ScienceDaily: Health - January 31, 2025
Top health research news
A weekly injection could replace painful daily treatment for rare fat disorder
A diabetes drug may beat costly shots for patients with a rare genetic condition, according to a Rutgers Health study.
Topical mupirocin lowers lupus inflammation
Systemic lupus erythematosus commonly presents as a rash. The rashes are caused by inflammation from the immune system fighting the body.
Study finds three new safe, effective ways to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis
Study finds three new safe and effective drug regimens to fight multidrug-resistant TB. The treatments, which include recently discovered TB drugs, give new options for shorter, personalized treatment and are cleared for use for more people than ever.
Changing cholesterol over time tied to risk of dementia
Older adults whose cholesterol changes over time may be more likely to develop dementia than people whose cholesterol is stable, regardless of the actual cholesterol level, according to a new study.
The benefits of speaking multiple languages
New psychology research indicates that multilingual children may have enhanced executive function and perspective taking skills.
Scientists 'mimic real biological processes' using synthetic neurons
A new collaboration has unlocked new potential for the field by creating a novel high-performance organic electrochemical neuron that responds within the frequency range of human neurons.
Diagnostic stewardship optimizes detection of appendicitis
Although the delayed diagnosis of appendicitis is dangerous, over-testing can also be harmful.
Researchers uncover key insights into how the body protects against neuron damage
New research on nematodes reveals how glial cells maintain and monitor neuronal dendrites.
New insights into the perception of coffee taste -- genetic predisposition plays a role
Why does coffee taste more bitter to some people than it does to others? Researchers have now come closer to answering this question. They have identified a new group of bitter compounds in roasted Arabica coffee and have investigated how they influence its bitter taste. In addition, they demonstrated that individual genetic predisposition also plays a role in determining how bitter these roasting substances taste.
Weather change linked to increased risk of Salmonella outbreaks
Climate change is impacting the spread of Salmonella, according to new research. This research follows previous work from the team, which found that weather change is leading to the spread of dangerous diarrheal illness.
A new approach to treating inflammatory diseases through personalised probiotic therapies -- also known as precision medicine -- has been proposed by researchers.
Better nurse staffing linked to fewer C-sections
Labor and delivery units that are adequately staffed by nurses have lower cesarean birth rates, according to new research published in the journal Nursing Outlook.
Guided self-help makes treating children with obesity easier and more affordable
According to a new study, self-guided family therapy for obesity could work just as well as traditional approaches at a fraction of the cost.
No differences between dementia care approaches on patient behavioral symptoms or caregiver strain
Research comparing different approaches to dementia care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias found no significant differences in patient behavioral symptoms or caregiver strain, whether delivered through a health system, provided by a community-based organization, or as usual care over an 18-month period -- but did improve caregiver confidence in managing dementia-related challenges.
Advanced brain circuit-mapping technique reveals new anxiety drug target
Investigators have identified in a preclinical model a specific brain circuit whose inhibition appears to reduce anxiety without side effects. Their work suggests a new target for treating anxiety disorders and related conditions and demonstrates a general strategy, based on a method called photopharmacology, for mapping drug effects on the brain.
Sharp look into Ockham's razor
A new article argues that by relying too much on parsimony in modeling, scientists make mistakes and miss opportunities.
Relative of deadly Hendra virus found in the US
Researchers have identified the first henipavirus in North America.
Urine-based test detects aggressive prostate cancer
The test can differentiate between various grades of cancer, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies.
New structures of a critical amyloid protein illuminated
The tiny protein known as transthyretin can cause big problems in the body when it misfolds after secretion. While healthy transthyretin moves hormones through blood and spinal fluid, misfolded versions of the protein form dangerous clumps in the heart and along nerves -- triggering a progressive and fatal disease known as transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Up to a quarter of all men over the age of 80 have some degree of ATTR, which can cause shortness of breath, dizziness and tingling or loss of sensation in the extremities. Now, scientists have uncovered new structures of transthyretin.
Calorie labels on menus could make eating disorders worse
Calorie labels on restaurant menus are negatively impacting people with eating disorders, according to a new study. The review found that individuals who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder changed their behaviors if presented with a menu featuring calorie labels.
Moderate exercise keeps appetite at bay
A recent study has revealed that moderate-intensity exercise can significantly influence appetite-related hormones and perceptions in males with obesity.
Microbial therapy offers new hope for vitiligo patients
A natural compound derived from gut-friendly bacteria significantly slows the progression of vitiligo and may restore pigmentation, reports a new pre-clinical study in mice.
