brand name of semaglutide, as a secondary prevention medication to reduce risk of serious heart problems. Could your cardiologist soon be prescribing the weight-loss drug Wegovy to improve your heart health? “It wasn’t the weight loss necessarily that drove that benefit. It was something that seemed very specific to this semaglutide itself,” says Dr. Meera Shah, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist. A study published in Read More

Weighing the social costs of weight-loss drugs

A wildly popular class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists—which includes Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—are revolutionizing the treatment of obesity. One in eight adults has tried a GLP-1 drug for weight loss or to manage their diabetes, and a tidal wave of research is revealing that these medications may also help with a range of health issues, from lowering the risk of heart disease and certain cancers to treating sleep apnea and substance use disorders. “These drugs are making a big difference because of how effective they are,” says Angela Godwin Beoku-Betts, a clinical assistant professor at the NYU Rory Read More

New compound shows great potential for patients with neutrophil-associated inflammation

Improvement effects of MOD06051. In the glomeruli of the disease group, neutrophils (green) that are positive for the NETs marker citrullinated histone H3 (Cit-H3; red) are observed. Cit-H3 was not observed in neutrophils infiltrating in the low-dose and high-dose treatment groups. (Yuka Nishibata, et al. Nature Communications. August 22, 2024). Credit: (Yuka Nishibata, et al. Nature Communications. August 22, 2024) A newly developed compound that reduces harmful inflammation caused by overactive neutrophils in rats shows great potential as a safer treatment for various inflammatory diseases in humans. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in the human Read More

Mpox epidemic disinformation debunked

An mpox outbreak spreading across several African countries, which the World Health Organization has called a global emergency, has caused a spike in online disinformation about the viral disease. No links to shingles or the COVID vaccine In a video circulated on X and Facebook, Wolfgang Wodarg, a German doctor known for his anti-vaccine views, claimed that mpox and shingles shared the same symptoms. The physician also accused the pharmaceutical industry of frightening people to make profit. This is false. Mpox is not a shingles epidemic caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. Much is already known about the virus and the Read More

State laws strongly affect mental health of trans people

There’s a strong association between a state’s policies and laws around the rights of transgender people and the mental health of transgender residents, a new study shows. “Trans individuals who were worried about having their rights taken away had significantly higher odds of experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms,” the study authors reported Aug. 22 in the journal JAMA Network Open. “Contrarily, those who knew about the state-level protective legislation, specifically protections against hate crimes, had lower odds of depression and anxiety symptoms,” said a team led by Arjee Restar, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington in Read More

Hot flash drug shows significant benefits in clinical trials

The investigational drug elinzanetant significantly reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause while improving women’s quality of life, according to new UVA Health research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows. The nonhormonal drug, containing no estrogen, was tested in two phase 3 trials, Oasis 1 and 2, at dozens of locations in the United States, Europe, and Israel, including UVA Health. Postmenopausal women ages 40-65 with moderate to severe hot flashes were randomized to receive either 120 mg of elinzanetant daily for 26 weeks or a harmless matching placebo for 12 Read More

Air pollution found to have greater mental health impact in New York’s historically redlined neighborhoods

University at Buffalo researchers found that, in New York State, the link between air pollutant exposure and ER visits for mental disorders was most pronounced in historically redlined communities. Credit: University at Buffalo Air pollution is bad for mental health. That much is clear. Now, new research shows the impact may be even worse in neighborhoods that were historically redlined. University at Buffalo researchers looked at 17 cities across New York State where longstanding federal housing policies once denied neighborhoods with people of color from receiving mortgages. Although this practice was outlawed in 1968, the researchers found that elevated levels Read More

ChatGPT shows promise in answering patients’ questions to urologists

The ChatGPT chatbot shows potential as a time-saving tool for responding to patient questions sent to the urologist’s office, suggests a study in the Urology Practice journal. The artificial intelligence (AI) tool generated “acceptable” responses to nearly one-half of a sample of real-life patient questions, according to the new research by Michael Scott, MD, a urologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. “Generative AI technologies may play a valuable role in providing prompt, accurate responses to routine patient questions—potentially alleviating patients’ concerns while freeing up clinic time and resources to address other complex tasks,” Dr. Scott comments. Can ChatGPT accurately Read More

A potential pathway may guide new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory diseases

TNF-?–induced increase in intestinal epithelial TJ permeability is mediated by the activation of NF-kB p50/p65. The activated NF-kB translocates to the nucleus, binds to the cis-kB binding site on the myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) promoter region, and activates the MLCK gene transcription and protein synthesis process. The increase in MLCK protein level and activity [phosphorylated myosin light chain (P-MLC)] results in MLCK-induced opening of the TJ barrier. BB1 treatment activates the toll-like receptor (TLR)-2/TLR-6 signaling pathway, leading to the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ? (PPAR- ?). The PPAR- ? activation results in inhibition of TNF-?–induced IKK [inhibitor of Read More

High-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines found to provide better protection for seniors

Comparison of absolute standardized difference among influenza vaccine recipients ?65 y of age, before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; IPTW, inverse probability of treatment weighting. Chronic respiratory disease includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. Credit: Clinical Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae375 High-dose and adjuvanted influenza (flu) vaccines boosted protection against flu symptoms and hospitalization for people 65 years and older during the 2022–2023 flu season compared to the standard flu vaccine. The study “Comparative effectiveness of licensed influenza vaccines in preventing influenza-related medical encounters and hospitalizations in the 2022-2023 influenza Read More

Immune cells have a metabolic backup plan for accessing their anti-cancer playbook

