ScienceDaily: Health - March 06, 2025
Top health research news
Scientists discover how aspirin could prevent some cancers from spreading
Scientists have uncovered the mechanism behind how aspirin could reduce the metastasis of some cancers by stimulating the immune system. The scientists say that discovering the mechanism will support ongoing clinical trials, and could lead to the targeted use of aspirin to prevent the spread of susceptible types of cancer, and to the development of more effective drugs to prevent cancer metastasis.
New antibodies show potential to defeat all SARS-CoV-2 variants
A team has found two antibodies that can work together to neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19 in all its current known variations in a laboratory environment. More research is needed, but the approach shows promise in developing treatments to keep pace with evolving viruses.
Feeling is believing: Bionic hand 'knows' what it's touching, grasps like a human
Engineers have developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human, carefully conforming and adjusting its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds.
When you get hurt matters: Circadian rhythms affect muscle repair
The body's internal clock doesn't just dictate when we sleep -- it also determines how quickly our muscles heal. A new study in mice suggests that muscle injuries heal faster when they occur during the body's natural waking hours.
Stressed out? It may increase the risk of stroke
Some people living with chronic stress have a higher risk of stroke, according to a new study. The study looked at younger adults and found an association between stress and stroke, with no known cause, in female participants, but not male participants. This study does not prove that stress causes stroke; it only shows an association.
New study examines how physics students perceive recognition
Experts see peer recognition as important to student success in physics, and a new study gives college-level physics instructors insight into how students perceive the message from their classmates that 'you're good at physics.' Even when women receive similar amounts of recognition from peers as men for excelling in physics classes, they perceive significantly less peer recognition, the researchers found.
The pupil as a window into the sleeping brain
For the first time, researchers have been able to observe how the pupils react during sleep over a period of several hours. A look under the eyelids showed them that more happens in the brain during sleep than was previously assumed.
The art of well-being: Group activities shown to ease depression and anxiety in older adults
Group arts interventions, such as painting, dance, or music, significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults, offering a powerful alternative to traditional treatments. The benefits are universal, with consistent results across different art forms, intervention types, and countries. Group arts interventions were particularly beneficial for care home residents relative to older adults who lived in the community. The findings support the inclusion of group arts interventions in social prescribing initiatives and healthcare guidelines, providing an accessible, cost-effective, and enjoyable way to improve mental well-being in later life.
Compound harnesses cannabis' pain-relieving properties without side effects
Researchers have developed a compound that relieves pain in mice but doesn't affect the brain, thereby avoiding mind-altering side effects and abuse potential. The custom-designed molecule, derived from cannabis, may provide an alternative to opioids for treating chronic pain.
How to clear the toxic tau protein that can lead to Alzheimer's and related diseases
The neurotransmitter glutamate is essential for regulating everything from mood to memory, but it can also encourage a toxic buildup of protein, which can contribute to Alzheimer's and related diseases. Scientists now describe a new approach for counteracting these devastating and often fatal neurodegenerative effects. Researchers made their discovery by studying lab mice as well as human brain 'organoids,' which are rudimentary brain-like structures grown in the lab.
Creativity boosts standardized literacy and numeracy test scores: Australia
A groundbreaking study shows that creativity plays an essential role in academic success, suggesting that students who think outside the box are more likely to excel in literacy and numeracy assessments.
Psychosocial stress during pregnancy could lead to higher blood pressure during the first year postpartum according to new research.
Bad bitterness made better for everyone: Global taste differences in the flavor of medicines
Scientists examined the bitterness intensity of five medicines and two bitter modifiers in 338 adults of European descent and recent US and Canadian immigrants from Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Bitterness ratings differed by ancestry for two of the five drugs and the effectiveness of some modifiers. They also found genetic variants that explain some population differences in reaction to bitter tastes.
New hope for immunotherapy as prostate cancer treatment
Researchers used a double-pronged approach to reduce tumor growth in tissue samples of prostate cancer.
