ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Brain areas involved in seeking information about bad possibilities

Posted: 11 Jun 2021 08:08 AM PDT

Researchers have identified the brain regions involved in choosing whether to find out if a bad event is about to happen.

An omega-3 that's poison for tumors

Posted: 11 Jun 2021 08:08 AM PDT

3D tumors that disintegrate within a few days thanks to the action of a well-known omega-3 (DHA, found mainly in fish) -- this is a promising discovery. Hungry for fatty acids, tumor cells in acidosis gorge themselves on DHA but are unable to store it correctly and literally poison themselves. The result? They die.

Fashion for pointy shoes unleashed plague of bunions in medieval Britain

Posted: 11 Jun 2021 05:56 AM PDT

Researchers analysing skeletal remains in the city of Cambridge find a dramatic increase in 'hallux valgus' around the time that pointed shoes became de rigueur in the 1300s. They also uncover a link between this minor deformity and increased risk of fractures.

Study examines the effects of COVID-19 on human kidney cells

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 02:39 PM PDT

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect and replicate in human kidney cells, but this does not typically lead to cell death. Kidney cells that already have features of injury may be more easily infected and develop additional injury.

Rudeness leads to anchoring, including in medical diagnoses

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 02:39 PM PDT

Research looks at how experiencing rudeness amplifies anchoring bias including in doctors' decision-making.

Leaders who embrace on-job learning and listen to employees have more resilient teams

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 02:39 PM PDT

Leaders who encourage their employees to learn on the job and speak up with ideas and suggestions for change have teams that are more effective and resilient in the face of unexpected situations, according to new research.

Study sheds light on treatment options for devastating childhood brain cancer

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:24 PM PDT

Research suggests that children with average risk medulloblastoma can receive radiation to a smaller volume of the brain at the end of a six-week course of treatment and still maintain the same disease control as those receiving radiation to a larger area. But the dose of preventive radiation treatments given to the whole brain and spine over the six-week regimen cannot be reduced without reducing survival.

Study identifies how COVID-19 linked to Alzheimer's disease-like cognitive impairment

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:24 PM PDT

A new study has identified mechanisms by which COVID-19 can lead to Alzheimer's disease-like dementia. The findings indicate an overlap between COVID-19 and brain changes common in Alzheimer's, and may help inform risk management and therapeutic strategies for COVID-19-associated cognitive impairment.

Common diabetes drug shows promise as treatment for COVID-19 lung inflammation

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:24 PM PDT

Researchers identify the molecular mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of diabetes drug metformin and, in mouse studies, say it prevents lung inflammation in animals infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Forget me not: Novel target shows promise in treating Alzheimer's and related dementias

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:23 PM PDT

Researchers have identified a previously unknown early driver of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). They report high levels of cis P-tau, a pathogenic protein, in human AD and VaD brains as well as preclinical disease models. Treatment with an antibody to the toxic protein prevented disease progression and reversed disease symptoms and restored cognitive function in older mice.

Music listening near bedtime disruptive to sleep

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:23 PM PDT

Most people listen to music throughout their day and often near bedtime to wind down. But can that actually cause your sleep to suffer? When a sleep researcher realized he was waking in the middle of the night with a song stuck in his head, he saw an opportunity to study how music -- and particularly stuck songs -- might affect sleep patterns.

'Roadmaps' of the brain reveal regions vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

Much like a supply truck crossing the countryside, the misfolded proteins that damage neurons in Alzheimer's disease travel the 'roads' of the brain, sometimes stopping and sometimes re-routing to avoid roadblocks.

Astronomy meets pathology to identify predictive biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

Pairing sky-mapping algorithms with advanced immunofluorescence imaging of cancer biopsies, researchers developed a robust platform to guide immunotherapy by predicting which cancers will respond to specific therapies targeting the immune system.

How cells measure themselves

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

How do cells measure themselves? Now we have an answer to this long-standing biological question.

