ScienceDaily: Health - October 24, 2024
Top health research news
Could poor sleep in middle age speed up brain aging?
People in early middle age who have poor sleep quality, including having difficulty falling or staying asleep, have more signs of poor brain health in late middle age, according to a new study. The study does not prove that poor sleep accelerates brain aging. It only shows an association between poor sleep quality and signs of brain aging.
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Mouse study sheds light on secret to maintaining a youthful immune system
What keeps some immune systems youthful and effective in warding off age-related diseases? In new research done on mice, scientists point the finger at a small subset of blood stem cells, which make an outsized contribution to maintaining either a youthful balance or an age-related imbalance of the two main types of immune cells: innate and adaptive.
What standing on one leg can tell you: Biological age
How long a person can stand -- on one leg -- is a more telltale measure of aging than changes in strength or gait, according to new research.
Live well, think well: Research shows healthy habits tied to brain health
In middle-aged people, having risk factors like blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol that are not well-controlled combined with not following certain healthy habits including exercise, diet and sleep, are linked to a higher risk of stroke, dementia or depression later in life, according to a new study. These results do not prove that not having healthy habits increases the risk of these conditions, they only show an association.
A new study has demonstrated a new way to treat narcolepsy-related nightmares. The scientists combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and lucid dreaming to help patients in a small clinical trial.
A team of linguistics and psychology researchers has discovered that when a brief sentence is flashed, our brains detect its basic linguistic structure extremely quickly -- in roughly 150 milliseconds, or about the speed of a blink of an eye.
Implantable device may prevent death from opioid overdose
A team has developed a device that may rescue people from overdose without bystander help. In animal studies, the researchers found that the implantable device detects an overdose, rapidly delivers naloxone to prevent death and can alert emergency first responders.
Adapting GenAI for the next generation of learning
A new study by learning analytics researchers presents key considerations for generative AI (GenAI) educational tools so they are carefully developed to support, rather than replace, human learning.
Risk of cardiovascular disease linked to long-term exposure to arsenic in community water supplies
Long-term exposure to arsenic in water may increase cardiovascular risk and especially heart disease risk even at exposure levels below the federal regulatory limit, according to new research. A study describes exposure-response relationships at concentrations below the current regulatory limit and substantiates that prolonged exposure to arsenic in water contributes to the development of ischemic heart disease.
Lyme borreliosis: New approach for developing targeted therapy
Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in Europe. Up to 70,000 new cases are estimated each year in Austria alone. The bacterial infection can cause lasting health problems for patients. A research team has made significant progress in understanding the mechanism of infection and identified a potential way forward for the development of targeted therapies that do not rely on antibiotics.
Femtosecond-fieldoscopy accesses molecules fingerprints at near-infrared spectral range
In a breakthrough that could revolutionize biomarker detection, researchers have developed a novel technique called 'femtosecond-fieldoscopy'. This method enables the precise measurement of minute liquid quantities, down to the micromolar level, with unmatched sensitivity in the near-infrared region. It opens up new possibilities for label-free bio-imaging and the detection of target molecules in aqueous environments, paving the way for advanced biomedical applications.
New method for producing innovative 3D molecules
Chemists have synthesized so-called heteroatom-substituted cage-like 3D molecules. The innovative structures are created by precisely inserting a triatomic unit into the strained ring of a reaction partner. They could help address key challenges in drug design by serving as more stable alternatives to traditional, flat, aromatic rings.
Safety and security: Study shines light on factors behind refugees' resilience
A systematic review has identified several strong protective and promotive factors that are associated with better mental health outcomes among refugee adults.
Birth: It's a tight squeeze for chimpanzees, too
According to a new study, chimpanzees, like humans, must contend with a confined bony birth canal when giving birth. In humans, the problem was exacerbated by our unique form of upright walking since this led to a twisting of the bony birth canal, while the fetal head got larger. The 'obstetrical dilemma' therefore evolved gradually over the course of primate evolution rather than suddenly in humans as originally argued.
Cannabis use in adolescence: Visible effects on brain structure
A collaborative study sheds light on how cannabis use affects brain development in young people, the main one being atrophy of certain regions of the cerebral cortex.
