ScienceDaily: Health - September 28, 2023
Top health research news
Decreasing biodiversity may promote spread of viruses
How are environmental changes, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of pathogens connected? The answer is a puzzle. Researchers have now described one piece of that puzzle, showing that the destruction of tropical rainforests harms the diversity of mosquito species. At the same time, more resilient species of mosquitoes become more prevalent -- which also means the viruses they carry are more abundant. If there are many individuals of a given species, those viruses can spread quickly.
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One-hour training is all you need to control a third robotic arm, study finds
A new study has found that people can learn to use supernumerary robotic arms as effectively as working with a partner in just one hour of training.
Increasing steps by 3,000 per day can lower blood pressure in older adults, study finds
An estimated 80 percent of older adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. Maintaining healthy blood pressure can protect against serious conditions like heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes. A new study found that adding a relatively minimal amount of movement, about 3,000 steps per day, can significantly reduce high blood pressure in older adults.
New method can improve assessing genetic risks for non-white populations
A team led by researchers has developed a new algorithm for genetic risk-scoring for major diseases across diverse ancestry populations that holds promise for reducing health care disparities.
Wearable devices show who may need more help managing diabetes
A new study suggests that how well people with diabetes manage their blood sugar depends on their experience with the condition and their overall success in controlling their glucose levels, as well as on the season and time of day. The findings could help physicians identify those patients who could benefit from more guidance in regulating their blood sugar, particularly at certain times of year.
How a small strand of RNA is key to fighting cancer
A team of researchers has shown that a single, small strand of microRNA, or miRNA, known as let-7, governs the ability of T-cells to recognize and remember tumor cells. This cellular memory is the basis for how vaccines work. Boosting cellular memory to recognize tumors could help improve cancer therapies. The research suggests a new strategy for the next generation of cancer-fighting immunotherapies.
Researchers develop new way to target cancer cells
Researchers have identified a new method of activating specific molecules to target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Using click-release proteolysis targeting chimeras, researchers have developed a new method of activating specific molecules to target only cancer cells.
Researchers tackle immune rejection of biomedical implants
To learn more about what causes the body to reject biomedical implants, a team has identified a protein that appears to help drive this response and hopes their discoveries will improve the design and safety of biomedical implants.
Could this new hydrogel make HIV therapy more convenient?
The gel releases a steady dose of the anti-HIV drug lamivudine over six weeks, suggesting people living with HIV could have new therapy that doesn't require a daily pill regimen to prevent AIDS.
Family planning and the fear of missing out
Among regretful parents, fear of missing out is a key motivator for having children.
New research shows that the immune cells, known as 'killer T cells,' in older adults resemble those in newborns and children, but have difficulty identifying infected cells. This discovery opens the door to tailored, age-specific vaccines and therapies.
Marker for brain inflammation finally decoded
Inflammation is the sign that our body is defending itself against an aggression. But when this response escalates, for example in the brain, it can lead to serious neurological or psychiatric diseases. A team investigated a marker protein targeted by medical imaging to visualize cerebral inflammation, but whose interpretation was still uncertain. The team reveals that a large quantity of this protein goes hand in hand with a large quantity of inflammatory cells, but its presence is not a sign of their overactivation. These results pave the way for optimal observation of neuroinflammatory processes and a re-reading of previous studies on the subject.
Genetic code of rare kidney cancer cracked
New study reveals drivers of rare cancer and provides a possible alternative solution to surgery.
Brain signals for good memory performance revealed
People differ significantly in their memory performance. Researchers have now discovered that certain brain signals are related to these differences.
Drug discovery on an unprecedented scale
Boosting virtual screening with machine learning allowed for a 10-fold time reduction in the processing of 1.56 billion drug-like molecules. Researchers teamed up with industry and supercomputers to carry out one of the world's largest virtual drug screens.
Nanopore sequencing and DNA barcoding method gives hope of personalized medicine
With the ability to map dozens of biomarkers at once, a new method could transform testing for conditions including heart disease and cancer.
Researchers have made an important finding about Aedes aegypti mosquitoes -- one that could one day lead to better methods for reducing the mosquito-to-human transmission of dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and other harmful and sometimes deadly viruses.
Fruit flies offer clues to how brains make reward-based decisions
New research finds fruit flies make decisions based on their expectations about the likelihood of a reward and pinpoints the site in the fly brain where these value adjustments are made, enabling researchers to directly test a theory about how the brain enables this behavior on the level of neural circuits.
New research adds evidence to the benefits of ginger supplements for treating autoimmune diseases
New research has revealed a potentially important role ginger supplements can play in controlling inflammation for people living with autoimmune diseases. The research focused on studying the impact of ginger supplementation on a type of white blood cell called the neutrophil. The study was especially interested in neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, also known as NETosis, and what it may mean for controlling inflammation. The study found ginger consumption by healthy individuals makes their neutrophils more resistant to NETosis. This is important because NETs are microscopic spider web-like structures that propel inflammation and clotting, which contribute to many autoimmune diseases, including lupus, antiphospholipid syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.