Cell phone use while driving may be tied to other risky road behaviors in young adults

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:45 AM PDT

A new study found that 18- to 24-year-olds who use cell phones while driving are more likely to engage in other risky driving behaviors associated with 'acting-without-thinking,' a form of impulsivity. These findings suggest the importance of developing new strategies to prevent risky driving in young adults, especially those with impulsive personalities.

Like night and day: Animal studies may not translate to humans without time considerations

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:45 AM PDT

In a recent survey of published animal studies, researchers found disregarding the animals' circadian rhythms can hamper reproducibility, reliability and validity.

Saliva can be more effective than nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing, researchers find

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:44 AM PDT

The addition of a simple processing step to saliva samples before testing may improve COVID-19 detection rate, eliminate the challenges of nasopharyngeal testing, and facilitate mass surveillance, researchers report.

Pinpointing how cancer cells turn aggressive

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:44 AM PDT

As deadly as it is, cancer metastasis is a poorly understood process. A new study describes a cutting-edge tool for tracing the lineage and gene expression of thousands of individual metastatic cancer cells. Their findings open new angles for investigating the processes that drive metastasis.

Could naked mole rats hold key to curing cancer and dementia?

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Scientists say naked mole rats - a rodent native to West Africa - may hold the key to new treatments for degenerative diseases such as cancer and dementia.

'Bad fat' suppresses killer T cells from attacking cancer

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Researchers have identified how tumors cause immune cells to lose their ability to fight cancer, by producing harmful fats the energy-hungry immune cells ingest, impairing their functionality. The understanding opens new avenues for novel immunotherapies for cancer.

Model shows sharp decrease in HIV incidence in England

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

The annual number of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in England is likely to have fallen dramatically, from 2,770 in 2013 to 854 in 2018, showing elimination of HIV transmission by 2030 to be within reach -- suggests new work.

New way to 3D-print custom medical devices to boost performance and bacterial resistance

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Using a new 3D printing process, researchers have discovered how to tailor-make artificial body parts and other medical devices with built-in functionality that offers better shape and durability, while cutting the risk of bacterial infection at the same time.

Institutional environments trap disabled geoscientists between a rock and a workplace

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Inaccessible workplaces, normative departmental cultures and 'ableist' academic systems have all contributed to the continued under-representation and exclusion of disabled researchers, according to an expert.

Three factors may predict college students' loss of self-control

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Researchers determined willingness to try new things along with parental attachment could be indicators of self-control among first-year students.

Cells construct living composite polymers for biomedical applications

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Biomedical engineers have demonstrated that a class of interwoven composite materials called semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (sIPNs) can be produced by living cells. The approach could make these versatile materials more biologically compatible for biomedical applications such as time-delayed drug delivery systems.

Humans are ready to take advantage of benevolent AI

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Humans expect that AI is benevolent and trustworthy. A new study reveals that at the same time humans are unwilling to cooperate and compromise with machines. They even exploit them.

Compound blocks SARS-CoV-2 and protects lung cells, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Researchers report that Elovanoids, bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3 very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, may block the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering cells and protect the air cells (alveoli) of the lung.

Memory biomarkers confirm aerobic exercise helps cognitive function in older adults

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Until now, systemic biomarkers to measure exercise effects on brain function and that link to relevant metabolic responses were lacking. A study shows a memory biomarker, myokine Cathepsin B (CTSB), increased in older adults following a 26-week structured aerobic exercise training. The positive association between CTSB and cognition, and the substantial modulation of lipid metabolites implicated in dementia, support the beneficial effects of exercise training on brain function and brain health in asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer's.

Cloud computing expands brain sciences

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:38 AM PDT

People often think about human behavior in terms of what is happening in the present -- reading a newspaper, driving a car, or catching a football. But other dimensions of behavior extend over weeks, months, and years.

