ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Biologists find new protective factor against excessive lipid accumulation in liver of obese mouse

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease, is a prevalent disease frequently seen in obese people. Having high fat content in the liver is detrimental as it is strongly associated with severe health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver cancer. A research team uncovers a new protective mechanism against this disorder.

Researchers create 3D model for rare neuromuscular disorders, setting stage for clinical trial

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

Scientists have created a bioengineered 3-D model that mimics the biology of two rare diseases. The researchers used the 'tissue chip' model to show how a drug could potentially treat the diseases, providing data for a drug company's FDA submission for authorization for clinical testing. This is one of the first examples of using primarily tissue chip data for an FDA application to test the efficacy of a candidate drug for rare diseases.

Nanoparticles prove effective against the yellow fever mosquito

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

Before being accidentally introduced to the New World by the 16th century slave trade, the yellow fever mosquito was a species native only to Africa. Highly adaptable, it has since become an invasive species in North America, but researchers at may have found a way to squash the pesky population in its juvenile stages.

Genes can affect our nutrient tolerance

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

According to an international study, minor genetic differences can affect the ability to utilize the energy of various nutrients. This work shows how nutritional planning based on genetic data could promote the development of personalized nutrition for health.

Particles released by red blood cells are effective carriers for anti-cancer immunotherapy

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

A study has demonstrated that nano-sized vesicles released by red blood cells are a viable platform for delivering immunotherapeutic RNA molecules to suppress breast cancer growth and metastasis. The study successfully delivered RIG-I-activating RNAs using small, lipid membrane-bound particles released by red blood cells, called red blood cell extracellular vesicles (RBCEVs), to suppress cancer progression. The team had also discovered in earlier studies that these vesicles are ideal therapeutic carriers with a natural ability to deliver bioactive molecules to many cell types.

Study reveals new therapeutic option for head and neck carcinomas

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

The various manifestations of head and neck carcinomas rank sixth in frequency worldwide and are fatal for about half a million people every year. In a quarter of cases, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and, currently, is not always treatable. A research team has now discovered a possible new therapeutic option.

Promising drug candidates for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever identified

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

Researchers have identified key signalling pathways that when blocked by existing drug candidates limit reproduction of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. The findings offer hope for patients affected by this potentially deadly disease.

Psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer´s disease

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

In addition to memory problems and other cognitive symptoms, most people with Alzheimer's disease also suffer from mental health issues. It has long been unclear whether these occur because of tissue changes in the brain, or whether they represent psychological reactions to cognitive symptoms.

A better way to reduce child maltreatment

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

A first-of-its-kind national study has found that a special program adopted in many states to help some families at risk of child maltreatment has been surprisingly successful.

Novel treatment effective for sidewall brain aneurysm, study finds

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:32 AM PDT

A novel mesh plug that has been traditionally used to treat brain aneurysms occurring where the blood vessels branch out was found to be equally effective in treating aneurysms on the side of the vessel, according to a new study.

Fruit snack or edible? Study finds some cannabis products look like popular snacks

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 06:23 AM PDT

Some cannabis edibles look remarkably like popular snack foods and may be easily confused for them, finds a new study.

About 30 percent of COVID patients develop 'Long COVID,' research finds

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 06:23 AM PDT

New research finds that 30 percent of people treated for COVID-19 developed Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), most commonly known as 'Long COVID.'

The origins and ID of pancreatic endocrine cells

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 06:23 AM PDT

Scientists show that endocrine stem cells in the pancreas disappear after birth, and detail the genetic identity of the different types of pancreatic hormone-producing cells.

Pacific Northwest wildfires alter air pollution patterns across North America

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 06:18 AM PDT

Increasingly large and intense wildfires in the Pacific Northwest are altering the seasonal pattern of air pollution and causing a spike in unhealthy pollutants in August, according to new research. The smoke is undermining clean air gains, posing potential risks to the health of millions of people, according to the study.

Study finds infertility history linked with increased risk of heart failure

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 01:49 PM PDT

A woman's reproductive history can help predict her future risk of heart disease.

What food sector needs to know about how to reduce sodium

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 01:49 PM PDT

Sodium is an essential micronutrient, but the amount we need is small. Three slices of bread or one teaspoon of table salt will do it, and chances are your daily sodium intake is far greater. More than 90% of Americans consume too much sodium, which can lead to hypertension, high blood pressure, and increased risk of heart disease and stroke. A new article provides a comprehensive review of scientific literature on sodium reduction strategies in food production.

COVID-19 vaccine protects kids and teens from severe illness

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 01:49 PM PDT

Results of a new multicenter study found that vaccination with a primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reduced the risk of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in children ages 5-11 years by two-thirds during the Omicron period.