Dehydration linked to muscle cramps in IRONMAN triathletes
Contrary to previous research, a study of three decades of the IRONMAN's top competition found a connection between dehydration and exercise-induced muscle cramps. Based on medical data of more than 10,500 triathletes, the study found a strong link between dehydration and participants seeking treatment for muscle cramps during the competition. While many popular theories hold that unbalanced electrolytes or potassium and salt levels contribute to cramps, this study did not find evidence to support that, which is consistent with other recent research.
Data security: Breakthrough in research with personalized health data
The European research project 'Federated Secure Computing' presents a new approach that allows patient data from different institutions to be analysed securely and anonymously.
Researchers flip genes on and off with AI-designed DNA switches
Researchers have used artificial intelligence to design thousands of new DNA switches that can precisely control the expression of a gene in different cell types. Their new approach opens the possibility of controlling when and where genes are expressed in the body, for the benefit of human health and medical research, in ways never before possible.
Novel antibody platform tackles viral mutations
Scientists have developed an innovative antibody platform aimed at tackling one of the greatest challenges in treating rapidly evolving viruses like SARS-CoV-2: their ability to mutate and evade existing vaccines and therapies. Their findings, including preclinical studies in mice, introduce the Adaptive Multi-Epitope Targeting and Avidity-Enhanced (AMETA) Nanobody Platform, a new antibody approach for addressing how viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, evolve to evade vaccines and treatments.
Immunotherapy blocks scarring, improves heart function in mice with heart failure
Researchers have reduced scar formation and improved heart function in mouse models of heart failure using a monoclonal antibody treatment, similar to that approved by the FDA to treat other conditions. The findings point to the possibility of developing such immunotherapies for heart failure in patients who have experienced a heart attack or other injury.
How ovarian cancer disables immune cells
Researchers have discovered a mechanism that ovarian tumors use to cripple immune cells and impede their attack -- blocking the energy supply T cells depend on. The work points toward a promising new immunotherapy approach for ovarian cancer, which is notoriously aggressive and hard to treat.
A 'chemical ChatGPT' for new medications
Researchers have trained an AI process to predict potential active ingredients with special properties. Therefore, they derived a chemical language model -- a kind of ChatGPT for molecules. Following a training phase, the AI was able to exactly reproduce the chemical structures of compounds with known dual-target activity that may be particularly effective medications.
Ultra-small spectrometer yields the power of a 1,000 times bigger device
Researchers are designing new ways to make spectrometers that are ultra-small but still very powerful, to be used for anything from detecting disease to observing stars in distant galaxies.
The decision to eat may come down to these three neurons
Manipulating a newly identified neural circuit can curb appetite -- or spur massive overeating.
Clinical study confirms tissue stiffening in breast cancer can drive metastasis
Researchers evaluated tissues for fibrosis using MeCo Score, a diagnostic tool that can potentially predict the likelihood of relapse or recurrence among patients with early-stage breast cancer.
How climate change will impact outdoor activities in the US
Scientists modeled the number of 'outdoor days' -- with comfortable temperatures for outside activities -- that U.S. regions will experience as climate warms. States in the Southeast will lose a significant number of outdoor days, while the Northwest should see a slight increase.
A fully automated AI-based system for assessing IVF embryo quality
A new artificial intelligence-based system can accurately assess the chromosomal status of in vitro-fertilized (IVF) embryos using only time-lapse video images of the embryos and maternal age, according to a new study.
Bilingualism may maintain protection against Alzheimer's
In a study, researchers use neuroimaging methods to examine brain resilience in regions of the brain linked to language and aging. They found that the hippocampus in bilinguals with Alzheimer's disease was noticeably larger than those who were monolingual when matched for age, education, cognitive function and memory, which suggests that there may be some form of brain maintenance related to bilingualism.
'Visual clutter' alters information flow in the brain
Whether we're staring at our phones, the page of a book, or the person across the table, the objects of our focus never stand in isolation; there are always other objects or people in our field of vision. How that visual 'clutter' affects visual processing in the brain, however, is not well understood. In a study, researchers show that this clutter alters how information flows in the brain, as does the precise location of that clutter within the wider field of vision. The findings help clarify the neural basis of perception and offer a deeper understanding of the visual cortex in the brain.