Ion and lipid transporters specialize for their niche

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Cell viability require that a variety of functions at the cell membrane are maintained properly. P-type ATPases translocate substrates across the membrane, and they have evolved into different types taking care of specific substrates within a diverse range. Now, key structural aspects have been described on how two different types of P-type ATPases -- a Ca2+ transporting Ca2+-ATPase and a lipid transporting P4-ATPase - have adapted to different substrates and physical environments.

Rural residents, American Indians travel farthest for certified stroke care

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Race, age, income and health insurance status are factors in the distance patients must travel to reach the nearest certified stroke care, according to a nationwide analysis of US census data and road maps. The greatest distances were for those in rural areas and for American Indians.

Monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 safe, effective for transplant patients, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Treating transplant patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies is safe and helps prevent serious illness, according to a new study. These results are especially important because transplant patients who are infected with COVID-19 have a higher risk of severe illness and death.

Flickering screens may help children with reading and writing difficulties, study suggests

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Children with reading and writing difficulties who are presented with text on screens with flickering white noise both read better and remember what they have read better, according to a Swedish-Norwegian study.

Largescale brain epigenetics study provides new insights into dementia

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

The team looked in different regions of the brain, which are affected in Alzheimer's disease before looking for common changes across these cortical regions. They identified 220 sites in the genome, including 84 new genes, which showed different levels of DNA methylation in the cortex in individuals with more severe Alzheimer's disease, which weren't seen in the cerebellum.

Nearly one in five patients who die from unexplained sudden cardiac death have suspicious gene, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Researchers have found that nearly 20 percent of patients with unexplained sudden cardiac death -- most of whom were under age 50 -- carried rare genetic variants. These variants likely raised their risk of sudden cardiac death.

Study confirms safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in people with cancer

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

In a review of 200 patients with a wide spectrum of cancer diagnoses, researchers found that after full vaccination, 94 percent of patients overall demonstrated seroconversion, which was determined by the presence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Response rates were very high among patients with solid tumors and were lower in people with certain blood cancers, but even the majority of those patients mounted an immune response.

Predisposition to addiction may be genetic, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

People who have a high sensation-seeking trait in the brain could be more susceptible to drug addition, according to a new study.

An atomic look at lithium-rich batteries

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

An international team of collaborators has made the first direct observation of the anionic redox reaction in a lithium-rich battery material. The research opens up pathways for improving existing battery cathodes--and designing new ones.

Laughing gas relieves symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

Researchers have found that a single, one-hour treatment that involves breathing in a mixture of oxygen and the anesthetic drug nitrous oxide -- otherwise known as laughing gas -- can significantly improve symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression.

Having trouble falling asleep predicts cognitive impairment in later life

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

A study of nearly 2,500 adults found that having trouble falling asleep, as compared to other patterns of insomnia, was the main insomnia symptom that predicted cognitive impairment 14 years later.

Persistent insomnia symptoms since childhood associated with mood, anxiety disorders

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

A 15-year longitudinal study shows that childhood insomnia symptoms that persist into adulthood are strong determinants of mood and anxiety disorders in young adults.

SARS-CoV-2 protease cuts human proteins; Possible link to COVID-19 symptoms

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) plays an essential role in processing viral proteins needed for replication. In addition, the enzyme can cut and inactivate some human proteins important for an immune response. Now, researchers have found other targets of PLpro in the human proteome, including proteins involved in cardiovascular function, blood clotting and inflammation, suggesting a link between the inactivation of these proteins and COVID-19 symptoms.

Rapamycin changes the way our DNA is stored

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:33 AM PDT

Researchers discover an unexpected link between DNA winding and metabolism in the gut to ameliorate aging.

Women's mental health has higher association with dietary factors

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:33 AM PDT

Women's mental health likely has a higher association with dietary factors than men's, according to new research.

