ScienceDaily: Health - May 30, 2024
Top health research news
Grow the skin you're in: In vivo generation of chimeric skin grafts
Researchers found that mutated mouse embryos showing an abnormal epidermal differentiation and injected with mouse pluripotent stem cells grew large patches of mature epidermis derived from the donor cells that survived transplantation to adult mice and grew natural-looking fur. Injecting the embryos with human keratinoctyes produced sheets of semi-humanized skin, suggesting that this system could be developed further to grow autologous skin grafts for treating severe skin wounds.
Chicken feathers to deliver chemotherapy drugs and repair enzymes
A new method of drug delivery using proline, an amino acid found in chicken feathers and skin tissue, could be used to limit the side effects of chemotherapy and repair important enzymes, new research suggests.
Image: Sonsedska Yuliia/Shutterstock.com
The average age at menarche -- the first menstrual period -- has been decreasing among younger generations in the U.S., especially those belonging to racial minorities and lower socioeconomic statuses, according to a new study. It also found that the average time it takes for the menstrual cycle to become regular is increasing.
New antibiotic kills pathogenic bacteria, spares healthy gut microbes
Researchers have developed a new antibiotic that reduced or eliminated drug-resistant bacterial infections in mouse models of acute pneumonia and sepsis while sparing healthy microbes in the mouse gut. The drug, called lolamicin, also warded off secondary infections with Clostridioides difficile, a common and dangerous hospital-associated bacterial infection, and was effective against more than 130 multidrug-resistant bacterial strains in cell culture.
AI helps medical professionals read confusing EEGs to save lives
Researchers have developed an assistive machine learning model that greatly improves the ability of medical professionals to read the electroencephalography (EEG) charts of intensive care patients. Because EEG readings are the only method for knowing when unconscious patients are in danger of suffering a seizure or are having seizure-like events, the computational tool could help save thousands of lives each year.
Drug resistance discovery could 'move the field forward' for breast cancer treatment
New research has revealed a previously unknown biological process through which breast tumor cells develop resistance to standard treatment, which could open the door for cancer scientists around the world to further target this vulnerability in hopes of creating more effective therapies for disease. Additionally, the research team tested a promising drug in combination with an existing therapy that achieved total remission in one breast cancer model that was resistant to the standard of care, and reduced cancer growth by nearly 70% in other models of advanced disease.
Chocolate's tasty flavors might pose a risk in other desserts
What makes chocolate taste and smell so delicious? Chemistry, of course! A variety of molecules work together to create that unmistakable aroma, but those same molecules might carry some unwanted health effects if there are too many around. While many of the compounds appeared in chocolate in low enough concentrations to be safe, higher amounts were found in some baked sweet treats.
New research approach: Exploring the mouthfeel of food with a microscope
A new perspectives article focuses on different ways to study the mouthfeel of food using atomic force microscopy to better understand the biophysical mechanisms that contribute to taste sensations in a broader sense. New findings in this area could drive the development of health-promoting products that contain less salt, fat, sugar and calories but still have a convincing mouthfeel.
More than just social media use may be causing depression in young adults, study shows
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of depression in adolescents and young adults -- and a simultaneous uptick in the inclusion of technology and social media in everyday life. In a new study, researchers investigated the association among social media use, depression and other health-related behaviors of young adults over time.
Quality over quantity for screen time -- study
It is what we are looking at, rather than how much time we are spending our time online that influences our health and wellbeing, according to a new report. The study is a comprehensive examination of the latest scientific evidence on screen time and mental health.
Could a medicated foam make gene therapies more accessible?
Bioengineers report that a foaming liquid worked better than a standard liquid formulation at transferring gene therapy components to cells in laboratory studies.
Heart healthy behaviors may help reverse rapid cell aging
The benefits gained with higher lifestyle scores may be associated with the positive influence of heart disease risk factors on the aging of the body and its cells, finds a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association
Researchers have successfully tested a novel technique for probing deep into the human brain, without surgery, for potential therapeutic purposes. In the rapidly evolving field of neuroscience, non-invasive brain stimulation is a new hope for understanding and treating a myriad of neurological and psychiatric conditions without surgical intervention or implants.
Health risk from global warming predictor of city climate action during COVID-19, study finds
City officials were more likely to maintain climate action during the pandemic in places with more climate-related health issues affecting residents.
Public have no difficulty getting to grips with an extra thumb, study finds
Researchers have shown that members of the public have little trouble in learning very quickly how to use a third thumb -- a controllable, prosthetic extra thumb -- to pick up and manipulate objects. The team tested the robotic device on a diverse range of participants, which they say is essential for ensuring new technologies are inclusive and can work for everyone.
