ScienceDaily: Health - December 21, 2023
Top health research news
Childhood trauma increases risk of chronic pain in adulthood, research to-date highlights
Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or neglect, either alone or combined with other types of childhood trauma, increases the risk of chronic pain and related disability in adulthood, according to new research.
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Night sweats reveal the severity of sleep apnea
Changes in sweat metabolism can help in the diagnosis the severity of sleep apnea.
AI's memory-forming mechanism found to be strikingly similar to that of the brain
An interdisciplinary team consisting of researchers has revealed a striking similarity between the memory processing of artificial intelligence (AI) models and the hippocampus of the human brain. This new finding provides a novel perspective on memory consolidation, which is a process that transforms short-term memories into long-term ones, in AI systems.
Air conditioning has reduced mortality due to high temperatures in Spain by one third
Air conditioning and heating systems have contributed considerably to reducing mortality linked to extreme temperatures in Spain, according to a new study. The findings provide valuable insights for designing policies to adapt to climate change.
More parallel 'traffic' observed in human brains than in other animals
In a study comparing human brain communication networks with those of macaques and mice, researchers found that only the human brains transmitted information via multiple parallel pathways, yielding new insights into mammalian evolution.
Promising anticancer drug targeting KRAS protein
A team of scientists has successfully developed a groundbreaking targeted therapy that hones in on the KRAS protein that drives some of the deadliest human cancers, including pancreatic, lung and colon tumors. Their findings suggest that a novel inhibitor drug could be used to target KRAS G12D, a subset of the notorious cancer-driving KRAS gene.
New method Ebola virus uses to infect cells
Scientists recently published findings indicating that Ebola virus creates and uses intercellular tunnels to move from cell to cell and evade treatments.
Toothbrushing tied to lower rates of pneumonia among hospitalized patients
Researchers have found an inexpensive tool that may help reduce rates of pneumonia for hospitalized patients -- and it comes with bristles on one end. A new study examined whether daily toothbrushing among hospitalized patients is associated with lower rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia and other outcomes.
Secret vulnerabilities of cancer's 'death star' revealed
Researchers have comprehensively identified the allosteric control sites found in the protein KRAS. These are highly sought after targets for drug development, representing secret vulnerabilities which can be exploited to control the effects of one of the most important causes of cancer. The study presents the first complete control map for any protein and is expected to greatly accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective cancer treatments.
Memory research: Breathing in sleep impacts memory processes
Researchers have investigated how sleep affects memory. They found a link between breathing and the emergence of certain brain activity patterns in sleep that are associated with the reactivation of memory contents. The data points to possible consequences of unhealthy breathing on memory.
People who abandon New Year's resolutions or other commitments can maintain the respect of their peers by blaming external factors such as lack of money, new research suggests. Studies have found that people were more likely to be seen as having good self-control despite abandoning a commitment to live a healthier life if they claimed they did not have the money for a gym membership or expensive new cooking equipment. People who instead claimed they didn't have the time to exercise or to replace a takeaway habit with healthy, home-cooked food, were more likely to be seen as having poor self-control.
US adults eat a meal's worth of calories of snacks in a day
Snacks constitute almost a quarter of a day's calories in U.S. adults and account for about one-third of daily added sugar, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzing data from surveys of over 20,000 people found that Americans averaged about 400 to 500 calories in snacks a day -- often more than what they consumed at breakfast -- that offered little nutritional value.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in menstrual products
A new systematic review furthers our understanding of the amount of potentially harmful chemicals in menstrual-related products. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with human hormones and cause medical issues.
Study shows exposure to household chemicals can lower odds of getting pregnant
Exposure to phthalates, a group of plasticizing and solvent chemicals found in many household products, was linked to a lower probability of getting pregnant, but not to pregnancy loss, according to research by environmental and reproductive epidemiologists.
Revolutionary seaweed and carbonated water based hydrogel for treating skin wounds
Hydrogels have demonstrated promise for effectively treating skin wounds. However, currently available hydrogels adhere to the skin and swell when absorbing fluid discharge, causing the wound site to expand during the initial stages of recovery. Now, researchers have developed a novel type of hydrogel using a biocompatible substance found in seaweed. This hydrogel results in lower adhesion and swelling, but provides a high therapeutic effect, promising recovery without wound expansion.
