ScienceDaily: Top Health News

New method boosts the study of regulation of gene activity

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 11:31 AM PDT

Researchers report the development of a chemical-based sequencing method to quantify different epigenetic markers simultaneously. Their method, called NT-seq, short for nitrite treatment followed by next-generation sequencing, is a sequencing method for detecting multiple types of DNA methylation genome-wide.

'Soft' CRISPR may offer a new fix for genetic defects

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 11:31 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a new CRISPR-based technology that could offer a safer approach to correcting genetic defects. The new 'soft' CRISPR approach makes use of natural DNA repair machinery, providing a foundation for novel gene therapy strategies with the potential to cure a large spectrum of genetic diseases.

When ASD occurs with intellectual disability, a convergent mechanism for two top-ranking risk genes may be the cause

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 10:00 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered a convergent mechanism that may be responsible for how two top-ranked genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorder/intellectual disability (ASD/ID) lead to these neurodevelopmental disorders.

New sibling diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 08:31 AM PDT

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently listed a new sibling diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), termed complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). An international team has now summarized the symptoms of the long-awaited new diagnosis and issued guidelines for clinical assessment and treatment.

Protecting the brain from dementia-inducing abnormal protein aggregates

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 07:27 AM PDT

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are defined by pathogenic accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain. Now, however, scientists have established that the p62 protein, which is involved in cellular protein degradation, can prevent the accumulation of toxic oligomeric tau species in mouse brains, proving the 'neuroprotective' function of p62 in a living model.

Scientists warn of links between soil pollution and heart disease

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 07:27 AM PDT

Pesticides and heavy metals in soil may have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system, according to a review paper.

HIV speeds up body's aging processes soon after infection, study shows

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 07:27 AM PDT

HIV has an 'early and substantial' impact on aging in infected people, accelerating biological changes in the body associated with normal aging within just two to three years of infection, according to new research.

Plug-and-play test for keeping track of immunity to Sars-CoV-2 variants

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 07:27 AM PDT

Many antibody tests have been developed since the pandemic started, but very few are designed to specifically detect the Sars-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies which prevent infection. Based on protein complementation, the modular method described here is the first of its kind to measure neutralizing antibodies against variants, from a drop of blood, in under one hour and at low cost.

Machine-learning algorithms can help health care staff correctly diagnose alcohol-associated hepatitis, acute cholangitis

Posted: 01 Jul 2022 07:27 AM PDT

New research finds that machine-learning algorithms can help health care staff distinguish the two conditions. Researchers show how algorithms may be effective predictive tools using a few simple variables and routinely available structured clinical information.

Floating in space might be fun, but study shows it's hard on earthly bodies

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 10:48 AM PDT

Bone loss happens in humans -- as we age, get injured, or any scenario where we can't move the body, we lose bone. Understanding what happens to astronauts and how they recover is incredibly rare. It lets us look at the processes happening in the body in such a short time frame. We would have to follow someone for decades on Earth to see the same amount of bone loss.

Winning by default: Tonsillectomy study shows power of pre-set opioid Rx size

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:44 AM PDT

A small tweak to hospitals' prescribing systems might make a big difference in reducing risk from leftover opioid pain medication, while still making sure surgery patients get relief from their post-operation pain, a new study suggests.

Novel gene for Alzheimer's disease in women identified

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:32 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a new gene called MGMT that increases the risk of Alzheimer's in women.

Road injuries are killing young people, and it's hardly slowing down

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:29 PM PDT

Traffic and unintentional injuries are the leading cause of adolescent deaths worldwide.

Up to 540,000 lives could be saved worldwide by targeting speed and other main areas

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:29 PM PDT

A new series highlights the growing problem of road traffic injuries and lays out some opportunities for preventing injuries and saving lives. The series offers a comprehensive analysis of this rising public health threat.

Exercise-induced central fatigue -- low oxygen supply clouds judgment

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Research on the effects of exercise in low-oxygen environments on the brain demonstrated that cognitive performance worsens when lower-than-usual amounts of oxygen are carried by the blood. Consequently, tissue in brain regions with less critical functions may receive inadequate oxygen supply to maintain normal activity levels.

Study paves the way towards a more precise use of CRISPR

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:10 AM PDT

The results of a Danish research study may be the key to a more effective use of the revolutionary gene technology CRISPR.

When more is more: Identifying cognitive impairments with multiple drawing tasks

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT

Researchers have found that extracting drawing features from a combination of five drawing tasks -- rather than from any single task alone -- leads to more accurate classification of people with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease by capturing different, complementary aspects of cognitive impairments. Their proposed portable, easy-to-use screening test may improve patient diagnosis, leading to earlier and more effective treatments.