StudyFinds Blotter: Other Notable Health Studies & Research From May 5, 2022 -

There are dozens of studies, innovations, and research findings released everyday by institutions and clinics across the world. Here’s a look at some of the other notable health reports from May 5.

Patient-Derived Micro-Organospheres Enable Cutting-Edge Precision Oncology
A patient’s tumor cell response to therapy is affected by many factors, including genetic alterations, tumor microenvironment, and intratumoral heterogeneity.

Recurrent UTIs linked to gut microbiome, chronic inflammation
A new study suggests that women who get recurrent UTIs may be caught in a vicious cycle in which antibiotics given to eradicate one infection predispose them to develop another.

Why Do Some People Get Sicker than Others from COVID?
COVID-19 vaccines have saved at least a million lives in the United States alone, but for many people, a lingering fear remains: if—or when—they get hit by the coronavirus, just how bad will it be?

Heart attack mortality rate higher in the US compared to other high-income countries
When it comes to treating heart attacks, U.S. hospitals may have the latest tech and low readmission rates, but the country’s mortality rate is one of the highest among the nations included in a new study.

Investigational Mucosal COVID Vaccine Protects Against Disease and Transmission
In animal studies that mimic human exposures, an investigational COVID vaccine designed to be taken orally not only protects the host, but also decreases the airborne spread of the virus to other close contacts.

Cutting Calories and Eating at the Right Time of Day Leads to Longer Life in Mice
In a study that followed hundreds of mice over their lifespans, calorie restriction combined with time-restricted eating boosted longevity.

Understanding how sunscreens damage coral
You can love something to death. That is one way of thinking about a new Stanford University study that reveals how a common component of many sunscreens worn by coral reef-exploring tourists may hasten the demise of these endangered ecosystems.

Circadian alignment of early onset caloric restriction promotes longevity in male C57BL/6J mice
Caloric restriction (CR) prolongs lifespan, yet the mechanisms by which it does so remain poorly understood. Under CR, mice self-impose chronic cycles of 2-hour-feeding and 22-hour-fasting, raising the question whether calories, fasting, or time of day are causal.

New Study Reveals How the Brain Says ‘Oops!’
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai’s Center for Neural Science and Medicine and Department of Neurosurgery have uncovered how signals from a group of neurons in the brain’s frontal lobe simultaneously give humans the flexibility to learn new tasks—and the focus to develop highly specific skills.

Sex-heterogeneous SNPs disproportionately influence gene expression and health
Phenotypic differences across sexes are pervasive, but the genetic architecture of sex differences within and across phenotypes is mostly unknown.

Why hungry worms take risks
Whether it’s making rash decisions or feeling grumpy, hunger can make us think and act differently—“hangry,” even.

Measuring misclassification of Covid-19 as garbage codes: Results of investigating 1,365 deaths and implications for vital statistics in Brazil
The purpose of this article is to quantify the amount of misclassification of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) mortality occurring in hospitals and other health facilities in selected cities in Brazil, discuss potential factors contributing to this misclassification, and consider the implications for vital statistics.

UCI researchers reveal possible molecular blood signature for suicide in major depression
A University of California, Irvine-led team of researchers, along with members of the Pritzker Research Consortium, have developed an approach to identify blood biomarkers that could predict the suicide risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients.

Oregon State University research pushes closer to new therapy for pancreatic cancer
Research by Oregon State University has uncovered a potential new therapy for pancreatic cancer, whose survival rate is among the lowest of all malignancies.

Starting screening before age 50 is found to significantly reduce the risk and incidence of colorectal cancer in women
Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) in women before the age of 50 can significantly reduce the risk of CRC compared to those who have no endoscopic screening or decide to initiate testing at age 50, according to a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

New tool more accurately uses genomic data to predict disease risk across diverse populations
Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are promising tools for predicting disease risk, but current versions have built-in bias that can affect their accuracy in some populations and result in health disparities.

Using AI to predict bone fractures in cancer patients
As medicine continues to embrace machine learning, a new study suggests how scientists may use artificial intelligence to predict how cancer may affect the probability of fractures along the spinal column.

Using AI to analyze large amounts of biological data
Researchers at the University of Missouri are applying a form of artificial intelligence (AI) — previously used to analyze how National Basketball Association (NBA) players move their bodies — to now help scientists develop new drug therapies for medical treatments targeting cancers and other diseases.

