New class of antibiotics against resistant bacteria

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing threat to human health. In an article published in the journal PNAS, Umeå researcher Fredrik Almqvist and his colleagues present a new type of antibiotic that effectively kills hard-to-fight bacteria.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-class-of-antibiotics-against-resistant-bacteria

Fairy tales are salient for teaching primary students about social justice and emotional intelligence, study finds

From Little Red Riding Hood to the Ugly Duckling, fairy tales have long been read to children across the ages. Yet despite criticisms of being outdated and sexist, new research shows that fairy tales still hold an important place in primary education.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/fairy-tales-are-salient-for-teaching-primary-students-about-social-justice-and-emotional-intelligence-study-finds

Young star-forming complexes detected in the galaxy NGC 4324

Using the Caucasus Mountain Observatory, Russian astronomers have investigated a nearby lenticular galaxy known as NGC 4324. They detected young star-forming complexes in the inner ring of this galaxy. The findings, presented October 14 on arXiv.org, could improve our knowledge about the formation and evolution of NGC 4324.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/young-star-forming-complexes-detected-in-the-galaxy-ngc-4324

Sinuses offer new way of studying the evolution of ancient humans

The changing shape of the frontal sinuses is helping to reveal more about how modern humans, and our ancient relatives, evolved.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/sinuses-offer-new-way-of-studying-the-evolution-of-ancient-humans

New method can quickly derive contact binary parameters for large photometric surveys

A contact binary is a strongly interacting binary system with two component stars filled with Roche lobes, and there is a common envelope around the component stars.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-method-can-quickly-derive-contact-binary-parameters-for-large-photometric-surveys

How heart failure disrupts the cell's mitochondria

Chronic heart failure causes the cell's powerhouses to malfunction, in part due to overconsumption of an important intermediary compound in energy production. Supplementing the diet to compensate for this could prove a promising strategy for treating heart failure. The findings were published in the journal PNAS by Hokkaido University scientists and colleagues in Japan.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/how-heart-failure-disrupts-the-cells-mitochondria

Science sleuths solve century-old mystery of Martian meteorite's discovery

A toxin that makes pigs vomit is the surprising key which has unlocked the century-old mystery of the origins of a Martian meteorite, and the possible identity of the Black student who discovered it.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/science-sleuths-solve-century-old-mystery-of-martian-meteorites-discovery

Positive ESG ratings in the past led to 25% drop in philanthropic giving

Everywhere you look, something or someone is being rated—that movie you're thinking of seeing, the restaurant you might try, the president's popularity this week. We don't seem to agree on much right now, but we can all agree that a positive rating is good, and a negative rating is bad. Or can we?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/positive-esg-ratings-in-the-past-led-to-25-drop-in-philanthropic-giving

Different blossoming schedules have kept these flowers from driving each other extinct

A big part of evolution is competition— when there are limited resources to go around, plants and animals have to duke it out for nutrients, mates, and places to live. That means that the flower-covered meadows of China's Hengduan mountains were an evolutionary mystery— there are dozens of species of closely-related rhododendrons that all live in harmony. To figure out why, scientists spent a summer carefully documenting the flowering patterns of 34 Rhododendron species, and they discovered the reason why the plants were able to coexist: they burst into bloom at different points in the season so they don't have to compete for pollinators.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/different-blossoming-schedules-have-kept-these-flowers-from-driving-each-other-extinct

Israel to spend millions on Einstein museum

The Israeli government decided on Sunday to allocate millions of dollars for a museum to house the world's largest collection of Albert Einstein documents, the Hebrew University said.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/israel-to-spend-millions-on-einstein-museum

New data transmission record set using a single laser and a single optical chip

An international group of researchers from Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden have achieved dizzying data transmission speeds and are the first in the world to transmit more than 1 petabit per second (Pbit/s) using only a single laser and a single optical chip.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-data-transmission-record-set-using-a-single-laser-and-a-single-optical-chip

Partial solar eclipse from Iceland to India on Tuesday

A partial solar eclipse will be visible across a swathe of the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday, with amateur astronomers warned to take care watching the rare phenomenon.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/partial-solar-eclipse-from-iceland-to-india-on-tuesday

Farmers in US Midwest struggle amid prolonged drought

Months without rain have left farmers across the vast US Midwest, part of the country's essential "breadbasket," seeing crop yields in freefall, with some fields too damaged to harvest.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/farmers-in-us-midwest-struggle-amid-prolonged-drought

Major Hurricane Roslyn approaches Mexico's Pacific coast

Communities along the west coast of Mexico prepared Saturday for Hurricane Roslyn, a major Category 4 storm, as the US National Hurricane Center warned of potentially damaging winds, dangerous storm surge and flash flooding.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/major-hurricane-roslyn-approaches-mexicos-pacific-coast

India launches 36 internet satellites delayed by Ukraine war

India launched a rocket carrying 36 private internet satellites on early Sunday, stepping in to keep the orbital constellation growing after a monthslong interruption related to the war in Ukraine.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/india-launches-36-internet-satellites-delayed-by-ukraine-war

New strategy enables targeted treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

The high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) microenvironment and its persistent inflammatory nature can promote damage to joints, bones, and the synovium. Strategies that integrate effective RA microenvironment regulation with imaging-based monitoring could lead to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-strategy-enables-targeted-treatment-of-rheumatoid-arthritis

Antibiotic resistance testing no longer impeded by time

Significant time is needed to determine the drug susceptibility profile of a bacterial infection. Now, researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology and collaborating partners have published reports on a technology that will dramatically speed up this otherwise slow process and possibly help save lives.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/antibiotic-resistance-testing-no-longer-impeded-by-time

FAST discovers largest atomic gas structure around a galaxy group

Atomic gas is the basic material that all galaxies are formed from. The evolution of galaxies is mostly a procedure of accreting atomic gas from the intergalactic medium and then converting it into stars.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/fast-discovers-largest-atomic-gas-structure-around-a-galaxy-group

Food aid staving off famine in Somalia: UN

The United Nations said Friday that international food assistance to Somalia was the only reason why famine was being kept at bay in the troubled country.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/food-aid-staving-off-famine-in-somalia-un

Climate Questions: How does carbon dioxide trap heat?

That carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap heat is something scientists have known about for more than a 150 years. The underlying concept behind climate change is simple enough that school children can replicate the chemistry and physics and so can you.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/climate-questions-how-does-carbon-dioxide-trap-heat

Unlocking hidden connections between cell death and inflammation

As researchers glean new insights into the dynamic inner world of the human immune system, it has become increasingly clear that mitochondria are critical regulators of how our bodies respond to disease.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/unlocking-hidden-connections-between-cell-death-and-inflammation

Navigating when GPS goes dark

Words like "tough" or "rugged" are rarely associated with a quantum inertial sensor. The remarkable scientific instrument can measure motion a thousand times more accurately than the devices that help navigate today's missiles, aircraft and drones. But its delicate, table-sized array of components that includes a complex laser and vacuum system has largely kept the technology grounded and confined to the controlled settings of a lab.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/navigating-when-gps-goes-dark

Scientists discover the source of one of the rarest groups of meteorites

Since return mission Hayabusa2 brought samples of asteroid Ryugu back to Earth in 2020, a team of experts from across the world have been examining them to learn more about the origins of our solar system.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/scientists-discover-the-source-of-one-of-the-rarest-groups-of-meteorites

First measurement of interactions between Fermi polarons in an atomically-thin 2D semiconductor

Recent Australian-led research has provided a world's first measurement of interactions between Fermi polarons in an atomically-thin 2D semiconductor, using ultrafast spectroscopy capable of probing complex quantum materials.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/first-measurement-of-interactions-between-fermi-polarons-in-an-atomically-thin-2d-semiconductor

Volcanic 'trombone music' could provide early warning of eruptions

University of Canterbury (UC) postdoctoral researcher Dr. Leighton Watson (Ngāi Tahu), in collaboration with researchers at the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology and Boise State University, has developed a modeling tool that uses sound waves from volcanic activity to help understand and forecast volcanic behavior.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/volcanic-trombone-music-could-provide-early-warning-of-eruptions

Observations shed more light on the star formation history of galaxy NGC 2915

Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT), Chinese astronomers have investigated a nearby blue compact dwarf galaxy known as NGC 2915. Results of the study, presented in a paper published October 12 on arXiv.org, yield important insights regarding the star formation history of this galaxy.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/observations-shed-more-light-on-the-star-formation-history-of-galaxy-ngc-2915

Acidic layer in single-walled carbon nanotubes facilitates confinement of anion impurities

Efficient purification processes that separate impurities from air and water are necessary to sustain life on Earth. To this end, carbon materials have long been used for deodorizing, separating, and removing harmful anion impurities by adsorption. So far, the detailed mechanism by which carbon purifies water has remained a mystery. Additionally, it is not known if the aqueous solution adsorbed on the carbon material is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/acidic-layer-in-single-walled-carbon-nanotubes-facilitates-confinement-of-anion-impurities

Analysis of research on Myanmar amber fossils shows explicit links to political, legal and economic changes

Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia, is plagued by political and economic crises. The fall of a president, a military putsch and the crackdown on religious minorities have had an impact not only on life but also on research in the country. One area of research that has been particularly affected is research into fossils preserved in amber.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/analysis-of-research-on-myanmar-amber-fossils-shows-explicit-links-to-political-legal-and-economic-changes

