ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Spiral wave teleportation theory offers new path to defibrillate hearts, terminate arrhythmias

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 05:15 PM PDT

Researchers offer a new method to disrupt spiral waves that uses less energy and that may be less painful than traditional defibrillation.

Oral antiviral drug effective against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:20 PM PDT

An oral antiviral drug that targets a key part of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) polymerase and inhibits the synthesis of viral genetic material has been identified, a finding that could provide an effective treatment against RSV disease.

With roommates, it's all about chemistry, molecularly speaking

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:07 PM PDT

Researchers describe how the microbiomes of people and the homes they live in interact and change each other.

Changed gene expression after heart surgery extends cardiomyocyte regeneration

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:07 PM PDT

While lower vertebrates can repair their adult hearts after a heart attack, mammals -- including humans -- cannot. The ability to regenerate dead muscle tissue in mammalian hearts disappears just a few days after birth because the heart muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes, exit the cell cycle. In 2020, researchers reported that surgery to remove the left ventricle apex of the heart of pigs, one day after birth, somehow extended the replication ability of heart muscle cells. To better understand the underlying gene expression changes in this extended regeneration window, researchers now report nuclear RNA-sequencing of heart muscle cells, using this porcine model. From such knowledge, and much further research yet to come, clinicians may potentially learn how to regenerate adult heart cardiomyocytes after a heart attack.

Environmental factors predict risk of death

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:06 PM PDT

Along with high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, environmental factors such as air pollution are highly predictive of people's chances of dying, especially from heart attack and stroke, a new study shows.

Arsenic in private well water contributes to low birth weight even at low levels

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:06 PM PDT

In the largest epidemiologic study of arsenic and birth outcomes to date, researchers estimated arsenic levels in U.S. private well water sources by county and compared estimates to documented birth outcomes. They found an association between estimated groundwater arsenic concentration and risk of low birth weight.

Flu vaccination linked to 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 09:38 AM PDT

People who received at least one influenza vaccine were 40% less likely than their non-vaccinated peers to develop Alzheimer's disease over the course of four years, according to a new study.

'Brain bleeds' in babies first year can lead to long-term sight problems, study finds

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:54 AM PDT

Severe 'brain bleeds' experienced by some babies in the first year following their birth can lead to long-term sight problems, researchers have found as part of a ten-year follow-up study.

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy helps protect infants from needing hospital care for COVID-19

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:54 AM PDT

A new study provides additional evidence that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps protect babies younger than 6 months from being hospitalized due to COVID-19.

New deep learning model helps the automated screening of common eye disorders

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:51 AM PDT

Automation in disease diagnosis is reliant on deep learning models that can accurately and efficiently identify measurements of tumors, tissue volume, or other sorts of abnormalities. Now, researchers have unveiled a new, resource-light model capable of identifying many common eye diseases.

The octopus' brain and the human brain share the same 'jumping genes'

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:51 AM PDT

The neural and cognitive complexity of the octopus could originate from a molecular analogy with the human brain, according to a new study. The research shows that the same 'jumping genes' are active both in the human brain and in the brain of two species, Octopus vulgaris, the common octopus, and Octopus bimaculoides, the Californian octopus.

Sight problems may increase dementia risk in older adults

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:49 AM PDT

Older adults with untreated sight conditions may be at increased risk of dementia, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 76,373 participants.

Females itch less than males

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:24 AM PDT

The female hormone estradiol was found to suppress psoriasis in mice by regulating neutrophil and macrophage cells. The conditional knockout mice without the natural ovarian hormones estradiol showed symptoms of severe skin inflammation.

Wearable chemical sensor is as good as gold

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:24 AM PDT

Researchers created a special ultrathin sensor, spun from gold, that can be attached directly to the skin without irritation or discomfort. The sensor can measure different biomarkers or substances to perform on-body chemical analysis. It works using a technique called Raman spectroscopy, where laser light aimed at the sensor is changed slightly depending on whatever chemicals are present on the skin at that point. The sensor can be finely tuned to be extremely sensitive, and is robust enough for practical use.

Developmental dyslexia essential to human adaptive success

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:24 AM PDT

Researchers say people with developmental dyslexia have specific strengths relating to exploring the unknown that have contributed to the successful adaptation and survival of our species.

A new model sheds light on how we learn motor skills

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:23 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a mathematical model of motor learning that reflects the motor learning process in the human brain. Their findings suggest that motor exploration -- that is, increased variability in movements -- is important when learning a new task. These results may lead to improved motor rehabilitation in patients after injury or disease.

Women's heart attacks are often missed: This gene may help explain why

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 03:42 PM PDT

Newly identified genes may help explain why women experience different heart disease symptoms than men do, which often leads to misdiagnosing serious problems.

Study identifies unique underlying molecular factors driving melanoma development

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 03:42 PM PDT

A new study reveals important molecular information that could help scientists develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies for a difficult-to-treat form of melanoma skin cancer.

