ScienceDaily: Health - October 05, 2023
Top health research news
Vaccine via the nasal passage could be the new line of defence against Strep A
As Streptococcus A cases continue to be prevalent, a new nasal vaccine could provide long-term protection from the deadly bacteria. The development of a Strep A vaccine which is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in Canada and quickly advancing to Phase 2 efficacy trials.
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Being a vegetarian may be partly in your genes
A person's genetic makeup plays a role in determining whether they can stick to a strict vegetarian diet, a new study has found. The findings open the door to further studies that could have important implications regarding dietary recommendations and the production of meat substitutes.
New wound healing research produces full thickness human bioprinted skin
A research article presents a significant breakthrough in the area of skin regeneration and wound healing.
Hospital superbugs: Could one vaccine rule them all?
A new study shows that a single dose of the vaccine, administered in mouse models, put immune cells into 'Incredible Hulk' mode, providing rapid protection against nine different bacteria and fungi species that lurk in healthcare settings.
Coaching program reduces burnout in medical residents
A pilot program that successfully reduced burnout among female medical residents has shown even greater results on a national level.
Strong link between ADHD and car crashes in older adult drivers
In a study on the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its association with crash risk among older adult drivers, researchers found that older adult drivers with ADHD are at a significantly elevated crash risk compared with their counterparts without ADHD. Outcomes included hard- braking events, and self-reported traffic ticket events, and vehicular crashes. Until now research on ADHD and driving safety was largely limited to children and young adults, and few studies assessed the association of ADHD with crash risk among older adults.
Avatars to help tailor glioblastoma therapies
Scientists have created a new zebrafish xenograft platform to screen for novel treatments for an aggressive brain tumor called glioblastoma, according to a new study.
Selective removal of aging cells opens new possibilities for treating age-related diseases
A research team has achieved a significant breakthrough in the treatment of age-related diseases. This groundbreaking development is set to redefine the future of healthcare and usher in a new era of targeted therapeutic interventions.
Should fathers be screened for postpartum depression? Pilot study
Pilot study shows 30% of dads screened had postpartum depression.
Study raises concerns over powdered infant formula preparation machines
A new study raises concerns over powdered infant formula preparation machines.
Wastewater detects signs of antimicrobial resistance in aged care facilities
A new study analyzing wastewater samples from several aged care facilities and retirement homes, has uncovered worrying signs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a concerning trend in aged care facilities.
Women living in more walkable neighborhoods have lower rates of obesity-related cancers
Residing in a more walkable neighborhood protects against the risk of overall obesity-related cancers in women, specifically postmenopausal breast cancer, but also ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and multiple myeloma, according to a new study. Obesity has been linked to increased risk for 13 types of cancer in women, and physical activity, independent of body size, lowers risk for some of these cancers. Until now long-term studies of neighborhood walkability and risk for obesity-related cancer were limited.
Scientists develop 3D printing method that shows promise for repairing brain injuries
Researchers have produced an engineered tissue representing a simplified cerebral cortex by 3D printing human stem cells. When implanted into mouse brain slices, the structures became integrated with the host tissue. The technique may ultimately be developed into tailored repairs to treat brain injuries.
Tracking the bacteria behind life-threatening sepsis in premature babies
A new study into sepsis in neonatal babies has uncovered the secrets of the bacteria’s success in causing this life-threatening condition. Using genomic sequencing, they have found how certain strains of bacteria that usually live harmlessly on the skin can evade control measures by colonizing babies’ guts. This will provide new ways to control this threat to babies’ health.
Hot weather hits productivity -- even in air-conditioned factories
Hot weather reduces workers’ productivity – even if their workplace is air conditioned.
Graphene oxide reduces the toxicity of Alzheimer's proteins
A probable early driver of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of molecules called amyloid peptides. These cause cell death, and are commonly found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers have now shown that yeast cells that accumulate these misfolded amyloid peptides can recover after being treated with graphene oxide nanoflakes.
Human disease simulator lets scientists choose their own adventure
Scientists have developed a device smaller than a toddler's shoebox -- called Lattice --that can simulate any human disease in up to eight organs (cell cultures from a human organ) or test new drugs without ever entering -- or harming -- the body. It is a major advancement from current in vitro systems, which can only study two cell cultures simultaneously.
New strategy for eye condition could replace injections with eyedrops
A new compound potentially could offer an alternative to injections for the millions of people who suffer from an eye condition that causes blindness.
A promising treatment on the horizon for cancer-related fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue is a debilitating yet all-too-common condition, which can severely affect quality of life for patients undergoing treatment. For those struggling with CRF, there have been no effective pharmaceutical treatments for the constellation of symptoms that together define the syndrome. Researchers found that a metabolism-targeting drug called dichloroacetate (DCA) helped alleviate CRF in mice, without interfering with cancer treatments.
