ScienceDaily: Health - July 11, 2024
Top health research news
Creativity starts in the cradle, new research shows
New research indicates that babies can begin grasping complex language and ideas.
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Researchers pinpoint brain cells that delay first bite of food
Do you grab a fork and take a first bite of cake, or say no and walk away? Our motivation to eat is driven by a complex web of cells in the brain that use signals from within the body, as well as sensory information about the food in front of us, to determine our behaviors. Now, scientists have identified a group of neurons in a small and understudied region of the brain -- the parasubthalamic nucleus (PSTN) -- that controls when an animal decides to take a first bite of food.
Combination treatment can increase human insulin-producing cells in vivo
In preclinical studies, a team of researchers report new findings on a therapeutic combination that regenerated human insulin-producing beta cells, providing a possible new treatment for diabetes.
Novel genome editing approach restores hearing in adult preclinical models with genetic deafness
Researchers restored hearing in preclinical mouse models with a specific form of inherited deafness called DFNA50 caused by mutations in microRNA, by using a novel in vivo CRISPR genome editing approach. Since mouse and human microRNAs have identical sequences, the researchers hope this work can one day be translated into applications for humans.
Nanoparticle vaccines enhance cross-protection against influenza viruses
To offer cross-protection against diverse influenza virus variants, nanoparticle vaccines can produce pivotal cellular and mucosal immune responses that enhance vaccine efficacy and broaden protection, according to a new study.
Can we predict how fast cognitive decline will occur with early Alzheimer's?
A new study looks at predicting how quickly people with early Alzheimer's disease will experience cognitive decline. The study also looked at how the new drugs recently approved for the disease may reduce decline.
Prime editing efficiently corrects cystic fibrosis mutation in human lung cells
Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common genetic disorders, causing thick mucus build-up in the lungs and other parts of the body, breathing problems, and infection. Now, researchers have developed a gene-editing approach that efficiently corrects the most common mutation that causes cystic fibrosis, found in 85 percent of patients. With further development, it could pave the way for treatments that are administered only once and have fewer side effects. The new method precisely and durably corrects the mutation in human lung cells, restoring cell function to levels similar to that of Trikafta.
Trial of cell-based therapy for high-risk lymphoma leads to FDA breakthrough designation
CAR-T cell therapy helps some with intractable lymphoma, but those who relapse have few options. Modifying the therapy's molecular target improved response.
Major trial looks at most effective speech therapy for people with Parkinson's disease
A major clinical trial has shown the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD ) is more effective than the current speech and language therapy commonly provided, when treating patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Cirrhosis affects twice as many transgender adults as cisgender adults, study finds
A new study has found a startling disparity in the frequency of liver disease for transgender individuals and highlights the need for more specialized care.
Rapid growth, persistent challenges in telemedicine adoption among US hospitals
A new study shows a significant increase in telemedicine services offered by U.S. hospitals from 2017 to 2022, while also highlighting persistent barriers to its full implementation.
Chronic allergic disorder EoE's rising incidence in Japan confirmed by large-scale data analysis
Researchers have uncovered the incidence and prevalence of the chronic allergic disorder eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, which can cause difficulty in swallowing as eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, build up in the esophagus.
New technology can detect kidney diseases earlier than standard methods
Researchers have developed a method that can change the way we diagnose and treat kidney diseases.
Atlas of proteins reveals inner workings of cells
Researchers discover how proteins behave inside cells using AI, which has the potential to guide drug design.
Discovery of a new defense mechanism in bacteria
When confronted with an antibiotic, toxic substance, or other source of considerable stress, bacteria are able to activate a defense mechanism using cell-to-cell communication to 'warn' unaffected bacteria, which can then anticipate, shield themselves and spread the warning signal.
Cystic fibrosis: School-aged children benefit from triple combination therapy
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that so far has been incurable. Those affected have thick, viscous mucus secretions in their lungs, and lung function diminishes steadily over time. Today, triple combination therapy makes it possible to address the root causes of the defect underlying the disease. This form of treatment was recently approved for children in addition to adults.
Discovery could help reduce adverse side effects of popular next-generation obesity medications
By teasing apart the therapeutic benefits from the adverse effects of new generation obesity medications, researchers found a population of neurons in the brain that controls food intake without causing nausea in an animal model.
The molecule that could alleviate stroke-related brain injury
New research identifies novel path to protecting the brain from stroke-induced damage.
Scientists discover a cause of lupus and a possible way to reverse it
Scientists have discovered a molecular defect that promotes the pathologic immune response in systemic lupus erythematosus (known as lupus) and show that reversing this defect may potentially reverse the disease.
Big gain in battle against harmful bacteria
An unexpected find has enabled important progress to be made in the battle against harmful bacteria.
Researchers have built the first-ever molecular atlas of the human brain vasculature at single-cell resolution, spanning from early development to adulthood and through disease stages such as brain tumors and brain vascular malformations.
Exercise brain boost can last for years
A longitudinal study has found that high-intensity interval exercise improves brain function in older adults for up to 5 years.