Jellyfish, with no central brain, shown to learn from past experience
Even without a central brain, jellyfish can learn from past experiences like humans, mice, and flies, scientists report for the first time. They trained Caribbean box jellyfish (Tripedalia cystophora) to learn to spot and dodge obstacles. The study challenges previous notions that advanced learning requires a centralized brain and sheds light on the evolutionary roots of learning and memory.
Study shows millions of people live with co-occuring chronic pain and mental health symptoms
New research found that nearly 1 in 20 adults in the U.S. experience the co-occurrence of chronic pain and anxiety or depression, resulting in functional limitations in daily life.
New target to beat cancer drug resistance
A novel drug target has been newly identified in the fight against drug resistance in cancer patients.
A dendritic cell vaccine was safe and induced immune responses in patients with multiple myeloma
A dendritic cell vaccine administered before and after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) was safe and immunogenic and was associated with durable clinical responses in patients with high-risk multiple myeloma.
Trigonelline derived from coffee improves cognitive functions in mice
Trigonelline is derived from coffee; researchers have found that it improves spatial learning and memory in senescence-accelerated mice. The study also suggested that this effect results from inhibiting neuroinflammation and restoring neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
A promising drug candidate for ALS -- prolongs lifespan and eases symptoms in rats and mice
A research group has found a promising drug candidate for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor CDNF prolongs the lifespan of and alleviates disease symptoms in rats and mice in animal studies.
Same genes behind heart muscle disorders in humans and Dobermanns
Researchers have made a significant finding in determining the genetic background of dilated cardiomyopathy in Dobermanns. This research helps us understand the genetic risk factors related to fatal diseases of the heart muscle and the mechanisms underlying the disease, and offers new tools for their prevention.
Researchers connect Alzheimer's-associated genetic variants with brain cell function
Research reveals new non-coding genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's disease functioning in microglia -- brain cells already implicated in the progression of this often-fatal neurodegenerative condition.
A network that spreads light and the role of thalamus in our brain
New research using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI, provides a better understanding of how light stimulates our brain and could provide new insights into how it works.
Why are you better at recognizing upright faces? Clues from a person who sees the world differently
When you see a familiar face upright, you'll recognize it right away. But if you saw that same face upside down, it's much harder to place. Now researchers who've studied Claudio, a 42-year-old man whose head is rotated back almost 180 degrees such that it sits between his shoulder blades, suggest that the reason people are so good at processing upright faces has arisen through a combination of evolution and experience.
AI helps bring clarity to LASIK patients facing cataract surgery
Scientists develop computer models of patients' eyes to identify the ideal intraocular lenses and visual simulators for patients to experience how they will see with them.
Improvements in human genome databases offer a promising future for cancer research
Researchers expand the use of ribosome profiling, also known as Ribo-seq, to understand protein production in cells
New strategies reduce treatment failure in malaria by up to 81%
To slow artemisinin resistance and reduce treatment failures, an international research team investigated various drug policy interventions in Rwanda, where artemisinin resistance was first reported in 2020. Among other strategies, the team found that next-generation interventions such as triple ACTs (TACTs) -- which combine an artemisinin derivative with two partner drugs or which use a sequential course of one ACT formulation, followed by a different ACT formulation -- resulted in treatment failure counts that were at least 81% lower.
Mutation-specific peptide vaccine against midline gliomas used in patients
Tumor vaccines can help the body fight cancer. These vaccines alert the patient's immune system to proteins that are carrying cancer-typical alterations. Physicians and cancer researchers have now treated adult patients with advanced midline gliomas, difficult-to-treat brain tumors, with a peptide vaccine for the first time. The vaccine mimicked a mutational change in a histone protein typical of this type of cancer. The vaccine proved to be safe and induced the desired immune responses directed against the brain tumor.
Posttraumatic brain activity predicts resilience to PTSD
After a traumatic experience, most people recover without incident, but some people -- between 2% and 10% -- develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can cause debilitating symptoms of anxiety due to emotional dysregulation. PTSD symptoms are present in up to 40% of trauma survivors in the acute aftermath of trauma, but full-blown PTSD develops in only a small subset of cases. Early identification of those at risk is critical for both early treatment and possible prevention.
Combination of cancer vaccine and T cell therapy benefits patients with advanced ovarian cancer
A study has shown that combining adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) with an innovative, personalized cancer vaccine under development can benefit patients with late-stage, drug-resistant ovarian cancer.
Chicago's West Side is air pollution hotspot
The western edge of Chicago -- including the North and South Lawndale, East Garfield Park, Archer Heights and Brighton Park neighborhoods -- experiences up to 32% higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution compared to the rest of the city.
Split gene-editing tool offers greater precision
To make a gene-editing tool more precise and easier to control, engineers split it into two pieces that only come back together when a third molecule is added.
