ScienceDaily: Health - February 13, 2025
Top health research news
Long-term yogurt consumption tied to decreased incidence of certain types of colorectal cancer
Researchers looked at the role of long-term diet and the gut bacteria in colorectal cancer using data on participants who had been followed for three decades. They found that people who consumed two or more servings of yogurt per week tended to have lower rates of colorectal cancer positive for Bifidobacterium. The findings suggest that yogurt consumption may change the microbiome, leading to a protective effect for some types of colorectal cancer.
Stronger, safer, smarter: Pioneering Zinc-based dissolvable implants for bone repair
New research could transform how broken bones are treated, with the development of a special zinc-based dissolvable material that could replace the metal plates and screws typically used to hold fractured bones together.
New blood test accurately predicts preeclampsia
A new blood test has an 80% accuracy in predicting preterm preeclampsia, according to a new study. The condition, which results in over 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths each year worldwide, has long been hard to predict.
AI unlocks genetic clues to personalize cancer treatment
A groundbreaking study has uncovered how specific genetic mutations influence cancer treatment outcomes -- insights that could help doctors tailor treatments more effectively. The largest study of its kind, the research analyzed data for more than 78,000 cancer patients across 20 cancer types. Patients received immunotherapies, chemotherapies and targeted therapies.
Inability of cells to recycle fats can spell disease
Accumulation of fat molecules is detrimental to the cell. Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how our cells manage to stay healthy by recycling important fat molecules. Their study reveals how a protein called Spinster homolog 1 (Spns1) helps transport fats out of cell compartments known as lysosomes.
Short-course radiation therapy effective for endometrial cancer patients
Researchers have found that fewer sessions of higher dose vaginal cuff brachytherapy work just as well as more frequent, lower-dose treatments for endometrial cancer patients.
Breast cancer treatment advances with light-activated 'smart bomb'
Scientists have developed new light-sensitive chemicals that can radically improve the treatment of aggressive cancers with minimal side effects. In mouse tests, the new therapy completely eradicated metastatic breast cancer tumors.
Micro-nano plastics make other pollutants more dangerous to plants and intestinal cells
Researchers find that tiny plastic particles increase the absorption of environmental arsenic and pesticides in lettuce and human intestinal cells, raising new safety concerns about plastic pollution.
Having a job -- whether it's working for someone else or being their own boss -- gives older Americans more than just a way to earn money or get health insurance, a new poll finds. More than two-thirds of those who work after age 50 say that working boosts their physical health, mental health, and/or their overall wellbeing.
International Shark Attack File Report: Unprovoked shark bites plummeted in 2024
2024 was an exceptionally calm year for shark bites. Worldwide, there were only 47 unprovoked attacks, down 22 from the previous year and well below the 10-year average of 70.
For Valentine's Day: Measure your relationship with a scientific self-test
Answer seven questions and get an indication of how your relationship is right now. Just in time for Valentine's Day, researchers are publishing a new study that introduces a scientifically validated scale, the 'Valentine's Scale'. The scale measures how satisfied you are in your love relationship.
Causes of fevers of unknown origin in sub-Saharan Africa
A new retrospective, laboratory-based observational study provides detailed insights into the causes of fevers of unknown origin in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientists examined 550 patients from Guinea who developed a persistent fever at the time of the major Ebola outbreak in 2014, but tested negative for the Ebola virus on site. The goal was to use modern diagnostic methods to better understand the underlying infectious diseases.
Researchers create genetic map tied to kidney disease
Over 1,000 genes may serve as possible treatment targets for individuals with kidney disease, according to a new study. By creating the most complete and detailed genetic 'map' of kidney function to date, the researchers have paved the way for more precise diagnosing of kidney disease, strategies to prevent it, and ways to treat it.
Second-hand smoke exposure during childhood leaves its mark on children's DNA
Children exposed to second-hand smoke at home are more likely to show certain changes in the epigenome, which can alter the way genes are expressed. These epigenetic changes could influence the development of diseases in the future.
