ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) can result in chronic and sometimes life-threatening infections. More than 450 PIDs have been described, but timely and accurate diagnoses remain a challenge. In a new study investigators used next-generation sequencing technology to test a DNA panel of 130 different immune system genes from 22 study participants. They found that many patients had inherited a genetic defect that caused a disorder in their immune system. These findings will facilitate better treatment options and earlier diagnosis in family members who may have inherited the same genetic abnormality.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin are widely used to treat pain and inflammation. But even at similar doses, different NSAIDs can have unexpected and unexplained effects on many diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

A specific retinal pathway enables mice to detect incredibly dim shadows -- nearly reaching the limit of what's physically possible. The same circuit is in human eyes, which might enable researchers to probe visual diseases at unprecedented resolution.

A UAB research team has managed to track the behaviour of microplastics during their 'journey' through the intestinal tract of a living organism and illustrate what happens along the way. The study, carried out on Drosophila melanogaster using electron microscopy equipment developed by the researchers themselves, represents a significant step towards a more precise analysis of the health risks of being exposed to these pollutants.

Men with obesity can double their sperm count if they lose weight and maintain the weight loss.

Scientists have shown that small aggregates function as temporary RNA repositories, which are regulated by neural activity.

Sometimes, even the alteration of a single nucleotide in a gene can cause serious disease. In a young boy with epilepsy, this kind of mutation has not just affected the functioning of the protein in question -- it could also curb the functioning of several closely related proteins.

New findings detail the 21-year follow-up of more than 3,200 adults with prediabetes who had participated in the original Diabetes Prevention Program trial. The DPPOS confirmed that treatment through lifestyle interventions or the medication metformin were effective long-term in preventing or delaying the development of Type 2 diabetes among adults with prediabetes compared to the participants who received standard care. However, the study participants' risk of having a heart attack, stroke or dying from cardiovascular disease over the 21-year study period did not differ in the metformin or lifestyle intervention groups compared to the standard care group.

The statement provides simplified classifications for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in children and adolescents. ABPM is designed to evaluate a person's blood pressure during daily living activities, including times of physical activity, sleep and stress.

Researchers have found that a carefully orchestrated act of X-chromosome 'yoyo' predicts the successful and efficient development of mammalian egg cells. The findings could pave the way for generating artificial oocytes in the laboratory, helping researchers study the causes and treatments of infertility disorders and test the impact of drugs and chemicals on women's reproduction.

Children who spend more time playing adventurously have lower symptoms of anxiety and depression, and were happier over the first Covid-19 lockdown, according to new research.

Two recent discoveries may help lead to new ways to treat patients with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), a brain development disorder that causes severe intellectual disability and problems with movement.