Computer model explains altered decision making in schizophrenia

Scientists have built a computer 'brain circuit', or artificial neural network, that mirrors human decision-making processes and sheds light on how circuits might be altered in psychiatric diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123403.htm

Prototype graft, designed to replace damaged heart vessels, shows promise in cell study

Researchers reported promising preclinical findings for a prototype of a vascular graft designed as a replacement for a damaged or blocked coronary artery, which supplies blood to the heart.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123358.htm

Pediatric Cancer Survivors Are Less Likely to Commit Suicide

But that doesn’t mean they contemplate suicide any less than the general population.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/pediatric-cancer-survivors-less-likely-commit-suicide

For COVID-19 Patients, Recovery Often Takes Months

Some patients report breathing problems, irregular heart rates, muscle aches and difficulty concentrating post-COVID.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/covid19-patients-recovery-often-takes-months

AI can detect COVID-19 in the lungs like a virtual physician, new study shows

New research shows that artificial intelligence can be nearly as accurate as a physician in diagnosing COVID-19 in the lungs. The study also shows the new technique can also overcome some of the challenges of current testing.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930144426.htm

Rapeseed instead of soy burgers: Researchers identify a new source of protein for humans

Rapeseed has the potential to replace soy as the best plant-based source of protein for humans. In a current study, nutrition scientists found that rapeseed protein consumption has comparable beneficial effects on human metabolism as soy protein. The glucose metabolism and satiety were even better. Another advantage: The proteins can be obtained from the by-products of rapeseed oil production.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930110124.htm

Regular use of acid reflux drugs linked to heightened risk of type 2 diabetes

Regular use of acid reflux drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs for short, is linked to a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes, finds new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928191238.htm

Epigenetic drivers for Alzheimer's disease uncovered

New findings suggest that late-onset Alzheimer's Disease is driven by epigenetic changes -- how and when certain genes are turned on and off -- in the brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928152907.htm

Antidepressant drug effective in treating 'lazy eye' in adults

Researchers reveal how subanesthetic ketamine, which is used for pain management and as an antidepressant in humans, is effective in treating adult amblyopia, a brain disorder commonly known as 'lazy eye.'

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930144411.htm

Delirium a key sign of COVID-19 in frail, older people

A new analysis, using information from the COVID Symptom Study app and patients admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in London, has shown that delirium -- a state of acute confusion associated with a higher risk of serious illness and death -- is a key symptom of COVID-19 in frail, older people.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930110120.htm

Breaking COVID-19's 'clutch' to stop its spread

The virus that causes COVID-19 uses a clutch-like shifter to enable transcription of one RNA string into multiple proteins, and therein lies a vulnerability. A proof-of-concept study shows it's possible to eliminate that shifter with an RNA-binding compound linked to a 'trash this' signal.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930085151.htm

In deadly COVID-19 lung inflammation, discover a culprit in NFkB pathway

Scientists have made a leap forward in our understanding of how COVID-19 infections trigger deadly levels of lung inflammation. Their discovery of a pathway that sets the lungs ablaze with inflammation has launched a search for new therapeutics that could block this process before it can take off and turn fatal.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929173410.htm

New research provides clues on optimizing cell defenses when viruses attack

Researchers studying interferons, immune response proteins released naturally by human cells when viruses are detected, have uncovered new details on the mechanisms underlying cell defenses. They describe the intricate, time-dependent regulatory mechanisms that human cells use to control the duration and strength of antiviral responses triggered by interferon. Based on these findings, researchers are now able to design time-dependent administrations of interferon to minimize inhibitory factors and boost therapeutic responses.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929152147.htm

ASU study finds association between screen time use, diet and other health factors

In a study recently published in BMC Public Health, Arizona State University researchers found that heavy users of screens -- defined as those who use screens an average of 17.5 hours per day -- reported the least healthful dietary patterns and the poorest health-related characteristics compared with moderate and light users, who averaged roughly 11.3 and 7 hours of screen use per day, respectively.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928191218.htm

Spinal cord stimulation reduces pain and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients

A team of researchers reports that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) measurably decreased pain and reduced motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, both as a singular therapy and as a 'salvage therapy' after deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies were ineffective.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928163757.htm

Tone of voice matters in neuronal communication

Neuronal communication is so fast, and at such a small scale, that it is exceedingly difficult to explain precisely how it occurs. An observation enabled by a custom imaging system, has led to a clear understanding of how neurons communicate with each other by modulating the 'tone' of their signal, which previously had eluded the field.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928163749.htm

How Zika virus degrades essential protein for neurological development via autophagy

Researchers shed new light on how Zika virus hijacks our own cellular machinery to break down an essential protein for neurological development, getting it to 'eat itself'. By triggering this process known as autophagy, Zika virus is able to degrade an important protein, a process that may contribute to the development of neurological or brain deficiencies and congenital birth defects in the newborns of infected pregnant women.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928155750.htm

The ancient Neanderthal hand in severe COVID-19

Genetic variants that leave their carrier more susceptible to severe COVID-19 are inherited from Neanderthals, a new study finds.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200930094758.htm

Understanding the effect of aging on the genome

Scientists have measured the molecular footprint that aging leaves on various mouse and human tissues. Using the data, they have identified likely regulators of this central process.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123448.htm

Timothy Ray Brown, the First Man Cured of HIV, Dies at Age 54

Brown, formerly known as “the Berlin Patient,” died at his home surrounded by his partner and friends.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/timothy-ray-brown-first-man-cured-hiv-dies-age-54

New Resource for Understanding Childhood Leukemia

New NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia offers a comprehensive look at the latest expert recommendations.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/new-nccn-resource-understanding-childhood-leukemia

Complex interplay among cells guides them to where they need to go

Many cells in our bodies are on the move and somehow seem to "know" where to go. But how do they learn the location of their destination? This question is key to understanding phenomena such as the renewal of cells in our body, the migration of cancer cells, and especially how wounds heal.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928125111.htm

Social media use linked with depression, secondary trauma during COVID-19

Can't stop checking social media for the latest COVID-19 health information? You might want to take a break, according to researchers who discovered that excessive use of social media for COVID-19 health information is related to both depression and secondary trauma.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929152149.htm

Weight Loss May Lower Obesity-Related Cancer Risk

A new study finds that lifestyle interventions can reduce the likelihood of developing an obesity-related cancer by 16%.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/weight-loss-may-lower-obesityrelated-cancer-risk

Identical signs of brain damage in sleep apnea and Alzheimer's

New research shows damage in the brain starts in the same place and spreads in the same way in sleep apnea, as in Alzheimer's disease. The study is the first to find Alzheimer's-like amyloid plaques in the brains of people with clinically-verified obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that affects more than 936 million people worldwide.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928103416.htm

Patients' breathing test comes up short on accuracy, study finds

A routine test used to monitor patients' breathing may be unreliable and putting them at risk, a study suggests. Incorrect results can mean clinical staff fail to spot how unwell a patient with respiratory problems is becoming, researchers say.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200927214017.htm

