ScienceDaily: Health - December 07, 2023
Top health research news
Fungus-fighting protein could help overcome severe autoimmune disease and cancer
A protein in the immune system programmed to protect the body from fungal infections is also responsible for exacerbating the severity of certain autoimmune diseases such as irritable bowel disease (IBS), type 1 diabetes, eczema and other chronic disorders, new research has found. The discovery could pave the way for new and more effective drugs, without the nasty side effects of existing treatments. In addition to helping to manage severe autoimmune conditions, the breakthrough could also help treat all types of cancer.
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Predicting which of our organs will fail first
A new study demonstrates a simple way of studying organ aging by analyzing distinct proteins, or sets of them, in blood, enabling the prediction of individuals' risk for diseases.
Many couples around the world may share high blood pressure
Spouses or partners in heterosexual relationships may have high blood pressure that mirrors one another, finds new, multinational study.
How drugs can target the thick 'scar tissue' of pancreatic cancer
Researchers discovered how anti-cancer drugs called HDAC inhibitors help treat pancreatic cancer by altering scar tissue (fibroblast) development. The findings suggest HDAC inhibitors could be powerful tools in fighting pancreatic cancer -- alone and in combination with other therapies.
Repeated blast exposures may harm the brain health of military personnel
The brains of special warfare community personnel repeatedly exposed to blasts show increased inflammation and structural changes compared with a control group, potentially increasing the risk of long-term, brain-related disease, according to a new study.
New findings reveal important insights into age-related nonresolving inflammation
Aging is associated with chronic, nonresolving inflammation, or 'inflammaging,' that can lead to tissue dysfunction. New findings reveal insights into the cellular programs and factors that promote the resolution of inflammation during aging. These findings may lead to the development of new strategies to limit age-related organ decline.
has found that hormone levels, measured through blood tests, are an important indicator of whether women will benefit from recently licensed medication for the prevention of breast cancer.
Researchers redesign future mRNA therapeutics to prevent potentially harmful immune responses
Researchers have discovered that misreading of therapeutic mRNAs by the cell's decoding machinery can cause an unintended immune response in the body. They have identified the sequence within the mRNA that causes this to occur and found a way to prevent 'off-target' immune responses to enable the safer design of future mRNA therapeutics.
New protein linked to early-onset dementia identified
Scientists have identified abnormal aggregates of a protein called TAF15 in the brains of individuals with early-onset dementia, known as frontotemporal dementia, where the cause was not previously known.
A type of allergy medicine might help treat lung cancer
Researchers have identified an allergy pathway that, when blocked, unleashes antitumor immunity in mouse models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). And in an early parallel study in humans, combining immunotherapy with dupilumab -- an Interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor-blocking antibody widely used for treating allergies and asthma -- boosted patients' immune systems, with one out of the six experiencing significant tumor reduction.
Scientists reveal unprecedented insights into human limb development, including the many intricate processes that govern their formation.
Bacteria's mucus maneuvers: Study reveals how snot facilitates infection
Sniffles, snorts and blows of runny noses are the hallmarks of cold and flu season -- and that increase in mucus is exactly what bacteria use to mount a coordinated attack on the immune system, according to a new study. The team found that the thicker the mucus, the better the bacteria are able to swarm. The findings could have implications for treatments that reduce the ability of bacteria to spread.
Newly identified biomarkers may detect early cognitive decline via blood test
For some people, extreme stressors like psychiatric disorders or childhood neglect and abuse can lead to a range of health problems later in life, including depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. A new study identified genetic indicators that can predict another health problem, the decline of cognitive abilities, among people who have been affected by these extreme stressors.
Addicted to your phone? New tool identifies overuse of digital media
A new tool will make it easier for clinicians and researchers to measure digital media addiction as new technologies emerge.
Depression, constipation, and urinary tract infections may precede MS diagnosis
In some diseases, the underlying processes can start years before a diagnosis is made. A new study finds that people who later develop multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have conditions like depression, constipation and urinary tract infections five years before their MS diagnosis than people who do not develop MS. The study also found that sexual problems and bladder infections, or cystitis, are more likely in people who later develop MS.