Molecular mechanism of psychological loss
Psychological loss can occur when someone loses a job, loses a sense of control or safety or when a spouse dies. Such loss, which erodes well-being and negatively impacts quality of life, may be a common experience but little is known about the molecular process in the brain that occurs because of loss. New research from the University of Cincinnati explores those mechanisms through a process known as enrichment removal (ER). The study highlights an area of the brain that plays a key role in psychological loss and identifies new molecular targets that may alleviate its impact.
Compound derived from hops reduces abundance of gut microbe associated with metabolic syndrome
Researchers have shown in a mouse model and lab cultures that a compound derived from hops reduces the abundance of a gut bacterium associated with metabolic syndrome.
Moms' ability to 'remember' prior pregnancies suggests new strategies for preventing complications
New insights into how a mother's immune system 'remembers' prior pregnancies may eventually lead to improved therapies to reduce the risks of preterm birth, preeclampsia, and stillbirth.
Rewiring tumor mitochondria enhances the immune system's ability to recognize and fight cancer
Scientists found that manipulating how cell's produce energy can reduce melanoma tumor growth and enhance immune response in mice. Their findings may be leveraged to create new cancer therapeutics that do not harm mitochondria and cells.
Scientists regenerate neurons that restore walking in mice after paralysis from spinal cord injury
In a new study in mice, researchers have uncovered a crucial component for restoring functional activity after spinal cord injury. The neuroscientists have shown that re-growing specific neurons back to their natural target regions led to recovery, while random regrowth was not effective.
Curiosity about religion is viewed as morally virtuous, new research finds
People from diverse religious backgrounds in the United States view curiosity about religion as morally virtuous, according to new research. Atheists also view this curiosity as moral, although less moral than a lack of religious curiosity.
Lower risk of haematological cancer after bariatric surgery
Obesity surgery is associated with a 40% lower risk of haematological cancer. This has been shown in a study at the University of Gothenburg. This clear link is expected to influence future research in the field.
New research shows that morning and afternoon physical activity are associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes across all population levels of education and income, but found no statistically significant association between evening physical activity and risk type 2 diabetes.
Scientists find new evidence to explain how we pay attention
A team of researchers has uncovered new clues about how chemicals released by brain cells regulate our attention span.
Ritual use of human remains dating from the Neolithic
An international study has documented post-mortem bone modifications not linked to consumption.
Towards a better understanding of early human embryonic development
Despite being an essential developmental process, the understanding of human embryonic genome activation is limited, owing to the lack of in vitro cell models and ethical concerns. To advance understanding, five independent research groups have recently developed human 8-cell-like cells (8CLCs) from pluripotent stem cells using different approaches. In a new study, researchers now compare the transcriptomic profiles of these 8CLCs and human pre-implantation embryos to facilitate the use of 8CLCs as cell models.
Scientists successfully maneuver robot through living lung tissue
Scientists have shown that their steerable lung robot can autonomously maneuver the intricacies of the lung, while avoiding important lung structures.
Small cell lung cancer: New approach to overcoming chemo-resistance
Small cell lung cancer accounts for about 15 percent of all diagnosed lung cancers and is still associated with a high mortality rate. SCLC tumours often develop resistance to chemotherapy and thus poor prognosis is due to tumour recurrence which occurs within only five to 14 months after initial diagnosis. As a recent research study shows resistant cell lines can be successfully fought with a combination of two already available therapeutic agents.
College athletes experience worse post-injury outcomes for concussions suffered outside of sports
Researchers found that college athletes had worse post-injury outcomes related to concussions they experienced outside of sports than those they experienced while playing sports. Additionally, female athletes who sustained their injury outside of sports had more severe symptoms and more days in sports lost to injury relative to male athletes. These findings suggest the need for improved concussion recognition, reporting, and monitoring outside of sports.
Disrupting a core metabolic process in T cells may improve their therapeutic efficacy
In exploring an aspect of how killer T cells generate the raw materials required for their proliferation, a study has uncovered an unexpected link between the immune cells' metabolism, regulation of gene expression, persistence and functional efficacy that could be exploited using existing drugs to improve cancer immunotherapy.
Exercise and muscle regulation: Implications for diabetes and obesity
How do our muscles respond at the molecular level to exercise? Researchers have unraveled the cellular basis and signaling pathways responsible for the positive impact of physical activity on our overall health. Regulatory T cells, a type of immune cell, play a critical role in ensuring proper muscle function. These novel insights are paving the path towards precision medicines targeting metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes, as well as muscle-related illnesses.
Structure of crucial receptor in brain development, function
Scientists have revealed the molecular structure of a type of receptor that's crucial to brain development and function. 'This study shows the dominant assemblies and states of the GABA receptor. That's really the huge breakthrough -- nobody had been able to figure out which of the hundreds of thousands of these assemblies are most highly populated,' said the senior author.