Study shows adaptive brain response to stress, and its absence in people with depression

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

A new study identifies a novel biomarker indicating resilience to chronic stress. This biomarker is largely absent in people suffering from major depressive disorder, and this absence is further associated with pessimism in daily life, the study finds.

A vital tool to study virus evolution in the test tube

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Variants of viruses, such as that causing COVID-19, can now be quickly studied in the laboratory, even before they emerge in nature and become a major public health challenge.

A link between childhood stress and early molars

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Research shows that children from lower-income backgrounds and those who go through greater adverse childhood experiences get their first permanent molars sooner. The findings align with a broader pattern of accelerated development often seen under conditions of early-life stress.

Better-fitting face masks greatly improve COVID-19 protection

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Researchers have found that while N95 masks are effective barriers against airborne diseases like COVID-19, poorly fitting masks can have substantial leaks around the face that reduce their effectiveness and increase the risk of infection.

New adaptable nanoparticle platform enables enhanced delivery of gene therapies

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Scientists have developed polypeptide-based materials that act as effective vectors for delivering gene therapies. The new platform enables the vectors to be adapted to suit the specific gene therapy cargo.

Brain connections mean some people lack visual imagery

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

New research has revealed that people with the ability to visualize vividly have a stronger connection between their visual network and the regions of the brain linked to decision-making. The study also sheds light on memory and personality differences between those with strong visual imagery and those who cannot hold a picture in their mind's eye.

Warmer temperatures lessen COVID-19 spread, but control measures still needed, study finds

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

New research shows transmission of the virus behind COVID-19 varies seasonally, but warmer conditions are not enough to prevent transmission.

A new culprit in antibacterial resistance: Cysteine persulfide

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a new, highly sensitive analytical method that can detect degraded beta-lactam antibacterial agents used in the treatment of bacterial infections. With this method, researchers found that reactive sulfur species produced by bacteria degrade and inactivate beta-lactam antibiotics.

Language extinction triggers loss of unique medicinal knowledge

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

Indigenous peoples pass on their knowledge of medicinal plants orally. If their languages go extinct, valuable medical knowledge will be lost. A study estimates that 75% of the world's medicinal plant applications are only known in one language.

Study finds COVID-19 vaccines safe for IBD patients

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 07:58 AM PDT

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) do not appear to have increased risk of side effects from the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to a recent study. In fact, those being treated with advanced immune-modifying therapies may experience them less often than the general population.

Not just a phase for RNAs

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 07:58 AM PDT

A phenomenon in which an RNA named NORAD drives a protein named Pumilio to form liquid droplets in cells, much like oil in water, appears to tightly regulate the activity of Pumilio. A new study suggests that such RNA-driven 'phase separation,' in turn, protects against genome instability, premature aging, and neurodegenerative diseases, and may represent a previously unrecognized way for RNAs to regulate cellular processes.

Cholesterol metabolite induces production of cancer-promoting vesicles

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:47 AM PDT

Scientists studying the link between cholesterol and breast cancer report that a byproduct of cholesterol metabolism causes some cells to send out cancer-promoting signals to other cells. These signals are packaged in membrane-bound compartments called extracellular vesicles.

As novel sights become familiar, different brain rhythms, neurons take over

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:46 AM PDT

As 'visual recognition memory' emerges in visual cortex, one circuit of inhibitory neurons supplants another and slower neural oscillations prevail, according to a new study.

Increasing the memory capacity of intelligent systems based on the function of human neurons

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:37 PM PDT

Researchers have recently developed a new artificial neuron inspired by the different modes of operation of human neurons. This process has enabled recurrent networks to learn temporal relationships of more than a thousand discrete time units where classical methods failed after only a hundred time units.

Drinking alcohol is linked to reduced chances of pregnancy

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:37 PM PDT

A study of the associations between drinking alcohol and the chances of becoming pregnant suggests that women who want to conceive should avoid heavy drinking. In the second half of menstrual cycle even moderate drinking is linked to reduced chances of pregnancy.