White blood cells use brute force to dislodge bacteria
A vivid new image is taking shape in the world of cell biology: Imagine bacteria adhering to the surface of a cell, perhaps at the site of an injury or wound. In response, a white blood cell arrives at the scene. This cell encircles the pathogen with its membrane, forming a tight, constricting ring. With remarkable force, the white blood cell yanks the pathogen off the wound's surface. The white blood cell then engulfs the pathogen in a process called phagocytosis, in which it 'eats' the foreign invader to neutralize it.
Foundation AI model predicts postoperative risks from clinical notes
A team unveils a versatile large language model to enhance perioperative care.
New research shows impact of anxiety and apathy on decision-making
New research has uncovered that anxiety and apathy -- two common but distinct emotional states -- lead to fundamentally different patterns in how people learn and make decisions.
A new discovery suggests a potential new approach to improving fitness in older adults.
How the brain distinguishes between pain and itch
A research team has uncovered the neural mechanisms underlying the processing of pain and itch in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). This study provides new insights into how the brain distinguishes between these two distinct sensory experiences.
Smartwatches could end the next pandemic
Everyday smartwatches are extremely accurate in detecting viral infection long before symptoms appear -- now, research shows how they could help stop a pandemic before it even begins.
Study establishes 'ball and chain' mechanism inactivates key mammalian ion channel
A new study has unveiled a precise picture of how an ion channel found in most mammalian cells regulates its own function with a 'ball-and-chain' channel-plugging mechanism. The findings boost the understanding of ion channel biology and could lead to new drugs that target these channels to treat disorders such as epilepsy and hypertension.
Novel stem cell therapy repairs 'irreversible' corneal damage in clinical trial
Results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial of a novel stem cell treatment for cornea injuries found 14 patients treated and tracked for 18 months had a more than 90% success rate at restoring the cornea's surface and improvements in vision. The procedure, called CALEC (cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells) involves taking stem cells from a healthy eye, expanding it into a graft over several weeks, then transplanting it into a patient's damaged eye. The groundbreaking procedure was developed to help people with injuries like chemical burns that lead to irreversible limbal stem cell deficiency, and the researchers hope the new findings warrant additional trials.
Nearly 4 of 10 Americans report sports-related mistreatment
Nearly 40% of adult Americans say they've experienced some type of sport-related mistreatment in their lives, a new study shows. Mistreatment ranged from psychological and emotional to physical and sexual. But most people who reported mistreatment experienced more than one kind, the research found.
School absence patterns could ID children with chronic GI disorders, research suggests
Children who frequently miss school because of abdominal complaints are far more likely to be suffering from chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome than diseases that can be detected with medical tests, new research has found.
Researchers have discovered a novel approach to protecting insulin-producing beta cells from the damaging effects of glucolipotoxicity - a harmful condition linked to the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). These findings could lead to promising treatments targeting beta cell dysfunction.
Obesity: Researchers discover a cause of leptin resistance -- and how to reverse it
Most obese patients grow resistant to satiety signals from the hormone leptin. A new study shows that leptin sensitivity can be restored in mice, leading to weight loss.
Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer
Scientists have uncovered new genetic clues that explain why some prostate cancers remain slow-growing while others become life-threatening.
Having one traumatic experience is bad enough. If you've constantly experienced stress since before birth, you may be in for an especially tough time. Our emotions may be influenced by infections experienced in the mother's womb. This can result from two-hit stress, where an infection during pregnancy is followed by social stress during postpartum development. A team of researchers recently set out to understand the mechanisms behind which two-hit stress contributes to brain dysfunction and mental disorders.
Lack of medical oxygen affects millions
Hundreds of thousands die each year with millions more suffering due to lack of access to medical oxygen.
Breakthrough tool to enhance precision in cold-temperature cancer surgery
Researchers have developed an innovative tool that enhances surgeons' ability to detect and remove cancer cells during cryosurgery, a procedure that uses extreme cold to destroy tumors. This breakthrough technology involves a specialized nanoscale material that illuminates cancer cells under freezing conditions, making them easier to distinguish from healthy tissue and improving surgical precision.
How a crucial DNA repair protein works -- and what it means for cancer treatment
DNA repair proteins act like the body's editors, constantly finding and reversing damage to our genetic code. Researchers have long struggled to understand how cancer cells hijack one of these proteins -- called polymerase theta (Pol-theta) -- for their own survival. But scientists have now captured the first detailed images of Pol-theta in action, revealing the molecular processes responsible for a range of cancers.