Breakthrough in click chemistry: Innovative method revolutionizes drug development
Triple click chemistry has revolutionized chemical synthesis with its simplicity and efficiency, allowing for the quick and selective assembly of complex molecules. Now, in a recent study, researchers developed novel trivalent platforms capable of producing highly functional triazoles in straightforward one-pot reactions. These platforms have significant potential in drug development, materials science, and bioengineering, promising advancements in sustainable chemistry and biomedical innovations.
Putting least calorific meals first on menu makes teenagers more likely to order them
New research has found that putting lower-calorie meal choices at the top of a restaurant menu, and reducing the availability of high-calorie options, makes teenagers more likely to order the healthier options.
How cancer cells trick the immune system by altering mitochondria
Immunotherapy, which uses programmed immune cells to selectively destroy cancer cells, has transformed cancer treatment. However, cancer cells have developed immune evasion strategies, leading to poor treatment responses. Now, researchers have identified the transfer of mitochondria with mutated DNA from cancer cells to immune cells as a key mechanism of immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy. Targeting this transfer could enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
Changes to the intermediate filament (IF) protein, vimentin, were found to promote tumor growth by increasing cancer stemness in an oestrogen independent manner. Targeting vimentin and/or the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) 'XIST' could be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating aggressive breast cancer.
Foods that evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort and have good texture variety are important considerations in prepared meals aimed at older adults, according to new research.
Opening for a new type of drug for Alzheimer's disease
A complementary drug to combat Alzheimer's disease could target a specific part of the nerve cell protein tau. This is the finding of new research which also offers a better way to measure the effect of treatment among patients.
Researchers discover new mechanism for male sex hormone
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism that is used by a male sex hormone essential for muscle and bone function. The findings could lead to the development of new drugs with fewer side effects, for use in applications such as strengthening the muscles of immobile patients.
Rhobo6, a light microscopy probe, gives scientists an unprecedented look at the extracellular matrix -- the collection of organized molecular structures that fills the spaces between cells in our bodies.
Microbiome as a potential key to better treatment: Clinical study on new therapy for Crohn's disease
A special liquid diet, known as exclusive enteral nutrition, is an essential therapy for Crohn's disease. Patients consume only this formula for six to eight weeks, completely avoiding solid foods. However, the exact reasons why this is helpful were previously unclear. Researchers have now been able to decipher the mechanism behind this dietary therapy.
Mechanical heart valve replacements have better long-term survival
Patients aged between 50 to 70 years with a mechanical heart valve replacement had better long-term survival compared to those with a biological valve, new research has found.
New smart sensor takes the pain out of wound monitoring
A major challenge in self-powered wearable sensors for health care monitoring is distinguishing different signals when they occur at the same time. Researchers addressed this issue by uncovering a new property of a sensor material, enabling the team to develop a new type of flexible sensor that can accurately measure both temperature and physical strain simultaneously but separately to more precisely pinpoint various signals.
Cancer's ripple effect may promote blood clot formation in the lungs
Blood clots form in response to signals from the lungs of cancer patients -- not from other organ sites, as previously thought -- according to a preclinical study. Clots are the second-leading cause of death among cancer patients with advanced disease or aggressive tumors.
Music makes us move even when we don't like it
The pleasurable urge to move to music -- to groove -- appears to be a physiological response independent of how much we generally enjoy music, according to a new article. That groove response is so strong it is even found in people with musical anhedonia, those who take little or no pleasure from music. Researchers compared groove responses to more than 50 short pieces of music in people with musical anhedonia and non-anhedonic controls and found that for people with anhedonia, the urge to move appears to drive their experience of pleasure. That suggests that the blunted pleasure sensation found in people with musical anhedonia is compensated by the urge to move.