Reverse metabolomics: New method finds biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease
Scientists' debut 'reverse metabolomics,' a groundbreaking approach to advancing microbiome research. They use the technique to discover hundreds of new human molecules, and a new biomarker and therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
Pregnant women are missing vital nutrients needed for them and their babies
Pregnant women eating modern diets are missing key nutrients needed for them and their babies, and this could get worse with the move to plant-based foods. Scientists surveying more than 1,700 women found most were missing vitamins usually found in meat and dairy, including B12, B6 and D, folic acid and riboflavin which are essential for the development of fetuses in the womb.
Unlocking the secrets of the brain's dopaminergic system
A new organoid model of the dopaminergic system sheds lights on its intricate functionality and potential implications for Parkinson's disease. The model replicates the dopaminergic system's structure, connectivity, and functionality.
Three decades of data in Bangladesh show elevated risk of infant mortality In flood-prone areas
A new study estimates 152,753 excess infant deaths were attributable to living in flood-prone areas in Bangladesh over the past 30 years. The findings begin to unspool the long term public health impacts of recurring environmental hazards such as flooding, wildfires, or extreme heat, many of which are becoming more common or more severe under climate change.
Older organs accelerate aging in transplant recipients
A study found that in preclinical models, transplanting older organs can trigger senescence in younger recipients. They observed that young and middle-aged mice that received heart transplants from older mice had impaired physical capacity, with reduced running times and grip strengths. Middle-aged mice who received older hearts also showed increased anxiety-related behavior, impaired memory and poorer learning performances.
Breakthrough in photoactivatable nanomedicine for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration
Researchers have developed a light-activatable prodrug nanomedicine for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy. Through the intravenous injection of the nanomedicine and application of light irradiation to diseased eyes, anti-angiogenic and photodynamic combination therapy can be activated, offering a minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of AMD and other ocular disorders characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth.
While anger and aggression are instinctive behaviors found across many species, leaving these emotions unchecked can lead to conflict and violence. In a recent study, researchers demonstrated that neuronal-glial interactions in the cerebellum determine the degree of aggression exhibited by mice. This suggests that future therapeutic methods could adjust glial activity in the cerebellum to help reduce unwanted aggression.
Eye scans provide crucial insights into kidney health
3D eye scans can reveal vital clues about kidney health that could help to track the progression of disease, research suggests. The advance could revolutionize monitoring of kidney disease, which often progresses without symptoms in the early stages. Experts say the technology has potential to support early diagnosis as current screening tests cannot detect the condition until half of the kidney function has been lost.
Exposure to soft robots decreases human fears about working with them
Seeing robots made with soft, flexible parts in action appears to lower people's anxiety about working with them or even being replaced by them. A study found that watching videos of a soft robot working with a person at picking and placing tasks lowered the viewers' safety concerns and feelings of job insecurity. This was true even when the soft robot was shown working in close proximity to the person. This finding shows soft robots hold a potential psychological advantage over rigid robots made of metal or other hard materials.
There is no shortage of advice for women on what to eat, how to train, or what supplements to take during their menstrual cycles, but a new review by an international team of scientists has found little evidence to support such recommendations. In fact, they found sparse research on women and exercise at all, and even less on the effect of their periods on sports performance, physiology, or physical fitness.
New research shows how important protein keeps our cell membranes in balance
New research shows how important protein keeps our cell membranes in balance. Researchers have studied the structure, function and mechanisms of the protein ATP8B1, which flips lipid molecules in our cell membranes and plays a key role in bile biosynthesis. Importantly, ATP8B1 has also emerged as a genetic marker of Alzheimer's resilience. These results give new possibilities for therapeutic interventions in conditions related to bile homeostasis disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Enhanced AI tracks neurons in moving animals
Scientists have developed a pioneering new method that uses deep learning and a new technique called 'targeted augmentation' to track neurons in moving and deforming animals.
A farsighted approach to tackle nearsightedness
As humans age, our eyes adjust based on how we use them, growing or shortening to focus where needed, and we now know that blurred input to the eye while the eye is growing causes myopia. It is so specific that the eye grows exactly to compensate for the amount and the direction of blur. Researchers have built a high-frequency ultrasonography system to measure eye size and how quickly eyes grow to better understand myopia and its contributing factors.
Wildfires have erased two decades' worth of air quality gains in western United States
A new study concludes that wildfires originating in the western United States and Canada have erased air quality gains over the past two decades and caused an increase of premature deaths in fire-prone areas and downwind regions, primarily in the western U.S.