Study links intense energy bursts to ventilator-induced lung injury
A new study sheds light on ventilator-induced lung injury, a complication that gained increased attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The study suggests that repeated collapse and reopening of tiny alveoli -- air sacs in the lungs essential for breathing -- during mechanical ventilation may cause microscopic tissue damage, playing a key role in ventilator-related injuries that contribute to thousands of deaths annually.
Naturally occurring mechanism hampers fertility
A research team has uncovered how a naturally occurring biological mechanism found in mammals is able to prevent sperm cells from interacting with an egg, preventing fertilization. The discovery, identified in rodent models, offers a new path for scientific research to help people grappling with infertility issues, while also opening a new line of study for developing contraceptive therapies.
A third of children worldwide forecast to be obese or overweight by 2050
Obesity rates are set to skyrocket, with one in six children and adolescents worldwide forecast to be obese by 2050, according to a new study. But with significant increases predicted within the next five years, the researchers stress urgent action now could turn the tide on the public health crisis.
AI revolutionizes glaucoma care: Specialist-level screening system
Glaucoma is called the 'silent thief of sight' as many don't notice until significant, irreversible vision loss has already occurred. A revolutionary early screening tool using AI may stop this thief dead in its tracks.
New treatment option for psoriasis discovered
Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases, affecting around 250,000 people in Austria. While previous treatment approaches have mainly focused on inhibiting pro-inflammatory immune cells, a study shows that it is possible to restore the function of certain anti-inflammatory immune cells in a targeted manner. The results pave the way for the development of a therapy that not only works more precisely but is also associated with fewer side effects.
Tattoos may be linked to an increased risk of cancer
Research has shown that tattoo ink does not just remain where it is injected. Particles from the ink can migrate to the lymph nodes, where they accumulate.
A 'chasm of misunderstanding and miscommunication' is often experienced between clinicians and patients, leading to autoimmune diseases such as lupus and vasculitis being wrongly diagnosed as psychiatric or psychosomatic conditions, with a profound and lasting impact on patients, researchers have found. A study involving over 3,000 participants -- both patients and clinicians -- found that these misdiagnoses (sometimes termed 'in your head' by patients) were often associated with long term impacts on patients' physical health and wellbeing and damaged trust in healthcare services.
We feed gut microbes sugar, they make a compound we need
Gut microbes that were thought to feed exclusively on dietary fiber also get fed sugar from our guts, from which they produce short-chain fatty acids that are crucial to many body functions. The discovery of this symbiotic relationship also points the way to developing novel therapeutics.
It's not just what you say -- it's also how you say it
First study to reveal the brain encodes pitch accents separately from the sounds that make up words. Heschl's gyrus region of the brain, an earlier stage of auditory processing, plays a much larger role than previously thought. Findings could transform speech therapy, AI-driven voice recognition and our understanding of what makes human communication unique.
Sleep patterns may reveal comatose patients with hidden consciousness
Overnight bursts of brain waves seen in normal sleep can help doctors predict which unresponsive patients hospitalized with acute severe brain injuries will awaken and eventually recover.
Scientists use AI to better understand nanoparticles
A team of scientists has developed a method to illuminate the dynamic behavior of nanoparticles, which are foundational components in the creation of pharmaceuticals, electronics, and industrial and energy-conversion materials.
Evidence expanding that 40Hz gamma stimulation promotes brain health
A decade of studies from labs around the world provide a growing evidence base that increasing the power of the brain's gamma rhythms could help fight Alzheimer's, and perhaps other, neurological diseases.
Teaching kids how to become better citizens
Strong link between Western diet during pregnancy and ADHD
New research reveals that a mother's diet during pregnancy -- characterized by a Western dietary pattern high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients -- may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism in children. Researchers see potential for targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to reduce this risk.
ChatGPT on the couch? How to calm a stressed-out AI
Distressing news and traumatic stories can cause stress and anxiety -- not only in humans, but these stories can also affect AI language models, such as ChatGPT. Researchers have now shown that these models, like humans, respond to therapy: an elevated 'anxiety level' in GPT-4 can be 'calmed down' using mindfulness-based relaxation techniques.
