Here’s a look at other notable health studies, innovations and research from around the world. Links will take you to press releases or journal entries.
MSU research could lead to new Alzheimer’s treatments
Working with tiny bacteria, Michigan State University researchers led by Lee Kroos have made a discovery that could have big implications for biology.
Moderate exercise improves immune response in breast cancer survivors
A new study in breast cancer survivors has found that chemotherapy, while a critical part of breast cancer therapy, may also have some lasting dampening effects on natural immunity, but moderate fitness improvements can offer some protection against this effect.
A smarter way to develop new drugs
A new artificial intelligence technique only proposes candidate molecules that can actually be produced in a lab.
New modelling shows ‘shielding’ instead of lockdowns would have led to tens of thousands more deaths
Shielding those vulnerable to COVID-19, while allowing the virus to spread, largely unmitigated, through the rest of the population, would have failed according to a new modelling paper published today in PLOS Global Public Health by University of Bath scientists.
Parental type 1 diabetes can affect children’s cognitive development
The research shows for the first time that having a parent with a chronic disease like type 1 diabetes may be associated with lower school performance rather than maternal high blood sugar during fetal development.
Living near fast food restaurants in South Asia may increase risk of Type 2 diabetes
Globally, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing. A study publishing April 26th in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Marisa Miraldo at Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom, and colleagues suggests that living near fast food restaurants increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Poor diet associated with increased diabetes risk across all gradients of genetic risk
Genetic risk factors and diet quality are independently associated with type 2 diabetes; a healthy diet is linked to lower diabetes risk across all levels of genetic risk.
Shrinking gap in surgical safety outcomes benefits older black patients in South Carolina
Preparing for surgery can be a scary, momentous occasion in any person’s life, but a greater chance of danger because of skin color should not be part of the equation.
ERC Advanced Grant for cardiac research at the MDC
The contractile and elastic properties of the heart are finely tuned. This is a prerequisite for the cardiac cycle and efficient adaptation.
New research finds developing personalized disease screenings for patients with chronic diseases saves lives and money
New research in the INFORMS journal Management Science finds that if personalized disease screening recommendations are made for these patients, it will save lives and money for the healthcare system.
UC researchers looking for the Goldilocks of exosuits
A new device, however, the exosuit, shows promise in assisting with back and shoulder injury prevention.
Molecular tests for TB: A Cochrane review
A potential game-changer in the tuberculosis epidemic was how the tuberculosis community viewed rapid molecular tests for tuberculosis and tuberculosis drug resistance.
Physical activity – double edged sword in long COVID recovery
Patients experiencing long COVID in the UK are receiving “inconsistent advice” on how to resume physical activities, according to a major study.
Crossing barriers: How the rabbit virus myxoma leapt into a new species
In new research appearing in the journal mBio, Masmudur Rahman and his Arizona State University colleagues join international researchers to investigate one such spillover event, when the myxoma virus (MYXV) made a species leap from European rabbits to Iberian hares.
A blood test allows to differentiate severe COVID-19 from preeclampsia in pregnant women
Pregnancy brings deep changes in women’s physiology, especially regarding her blood system.
New invisibility cloak for therapeutics: Holger Frey receives ERC Advanced Grant to support his innovative research
Since the first PEGylated drug was developed in the 1980s, the so-called PEGylation has become a standard procedure in the pharmaceutical sciences.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine receives $4.2 million NIH grant to discover novel markers of early Alzheimer’s disease
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring evaluations ranging from brain scans to cognitive and lab tests to reviews of medical history and symptoms.
Cellular regeneration therapy restores damaged liver tissue faster than ever
Now, Salk scientists have found a way to partially reset liver cells to more youthful states—allowing them to heal damaged tissue at a faster rate than previously observed.
Incidence of Guillain-Barré Syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination
In this cohort study of surveillance data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink that included 15.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, the unadjusted incidence rate of confirmed GBS in the 1 to 21 days after receiving the Ad.26.COV2.S (Janssen) vaccine was 32.4 per 100 000 person-years, which was significantly higher than the background rate of GBS.
Analysis of race, sex bias in reference standard measure of autism spectrum disorder
In this cross-sectional study of 6269 children evaluated at an ASD specialty clinic in the US, 11% of ADOS-2 diagnostic items demonstrated bias for Black/African American vs White children and for female vs male children.
Association of Race With Receipt of Proton Beam Therapy for Patients With Cancer
In this cross-sectional study, Black patients were less likely to be treated with PBT than White patients, especially for cancers for which PBT is recommended over photon-based radiation therapy.
Tobacco smoking rates are decreasing in people with major depression and substance use disorder
Significant reductions in cigarette use were found among U.S. adults with major depression, substance use disorder, or both from 2006 to 2019, according to a new analysis of nationally representative survey data published today in JAMA.
Cigarette smoking among adults with major depression, substance use disorders
In this serial cross-sectional study that included 558 960 adult participants, there was a statistically significant decline in the prevalence of self-reported cigarette smoking from 2006 to 2019 among those with MDE (37.3% to 24.2%), SUD (46.5% to 35.8%), or both (50.7% to 37.0%)
USPSTF updates recommendation on aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease
To update its 2016 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review on the effectiveness of aspirin to reduce the risk of CVD events (myocardial infarction and stroke), cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality in persons without a history of CVD.
COVID-19 lockdown measures affect air pollution from cities differently
Air pollution causes widespread environmental and health problems and severely hinders the quality of life of urban residents.