Study reveals a broken symmetry in the roughness of elastic interfaces

A large class of problems in non-equilibrium statistical physics deal with driven dynamics of elastic interfaces in random media. Examples include stress-driven propagation of crack fronts in disordered solids, motion of domain walls driven by applied magnetic fields in disordered ferromagnets, and dynamics of fluid fronts invading a porous medium—for example, when coffee spilled on the table is absorbed by the tablecloth.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/study-reveals-a-broken-symmetry-in-the-roughness-of-elastic-interfaces

Mysterious breeding habits of aquarium fish vex experts

It took a broken air conditioner for Tom Bowling to figure out—after nearly eight months of failure—how to breed the coveted pink-yellow tropical fish known as blotched anthias.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/mysterious-breeding-habits-of-aquarium-fish-vex-experts

Novel genomic technology provides ultra-sensitive detection of gene fusions from RNA

Biofidelity, a genomic technology company, has developed a low-cost, simple and rapid assay for single-molecule detection of multiple gene fusions from RNA. A new scientific paper describes the assay and how detecting these fusions faster and at a lower cost has the potential to revolutionize patient care and make precision medicine globally accessible to more people.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/novel-genomic-technology-provides-ultra-sensitive-detection-of-gene-fusions-from-rna

Sustainably extracting bactericidal mixtures from tomato peels

In recent years, agro-industrial residues have been explored for the development of bioplastics, food supplements, and other applications. In Europe, nearly 10 million tons of tomato fruit were processed in 2020, generating half a million tons of tomato pomace (residues of peels, stems and seeds). In an article published on the cover of ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, a team of ITQB NOVA and INRAE (France) scientists showed that it is possible to extract bactericidal mixtures from tomato peels in a short and sustainable process.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/sustainably-extracting-bactericidal-mixtures-from-tomato-peels

Astronomers explore the properties of supernova SN 2017hcc

Using various spacecraft and ground-based telescopes, astronomers have conducted multiwavelength observations of a Type IIn supernova known as SN 2017hcc. Results of the observational campaign, published October 6 on arXiv.org, shed more light on the properties of this supernova.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/astronomers-explore-the-properties-of-supernova-sn-2017hcc

Color-selective, three-dimensional polarization structures

Polarization has been a central concept to our understanding of optics and has found many applications ranging from quantum science to our daily life. 3D polarization structures possess peculiar optical features and extra degrees of freedom for carrying information.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/color-selective-three-dimensional-polarization-structures

Exploring the decay processes of a quantum state weakly coupled to a finite-size reservoir

In quantum physics, Fermi's golden rule, also known as the golden rule of time-dependent perturbation theory, is a formula that can be used to calculate the rate at which an initial quantum state transitions into a final state, which is composed of a continuum of states (a so-called "bath"). This valuable equation has been applied to numerous physics problems, particularly those for which it is important to consider how systems respond to imposed perturbations and settle into stationary states over time.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/exploring-the-decay-processes-of-a-quantum-state-weakly-coupled-to-a-finite-size-reservoir

Warming waters 'key culprit' in Alaska crab mass die-off

Climate change is a prime suspect in a mass die-off of Alaska's snow crabs, experts say, after the state took the unprecedented step of canceling their harvest this season to save the species.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/warming-waters-key-culprit-in-alaska-crab-mass-die-off

One in six younger Australians live in poverty

Poverty persists in Australia with younger demographics—including children, young adults and working families— bearing the brunt of the unequal distribution of resources in Australia.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/one-in-six-younger-australians-live-in-poverty

Lab-grown cell machinery prompts real cells to sense and react to outside cues

Imperial researchers have programmed bacterial cells to react to changes in light and temperature with the help of synthetic cell machinery.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/lab-grown-cell-machinery-prompts-real-cells-to-sense-and-react-to-outside-cues

Grazing animals key to long-term soil carbon stability, study finds

Large mammalian herbivores like the yak and ibex play a crucial role in stabilizing the pool of soil carbon in grazing ecosystems such as the Spiti region in the Himalayas, according to a 16-year-long study carried out by researchers at the Center for Ecological Sciences (CES) and the Divecha Center for Climate Change (DCCC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/grazing-animals-key-to-long-term-soil-carbon-stability-study-finds

Bringing photocatalysis from laboratory to industry

Photocatalysis is considered a promising novel approach for the sustainable synthesis of, amongst others, active pharmaceutical ingredients and agrochemicals.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/bringing-photocatalysis-from-laboratory-to-industry

Honeybees use a 'mental number line' to keep track of things

A small team of researchers with members from the University of Toulouse, the University of Lausanne and the University of Padova has found evidence that honeybees have a mental number line in their tiny brains. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes experiments they conducted with captive honeybees.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/honeybees-use-a-mental-number-line-to-keep-track-of-things

Plants use their roots to measure manganese concentration available in the soil

A team of researchers led by Jörg Kudla from the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Münster are the first to demonstrate, using the model plant thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), how plants perceive manganese deficiency and which processes subsequently take place in the plant at the molecular level.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/plants-use-their-roots-to-measure-manganese-concentration-available-in-the-soil

Reliably estimating proportion of bait-vaccinated populations in wildlife

Researchers developed a ground-breaking model to estimate bait vaccination effectiveness in wild animals based on the proportion of immunized animals in a population and the number of vaccine applications.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/reliably-estimating-proportion-of-bait-vaccinated-populations-in-wildlife

CAPITAL: A major advance in single-cell RNA data analysis

New developments in high-throughput biological studies mean that the genes that are active in just a single cell can now be determined. However, analyzing the complex datasets that result can be challenging. Now, a team at Osaka University has developed CAPITAL, a new computational tool for comparing complex datasets from single cells. Their research appears in Nature Communications.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/capital-a-major-advance-in-single-cell-rna-data-analysis

Germany slaps messaging app Telegram with $5 million fine

Germany announced Monday that it is issuing fines of 5.125 million euros ($5 million) against the operators of the messaging app Telegram for failing to comply with German law.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/germany-slaps-messaging-app-telegram-with-5-million-fine

Pandemic had disproportionate impact on female educators

A new study by University at Albany researchers found that female educators experienced the COVID-19 pandemic more negatively than their male counterparts.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/pandemic-had-disproportionate-impact-on-female-educators

Study addresses causes of eye color variation in primates

Have you ever wondered why some people have lighter eyes than others? Differences in iris coloration have traditionally been explained as a result of sexual selection, but a recent study led by researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Science revealed that this is partly due to differences in lighting in the habitats of primate species.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/study-addresses-causes-of-eye-color-variation-in-primates

Ultra-precise quantum thermometer to measure temperatures of space and time

An international team of scientists including experts from the University of Adelaide has designed a quantum thermometer to measure the ultra-cold temperatures of space and time predicted by Einstein and the laws of quantum mechanics.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/ultra-precise-quantum-thermometer-to-measure-temperatures-of-space-and-time

Scientists use surfactant to help make 'inert' templates for nanotube growth

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used a surfactant to disperse insulating boron nitride nanotubes and coat them onto surfaces without bundling. The team demonstrated that heat treatment could remove the surfactant to reveal clean nanoscale templates; chemical vapor deposition could then form coaxial nanotubes on the template using a range of materials. The ability to coat nanotubes onto "inert" insulating structures gives scientists unprecedented access to the properties of new nanotube materials.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/scientists-use-surfactant-to-help-make-inert-templates-for-nanotube-growth

Supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5 investigated with Chandra

Using NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory, astronomers have carried out an X-ray proper motion study of a supernova remnant known as SNR 0509-67.5. Results of the research, published October 5 on arXiv.org, yield essential information regarding the expansion of this structure.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/supernova-remnant-snr-0509-67-5-investigated-with-chandra

Marijuana-dependent patients at higher risk for infection after knee or shoulder arthroscopy procedures

Patients who are dependent on marijuana may face higher infection rates following knee and shoulder arthroscopy—a minimally invasive surgery in which a small camera is inserted to diagnose and sometimes treat injury—according to a study presented at the Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2022.

New palliative care screening tool for surgical ICU patients may facilitate decision-making processes

To aid in decision-making processes and increase awareness around palliative care in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), a research team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) has developed a screening tool to identify—within seconds—patients who may benefit from palliative care consultations or goals of care discussions. Their research findings, presented at the Scientific Forum during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2022, show that the screening tool successfully identified SICU patients who were later deemed candidates for palliative care by their medical team.

'Sentient' brain cells in dish learn to play video game: study

Brain cells living in a dish can learn to play the classic video game Pong, thus demonstrating "intelligent and sentient behavior," Australian neuroscientists argue in a new paper.

Astronomers are captivated by brightest flash ever seen

Astronomers have observed the brightest flash of light ever seen, from an event that occurred 2.4 billion light years from Earth and was likely triggered by the formation of a black hole.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/astronomers-are-captivated-by-brightest-flash-ever-seen

Life may have thrived on early Mars, until it drove climate change that caused its demise

If there ever was life on Mars—and that's a huge "if"—conditions during the planet's infancy most likely would have supported it, according to a study led by University of Arizona researchers.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/life-may-have-thrived-on-early-mars-until-it-drove-climate-change-that-caused-its-demise

How bad is red meat for you? Health risks get star ratings

Research about what is healthy comes so thick and fast—red meat can appear good for you one week, stroke-inducing the next—that a confused public often struggles to keep up.

Scientists reappraise the role of 'zombie' cells that anti-aging medicine has sought to eliminate

Not all senescent cells are harmful "zombies" that should be wiped out to prevent age-related disease, according to new research from UC San Francisco, which found that some of them are embedded in young, healthy tissues and promote normal repair from damage.