Powerful financial giants could play vital role in preventing the next pandemic
For the first time, researchers have mapped the financial sector's influence on the emergence of infectious diseases. They find that a relatively small number of powerful financial institutions, such as investment companies, pension funds, and banks could help accelerate actions that mitigate the risks of new pandemics, according to a new study.
Leukemia cells activate cellular recycling program
To speed up their growth, leukemia cells typically activate the recycling of cellular structures -- enabling them to dispose of defective components and better supply themselves with building materials. Researchers have now shown that leukemia cells with a very common mutation activate specific genes that are important for this recycling process. Their findings open up new therapeutic options for the future.
Survey finds Americans struggle to maintain healthy habits during the holiday season
The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration but many Americans admit the endless flurry of activities make it difficult to eat healthy, exercise and get adequate rest, according to a new survey.
Needle-free ultrasound vaccine delivery
Researchers are investigating the potential of a painless, needle-free vaccine delivery by ultrasound. The method uses cavitation, which is the formation and popping of bubbles in response to a sound wave. Though initial in vivo tests reported 700 times fewer vaccine molecules were delivered by the cavitation approach compared to conventional injection, the cavitation approach produced a higher immune response. The researchers theorize this could be due to the immune-rich skin the ultrasonic delivery targets. The result is a more efficient vaccine that could help reduce costs and increase efficacy.
Breakthroughs in nanosized contrast agents and drug carriers through self-folding molecules
Self-folding polymers containing gadolinium forming nanosized complexes could be the key to enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and next-generation drug delivery. Thanks to their small size, low toxicity, and good tumor accumulation and penetration, these complexes represent a leap forward in contrast agents for cancer diagnosis, as well as neutron capture radiotherapy.
This is how protein aggregates can trigger neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the deposition of clumped proteins in the brain and progressive neuronal cell death. Although the causal link between protein aggregates and neurodegeneration is clear, it is still unclear in what way misfolded proteins trigger cell death. A team showed that misfolded prion proteins can inactivate the TDP-43 protein.
Stimulating nerves connected to the pancreas regenerates insulin-producing cells, mouse study shows
Decreasing pancreatic beta cell numbers -- the only cells that produce insulin -- is a leading cause of diabetes. In a promising development, a research group has revealed that stimulating autonomic vagal nerves connected to the pancreas can improve the function and also increase the number of pancreatic beta cells in mice.
Macrophages 'eat' insulin-producing cells to regulate insulin after mice have given birth
Pregnancy brings a rise in pancreatic beta cells -- the cells that produce insulin. Shortly after birth, these cells return to their normal levels. The mechanisms behind this process had remained a mystery. But now a research group has revealed that white blood cells called macrophages 'eat' these cells.
Hispanic/Latina women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) -- conditions marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy -- are more likely to have abnormalities in their heart structure and function decades later when compared with women without a history of HDP, according to a new study. The findings also suggest that while having high blood pressure later in life can contribute to these abnormalities, HDP play the greater role, significantly raising a woman's risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
In Korea, workers are being provided with virtual reality (VR)-based safety training content to mitigate the increase in occupational accidents. However, the current training evaluation methods suffer from a lack of immediate feedback from participants for personal learning performance evaluation. To address this, a team of researchers has now developed a new framework that uses real-time biometric data during VR training for improving personalized safety and preventing occupational hazards.
Filling data gaps to assess the role of education in fertility decline
Researchers have introduced an innovative methodology for reconstructing data on fertility and education, particularly in developing countries with inconsistent or unreliable data sets.
Endovascular catheter opens blocked arteries deep within lungs
A new endovascular catheter, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is paving the way to more effective and safe treatment for acute pulmonary embolism. Already shown to be effective for reducing blockages in lung arteries, new research shows that this catheter also reduces blockages in the smaller segmental pulmonary artery branches. These branches are ultimately responsible for oxygenating the blood in the lungs. The new study, which was part of the National Institutes of Health-sponsored multicenter RESCUE clinical trial, further showed a correlation between decreased numbers of blockages in the small lung arteries and functional recovery of the right ventricle of the heart, which pumps blood into the main pulmonary artery of the lungs. Compared to other devices, the BASHIR™ catheter also had significantly lower bleeding rates, a key advance in acute pulmonary embolism treatment. The findings are described in JACC: Advances.
Research has shown that children who experience adversity during their early years may undergo faster biological aging. Nonetheless, a recent study reveals that positive parenting interventions can potentially shield children from this consequence, helping slow the epigenetic aging process.
