ScienceDaily: Health - September 05, 2024
Top health research news
Researchers identify mechanism underlying allergic itching, and show it can be blocked
Researchers identified a mechanism for why some people will itch from an allergen or mosquito bite exposure, while others will not in a new study, and showed this pathway can be targeted to prevent allergic responses in preclinical models.
Image: Gulf MG/Shutterstock.com
Prescribing nature can improve happiness and reduce anxiety
Green Social Prescribing is the practice of supporting people with mental health needs to engage in nature-based activities. Referrals will typically come from GPs, community mental health teams, or social workers, but people can also self-refer. Social Prescribing Link Workers, and other trusted professionals, then connect people to community groups and agencies for practical and emotional support. There are many different types of nature-based activities and therapies, including conservation, horticulture and gardening, care farming, exercise and sports, or talking therapies in the outdoors.
Kidney disease in cats: High-quality feline iPSCs generated without genetic footprint
High-quality feline induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have now been generated. The feline iPSCs are also footprint- and feeder-free. Further research using these stem cells is expected to elucidate the pathogenesis of cats' chronic kidney disease and develop therapeutic agents.
Flexible tentacle electrodes precisely record brain activity
Researchers have developed ultra-flexible brain probes that accurately record brain activity without causing tissue damage. This opens up new avenues for the treatment of a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
A new drug target for psychiatric disorders
Scientists have identified a molecular intermediate of a serotonin receptor that is involved in diseases such as depression and schizophrenia. The study points to a potentially new target for therapeutics.
'Forever chemicals' influence the development and function of the brain
Some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are poorly degradable and are also known as 'forever chemicals'. They adversely affect health and can lead to liver damage, obesity, hormonal disorders, and cancer. A research team has investigated the effects of PFAS on the brain. Using a combination of modern molecular biology methods and the zebrafish model, the researchers revealed the mechanism of action and identified the genes involved.
Scientists use magnetic nanotech to safely rewarm frozen tissues for transplant
Every day, people die waiting for an organ transplant. Time is at a premium, not just for those awaiting organs, but also for the organs themselves, which can deteriorate rapidly during transportation. Looking to extend the viability of human tissues, researchers report on their efforts to facilitate completely freezing, rather than cooling and then thawing, potentially life-saving organs. They demonstrate a magnetic nanoparticle's successful rewarming of animal tissues.
Banning friendships can backfire: Moms who 'meddle' make bad behavior worse
Bad behavior often occurs away from home, leading parents to blame and limit contact with peers. However, a new study shows that banning friendships can backfire, worsening behavior instead of improving it. When moms disapprove of their kids' friends in an effort to curb misbehavior, it often alienates the child from their peers, exacerbating the very issues they aimed to prevent. Meddling in friendships can harm a child's social standing and lead to greater adjustment difficulties.
Newly discovered gene may influence longevity
It turns out that a particular gene has a great influence on longevity, a new study concludes. This may pave the way for new treatment.
Researchers reveal key LAG3 mechanisms that could transform cancer immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system attack cancer cells more effectively. One of the key proteins involved in this process is Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG3), which suppresses the antitumor immune response. Researchers have made an important discovery about LAG3, revealing how it interacts with other proteins to control immune activity. Their study could lead to better cancer treatments by enhancing the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
The most frequently used mpox vaccine provides partial immunity to the disease but isn't always able to prevent severe symptoms or disease transmission. A new vaccine candidate from Moderna, mRNA-1769, more effectively limits symptoms and disease duration in primates that were infected with a lethal strain of the mpox virus when compared to a currently licensed modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine.
A new artificial intelligence tool for cancer
The new approach marks a major step forward in the design of AI tools to support clinical decisions in cancer diagnosis, therapy. The model uses features of a tumor's microenvironment to forecast how a patient might respond to therapy and to help inform individualized treatments. The model can expedite the identification of patients not likely to benefit from standard treatments used in some forms of cancer.
High cholesterol levels at a young age significant risk factor for atherosclerosis
Our risk of developing atherosclerosis -- 'furring' of the arteries -- can begin much earlier in life than was previously thought, highlighting the need to keep cholesterol levels low even when we are young, new research has discovered.
