ScienceDaily: Health - February 06, 2025
Top health research news
The truth may hurt, but for couples, it's worth it
I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE: A new study of more than 200 couples finds that being honest when expressing a desire for change leads to greater personal and relationship well-being for both partners.
Researchers find improved method for treating rare, aggressive, pregnancy-related cancer
A new drug delivery system shows promise for treating a rare, aggressive form of cancer affecting pregnant women and new mothers, and it has potential with other cancers as well.
Relief could be on the way for UTI sufferers dealing with debilitating pain
New insights into what causes the painful and disruptive symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) could offer hope for improved treatment. UTIs are one of the most prevalent bacterial infections globally, with more than 400 million cases reported every year. Nearly one in three women will experience UTIs before the age of 24, and many elderly people and those with bladder issues from spinal cord injuries can experience multiple UTI's in a single year.
AI tool helps find life-saving medicine for rare disease
Set to enter hospice care, a patient with idiopathic multicentric Castleman's disease is now in remission after treatment with a medication identified by an AI-guided analysis.
Could the key to easing anxiety be hidden in our gut? Scientists have discovered a crucial connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behavior. Their research suggests that microbial metabolites -- specifically indoles -- play a direct role in regulating brain activity linked to anxiety. This finding opens up exciting possibilities for new probiotic-based therapies to improve mental health.
Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays
Many commercial biological age tests collect genetic information through saliva samples or oral swabs. For accurate measurements, however, blood samples are typically necessary according to a new study.
Scientists discover new weapon to fight treatment-resistant melanoma
Scientists identified a new strategy for attacking treatment-resistant melanoma: inhibiting the gene S6K2.
Later-onset menopause linked to healthier blood vessels, lower heart disease risk
New research shows that women who hit menopause later in life have healthier blood vessels and mitochondria and a different composition of metabolites in their blood than those who stop menstruating earlier. The study helps explain why late-onset menopause is linked to lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Study finds new link between food choices, depression and Alzheimer's Disease
New research has shown that diet could influence the risk of both depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Evidence suggests that depressive symptoms are both a risk factor for AD and a reaction to early memory problems.
Illuminating the beginnings of animal development
New biophysics research adds to our knowledge about the origins of left-right asymmetry in the body.
New study reveals how RNA travels between cells to control genes across generations
Researchers uncover key mechanisms in gene regulation that may lead to better design of RNA-based medicines.
Polymeric delivery system revolutionizes mRNA therapeutics
A research team has developed a biodegradable polymer-based delivery system that efficiently transports mRNA.
New details about insulin production deciphered
How does the body regulate the activity of insulin-producing cells in order to react quickly to changing conditions? Researchers have investigated this question.
Carbohydrate cravings in depression
Depression affects 280 million people worldwide. The mental illness has been proven to lead to changes in eating behavior. Researchers have discovered that although patients with depression generally have less appetite, they prefer carbohydrate-rich foods.
Wealth is strong predictor of prosocial behavior around the world, study suggests
Wealthy people are more likely to engage in prosocial behavior such as donating money or volunteering, according to a new global study.
Boosting communication between the spinal nerves and the muscles using the spinal cord stimulation reverses spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) progression and could be applied to other motoneuron diseases, including ALS.
Body weight and body mass index alone are not enough to predict whether someone will develop a metabolic disease. A new atlas of cells in fat tissue could help to explain why some overweight people stay healthy, while others do not.
Drinking ketones improves heart health, study suggests
Drinking ketones improves heart health, a new small-scale study has found.
Beyond the gut: A new frontier in IBS treatment by targeting the brain
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder with unclear causes, affecting about 10% of the global population. Researchers have now discovered that opioid delta-receptor agonists may alleviate IBS symptoms by acting directly on the central nervous system. Using a novel stress-induced mouse model, they found these drugs reduce abdominal pain and regulate bowel movements. This research suggests a promising approach to treating IBS by targeting stress as a contributing factor.
Gender equality is crucial for a climate resilient future
A new study shows why gender equality trends should be central when planning how societies adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Value-added pancakes: Using science to improve nutrition of breakfast staple
Food scientists are working to make pancakes healthier by boosting the popular morning favorite's nutritional value while enhancing its taste and texture. Generally, pancakes are made with refined flours, contributing to empty calories. The scientists want to make tasty pancakes with whole grains that add some fiber and protein.
College commuters: Link between students' mental health, vehicle crashes
Young adults are at higher risk for crashes due to inexperience, risk-taking, and impaired driving. A study examines the link between commuter college students' mental health and crash risk, highlighting the added impact on their education, especially in transit-limited South Florida.
Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility
A newly discovered line of communication between body muscle and the pituitary gland may play an unexpected role in female fertility, according to a new study. Researchers found that a protein produced in the muscles helps manage the release of a hormone made in the pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain.
Researchers discover the brain cells that tell you to stop eating
Newly discovered brain cells count each bite before sending the order to cease eating a meal.