We don’t know how gender-affirming hormone treatments interact with commonly prescribed drugs
Transgender people represent a growing population who may choose to undergo long-term hormone therapy for medical care that includes testosterone or estradiol treatment.
De-aging the virtual brain: HBP researchers use computational models to identify key brain targets for stimulation and counter brain aging
Human Brain Project researchers have used whole-brain virtual models to simulate what happens when neurostimulation is applied to aging human brains.
Aston Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment officially launches new £2.8m MRI scanner
A new £2.8 million MRI scanner has been unveiled at Aston University. The showcase took place in Aston Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment on Monday 25 April.
AI may detect earliest signs of pancreatic cancer
An artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by Cedars-Sinai investigators accurately predicted who would develop pancreatic cancer based on what their CT scan images looked like years prior to being diagnosed with the disease.
Gastrointestinal issues linked with anxiety, social withdrawal for kids with autism
Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to experience gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation and stomach pain, at a higher rate than their neurotypical peers.
Outcome Prediction in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Using Deep Learning from Head CT Scans
Deep learning prognostic models using both admission CT scans and clinical information can predict 6-month mortality and unfavorable outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury and outperformed the predictions of neurosurgeons.
Resurgence of avian influenza virus raises concern
With the recent outbreaks identified in Canada and the United States, H5N1 – a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) – is rapidly becoming a global concern.
Corticosteroids raise the risk of hospitalization for pain crises among individuals living with sickle cell disease
People with sickle cell disease (SCD) who were recently prescribed a corticosteroid—a medicine frequently used to treat asthma or inflammation—were found to be significantly more likely to be hospitalized for a severe pain event, according to a paper published today in the journal Blood.
Mount Sinai researchers discover how early-stage breast cancer can become a silent killer in some patients
Mount Sinai researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism in which not-yet-malignant cells from early breast cancer tumors travel to other organs and, eventually, “turn on” and become metastatic breast cancer.
MRI identifies markers of atypical brain development in children born preterm
Premature infants who develop abnormalities like autism and cerebral palsy as youngsters have refined variations in mind construction that may be detected on quantitative MRI (qMRI), based on a brand new examine within the journal Radiology.
Insufficient menstrual cycle education provided in UK schools, study finds
Menstrual cycle education in UK schools is inconsistent and inadequate, and teachers feel they lack time, confidence, and subject knowledge, according to new research led by Swansea University.
Scientists identify genetic variants linked to mobility changes in aging
Age-related changes in strength and mobility may depend on genetic variations in a critical mitochondrial enzyme, suggests a study published today in eLife.
New graphite based rapid sensor chip for real-time theophylline monitoring
Scientists developed a reagent-free, disposable electrochemical sensor for rapid detection of theophylline, a commonly-used bronchodilator.
When it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s, women and men are not created equal
After increasing age, the most significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is sex – two-thirds of patients with AD are females.
Thyroid hormone replacement undertreatment linked to worse hospital outcomes
Undertreatment with thyroid hormone replacement can put patients with hypothyroidism at risk for worse hospital outcomes, including longer length of stay and higher rates of readmission, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
A new treatment reduces inflammation in multiple sclerosis mice models
A team led by the Institut de Neurociències at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB) managed to reduce chronic inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis in mice thanks to the administration of a type of lipid that mediates inflammation.
Micronutrients (vitamins + minerals) show benefit for children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation
A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reports that children with ADHD and emotional regulation randomized to take a micronutrient formula were three times more likely to show symptomatic improvement on blinded clinician ratings, compared to those in the placebo group (54% versus 18%).
Factors associated with naloxone availability and dispensing through Michigan’s pharmacy standing order
Pharmacy standing order policies allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone, thereby increasing access to naloxone.
SynGAP Research Fund (SRF) announces $128,000 grant for stem cell gene therapy translational research to Dr. Joe Anderson of the University of California, Davis
The SynGAP Research Fund (SRF) announces a grant award to Dr. Joe Anderson, Associate Director of the UC Davis Gene Therapy Center and Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis.
Study suggests early self-awareness of autism leads to better quality of life
People who learn they are autistic when they are younger may have a heightened quality of life and sense of well-being in adulthood.
ERC advanced grants: 253 tp researchers awarded over €624M
The European Research Council today announced the winners of its 2021 Advanced Grants competition.
Recognition for research on consciousness
Understanding the mechanisms for consciousness is arguably one of the most intriguing questions of modern neuroscience.
Prestigious grant for pioneering research on insomnia and anxiety
Anxiety disorders and chronic insomnia are the two most common psychiatric conditions. Can’t we improve their arduous treatment?
Scientists at TU Dresden use electronic noses to track down body odors
Human body odor is influenced by diet, inflammatory processes, and hormone balance, among other factors, and consequently changes in body odor can provide clues to disease – sometimes much earlier than through currently established diagnostic methods.
Scientists identify chemical markers that may unlock future therapeutic uses of mRNA
In recent years, messenger RNA, DNA’s close cousin in life’s complex process of going from a string of genetic blueprints to fully functioning organism, has received intense scrutiny in the scientific and medical community for the role it can play in creating next-generation vaccines, cancer treatments, and stem cell therapies addressing a myriad of previously incurable diseases.
Industrial repair ‘snake’ robot now being tested for cancer surgery
A repair robot that takes inspiration from the bendiness and sensing ability of snakes to access hard-to-reach places in harsh, industrial environments is now being exploited for use in human surgery.