Ex-head of US electric truck firm found guilty of fraud

The former head of Nikola, a start-up making electric- and hydrogen-powered trucks, was found guilty of fraud on Friday for misleading investors about his company's alleged progress and capabilities in order to raise more money.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/ex-head-of-us-electric-truck-firm-found-guilty-of-fraud

NASA's Lucy to fly past thousands of objects for Earth gravity assist

Mission engineers will track NASA's Lucy spacecraft nonstop as it prepares to swoop near Earth on Oct. 16 to use this planet's gravity to set itself on a course toward the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/nasas-lucy-to-fly-past-thousands-of-objects-for-earth-gravity-assist

Gene associated with better immune response, protection after COVID-19 vaccination

Researchers from the University of Oxford have today reported new findings from a study exploring how certain genes can help generate a strong immune response following vaccination with two commonly used COVID-19 vaccines—identifying a particular gene associated with a high antibody response.

Secret structure in the wiring diagram of the brain

In the brain, our perception arises from a complex interplay of neurons that are connected via synapses. But the number and strength of connections between certain types of neurons can vary. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University Medical Center Mainz and the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), together with a research team from the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, as part of the Priority Program Computational Connectomics (SPP2041), have now discovered that the structure of the seemingly irregular neuronal connection strengths contains a hidden order. This is essential for the stability of the neuronal network. The study has now been published in the journal PNAS.

A new system that could improve robot navigation in uneven terrains

As mobile robots become more advanced, they also become easier to deploy in a wide range of real-world settings. One of the factors that will enable their large-scale implementation is their ability to autonomously move around within different types of environments.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/a-new-system-that-could-improve-robot-navigation-in-uneven-terrains

With morphing limbs, a robot that travels by land and water

Imagine being able to morph your legs into flippers before you jump in the water. Yale researchers have created a robot that accomplishes this feat through a process they dubbed "adaptive morphogenesis."

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/with-morphing-limbs-a-robot-that-travels-by-land-and-water

Aspirin as effective as standard blood thinner to prevent life-threatening blood clots and death after fracture surgery

Patients who have surgery to repair bone fractures typically receive a type of injectable blood thinner, low-molecular-weight heparin, to prevent life-threatening blood clots, but a new clinical trial found that over-the-counter aspirin is just as effective. The findings, presented today at the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) annual meeting in Tampa, FL, could cause surgeons to change their practice and administer aspirin instead to these patients.

New omicron subvariant largely evades neutralizing antibodies

A study at Karolinska Institutet shows that the coronavirus variant BA.2.75.2, an omicron sublineage, largely evades neutralizing antibodies in the blood and is resistant to several monoclonal antibody antiviral treatments. The findings, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, suggest a risk of increased SARS-CoV-2 infections this winter, unless the new updated bivalent vaccines help to boost immunity in the population.

Europe's high mortality linked to antimicrobial resistance needs action now

The latest and most comprehensive analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact in the entire WHO European Region (53 countries) was published in a paper today in The Lancet Public Health. Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington's School of Medicine, Oxford Center for Global Health Research, Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, and other collaborators analyzed 23 bacterial pathogens and 88 pathogen-drug combinations to release the following findings:

Talk therapy could improve mental health of people with dementia

People living with dementia may benefit from talking therapies available on the NHS, if they suffer from anxiety or depression, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

Quit removing wax from your ears

It can be a common habit—after a shower or getting out of the pool, grabbing a cotton-tipped swab to clean out one's ears to help get rid of excess water, or to remove what one thinks is earwax build-up.

Do new job tools improve women's performance in male-dominated fields? Evidence from robotic surgery

We all are likely to underestimate the daunting physical barriers faced by female employees due to the prevalence of working tools designed for men, but previous research has documented such an effect in various sectors. In construction, where the majority of the tools are sized for a man of average stature, for example, musculoskeletal disorders are common among female workers. In the U.S. military, weapons systems were required to accommodate a user with 5th to 95th male percentile body dimensions, which prevented many women from flying fighter planes.

Experimental antibiotic torpedoes the protective slime that makes resistant bacteria tougher to fight

An experimental antibiotic is under development that is capable of neutralizing a wide range of drug-resistant, Gram-positive bacteria—pathogens that protect themselves in a slimy shield, called a biofilm, designed by nature to keep threats out.

Tips for treating the flu at home

It's flu season, during which approximately 30 million Americans will get the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fortunately, most of those cases don't require medical attention and can be treated at home with remedies such as over the counter (OTC) medication and common kitchen staples.

Are women really better at finding and remembering words than men? Large study settles score

Textbooks and popular science books claim with certainty that women are better at finding words and remembering words, but is this really a fact?

Red Alert: Massive stars sound warning they are about to go supernova

Astronomers from Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Montpellier have devised an 'early warning' system to sound the alert when a massive star is about to end its life in a supernova explosion. The work was published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/red-alert-massive-stars-sound-warning-they-are-about-to-go-supernova

New device for early detection of gum disease

Researchers from the University of Birmingham are developing a rapid test for gum disease, and they expect the technology—a probe for use in point of care settings such as dental surgeries or pharmacies—to play a pivotal role in early detection of heart or lung disease, type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Small-molecule drug reverses neural effects of concussion

A small molecule called ISRIB that was identified at UC San Francisco can reverse the neuronal and cognitive effects of concussion in mice weeks after an injury occurred, new research has found.

TikTok going big on US e-commerce? Job listings offer clues

TikTok appears to be deepening its foray into e-commerce with plans to operate its own U.S. warehouses, the kind of packing and shipping facilities more associated with Amazon or Walmart than the social media platform best known for addictive short videos.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/tiktok-going-big-on-us-e-commerce-job-listings-offer-clues

477 whales die in 'heartbreaking' New Zealand strandings

Some 477 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on two remote New Zealand beaches over recent days, officials say.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/477-whales-die-in-heartbreaking-new-zealand-strandings

Japanese rocket launch fails in blow for space agency

The launch of a Japanese rocket taking satellites into orbit to demonstrate new technologies failed after blast-off on Wednesday because of a positioning problem, the country's space agency said.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/japanese-rocket-launch-fails-in-blow-for-space-agency

Survey: Most women unaware of the signs of an aggressive form of breast cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a new national survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James) found that most women are unaware of the unusual symptoms of a particularly aggressive and deadly form of the disease known as inflammatory breast cancer.

Paternal stress associated with children's emotional and behavioral problems at age two

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and others has found an association between fathers who experience too much stress in the months following the birth of their child, and the child's subsequent development of emotional and behavioral problems at age two.

Physicians debate CRC guidelines, available screening options for younger patients

In a new Annals of Internal Medicine "Beyond the Guidelines" feature, a primary care physician and a gastroenterologist discuss the recommendation to begin colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at age 45, review options for CRC screening, and discuss how to choose among the available options. All "Beyond the Guidelines" features are based on the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston and include print, video, and educational components published in Annals of Internal Medicine. 

Most persons screened for lung cancer meet USPSTF criteria, but adherence to follow-up screening low

A cohort study of more than 1 million people has found that most persons screened for lung cancer meet U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria, but men, persons who formerly smoked, and younger eligible patients are less likely to be screened. Adherence to follow-up screening was also poor. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Study shows some children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia miss out on decades of life-saving treatment

The Family Heart Foundation, a leading research and advocacy organization, has shared results from an analysis of patients in its CASCADE FH Registry showing that children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) are diagnosed earlier and have much higher untreated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than adults with HoFH.

New survey: 91% of parents say their family is less stressed when they eat together

Chronic, constant stress can increase lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke, but a new survey from the American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives for all, reveals regular mealtime with others could be a simple solution to help manage stress.

What other storms can teach us about looming mental health impacts of Hurricane Ian

As residents of southwest Florida begin the arduous process of rebuilding their lives in the wake of Hurricane Ian, Tulane University experts who have studied long-term impacts of storms in New Orleans have one piece of advice: don't ignore your mental health.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/what-other-storms-can-teach-us-about-looming-mental-health-impacts-of-hurricane-ian

InSight Mars lander waits out dust storm

NASA's InSight mission, which is expected to end in the near future, saw a recent drop in power generated by its solar panels as a continent-size dust storm swirls over Mars' southern hemisphere. First observed on Sept. 21, 2022, by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), the storm is roughly 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) from InSight and initially had little impact on the lander.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/insight-mars-lander-waits-out-dust-storm

Reign of Papua New Guinea's megafauna lasted long after humans arrived

A giant kangaroo that once roamed on four legs through remote forests in the Papua New Guinea Highlands may have survived as recently as 20,000 years ago—long after large-bodied megafauna on mainland Australia went extinct, new research indicates.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/reign-of-papua-new-guineas-megafauna-lasted-long-after-humans-arrived

How genetics influences our body weight beyond genes

Heredity plays a role in how strongly we are predisposed to put on excess weight. In recent years, researchers have extensively examined which genes and gene variants play a role in this, and have identified roughly one hundred obesity susceptibility genes. However, genome-wide association studies have shown that less than half of all cases of hereditary obesity can be explained by these genes. The other half are the result of factors that, although part of our DNA, are not genes in the classical sense. Epigenetic information would be one example of such a factor.

Financial toxicity after robotic prostate cancer surgery: Younger patients at higher risk

Among men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for treatment of prostate cancer, younger patients are more likely to experience cancer-related financial toxicity, suggests a study in the Journal of Urology, an official journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Research finds association between plasma metabolites and COVID-19 antibody levels in recovered patients

A study led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has revealed the association between rapidly fading antibody levels in some recovered COVID-19 patients and a high plasma concentration of a metabolite called glycylproline (gly-pro) and its producing enzyme.