Myeloid immune cells alongside red blood cells in an electron micrograph of human blood. Credit: National Cancer Institute Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection and cancer, reports a study led by Van Andel Institute scientists. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, could help improve immunotherapies by revealing how diet can boost immune cell function. “Like any good system, immune cells have a plan A and a plan B,” said Russell Jones, Ph.D., the study’s corresponding author and chair of VAI’s Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming. “We’ve pinpointed Read More

Just 10 minutes of mindfulness daily boosts well-being and fights depression

Credit: Prasanth Inturi from Pexels In a new study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, researchers from the Universities of Bath and Southampton have unveiled how just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness practice can improve well-being, ease depression and anxiety, and help people to be more motivated to improve their lifestyle—including healthier exercise, eating and sleeping habits. The research, which enrolled 1247 adults from 91 countries, demonstrates that brief daily mindfulness sessions, delivered through a free mobile app Medito, can have profound benefits. Participants, most of whom had no prior mindfulness experience, were randomly allocated to a month-long Read More

Examining the use of opioids for chronic cough

Opioid-containing cough suppressant (OCCS) prescriptions for patients with chronic cough, by year and number of prescription orders. OCCS drugs were prescribed in 21% of patients. Credit: Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease (2024). DOI: 10.1177/17534666241259373 Chronic cough, with symptoms lasting more than eight weeks, affects approximately one in 10 adults. Cough is among the most common reasons for seeking medical care in the United States, yet chronic cough is difficult to treat. One of the largest studies of chronic cough and one of the first to explore the use of opioids, which are known to suppress cough, to treat these patients, Read More

A new screening method for measuring blood-brain barrier permeability

SwRI developed a new screening method (on the right) that uses in vitro brain cells to identify potential drug formulations, depicted in blue and green, that can penetrate the brain’s complex and highly selective blood-brain barrier with hydrodynamic forces to simulate movement or a heartbeat. Credit: Southwest Research Institute Scientists at Southwest Research Institute have developed a new screening method to identify drug formulations that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), to facilitate treatment of brain diseases and conditions. “The BBB protects the brain and central nervous system from potentially harmful substances in the bloodstream, regulating the transport of essential Read More

Researchers discover brain circuit that controls ability to recall information and memories

Endopiriform projects to the ventral CA1. Credit: eLife (2024). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.99642.1 Daily, we encounter new people, situations, and things that require our attention. Fortunately, there is an area in the brain that contributes to consciousness and awareness. This area is called the “Claustrum complex” and is located deep within the brain in each hemisphere. Today, we know that many diseases related to higher cognitive function, such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and ADD/ADHD, are closely linked to abnormal function of this particular part of the brain. However, we still do not fully understand how the different parts of the claustrum complex work Read More

Autism spectrum disorders linked to neurotransmitter switching in the brain

Neurotransmitter switching: Mouse models highlight excitatory neurons (red cells) that express the neurotransmitter glutamate while inhibitory neurons (green cells) express the neurotransmitter GABA. Yellow arrowheads indicate inhibitory neurons that have switched their neurotransmitter from GABA to glutamate. Credit: Spitzer Lab, UC San Diego Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) involve mild to severe impairment of social, behavioral and communication abilities. These disorders can significantly impact performance at school, in employment and in other areas of life. However, researchers lack knowledge about how these disorders emerge at early stages of development. University of California San Diego neurobiologists have found evidence of altered development Read More

The role of bitter polyphenols in the regulation of blood sugar

Researchers from SIT reveal the mechanism by which bitter taste of plant-based polyphenols interact with T2R in the gut and secrete GI hormones, thereby regulating blood sugar levels and appetite, reducing the risk of diabetes and obesity. Credit: Frankie Fouganthin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Polyphenol.jpg Bioactive compounds like polyphenols and their health benefits have long captured public attention and interest. Commonly present in plant-based food like fruits, vegetables, seeds, coffee, and tea, polyphenols have a strong bitter taste, and in the normal course of a day, are excreted by our body due to poor absorption. The polyphenols interact with Read More

Bed-sharing has no impact on children’s psychological development

Percentage of co-developing internalizing (INT) and externalizing (EXT) symptom trajectories class membership based on bed-sharing and solitary sleeping infants. Credit: Attachment & Human Development (2024). DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2024.2380427 Parental bed-sharing is unlikely to impact children’s psychological development, new research has found. The study from the University of Essex looked at nearly 17,000 British babies and tracked them for 11 years—finding kids who shared beds were happy and healthy. Dr. Ayten Bilgin, from the Department of Psychology, found no association between bed-sharing at 9 months and childhood emotional or behavioral problems. The practice is mired in controversy as some experts previously thought Read More

New work validates targets for personalized cancer immunotherapy

Optimization of HLA:peptide extraction and sample preparation workflow. Credit: Molecular & Cellular Proteomics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2024.100825 What are the characteristics of a cancer cell that are recognized by the immune system? Knowledge of the potential target structures for the immune cells is a basic prerequisite for the development of personalized cancer immunotherapies. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the NCT Heidelberg have developed a highly sensitive method based on mass spectroscopy to identify such tumor-specific “neoepitopes.” The analytical method is designed to detect these low abundance protein fragments and requires minimal amounts of sample material. The findings Read More

The link between asbestos and pleural cancer in offshore petroleum workers

Men who work offshore and have been in contact with asbestos in their working environment have a higher risk of developing pleural cancer. The risk of pleural cancer may also be linked to having worked in an environment containing asbestos before beginning work offshore. These are among the findings of a new study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine involving 25,000 offshore workers. “In our study we found an association between exposure to asbestos in offshore working environments and pleural cancer in offshore petroleum workers. Findings like this can help develop measures targeted at preventing cancer but are also important Read More