Drug reverses groin hernias in male mice without surgery, shows promise in humans
By age 75, a noteworthy 50% of men develop an inguinal (groin) hernia. Although common, the cause of these hernias is unknown, and the only treatment is surgery to repair the weakened area. Even after surgery, these hernias recur in 10 to 15% of men. Using a novel, medication-based approach, a new study successfully reversed existing inguinal hernias in male mice and fully restored their normal anatomy without surgery. Even more promising, the scientists also examined human hernia tissue and found the identical molecular markers as in the mouse model. More than a million inguinal hernia repair surgeries per year are performed under general anesthesia in the U.S.
Fool yourself: People unknowingly cheat on tasks to feel smarter, healthier
When given the opportunity, individuals will cheat to feel smarter or healthier, engaging in diagnostic self-deception to convince themselves that their performance is due to their ability and not the cheating, according to new research.
Study in India shows kids use different math skills at work vs. school
A study by economists shows a wide gap between the kinds of math problems kids who work in retail markets do well and the kinds of problems kids in school do well.
Why antibiotics can fail even against non-resistant bacteria
Antibiotics are indispensable for treating bacterial infections. But why are they sometimes ineffective, even when the bacteria are not resistant? In their latest study, researchers challenge the conventional view that a small subset of particularly resilient bacteria are responsible for the failure of antibiotic therapies.
Cancer vaccine shows promise for patients with stage III and IV kidney cancer
Researchers report that all nine patients in a clinical trial being treated for stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), generated a successful anti-cancer immune response after initiation of a personalized cancer vaccine.
A study of 57,000 people in 21 countries finds that only 6.9 per cent who met criteria for a mental health or substance-use disorder received effective treatment. The biggest barrier to effective treatment is a person not recognizing that they need it. However, even patients who contact the healthcare system often do not receive effective treatment, for various reasons. The study quantified, for the first time, where attrition occurs at each stage along the path to effective treatment.
Researchers have revealed novel sequence-structure-property relationships for customizing engineered living materials (ELMs), enabling more precise control over their structure and how they respond to deformation forces like stretching or compression.
Pickleball program boosts health and wellness for cancer survivors
A new community-based pickleball program called Project Rally is helping cancer survivors improve their physical and social well-being, according to a recent pilot study. The program has shown strong results in terms of participation, enjoyment, and physical improvements.
Outside-in signaling shows a route into cancer cells
A new study shows how an anticancer drug triggers an 'outside in' signal that gets it sucked into a cancer cell. The work reveals a new signaling mechanism that could be exploited for delivering other drugs.
How Sudan virus binds to human cells
The Sudan virus, a close relative of Ebola, has a fatality rate of 50% but remains poorly understood in terms of how it infects cells. Currently, no approved treatments exist. To address this critical gap in pandemic preparedness, researchers investigated how this deadly virus attaches to human cells.
New drug shows promise in reversing memory loss for early Alzheimer's patients
A paradigm-shifting study shows an experimental drug, GL-II-73, has the potential to restore memory and cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The study demonstrates that the drug improves memory deficits and reverses brain cell damage, offering hope for improving cognitive functioning, delaying Alzheimer's progression, and potentially preventing some of the brain damages associated with the disease.
How healthy stem cells turn into oral cancer
Researchers have identified the molecular and cellular mechanisms that transform healthy stem cells into oral cancer at the earliest stages of the disease.
Lab findings support the concept that reducing neuroinflammation could help fight Alzheimer's
Scientists provide new evidence that preventing brain inflammation is a promising approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Their findings, based on studies in cell culture, mice and tissue samples from patients, may contribute to the development of more effective therapies.
Asthma and antibiotic use may predict nasal polyp recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery
The probability of revision sinus surgery including the removal of nasal polyps is higher if the patient has asthma or is on antibiotics at the time of their initial surgery. However, higher age was not a predictor of revision surgery, according to a new study.
New study model with clues to anti-aging
Scientists have created genetically-engineered mice that could help accelerate anti-aging research.
Luteolin, an antioxidant in vegetables, may contribute to the prevention of hair graying
Graying hair is a hallmark of aging, often considered an inevitable part of growing older. However, recent research suggests that luteolin, an antioxidant found in vegetables including celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers, might suppress this process. Their findings pave the way for potential applications in human hair care.
Scientists identify Alzheimer's disease-protective genetic factors and unravel disease mechanisms
An international research team has identified key genetic factors that confer protective effects against Alzheimer's disease (AD) through a comprehensive genetic analysis of East Asian populations, including Chinese and Japanese, as well as European populations. This groundbreaking discovery sheds light on how these genetic factors can exert protective effects, unveiling the biological mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis.
Omega-3s can slow down aging process
A daily intake of one gram of omega-3s can slow down biological aging by up to four months, according to an analysis of clinical data from the international DO-HEALTH study. For the first time, epigenetic clocks were used to measure the aging process.