Methods from weather forecasting can be adapted to assess risk of COVID-19 exposure

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 01:43 PM PDT

Engineers can adapt weather forecasting models to give individuals a personalized assessment of their risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other diseases.

COVID's Catch-22: The paradox of masking and disease

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

Standard infection models for COVID-19 tend to focus only on disease states, overlooking the dynamics of a complex paradox: While masking reduces transmission rates and consequently disease prevalence, the reduction of disease inhibits mask-wearing -- thereby promoting epidemic revival.

Smart implants to monitor healing

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:36 PM PDT

Researchers are creating patient-specific 3D-printed smart metamaterial implants that double as sensors to monitor spinal healing.

New biomarkers unlock potential for more effective treatment of deadly cancers

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:36 PM PDT

A new study focused on decoding the genetic chaos found in cancer cells reveals novel biomarkers with the potential to improve the development of precision therapies and treatment selection for the deadliest types of cancer.

A potentially more effective treatment for HER2 mutant metastatic breast cancer

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:06 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a HER2 mutation that confers therapeutic resistance and promotes metastatic behavior in lobular breast cancer. Importantly, they also showed that the drug poziotinib, which is already approved for other cancer types, reduced tumor growth and multi-organ metastasis in laboratory tests and animal models. A phase II clinical trial is on the works to determine the value of this drug in the treatment of patients with this devastating condition.

As US obesity epidemic grows, new study shows who is gaining weight over the last decade

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:06 AM PDT

Research looked at the long-term weight gain of more than 13,800 U.S. adults -- a rare data point unearthed in obesity research. The study shows more than half of American adults gained 5% or more body weight over a 10-year period and more than a third of American adults gained 10% or more body weight. Just under a fifth gained 20% or more body weight.

New technology helps reveal inner workings of human genome

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:06 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new method to assess on a large scale the three-dimensional structure of the human genome, or how the genome folds. The genome is the complete set of genetic instructions, DNA or RNA, enabling an organism to function.

Many human genomes shaped by past events that caused sharp dips in the population, study finds

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

The genomes of many human populations show evidence of founder events, which occur when a small number of initial members start a new population, and can lead to low genetic diversity as well as increase the risk of certain genetic diseases in the new population.

Silence for thought: Special interneuron networks in the human brain

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

Scientists map prominent differences in the neural circuits of mice, monkeys, and human.

Researchers discover solutions to gender bias in autism diagnoses

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

A new study demonstrates that an equal number of girls and boys can be identified as having concerns for autism spectrum disorder when screened earlier, correcting large gender differences in current diagnoses.

Personal health trackers may include smart face mask, other wearables

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

New research demonstrates different ways to improve wearable bioelectronic devices and materials to provide better real-time monitoring of a person's health, including vital signs.

Lipid nanoparticles carry gene-editing cancer drugs past tumor defenses

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

As they grow, solid tumors surround themselves with a thick, hard-to-penetrate wall of molecular defenses. Getting drugs past that barricade is notoriously difficult. Now, scientists have developed nanoparticles that can break down the physical barriers around tumors to reach cancer cells. Once inside, the nanoparticles release their payload: a gene editing system that alters DNA inside the tumor, blocking its growth and activating the immune system.

Researchers untangle the APOE4 gene, the most significant genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:10 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered two important novel aspects of the gene: 1) human genetic background inherited with APOE4 is unique to APOE4 patients and 2) the mechanistic defects due to APOE4 are unique to human cells.

Cardiac rehab attendance lower among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults at all income levels, study finds

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

In a study of more than 107,000 people eligible for cardiac rehabilitation programs, Asian, Black and Hispanic adults were significantly less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation programs compared to white adults. These differences in cardiac rehabilitation participation were seen at all income levels. The timeframe between hospital discharge and starting cardiac rehabilitation, which can affect recovery and health outcomes, was also at least a week longer among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults compared to white adults.

Are babies the key to the next generation of artificial intelligence?

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Babies can help unlock the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI), according to neuroscientists who have just published new guiding principles for improving AI. The research examines the neuroscience and psychology of infant learning and distills three principles to guide the next generation of AI, which will help overcome the most pressing limitations of machine learning.

'Structural racism' cited in study of breast-biopsy delays

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Black and Asian women are more likely than white women to experience significant delays in getting breast biopsies after a mammogram identifies an abnormality. Moreover, those delays appear to be influenced by screening site-specific factors that may stem from structural racism, according to new research.

Hair-raising research: Scientists find surprising link between immune system, hair growth

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected molecular target of a common treatment for alopecia, a condition in which a person's immune system attacks their own hair follicles, causing hair loss. The findings describe how immune cells called regulatory T cells interact with skin cells using a hormone as a messenger to generate new hair follicles and hair growth.