Identifying the underlying causes of ovarian cancer

Two new discoveries led by Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators help improve the understanding of what drives the development of ovarian cancer and why some women's tumors do not respond to therapy.

China imposes lockdowns as COVID-19 surges after holiday

Chinese cities were imposing fresh lockdowns and travel restrictions after the number of new daily COVID-19 cases tripled during a weeklong holiday, ahead of a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing next week.

Telemedicine was made easy during COVID-19. Not any more

Telemedicine exploded in popularity after COVID-19 hit, but limits are returning for care delivered across state lines.

Dinner at 5 p.m.? New research suggests eating early and within a 10-hour window is healthier

Researchers have provided more evidence that eating earlier in the day might be good for you—and eating all of your meals within a 10-hour window could be healthier, too.

Rugby players face highly increased MND risk: disease study

Rugby chiefs must take urgent action to reduce head injuries after a study indicated that former international players are 15 times more likely to develop motor neurone disease, researchers said Tuesday.

Policy statement addresses safety for children in emergency care settings

All emergency departments should understand the unique safety issues related to children, according to a policy statement and accompanying technical report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Nurses Association and published online Oct. 3 in Pediatrics.

IV immune globulin bests placebo for dermatomyositis

Significantly more adults with dermatomyositis receiving intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) versus placebo have a response of at least minimal improvement, according to a study published in the Oct. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

A one-stop-shop for brain imaging

The brain is a complex organ, and no one imaging mode can catch everything that's going on inside it. Over the years, multiple "brain maps" have emerged, each focusing on different brain processes, from metabolism to cognitive function. While these maps are important, using them in isolation limits the discoveries researchers can make from them.

Syria reports 39 dead in cholera outbreak

Syria's health ministry has recorded 39 deaths from cholera and nearly 600 cases in an outbreak spreading in the war-ravaged country that the United Nations warned is "evolving alarmingly".

Health worker burnout and 'compassion fatigue' put patients at risk

The toll of COVID on our health care workers has been brutal, with many saying they want to quit their jobs.

Particle radioactivity linked to pollution-associated heart attack and stroke death

Particle radioactivity, a characteristic of air pollution that reflects the colorless, odorless gas radon found in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, enhances PM2.5 toxicity and increases risk of death from cardiovascular disease, especially from heart attack or stroke, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Parenting practices in teen years set the stage for closeness, warmth later on

High-quality parenting practices in adolescence lay the foundation for close parent-child relationships when the children become young adults, according to new research from Penn State.

Putting the brakes on heroin relapse

Neuroscientists from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report in Science Advances that star-shaped brain cells known as astrocytes can "turn off" neurons involved in relapse to heroin. Drug-related cues in the environment can intensify the drive to seek drugs, leading to relapse. In this article, a team led by Peter Kalivas, Ph.D., and Anna Kruyer, Ph.D., both of the Department of Neuroscience, examined how astrocytes interact with neurons and whether astrocytes play an important role in regulating the response to drug cues.

Do attitudes and behaviors in response to stress impact the health of older people with diabetes?

New research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that psychological resilience—having attitudes and behaviors that help people bounce back after stressful challenges—may help older individuals with type 2 diabetes have fewer hospitalizations, better physical functioning, lower disability, better mental quality of life, and a lower likelihood of becoming frail.

Can paid parental leave help prevent newborn deaths?

A recent analysis published in Contemporary Economic Policy indicates that 6-week paid family leave in California saved 339 infants' lives from 2004–2008.

Can excessive physical activity during adolescence lead to problems with leg alignment?

A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research used imaging tests to reveal that physical activity levels may impact adolescents' and young adults' leg alignment during development.

Uganda health worker dies of Ebola, raising toll to 10

Uganda on Wednesday confirmed the death of a health worker from Ebola, bringing the total number of fatalities from the highly contagious virus to 10.

Study shows synergistic association between genetic and behavioral risks for liver disease

Excessive alcohol use and obesity are known to increase the risk for developing cirrhosis and liver cancer, but the risk is not the same for everyone with those factors. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that a key genetic variant risk factor, PNPLA3, plays a synergistic role in increasing the risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver-related death when combined with alcohol use and obesity. The findings were published today in JAMA Network Open.

Video games offer the potential of 'experiential medicine'

After a decade of work, scientists at UC San Francisco's Neuroscape Center have developed a suite of video game interventions that improve key aspects of cognition in aging adults.

No significant increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination, researchers find

There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccination increases the incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves, according to a Rutgers-led study.

Psychological factors contribute to biological aging: Evidence from the aging rate in Chinese older adults

Aging clocks are statistical models that enable measurements of biological age, as opposed to chronological age. While the latter is determined by one's date of birth, the former depends on the intensity of aging processes and can be affected by genetics, life choices, and the environment. Most commonly, such aging clocks are regressors, trained to predict a person's chronological age based on a vector of input parameters, such as clinical blood test results, gene expression levels, or DNA methylation intensities.

Study reveals main target of SARS-CoV-2 in brain and describes effects of virus on nervous system

A Brazilian study published in the journal PNAS describes some of the effects infection by SARS-CoV-2 can have on the central nervous system. A preliminary version (not yet peer-reviewed) posted in 2020 was one of the first to show that the virus that causes COVID-19 can infect brain cells, especially astrocytes. It also broke new ground by describing alterations in the structure of the cortex, the most neuron-rich brain region, even in cases of mild COVID-19.

AI and quantitative mass spectrometry predict COVID-19 patient outcomes

Researchers from Skoltech and McGill University and their colleagues have trained a machine learning algorithm to predict the survival rate of patients admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 using blood test results. Based on the levels of 15 biomolecules measured with a technique called targeted mass spectrometry, the algorithm could predict patient survival with 92% accuracy.

Risk simulation calls for more regular antigen testing to reduce isolation periods for COVID-19

Around the world, many people infected with COVID-19 have been made to completely isolate from others in order to avoid passing on the infection. Some countries still recommend minimum isolation periods for as long as 10 days from when patients start to develop COVID-19 symptoms.

Gut bacteria may contribute to susceptibility to HIV infection, research suggests

New UCLA-led research suggests certain gut bacteria—including one that is essential for a healthy gut microbiome—differ between people who go on to acquire HIV infection compared to those who have not become infected.

Reversing lung fibrosis in scleroderma requires an increase in antifibrotic proteins

Much of the research on scleroderma, a connective tissue disease that causes scarring, or fibrosis, has focused on the increased number of proteins promoting fibrosis in these patients. A Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) research team took a different tact and measured the levels of an antifibrotic protein, Cathepsin L, in these patients. They report in Rheumatology that patients with scleroderma had reduced levels of this antifibrotic protein, and the Cathepsin L that they did have was packaged in an inactive state that deprived it of its antifibrotic function. The team was led by Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Ph.D., the Kitty Trask Holt Endowed Chair for Scleroderma Research, and M.D.-Ph.D. student Joe Mouawad, a National Scleroderma Foundation predoctoral fellowship awardee.

Ensuring diverse participation in Alzheimer's clinical trial participants

Enrolling representative populations in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease is critical for finding treatments that will be safe and effective for all patients. African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately affected by this disease yet are substantially underrepresented in trials of promising therapies. For example, an analysis of data from more than 100 clinical trials testing new treatments for Alzheimer's disease found that only 12% of participants were of any non-White race or Hispanic ethnicity.

Race and ethnicity influence end-of-life care for Medicare patients with dementia

Researchers have known that race and ethnicity play a role in the intensity of medical care at the end of life, but the difference is more pronounced among individuals with dementia, the researchers found.

Researchers create new method to more accurately measure cancer lesions response to treatment

Researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus have created a new way of measuring cancer lesions response to treatment that could better inform the development of new cancer drugs.

Vitamin D for heart health: Where the benefits begin and end

It's a workhorse nutrient that strengthens bones, supports immune function, helps the heart, and powers the body in many other ways. But recent findings about vitamin D are clear: High doses do not improve heart and circulatory health for most adults any more than modest doses do.

A reliable, valid, and non-invasive app to assess dry eye disease

Early diagnosis and timely treatment are extremely important to manage dry eye disease (DED), a common condition exacerbated by the increased use of digital devices. But the current method of diagnosis is invasive, and its results are inconsistent with the subjective symptoms of dry eye disease. To solve this issue, a research team—led by researchers from Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine—has developed DryEyeRhythm, as a non-invasive and reliable mobile app to assess DED.

Researchers investigate a biomolecule that mitigates eczema in mice

In a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers at Juntendo University investigate a biomolecule that mitigates eczema in mice

Better, shorter combination treatment for people with visceral leishmaniasis shown to be effective in Eastern Africa

A shorter, and less toxic treatment for people with visceral leishmaniasis was shown to be effective thanks to a study conducted in Eastern Africa by the non-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and its partners. The results were published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.

How deadly brain cancer evades treatments

McMaster University researcher Sheila Singh and her team have discovered how glioblastoma, a lethal brain cancer, can evade treatments and kill.

Study finds folic acid treatment is associated with decreased risk of suicide attempts

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the US, with more than 45,000 people dying by suicide in 2020. Experts recommend many strategies and treatments to decrease the risk of suicide, including psychotherapy, peer support, economic support, and medications like antidepressants. Few if any would be likely to put folic acid supplements on that list, but a recent study done at the University of Chicago may change that.