Pregnant women offered new hope for safe and effective gestational diabetes treatment
A clinical trial into treatment for gestational diabetes, involving more than 500 pregnant women, has revealed what the lead academic has described as a significant step forward for women. The research has found benefits for both mothers and their newborn babies, and alleviated concerns over the use of the drug metformin, including less weight gain for mothers; no evidence of increase in preterm birth; and no differences in adverse neonatal outcomes.
Type 2 diabetes diagnosis at age 30 can reduce life expectancy by up to 14 years
An individual diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 30 years could see their life expectancy fall by as much as 14 years, an international team of researchers has warned. Even people who do not develop the condition until later in life – with a diagnosis at age 50 years – could see their life expectancy fall by up to six years, an analysis of data from 19 high-income countries found.
Bioengineering breakthrough increases DNA detection sensitivity by 100 times
Researchers have pushed forward the boundaries of biomedical engineering one hundredfold with a new method for DNA detection with unprecedented sensitivity.
Wearable sensor to monitor 'last line of defense' antibiotic
Researchers have combined earlier work on painless microneedles with nanoscale sensors to create a wearable sensor patch capable of continuously monitoring the levels of a ‘last line of defense’ antibiotic.
Language recognition is as much about brains as it is about hearing
Researchers have learned the efficiency by which people recognize spoken words depends as much on the mind as on hearing ability. In a new study, the researchers examined how well adults across the life span process spoken language.
Brain biometrics help identify sports concussions
Novel brain biometrics could help inform whether an athlete is ready to return to play following a concussion, according to new research.
Study uncovers reasons Americans did not get booster vaccines
In September 2022, new bivalent COVID-19 boosters became available in the United States, but less than 20% of the eligible population ultimately received one. A new study identified why so many Americans did not receive a booster.
When cells go boom: Study reveals inflammation-causing gene carried by millions
Researchers have found that a genetic change that increases the risk of inflammation, through a process described as ‘explosive’ cell death, is carried by up to 3% of the global population.
Losing sleep? It might be time to check your blood pressure
Getting enough sleep has never been more difficult in today's fast-paced environment. Yet new research highlights why getting a good night’s sleep is critical to staying healthy. Their research unveils that women who struggled with getting enough sleep were at greater risk of developing hypertension, or high blood pressure.
'Impossible' millimeter wave sensor has wide potential
<p>UC Davis researchers develop a proof-of-concept millimeter wave radar sensor that can detect extremely small vibrations and movements. </p>
Study indicates possible link between chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease
Researchers have published a study that addresses possible associations between chronic stress, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The study shows how people aged between 18 and 65 with a previous diagnosis of chronic stress and depression were more likely than other people to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or  Alzheimer’s disease.
A surprising way to disrupt sleep
A new study has identified a structure in the circadian mRNA Period2 that affects the sleep-wake cycle. The results indicate how translation and post-transcriptional processes influence the body's internal clock and its impact on sleep patterns.
Preventing spread of parasitic DNA in our genomes
Researchers have identified a new enzyme called PUCH, which plays a key role in preventing the spread of parasitic DNA in our genomes. These findings may reveal new insights into how our bodies detect and fight bacteria and viruses to prevent infections.
Breakthrough in the fight against resistance in metastatic breast cancer
A team of researchers has discovered that dormant tumor cells surviving chemotherapy can be targeted through the inhibition of a specific protein called P-glycoprotein (P-gp). This discovery opens up new possibilities for delaying relapse and is particularly relevant for aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), for which there are currently few effective treatments.
Calls for verbal abuse of children by adults to be formally recognized as form of child maltreatment
A new systematic review has highlighted the importance of identifying childhood verbal abuse by adults as a standalone subtype of child maltreatment, to ensure targeted prevention and address the lasting harm it can inflict.
New internet addiction spectrum: Where are you on the scale?
Young people (24 years and younger) spend an average of six hours a day online, primarily using their smartphones, according to new research. Older people (those 24 years and older) spend 4.6 hours online.
New study uncovers potential treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
A research team has identified an important factor involved in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by obesity.
New tool reveals how drugs affect men, women differently -- and will make for safer medications
Researchers have developed a powerful new tool to understand how medications affect men and women differently, and that will help lead to safer, more effective drugs in the future.
Researchers blow whistle on forensic science method
If forensic experts have access to a suspect's gun, they can compare the microscopic markings from discarded shell casings with those found at a crime scene. Finding and reporting a mismatch can help free the innocent, just as a match can incriminate the guilty. But new research reveals mismatches are more likely than matches to be reported as 'inconclusive' in cartridge-case comparisons.
In forming long-term memories, vascular cells are crucial
A new study reveals the crucial role of vascular system cells -- known as pericytes -- in the formation of long-term memories of life events -- memories that are lost in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Is AI in the eye of the beholder?
Priming users about the motives of an AI agent had a significant impact on their perceptions of that agent and how effective they believed this AI mental health companion was, according to a new study. Not only did priming change users’ perceptions, it also changed how they interacted with the chatbot and how the chatbot responded, creating a feedback loop.