Many ventilation systems may increase risk of COVID-19 exposure, study suggests

Ventilation systems in many modern office buildings, which are designed to keep temperatures comfortable and increase energy efficiency, may increase the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, particularly during the coming winter, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929130301.htm

Nerve cells let others 'listen in'

How many 'listeners' a nerve cell has in the brain is strictly regulated. In the environment of learning neurons, certain processes are set in motion that make signal transmission less exclusive.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113655.htm

Wearable exosuit that lessens muscle fatigue could redesign the future of work

A new clothing-like exoskeleton can reduce back muscle fatigue and providing needed physical relief to material handlers, medical professionals and frontline workers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123514.htm

Discovery enables adult skin to regenerate like a newborn's

A newly identified genetic factor allows adult skin to repair itself like the skin of a newborn. The discovery has implications for wound treatment and preventing some of the aging process in skin. Researchers identified a factor in the skin of baby mice controlling hair follicle formation. When it was activated in adult mice, their skin was able to heal wounds without scarring. The reformed skin even included fur and could make goose bumps.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123512.htm

Genetic risk of developing obesity is driven by variants that affect the brain

Some people are at higher risk of developing obesity because they possess genetic variants that affect how the brain processes sensory information and regulates feeding and behavior. The findings support a growing body of evidence that obesity is a disease whose roots are in the brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123437.htm

Study suggests link between unexplained miscarriages and how women perceive men's body odor

Women who have suffered unexplained repeated pregnancy loss (uRPL) have altered perceptions and brain responses to male body odors, in comparison to those with no history of uRPL, suggests a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200929123400.htm

COVID-19 shapes political approval ratings

During the early days of the pandemic, COVID-19 created a rally effect around political leaders, according to new study. The rise of COVID-19 cases was associated with a 15- to 20-point boost in approval for United States governors and an average 14-point gain for world leaders. It's unclear how long the effect lasts, but the health crisis might be a catalyst to help incumbent governments win re-election.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113625.htm

Novel neuroimaging study on dissociative symptoms reveals wounds of childhood trauma

Brain imaging analyses can uncover changes in functional connections between brain regions linked to dissociative symptoms.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113449.htm

COVID-19: Social distancing is more effective than travel bans, study finds

Travel bans will delay the peak of infection with days, while social distancing has a much stronger impact, amounting in up to 4 weeks delay, scientists report.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928125020.htm

COVID-19: Saliva tests could detect silent carriers

Testing self-collected saliva samples could offer an easy and effective mass testing approach for detecting asymptomatic COVID-19.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928103424.htm

One in three parents plan to skip flu shots for their kids during COVID-19 pandemic, poll finds

According to a new U.S. poll, COVID-19 may not influence parents' beliefs about the flu vaccine, with just one third believing it's more important for children to get vaccinated this year, while one in three parents don't plan to vaccinate children against the flu.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928090506.htm

Study reveals design flaws of chatbot-based symptom-checker apps

Millions of people turn to their mobile devices when seeking medical advice. They're able to share their symptoms and receive potential diagnoses through chatbot-based symptom-checker (CSC) apps. But how do these apps compare to a trip to the doctor's office? Not well, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200926145209.htm

Early introduction of gluten may prevent celiac disease in children, study finds

Introducing high doses of gluten from four months of age into infants' diets could prevent them from developing celiac disease, a study has found, though researchers say further studies are needed before being applied in practice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928125028.htm

COVID-19 may deplete testosterone, helping to explain male patients' poorer prognosis

A study of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 suggests that the disease might deteriorate men's testosterone levels. The study found that as men's testosterone level at baseline decreases, the probability for them to be in the intensive care unit (ICU) significantly increases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928125024.htm

Heating in vaping device as cause for lung injury, study shows

Early results of an experimental vaping study have shown significant lung injury from e-cigarette devices with nickel-chromium alloy heating elements.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928163756.htm

Pandemic sets off future wave of worsening mental health issues

Long after a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and years after the coronavirus death toll is tallied, the impact on mental health will linger, continuing to inflict damage if not addressed, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928163752.htm

Strong activation of anti-bacterial T cells linked to severe COVID-19

A type of anti-bacterial T cells, so-called MAIT cells, are strongly activated in people with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928152855.htm

Study links rising stress, depression in U.S. to pandemic-related losses, media consumption

Experiencing multiple stressors triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic -- such as unemployment -- and COVID-19-related media consumption are directly linked to rising acute stress and depressive symptoms across the United States, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928125055.htm

A genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer's disease promotes immune cell functions

A new study has found that the PLCG2-P522R genetic variant, which protects against Alzheimer's disease, enhances several key functions of immune cells. The results obtained in the study highlight the importance of immune cells as a target of future development of new therapies for Alzheimer's disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113342.htm

Could Honeybee Venom Lead to a Breast Cancer Drug?

The honeybee’s sting contains a compound that kills hard-to-treat breast cancer cells quickly.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/honeybee-venom-lead-breast-cancer-drug

Almost Half of School Employees Could Get COVID-19

An estimated 34 to 44 million adults at increased risk for the virus have a connection to schools.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/almost-half-school-employees-get-covid19

About 14% of cerebral palsy cases may be tied to brain wiring genes

Researchers confirm that about 14% of all cases of cerebral palsy, a disabling brain disorder for which there are no cures, may be linked to a patient's genes and suggest that many of those genes control how brain circuits become wired during early development. The results led to recommended changes in the treatment of at least three patients, highlighting the importance of understanding the role genes play in the disorder.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928152847.htm

Genetic testing cost effective for newly diagnosed GIST

Researchers reported that genetic testing is cost-effective and beneficial for newly diagnosed patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare type of cancer.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928152845.htm

Looking at evolution's genealogy from home

Evolution leaves its traces -- in particular -- in genomes. Researchers used '2-n-way' software to determine the relationships between species or individuals and compare any genome of and for anyone.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928133145.htm

Genetic differences in body fat shape men and women's health risks

New findings about body fat help explain the differing health risks men and women face - and set the stage for better, more targeted treatments.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928093746.htm

Cancer's hidden vulnerabilities

To fight cancer more effectively, a researcher probes its inner workings for metabolic weaknesses.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928093744.htm

Cocaine addiction: Impact of genetic mutations elucidated

Cocaine addiction is a chronic disorder with a high rate of relapse for which no effective treatment is currently available. Scientists recently demonstrated that two gene mutations involved in the conformation of nicotinic receptors in the brain appear to play a role in various aspects of cocaine addiction.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113652.htm

Stem cells can repair Parkinson's-damaged circuits in mouse brains

Researchers demonstrated a proof-of-concept stem cell treatment in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. They found that neurons derived from stem cells can integrate well into the correct regions of the brain, connect with native neurons and restore motor functions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200926145149.htm