Exposure to air pollution worsens COVID-19 outcomes, even among the fully vaccinated

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, so it's not surprising that exposure to poor air quality worsens patient outcomes. But how does air pollution affect people who are vaccinated?

Skin whitening products remain popular in Cameroon despite risks

Wearing a large hat protecting her face from the sun's rays in Cameroon, 63-year-old Jeanne now bitterly regrets using skin whitening products after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

New insights into how feet work when people walk

Though most people are born with two feet, and use them throughout their lives, feet function in complex ways that are not completely understood by scientists. Researchers have many open questions and unproven assumptions about feet and the mechanisms that arose from our evolution as bipedal, upright walkers. Now, new research from Penn State's Department of Kinesiology challenges long-held beliefs about how feet evolved and function and may contain implications for shoe designers.

Omega-3 fatty acids, and in particular DHA, are associated with increased attention scores in adolescents

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with a greater capacity for selective and sustained attention in adolescents, while alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is associated with lower impulsivity, according to a study co-led by ISGlobal, a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation and the Pere Virgili Institute for Health Research (ISPV). The results, published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, confirm the importance of having a diet that provides sufficient amounts of these polyunsaturated fatty acids for a healthy brain development.

Kidney disease measures are associated with structural brain damage across different domains of etiology

Cross-sectional analysis shows association of reduced kidney function and increased urine albumin excretion with brain volume reduction in regions typically affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementia etiologies.

Organ-on-a-chip study reveals mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 invasion into blood vessels

A research group led by CiRA Junior Associate Professor Kazuo Takayama and Associate Professor Yoshiaki Okada of Osaka University has revealed that SARS-CoV-2 disrupts the vascular endothelial barrier by suppressing the expression of Claudin-5 (CLDN5) to invade the blood vessels.

Increased risk of cancer in children born to mothers with epilepsy using high-dose folic acid during pregnancy

High-dose folic acid is protective against congenital malformations if the mother is at particular risk of having a child with congenital malformations. Treatment with antiseizure medication in pregnancy is associated with risk of congenital malformations in the children, and women with epilepsy are therefore often recommended a supplementary high dose of folic acid (4–5 mg daily) before and during pregnancy. However, some studies have raised concern that folic acid can increase the risk of cancer not only in the mother, but in the child when exposed during pregnancy.

UN urges action as mental health takes heavy toll on workers

Far more must be done to safeguard mental health on the job, the United Nations said Wednesday, presenting new guidelines on how to lessen psychological strains linked to the workplace.

Lassa virus endemic area may expand dramatically in coming decades

In the study, which appeared on September 27 in Nature Communications, scientists analyzed decades of environmental data associated with Lassa virus outbreaks, revealing temperature, rainfall and the presence of pastureland areas as key factors contributing to viral transmission. The researchers projected that areas hospitable to Lassa virus spread may extend from West Africa into Central and East Africa in the next several decades. With this expansion and expected African population growth, the human population living in the areas where the virus should—in theory—be able to circulate may rise by more than 600 million.

'Placenta-on-a-chip' mimics malaria-infected nutrient exchange between mother and fetus

Placental malaria as a consequence of Plasmodium falciparum infections can lead to severe complications for both mother and child. Each year, placental malaria causes nearly 200,000 newborn deaths, mainly due to low birth weight, as well as 10,000 maternal deaths. Placental malaria results from parasite-infected red blood cells that get stuck within tree-like branch structures that make up the placenta.

People with dementia could be missing out on post-diagnosis care

A new report has found that as many as 85% of people with dementia could be missing out on important post-diagnosis care.

Can I get the flu from touching surfaces? Researcher says no.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the coronavirus was everywhere—stuck to our cellphone screens, smeared on our mail, dangling from doorknobs, even clinging to our cereal boxes. Except that it wasn't.

Research reveals menstrual education lacking in Australia

Research conducted by Western Sydney University reveals young people in Australia are not receiving adequate information or education about periods and menstrual management.

Living donor transplantation offers a safe alternative for liver transplant patients

Demand for donor livers for transplant patients outstrips supply with over 15% of waitlist patients dying after a year. A new international study offers support for increasing the use of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in Western countries and reducing the imbalance between organ supply and demand. This study is reported in the Journal of Hepatology.

New therapeutic target could check the progress of Alzheimer's disease

A new study conducted by University of Malaga researcher Inés Moreno, in collaboration with the University of Texas, has identified a potential non-invasive therapy that could check the progress of Alzheimer's disease, the major form of dementia in the elderly population.

Flow velocity in the gut regulates nutrient absorption and bacterial growth

The flow velocity in our digestive system directly determines how well nutrients are absorbed by the intestine and how many bacteria live inside it. This is the result of a new study by researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS). The researchers revealed the physics mechanisms of how the intestine can regulate itself to optimize nutrient absorption while limiting unwanted bacterial growth at the same time.

Collaborative home-based palliative care model helps people die at home rather than hospital

Patients with chronic heart failure who received collaborative, home-based palliative care were less likely to die in hospital and more likely to die at home than people who received usual care, according to new research in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

Hospitals treat thousands of drug-related bike injuries each year

From 2019 to 2020, more than 11,000 people who had been using drugs were treated in U.S. emergency departments for injuries that occurred while riding a bicycle, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Ketamine paired with looking at smiling faces holds promise for people with treatment-resistant depression

Simple computer exercises using positive words and images designed to boost self-worth can prolong the antidepressant effects of ketamine in people with depression. That's what my research team and I found in our new study.

Babies in the womb react differently to flavours: researchers

Babies in the womb are big fans of carrots but not so much leafy green vegetables—and show it in their faces, scientists said in a new study published Thursday.

Disarming the immune system's lethal lung response

Neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cell, are the body's first line of defense against infection. Foreign pathogens can stress the body and activate neutrophils. When activated, neutrophils employ various weapons to protect the body. But if overactivated, these weapons can damage the body's own tissues. Lung tissue is saturated with blood vessels, making them very susceptible to neutrophil attacks. If severe enough, acute lung injuries can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the leading cause of death due to COVID-19.

Someone in my house has COVID. How likely am I to catch it?

Throughout the pandemic, one of the biggest COVID risks has been sharing a house with someone who is infectious.

COVID-19 associated with increase in new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes in youth, by as much as 72%

Children who were infected with COVID-19 show a substantially higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D), according to a new study that analyzed electronic health records of more than 1 million patients ages 18 and younger.

Friend or foe? How mice decide to make love or war

Dog owners whose pets meet during a walk are familiar with the immediate sniffing investigation that typically ensues. Initially, the owners cannot tell whether their dogs will wind up fighting, playing, or trying to mount each other. Something is clearly happening in the dog's brain to make it decide how to behave toward the other dog—but what is going on?

Fourth SARS-CoV-2 vaccination also protects cancer patients

A research team led by Matthias Preusser from MedUni Vienna's Division of Oncology had already demonstrated that cancer patients benefit from a third vaccination to protect them against COVID. A recent study now also supports fourth vaccination for this vulnerable group. However, passive immunization by administering an antibody combination to cancer patients does not seem to provide adequate protection. The study has now been published in the journal JAMA Oncology.

Landmark study of biomarker data may enable better treatment for early onset dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a common form of early-onset dementia, is marked by impairments in behavior, language, and sometimes motor function. Unlike Alzheimer's Disease (AD), researchers and clinicians have been unable to accurately predict the onset of symptoms for individuals having a familial form of the condition.

Pin-prick blood test identifies immunity to COVID-19

A finger-prick blood test can identify people most at risk of being reinfected with COVID-19. The simple test, developed by a small biotech firm based in Cardiff (ImmunoServ Ltd) in close collaboration with Cardiff University researchers, measures the presence of immune T cells that can recognize SARS-CoV-2.

Artificial intelligence tools quickly detect signs of injection drug use in patients' health records

An automated process that combines natural language processing and machine learning identified people who inject drugs (PWID) in electronic health records more quickly and accurately than current methods that rely on manual record reviews.

Uganda confirms 7 Ebola cases, races to halt outbreak

Uganda confirmed seven Ebola infections Thursday as authorities try to track down 43 contacts of known Ebola patients two days after authorities in the East African country announced an outbreak of the contagious disease.

Israel rolls out new omicron-tailored COVID-19 vaccines

Israel on Thursday began administering doses of coronavirus vaccines tailored to fight the highly infectious omicron variant as its health authorities urged at-risk groups and those over 65 to get the shot.

Academics make stronger connections between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at the School of Dentistry, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) were the first to report the link between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Quick test kit to determine a person's immunity against COVID-19 and its variants

A team of scientists from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT's research enterprise in Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a quick test kit that can tell if a person has immunity against COVID-19 and its variants, based on the antibodies detected in a blood sample.

'Drink it anyway': Syria water woes peak in cholera outbreak

In a Syria hospital crowded with women and wailing children, Ahmad al-Mohammad writhed in pain beside his wife after they contracted cholera, which is resurging for the first time in years.

Could monoclonal antibodies replace opioids for chronic pain?

During the pandemic, physicians used infusions of monoclonal antibodies—antibodies made in a lab—to help patients fight off COVID-19 infections. Now, researchers at UC Davis are trying to create monoclonal antibodies that can help fight chronic pain. The goal is to develop a monthly non-addictive pain medication that can replace opioids.

Simple 20-20-20 screen rule really does help with eye strain, research shows

It's long been recommended as a way of easing eye strain while working at a computer screen. Now the 20-20-20 rule—taking a break of at least 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, to look at least 20 feet away—has been confirmed by scientists at Aston University to help ease some of the symptoms of prolonged computer use.