Breaking the Shield That Protects Pancreatic Cancer From Immunotherapy
Scar-like cells that make up a sizable portion of malignant pancreatic tumors and shield these cancers from immune attack are derived from mesothelial cells that line tissues and organs, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers suggests.

‘Smart’ diaper for bedside urine testing
Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Nano Materials have designed a flexible sensor that fits in a diaper, measures multiple components in urine and can share those results over Bluetooth to provide real-time bedside analyses for incontinent, elderly or infant patients.

The Cost and Financial Burden of Thyroid Cancer on Patients in the US
In the US, thyroid cancer has been identified as a cancer type with a high degree of associated financial burden on patients, and survivors of thyroid cancer report higher rates of bankruptcy than those of other cancer types.

Age at Initiation of Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Colorectal Cancer Risk Among US Women
In this cohort study of 111 801 US women, compared with no endoscopy, initiation of endoscopy before 50 years of age was associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer and specifically colorectal cancer diagnosed before 55 years of age.

#ScinceChatIMBA: Double agents – How stomach stem cells change allegiance upon injury
A stomach adult stem cell population can fulfill two distinct functions: either help with digestion under normal conditions or take the lead on injury response.

Association of Neighborhood Resources and Race and Ethnicity With Readmissions for Diabetic Ketoacidosis at US Children’s Hospitals
In this cross-sectional study including 72 726 pediatric encounters for diabetic ketoacidosis, the probability of readmission within 365 days was significantly higher among non-Hispanic Black children compared with Hispanic children and non-Hispanic White children at the same level of opportunity.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Hysterectomy-Corrected Uterine Corpus Cancer Mortality by Stage and Histologic Subtype
In this cohort study of 208 587 women with uterine cancer, linked mortality and cancer registry data showed uterine cancer mortality rate annual increases of 3.4% among Asian women, 3.5% among Black women, 6.7% among Hispanic women, and 1.5% among White women, irrespective of histologic subtype or stage at diagnosis.

Strengthened faculty lunch requirements improved weight problems outlook for low-income kids
Regulations that strengthened the dietary necessities for college lunches have been related to a decline in indicators of weight problems amongst free or reduced-price lunch collaborating faculty kids in kindergarten by way of fifth grade, based on a brand new RAND Corporation examine.

Protected areas saw dramatic spikes in fires during COVID lockdowns, study finds
The number of fires inside protected conservation areas across the island of Madagascar shot up dramatically when COVID-19 lockdowns led to the suspension of any on-site management for five months during 2020.

Patient reported outcome assessment must be inclusive and equitable
Patient-reported outcomes are increasingly collected in clinical trials and in routine clinical practice, but strategies must be taken to include underserved groups to avoid increasing health disparities.

COVID lockdowns increased burning in globally-important protected areas
The Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted most sectors of society. A new study, published in Nature Sustainability, shows that it also had devastating consequences for nature conservation.

Tracing a cancer’s family tree to its roots reveals how tumors grow
Over time, cancer cells can evolve to become resistant to treatment, more aggressive, and metastatic — capable of spreading to additional sites in the body and forming new tumors.

Rethinking congenital hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is classically seen as a plumbing drawback, the results of an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the mind or dysregulation of fluid circulation.

New tool integrates microbiome and host genetic sequencing analysis
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Tulane University have developed a new software tool that makes it easier, faster and more cost effective to analyze genetic information about a host and its microbiome at the same time.

New method can easily identify viruses in tumors in a routine clinical genomic sequencing assay
Researchers have developed a method to accurately detect viruses from clinical next-generation sequencing and describe novel associations between specific tumors and viruses that warrant further investigation.

Key to post-stroke survival: data and algorithms to improve the quality of life of stroke victims
According to the study ‘The impact of stroke in Europe’, by King’s College for the European Stroke Alliance, between 2015 and 2035 there will be a 34% increase in the number of cases in Europe (up to 819,771).

Small changes – but essential! How peptides are recognised in receptors
The NPY family consists of a total of three related peptide ligands: NPY, PP and PYY, which have different functions in the body.

Bringing Health Care’s Vision of Tomorrow into Focus
Ultrasound data displayed directly on a patient via augmented reality headsets. Immersive “grand rounds” for medical students and faculty even when they’re in different locations.

Promising treatment for dementia
A Monash University led study has found a promising new treatment for patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, the second most common form of dementia in the under 60s – resulting in a stabilising of what would normally be escalating behavioural issues, and a slowing of brain shrinkage due to the disease.