Modeling a devastating childhood disease on a chip

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Millions of children globally suffer from environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that causes malnutrition and stunts their growth. A new Organ Chip models this devastating disease in living human tissue for the first time in vitro. This EED Chip allowed researchers to tease out the complex interplay of genetics and nutrition underpinning the disease, and offers clues for the development of future treatments.

Cancer survivors grew to 18 million in the US; more than two-thirds aged 65 years or older

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 07:37 AM PDT

A new report shows more than 18 million Americans (8.3 million males and 9.7 million females) with a history of cancer were living in the United States as of January 1, 2022, with a little over 12 million (67%) aged 65 years or older. The study also found substantial racial disparities in treatment and survival for common cancers.

'Travel therapy': Could holidays help mental health and wellbeing?

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

Many of us will have likely heard of music therapy and art therapy -- but what about 'travel therapy'? A new cross-disciplinary paper proposes we change how we view tourism, seeing it not just as a recreational experience but as an industry that can provide real health benefits.

COVID vaccines are safe for patients with cardiovascular disease

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with established cardiovascular disease, according to a large study.

Untangling the role of tau in Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

A team of scientists has revealed how excess tau -- a key protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease -- impairs signaling between neurons in the brains of mice. The study could open new pathways for treating the symptoms and even halting the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Increase in leptin levels in preeclampsia prompts cardiovascular cascade that puts mother and baby at risk

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

Scientists have found that a midgestation increase in the hormone leptin, which most of us associate with appetite suppression, produces problematic blood vessel dysfunction and restriction of the baby's growth in preeclampsia that put mother and baby at risk.

Scarless skin grafting using mussel adhesive protein

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

A professor develops a bioadhesive based on the mussel adhesive protein for sutureless skin grafting. Skin regenerative effect maximized with controlled releases of dual drugs.

Listeria-based booster improves vaccine's protection against recurring colon cancer

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

New research in mice has paved the way for a Phase I clinical trial and has the potential to transform vaccines against HIV and malaria.

Surgeons develop new technique to reduce Adam's apple without neck scar

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 01:45 PM PDT

Doctors at the UCLA Gender Health Program have developed a technique to reduce an Adam's apple bump without leaving a scar on the patient's neck.

Blood test developed to predict liver cancer risk

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 01:45 PM PDT

An estimated one-quarter of adults in the U.S. have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an excess of fat in liver cells that can cause chronic inflammation and liver damage, increasing the risk of liver cancer. Now researchers have developed a simple blood test to predict which NAFLD patients are most likely to develop liver cancer.

Process to customize molecules does double duty

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 01:45 PM PDT

Chemists developed a method to add two fragments to an alkene molecule in a single process. The discovery could simplify drug and materials design.

ALS may be linked to both the immune and central nervous systems

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 12:49 PM PDT

The immune system may play a fundamental role along with the central nervous system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as 'Lou Gehrig's disease,' researchers report.

Biomarkers found that could be drug targets against a deadly form of brain cancer

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 11:19 AM PDT

Biomarkers that could be targets for novel drugs to treat glioblastoma brain tumors have been identified, providing hope for a cancer that is highly lethal. This new finding provides early evidence that there may be a benefit in targeting specific alterations in cancer cells with newer agents once a patient's tumor becomes resistant to temozolomide.

Scientists identify sensor underlying mechanical itch

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 11:18 AM PDT

New finding could lead to better drug treatments for chronic itch conditions, like eczema.

Attitudes around older motherhood too often emphasize risk and pregnancy timing

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 11:18 AM PDT

A political science professor argues that much of the official language around older motherhood is rooted in both ageism and ableism, as well as being out of step with current childbirth trends. The average age of childbirth has been rising steadily since the mid-1960s, and in some countries, more women are giving birth between the ages of 35 to 39 than between 20 and 24. But societal expectations of mothers remain largely unchanged.

Uncovering links between grit and cognitive function

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 11:18 AM PDT

Gritty people may be more able to self-regulate and show 'cautious control' -- but don't necessarily have greater cognitive ability, according to a new study.

Hormones are linked with sleep apnea, snoring in postmenopausal women

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 11:18 AM PDT

A new study has found an association between obstructive sleep apnea risk and low estrogen and progesterone levels in women.

Breast cancer spreads at night, study shows

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

A new study shows that breast cancer metastases form more efficiently while patients are sleeping. The finding could significantly change the way cancer is diagnosed and treated in future.

Deletion of Wt1 gene produces alterations in the reproductive organs of mice

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 08:31 AM PDT

The deletion of the Wt1 gene during the early stages of the embryonic reproductive organ formation leads to differences in sex development in adult mice, according to a new study.

Young adults with higher exposure to household air pollution show worse lung function

Posted: 22 Jun 2022 08:31 AM PDT

A new study has evaluated the link between air pollution and lung function of young adults who had recently attained their expected maximum lung function. The study found that participants with higher exposure to ambient and household air pollution had worse results in lung function tests.