160 genes linked to brain shrinkage in study of 45,000 adults

An analysis conducted in 45,000 adults mainly of European ancestry associated 160 genes with brain shrinkage seen on MRI.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200926145147.htm

New analytical model detects mutations in breast cancer

Researchers have developed a computational model which is effective in detecting and identifying genetic mutations in breast tumors. The study, the largest of its kind in the world, includes results from over 3,200 patients with breast cancer.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141505.htm

Reasons for soccer injuries

If professional footballers are out of action due to injuries, this can have serious consequences for the club. However, in order to avoid injuries, it is important to know how exactly and in which situations these injuries typically occur. A research team has used videos to analyze moderate and severe injuries among professional footballers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924135348.htm

Low level alcohol use during pregnancy can impact child's brain development

A new study finds any alcohol use during pregnancy, even low levels, is associated with subtle, yet significant behavioural and psychological effects in children including anxiety, depression and poor attention.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113422.htm

These Secret Safety Panels Will Pick the COVID Vaccine Winners

A small, secret panel of experts have been tasked with reviewing crucial data of coronavirus vaccines that U.S. taxpayers have helped fund.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/secret-safety-panels-will-pick-covid-vaccine-winners

Historical racial and ethnic health inequities account for disproportionate COVID-19 impact

A new article examines the ways in which COVID-19 disproportionately impacts historically disadvantaged communities of color in the United States, and how baseline inequalities in our health system are amplified by the pandemic. The authors also discuss potential solutions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113606.htm

The male Y chromosome does more than we thought

While the Y chromosome's role was believed to be limited to the functions of the sexual organs, a scientist has shown that it impacts the functions of other organs as well.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113438.htm

Carriers of two genetic mutations at greater risk for illness and death from COVID-19

Researchers suggest that carriers of the genetic mutations PiZ and PiS are at high risk for severe illness and even death from COVID-19. These mutations lead to deficiency in the alpha1-antitrypsin protein, which protects lung tissues from damage in case of severe infections. Other studies have already associated deficiency in this protein with inflammatory damage to lung function in other diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200926145205.htm

Last-resort life support option helped majority of critically ill COVID-19 patients survive

The life-support option known as ECMO appears to be saving lives for many of the critically ill COVID-19 patients who receive it. Patients in a new international study faced a staggeringly high risk of death, as ventilators and other care failed to support their lungs. But after they were placed on ECMO, their actual death rate was less than 40 percent.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200926145200.htm

Faced with shortages, researchers combine heat and humidity to disinfect N95 masks

Researchers found that gently heating N95 masks in high relative humidity could inactivate SARS-CoV-2 virus trapped within the masks, without degrading the masks' performance.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200926145145.htm

U.S. hospital admissions for non-COVID-19 have only partially rebounded from initial decline

While declines in U.S. hospital admissions during the onset of COVID-19 has been well-documented, little is known about how admissions during the rebound varied by age, insurance coverage and socioeconomic groups. The decline in non-COVID-19 admissions was similar across all demographic subgroups but the partial rebound that followed shows that non-COVID-19 admissions for residents from Hispanic neighborhoods was significantly lower than for other groups.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925134714.htm

COVID-19 spurs anxious, upsetting dreams

The anxiety, stress and worry brought on by COVID-19 is not limited to daytime hours. The pandemic is affecting our dreams as well, infusing more anxiety and negative emotions into dreams and spurring dreams about the virus itself, particularly among women, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113323.htm

Study shows Massachusetts response to COVID-19 in nursing homes helped stem infection rate

A new paper found that adherence to infection control processes, especially proper wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cohorting strategies, such as grouping residents based on their risk of infection or whether they tested positive for COVID-19, was significantly associated with declines in weekly infection and mortality rates.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113325.htm

Coffee Boosts Survival for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients

A cup of coffee a day is linked to longer life and delayed cancer progression.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/coffee-boosts-survival-metastatic-colorectal-cancer-patients

Color-coded biosensor illuminates in real time how viruses attack hosts

All viruses can only do damage by replicating inside the cells of another organism, their host. Researchers have now shown an important mechanism in this host-attacking process, at the single-molecule level in living cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113636.htm

How do Americans view the virus? Anthropology professor examines attitudes, perceptions of COVID-19

A new study looks at how Americans' attitudes and responses have changed during the time of the pandemic and how to many people, the virus is not a biological agent but instead a malicious actor.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113617.htm

3D-printed nasal swabs work as well as commercial swabs for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, study finds

A clinical trial provides evidence that 3D-printed alternative nasal swabs work as well for COVID-19 diagnostic testing as commercial synthetic flocked nasal swabs. Given the ongoing need for widespread COVID-19 testing, the researchers conclude that 3D printing technology offers a viable, cost-efficient option to address swab supply shortages.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113432.htm

A better alternative to phthalates?

Researchers analyzed urine samples from pregnant women to look for the presence of DINCH, which is short for di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate. They found concentrations of DINCH in most of the urine samples but no evidence of effects in lab assays on two hormones, progesterone and estrogen.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925134725.htm

Comparing face coverings in controlling expired particles

Laboratory tests of surgical and N95 masks show that they do cut down the amount of aerosolized particles emitted during breathing, talking and coughing. Tests of homemade cloth face coverings, however, show that the fabric itself releases a large amount of fibers into the air, underscoring the importance of washing them.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113650.htm

Research challenges conventional wisdom about key autism trait

A new study into the causes of sensorimotor impairments prevalent among autistic people could pave the way for better treatment and management in the future, say psychologists.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113645.htm

Ultrapotent antibody mix blocks COVID-19 virus attachment

A cocktail of powerful antibodies identified in recovered patients locks the coronavirus infection machinery, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 attachment to host cells, and protects animals challenged with the pandemic coronavirus.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200925113427.htm

Genome of Alexander Fleming's original penicillin-producing mold sequenced

Researchers have sequenced the genome of Alexander Fleming's penicillin mould for the first time and compared it to later versions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141545.htm

Mystery of giant proton pump solved

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells, generating energy that supports life. A giant molecular proton pump, called complex I, is crucial: It sets in motion a chain of reactions, creating a proton gradient that powers the generation of ATP, the cell's fuel. Scientists have solved the mystery of how complex I works: Conformational changes in the protein combined with electrostatic waves move protons into the mitochondrial matrix.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141507.htm

Unusual climate conditions influenced WWI mortality and subsequent influenza pandemic

Scientists have spotted a once-in-a-century climate anomaly during World War I that likely increased mortality during the war and the influenza pandemic in the years that followed.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924135323.htm

World first study links obesity with reduced brain plasticity

A world-first study has found that severely overweight people are less likely to be able to re-wire their brains and find new neural pathways, a discovery that has significant implications for people recovering from a stroke or brain injury.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924101936.htm