MU grant will help research lack of breastfeeding in rural Missouri
Karry Weston, a nurse and doctoral student at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, has worked in maternal child health for almost 20 years, helping to deliver babies and care for newborns.

Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests May Not be Keeping Pace with Variants of Concern, Researchers Find
By now, many have become all too familiar with rapid antigen tests for diagnosis of COVID-19. Slightly less accurate than the genetic tests administered by healthcare professionals, the rapid antigen tests’ ease-of-use allows the general public to monitor themselves for COVID-19 infections at home and make timely decisions to help stop the spread.

Active Brown Adipose Tissue Protects Against “Pre-Prediabetes”
In a prospective study of young, lean adults, PET/CT imaging revealed that higher levels of active brown adipose tissue (also known as “brown fat”) are more prevalent in individuals who exhibit very early indications of metabolic disorders.

Wearable, Inexpensive Robotic Sleeve for Lymphedema Treatment
Lymphedema often occurs in survivors of breast cancer, because they are at high risk for lymph node damage or removal during surgical procedures.

American College of Lifestyle Medicine announces recipients of national scholarship dedicated to reducing health disparities and diversifying workforce
The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today announced the 26 recipients of Health Equity Achieved Through Lifestyle Medicine (HEAL) scholarships that support lifestyle medicine leaders who are working to reduce health disparities in historically underserved communities across the United States.

Chemical Insights Research Institute Receives Prestigious Award from the National Institutes of Health
In 2020, 3.7% of U.S. adults currently used electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) 1 with 18.5% of users reporting gingival pain and or oral bleeding 2 making this a concerning human health threat.

Penn Medicine, Philadelphia Department of Public Health Partner to Increase Virtual Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder
In an effort to provide treatment to more patients with opioid use disorder, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has partnered with Penn Medicine to expand a virtual “bridge clinic” that provides same-day access to lifesaving medication and connection to other recovery services.

Promising results shown in the treatment of growth hormone resistant dwarfism
Researchers from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) have shown that gene therapy using a single-dose injection of a virus carrying the ‘good’ gene can potentially be used to cure growth-hormone resistant dwarfism, also known as ‘Laron Syndrome’.

Study Shows COVID-19 Increased Anxiety and Symptoms for Asthma Sufferers
In the past two years, COVID-19 has provoked anxiety throughout the world for people worried they and their loved ones would get the virus and suffer tragic consequences.

HIV: bestowing CD8+ T cells with properties observed in natural controllers
HIV monitors are the few people who manage to control the infection naturally, without treatment. In these individuals, CD8+ immune T cells play a central role in keeping the viral load at its lowest for a long time, in the absence of antiretroviral therapy.

How our brain influences language change
Our language is changing constantly. Researchers of the University of Vienna found that, over centuries, frequently occurring speech sound patterns get even more frequent.

Copper is effective against Sars-Cov-2 on surfaces – silver is not
Copper and silver are known for their antibacterial properties. Researchers from Bochum have explored their effectiveness against viruses.

Quantum mechanics could explain why DNA can spontaneously mutate
The molecules of life, DNA, replicate with astounding precision, yet this process is not immune to mistakes and can lead to mutations.

New study reveals the effect of extended space flight on astronauts’ brains
Long-duration space flight alters fluid-filled spaces along veins and arteries in the brain, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University and scientists across the country.

Stem cell therapy protects against the side effects of cancer drugs
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used to treat a variety of cancers; however, one serious side effect is the onset of type 1 diabetes. Now, researchers from Osaka University have discovered that stem cell therapy may protect against such side effects.

Association Between Use of a Flying Intervention Team vs Patient Interhospital Transfer and Time to Endovascular Thrombectomy Among Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke in Nonurban Germany
In this nonrandomized controlled intervention study that included 157 patients, deployment of a flying intervention team, compared with patient interhospital transfer, was significantly associated with a shorter time to endovascular thrombectomy (median time from decision to pursue thrombectomy to start of procedure, 58 vs 148 minutes).

Scientists closer to outsmarting malaria parasites
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered why malaria parasites are vulnerable to some drug therapies but resistant to others, offering scientists another piece of the puzzle in the global fight against the disease.

ARRS Annual Meeting Presents Emergency Radiology Cases of Inattention Blindness
Significant imaging findings (cancer, infection, pseudoaneurysm, fracture, bowel perforation) can occur in emergency department (ED) patients undergoing imaging, an award-winning Electronic Exhibit noted this morning during the 2022 ARRS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

Combining certain medications with ibuprofen can permanently injure kidneys
Anyone who is taking a diuretic and a renin-angiotensin system (RSA) inhibitor for high blood pressure should be cautious about also taking ibuprofen, according to new research.