Researchers discover first ever link between hemoglobin-like protein and normal heart development
Researchers have discovered that a certain kind of protein similar to hemoglobin, called cytoglobin, plays an important role in the development of the heart. Specifically, it affects the correct left-right pattern of the heart and other asymmetric organs. The findings could eventually lead to the development of new therapeutic interventions to alter the processes that lead to these defects.
'Long flu' has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID
New research comparing the viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19 shows that people hospitalized with seasonal influenza also can suffer long-term, negative health effects, especially involving their lungs and airways. The study also found that in the 18 months after infection, patients hospitalized for either COVID-19 or seasonal influenza faced an increased risk of death, hospital readmission, and other health problems.
Diverse gut bacteria communities protect against harmful pathogens by nutrient blocking
New study demonstrates that diverse communities of resident bacteria can protect the human gut from disease-causing microorganisms. However, this protective effect is lost when only single species of gut bacteria are present. The researchers found that protective communities block the growth of harmful pathogens by consuming nutrients that the pathogen needs.
Opportunities to improve future HIV vaccine candidates
An effective HIV vaccine may need to prompt strong responses from immune cells called CD8+ T cells to protect people from acquiring HIV, according to a new study. The study findings draw comparisons between the immune system activity of past HIV vaccine study participants and people with HIV who naturally keep the virus from replicating even in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The latter individuals are often called 'long-term non-progressors' or 'elite controllers' (LTNPs/ECs).
How the immune system fights to keep herpes at bay
In a study of lab-engineered cells, researchers identify how the immune system neutralizes the herpesvirus. The research maps, for the first time, the maneuvers used by virus and host in the cell nucleus, a poorly understood terrain of host-pathogen interaction. The findings could inform the design of new treatments for herpes and other viruses that replicate in the same way.
Jurors recommend death penalty based on looks, but new training can correct the bias
A new study shows that people use facial appearance to make sentencing decisions, and finds an intervention to counter the bias.
AI study reveals individuality of tongue's surface
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D images of the human tongue have revealed that the surface of our tongues are unique to each of us, new findings suggest. The results offer an unprecedented insight into the biological make-up of our tongue's surface and how our sense of taste and touch differ from person to person.
Thinking about God inspires risk-taking for believers, study finds
Does thinking about faith make religious people more likely to take leaps? A new study says yes, finding that participants were more likely to take risks when thinking about God as a benevolent protector. The study specifically looked at American Christians and 'morally neutral' risks.
Do you celebrate your birthday in the same month as your mum? If so, you are not alone. The phenomenon occurs more commonly than expected -- a new study of millions of families has revealed.
Viking dentistry was surprisingly advanced
Widespread caries and toothache -- but also some dental work and filing of front teeth. Viking Age teeth from Varnhem bear witness to surprisingly advanced dentistry.
People, not the climate, caused the decline of the giant mammals
For years, scientists have debated whether humans or the climate have caused the population of large mammals to decline dramatically over the past several thousand years. A new study from Aarhus University confirms that climate cannot be the explanation.
In a novel study, researchers introduced LoGoFunc, an advanced computational tool that predicts pathogenic gain- and loss-of-function variants across the genome. Unlike current methods that predominantly focus on loss of function, LoGoFunc distinguishes among different types of harmful mutations, offering potentially valuable insights into diverse disease outcomes.
High cholesterol caused by childhood sedentariness could be reversed with light physical activity
Increased sedentary time in childhood can raise cholesterol levels by two thirds as an adult, leading to heart problems and even premature death -- but a new study has found light physical activity may completely reverse the risks and is far more effective than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
This next generation blue light could potentially promote or hinder sleep on command
Blue light from LED lamps and consumer electronics can mess with your sleep because it disrupts production of the natural sleep hormone melatonin. Tinted glasses or displays in night mode can mask, but don't remove, a portion of the disruptive wavelengths. But now, researchers report that they have designed more 'human-centric' LEDs that could potentially enhance drowsiness or alertness on command.
New study advances search for accurate blood markers for acute kidney injury
Using cells from kidney biopsies, researchers report progress in the search for more accurate and easier-to-obtain markers to help predict, manage and assess treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI). Marked by serious inflammation, AKI can lead to sudden loss of kidney function, and clinicians have long searched for markers that alert them to AKI status without the need for invasive kidney biopsies.
Gut bacteria of malnourished children benefit from key elements in therapeutic food
New research has identified key, naturally occurring biochemical components of a novel therapeutic food that is aimed at repairing malnourished children's underdeveloped gut microbiomes. The study also has identified the important bacterial strains that process these biochemical components. The findings may help guide treatment with a current food formulation and enable creation of new, more effective formulations in the future.
Very irregular sleep linked to higher risk of dementia
People who have very irregular sleep patterns may have a higher risk of dementia than those who have more regular sleep patterns, according to new research. The study does not prove that sleep irregularity causes dementia. It only shows an association.
Rare sleep disorder more prevalent than previously thought
People who are very sleepy during the day, despite a good night's rest, may have a sleep disorder called idiopathic hypersomnia. New research has found this neurologic disorder may not be as rare as once thought.
Enzymes can't tell artificial DNA from the real thing
Researchers have come one step closer to unlocking the potential of synthetic DNA, which could help scientists develop never-before-seen proteins in the lab.
Unravelling the association between neonatal proteins and adult health
Scientists studied two complement components that are important parts of the immune system and are linked to schizophrenia and autoimmune disorders. They studied the link between two protein concentrations -- C3 and C4 -- in over 68,000 newborn babies and the risk of developing six mental disorders later in life.
Researcher says men should abstain from drinking at least three months prior to conceiving
New research has now demonstrated that it takes much longer than previously believed, longer than a month, for the effects of alcohol consumption to leave the father's sperm. Because of this, it's crucial that couples planning on getting pregnant know how far in advance to stop drinking in order to prevent birth defects.
Body dissatisfaction linked with depression risk in children
Body dissatisfaction at age 11 is linked to increased risk of depression by age 14, finds a new longitudinal study.
Exercise can boost brain health
A fascinating link between regular exercise and better brain health has been revealed, according to an international study.
Researchers reveal prevalence of persistent symptoms in patients with microscopic colitis
A new study examines how multiple factors contribute to the miscommunication and understanding of the digestive disease, microscopic colitis.
Breastfeeding alters infant gut in ways that boost brain development, may improve test scores
Breastfeeding, even partially alongside formula feeding, changes the chemical makeup -- or metabolome -- of an infant's gut in ways that positively influence brain development and may boost test scores years later, suggests new research.
Yoga nidra might be a path to better sleep and improved memory
Practicing yoga nidra -- a kind of mindfulness training -- might improve sleep, cognition, learning, and memory, even in novices, according to a pilot study. After a two-week intervention with a cohort of novice practitioners, the researchers found that the percentage of delta-waves in deep sleep increased and that all tested cognitive abilities improved.
Cognitive strategies for augmenting the body with a wearable, robotic arm
Scientists show that breathing may be used to control a wearable extra robotic arm in healthy individuals, without hindering control of other parts of the body.
Deep neural networks show promise as models of human hearing
In the largest study yet of deep neural networks trained to perform auditory tasks, researchers found most of these models generate internal representations that share properties of representations seen in the human brain when people are listening to the same sounds.
Poor diet quality during adolescence is linked to serious health risks
Diet quality among adolescents in the United States is among the worst across all age groups, putting young people at risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, among other cardiometabolic diseases later in life, according to a new study. The research used the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and medical testing to assess a group of youth aged 10-16 years.
Unique cell-based approach for pulmonary arterial hypertension shown to be safe
Infusions of potentially therapeutic cells derived from the heart are safe for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a form of high blood pressure that occurs in the blood vessels of the lungs and typically affects middle-aged women, according to a new study.
Scientists enhance cell-based therapy to destroy solid tumors
Researchers successfully tested a simple intervention that could unlock greater anti-tumor power in therapies that use T cells -- an approach known as 'cell-based therapy,' which uses specially designed T cells to fight cancer. The team has proven an exciting concept: that the common cholesterol drug fenofibrate can boost T cells' ability to destroy human tumors.