Bird flu: Diverse range of vaccines platforms 'crucial' for enhancing human pandemic preparedness
Review of research to-date suggests vaccination remains the most effective strategy for avian influenza prevention and control in humans, despite varying vaccine efficacy across strains.
Intermittent fasting shows promise in improving gut health, weight management
Participants following an intermittent fasting and protein-pacing regimen, which involves evenly spaced protein intake throughout the day, saw better gut health, weight loss and metabolic responses. These benefits were notably greater than those seen with simple calorie restriction. The findings could advance our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and metabolism and improve strategies for managing obesity.
Optimal cancer-killing t cells discovered
A team of cancer researchers has discovered a new subset of T cells that may improve the outcome for patients treated with T-cell therapies.
Circadian clock can be leveraged to enhance cancer immunotherapy
A multidisciplinary research team has revealed that the circadian clock -- the biological pacemaker that governs daily rhythms in physiological processes, including immune functions -- can be leveraged to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor cancer therapy. Checkpoint inhibitors block different proteins from binding to tumor cells, allowing the immune system's T cells to kill the tumor.
Mechanisms for selective multiple sclerosis treatment strategy
Researchers have demonstrated how B cells infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can contribute to a pathogenic, inflammatory phenotype that contributes to multiple sclerosis (MS); the group has also shown how these problematic B cells can be selectively targeted in a way that reduces the damaging autoimmune response of multiple sclerosis.
'Cloaked' proteins deliver cancer-killing therapeutics into cells
Scientists have designed a way to 'cloak' proteins in a generalized technique that could lead to repurposing things like antibodies for biological research and therapeutic applications.
Is it a sound of music...or of speech? Scientists uncover how our brains try to tell the difference
Music and speech are among the most frequent types of sounds we hear. But how do we identify what we think are differences between the two? An international team of researchers mapped out this process through a series of experiments -- yielding insights that offer a potential means to optimize therapeutic programs that use music to regain the ability to speak in addressing aphasia.
Fatherhood's hidden heart health toll
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men, and being a father may put men at an even greater risk of poor heart health later in life, reports a new study. The study of 2,814 men between the ages of 45 and 84 found cardiovascular health in older age was worse for fathers compared to non-fathers. Study participants' heart health was rated based on their diet, physical activity, smoking habits, weight, blood pressure, and level of lipids and glucose in their blood.
Light therapy increases brain connectivity following injury
Low-level light therapy appears to affect healing in the brains of people who suffered significant brain injuries.
Prenatal exposure to air pollution associated with increased mental health risks
A baby's exposure to air pollution while in the womb is associated with the development of certain mental health problems once the infant reaches adolescence, new research has found. The study examined the long-term mental health impact of early-life exposure to air and noise pollution.
Researchers identify promising protein candidate for metabolic disease treatment
Discovery of an appetite-suppressing protein has doubled the potential for new avenues for treating obesity and metabolic disorders in animals and people.
Weight gain is kicked to the curb in antipsychotic drug breakthrough
Thousands of Australians struggle with serious mental health conditions. But when the recommended treatment involves antipsychotic medications, the side effects are excess kilos, which only adds weight to an already complex diagnosis. Now, new research shows that antipsychotics can be reformulated with a strategically engineered coating that not only mitigates unwanted weight gain but also boosts serotonin levels by more than 250%.
Genetic mosaicism more common than thought
Researchers found that approximately one in 40 human bone marrow cells carry massive chromosomal alterations without causing any apparent disease or abnormality. Even so-called normal cells carry all sorts of genetic mutations, meaning there are more genetic differences between individual cells in our bodies than between different human beings. The discovery was enabled by a single-cell sequencing technology called Strand-seq, a unique DNA sequencing technique that can reveal subtle details of genomes in single cells that are too difficult to detect with other methods.
Pharmacists prove effective, less costly care option for minor illnesses
Greater use of pharmacists to treat minor illnesses could potentially save millions of dollars in health care costs, according to new research. The findings also indicate a way to improve healthcare access by expanding availability of pharmacists' clinical services including prescribing medications, amid an ongoing shortage of primary care providers. The study found that care for a range of minor health issues -- including urinary tract infections, shingles, animal bites and headaches -- costs an average of about $278 less when treated in pharmacies compared to patients with similar conditions treated at 'traditional sites' of primary care, urgent care or emergency room settings. Follow-ups with pharmacy patients showed that almost all their illnesses had resolved after the initial visit with a pharmacist. Notably, if all of the illnesses in the three-year study that were treated at a traditional site of care had been treated by community pharmacists, it would have saved an estimated $23 million in health care expenses.
