ScienceDaily: Top Health News

More than 1.5 million children lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 03:58 PM PDT

More than 1.5 million children around the world are estimated to have lost at least one parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent who lived with them due to death related to COVID-19 during the first 14 months of the pandemic, according to a new study.

Novel method for glucagon delivery

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 01:08 PM PDT

A chemical and biomolecular engineer is rethinking the traditional use of glucagon as an emergency response by administering it as a preventive measure.

COVID-19 shutdowns reveal racial disparities in exposure to air pollution

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 01:08 PM PDT

A new study of COVID-19 shutdowns in the United States reveals pronounced disparities in air pollution -- with disenfranchised, minority neighborhoods still experiencing more exposure to a harmful air pollutant compared to wealthier, white communities.

Unleashing Treg cells may lead to treatments for multiple sclerosis

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT

In a new study, researchers found that a certain protein prevented regulatory T cells (Tregs) from effectively doing their job in controlling the damaging effects of inflammation in a model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a devastating autoimmune disease of the nervous system.

'Springing forward' affects early birds less than night owls

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT

Every spring, the Daylight Saving Time shift robs people of an hour of sleep - and a new study shows that DNA plays a role in how much the time change affects individuals. People whose genetic profile makes them more likely to be 'early birds' can adjust to the time change in a few days. But those who tend to be 'night owls' could take more than a week to get back on track.

Spinal fluid biomarkers detect neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease in living patients

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of neurodegeneration can be identified using a combination of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid of living patients, researchers find.

The environmental toll of disposable masks

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT

The high monetary cost and environmental toll of disposable N95 masks could be dramatically cut by adopting reusable masks, according to a new study that calculated the financial and environmental cost of several different mask usage scenarios.

SARS-CoV-2: Achilles' heel of viral RNA

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT

Certain regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome might be a suitable target for future drugs, researchers have found. With the help of dedicated substance libraries, they have identified several small molecules that bind to certain areas of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are almost never altered by mutations.

Scientists uncover how a molecule improves appearance of surgery scars

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:05 AM PDT

In a new study, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientists discovered that the alphaCT1 molecule may help repair the skin's collagen matrix by altering how scar-forming cells behave. The findings were published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal.

Is bacterial acidity a key to tackle antimicrobial resistance?

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT

Decreasing bacterial acidity could help reduce antimicrobial resistance by eliminating bacteria that can survive being treated with antibiotics.

Research provides insights into high-risk younger demographics for severe COVID-19

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT

Using data from 9,859 COVID-19 infections, researchers have new insights into risk factors for younger populations, some of which differ significantly from their older counterparts. People younger than 45 had a greater than threefold increased risk of severe infection if they had cancer or heart disease, or blood, neurologic or endocrine disorders, the research found. These associations were weaker in older age groups.

SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation L452R evades human immune response and enhances infectivity, researchers find

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT

Researchers have shown that the L452R mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is common to two variants (Epsilon and Delta), is involved in cellular immunity evasion via the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A24, and enhances viral infectivity.

Antibiotic prescriptions for kids plummet during pandemic

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

A new study finds that medications prescribed for children dropped by more than a quarter during the first eight months of the pandemic compared to the previous year, with the steepest declines in infection-related medicines like antibiotics and cough-and-cold drugs.

Study finds surprising source of social influence

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

New research found that social influencers are unlikely to change a person's behavior by example. To stimulate a shift in people's thinking, target small groups of people in the outer edge or fringe of a network.

Copper transporter potential new treatment target for cardiovascular disease

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

An internal transporter that enables us to use the copper we consume in foods like shellfish and nuts to enable a host of vital body functions also has the essential role of protecting the receptor that enables us to grow new blood vessels when ours become diseased, scientists report.

No link between moderate coffee consumption and increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia, researchers find

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

In a new study, researchers found no evidence that moderate coffee consumption leads to a greater risk of cardiac arrhythmia.

MET amplification as driver for some non-small cell lung cancers

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

A study has helped define MET amplification as an actionable driver for some non-small cell lung cancers.

Untrained beer drinkers can taste different barley genotypes

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

When it comes to craft beer, the flavor doesn't have to be all in the hops. As a panel of amateur beer tasters at Washington State University recently demonstrated, malted barley, the number one ingredient in beer besides water, can have a range of desirable flavors too.

Strong signals: Modeling the dynamics of cell differentiation in the development of bile ducts

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

Scientists employed a mathematical model to simulate the differentiation of epithelial cells based on signaling molecules from the liver's portal vein. This work may lead to new tools to better understand the very complicated signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation.

A machine learning breakthrough: using satellite images to improve human lives

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

New machine learning technology has devised a machine learning system to tap the problem-solving potential of satellite imaging. The low-cost, easy-to-use technology could bring satellite image access and analytical power to researchers and governments worldwide.

No IgA leads to intestinal inflammation in mice

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

Researchers have found that immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency leads to disruption of the ileal gut microbiota and increased inflammation in the ileum in mice. This suggests that IgA plays an important role in mucosal homeostasis by regulating the intestinal microbiota and protecting against mucosal inflammation, especially in the ileum

Revealing the secrets of cell competition

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

Cellular competition is a crucial quality control process that ensures that the development of an organism relies on healthy cells. Researchers revealed the secrets underlying cell competition and what features can pre-determine whether a cell will survive or not. Defects in energy production are critical in making cells vulnerable to elimination.