COVID Exodus Fills Vacation Towns With New Medical Pressures

There is concern that the influx of hospital patients could overwhelm local resources.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/covid-exodus-fills-vacation-towns-new-medical-pressures

Fructose made in the brain could be a mechanism driving Alzheimer's disease, researchers propose

New research proposes that Alzheimer's disease may be driven by the overactivation of fructose made in the brain. The study outlined the hypothesis that Alzheimer's is a modern disease driven by changes in dietary lifestyle that has resulted in excessive fructose metabolism in the brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124802.htm

Verzenio Prevents Recurrence and Metastasis of Early Breast Cancer

The oral targeted therapy lowered the risk of relapse in a late-stage study.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/verzenio-prevents-recurrence-metastasis-early-breast-cancer

'Trojan horse' approach to kill cancer cells without using drugs

Cancer cells are killed in lab experiments and tumor growth reduced in mice, using a new approach that turns a nanoparticle into a 'Trojan horse' that causes cancer cells to self-destruct.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124631.htm

Loneliness levels high during COVID-19 lockdown

During the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown, rates of loneliness among people in the UK were high and were associated with a number of social and health factors, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141620.htm

Accuracy of commercial antibody kits for SARS-CoV-2 varies widely

There is wide variation in the performance of commercial kits for detecting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141549.htm

Talc and petroleum jelly among the best lubricants for people wearing PPE, study finds

Talcum powder, a coconut oil-cocoa butter beeswax mixture, and petroleum jelly provide the best skin protection for long-term PPE use, say scientists.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141512.htm

COVID-19: Berlin scientists lay basis for a passive vaccination

Researchers have identified highly effective antibodies against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and are now pursuing the development of a passive vaccination. In this process, they have also discovered that some SARS-CoV-2 antibodies bind to tissue samples from various organs, which could potentially trigger undesired side effects.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924135401.htm

Some severe COVID-19 cases linked to genetic mutations or antibodies that attack the body

Two new studies offer an explanation for why COVID-19 cases can be so variable. A subset of patients has mutations in key immunity genes; other patients have auto-antibodies that target the same components of the immune system. Both circumstances could contribute to severe forms of the disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141529.htm

Mapping the human heart, cell by cell

Scientists have mapped and described the function of cells in six regions of the adult heart, providing a new foundation for studying heart disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141522.htm

Uncovering a 'suPAR' culprit behind kidney injury in COVID-19

A new observational study finds patients in the hospital for COVID-19 have high levels of soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR), an immune-derived pathogenic protein that is strongly predictive of kidney injury.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924135406.htm

Researchers examine COVID-19 impact on manufacturing

A new study finds that manufacturing response to COVID-19 has been largely reactive and uncoordinated, and many firms' crisis communication plans do not include managing an infectious-disease outbreak.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924135327.htm

Variation in genes associated with viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 unlikely to influence COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, study finds

A comprehensive search of genetic variation databases has revealed no significant differences across populations and ethnic groups in seven genes associated with viral entry of SARS-CoV-2.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924114007.htm

New tool mimics human skin to allow detailed study of mosquito biting

Scientists have developed a tool for studying the biting behavior of common pathogen-carrying mosquitoes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124610.htm

$111M Grant to Focus on HIV-Related Cancers [VIDEOS]

“People living with HIV shoulder an enormous burden of cancer,” said lead researcher Joseph Sparano, MD.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/111m-grant-focus-hivrelated-cancers-videos

Placenta is initiated first, as cells of a fertilized egg divide and specialize

The first stages of placental development take place days before the embryo starts to form in human pregnancies. The finding highlights the importance of healthy placental development in pregnancy, and could lead to future improvements in fertility treatments such as IVF, and a better understanding of placental-related diseases in pregnancy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924114141.htm

New mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2 by antiviral drug remdesivir

Researchers have discovered a novel, second mechanism of action by the antiviral drug remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2. The research team previously demonstrated how remdesivir inhibits the COVID-19 virus's polymerase or replication machinery in a test tube.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924082656.htm

New Smartphone App Very Effective at Helping Smokers Quit

The iCanQuit app is 1 1/2 times more efficacious than National Cancer Institute QuitGuide app, based on US clinical practice guidelines.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/new-smartphone-app-helps-smokers-quit

Prenatal cannabis exposure associated with adverse outcomes during middle childhood

Research shows prenatal cannabis exposure may impact child behavior later in life.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923143550.htm

Gut microbiome plays important role in sleep regulation

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects more than one billion people worldwide. Evidence suggests OSA can alter the gut microbiome (GM) and may promote OSA-associated co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and cognitive problems. Researchers have discovered how OSA-related sleep disturbances affect the gut microbiome in mice and how transplanting those gut bacteria into other mice can cause changes to sleep patterns in the recipient mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124804.htm

Proof-of-concept for a new ultra-low-cost hearing aid for age-related hearing loss

A new ultra-affordable and accessible hearing aid made from open-source electronics could soon be available worldwide, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923143552.htm

COVID-19 opens a partisan gap on voting by mail

A new study documents a growing divide in the United States on preferences for absentee ballots. Before the pandemic, there wasn't any difference in the rates at which Democratic and Republican voters actually cast their ballots by mail or in-person. That may change now.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172614.htm

Neurological consequences of COVID-19: The 'Silent Wave'

Is the world prepared a wave of neurological consequences that may be on its way as a result of COVID-19? A team of neuroscientists and clinicians are examining the potential link between COVID-19 and increased risk of Parkinson's disease, and measures to get ahead of the curve.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172606.htm

When does a second COVID-19 surge end? Look at the data

Using data from all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, two mathematicians have developed a new method to analyze COVD-19 rates to help policymakers identify demonstrable turning points in infection surges.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922112312.htm

UK lockdown and air pollution: Nitrogen dioxide halved but sulfur dioxide doubled

A new study of air pollution in the United Kingdom during the first 100 days of lockdown has revealed that while nitrogen oxide levels were cut by half, levels of sulfur dioxide increased by over 100 percent.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124758.htm

Flood risks: More accurate data due to COVID-19

Emerging use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) makes it possible to continuously measure shallow changes in elevation of Earth surface. A study now shows that the quality of these measurements may have improved significantly during the pandemic, at least at some stations. The results show which factors should be considered in the future when installing GPS antennas.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124736.htm

Likely molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis are revealed by network biology

Researchers have built an interactome that includes the lung-epithelial cell host interactome integrated with a SARS-CoV-2 interactome. Applying network biology analysis tools to this human/SARS-CoV-2 interactome has revealed potential molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The research identified 33 high-value SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic targets, which are possibly involved in viral entry, proliferation and survival to establish infection and facilitate disease progression.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124732.htm

Enrolling in health education courses may help change student's beliefs about stress

College students are under a lot of stress, even more so lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New research finds that college health courses could help students develop a more positive stress mindset.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124728.htm