New clues to the mechanism behind food tolerance and allergies
Study reveals how immune cells in the gut distinguish between food and harmful pathogens, shedding light on the origins of both food allergies and intestinal diseases.
Routine brain MRI screening in asymptomatic late stage breast cancer patients
A new study shows that asymptomatic brain metastasis is more common in stage 4 breast cancer patients than previously believed. The study suggests that doctors may need to rethink current screening guidelines for detecting brain metastasis in patients without symptoms.
Inherited gene elevates prostate cancer risk in affected families
The inherited mutated gene WNT9B, which functions normally in embryonic prostate development, increases risk of adult prostate cancer, according to a new study.
Testing the effect of thousands of compounds on cellular metabolism
Researchers are able to test in parallel the effects of over 1500 active substances on cell metabolism. Their analysis also led to the discovery of previously unknown mechanisms for known medications. This approach might help scientists to better predict side effects and find additional uses for commercially available pharmaceuticals.
A data analysis from a randomized clinical trial for stage 3 colon cancer patients found that patients with evidence of residual cancer in their blood after surgery to remove the cancer, may benefit from adding of celecoxib, to post surgery treatment.
Over 1/3 of parents say their child has experienced dental problems that reflect oral hygiene habits
More than one in three parents say their child has faced issues like tooth decay, cavities, stained teeth, gum concerns or tooth pain linked to their oral health routine over the past two years, a national poll suggests.
Researchers pioneer DNA-tagged gold nanoparticles for targeted cancer treatment
A team of researchers has developed a novel method to enhance the precision of cancer treatment using gold nanoparticles tagged with DNA barcodes.
Cell death and aging in cancer research review
The latest findings on the interaction between cell death and cellular senescence in cancer and their pathophysiological significance have been reviewed.
Individual cells can be connected to plastic electrodes
Researchers have succeeded in creating a close connection between individual cells and organic electronics. The study lays the foundation for future treatment of neurological and other diseases with very high precision.
Towards a new generation of human-inspired language models
Can a computer learn a language the way a child does? A recent study sheds new light on this question. The researchers advocate for a fundamental revision of how artificial intelligence acquires and processes language.
An injectable hydrogel for local bone densification
Researchers have combined injections of a novel hydrogel with systemic osteoporosis drugs in rats, achieving rapid local increases in bone density. The results offer hope for future fracture prevention therapies in osteoporosis patients.
Escaping the endosome: Bend lipids improve LNP mRNA delivery and gene editing
A new class of lipids improve the rates at which lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) successfully deliver RNA therapeutics and gene editing tools, promising to increase their effectiveness of such treatments.
Could fecal microbiota transplantation help patients heal after stem cell transplantation?
A new study shows that oral fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a feasible and safe addition to preventing graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation for blood cancers.
New numbering system facilitates comparability of protein domains
Adhesion GPCRs are a group of cell-surface sensors associated with many body functions and diseases. However, they are not yet sufficiently understood to be exploited for therapies. Scientists have now developed an innovative numbering system for the GAIN domain, a protein domain common to all adhesion GPCRs. It should help to better understand the role of this protein domain in disease and pave the way for more precise experimental approaches.
People with schizophrenia have an altered ability to visually perceive contrast
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects around 1% of the world's population. Researchers have identified a deficit in contrast perception in people with schizophrenia. According to a review of more than 600 studies, these patients have an impaired ability to see differences in light intensity between adjacent areas, which allows us to identify shapes, textures and details in the environment.
Innovative one-minute video game boasts 80% success rate in diagnosing autism
A new one-minute video game is able to accurately and efficiently identify children with autism from those who have ADHD or are neurotypical.
How simple prompts can make partially automated cars safer
A new study finds that prompts do a good job of getting drivers to engage with their environment and take over control of the vehicle when necessary while using partially automated driving systems -- with one exception. If drivers are deeply distracted, these system-generated prompts have little or no effect.
Simple ways to improve the wellbeing of pediatric critical care staff
Researchers have developed two simple, easy-to-deliver sessions to improve the wellbeing of staff in pediatric critical care (PCC) units in UK hospitals.
First mouse with two male parents to reach adulthood
A team of stem cell scientists have successfully used embryonic stem cell engineering to create a bi-paternal mouse -- a mouse with two male parents -- that lived until adulthood. Their results describe how targeting a particular set of genes involved in reproduction allowed the researchers to overcome previously insurmountable challenges in unisexual reproduction in mammals.