Delayed intervention makes eliminating monkeypox more difficult

Vaccinations and lifestyle adjustments in at risk-populations have enabled public health authorities to gradually get a better handle on monkeypox in the U.S. However, a new study warns that it's too soon to relax.

New research identifies which countries may be better positioned to accept a 'new normal' of living with COVID-19

With the eradication of COVID-19 out of reach, are we close to a "new normal" in which we can leave restrictive non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) behind—such as masks and social distancing—while simultaneously limiting the burden of disease and deaths? According to researchers at MIT Sloan School of Management, the answer depends on the ongoing risks versus communities' tolerance for those risks.

FDA concedes delays in response to baby formula shortage

The Food and Drug Administration acknowledged Tuesday that its response to the U.S. infant formula shortage was slowed by delays in processing a whistleblower complaint and test samples from the nation's largest formula factory.

Rising obesity projected to hamper developing economies: report

Rising levels of obesity are set to cost the world economy 3.3 percent of GDP by 2060, slowing development in lower-income countries and making it hard for people to lead healthy lives, according to a new study published Wednesday.

Does stress make it more difficult to become pregnant?

New research in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica suggests that stress may affect a woman's fecundability, or her probability of achieving a pregnancy within a menstrual cycle.

New guideline may help improve testing for penicillin allergies

A new guideline published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy will help clinicians evaluate and test patients for potential penicillin allergies.

How will the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade affect rheumatology?

An article in Arthritis & Rheumatology describes how the Supreme Court's June 24th decision to overturn Roe v. Wade portends grave consequences for the practice of rheumatology.

Nightmares in middle age linked to dementia risk

People who experience frequent bad dreams in middle age are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia later in life, according to research at the University of Birmingham.

Do sleep timing and duration affect dementia risk?

New research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that the time people go to bed and the amount of time they sleep may affect their risk of developing dementia.

Diabetes: When circadian lipid rhythms go wrong

Like all living beings, human physiological processes are influenced by circadian rhythms. The disruption of our internal clocks due to an increasingly unbalanced lifestyle is directly linked to the explosion in cases of type 2 diabetes. Now, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), in Switzerland, has found that his disturbance disrupts the metabolism of lipids in the cells that secrete glucose-regulating hormones. Sphingolipids and phospholipids, lipids located on the cell membrane, seem to be particularly affected. This change in lipid profiles then leads to a rigidity of the membrane of these cells. These results, appearing in the journal PLOS Biology, provide further evidence of the importance of circadian rhythms in metabolic disorders.

A healthy lifestyle almost halves the risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes

A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of dementia in those with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study of hundreds of thousands of people in the U.K. being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Stockholm, Sweden (19–23 Sept).

China health chief tells public not to touch foreigners after first monkeypox case

A top Chinese health official has warned the public to avoid "skin-to-skin contact with foreigners" to prevent the spread of monkeypox after the country confirmed its first case.

A smartphone's camera and flash could help people measure blood oxygen levels at home

First, pause and take a deep breath.

China lifts weeks-long lockdown on southwest megacity Chengdu

Millions of people in the Chinese megacity of Chengdu emerged Monday from a COVID-19 lockdown that had closed schools, disrupted businesses and forced residents to stay home for over two weeks.

Canada needs a better detection system for respiratory pathogens

Canada needs a better infectious disease surveillance system to detect emerging respiratory pathogens that includes waste-water testing, population-based testing and genomics, according to an analysis published in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMJA).

National poll: 2 in 3 parents say their child is self-conscious about their appearance

The majority of adolescents and teens are self-conscious about their appearance, a new national poll suggests.

Simple, inexpensive surgical procedure for diabetic foot ulcers greatly reduces healing time, amputation rates

Performing proactive surgery to adjust the mechanics of the foot, appears to be effective to treat diabetic foot ulcers, a common and debilitating complication of diabetes, without the potential complications and at significantly lower cost compared to conservative management.

Safer opioid supply program shows improved outcomes for people at high risk of overdose

For people at high risk of overdose enrolled in a safer opioid supply (SOS) program, there was a rapid decrease in emergency department visits and hospitalizations soon after initiation, according to new research published in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMJA). These programs may help to address the devastating drug poisoning overdose crisis in Canada.

School start times and late screen time exacerbate sleep deprivation in US teenagers

With the school year underway around the U.S., parents and caregivers are once again faced with the age-old struggle of wrangling groggy kids out of bed in the morning. For parents of preteens and teenagers, it can be particularly challenging.

Excess weight, not high blood sugar, associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection and long COVID

High body mass index (BMI), rather than high blood sugar levels, are associated with excess risks of COVID-19 infection and long COVID, according to a meta-analysis of over 30,000 UK adults from nine large prospective cohort studies.

Texas must tackle stem cell misinformation, say experts

Medical treatments that use stem cells have the potential to benefit patients facing serious diseases and injuries, but patients are not always aware that most treatments they are offered are experimental and can carry high risks, according to a report from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Risk of suicide rising among Black and Hispanic Americans

Suicides and suicide attempts by Black and Hispanic Americans are on the rise. Changing the way doctors, clergy, and school personnel think about risk may be essential to prevention, reports a UConn Health researcher.

The use of nitrous oxide 'cracking ' technology in the labor ward

In a case report published in Anaesthesia Reports, a 35-year-old woman who is herself an anesthetist describes her own use of special equipment to recover and break down nitrous oxide used for pain relief during her labor, saying it is mostly easy to use. She also discusses the positive feeling of reducing harm to the environment.

Why are young people so miserable?

Twenty years ago, life satisfaction surveys of those 18 and older showed the highest readings among America's younger and older adults, with those in between struggling with jobs, families, and other cares of middle life. Now, a Harvard-led study examining a dozen measures of well-being show younger adults tallying the lowest scores of any age group.

Is it really healthy to restrict protein intake for kidney transplant recipients?

Conventional wisdom holds that low protein intake is essential for kidney disease patients. However, scientists from Osaka Metropolitan University demonstrated that it might not always be the case with their recent study on the relationship between protein intake and skeletal muscle mass in kidney transplant recipients. Their findings were published in Clinical Nutrition.

Researchers identify a gene therapy target for polycystic kidney disease

Blocking the inhibition of PKD1 and PKD2 gene expression by deleting a binding site for microRNAs hindered the formation and growth of kidney cysts in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) models, UT Southwestern researchers reported. The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest a strategy for gene therapy with the potential to arrest or cure ADPKD.

Concerning high rates of metabolic syndrome found in older Irish adults

New research from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin shows a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults aged ≥50 years in Ireland. The study is published in the journal PLOS One.

Could a pill help prevent a leading cause of childhood mortality?

Across much of the world, childhood diarrhea is a major killer. Could a probiotic pill somehow be engineered to help stop the scourge in its tracks?

The staggering costs of COVID-19: 11 ways to stop history from repeating itself

A global report released today highlights massive global failures in the response to COVID-19.

Vaccine that targets both spike and nucleocapsid proteins in SARS-CoV-2 virus found effective in test animals

A large team of researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, working with two colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and two with the Mayo Clinic, has developed a vaccine for COVID-19 that targets both the spike and nucleocapsid proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group explains their approach to developing the new vaccine and describes how well it worked in test mice and hamsters.

Imagining COVID is 'like the flu' is cutting thousands of lives short. It's time to wake up

It is difficult to understand the ease with which we have accepted a major proportion of the Australian population getting infected with COVID in just a matter of months. Many have been infected multiple times, potentially exposing them to long COVID and other problems we are only beginning to understand. In the past 75 years, only the second world war has had a greater demographic impact on Australia than COVID in 2022.

Nutritionally balanced and whole-food-based, fiber-rich diet is beneficial to gut health

The gut microbiome, or gut microbiota, also termed commensal, refers to the entire microbial community that populates the mammalian gastrointestinal tract, with the majority residing in the colon. Through generating a diverse array of metabolites, the gut microbiome interacts with the gut epithelium and the intestinal mucosal immune system to maintain gut homeostasis, thus forming a symbiotic relationship with the host.

New tool guides clinicians to identify and treat patients at risk for monkeypox virus

Monkeypox was rarely seen outside West and Central Africa until the current 2022 global outbreak, and clinicians are now on alert to identify, isolate, and treat individuals infected with the virus that causes it. A team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) recently developed and implemented a clinical decision support system to help with this effort.

Experimental test promises to predict side-effects and cancer's return in patients treated with immunotherapy

A single research test has the potential to predict which patients treated with immunotherapies—which harness the immune system to attack cancer cells—are likely to have their cancer recur or have severe side effects, a new study found.

Bangladeshi mystic fights demons with psychiatry

Evil spirits bedevil the families that seek blessings from an elderly Bangladeshi mystic—but he knows his prayers alone are not enough to soothe their troubled minds.

As monkeypox drops in the West, still no vaccines for Africa

With monkeypox cases subsiding in Europe and parts of North America, many scientists say now is the time to prioritize stopping the virus in Africa.

Researchers identify new model of cerebral cortex development linked to reelin protein expression

The correct development of the brain cortex is an essential process for the acquisition of correct cognitive skills. Reelin, a key extracellular protein in neuronal migration and synaptic plasticity, is determinant in this process. For this reason, the dysfunction—genetic or at an expression level—of this protein is involved in neurodevelopmental pathologies—such as lissencephalies, epilepsy or some psychiatric disorders, particularly autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder—or neurodegenerative diseases.