Born to heal: Why babies recover, but adults scar, after heart damage
Newborns with heart complications can rely on their newly developed immune systems to regenerate cardiac tissues, but adults aren't so lucky. After a heart attack, most adults struggle to regenerate healthy heart tissue, leading to scar-tissue buildup and, often, heart failure. A new study in experimental animals reveals a critical difference in how macrophages -- a part of the immune system -- help repair the heart in newborns versus adults after a heart attack. The study highlights a fundamental difference in how the immune system drives healing based on age.
Mystery solved: New study reveals how DNA repair genes play a major role in Huntington's disease
A new study has discovered in mouse models that genes associated with repairing mismatched DNA are critical in eliciting damages to neurons that are most vulnerable in Huntington's disease and triggering downstream pathologies and motor impairment, shedding light on disease mechanisms and potential new ways to develop therapies.
New perspectives for personalized therapy of brain tumors
Scientists have developed an innovative method for growing brain tumors of individual patients in the laboratory that mimic the original structure and the molecular property of the parental tumor as closely as possible. Drug tests in this model were found to correlate very well with actual patient responses, making it a valuable method for investigating therapies.
'Junk' RNA segments play role in protein production, cell stress response
Scientists have discovered that some tiny segments of RNA thought to be junk instead have a functional role in suppressing production of certain messenger RNAs and appear to help cells respond to oxidative stress.
Born too late? Climate change may be delaying births
New research has found exposure to outdoor air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of prolonged pregnancy, offering new insights into the impact of climate change on maternal health.
Ready (or not) for love? Your friends likely agree
A new study found that friends significantly agreed on who was ready for committed relationships -- and who wasn't.
When teen body image becomes a deadly perception
Adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight are three times more likely to consider committing self-harm compared to those who do not, regardless of whether the person is objectively overweight, according to a new study.
Influenza A viruses adapt shape in response to environmental pressures
Influenza A virus particles strategically adapt their shape -- to become either spheres or larger filaments -- to favor their ability to infect cells depending on environmental conditions, according to a new study. This previously unrecognized response could help explain how influenza A and other viruses persist in populations, evade immune responses, and acquire adaptive mutations, the researchers explain.
Detection of hazardous chemicals in human placenta with unprecedented speed and precision
Scientists have demonstrated a new method for detecting the presence of dangerous chemicals from tobacco smoke in human placenta with unprecedented speed and precision.
Research pinpoints weakness in lung cancer's defenses
Scientists uncover an enzyme that boosts cancer cell metabolism to fuel growth. The enzyme, GUK1, supports metabolism in cancer cells to help tumors grow.
Deep learning to increase accessibility, ease of heart imaging
Researchers have developed a method that leverages artificial intelligence to ensure accurate heart scans without added radiation or cost.
New study on drug checking: Trend warnings and alerts
A new study analyses how other countries' drug checking services use and share data, as a way of helping Australia's policymakers decide what to do with ours. The researchers also spoke with people who use drugs, community organizations, policymakers and prospective drug checking service users to gauge what data should be shared and how this information could be used.
Breast cancers broadly defined by their genome architecture
Breast cancers at all stages are defined by the structure of their genomes, researchers find. Targeting these processes early is likely to offer unexpected therapeutic avenues.
Blood test eases diagnosis of invasive mold disease
A new blood test is designed to find mold infections deep inside the body, sparing patients from tissue biopsies.
Physician's medical decisions benefit from chatbot, study suggests
A study showed that chatbots alone outperformed doctors when making nuanced clinical decisions, but when supported by artificial intelligence, doctors performed as well as the chatbots.
In a breakthrough for the advanced study of gut health, scientists have developed a 3D microscopic version of the human intestines condensed into a small chip about half the size of a five-cent coin. This new cell culturing platform, known as the Gut-Microbiome on a chip (GMoC), provides a realistic in vitro microgut model that allows researchers to examine the interactions of gut microbes and their collective impact on gut health. The chip offers a scalable, reproducible, and efficient method to dissect the roles of gut microbes and their community, which is of key interest for the preventive healthcare and pharmaceuticals industry.