Discrimination alters brain-gut 'crosstalk,' prompting poor food choices and increased health risks
People frequently exposed to racial or ethnic discrimination may be more susceptible to obesity and related health risks in part because of a stress response that changes biological processes and how we process food cues, according to new research.
Investigators have developed a new approach for treating invasive bladder cancer without the need for surgical removal of the bladder. Removing the bladder is currently a standard approach when cancer has invaded the muscle layer of the bladder.
Plant chloroplasts promise potential therapy for Huntington's disease
A chloroplast enzyme safeguards plants against pathological protein aggregation that causes Huntington’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. New research may have found a way to 'copy' the mechanism for application in human cells.
Distributed workload in the fly brain
To distinguish motion patterns, a neuronal computation is performed three times in a row.
A more effective experimental design for engineering a cell into a new state
A new machine-learning approach helps scientists more efficiently identify the optimal intervention to achieve a certain outcome in a complex system, such as genome regulation, requiring far fewer experimental trials than other methods.Â
Researchers studied thousands of fertility attempts hoping to improve IVF
By genetically testing nearly one thousand embryos, scientists have provided the most detailed analysis of embryo fate following human in vitro fertilization.
Metaphors for human fertilization are evolving, study shows
In a common metaphor used to describe human fertilization, sperm cells are competitors racing to penetrate a passive egg. But as critics have noted, the description is also a 'fairy tale,' rooted in cultural beliefs about masculinity and femininity. A new study by sociologists provides evidence that this metaphor remains widely used despite the profound shift in recent decades in social and scientific views about gender, sex, and sexuality. But her findings, based on interviews with a diverse sample of 47 individuals, also reveal that a more gender-egalitarian metaphor is circulating that describes sperm and egg as two halves of a whole.
To prepare for next pandemic, researchers tackle bird flu
Researchers have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu.
Can ChatGPT help us form personal narratives?
New research found that the language model can produce accurate personal narratives from stream-of-consciousness data.
Allergy study on 'wild' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis
The notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has arisen over the last few decades and has been termed the hygiene hypothesis. Now, an article challenges this hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures from birth have the same, if not an even greater ability to develop allergic immune responses than 'clean' laboratory mice.
Atopic dermatitis: Viruses discovered as new therapy option
Up to 15 percent of children and five percent of adults are affected by the chronic inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis. Despite advanced therapy measures, the severe itching and eczema, especially on the elbows or knees, cause great distress to the patients. Medical researchers have now discovered a new approach: bacteriophages, which colonize the skin as viral components of the microbiome and can drive the development of innovative atopic dermatitis therapies.
Gut inflammation caused by substance secreted by microbe
A rare subtype of the world's most common parasite, Blastocystis, has been found to produce a unique by-product of its metabolism, which can cause gut inflammation under normal gut conditions.
A new bioinfomatics pipeline solves a 50-year-old blood group puzzle
Currently, a lot is known about which genes are responsible for our individual blood groups, however not much is understood about how and why the levels of the blood group molecules differ between one person and another. This can be important for blood transfusion safety. Now a research group has developed a toolbox that finds the answer – and in doing so, has solved a 50-year-old mystery.
New insights into how the human brain organizes language
A new study has provided the first clear picture of where language processes are located in the brain. The findings may be useful in clinical trials involving language recovery after brain injury.
Skin behind the ears and between the toes can host a collection of unhealthy microbes
Scrubbing behind the ears and between the toes may help keep the skin in those regions healthy, new research suggests. The microbiome, or the collection of microbes living on and in the human body, are known to play a role in human health and the skin is no different. A new study has shown that the composition of the skin microbiome varies across dry, moist and oily regions of the skin.
Life satisfaction may not enhance cognitive functioning among some older adults
A new study examined psychological well-being among older individuals in the United States and United Kingdom and found that high life satisfaction was associated with increased cognitive functioning among most individuals, but it was less beneficial for people of low socioeconomic status, in poor health, or experiencing adverse psychological conditions.
How parents' work stress affects family mealtimes and children's development
Family mealtimes are important for parents and children as a space to communicate, socialize, and build attachment relationships. But it can be difficult for busy parents to balance family and work life. A new study explores how parents job stress influences their attendance at family mealtimes, and in turn, children's socioemotional development.
A new study has found that walking up more than five flights of stairs a day could reduce risk of cardiovascular disease by 20 percent.
Study pinpoints the length of incidental activity linked to health benefits
A new wearables study tracking over 25,000 people provides the best evidence yet that short bouts of incidental activity, the kind we do as part of daily living, could reduce risk of heart attack, stroke and even premature death -- but the length of activity and intensity matters.
Increased risk of depression and anxiety when in higher education, study finds
Young people who are in higher education in England face a small increased risk of depression and anxiety, compared to their peers who are not attending higher education, finds a new study.