Novel immunotherapy improves recovery from spinal cord injury
Researchers have designed, in mice, an approach to minimizing the damage from a spinal cord injury through the use of engineered immune cells. Mice given the treatment had improved recovery from injuries, demonstrating potential for developing the therapy for people.
Epigenetic changes reprogram astrocytes into brain stem cells
Resting brain stem cells hardly differ from normal astrocytes, which support the nerve cells in the brain. How can almost identical cells perform such different functions? The key lies in the methylation of their genetic material, which endowes these special astrocytes with stem cell properties. In mice, the researchers showed that experimentally induced lack of blood supply in the brain epigenetically reprograms astrocytes into brain stem cells, which in turn can give rise to nerve progenitor cells. This discovery shows that astrocytes could potentially be used in regenerative medicine to replace damaged nerve cells.
A sensory pen which can read Braille could improve literacy amongst the visually impaired
A pen which can transform Braille into English text has been developed.
Adolescent glioma subtype responds to CDK4/6 inhibitor
Researchers took a deep look at tumor samples from patients with diffuse hemispheric glioma and discovered an unexpected vulnerability to CDK4/6 inhibitors.
A new study sheds light on why certain oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in the adult brain transform into gliomas, the most common and incurable type of adult brain tumors.
Can technology turn exercise pain into pleasure?
Most exercisers stop 'exer-gaming' when the program gets too tough or dull -- could sensors that tune into a person's emotional state reverse low adherence?
Can't stop belching? Dietary habits or disease could be the reason
A research team conducted a web survey of 10,000 adults to examine the relationship between the rate of belching disorders, comorbidities, and lifestyles in Japan. The results showed that 1.5% had belching disorders. The team also found some factors significantly related to the development of belching disorders.
Hundreds of new cancer driver genes predicted by algorithm
Researchers have identified 813 possible cancer driver genes, significantly expanding the list of potential therapeutic targets for treating the disease. The genes help cancer cells grow through a non-mutational mechanism known as splicing. According to the study the number of genes affected by alterations in splicing could be as common as those affected by mutation-driven mechanisms when it comes to the development of the disease.
Insulin cells don't need to team up
Our glycaemic balance is based on the ability of the pancreatic beta cells to detect glucose and secrete insulin to maintain our blood sugar levels. If these cells malfunction, the balance is broken, and diabetes develops. Until now, the scientific community agreed that beta cells needed the other hormone-producing cells of the pancreas to function properly. A team has now demonstrated the opposite: in adult mice whose pancreas contains only beta cells, glycaemia regulation and insulin sensitivity are even better than in standard animals.
Finger wrap uses sweat to provide health monitoring at your fingertips--literally
A sweat-powered wearable has the potential to make continuous, personalized health monitoring as effortless as wearing a Band-Aid. Engineers have developed an electronic finger wrap that monitors vital chemical levels -- such as glucose, vitamins, and even drugs -- present in the same fingertip sweat from which it derives its energy.
Children's behavioral problems are linked to higher hair cortisol levels
In a study involving 11-year-olds, researchers have concluded that greater behavioral problems are linked to higher hair cortisol levels. The study also concluded that exposure to certain factors that can simultaneously cause chronic stress may determine the concentration of cortisol in the hair.
Targeted cancer therapies: Getting radioactive atoms to accumulate in tumors
Compounds containing astatine-211 (211At) can be used in targeted radiotherapies for prostate cancer, but deastatination in the body remains a significant hurdle. Now, researchers have developed a new molecule with a neopentyl glycol structure that effectively prevents deastatination. The proposed structure can be leveraged to accumulate harmful 211At only in tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissues, paving the way to effective prostate cancer treatment.
Communication helps parent relationships with new college students but has limits
When young adults first go off to college, more communication with parents generally leads to better relationships, but parents should avoid always initiating it, according to a new study. Researchers found that phone, text, video or in-person communication made first-year students feel better about the relationship with their parents. Students also felt better about the relationship when parents offered support or advice, and when they discussed important topics, such as studying and friendships. However, researchers found negative associations when parents initiated nearly all of the communication.