Mathematics supporting fresh theoretical approach in oncology
Mathematics, histopathology and genomics converge to confirm that the most aggressive clear cell renal cell carcinomas display low levels of intratumour heterogeneity, i.e. they contain fewer distinct cell types. The study supports the hypothesis that it would be advisable to apply therapeutic strategies to maintain high levels of cellular heterogeneity within the tumour in order to slow down the evolution of the cancer and improve human survival.
While we often think of diseases as caused by foreign bodies -- bacteria or viruses -- there are hundreds of diseases affecting humans that result from errors in cellular production of its proteins. A team of researchers recently leveraged the power of cutting-edge technology, including an innovative technique called glycoproteomics, to unlock the carbohydrate-based code that governs how certain classes of proteins form themselves into the complex shapes necessary to keep us healthy.
Brains of newborns aren't underdeveloped compared to other primates
Contrary to current understanding, the brains of human newborns aren't significantly less developed compared to other primate species, but appear so because so much brain development happens after birth, finds a new study.
New study maps ketamine's effects on brain
A mouse study found that the drug ketamine can alter the brain's dopamine system, boosting the case for more targeted medical use.
Studies help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy
Two new studies give insight into how cells use energy to influence the way prostate tumors survive and grow -- advancements that can help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy, the most commonly used treatment for men with advanced stages of the disease.
Salty immune cells surrounding the brain linked to hypertension-induced dementia
A study suggests that the response of immune system cells inside the protective covering surrounding the brain may contribute to the cognitive decline that can occur in a person with chronic high blood pressure. This finding may shed light on new ways to counteract the effects of high blood pressure on cognition.
New technique efficiently offers insight into gene regulation
Researchers have developed a new technique called MAbID. This allows them to simultaneously study different mechanisms of gene regulation, which plays a major role in development and disease. MAbID offers new insights into how these mechanisms work together or against each other.
Decoding flavonoid metabolism: A closer look at plant-based diets
An international team of researchers has elucidated the process by which the major flavonoids naringenin, apigenin, and genistein are metabolized in the body. These findings are fundamental in elucidating the correlation between the metabolism of flavonoids in the body and their potential health benefits.
Being overweight hampers body's immune response to SARS-CoV-2, study shows
New research shows being overweight can impair the body's antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection but not to the protection offered by vaccination.
Vitamin D supplements do not prevent bone fractures in children
A major clinical trial has found that vitamin D supplements do not increase bone strength or prevent bone fractures in children with vitamin D deficiency. The findings challenge widely held perceptions relating to the effects of vitamin D on bone health.
Study identifies peptide as key mediator in heavy alcohol drinking
Researchers have identified that a peptide called pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), is involved in heavy alcohol drinking. In addition, they have discovered that this peptide acts in the BNST area.
Can preeclampsia be prevented?
Preeclampsia is a mysterious condition that occurs in about one of 10 pregnancies without any early warning signs. After 20 weeks or more of normal blood pressure during the pregnancy, patients with preeclampsia will begin to experience elevated blood pressure and may also have increased levels of protein in their urine due to hypertension reducing the filtering power of the kidneys. Prolonged hypertension due to preeclampsia can lead to organ damage and life-threatening complications for mothers and fetuses.
Pathogens use force to breach immune defenses, study finds
New research has revealed a previously unknown process through which pathogens are able to defeat a cell's defense mechanisms with physical force. The discovery represents a potential game-changer in the fight against intracellular pathogens, which cause infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and chlamydia.
Meditation training can support wellbeing in older adults
Following an 18-month meditation program can improve the wellbeing of older adults, finds a new randomized controlled trial by an international team.
Human behavior guided by fast changes in dopamine levels
A new study shows that dopamine release in the human brain plays a crucial role in encoding both reward and punishment prediction errors. This means that dopamine is involved in the process of learning from both positive and negative experiences, allowing the brain to adjust and adapt its behavior based on the outcomes of these experiences.
Scientists work to bring tissue regeneration to replace root canal treatment
Scientists are testing a novel technology to treat endodontic diseases more effectively through tissue regeneration instead of root canal therapy. Because the technology promotes formation of the type of stem cells that can differentiate into dentin (tooth), bone, cartilage or fat, it has huge potential for the field of regenerative medicine beyond the tissues in the teeth. It could be used to grow bones in other parts of the body.