Death counts fail to capture full mortality effects of COVID-19, study finds

A new study finds that for each person in the U.S. who died after contracting COVID-19, an average of nearly 10 years of life had been lost. Researchers claim 'years of life lost' is a more insightful measure than death count since it accounts for the ages of the deceased.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124557.htm

COVID-19 'prediction model' uses data that can help determine if patients' conditions are likely to worsen

Using a combination of demographic and clinical data gathered from seven weeks of COVID-19 patient care early in the coronavirus pandemic, researchers have published a 'prediction model' they say can help other hospitals care for COVID-19 patients -- and make important decisions about planning and resource allocations.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172624.htm

SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy not associated with complications in neonates, study finds

In a new study, researchers examined the association between a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during pregnancy and complications in mothers and their newborn babies. Almost two out of three pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were asymptomatic and the researchers found no higher prevalence of complications during delivery or of ill-health in the neonates. However, preeclampsia was more common in infected women.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124746.htm

Sport and memory go hand in hand

If sport is good for the body, it also seems to be good for the brain. By evaluating memory performance following a sport session, neuroscientists demonstrate that an intensive physical exercise session improves memory. How? Through the action of endocanabinoids, molecules known to increase synaptic plasticity. School programs and strategies aimed at reducing the effects of neurodegeneration on memory could benefit from the study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124616.htm

Glycans in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein play active role in infection

Many efforts to develop vaccines and therapies to thwart SARS-CoV-2 focus on the coronavirus spike protein, which binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on human cells to allow viral entry. Now, researchers have uncovered an active role for glycans -- sugar molecules that can decorate proteins -- in this process, suggesting targets for vaccines and therapies.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923090426.htm

A cheaper, faster COVID-19 test

Researchers have developed a method for fast, cheap, yet accurate testing for COVID-19 infection. The method simplifies and frees the testing from expensive reaction steps, enabling upscaling of the diagnostics.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923090416.htm

Kidney damage from COVID-19 linked to higher risk of in-hospital death

In an analysis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, kidney damage associated with the infectious disease was linked with a higher risk of dying during hospitalization.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172630.htm

Silk offers homemade solution for COVID-19 prevention

A new study finds that silk fabric performs similarly to surgical masks when used in conjunction with respirators but has the added advantages of being washable and repelling water, which would translate to helping to keep a person safer from the airborne virus.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172628.htm

Patients with COVID-19 may have higher risk of kidney injury

Patients with COVID-19 experience elevated levels of soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR), an immune-derived pathogenic protein that is strongly predictive of kidney injury, researchers have found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172612.htm

Most Adults Wary of Taking Any Vaccine Approved Before the Election

An estimated 60% of Republicans and 46% of Democrats say they wouldn't get inoculated if a vaccine was available.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/adults-wary-taking-vaccine-approved-election

Smart cells: Chemists develop tool with potential to treat illness at the cellular level

New research by an international team of chemists describes a new type of artificial cell that can communicate with other cells within the body -- with potential applications in the field of smart pharmaceuticals.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922135734.htm

How night vision is maintained during retinal degenerative disease

New insight on how people with retinal degenerative disease can maintain their night vision for a relatively long period of time has just been published.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922135726.htm

Is rheumatoid arthritis two different diseases?

While disease activity improves over time for most rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, long-term outcomes only improve in RA patients with autoantibodies, according to a new study. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that RA with and without autoantibodies are two distinct conditions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922144327.htm

Nationwide study shows disparities in COVID-19 infection for Black and Hispanic people

A study of around 5.8 million people who receive care from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that Black and Hispanic people were substantially more likely than their White counterparts to test positive for COVID-19, although no differences in 30-day mortality were observed between these groups.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922144325.htm

Small increase in risk of autism seen for pre- and post-term births

A study of more than 3.5 million Nordic children suggests that the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may increase slightly for each week a child is born before or after 40 weeks of gestation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922144319.htm

Test, isolate, communicate: Keys to controlling a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility

A new study reveals the role that communication played in quashing a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922135755.htm

COVID-19 mortality rates higher among men than women

A new review article shows people who are biologically male are dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than people who are biologically female.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922135751.htm

UV-C light is effective for killing COVID-19 on N95s, study demonstrates

Researchers have demonstrated that certain N95 respirators tainted with COVID-19 can be effectively and safely decontaminated for reuse using ultraviolet-C light (UV-C), a method commonly utilized for treating rare skin diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922135749.htm

Most infants are well even when moms are infected by COVID-19, researchers find

Infants born to women with COVID-19 showed few adverse outcomes, according to new research. The study suggests that babies born to mothers infected with the virus generally do well six to eight weeks after birth. However, there was a higher rate of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions reported if the mothers had COVID-19 up to two weeks prior to delivery.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922135431.htm

Who is the weakest link? A better understanding of global supply chains

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused 'kinks' in the movement of goods and services around the globe, but how important a role do multinational companies play in local economies and supply chains?

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922093419.htm

Web resources bring new insight into COVID-19

Two new web resources put at researchers' fingertips information about cellular genes whose expression is affected by coronavirus infection and place these data points in the context of the complex network of host molecular signaling pathways.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922083905.htm

Children's immune response more effective against COVID-19

Children and adults exhibit distinct immune system responses to infection by the virus that causes COVID-19, a finding that helps explain why COVID-19 outcomes tend to be much worse in adults, researchers report.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922092159.htm

Evaporation critical to coronavirus transmission as weather changes

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, it is increasingly urgent to understand how climate impacts the spread of the coronavirus, particularly as winter virus infections are more common and the northern hemisphere will soon see cooler temperatures. Researchers studied the effects of relative humidity, environmental temperature, and wind speed on the respiratory cloud and virus viability. They found a critical factor for the transmission of the infectious particles is evaporation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922112304.htm

Targeting the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Researchers have successfully treated two patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Using daratumumab, a monoclonal antibody which targets specific immune cells known as plasma cells, the researchers were able to modulate the abnormal immunological memory processes found in these patients. Treatment induced sustainable clinical responses and resulted in a reduction in systemic inflammation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922102422.htm

Parkinson's disease is not one, but two diseases

Researchers around the world have been puzzled by the different symptoms and varied disease pathways of Parkinson's patients. A major study has now identified that there are actually two types of the disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922092156.htm

New drug candidate found for hand, foot and mouth disease

Researchers have identified a potential drug candidate against enterovirus 71, a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease in infants and young children. The compound of interest is a small molecule that binds to RNA, the virus's genetic material, and changes its 3-D shape in a way that stops the virus from multiplying without harming its human host. It's an antiviral strategy that could be used on other hard-to-treat diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922083912.htm

New study reveals why flu can be devastating for pregnant women

New research overturns current scientific thinking on flu infection in pregnancy. The study helps explain why influenza can lead to life-threatening complications during pregnancy. The research also has implications for our understanding of how COVID-19 may be affecting the vascular system.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921151321.htm

It is time to embrace cannabis for medicinal use, say experts

Attitudes towards cannabis products for medicinal use need to change with much greater appropriate use of such products to help alleviate patients' pain, suggests new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921210847.htm

Biomarker indicating neurodegeneration identified in the eye

A new study indicates a well-known biomarker that serves as a marker for earlier diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is now detectable in the eye. Neurofilament light chain, a protein previously detected in cerebrospinal fluid and blood that is being explored as a biomarker to detect neurodegeneration, has now been identified in the vitreous humor, or fluid within the eye.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921135403.htm

Corona-induced CO2 emission reductions are not yet detectable in the atmosphere

The impact of the corona pandemic will reduce worldwide carbon dioxide emissions by up to eight percent in 2020. Cumulative reductions of about this magnitude would be required every year to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2030. Measurements now revealed that concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has not yet changed due to the estimated emission reductions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921102540.htm

Key discovery in psoriatic arthritis points way for developing targeted treatments

The strongest evidence yet of a single cause for psoriatic arthritis has been discovered by researchers. The disease may be activated by the same trigger in different patients which, if identified, could move towards creating therapies that would prevent psoriatic arthritis, and potentially providing a cure.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921083707.htm

Study identifies innovative responses to pandemic school meal program disruption

A new study estimates that more than 1.15 billion breakfasts and lunches for low-income children were not served in school as a result of school closures between March 9 and May 1. States and school districts have developed innovative solutions to meet the nutritional needs of low-income children and respond to the rapidly growing food insecurity crisis, yet the number of replacement meals is likely far short of what they provided prior to the pandemic.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918112138.htm

Most homemade masks are doing a great job, even when we sneeze, study finds

A new study examined the effectiveness of common household fabrics in blocking droplets. Researchers tested the breathability and droplet-blocking ability of 11 common household fabrics, using a medical mask as a benchmark. The fabrics selected ranged from new and used garments, quilted cloths, bedsheets and dishcloth material.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918111920.htm

New way to halt leukemia relapse shown promising in mice

Drugs tackling chronic myelogenous leukemia have completely transformed prognoses of patients over the last couple of decades, with most cases going into remission. But drug resistance can occur, leading to relapses. Targeting the lipids involved in regulating part of a leukemia stem cell's life span offers a potential second route to defeat the disease -- and solid tumorous cancers as well.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918104257.htm

After developing CRISPR test, researchers validate clinical feasibility for COVID-19 testing

In March, researchers began to develop a new, low-cost, CRISPR-based diagnostic platform to detect infectious diseases, including HIV virus, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Today, the method is one step closer to being a cutting-edge diagnostics technology for rapid detection of infectious diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918104241.htm

Study sheds light on cancer treatment, COVID-19

Researchers have found that certain treatments for cancer may increase the chance of death if they contract COVID-19.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200919101012.htm

BCG vaccination in infancy does not protect against COVID-19, Swedish data indicate

Using information from the Swedish public health agency, researchers determined that BCG vaccination during infancy does not protect against COVID-19. Their results suggest that other, related factors likely underlie the disparities between countries.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921115550.htm

Long-term COVID-19 containment will be shaped by strength, duration of immunity

New research suggests that the impact of natural and vaccine-induced immunity will be key factors in shaping the future trajectory of the global coronavirus pandemic, known as COVID-19. In particular, a vaccine capable of eliciting a strong immune response could substantially reduce the future burden of infection, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921141454.htm

How to improve the surgery backlog during COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, many non-urgent surgeries were delayed. Now, a new paper explains how to address the backlog of surgeries, without compromising patient outcomes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921130638.htm

Richmond emergency room experienced a surge in opioid overdoses during pandemic

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have released data showing an alarming surge in opioid-related overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonfatal opioid overdose visits to the VCU Medical Center emergency department in Richmond increased from 102 between March and June 2019 to 227 between March and June 2020. That's an increase of 123%.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921111706.htm

Social distancing and microbial health

Social distancing is a key component of the expert-recommended strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Avoiding contact with others, however, may have repercussions in a person's gut microbiome. A new article calls for scientists to more closely examine the ways in which COVID-19 -- and our response to it -- interact with microbial health.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917135522.htm

Research produces different results from key China COVID-19 study

Early in the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a small study in China produced results that influenced subsequent research on the virus. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati used the same study parameters on a much larger patient population and reached completely different findings.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917135505.htm

Stroke scans could reveal COVID-19 infection

New research has found that COVID-19 may be diagnosed on the same emergency scans intended to diagnose stroke.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917122830.htm

Rapid test for COVID-19 shows improved sensitivity

A CRISPR-based diagnostic for the SARS-Cov-2 virus can produce results in less than an hour with similar accuracy as the standard PCR test now used.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917122824.htm

AI could expand healing with bioscaffolds

Artificial intelligence can speed the development of 3D-printed bioscaffolds that help injuries heal, according to researchers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921135407.htm

Physical and cognitive function have improved meaningfully in 30 years

The functional ability of older people is nowadays better when it is compared to that of people at the same age three decades ago.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921115600.htm

Strong markets for cultured meat across meat-reducing Germany and France

New research shows substantial markets for cultured meat and movements towards meat reduced diets across Germany and France.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921102536.htm

Vitamin E needed for proper nervous system development

In research with key ramifications for women of childbearing age, scientists show that embryos produced by vitamin E-deficient zebrafish have malformed brains and nervous systems.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921083718.htm

Researchers discover new molecules for tracking Parkinson's disease

New research describes an innovative method for identifying molecules that can help track the progression of Parkinson's disease. This proof-of-concept study could change the paradigm for how researchers screen and test new molecules for studying a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921112438.htm

'Front of package' nutrition labels improved nutrition quality

A new study analyzing 16 years of data on tens of thousands of products finds that the adoption of nutrition data on 'front of package' labels is associated with improved nutritional content of those foods and their competitors.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921111725.htm

Giant spider provides promise of pain relief for irritable bowel syndrome

Molecules from the venom of one of the world's largest spiders could help researchers tailor pain blockers for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921100347.htm

When is HIIT the best exercise fit?

Determining whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an appropriate form of exercise for the average person has been hotly debated for years. But for one researcher, there's not much to debate -- interval exercise, when used appropriately, can fit into people's menu of flexible exercise options.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921100345.htm

Online training helps preemies

An international team of researchers has now found that computerized training can support preterm children's academic success. In their randomized controlled study 'Fit for School', the researchers compared two learning apps.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921100341.htm

Soft robots, origami combine for potential way to deliver medical treatments

Researchers have found a way to send tiny, soft robots into humans, potentially opening the door for less invasive surgeries and ways to deliver treatments for conditions ranging from colon polyps to stomach cancer to aortic artery blockages.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921102551.htm

Archaeology uncovers infectious disease spread 4000 years ago

New bioarchaeology research has shown how infectious diseases may have spread 4000 years ago, while highlighting the dangers of letting such diseases run rife.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921091535.htm

What Is the Risk of Catching the Coronavirus on a Plane?

The risk of catching the virus on a plane is relatively low if airlines are following the procedures laid out by public health experts.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/risk-catching-coronavirus-plane

Your cells look young for their age, compared to a chimp's

Many humans live to see their 80s, some even reach 100. But chimpanzees rarely make it past 50, despite sharing 99% of our genetic code. While modern medicine has added years to human lifespans, a study points to a more ancient explanation why humans are the long-lived primate. Part of the secret to human longevity may lie in chemical changes to our DNA that slowed the rate of aging after human ancestors diverged from chimps.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200921083720.htm

AACR Releases First Cancer Disparities Progress Report

New report highlights cancer's toll on racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/aacr-releases-first-cancer-disparities-progress-report

Uncovering the clock that sets the speed of embryo development

Why do pregnancies last longer in some species than others? Researchers have found the clock that sets the speed of embryonic development and discovered the mechanism is based on how proteins are made and dismantled. The study could also help us understand how different mammals evolved from one another and help refine methods for regenerative medicine.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917181310.htm

Humans develop more slowly than mice because our chemistry is different

Scientists have found that the 'segmentation clock' -- a genetic network that governs the body pattern formation of embryos -- progresses more slowly in humans than in mice because the biochemical reactions are slower in human cells. The differences in the speeds of biochemical reactions may underlie differences between species in the tempo of development.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917181243.htm

Many practitioners are not prescribing HIV prevention medication

Only about 54% of medical practitioners surveyed say they have prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, to HIV-vulnerable patients, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917181238.htm

Authoritative new analysis links increased omega-3 intake to cardioprotection and improved cardiovascular outcomes

A new study provides the most comprehensive analysis of the role of omega-3 dosage on cardiovascular prevention to date. The meta-analysis, which is an in-depth review of 40 clinical trials, provides authoritative evidence for consuming more EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 fats.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084102.htm

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at Age 87

The Supreme Court justice died from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-dies-age-87

A better informed society can prevent lead poisoning disasters

An article address unresolved scientific questions that can help avert future lead poisoning disasters. A better-informed society can prevent such disasters from happening through improved risk assessment, anticipation and management of factors affecting lead release.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918154522.htm

Early Puberty in Girls Increases Adult Breast Cancer Risk. Here’s Why

A growth hormone and estrogen exposure could explain why those who experience early puberty are at greater risk.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/early-puberty-girls-increases-adult-breast-cancer-risk

Connecting the dots on food access

A new study simultaneously examined the preferences of community members and compared those with the community-based programs and resources available to identify the most viable strategies for addressing disparities in healthy food consumption.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918135959.htm

Coffee associated with improved survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

In a large group of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, consumption of a few cups of coffee a day was associated with longer survival and a lower risk of the cancer worsening, researchers report in a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917181251.htm

Novel mechanism may confer protection against glaucoma

Researchers provides the first evidence that patients with ocular hypertension may exhibit superior antioxidant protection that promotes resistance to the elevated intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917135511.htm

Nose's response to odors more than just a simple sum of parts

Based on highly sensitive recordings of neuron activity in the noses of mice, researchers have found that olfactory sensory neurons can exhibit suppression or enhancement of response when odors are mixed, overturning a long-standing view that the response is a simple sum with more complex processing only happening at later stages.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918104252.htm

Mosquito-borne viruses linked to stroke

A deadly combination of two mosquito-borne viruses may be a trigger for stroke, new research has found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918104235.htm

New high-speed test shows how antibiotics combine to kill bacteria

Researchers have developed a new method to determine - rapidly, easily and cheaply - how effective two antibiotics combined can be in stopping bacterial growth. The new method is simple for laboratories to use and can provide greater scope for customizing treatment of bacterial infections.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917181240.htm

Unverricht-Lundborg disease is more common in Finland than elsewhere in the world

Based on reported cases, Unverricht-Lundborg disease, also known as progressive myoclonic epilepsy-1A, EPM1, is more common in Finland than anywhere else in the world, a new study finds.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918104248.htm

Algorithms uncover cancers' hidden genetic losses and gains

Limitations in DNA sequencing technology make it difficult to detect some major mutations often linked to cancer, such as the loss or duplication of parts of chromosomes. Now, methods developed by computer scientists will allow researchers to more accurately identify these mutations in cancerous tissue, yielding a clearer picture of the evolution and spread of tumors than was previously possible.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917180202.htm

Keys to control the 'driver of cancer's aggressiveness'

A dangerous protein named SNAI2 helps cancers metastasize and shields cancer from both the immune system and chemotherapy. Worse, SNAI2 is in a family of proteins that are notoriously hard to fight with drugs. But now researchers have found a way to use the cell's recycling system to control SNAI2, providing a new possibility for treatments.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917122836.htm

As Schools Reopen Amid COVID-19, Teachers Worry About Their Mental Health

According to a national poll by NPR and Ipsos this July, 82% of K-12 teachers were concerned about returning to the classroom.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/schools-reopen-amid-covid19-teachers-worry-mental-health

A scientific first: How psychedelics bind to key brain cell receptor

For the first time, scientists solved the high-resolution structure of these compounds when they are actively bound to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor on the surface of brain cells. This discovery is already leading to the exploration of more precise compounds that could eliminate hallucinations but still have strong therapeutic effects. Psilocybin - the psychedelic compound in mushrooms - has already been granted breakthrough status by the FDA to treat depression.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917181259.htm

Time-restricted feeding improves health without altering the body's core clock

For the first time, scientists have studied the early effects of time-restricted feeding on the daily periodic oscillations of metabolites and genes in muscle, and metabolites in blood. The findings find that time-restricted feeding does not influence the muscle's core clock, and opens the door to more research on how these observed changes improve health.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105416.htm

Potential target identified for migraine therapy

Researchers have identified the protein GLT-1 as the neurotransmitter glutamate transporter in the brain that is related to cortical spreading depression, a pathological condition that underlies migraines. The researchers found that mice lacking GLT-1, but not other glutamate receptors, were more susceptible to cortical spreading depression than were controls. GLT-1 might therefore be a potential target for migraine therapy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105337.htm

Mathematical modelling to prevent fistulas

It is better to invest in measures that make it easier for women to visit a doctor during pregnancy than measures to repair birth injuries. This is the conclusion from mathematicians, using Uganda as an example.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105335.htm

Cancer Survivor Tig Notaro Turns Her Humor to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The comedian, who stood up to cancer, isn’t about to let a little global health crisis get her down.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/cancer-survivor-tig-notaro-turns-humor-coronavirus-pandemic

Higher dementia risk in women with prolonged fertility

Women with a longer reproductive period had an elevated risk for dementia in old age, compared with those who were fertile for a shorter period, a population-based study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105419.htm