Researchers have located the brain network responsible for stuttering
An international research group succeeded in identifying the probable origin of stuttering in the brain.
Binge-eating disorder not as transient as previously thought
New research finds that binge-eating disorder symptoms may persist longer than once believed, finding 61 percent and 45 percent of individuals still experienced binge-eating disorder 2.5 and 5 years after their initial diagnoses, respectively.
'Lean In' messages can lower women's motivation to protest gender inequality
Women in leadership are often told to 'Lean In', designed to be motivational messaging demonstrating that they are more confident, strategic and resilient to setback. However, new research indicates that such 'lean in' messaging can hinder women's motivation to protest gender equality.
Caffeine affects brain dopamine function in patients with Parkinson's disease
Regular high caffeine consumption affects dopamine function in patients with Parkinson's disease, shows a new international study. Caffeine consumption before undergoing diagnostic brain dopamine imaging may also affect the imaging results.
Finnish Vole fever spreading further south
Researchers have discovered that bank voles in southern Sweden (Sk ne) carry a virus that can cause hemorrhagic fever in humans. This finding was made more than 500 km south of the previously known range. 'We were surprised that such high proportion of the relatively few voles that we caught were actually carrying a hantavirus that makes people ill', says infection disease doctor. The virus strain discovered in Sk ne appears to be more closely related to strains from Finland and Karelia than to the variants found in northern Sweden and Denmark.
Researchers made a significant breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease research by identifying a novel way to potentially slow down or even halt disease progression. The study, which focuses on the role of reactive astrocytes and the plexin-B1 protein in Alzheimer's pathophysiology, provides crucial insights into brain cell communication and opens the door to innovative treatment strategies.
Brain damage reveals part of the brain necessary for helping others
Our willingness to help others is governed by a specific brain region pinpointed by researchers in a study of patients with brain damage to that region.
Feeding infants peanut products protects against allergy into adolescence, study suggests
Feeding children peanuts regularly from infancy to age five was linked to a reduced rate of peanut allergy in adolescence, by 71%, even after many years when the children ate or avoided peanut as desired.
Genetic cause of rare childhood immune disorders discovered
Researchers have identified the genetic basis behind certain severe immunodeficiencies in newborns, paving the way for potential screening and emerging therapies.
AI headphones let wearer listen to a single person in a crowd, by looking at them just once
Engineers have developed an artificial intelligence system that lets someone wearing headphones look at a person speaking for three to five seconds to 'enroll' them. The system then plays just the enrolled speaker's voice in real time, even as the pair move around in noisy environments.
Tiny target discovered on RNA to short-circuit inflammation
Researchers have discovered a peptide in human RNA that regulates inflammation and may provide a new path for treating diseases such as arthritis and lupus. The team used a screening process based on the powerful gene-editing tool CRISPR to shed light on one of the biggest mysteries about our RNA -- the molecule responsible for carrying out genetic information contained in our DNA.
'Invisible tweezers' use robotics and acoustic energy to achieve what human hands cannot
Undergoing surgery is seldom a pleasant experience, and it can sometimes be highly invasive. Surgical procedures have evolved steadily over the centuries, growing with the knowledge of anatomy and biology. Innovative methods have also been bolstered with new tools, and a growth in the use of robotics since the 1980s has moved health care forward significantly.
The stress of heart failure is remembered by the body and appears to lead to recurrent failure, along with other related health issues, according to new research. Researchers have found that heart failure leaves a 'stress memory' in the form of changes to the DNA modification of hematopoietic stem cells, which are involved in the production of blood and immune cells called macrophages. These immune cells play an important role in protecting heart health.
High H5N1 influenza levels found in mice given raw milk from infected dairy cows
Mice administered raw milk samples from dairy cows infected with H5N1 influenza experienced high virus levels in their respiratory organs and lower virus levels in other vital organs, according to new findings. The results suggest that consumption of raw milk by animals poses a risk for H5N1 infection and raises questions about its potential risk in humans.
New advances in cancer viral immunotherapy
Researchers have developed a new strain of vaccinia virus, which can replicate in tumor cells while maintaining increased immunogenicity. Specifically, it can to induce so-called immunogenic cell death in tumor cells.