Novel lab-on-chip platform promises to expedite cancer diagnoses
Researchers propose a novel system that uses standing surface acoustic waves to separate circulating tumor cells from red blood cells with unprecedented precision and efficiency. The platform integrates advanced computational modeling, experimental analysis, and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze complex acoustofluidic phenomena. The researchers included an innovative use of dualized pressure acoustic fields and strategically located them at critical channel geometry positions on a lithium niobate substrate. By means of acoustic pressure applied within the microchannel, the system design provides for the generation of reliable datasets.
Strategic corporate social responsibility can create social, economic value
Strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts that are directly related to a hospitality company's core business operations and competencies can help companies create both social and business value, according to researchers.
Genetic 'fingerprint' to predict drug resistance in bacteria
New research has identified a unique genetic signature in bacteria that can predict their likelihood of developing antibiotic resistance, a finding that can help quickly identify precision-based treatments that are more effective against the deadly, treatment-resistant pathogens.
Transforming longevity research: AI paves the way for personalized treatments in aging science
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform aging research and help people live healthier, longer lives.
Recommendations for mitochondria transfer and transplantation research
Mitochondria organelles came from primordial bacterial endosymbionts and still preserve distinct genes for important functions like making ATP. To speed the emerging therapeutic research into the transfer of mitochondria between cells, 31 researchers have developed consensus recommendations for common terminology that describes mitochondria transfer and transplantation.
Young adults more active after starting work, but sleep less -- unless working from home
When young adults start working, the amount of daily physical activity they do increases sharply, only to fall away again over the new few years, while the amount of sleep they get falls slightly, according to new research. The largest drop in levels of physical activity was seen among people who work from home -- though their sleep levels did not change when they started work.
Cancer risk established before birth
A person's lifetime risk for cancer may begin before they are even born, reports a paradigm-shifting study. The findings identified two distinct epigenetic states that arise during development and are linked to cancer risk. One of these states is associated with a lower lifetime risk while the other is associated with a higher lifetime risk.
High uric acid levels linked to deadly outcomes in children with severe malaria
Researchers have uncovered a significant connection between elevated uric acid levels and life-threatening outcomes in children with severe malaria.
Hear ye! Hear ye! Researchers uncover new complexities in human hearing
Physicists have discovered a sophisticated, previously unknown set of 'modes' within the human ear that put important constraints on how the ear amplifies faint sounds, tolerates noisy blasts, and discerns a stunning range of sound frequencies in between. By applying existing mathematical models to a generic mock-up of a cochlea -- a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear -- the researchers revealed a new layer of cochlear complexity. The findings offer fresh insight into the remarkable capacity and accuracy of human hearing.
Predicting 'male-time' with the Androgen Clock
Researchers have created an epigenetic tool which has implications for medicine, sports, and agriculture.
Rethinking altruistic punishment: New experimental insights
A research team developed a new experimental game to explore whether people avoid witnessing selfish behavior to evade punishing others or simply to avoid confronting unfairness. The study found that avoidance is driven by both the desire to not acknowledge inequality and the wish to prevent confrontation, suggesting that altruistic punishment may be less common in real-life situations than previously believed.
Delayed REM sleep could be an early sign of Alzheimer's
Scientists have recently shown that both the quality and the amount of sleep we get may influence our risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Some proteins find their 'soulmate' at birth
Proteins, the pillars of cellular function, often assemble into 'complexes' to fulfill their functions. A study reveals why this assembly often begins during the very process of protein synthesis or 'birth'. These early interactions involve proteins whose stability depends on their association. They can be compared to a couple in which each partner supports the other. This model paves the way for new strategies to understand and correct assembly errors, which are often associated with pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders and certain cancers.
Patients with anorexia have elevated opioid neurotransmitter activity in the brain
A study showed that changes in the functioning of opioid neurotransmitters in the brain may underlie anorexia.
Preterm babies receive insufficient pain management: Study
A large proportion of babies born very early need intensive care, which can be painful. But the healthcare system fails to provide pain relief to the full extent. This is shown by the largest survey to date of pain in neonatal care.
Nerve stimulation: The brain is not always listening
Various diseases can be treated by stimulating the vagus nerve in the ear with electrical signals. However, this technique does not always work. A study has now shown: The electrical signals must be synchronized with the body's natural rhythms -- heartbeat and breathing.
Heart disease remains leading cause of death as key health risk factors continue to rise
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S.
A study shows that patients with obesity and fatty liver-related cirrhosis who had bariatric (weight-loss) surgery significantly lowered their future risk of developing serious liver complications compared with patients who received medical therapy alone.
A new study has found that drug screening practices may be inconsistent with potential downstream effects in reporting to the RMV.