How hungry fat cells could someday starve cancer to death
Liposuction and plastic surgery aren't often mentioned in the same breath as cancer. But they are the inspiration for a new approach to treating cancer that uses engineered fat cells to deprive tumors of nutrition. Researchers at UC San Francisco used the gene editing technology CRISPR to turn ordinary white fat cells into 'beige' fat cells, which voraciously consume calories to make heat.
Research has shown that a potential new targeted therapy for childhood brain cancer is effective in infiltrating and killing tumor cells in preclinical models tested in mice. The novel drug CT-179 was shown to target a specific subset of tumor cells responsible for recurrence and therapy resistance in pediatric brain cancer. The findings could lead to more effective, less toxic treatments, improving survival and quality of life for young patients.
Research discovery halts childhood brain tumor before it forms
A research team has identified a critical event driving tumor growth in a type of medulloblastoma -- and a way to block it.
Scientists want to throw a wrench in the gears of cancer's growth
For decades, scientists have tried to stop cancer by disabling the mutated proteins that are found in tumors. But many cancers manage to overcome this and continue growing. Now, scientists think they can throw a wrench into the fabrication of a key growth-related protein, MYC, that escalates wildly in 70% of all cancers. Unlike some other targets of cancer therapies, MYC can be dangerous simply due to its abundance.
Disrupted recycling of proteins found to damage heart health
A new study has identified an enzyme that plays an important role in breaking down unneeded or damaged proteins in the heart -- an important process for maintaining heart health.
Maternal stress could leave epigenetic imprints on genes in the placenta associated with cortisol -- a necessary hormone for fetal development -- and this would affect the baby's development from very early stages. The study suggests that a mother's emotional wellbeing during pregnancy is not only important for her, but could also influence the future health of her baby.
All in the eyes: High resolution retinal maps aid disease diagnoses
Researchers have conducted one of the largest eye studies in the world to reveal new insights into retinal thickness, highlighting its potential in the early detection of diseases like type 2 diabetes, dementia and multiple sclerosis.
Yo-yo dieting may significantly increase kidney disease risk in people with type 1 diabetes
Body-weight cycling (also known as yo-yo dieting) has been shown to significantly increase the risk of kidney disease in people with type 1 diabetes, regardless of body mass index (BMI) and other traditional risk factors, according to a new study.
What's the best way to organize people to generate ideas? New research offers insight
Is it better to work in large groups? Smaller ones? With other people who are similar or different? New research offers insight into these questions -- and some of the results are not what you'd expect.
Half a degree further rise in global warming will triple area of Earth too hot for humans
New assessment warns area the size of the USA will become too hot during extreme heat events for even healthy young humans to maintain a safe body temperature if we hit 2 degrees Celsuis above preindustrial levels. For those aged over 60, the same 2 degree rise would see more than a third of the planet's land mass cross this critical 'overheating' threshold.
Listening for multiple mental health disorders
Researchers develop machine learning tools that screen for co-morbid anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder using acoustic voice signals. The team spoke to participants with and without co-morbid AD/MDD and recorded them using a secure telehealth platform. The participants were given a semantic verbal fluency test, in which they were required to name as many animals as possible within a time limit. The team extracted acoustic and phonemic features from the recordings and applied machine learning technique to distinguish subjects with and without comorbid AD/MDD. The results confirmed that a one-minute semantic VFT can be reliably used to screen for AD/MDD.
Meditation induces changes in deep brain areas associated with memory and emotional regulation
Findings provide insight about its potential as a noninvasive therapy.
Music can touch the heart, even inside the womb
Researchers have used mathematical analysis tools to study the effect of classical music on a fetal heartbeat and identify patterns in heart rate variability. They recruited 36 pregnant women and played two classical pieces for their fetuses. By attaching external heart rate monitors, the researchers could measure the fetal heart rate response to both songs, and by employing nonlinear recurrence quantification analysis, they could identify changes in heart rate variability during and after the music was played. They found evidence music can calm fetal heart rates, potentially providing developmental benefits.
Self-assembling cerebral blood vessels: A breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment
A new platform for studying neuroinflammatory diseases, utilizing advanced 3D bioprinting technology has been developed.
Positive emotions plus deep sleep equals longer-lasting perceptual memories
Researchers have uncovered how perceptual memories linked to positive emotions, such as joy or happiness, are strengthened during sleep. The study could help scientists understand the neurological basis for overcoming conditions like drug addiction.
Slow traffic, fast food: Study links road delays with unhealthy eating
Ever notice how much more tempting it is to pick up fast food for dinner after being stuck in traffic? It's not just you. New research shows that traffic delays significantly increase visits to fast food restaurants, leading to unhealthier eating for millions each year.
How do you treat rotator-cuff tears?
For those over 40, it's a common injury with different treatment options to try.
Gene therapy may be 'one shot stop' for rare bone disease
For the last 10 years, the only effective treatment for hypophosphatasia (HPP) has been an enzyme replacement therapy that must be delivered by injection three-to-six times each week. Currently, patients are treated with injections of asfotase alfa, a mineral-targeted form of the missing enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP).