ScienceDaily: Top Health News

'Digital twins,' an aid to give individual patients the right treatment at the right time

Posted: 06 May 2022 07:26 AM PDT

An international team of researchers have developed advanced computer models, or 'digital twins', of diseases, with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment. They used one such model to identify the most important disease protein in hay fever. The study underlines the complexity of disease and the necessity of using the right treatment at the right time.

'Stressed' cells offer clues to eliminating build-up of toxic proteins in dementia

Posted: 06 May 2022 07:26 AM PDT

It's often said that a little stress can be good for you. Now scientists have shown that the same may be true for cells, uncovering a newly-discovered mechanism that might help prevent the build-up of tangles of proteins commonly seen in dementia. Scientists have identified a new mechanism that appears to reverse the build-up of aggregates, not by eliminating them completely, but rather by 'refolding' them.

Recurrent UTIs linked to gut microbiome, chronic inflammation

Posted: 05 May 2022 03:09 PM PDT

A study suggests that women who get recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) may be caught in a vicious cycle in which antibiotics given to eradicate one infection predispose them to develop another.

Patient-derived micro-organospheres enable cutting-edge precision oncology

Posted: 05 May 2022 12:44 PM PDT

Scientists develop micro-organospheric models to predict therapeutic response accurately and rapidly, enabling cutting-edge precision oncology.

Heart attack mortality rate higher in the US compared to other high-income countries

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:38 AM PDT

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. The study found substantial differences in care for heart attack patients across six high income countries despite international agreement on how heart attacks should be treated.

Breaking the shield that protects pancreatic cancer from immunotherapy

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:38 AM PDT

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 suggests. The findings could offer a new strategy to fight pancreatic cancer, a deadly disease for which no truly effective treatments exist.

Using AI to analyze large amounts of biological data

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:38 AM PDT

Researchers 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.

New tool more accurately uses genomic data to predict disease risk across diverse populations

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:38 AM PDT

A modified PRS increases predictive accuracy by integrating data from diverse populations.

Starting screening before age 50 is found to significantly reduce the risk and incidence of colorectal cancer in women

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:38 AM PDT

A new study reports a 50 to 60 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among women who started endoscopy screening at age 45 compared to those who had not undergone screening at all.

Cutting calories and eating at the right time of day leads to longer life in mice

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:37 AM PDT

In a study that followed hundreds of mice over their lifespans, calorie restriction combined with time-restricted eating boosted longevity.

Why hungry worms take risks

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:37 AM PDT

Whether it's making rash decisions or feeling grumpy, hunger can make us think and act differently -- 'hangry,' even. But little is known about how hunger signals in the gut communicate with the brain to change behavior. Now, scientists are using worms as a model to examine the molecular underpinnings and help explain how hunger makes an organism sacrifice comfort and make risky decisions to get a meal.

How the brain says 'oops!'

Posted: 05 May 2022 11:37 AM PDT

Researchers 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.

Active brown adipose tissue protects against 'pre-prediabetes'

Posted: 05 May 2022 08:47 AM PDT

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. The study suggests that active brown fat is recruited to counteract 'pre-prediabetic' states, potentially serving as a first-line protective mechanism against very early metabolic or hormonal abnormalities.

Small changes -- but essential! How peptides are recognized in receptors

Posted: 05 May 2022 08:47 AM PDT

The human body consists of trillions of cells that constantly communicate with each other. A central role in this communication process is played by receptor proteins on the cell surface. Since they often serve as drug targets, they have been the subject of intensive research. Often there are whole families of receptors. The signal messengers as well as the receptors are very similar to each other, so it is not clear how the signals are distinguished from each other at the molecular level. Now, scientists have succeeded in determining high-resolution structures for three related signalling complexes that occur naturally in the body for the neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor family, thus shedding light on the 'small but essential differences'.

'Smart' diaper for bedside urine testing

Posted: 05 May 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Urine can reveal a lot about a person's health. But physicians don't currently have a convenient or fast way of tracking the concentration of important compounds in their patients' urine. Now, researchers 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.

Wearable, inexpensive robotic sleeve for lymphedema treatment

Posted: 05 May 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a soft robotic sleeve controlled with a microfluidic chip that reduces cost, weight, and power consumption for treatment of lymphedema. The prototype is more portable than previous devices, and the underlying mechanisms can extend to other treatments, such as prosthetics. The microfluidic chip has 16 channels, each with a different resistance. The differing resistances create a time delay between the flow through each channel, causing balloons in the sleeve to sequentially inflate and push fluid upwards, out of the arm.

Promising treatment for dementia

Posted: 05 May 2022 07:21 AM PDT

A new study has found a promising new treatment for patients with behavioral variant fronto-temporal dementia, the second most common form of dementia in the under 60s -- resulting in a stabilizing of what would normally be escalating behavioral issues, and a slowing of brain shrinkage due to the disease. It is the second clinical trial to show that the drug, sodium selenate, may slow cognitive decline and neuro-degenerative damage that is the hallmark of many dementias including Alzheimer's Disease.