Stem cell-derived therapy shows promise against treatment-resistant liver cancer
New research shows how stem cell-derived therapy, targeting treatment-resistant liver cancer through genetically modified NK cells, offers promising new avenues for immunotherapy.
Study points at novel approach to treat Group 3 medulloblastoma
A team of researchers has identified and located a population of stem-like cells that initiates and maintains Group 3 medulloblastoma (Gr3-MB) in the developing brain. Gr3-MB is one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer in children and is associated with metastatic spread and poor survival. The researchers showed that eliminating the small population of stem-like cells present in Gr3-MB tumors led to tumor shrinkage in preclinical models. Although more research is needed, this novel approach may lead to new ways to treat children with Gr3-MB.
Could a dietary fiber supplement offer long-awaited treatment for food allergy sufferers?
A study has identified a potential new treatment for food allergies in inulin, a naturally occurring plant fiber commonly used as a supplement, a prebiotic in soda, a replacement for sweeteners and for other products and purposes.
Delaying diabetes with diet and exercise for four years results in better long-term health
Individuals diagnosed with prediabetes can reduce their long-term risk of death and diabetes-related health complications if they delay the onset of diabetes for just four years through diet and exercise, according to new findings.
New one-step method to make multiple edits to a cell's genome
A team of scientists have developed a new method that enables them to make precise edits in multiple locations within a cell -- all at once. Using molecules called retrons, they created a tool that can efficiently modify DNA in bacteria, yeast, and human cells.
Implantable LED device uses light to treat deep-seated cancers
Certain types of light have proven to be an effective, minimally invasive treatment for cancers located on or near the skin when combined with a light-activated drug. But deep-seated cancers have been beyond the reach of light's therapeutic effects. To change this, engineers and scientists have devised a wireless LED device that can be implanted. This device, when combined with a light-sensitive dye, not only destroys cancer cells, but also mobilizes the immune system's cancer-targeting response.
Researchers identify cause of serious brain bleeding condition in premature newborns
Scientists have found that in premature newborns with very low birth weight, salt and water transporters on immature neurons can cause brain tissue to shrink in response to a lack of oxygen, which in turn results in brain bleeding and lifelong neurological damages.
Hepatitis C leaves 'scars' in immune cells even after successful treatment
Researchers have provided new insights into the lasting effects of chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the immune system, even after the disease has been successfully treated. The research team has discovered that traces of 'epigenetic scars' remain in regulatory T cells and exhibit sustained inflammatory properties long after the virus is cleared from the body.
Nerve damage from breast cancer treatment can be predicted
Many women treated for breast cancer using taxanes, a type of cytostatic drug, often experience side effects in the nervous system. Researchers have developed a tool that can predict the risk level for each individual. The tool could help doctors adapt treatment to avoid persistent side effects in those at the greatest risk.
The ability to recognize and respond to emotionally-charged situations is essential to a species' evolutionary success. A new study advances our understanding of how the brain responds to emotionally charged objects and scenes.
Brain neurotransmitter receptor antagonist found to prevent opioid addiction in mice
New research has found a drug that treats insomnia works to prevent the addictive effects of the morphine opioids in mice while still providing effective pain relief.
Trust, more than knowledge, critical for acceptance of fully autonomous vehicles
While not yet on the market, fully autonomous vehicles are promoted as a way to make road travel dramatically safer, but a recent study found that knowing more about them did not improve people's perception of their risk. They needed to have more trust in them too. This study adds to the evidence from other research that knowledge alone is not enough to sway people's attitudes toward complex technology and science, such as gene editing or climate change. In this case, researchers found that trust in the autonomous vehicles' reliability and performance played the strongest role in improving perceptions of the technology's risk.
A recent study examined data from more than 10,000 patients with 'Biopsy Gleason Grade Group (GGG) 1,' a diagnosis considered to be the lowest grade cancer. Researchers found that even among patients diagnosed using the most modern diagnostic approach, 8 percent of patients with GGG1 had high-risk prostate cancer. Two risk factors -- high PSA levels and the presence of 50 percent or more positive biopsies from sampling -- could help identify patients with GGG1 at greatest risk of aggressive prostate cancer and increased risk of death.
Scientists exploring potential new treatments for glioblastoma
A new approach to treating the most malignant type of brain cancer -- glioblastoma -- has shown strong promise in pre-clinical settings, raising hopes of increasing current average survival rates beyond 18 months.
Diagnosing different forms of dementia now possible using artificial intelligence
Ten million new cases of dementia are diagnosed each year but the presence of different dementia forms and overlapping symptoms can complicate diagnosis and delivery of effective treatments. Now researchers have developed an AI tool that can diagnose ten different types of dementia such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, even if they co-occur.
Brain-imaging study reveals curiosity as it emerges
You look up into the clear blue sky and see something you can't quite identify. Is it a balloon? A plane? A UFO? You're curious, right? A research team has for the first time witnessed what is happening in the human brain when feelings of curiosity like this arise. The scientists revealed brain areas that appear to assess the degree of uncertainty in visually ambiguous situations, giving rise to subjective feelings of curiosity.