How a low-carb diet can drive colorectal cancer development
Researchers have shown how a low carbohydrate diet can worsen the DNA-damaging effects of some gut microbes to cause colorectal cancer. The study compared the effects of three different diets in combination with specific gut bacteria on colorectal cancer development in mice.
New biosensor can detect airborne bird flu in under 5 minutes
As highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza continues to spread in the U.S., posing serious threats to dairy and poultry farms, both farmers and public health experts need better ways to monitor for infections, in real time, to mitigate and respond to outbreaks. Newly devised virus trackers can monitor for airborne particles of H5N1.
Dental implants still functional after forty years
Dental implants used to replace single teeth continue to function well after several decades, according to a new study. After nearly forty years, all examined implants were still in place and fully functional.
Synthetic microbiome therapy suppresses bacterial infection without antibiotics
A synthetic microbiome therapy, tested in mice, holds promise as a new treatment for C. difficile, a notoriously difficult-to-treat bacterial infection, according to a team of researchers. The targeted treatment was as effective as human fecal transplants in mice against C. difficile infection with fewer safety concerns, protect against severe symptoms and decrease recurrent infections.
How to trick the body's metabolism
Researchers have discovered a new way in which the liver regulates its consumption of sugar and fat. This could potentially increase the effectiveness of weight-loss and diabetes medication.
Novel research shows brain connections can predict future substance use in adolescents
Adolescent substance use is a significant predictor of future addiction and related disorders. Understanding neural mechanisms underlying substance use initiation and frequency during adolescence is critical for early prevention and intervention. A novel study shows that by tracking year-to-year changes in brain connectivity underlying cognitive control, the ability to flexibly use goals to guide behavior and overcome habitual responses, data can predict when an adolescent is at high risk of starting to use substances, an important message for early prevention.
New research from kinesiologists is challenging the internet belief that timing resistance training to specific phases of the menstrual cycle boosts the body's ability to build muscle and strength.
Innovative animal model for studying limb spasticity
Researchers have made a significant advancement in the field of spinal cord injury research, developing a novel optogenetic mouse model that could lead to improved treatments for limb spasticity.
Peristaltic pump flow induces amyloid formation
Researchers found that peristaltic pump flow mechanically breaks supersaturation to induce amyloid formation by hen egg white lysozyme, a-synuclein, amyloid b 1-40, and b2-microglobulin. The high shear stresses induced by peristaltic flow likely reflect those that occur the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that this factor could promote amyloidosis.
Kicking yourself: Going against one's better judgment amplifies self-blame
When people go along with opinions that go against their own, they feel more culpable for the decision if things go wrong than if they hadn't received another opinion, researchers have found.
Scientists solve mystery of how the drug retinoic acid works to treat neuroblastoma
Why retinoic acid is effective in this setting but not against primary tumors, has been speculated about for nearly 50 years. Scientists resolved the mystery, showing the drug 'hijacks' a normal developmental pathway to trigger cancer cell death.
A study has provided new insights into the role of the brain as a crucial control center and the origin of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The hormone insulin plays a key role in the development of obesity. The brain's sensitivity to insulin is associated with long-term weight gain and unhealthy body fat distribution. What specific functions does insulin perform in the brain, and how does it affect individuals of normal weight?
Researchers uncover blood metabolites that may influence early childhood development
Researchers have identified small molecules in the blood that may impact early childhood development, showing how dietary exposures, early life experiences, and gut health can influence a child's growth and cognitive milestones.
Key protein identified for understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease
As a women in physics, I'm interested in that study about perceived recognition in women vs men. In my experience many accolades towards me were of the backhanded nature. "You're pretty good at physics for a girl." OR the ubiquitous "Wow! I'm so surprised you figured that out - got that grade - have that GPA!" ALWAYS expected to fail and then when I don't they're "So surprised." This starts young! I was at a poster event and a 9-10 yr old girl started talking to me about my research and she said, "I really love Astrophysics but my teacher told me I can't do it coz I'm bad at math!" 🤬🤬🤬 I told her I was told that, too ! I also told her we're NOT bad at math we just have BAD teachers. I told her to learn math learn ALL the math show them how we can LEARN math.