How zebrafish map their environment
Researchers are turning to zebrafish to unlock the secrets of place cells, which play a crucial role in forming mental maps of space, social networks, and abstract relationships. Until now, place cells have only been found in mammals and birds, leaving the question of how other species internally represent the external world largely unanswered.
How gene regulation changes over a lifetime
Scientists have discovered that coordination between basic cellular processes is lost with increasing age.
Dangerous airborne fungus boosted by California droughts
Researchers have identified the seasonal and climate-based cycles of Valley fever, an emerging but dangerous fungal disease spread through dust in the air.
Rising temperatures in Africa may increase perinatal deaths
Heatwaves in sub-Saharan Africa are predicted to become more common due to climate change. A new study reveals a worrying correlation between high temperatures in the final week of pregnancy and an increased risk of stillbirth and early neonatal mortality.
How cheerful is that water bottle?
New research shows consumers use 'happier' words to search for products when they are in a good mood. Researchers have connected those positive search terms with an increased likelihood of clicking on search engine ads.
Ketamine clinics vary widely in pregnancy-related safeguards
With ketamine for depression & PTSD growing rapidly in use, but with concerns about potential impact on a fetus, a study shows wide variation in pregnancy testing & contraception guidance at clinics offering IV and nasal spray treatment.
Heart failure during pregnancy is a dangerous and often under-detected condition because common symptoms -- shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and trouble breathing while lying down -- are easily mistaken for typical pregnancy discomforts. A new study showed an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital stethoscope helped doctors identify twice as many cases of heart failure compared to a control group that received usual obstetric care and screening.
New approach can help detect and predict mental health symptoms in teens
The majority of mental health disorders manifest during adolescence and relate to a multiplex interplay of neurobiological and environmental factors. Instead of considering these factors in isolation, a newly developed manifold learning technique can model brain-environmental interactions, which vastly improves detection of existing mental health symptoms and prediction of future ones compared to current methods. The study underscores the importance of considering the adolescent brain in conjunction with the environment in which it develops.
Researchers have discovered that inflammation in the gut leaves long-term marks on intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that reduce their ability to heal the intestine, even after inflammation has receded. This is important because it affects ISCs' response to future challenges.
Scientists identify potential new immune system target to head off the spread of breast cancer cells
In a study using human breast cancer cells, scientists say they have potentially identified immune system white blood cells that appear to be the closest neighbors of breast cancer cells that are likely to spread. The researchers say the finding, focused on a white blood cell called a macrophage, may provide a new biological target for immunotherapies designed to destroy spreading cancer cells that are often markers for worsening disease.
Unveiling the molecular mechanisms linking aging with neurodegenerative diseases
Aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, but the molecular mechanisms behind this relationship are not clear. In a recent study, researchers explored the role of PQBP3, a protein that helps stabilize the nuclear membrane, in cellular senescence and neurodegeneration. Their findings suggest that PQBP3 might be a promising therapeutic target for managing neurodegenerative diseases and the neuronal symptoms of aging.
Keep devices out of bed for better sleep
Despite what we've been led to believe, the timing of evening screen use, rather than the activity itself, negatively impacts youth sleep, a new study has found.
From cavities to sleep apnea: Dentists can assume new role in saving lives
New research reveals how dental check-ups could be the first line of defense against deadly sleep disorders.
Researchers develop tool that measures health of a person's gut microbiome
A team of researchers has developed an innovative computational tool that analyzes the gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms within the digestive system, to provide insights into overall well-being.
Artificial intelligence likely to play an increasing role in scientific publications
In the coming years, AI is poised to transform the writing of scientific manuscripts, assist in reviewing them, and help editors select the most impactful papers.
Researchers give adult zebra finches back their ability to learn new songs
We all know the adage, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks.' As we age, our ability to learn new skills, like mastering a foreign language or picking up a musical instrument, seems to fade. The culprit? A decline in brain plasticity - the brain's capacity to rewire itself and adapt to new challenges. But what if we could rewind the clock on this age-related decline? A new study offers a tantalizing glimpse into this possibility.
Open wide: Human mouth bacteria reproduce through rare form of cell division
New research has uncovered an extraordinary mechanism of cell division in Corynebacterium matruchotii, one of the most common bacteria living in dental plaque. The filamentous bacterium doesn't just divide, it splits into multiple cells at once, a rare process called multiple fission.