Study examines current state regulations, public health risks of growing medicinal and recreational marijuana market

A new study urges that state and federal regulators need to take a closer look at health and safety risks of the growing medicinal and recreational cannabis market.

Photodynamic therapy offers promise for cancer treatment

While chemotherapy drugs can be lifesaving, they don't work for all patients or for all cancers. But a team of UTM researchers is looking at new ways to use special types of light to target cancer cells resistant to current drug therapy—in an approach that might be easier on some patients than traditional chemotherapy.

Past history of abuse leads to worse menopause symptoms

Adversity occurring early in a woman's life will likely continue taking its toll physically and mentally years after those stressors have been removed. A new study suggests that a history of psychosocial stressors (physical or sexual abuse or financial instability) can lead to worse menopause symptoms and poorer well-being almost 2 decades later. Study results are published online today in Menopause.

Foster family placement leads to sustained cognitive gains after severe early deprivation

Millions of children worldwide are under legal guardianship of the state, often due to abuse, neglect, parental death or other circumstances—leaving governments to determine how best to care for them. The Bucharest Early Intervention Project has shed light on ways to improve the quality of caregiving for children. Initiated in 2000, the BEIP is a randomized controlled trial of foster care as an alternative to institutional care for children who experienced severe psychosocial deprivation.

Study finds white children more likely to be overdiagnosed for ADHD

A new study led by Paul Morgan, Harry and Marion Eberly Faculty Fellow and professor of education (educational theory and policy) and demography, and published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, examines which sociodemographic groups of children are more likely to be overdiagnosed and overtreated for ADHD.

Why focusing COVID vaccination efforts on least advantaged populations benefits everyone

When vaccine access is prioritized for the most disadvantaged communities, it improves both social utility and equity—even when such populations have strong vaccine hesitancy.

Patients prefer stool test to colonoscopy

Three-quarters of people prefer to do a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) rather than a colonoscopy for their regular colorectal cancer screening, according to a new Cedars-Sinai study.

What do aged care residents do all day? We tracked their time use to find out

What's the daily routine like for older people in residential aged care facilities?

Study of cancer immunotherapy patients reveals markers of treatment response

The treatment of blood cancers has dramatically improved in the last five years, thanks to a new class of cancer immunotherapies called CAR-T cell therapy. This therapy—which involves engineering a patient's own T cells in the lab to kill cancer cells and then infusing them back into the patient—cures about 40% of people with otherwise incurable lymphoma. But others relapse or don't respond to the treatment at all.

Monkeypox death confirmed by LA County health officials

A Los Angeles County resident with a compromised immune system has died from monkeypox, local health officials announced Monday. It's believed to be the first U.S. fatality from the disease.

RET inhibitor selpercatinib demonstrates durable responses in tumor-agnostic population

The highly selective RET inhibitor selpercatinib was well-tolerated and achieved durable objective responses across multiple tumor types in the Phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Twice-daily nasal irrigation reduces COVID-related illness, death

Starting twice daily flushing of the mucus-lined nasal cavity with a mild saline solution soon after testing positive for COVID-19 can significantly reduce hospitalization and death, investigators report.

A new therapeutic target against the most common lung cancer

TIMP-1 protein levels in both tissues and blood have been repeatedly associated with a poor prognosis in lung cancers, but its role has been unknown. Now, a study led by Jordi Alcaraz, lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the UB and researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), has determined that this protein is not only a good biomarker, but is also involved in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. These results, published in the journal Matrix Biology, open the door to the design of new treatments against this disease.

HIV, TB, malaria fight saves 50 million lives over 20 years: Global Fund

The fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria has saved 50 million lives over the past 20 years, the Global Fund said Monday, appealing for $18 billion to save millions more.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is going undetected in Nigeria

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common gynecological endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It affects between 4% and 20% of women globally and is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Despite its prevalence, it remains a conundrum amongst clinicians and allied health professionals. The Conversation Africa's Nigeria based commissioning editor Kofoworola Belo-Osagie asked public health lecturer Ajike Saratu Omagbemi to explain the syndrome and the challenges around how it's being detected.

Weight loss: The time of day you eat your biggest meal has little effect says new study

Some of the most popular diet advice in recent years has centered around the idea that the right timing for your meals can make a big difference in the amount of weight you lose. It was long said that if you wanted to lose weight it was best to eat a large meal at the beginning of the day and keep any later meals smaller.

Fungal infections increase mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients worldwide

Every day we inhale thousands of potentially pathogenic fungal spores, but our immune system simply eliminates them. However, in people with compromised immunity, such as transplant and cancer patients, as well as hospitalized patients in intensive care, the interaction between pathogen and host may be quite different.

TAVR is an affordable and effective strategy for treating aortic stenosis patients

Minimally invasive, catheter-based transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized treatment of aortic stenosis (AS), and both American and European guidelines have approved its use. However, there is a perception that TAVR is more expensive than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). A budget impact analysis comparing the two options now shows that TAVR is an affordable and effective strategy for the treatment of AS. The study appears in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

Americans give health care system failing mark: AP-NORC poll

When Emmanuel Obeng-Dankwa is worried about making rent on his New York City apartment, he sometimes holds off on filling his blood pressure medication.

China quarantines college students under strict COVID policy

Almost 500 students at China's premier college for broadcast journalists have been sent to a quarantine center after a handful of COVID-19 cases were detected in their dormitory.

Malaria booster vaccine continues to meet WHO-specified 75% efficacy goal

Researchers from the University of Oxford and their partners have today reported new findings from their Phase 2b trial following the administration of a booster dose of the candidate malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M—which previously demonstrated high-level efficacy of 77% over the following 12 months in young west African children in 2021.

Scientists discover how air pollution triggers lung cancer

Scientists said Saturday they had identified the mechanism through which air pollution triggers lung cancer in non-smokers, a discovery one expert hailed as "an important step for science—and for society".

Sweeteners may be linked to heart disease risk, study suggests

A large study suggested Thursday that artificial sweetener could be associated with a higher risk of heart disease, however experts urged caution about the findings.

Immune cells engineered to battle cancer can be turned 'on' or 'off'

The billions of immune cells that help protect us from diseases do amazing things, but sometimes they need a little boost. For decades, scientists have been trying to figure out ways to engineer living immune cells to better combat aggressive diseases, like cancer.

Ballroom dance training promotes empathy

Ballroom dance is a form of art and sport that helps improve sensorimotor skills, cognitive levels and emotional communication. To achieve high-level performance, dancers need to collaborate, imitate, and actively interact with their dance partners through long-term training. In this way, they are continually involved in understanding and sharing their partner's thoughts and feelings—this is what we call empathy.

Study suggests breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection may confer extra protection to vaccinees

Long-lasting immune cells that specifically recognize the SARS-CoV-2 virus were found in the noses of people who were infected following vaccination. These virus-specific T cells, which were not present in those who had only been vaccinated, are expected to confer an additional layer of protection against COVID-19, according to scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, whose findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

New technology to visualize axonal fiber bundles on the retina for early diagnosis of optic neuropathies

A research team led by the Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), with collaborators from the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) and local and international partners, have developed a new technology ROTA (Retinal nerve fiber layer Optical Texture Analysis) to unveil the optical texture and trajectories of the axonal fiber bundles on the retina. ROTA outperforms the current clinical standards, attaining 15.0% to 28.4% higher in sensitivity in detecting early optic nerve damage in glaucoma—the leading cause of irreversible blindness. The research has been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Platinum-based chemotherapy distribution within a tumor may predict ovarian cancer treatment resistance

A team of researchers from Japan has discovered that the distribution of platinum within a tumor following platinum-based chemotherapy treatment of ovarian cancer may predict whether the tumor will be resistant to further treatment. The research could offer ways to manage treatment for women whose tumors may be resistant to further platinum-based chemotherapy.

Ovarian cancer detection takes a step forward

A new type of technology can capture stray ovarian cancer cells from a simple blood test and successfully predict cancer in people who have a lesion or cyst in the pelvic region, according to a new study by a Wilmot Cancer Institute physician/scientist.

Gut microbes may lead to therapies for mental illness, study reports

The role of the microbiome in intestinal and systemic health has garnered close attention among researchers for many years. Now evidence is mounting that this collection of microorganisms in the human gut can also impact a person's neurological and emotional health, according to a recent perspective article in Science by a UT Southwestern researcher.

Study examines how to improve hospitalized patients' access to antimicrobials

Published in the Journal of the American Pharmacist's Association, University of Minnesota researchers found that establishing better mechanisms for information sharing and collaboration between healthcare institutions may help facilitate timely and effective acquisition of non-stocked antimicrobials.

Psychedelic drugs can be almost as life altering as near-death experiences

Occasionally, people who suffer intense turmoil and trauma undergo a profound change. They feel a new sense of well-being, purpose and appreciation of life. Their relationships become more authentic and intimate. They feel as if they've woken up and are living in a more intense way.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes respond differently to exercise

Regular exercise helps prevent and delay the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, together with a team of international scientists, have discovered that activation of the immune system in skeletal muscle during exercise may underlie the difference in how individuals with type 2 diabetes perceive and respond to exercise. These findings are published in the journal Science Advances.

Vaccines dramatically reduce the risk of long-term effects of COVID-19

Being vaccinated with at least two doses of Pfizer vaccines dramatically reduces most of the long-term symptoms individuals reported months after contracting COVID-19, a new study shows.