Expanding access to weight-loss drugs could save thousands of lives a year
Expanding access to new, highly effective weight-loss medications could prevent more than 40,000 deaths a year in the United States, according to a study. The findings highlight the critical need to remove existing barriers that are hindering people's access to effective weight loss treatments and impeding public health efforts to address the national obesity crisis, the researchers said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 74% of Americans are considered overweight, with about 43% of those individuals considered obese.
Starving cancer cells of fat may improve cancer treatment
Cutting off cancer cells' access to fat may help a specific type of cancer treatment work more effectively, reports a new study. The findings lay the groundwork for developing tailored dietary strategies to help anti-cancer medications better kill malignant cells.
Structural biology analysis of a Pseudomonas bacterial virus reveals a genome ejection motor
Researchers describe the full molecular structure of the phage DEV. DEV infects and lyses Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, an opportunistic pathogen in cystic fibrosis and other diseases. DEV is part of an experimental phage cocktail developed to eradicate P. aeruginosa infection in pre-clinical studies. Bacterial viruses, known as phages, are the most abundant biological entities on the planet and are increasingly used as biomedicines to eradicate antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.
New study finds partner's happiness linked to lower stress hormone levels in older couples
Having happy intimate partners might not only lift our moods, but it also helps us manage stress, especially as we age, according to new research. When comparing individuals' self-reported emotional states and relationship satisfaction with their levels of cortisol, researchers observed that older couples have lower levels of the stress hormone when their partners feel positive emotions. This effect was even stronger for people who reported higher satisfaction in their relationships.
Clinical trial for treating spinal cord injury using olfactory cell nerve bridges
Realizing a Phase I human clinical trial commencing to test the efficacy and safety of the transplantation of olfactory cell nerve bridges to treat chronic spinal cord injury.
Breakthrough toward solving electronics overheating problem
Researchers have successfully enhanced spin wave transfer efficiency for heatless information transmission.
How our gut cells detect harmful invaders
Researchers have discovered that GPR31, found in certain immune cells in the human gut, plays a key role in responding to bacterial metabolites and activating immune responses. Specifically, in the presence of metabolite pyruvate, these cells extend dendrites to sample the gut environment, detect pathogens, and activate T cells through GPR31. This discovery could inform the development of new drugs, vaccines, and probiotics that enhance gut immunity by targeting this pathway.
Soft microelectronics technologies enabling wearable AI for digital health
Developing edge-computing and AI capabilities from wearable sensors enhances their intelligence, critical for the AI of Things, and reduces power consumption by minimizing data exchange between sensory terminals and computing units. This enables wearable devices to process data locally, offering real-time processing, faster feedback, and decreased reliance on network connectivity and external devices, thereby enhancing efficiency, privacy, and responsiveness in applications like health monitoring, activity tracking, and smart wearable technology.
Workplace culture and social relationships are associated with workplace bullying
Workplace bullying poses a serious threat to employees' health and well-being. A study sheds new light on the impact of social relationships on workplace bullying. Focusing on the dynamics of social relationships, the study shows how workplace culture, interaction and social relationships play a role in bullying.
Stirred, not shaken: Scientists uncover how transcription drives motion within the genome
A team of scientists has discovered surprising connections among gene activity, genome packing, and genome-wide motions, revealing aspects of the genome's organization that directly affect gene regulation and expression. The findings bolster our understanding of the mechanics behind transcription-dependent motions of single genes -- the dysfunction of which may lead to neurological and cardiovascular disorders as well as to cancer.
Engineering creates molecules that target cancer-causing proteins
A new study describes the development of a biologic, a drug derived from natural biological systems, that targets a mutant cancer protein called HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) without attacking its nearly identical normal counterpart on healthy cells.
Wearable cameras allow AI to detect medication errors
A team of researchers says it has developed the first wearable camera system that, with the help of artificial intelligence, detects potential errors in medication delivery. In a test, the video system recognized and identified, with high proficiency, which medications were being drawn in busy clinical settings. The AI achieved 99.6% sensitivity and 98.8% specificity at detecting vial-swap errors. The system could become a critical safeguard, especially in operating rooms, intensive-care units and emergency-medicine settings.
How the coronavirus defeats the innate immune response
SARS-CoV-2 has an enzyme that can counteract a cell's innate defense mechanism against viruses, explaining why it is more infectious than the previous SARS and MERS-causing viruses. The discovery may point the way to the development of more effective drugs against this and possibly similar, future diseases.