Reasons for misdiagnosis of frontotemporal dementia
Researchers discovered that nearly 70 per cent of suspected frontotemporal dementia patients ultimately did not have the disease in a study aimed at identifying factors that contribute to misdiagnosis of this notoriously difficult to diagnose disorder.
Biomarker test can detect Alzheimer's pathology earlier
Years before tau tangles show up in brain scans of patients with Alzheimer's disease, a biomarker test can detect small amounts of the clumping-prone tau protein and its misfolded pathological forms that litter the brain, cerebrospinal fluid and potentially blood, new research suggests.
Bacteria, brains, and sugar: Scientists uncover new connections
Using a new method to study how carbohydrates modify proteins, scientists have discovered that gut bacteria can alter molecular signatures in the brain.
High-tech video optimization in our brain
Why do our mental images stay sharp even when we are moving fast? A team of neuroscientists has identified a mechanism that corrects visual distortions caused by movement in animals. The study, conducted in mice, identifies a core function that can be generalized across the vertebrate visual system, including primates such as humans.
AI is better than humans at analyzing long-term ECG recordings
In patients with symptoms such as irregular heartbeats, dizziness, or fainting, or in individuals that physicians suspect may have atrial fibrillation, many days of ECGs may be required for diagnosis -- 'long-term ECG recordings'. These recordings must then undergo a time-consuming and human resource-intensive review to identify heart rhythm abnormalities. In a large international study, researchers tested whether an AI model can replace humans in analyzing long-term ECG recordings. The results: 14 times fewer missed diagnoses by the AI.
New treatment may offer quick cure for common cause of high blood pressure
A revolutionary new treatment called Targeted Thermal Therapy (Tripel T) offers a safer, faster alternative to surgery for patients with high blood pressure caused by Primary Aldosteronism, a hormonal disorder.
People's trust in AI systems to make moral decisions is still some way off
Psychologists warn that AI's perceived lack of human experience and genuine understanding may limit its acceptance to make higher-stakes moral decisions.
New study offers hope to patients with advanced liver cancer, cirrhosis
Researchers describe successful tumor removal through the use of immunotherapy and targeted radiation therapy (TARE), in a patient previously considered ineligible for the procedure.
Drug may counteract muscle loss and osteoporosis after rapid weight loss
Rapid weight loss affects muscle mass and can increase the risk of osteoporosis. But now there is good news for people taking weight loss medication who may be at risk. A new study indicates that the drug bimagrumab can counteract the side effects.
How does the brain differentiate new stimuli from old ones?
A study sheds light on how networks in the brain detect new information, offering insight into disorders like schizophrenia.
Findings suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective pathway for allergists to treat children who already tolerate at least half a peanut.
Clot-busting meds may be effective up to 24 hours after initial stroke symptoms
In a randomized clinical trial, giving the clot-busting medication alteplase up to 24 hours after stroke symptoms first appeared increased the odds of better recovery by 50% compared to those who received standard antiplatelet treatment.
Potential new pathway to fight viruses
Scientists have identified genetic components in bats that provide insight into their immune systems.
Research has uncovered key differences in gene expression linked to inflammation, metabolism and cardioprotection. These findings could help inform the development of targeted therapies for obesity-related health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.
From muscle to memory: New research uses clues from the body to understand signaling in the brain
New research shows that a network of subcellular structures similar to those responsible for propagating molecular signals that make muscles contract are also responsible for transmitting signals in the brain that may facilitate learning and memory.
Mitochondria may hold the key to curing diabetes
Mitochondria are essential for generating energy that fuels cells and helps them function.
Co-located cell types help drive aggressive brain tumors
A type of aggressive, treatment-resistant brain tumor has a distinct population of immune cells that support its growth, according to new research.