Study finds damage in the lungs of chronic e-cigarette users

Chronic use of e-cigarettes, commonly known as vaping, can result in progressive small airway obstruction and asthma-like symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pains, according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). In the first study to microscopically evaluate the pulmonary tissue of e-cigarette users for chronic disease, the team found in a small sample of patients fibrosis and damage in the small airways, similar to the chemical inhalation damage to the lungs typically seen in soldiers returning from overseas conflicts who had inhaled mustard or similar types of noxious gases. The study was published in New England Journal of Medicine Evidence.

Hong Kong extends digital vaccine pass to kids as young as five

Hong Kong will extend a digital vaccination pass that controls which premises residents can enter to children as young as five years old, authorities announced Thursday.

FDA panel backs much-debated ALS drug in rare, 2nd review

A panel of federal health advisers voted Wednesday to recommend approval for an experimental drug to treat Lou Gehrig's disease, a remarkable turnaround for the much-debated medication that was previously rejected by the same group earlier this year.

How to deal with sleep problems during heat waves

With heatwaves occurring more frequently, investigators from the European Insomnia Network recently explored how outdoor nighttime temperature changes affect body temperature and sleep quality. Their review of the literature, which is published in the Journal of Sleep Research, indicates that environmental temperatures outside the thermal comfort can strongly affect human sleep by disturbing the body's ability to thermoregulate.

Investigating racial differences in multiple myeloma

Investigators have identified distinct epigenetic pathways in African American and European American patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology.

Team develops high-speed imaging technology that captures blood flow

A research team in the field of imaging technology of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) has provided unprecedented moving images of how individual blood cells flow in the brain of a mouse that was awake.

Candy, cash, gifts: How rewards help recovery from addiction

Harold Lewis has been fighting drug addiction for years, but only recently started thinking recovery could be fun.

How a single protein could unlock age-related vision loss

Research led by Sanford Burnham Prebys professor Francesca Marassi, Ph.D., is helping to reveal the molecular secrets of macular degeneration, which causes almost 90% of all age-related vision loss. The study, published recently in the Biophysical Journal, describes the flexible structure of a key blood protein involved in macular degeneration and other age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular disease risk in adults with compromised bone health

These risk factors included male sex, older age, smoking, alcohol consumption, atrial fibrillation, use of anti-hypertensive medications, prior heart attack or stroke, established cardiovascular disease, low kidney function, high systolic blood pressure, elevated cholesterol level, and use of multiple concomitant medicines.

Can losing weight combat the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis?

In a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, a decrease in body mass index (BMI) was associated with both a lower incidence of the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis and a lower likelihood that such defects would progress, or get worse.

Study uncovers possible path for improving T cell therapies

A study led by researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences discovered new information about the inner workings of the immune system that could have a profound impact on T cell therapies for cancer and other diseases.

Somatostatin neurons cooperate in the cerebral cortex

The brain's cerebral cortex is made up of distinct regions involved in myriad processes, from sensory perception to cognitive functions like memory, attention, and decision-making. University of Pittsburgh neuroscience researchers have found that the properties of one neuron subtype—somatostatin neurons—are specialized in different subregions of the cortex.

Understanding Australian adolescent girls' use of digital technologies for healthy lifestyle purposes

Teen girls confronted by unrealistic body standards on social media are tuning out in droves in search of more positive online content, research shows.

Potentially life-changing impact of internet forums on those in remission from opioid use disorder

Active participation in internet forums has the potential to provide life-changing social benefits and well-being for people who are in remission from opioid use disorder

Stimulation of the vagus nerve strengthens the communication between the stomach and the brain

The nervous system takes in sensory stimuli, processes them and triggers reactions such as muscle movements or pain sensations. A few years ago, a network in the brain was identified that is coupled with signals from the stomach and presumably influences the human feeling of hunger and satiety.

Researchers use machine learning to unlock the genomic code in clinical cancer samples

A new paper from University of Helsinki, published today in Nature Communications, suggests a method for accurately analyzing genomics data in cancer archival biopsies. This tool uses machine learning methods to correct damaged DNA and unveil the true mutation processes in tumor samples. This helps to unlock tremendous medicine values in millions of archival cancer samples.

Children with autism benefit when parents are trained to provide at-home interventions

Training and empowering parents to provide at-home interventions to children with autism spectrum disorder helps children improve in positive behaviors and language communication skills says a new study from BYU.

WIC participation associated with improved birth outcomes, lower infant mortality

A systematic review of the most recently available evidence has found that participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is likely associated with improved birth outcomes and lower infant mortality. In addition, participation in WIC may increase receipt of child preventative services, such as vaccines. The review is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Oxygen responses of T cells alter protection against tuberculosis

In a new publication in Nature Communications, Martin Rottenberg and Ruining Liu, professor and Ph.D. student at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, explain how T cell protection against tuberculosis is controlled by their oxygen responses.

Teenagers more likely to vape if their parents smoke

Teenagers whose parents are smokers are 55% more likely to try e-cigarettes, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Barcelona, Spain. In a large study of Irish teenagers, the researchers have also found that the proportion who have tried e-cigarettes has been increasing dramatically and that although boys are more likely to use e-cigarettes, the rate of use among girls in increasing more rapidly.

Difficult birth stories can give people an appreciation for life

In the first study of its kind, researchers investigated the impact of stories around conception and birth and how they affect the individuals involved and their familial relationships. Previous research in this area has focused on the impact on the experience of difficult births and conceptions but not on how they were communicated to the child/adult.

Discovery of small molecule Gαq/11 protein inhibitors against uveal melanoma

Constitutively activated G proteins caused by specific mutations mediate the development of multiple malignancies. The mutated Gαq/11 are perceived as oncogenic drivers in the vast majority of uveal melanoma (UM) cases, making directly targeting Gαq/11 to be a promising strategy for combating UM.

Can 'random noise' unlock our learning potential?

Though many of us may seek a quiet place in which to study, "noise" may play a key role in helping some people improve their learning potential.

How changes in length of day change the brain and subsequent behavior

Seasonal changes in light—longer days in summer, shorter in winter—have long been associated with human behaviors, affecting everything from sleep and eating patterns to brain and hormonal activity. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a prime example: A type of depression related to diminished exposure to natural sunlight, typically occurring during winter months and more often at higher latitudes when daylight hours are shortest.

Norway's future CO2 cemetery takes shape

On the shores of an island off Norway's North Sea coast, engineers are building a burial ground for unwanted greenhouse gas.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/norways-future-co2-cemetery-takes-shape

NASA unsure next Moon rocket launch attempt possible this month

After scrapping a second attempt to get its new 30-story lunar rocket off the ground due to a fuel leak, NASA officials said Saturday it may not be possible to try again this month.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/nasa-unsure-next-moon-rocket-launch-attempt-possible-this-month

It's raining diamonds across the universe, research suggests

It could be raining diamonds on planets throughout the universe, scientists suggested Friday, after using common plastic to recreate the strange precipitation believed to form deep inside Uranus and Neptune.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/its-raining-diamonds-across-the-universe-research-suggests

Treatment improves cognition in Down Syndrome patients

A new hormone treatment improved the cognitive function of six men with Down Syndrome by 10-30 percent, scientists said Thursday, adding the "promising" results may raise hopes of improving patients' quality of life.

Bodies in UK well killed in mediaeval anti-Semitic massacre: study

Seventeen bodies found at the bottom of a mediaeval English well were likely Jews who were murdered in an anti-Semitic massacre more than 800 years ago, scientists have revealed.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/bodies-in-uk-well-killed-in-mediaeval-anti-semitic-massacre-study

New York polio case stirs fear, vaccine push

When Brittany Strickland heard that the United States recorded its first polio case in almost a decade, she was "deathly scared"—the 33-year-old wasn't vaccinated against the disabling disease.

Artificial intelligence can be used to better monitor Maine's forests, study finds

Monitoring and measuring forest ecosystems is a complex challenge because of an existing combination of softwares, collection systems and computing environments that require increasing amounts of energy to power. The University of Maine's Wireless Sensor Networks (WiSe-Net) laboratory has developed a novel method of using artificial intelligence and machine learning to make monitoring soil moisture more energy and cost efficient—one that could be used to make measuring more efficient across the broad forest ecosystems of Maine and beyond.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/artificial-intelligence-can-be-used-to-better-monitor-maines-forests-study-finds

'Radical decentralisation' needed in Iran to allow Kurdish communities to benefit from natural resources, study argues

A radical decentralisation of politics and decision-making in Iran is needed to allow Kurdish communities to benefit from natural resources, experts have argued.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/radical-decentralisation-needed-in-iran-to-allow-kurdish-communities-to-benefit-from-natural-resources-study-argues

UT Southwestern geriatric fracture initiatives result in expedited care and shorter hospital stays

A multidisciplinary effort to improve care for older patients who arrive at the emergency room with a hip fracture has decreased the time before they have surgery, shortened hospital stays, and resulted in better follow-up care, UT Southwestern physicians reported in Geriatric Nursing.

China's Shenzhou-14 astronauts carry out spacewalk

Two astronauts on board China's Tiangong space station successfully completed a six-hour spacewalk Friday, the national human spaceflight agency said.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/chinas-shenzhou-14-astronauts-carry-out-spacewalk

Gone in 30 years? The Welsh village in crosshairs of climate change

Occasionally at night, if the weather's bad when she walks her dog along the waterfront, Georgina Salt admits feeling a little "frisson" at the vulnerability of her exposed Welsh village.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/gone-in-30-years-the-welsh-village-in-crosshairs-of-climate-change