Microplastics and PFAS: Combined risk and greater environmental harm
The combined impact of so-called 'forever chemicals' is more harmful to the environment than single chemicals in isolation, a new study shows.
AI eye to eye with ophthalmologists in diagnosing corneal infections, study finds
Eye care specialists could see artificial intelligence help in diagnosing infectious keratitis (IK), a leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide, as a new study finds that deep learning models showed similar levels of accuracy in identifying infection.
Screen-free bedtimes boost toddler sleep, new research shows
A world-first randomised controlled trial (RCT) of toddler screen time shows that removing screen time in the hour before bed improves the quality of toddler sleep.
Crucial role of cerebellum in social and cognitive functioning
Scientists shed light on the often-overlooked role of the cerebellum in both motor and social-cognitive processes. His research contributes to a growing shift in the field of neuroscience, which has traditionally focused on the cerebrum. For decades, the cerebellum was primarily associated with motor coordination.
Study highlights complexity of menopausal hormone therapy's impact on brain health
A study suggests that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) might have moderate effects on brain health, but this depends on past surgical history, the duration of treatment, and a woman's age at last use.
People with type 2 diabetes who eat low-carb may be able to discontinue medication
Adults with type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet may see benefits to their beta-cell function allowing them to better manage their disease and possibly discontinue medication, according to new research.
Dangers of the metaverse and VR for US youth revealed in new research
Research of online victimization in the metaverse is sorely lacking. A new study explored harm in the metaverse and VR devices among a sample of 5,005 U.S. teens aged 13 to 17. Findings show a significant percentage of youth reported harm in these spaces, including hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, grooming behaviors (predators building trust with minors), and unwanted exposure to violent or sexual content. The study also revealed notable gender differences in experiences, emphasizing the need for protective strategies in virtual environments.
MRI can save rectal cancer patients from surgery, study suggests
MRI can predict the risk of rectal cancer reccurring or spreading for patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation, new research indicates.
Showing AI users diversity in training data boosts perceived fairness and trust
While artificial intelligence (AI) systems, such as home assistants, search engines or large language models like ChatGPT, may seem nearly omniscient, their outputs are only as good as the data on which they are trained. However, ease of use often leads users to adopt AI systems without understanding what training data was used or who prepared the data, including potential biases in the data or held by trainers. A new study suggests that making this information available could shape appropriate expectations of AI systems and further help users make more informed decisions about whether and how to use these systems.
Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%
New research investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.
The transformative power of movies
Docudrama can lead people to be more empathetic toward people who are stigmatized in society, a new study finds.
Evolution in action: How ethnic Tibetan women thrive in thin oxygen at high altitudes
New study reveals link between oxygen delivery and reproductive success among women living on the high Tibetan Plateau.
Re-engineered, blue light-activated immune cells penetrate and kill solid tumors
A team has re-engineered immune cells with a light-activated switch that modulates protein function and cellular behavior. When exposed to blue light, the cells change shape, infiltrating solid tumors grown in the lab and killing them.
Unexpected beauty, major antimicrobial power boost as phages form into surprising flower shapes
Researchers who work with bacteriophages -- viruses that eat bacteria -- had a pleasant and potentially very important surprise after treating samples to view under an electron microscope: they had joined together into three-dimensional shapes that look like sunflowers, but only two-tenths of a millimetre across, taking a form that makes them 100 times more efficient.
People with opioid use disorder in British Columbia who received methadone had a 37- to 40-percent lower rate of treatment discontinuation compared with those who received buprenorphine/naloxone. The new research evaluated the risk of treatment discontinuation and mortality in people prescribed opioid agonist treatment (OAT) over a 10-year period.
New guideline: Preventing a first stroke may be possible with screening, lifestyle changes
Updated clinical recommendations, including lifestyle changes, prevention strategies and treatment options, to reduce the risk of a first stroke have been outlined in a new guideline.
Study finds tuberculosis changes liver metabolism and could promote diabetes
Scientists have discovered that tuberculosis disrupts glucose metabolism in the body.
Ancient viral DNA in the human genome linked to multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
New research has revealed a connection between ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome and the genetic risk for two major diseases that affect the central nervous system.