How neurons build a 3-D vascular structure to keep the retina healthy
Scientists have known for years that a lattice of blood vessels nourishes cells in the retina that allow us to see -- but it's been a mystery how the intricate structure is created. Now, researchers have found a new type of neuron that guides its formation. The discovery could one day lead to new therapies for diseases that are related to impaired blood flow in the eyes and brain.
Observing mammalian cells with superfast soft X-rays
Researchers have developed a new technique to view living mammalian cells. The team used a powerful laser, called a soft X-ray free electron laser, to emit ultrafast pulses of illumination at the speed of femtoseconds, or quadrillionths of a second. With this they could capture images of carbon-based structures in living cells for the first time, before the soft X-ray radiation damaged them.
Imperceptible sensors made from 'electronic spider silk' can be printed directly on human skin
Researchers have developed a method to make adaptive and eco-friendly sensors that can be directly and imperceptibly printed onto a wide range of biological surfaces, whether that's a finger or a flower petal.
Lght-controlled 'off switch' for brain cells
New genetic tool could help investigate brain function and psychiatric disorders.
Most young women treated for breast cancer can have children
New research has encouraging news for young women who have survived breast cancer and want to have children. The study, which tracked nearly 200 young women treated for breast cancer, found that the majority of those who tried to conceive during a median of 11 years after treatment were able to become pregnant and give birth to a child.
Groundbreaking study connects genetic risk for autism to changes observed in the brain
A groundbreaking study has unveiled the most detailed view of the complex biological mechanisms underlying autism, showing the first link between genetic risk of the disorder to observed cellular and genetic activity across different layers of the brain.
Sequencing of the developing human brain uncovers hundreds of thousands of new gene transcripts
Researchers uncovered 214,516 unique isoforms in the developing neocortex -- over 70% of which have not been previously studied.
New approach to Epstein-Barr virus and resulting diseases
The Epstein-Barr virus can cause a spectrum of diseases, including a range of cancers. Emerging data now show that inhibition of a specific metabolic pathway in infected cells can diminish latent infection and therefore the risk of downstream disease.
Scientists map networks regulating gene function in the human brain
A consortium of researchers has produced the largest and most advanced multidimensional maps of gene regulation networks in the brains of people with and without mental disorders. These maps detail the many regulatory elements that coordinate the brain's biological pathways and cellular functions. The research used postmortem brain tissue from over 2,500 donors to map gene regulation networks across different stages of brain development and multiple brain-related disorders.
Parents are often eager to give their adolescent children advice about school problems, but they may find that youth are less than receptive to their words of wisdom. However, kids who don't seem to listen to their parents may still benefit from their input, a new study shows.
Psychedelic drug-induced hyperconnectivity in the brain helps clarify altered subjective experiences
A new study shows that the use of psilocybin, a compound found in the widely known 'magic mushrooms,' initiates a pattern of hyperconnectivity in the brain linked to the ego-modifying effects and feelings of oceanic boundlessness. The findings help explain the so-called mystical experiences people report during the use of psychedelics and are pertinent to the psychotherapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs to treat psychiatric disorders such as depression.
Stress bragging may make you seem less competent, less likable at work
While work is occasionally stressful for everyone, some people wear stress as a badge of honor. They're taking one for the team and want to tell you all about it. New research found people who brag about their stress levels are seen as less competent and less likable by their co-workers.
New 'atlas' provides unprecedented insights on how genes function in early embryo development
Biologists have provided new insights on a longstanding puzzle in biology: How complex organisms arise from a single fertilized cell. Producing a new 'gene atlas' with 4-D imaging, the researchers captured unprecedented insights on how embryonic development unfolds.
Birdsong and human voice built from same genetic blueprint
Humans have been long fascinated by bird song and the cacophony of other avian sounds -- from coos and honks to quacks and peeps. But little is known about how the unique vocal organ of birds -- the syrinx -- varies from species to species or its deeper evolutionary origins. A trio of recent studies is changing that. The studies include high-resolution anatomical scans of syrinxes from hummingbirds and ostriches -- the world's smallest and largest bird species -- and the discovery that the syrinx and larynx, the vocal organ of reptiles and mammals, including humans, share the same developmental programming.
Study explains why the brain can robustly recognize images, even without color
New research offers a possible explanation for how the brain learns to identify both color and black-and-white images. The researchers found evidence that early in life, when the retina is unable to process color information, the brain learns to distinguish objects based on luminance, rather than color.
Researchers unveil shared and unique brain molecular dysregulations in PTSD and depression
Researchers analyzed multi-omic data from 231 people with PTSD or depression to uncover distinct molecular differences that might affect systems such as the nervous and immune systems, to contribute to these mental health conditions.