ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Context-dependent behavior can make cooperation flourish

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST

People adopt different social behavior depending on the context they're in. A deeply generous friend may be a cutthroat colleague, for example. Using a game theory framework, researchers find that context-dependent behavior doesn't stop cooperation from flourishing, especially when behavioral strategies can 'spillover' between social settings.

Stargazing in the brain: 'Star-like' cells display unique activity patterns

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:48 PM PST

The way we experience the world occurs due to complex and intricate interactions between neurons in the brain. Now, a study suggests that astrocytes -- star-shaped, non-neuronal cells in the brain -- might also play an important role in processing information, and perhaps even memory.

Hungry for love: Gut molecule discovered that flips the feeding-to-mating switch

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:22 AM PST

Scientists have identified a molecule released from the gut after a protein-rich meal that switches the focus of fruit flies from eating to courtship. The discovery of Dh31, a type of chemical messenger, opens the door to unexplored areas of gut-to-brain communication.

Researchers confirm newly developed inhaled vaccine delivers broad protection against SARS-CoV-2, variants of concern

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST

Scientists who have developed an inhaled form of COVID vaccine have confirmed it can provide broad, long-lasting protection against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern. The research reveals the immune mechanisms and significant benefits of vaccines being delivered directly into the respiratory tract, rather than by traditional injection.

Novel synthetic process for the core structure of the fungal antiviral agent neoechinulin B and its derivatives

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST

The fungus-derived compound neoechinulin B demonstrates promising antiviral activity. To realize its potential as an antiviral agent, however, a viable method for preparing more potent derivatives synthetically is necessary. In a recent breakthrough, scientists from Japan designed a simple route for synthesizing neoechinulin B and its derivatives under mild laboratory conditions. Neoechinulin B and six derivatives exhibited excellent antiviral activities against hepatitis C virus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

A routine prenatal ultrasound can identify early signs of autism, study finds

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST

A routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester can identify early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a new study has found.

Mapping mutation ‘hotspots’ in cancer reveals new drivers and biomarkers

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST

Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized key player in cancer evolution: clusters of mutations occurring at certain regions of the genome. These mutation clusters contribute to the progression of about 10% of human cancers and can be used to predict patient survival.

Sewer slime can hang on to SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST

Researchers report that sewer slime can accumulate SARS-CoV-2 RNA, which could decompose or slough off later, potentially impacting the accuracy of wastewater epidemiology studies.

Protective mutations in COVID-19

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST

One way in which the body combats COVID-19 is by mutating the coronavirus, making it less harmful. This built-in protective mechanism in cells has a clear connection with decreased viral load in the body, a new study shows.

Weight gain in pregnancy may be linked to later growth patterns in daughters

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST

Rapid weight gain in the first and final months of a pregnancy may play a key role in the development of excess fat tissue in children and adolescents -- at least if those children are girls, according to a new study.

In a first for 'sonogenetics,' researchers control mammalian cells with sound

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST

Scientists have engineered mammalian cells to be activated using ultrasound. The method paves the way toward non-invasive versions of deep brain stimulation, pacemakers and insulin pumps.

Five elements to optimize treatment of in-hospital stroke

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST

An in-hospital stroke is a stroke that occurs during a hospitalization for another diagnosis. In-hospital stroke affects roughly 35,000-75,000 hospitalized people annually in the United States and occurs most often among patients who have undergone a recent procedure or an invasive diagnostic test. The statement details five key suggestions focused on reducing delays and optimizing treatment to improve outcomes for these patients.

Feeling dizzy when you stand up? Simple muscle techniques can effectively manage symptoms of initial orthostatic hypotension

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:33 AM PST

Feeling lightheaded upon standing up due to initial orthostatic hypotension (IOH), or a transient decrease in blood pressure and increase in heart rate, is a common but poorly understood condition. A new study offers two simple cost- and drug-free techniques to effectively manage symptoms of IOH and improve quality of life by activating lower body muscle before or after standing.

Words are needed to think about numbers, study suggests

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 04:17 PM PST

Researchers have found a new relationship between counting ability of Tsimane' individuals and their ability to perform matching tasks that involve numbers up to about 25. The results suggest that in order to think about exact numbers, people need to have a word for that number.

Initial COVID-19 infection on the single-cell level, revealed

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 04:17 PM PST

Sequencing more than 170,000 single cells from animal models have provided exceptionally detailed insight into the early immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs. The findings will help inform future treatment options for the current pandemic and future coronaviruses.

Surveillance testing shown to reduce community COVID-19 spread

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 04:17 PM PST

In early 2020, Georgia Tech researchers designed a saliva-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and encouraged community members to test weekly to track the health of the campus. Their strategy confirmed 62 percent of the campus' positive cases in the Fall 2020 semester. The method of surveillance testing -- focusing on case clusters and then having patients isolate -- reduced positivity rates from 4.1 percent in the beginning of the semester to below 0.5 percent mid-semester.

Thawing permafrost could expose Arctic populations to cancer-causing radon

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 04:17 PM PST

According to a new study, thawing of permafrost due to climate change could expose the Arctic population to much greater concentrations of the invisible, lung cancer-causing gas Radon.