Alcohol, tobacco, and junk food common on reality TV shows
A new paper in the Journal of Public Health, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that alcohol and tobacco products, in addition to foods high in sugar and fat, appear frequently in reality TV programs.

New discovery to improve malaria elimination strategies
WEHI researchers have made a crucial discovery about how asymptomatic malaria infections impact the body, informing potential strategies to control transmission and improve treatment outcomes.

In-house pharmacists essential for aged care
Medicines are the most common treatments used in healthcare, especially for older people. But when they’re not used correctly, they can cause serious and sometimes fatal outcomes.

How MRI could revolutionise heart failure diagnosis
New research from University of Sheffield and University of East Anglia shows MRI scans can better diagnose heart failure than current non-invasive echocardiogram methods.

How a COVID-19 infection spurs antibodies against common colds
Scripps Research scientists analyzing coronavirus antibodies found more antibodies that recognize other, related viruses in people who had been infected with COVID-19.

Study finds large differences in heart attack care across six high income countries
A study published in The BMJ today finds “substantial differences” in care for heart attack patients across six high income countries (US, Canada, England, Netherlands, Israel, and Taiwan), despite there being established international consensus on diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition.

Experts recommend additional cholesterol lowering drugs for adults at high heart disease risk
Additional cholesterol lowering drugs should be offered to patients with high levels of ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol (70 mg/dl or higher) who are also at high risk of heart disease, say a panel of international experts and patients in The BMJ today.

Asia and Africa have similar aging burden as the west
In a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center researchers have devised a new metric, the “Health-Adjusted Dependency Ratio” (HADR) as an alternative to the most commonly used aging metric, the old-age dependency ratio (OADR).

UTA team to explore assistive technologies for people with disabilities
A University of Texas at Arlington computer science and engineering professor has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant worth more than $400,000 to incorporate assistive technologies for people with disabilities.

Review highlights wealth of information on childhood obesity produced by groundbreaking Danish study
A review of more than a decade of data from a groundbreaking Danish study into childhood obesity is being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Maastricht, the Netherlands (4-7 May).

Poor sleep may undermine people’s attempts to keep weight off
New research being presented at this year’s congress (poster PO3.26) shows that not getting enough good quality sleep undermines people’s attempts to keep weight off after dieting, and suggests that around two hours of vigorous physical activity per week can help maintain better sleep.

10-country survey reveals nearly one in four adolescents (24%) living with obesity (ALwO) do not know they have obesity, but most worry about how obesity will affect their future health
New research from 10 countries presented at this year’s European Congress of Obesity (ECO) shows that nearly one quarter of adolescents living with obesity (ALwO) (24%) do not know they have obesity.

Obesity associated with a higher risk of fatal prostate cancer, biggest study of its kind finds
A new study presented at this year’s congress in Maastricht (poster PO2.33)and published simultaneously in the journal BMC Medicine, has linked body fat (adiposity) with risk of fatal prostate cancer.

‘Brain-age’ biomarkers predict stroke recovery more accurately than chronological age, new study shows
Stroke experts have identified how radiomics, an emerging image-quantifying technology, can be used to extract biomarkers from clinical brain MRI scans in stroke patients and estimate a patient’s relative “brain age.”

Pitt Neuroscientists Find Multiple Brain Regions Control Speech, Challenging Common Assumption
Neurobiologists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine give new meaning to the term “motor mouth” in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

MU grant boosts public health messaging to parents considering various vaccines for their children
As a public health nurse for the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services department, Malaika Gallimore helped staff an immunization clinic where parents brought their children to get vaccinated against a wide variety of diseases.

Rutgers scientists develop test that easily detects variants causing COVID-19
Rutgers scientists have developed a lab test that can quickly and easily identify which variant of the virus causing COVID-19 has infected a person, an advance expected to greatly assist health officials tracking the disease and physicians treating infected patients.

Study finds deep divide on mental health impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 is revealing a deep divide in the mental health of college students, with some having much more difficulty with their emotional well-being during the pandemic than others, according to a new Dartmouth study.

Higher Antioxidant Levels Linked to Lower Dementia Risk
People with higher levels of antioxidants in their blood may be less likely to develop dementia, according to a study published in the May 4, 2022, online issue of Neurology^®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.