False-positive mammograms discourage some women from future screenings
A false-positive mammogram may deter women from future screenings, according to a new study. But staying on schedule remains key to early detection of cancer.
Young adults let down by 'postcode lottery' for ADHD treatment in UK
A UK survey has found huge variation in treatment for ADHD, highlighting the struggle many young adults face once they turn 18. Researchers have warned that the current system is failing many young adults as they transition from children's to adult's services -- suddenly finding themselves unable to access treatment because services do not link up effectively.
Global South cities lack cooling green spaces
Cities in the Global South are more exposed to extreme heat because they lack cooling green spaces, new research shows.
Blood stem cell breakthrough could transform bone marrow transplants
Researchers have made a world first breakthrough into creating blood stem cells that closely resemble those in the human body. And the discovery could soon lead to personalized treatments for children with leukemia and bone marrow failure disorders.
Clinical trial finds finerenone reduces worsening heart failure and cardiovascular death
Finerenone reduced the composite of total first and recurrent heart failure (HF) events (hospitalizations for HF or urgent HF visits) and cardiovascular death in patients with HF and mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, according to an international clinical trial.
Wearable heart monitor increases diagnosis of irregular heart rhythm
Wearable, long-term continuous heart monitors helped identify 52% more cases of atrial fibrillation compared to usual care, but that did not lead to a reduction in hospitalizations due to stroke, according to a new study.
COVID-19 vaccination mandates boosted uptake among health care workers, study finds
A new study has found that state-level COVID-19 vaccination mandates successfully increased vaccine rates among health care workers, a finding that, while perhaps unsurprising, provides evidence of room to improve vaccination rates even among a highly vaccinated, highly educated population.
Is long-term beta-blocker therapy needed after a heart attack?
The appropriate duration of beta-blocker treatment after a heart attack (a myocardial infarction [MI]) is unknown in patients who do not need to take beta-blockers for another reason. In the ABYSS trial, the cardiovascular safety of interrupting beta-blocker could not be shown in comparison with beta-blocker continuation and beta-blocker interruption did not improve quality of life. ABYSS suggests that long-term beta-blocker therapy is recommended after an MI, even in the absence of heart failure, arrhythmia or uncontrolled hypertension.
How hope beats mindfulness when times are tough
A recent study finds that hope appears to be more beneficial than mindfulness at helping people manage stress and stay professionally engaged during periods of prolonged stress at work. The study underscores the importance of looking ahead, rather than living 'in the moment,' during hard times.
New findings on TB could change how we treat inflammatory disorders
The study explains why treatments for many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases raise the risk of contracting TB -- and also upends long-held assumptions about what kicks off an immune response.
Study combines data, molecular simulations to accelerate drug discovery
Researchers have found a new method to increase both speed and success rates in drug discovery. The study offers renewed promise when it comes to discovering new drugs.
Morphing facial technology sheds light on the boundaries of self-recognition
Facial recognition is a critical part of self-image and social interactions. In an era of advanced digital technology, we face intriguing questions about communication and identity. How does altering our facial identity affect our sense of 'self' and our interactions with others?
Novel chemical tool aims to streamline drug-making process
The invention of a tool capable of unlocking previously impossible organic chemical reactions has opened new pathways in the pharmaceutical industry to create effective drugs more quickly.
Billions worldwide consume inadequate levels of micronutrients critical to human health
More than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of several micronutrients essential to health, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study. It is the first study to provide global estimates of inadequate consumption of 15 micronutrients critical to human health.
Regional variations in concussion diagnoses
Researchers found significant geographic variations in concussion diagnoses in United States emergency departments -- with the highest rates in the South and lower rates in the Midwest and Northeast.
TB under the sea: A marine sponge microbe provides insights into the evolution of tuberculosis
The surprising discovery of a bacterium in a marine sponge from the Great Barrier Reef with striking similarity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis (TB), could unlock and inform future TB research and treatment strategies.
Researchers attempted to emulate a clinical trial using data from real patients
Researchers used real-world clinical data to attempt to emulate a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of two blood thinners, apixaban and warfarin, to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The study provides a method to explore the effects of treatments in patients who are underrepresented or excluded from clinical trials.