Asia and Africa have similar aging burden as the West

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

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). The research suggests that age-related health burden is distinct from a ratio based exclusively on age and is the first to incorporate dependency associated with ill-health to generate a new metric that represents a more holistic measure of dependency for 188 countries.

How MRI could revolutionize heart failure diagnosis

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

Until now, the best way of diagnosing heart failure has been an invasive assessment, but it carries risks for patients. Non-invasive echocardiogram, which is based on ultrasound, are usually used instead, but they are wrong in up to 50 per cent of cases. The new study shows how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to echocardiography for diagnosing heart failure, as well as being a powerful tool to predict patient outcomes, including death.

New discovery to improve malaria elimination strategies

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

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

Combining certain meds with ibuprofen can permanently injure kidneys

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

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.

Identifying global poverty from space

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

A new study proposes a novel method to estimate global economic wellbeing using nighttime satellite images.

New study reveals the effect of extended space flight on astronauts' brains

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

Long-duration space flight alters fluid-filled spaces along veins and arteries in the brain, according to new research.

Quantum mechanics could explain why DNA can spontaneously mutate

Posted: 05 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

The molecules of life, DNA, replicate with astounding precision, yet this process is not immune to mistakes and can lead to mutations. Using sophisticated computer modelling, a team of physicists and chemist have shown that such errors in copying can arise due to the strange rules of the quantum world.

Higher antioxidant levels linked to lower dementia risk

Posted: 04 May 2022 02:08 PM PDT

People with higher levels of antioxidants in their blood may be less likely to develop dementia, according to a new study.

Neuroscientists find multiple brain regions control speech, challenging common assumption

Posted: 04 May 2022 02:08 PM PDT

Neurobiologists give new meaning to the term 'motor mouth'. By carefully mapping neural networks in marmoset and macaque monkeys, they determined that multiple areas in the brain's frontal lobe control the muscles of vocalization and could provide a foundation for complex speech.

Links between paranormal beliefs and cognitive function described by 40 years of research

Posted: 04 May 2022 11:45 AM PDT

In a review of 71 studies that explored links between belief in paranormal phenomena and cognitive function, most of the findings align with the hypothesis that such beliefs are associated with cognitive differences or deficits.

Patients with past cancer history not associated with higher risk of COVID-19-related death or hospitalization

Posted: 04 May 2022 11:45 AM PDT

Patients diagnosed with cancer more than one year ago and those not receiving active treatment were no more vulnerable to worse COVID-19 outcomes than patients without cancer, according to a new study.

Correct dosage for ultraviolet disinfection against COVID

Posted: 04 May 2022 08:04 AM PDT

When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, ultraviolet radiation became one of the go-to methods for preventing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, along with facemasks, hand sanitizer and social distancing. The problem: There was little research showing what UV dosage kills the virus. In a new study, researchers lay the foundation for health standards about what offers true disinfection.

New tool to create hearing cells lost in aging

Posted: 04 May 2022 08:04 AM PDT

Hearing loss due to aging, noise and certain cancer drugs has been irreversible, because scientists have not been able to reprogram existing cells to develop into the outer and inner ear sensory cells -- essential for hearing -- once they die. But scientists now have discovered a single master gene that programs ear hair cells into either outer or inner ones, overcoming a major hurdle that had prevented the development of these cells to restore hearing.

How herpesviruses awaken

Posted: 04 May 2022 08:04 AM PDT

Dormant herpesviruses induce their reactivation via a previously unknown cellular mechanism mediated by a viral microRNA.

Shielding children from food insecurity -- no protection from psychological problems

Posted: 04 May 2022 07:09 AM PDT

New research found that in families where adults sacrifice their own nutritional needs so that their offspring are fed first, the mental health of both groups is less severely affected, although it is nevertheless affected.

Deep learning model to predict adverse drug-drug interactions

Posted: 04 May 2022 06:29 AM PDT

The intake of multiple drugs can result in adverse health effects due to unexpected drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Now, researchers have developed a deep learning model that predicts DDIs based on their effects on gene expression. Their new model is accurate and outperforms conventional prediction models. It can also predict DDIs between developmental drugs and may be useful for detecting DDIs early in the drug-discovery process.

Nearly 13 percent of COVID-19 hospitalized patients had serious neurologic symptoms, study finds

Posted: 04 May 2022 06:29 AM PDT

To describe the prevalence, associated risk factors and outcomes of serious neurologic manifestations among patients hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, researchers studied 16,225 patients from 179 hospitals in 24 countries as part of the Society for Critical Care Medicine's Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness University Study.

Hidden benefit: Facemasks may reduce severity of COVID-19 and pressure on health systems, researchers find

Posted: 03 May 2022 05:16 PM PDT

Researchers who study the dynamics of infectious disease transmission have investigated the population-level consequences of a potentially significant -- and unobvious -- benefit of wearing masks.

Studying wealth inequality in animals can reveal clues about how their societies evolved

Posted: 03 May 2022 05:16 PM PDT

A new review creates a framework for learning about animal societies by drawing inspiration from studies of inequality in humans.

New open-source software automates RNA analysis to speed up research and drug development

Posted: 03 May 2022 04:02 PM PDT

'Pytheas' is an app created to identify and quantify modified RNA molecules more easily than ever.