Old drug may have new trick: Protecting against COVID-19 lung injury, study finds

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 11:33 AM PST

An FDA-approved drug that has been in clinical use for more than 70 years may protect against lung injury and the risk of blood clots in severe COVID-19 and other disorders that cause immune-mediated damage to the lungs, according to a preclinical study.

Monkeys, like people, can 'choke under pressure'

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 11:33 AM PST

Being stressed about doing well on a test might not be limited to humans, according to a new study.

Changing your diet could add up to a decade to life expectancy, study finds

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 11:33 AM PST

A young adult in the U.S. could add more than a decade to their life expectancy by changing their diet from a typical Western diet to an optimized diet that includes more legumes, whole grains and nuts, and less red and processed meat, according to a new study. For older people, the anticipated gains to life expectancy from such dietary changes would be smaller but still substantial.

Fecal implants drive behavioral and cognitive changes in Alzheimer’s model

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 09:44 AM PST

New research in mice for the first time draws a definitive causal connection between changes in the gut microbiome to behavioral and cognitive changes in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

Agricultural fungicides may be driving antimicrobial resistance

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 09:44 AM PST

New research has shown that compounds used to fight fungal diseases in plants are likely causing resistance to antifungal medications used to treat people.

Immune cells leave fingerprints on tumors metastasized to the brain offering clues to future therapies

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 08:39 AM PST

Using data from over 100,000 malignant and non-malignant cells from 15 human brain metastases, researchers have revealed two functional archetypes of metastatic cells across 7 different types of brain tumors, each containing both immune and non-immune cell types. Their findings provide a potential roadmap for metastatic tumor formation that could be used to design therapies to improve the treatment of metastasized patients.

Potential target for treating osteoporosis

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 08:39 AM PST

Channels on the surface of bone cells called osteocytes help build stronger bones in response to mechanical stress, shows a new study.

Discovery could help finetune immunity to fight infections, disease

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 08:39 AM PST

Scientists supports a novel theory that the innate immune system can respond differently to specific pathogens. This quality, known as immunological specificity, was previously ascribed only to the adaptive immune system. The study suggests that this innate immune specificity is driven by the nervous system and identifies a neuronal protein as a critical link in the process. The findings hold early promise for the treatment of innate immune conditions and could also provide the basis for finetuning an experimental treatment that harnesses the nervous system to fight infection. The latter is particularly significant given the rapid rise in infections caused by antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Identification of a unique 'switch' for blood vessel generation

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 08:39 AM PST

Researchers discover a 'switch' specific to transcription factors that induce the genes essential for blood vessel development in postnatal periods. Mouse models further showed that the modifiers responsible for the switch are critical for postnatal angiogenesis.

Gut bacteria linked to immune suppression in pancreatic cancer

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 08:35 AM PST

Researchers have shown how probiotic bacteria in the gut could undermine immunity in pancreatic cancer, pointing toward more personalized cancer treatments.

New antiviral drug combination is highly effective against SARS-CoV-2, study finds

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 07:53 AM PST

Researchers have identified a powerful combination of antivirals to treat COVID-19. Combining the drug brequniar with remdesivir or molnupiravir -- both approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use -- inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 virus in human respiratory cells and in mice.

A new multipurpose on-off switch for inhibiting bacterial growth

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 07:52 AM PST

Researchers have discovered an antitoxin mechanism that seems to be able to neutralize hundreds of different toxins and may protect bacteria against virus attacks. The mechanism has been named Panacea, after the Greek goddess of medicine whose name has become synonymous with universal cure. The understanding of bacterial toxin and antitoxin mechanisms will be crucial for the future success of so-called phage therapy for the treatment of antibiotic resistance infections, the researchers say.

Important step towards fasting-based therapies

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 07:52 AM PST

Voluntary fasting, for example interval fasting, is beneficial to health for many people, depending on their individual condition. For example, controlled periods of starvation can prevent and improve diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Researchers have now found that the immune system plays an important role in ensuring the positive effects of fasting on our bodies. The new findings will help develop more effective therapies based on fasting.

Protracted inflammation linked to post-COVID lung problems

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST

Scientists have revealed that protracted inflammation following COVID-19 is strongly linked to long-term changes in lung structure and function.

Amylin peptide in the brain senses isolation and drives social contact-seeking behavior

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 05:49 AM PST

In efforts to understand the neural basis for loneliness, researchers have found a molecular indicator and regulator of social isolation in female mice. The new study reports that social contact-seeking behavior in mice is driven by the peptide amylin in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the forebrain, and that being alone decreases the amount of amylin in this brain region.

Glaucoma: Seeing the light at the end of the (nano)tunnel

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 12:57 PM PST

A research team reveals the fine mechanisms behind the major vascular defects observed in glaucoma patients and identifies new therapeutic targets.

COVID-19-associated strokes link to higher disability and death risk, study finds

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 09:48 AM PST

During the first wave of the pandemic, patients with COVID-19 who experienced strokes caused by blockage of blood flow to brain tissues were more likely to die or have serious complications compared with non-infected stroke patients, a study finds.

Study shows persistent antibodies in infants after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 09:48 AM PST

At six months of age, researchers found detectable levels of protective antibodies in infants born to vaccinated mothers. Titers, or antibody levels, were lower in unvaccinated, COVID-infected mothers at delivery and in their infants.