Genetic analysis provides insights into the cause of hydrocephalus, or 'water on the brain'

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 12:21 PM PDT

Genetic studies of children with hydrocephalus ('water on the brain') combined with mouse models indicate that in certain genetic subtypes, the condition arises due to abnormal neurodevelopment that disrupts mechanical stability of the brain. Treatment strategies need to optimize brain development beyond the current standard of simply draining brain fluid.

Adriatic ecosystems withstand major climate shifts but wither under human impact

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 11:38 AM PDT

An analysis of more than 70,000 fossils indicates that mollusk communities were incredibly resilient to major climatic shifts during the last ice age. Scientists from the Florida Museum of Natural History and several European research institutions tracked the history of Adriatic ecosystems through two warm periods that bookend the most recent glacial expansion. Their results show that major changes in temperature, salinity and sea-level had much less of an impact on mollusk communities than the current environmental crisis caused by human activity in the region.

Nanoparticles show promise for locating, removing endometriosis lesions

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 11:38 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a new nanotechnology approach for locating and removing the painful and dangerous lesions associated with endometriosis, a common gynecological condition in women of childbearing age.

AI reduces miss rate of precancerous polyps in colorectal cancer screening

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:55 AM PDT

Artificial intelligence reduced by twofold the rate at which precancerous polyps were missed in colorectal cancer screening, reported a team of international researchers.

Genetics affects functions of gut microbiome

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:29 AM PDT

Scientists are exploring how human genetics impacts functions of the gut microbiome, and are expanding awareness of the role human genetics plays in shaping the microbiome.

Recreational marijuana access reduces demand for prescription drugs

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:29 AM PDT

Legalization of recreational marijuana reduces demand for costly prescription drugs through state Medicaid programs, according to a new analysis.

Bacterial soundtracks revealed by graphene membrane

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

Have you ever wondered if bacteria make distinctive sounds? If we could listen to bacteria, we would be able to know whether they are alive or not. When bacteria are killed using an antibiotic, those sounds would stop -- unless of course the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic. This is exactly what a team of researchers have now have managed to do: they captured low-level noise of a single bacterium using graphene.

Newly developed genetic risk scores could help patients, physicians make health decisions

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

Researchers have developed and validated polygenic risk scores for six common diseases. The team also developed informational resources for each disease to help physicians and patients discuss how to incorporate PRS when making medical decisions about screening and prevention.

Clinicians grapple with decisions in crisis-care simulation

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

A new analysis conveys the moral distress that triage team members experienced while participating in a simulated crisis-care event in which they had to decide which patients would and would not be prioritized to receive life-sustaining resources.

A single allele deletion in gene encoding Zbtb38 leads to early embryonic death

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 06:40 AM PDT

Researchers have found that heterozygous loss of the methyl-CpG binding protein Zbtb38 downregulated the expression of the transcription factors Nanog and Sox2, as well as genes involved in epiblast proliferation, differentiation, and viability. This finding highlights the methyl-CpG binding protein's physiological significance throughout embryonic development.

Tumors partially destroyed with sound don't come back

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 06:39 AM PDT

Noninvasive sound technology breaks down liver tumors in rats, kills cancer cells and spurs the immune system to prevent further spread -- an advance that could lead to improved cancer outcomes in humans.

AF2Complex: Researchers leverage deep learning to predict physical interactions of protein complexes

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 06:39 AM PDT

Proteins are the molecular machinery that makes life possible, and researchers have long been interested in a key trait of protein function: their three-dimensional structure. A new study details a computational tool able to predict the structure protein complexes -- and lends new insights into the biomolecular mechanisms of their function.

Study shows simple, computationally-light model can simulate complex brain cell responses

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 06:38 AM PDT

Studying how brain cells respond to signals from their neighbors can aid the understanding of cognition and development. However, experimentally measuring the brain's activity is complicated. Neuron models provide a non-invasive way to investigate the brain, but most existing models are either computationally intensive or cannot model complex neuronal responses. Recently, a team has used a computationally simple neuron model to simulate some of the complex responses of neurons.

Some children with cerebral palsy scoliosis may not need pelvic fixation, study shows

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 05:57 AM PDT

A new study finds that some children with cerebral palsy and scoliosis do not require pelvic fixation when undergoing growth-friendly treatment. Researchers say those with a small enough pelvic and lower lumbar spine tilt may not need screws inserted into the pelvis, potentially avoiding several complications.

Rilzabrutinib for blood disorder shows promise in phase 1--2 clinical trial

Posted: 15 Apr 2022 07:05 AM PDT

In an international phase 1--2 clinical trial of patients with immune thrombocytopenia, an oral investigational drug called rilzabrutinib was active and associated with only low-level toxic effects at all dose levels.