Study backs RSV vaccine safety during pregnancy
Vaccinating mothers against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during late pregnancy to protect their newborns is not associated with an increased risk of preterm birth or other poor outcomes. Infants are particularly vulnerable to the virus which can cause a serious lower respiratory illness.
Americans find hospital-at-home care appealing and safe, study suggests
The study found that most survey respondents felt they would recover faster if cared for at home, rather than in the hospital, and that they felt safe being treated at home.
A gut microbe could hold a key to help people benefit from healthy foods
In a study involving 50,000+ individuals from around the world, higher gut levels of Blastocystis, a single-celled organism commonly found in the digestive system, were linked to more favorable indicators of health.
Raw milk is risky, but airborne transmission of H5N1 from cow's milk is inefficient in mammals
While H5N1 avian influenza virus taken from infected cow's milk makes mice and ferrets sick when dripped into their noses, airborne transmission of the virus between ferrets -- a common model for human transmission -- appears to be limited. These and other new findings about the strain of H5N1 circulating among North American dairy cattle this year come from a set of laboratory experiments. Together, they suggest that exposure to raw milk infected with the currently circulating virus poses a real risk of infecting humans, but that the virus may not spread very far or quickly to others.
Scientists discover how to improve vaccine responses to potentially deadly bacterium
Researchers have taken a leap forward in understanding how we might fight back against the potentially deadly MRSA bacterium. They have shown in an animal model that targeting a key suppressive immune molecule (IL-10) during the delivery of a vaccine improves the ability of the vaccine to protect against infection.
Employees prefer human performance monitors over AI, study finds
Organizations using AI to monitor employees' behavior and productivity can expect them to complain more, be less productive and want to quit more -- unless the technology can be framed as supporting their development, research finds.
Novel compound offers improved defense against fentanyl overdoses
Researchers identified a novel compound aimed at improving the treatment of opioid overdoses.
Brain organ plays key role in adult neurogenesis
Research found the choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid play a key role in maintaining a pool of newly born neurons to repair the adult brain after injury.
Researchers find common immune system mechanism between pregnancy, cancer
Researchers found a molecular mechanism, shared in cancer and pregnancy, that suppresses the immune system. Block this mechanism, called B7-H4, and the immune system revs up to slow cancer's growth. Looking at mouse models and cell lines of breast and gynecologic cancers, the researchers identified the hormone progesterone as a key regulator of the B7-H4 immune checkpoint.
Erasing 'bad memories' to improve long term Parkinson's disease treatment
By prohibiting the Activin A protein from functioning, researchers were able to halt the development of dyskinesia symptoms and effectively erase the brain's 'bad memory' response to L-DOPA treatments.
Combining popular diabetes drugs offers complementary heart and kidney benefits
New research shows combined use of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) is likely to offer additional protection against heart and kidney disease in patients with diabetes.
Innovative, highly accurate AI model can estimate lung function just by using chest x-rays
An artificial intelligence (AI) model that can estimate with high accuracy a person's lung function just by using a chest radiograph has been successfully developed.
Mobile app therapy leads to significant improvement in fibromyalgia management
Research found a self-guided smartphone-based behavioral therapy led to significant improvements for patients with fibromyalgia.
New bio-based tool quickly detects concerning coronavirus variants
Researchers have developed a bioelectric device that can detect and classify new variants of coronavirus to identify those that are most harmful. It has the potential to do the same with other viruses, as well.
Researchers identify potential treatment for Angelman syndrome
Researchers have identified a small molecule that could lead to a safe and effective treatment for the neurodevelopmental condition known as Angelman syndrome.
Brain size riddle solved as humans exceed evolution trend
The largest animals do not have proportionally bigger brains -- with humans bucking this trend -- a new study has revealed.
GeneMAP discovery platform will help define functions for 'orphan' metabolic proteins
Researchers have developed a discovery platform to probe the function of genes involved in metabolism -- the sum of all life-sustaining chemical reactions. The investigators used the new platform, called GeneMAP (Gene-Metabolite Association Prediction), to identify a gene necessary for mitochondrial choline transport.
How to stop cancer cachexia? Start at the top
Researchers have discovered a new potential drug target for the lethal wasting disease known as cancer cachexia. Their findings illustrate that even small groups of neurons in the brain can have an outsized impact on the body's cancer response.
Pulsed field ablation procedures found safe and effective for atrial fibrillation patients
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is safe for treating patients with common types of atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a new study.
Why some abusive bosses get a pass from their employees
Researchers find biological clues to mental health impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure
Researchers outline some of the intermediate biological steps that could play into how prenatal cannabis exposure leads to behavioral issues down the line.
Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Researchers have now developed a new way to make microbes hardy enough to withstand extreme conditions such as heat and the manufacturing processes used to formulate the microbes into powders or pills for long-term storage.