Metformin for type 2 diabetes patients or not? Researchers now have the answer

Metformin is the first-line drug that can lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. One third of patients do not respond to metformin treatment and 5 per cent experience serious side effects, which is the reason many choose to stop medicating. Researchers have now identified biomarkers that can show in advance how the patient will respond to metformin treatment via a simple blood test.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105333.htm

Engineered bacteria churn out cancer biomarkers

Pity the glycan. A lab has created these very tools by commandeering simple, single-celled microorganisms - namely E. coli bacteria - and engineering them to explore the complex process of glycosylation and the functional role that protein-linked glycans play in health and disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105409.htm

New cause of syndromic microcephaly identified

A team of international collaborators identifies a new cause of syndromic microcephaly caused by LMNB1 mutations that disrupt the nuclear envelope.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105408.htm

Why the dose matters: Study shows levels and anti-tumor effectiveness of a common drug vary widely

When used to manage infections, the drug itraconazole is generally given at a single, fixed dose to all patients. But determining the correct dosage of the drug to help treat cancer isn't that simple, new research suggests.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105356.htm

Smoking linked to bleeding in the brain in large, long-term study of twins

Researchers in Finland found a link between smoking and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a type of bleeding stroke, in a study of more than 16,000 pairs of twins over 42 years. The study found that bleeding in the brain can be explained to a greater degree by environmental risk factors, such as smoking, than by genetic influence.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084557.htm

Improving the efficacy of cellular therapies

A new study deepens the understanding of the development of T cell, an important component of the immune system.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084552.htm

Live imaging method brings structural information to mapping of brain function

Neuroscientists distinguish brain regions based on what they do, but now have a new way to overlay information about how they are built, too.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084111.htm

Children who take steroids at increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clots

Children who take oral steroids to treat asthma or autoimmune diseases have an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood clots, according to new researchers. The study is the first to quantify these complications of oral steroids in a nationwide population of children.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084109.htm

Typhoid: Study confirms Vi-DT conjugate vaccine is safe and immunogenic in children 6-23 months

A new study shows that single-dose and two-dose regimens of Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) are safe and immunogenic in children 6-23 months of age, a group with high rates of typhoid fever in resource-limited settings.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084052.htm

The key to happiness: Friends or family?

Think spending time with your kids and spouse is the key to your happiness? You may actually be happier getting together with your friends, a new study finds.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084049.htm

New smart drug delivery system may help treatment for neurological disorders

A research team has created a smart drug delivery system that reduces inflammation in damaged nervous tissues and may help treat spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders. The system, which uses extremely thin biomaterials implanted in the body, also protects nerve fibers (axons) that connect nerve cells in injured neural tissues, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084045.htm

New gene implicated in neuron diseases

Failures in a quality control system that protects protein-building fidelity in cells can lead to motor neuron degeneration and related diseases, according to a new study shows.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916154845.htm

Discoveries made in how immune system detects hidden intruders

Research has led to better understanding on how components of the body's immune system find intruding or damaged cells, which could lead to novel approaches to viral and cancer treatments.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916154843.htm

A ferry protein in the pancreas protects it from the stress induced by a high-fat diet

Scientists have now uncovered a key mechanism by which pancreatic function is maintained in response to a high-fat diet. A protein present in pancreatic insulin-producing cells protects them from damage under the stress induced by a high-fat diet. As the world increases its intake of high-fat foods and as type 2 diabetes incidence rises as a result, this protein could be a novel therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916131047.htm

Injectable hydrogel could someday lead to more effective vaccines

Vaccines have curtailed the spread of several infectious diseases, such as smallpox, polio and measles. However, vaccines against some diseases, including HIV-1, influenza and malaria, don't work very well, and one reason could be the timing of antigen and adjuvant presentation to the immune system. Now, researchers have developed an injectable hydrogel that allows sustained release of vaccine components, increasing the potency, quality and duration of immune responses in mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916090536.htm

Loneliness predicts development of type 2 diabetes

New research has shown for the first time that people over 50 who report higher levels of loneliness are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915105943.htm

How New Nutrition Legislation Could Help Cancer Patients and Survivors

The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act would increase access to MNT for Medicare beneficiaries beyond the number of currently covered conditions.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/new-nutrition-legislation-help-cancer-patients-survivors

T cells take the lead in controlling SARS-CoV-2 and reducing COVID-19 disease severity

A multi-layered, virus-specific immune response is important for controlling SARS-CoV-2 during the acute phase of the infection and reducing COVID-19 disease severity, with the bulk of the evidence pointing to a much bigger role for T cells than antibodies. A weak or uncoordinated immune response, on the other hand, predicts a poor disease outcome.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916154841.htm

As pandemic progressed, people's perceived risks went up

A recent study documents how personal risk assessment and protective behaviors are linked.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916154839.htm

Replicating a genome starts with a twist, a pinch, and a bit of a dance

DNA replication begins with a set of proteins -- the Origin of Replication Complex (ORC). Researchers published images of the human ORC in exquisite detail, showing how it changes shapes in dramatic ways as it assembles around DNA.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916113426.htm

How COVID-19 Set the World Back 25 Years in 25 Weeks

A Gates Foundation report tracks the pandemic’s global devastation—from health care to equality—and highlights a path forward.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/covid19-set-world-back-25-years-25-weeks

Why the Virus Is Less Likely to Spread at the Gym Than in a Bar

“The whole idea that it’s a risky place to be … around the world, we just aren’t seeing those numbers anywhere."


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/virus-less-likely-spread-gym-bar

Building bridges: PARP enzymes bring broken DNA together

Researchers capture the structure of PARP enzymes at work, leading to a new understanding of DNA repair that may aid cancer treatments targeting the process.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916113532.htm

Next-gen organoids grow and function like real tissues

Bioengineers have created miniature intestines in a dish that match up anatomically and functionally to the real thing better than any other lab-grown tissue models. The biological complexity and longevity of the new organoid technology is an important step towards enabling drug testing, personalized medicine, and perhaps, one day, transplantations.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916113529.htm

Researchers ask: how sustainable is your toothbrush?

Researchers have examined the sustainability of different models of the most commonly used oral health product - the toothbrush - to ascertain which is best for the planet and associated human health.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916113456.htm

Epidemics and pandemics can exacerbate xenophobia, bigotry

Instincts developed to protect us from illnesses can generalize into avoidance of healthy individuals who simply look, speak or live differently.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916131101.htm

Potential COVID-19 drug azithromycin may increase risk for cardiac events

Azithromycin -- a commonly-prescribed antibiotic -- also is being investigated as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Researchers have found that azithromycin by itself is not associated with an increase in cardiac events; however, if the drug is taken with certain other drugs that affect the electrical functioning of the heart, then cardiac events increased.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916113422.htm

Factors inherent to obesity could increase vulnerability to COVID-19

Conditions related to obesity, including inflammation and leaky gut, leave the lungs of obese patients more susceptible to COVID-19 and may explain why they are more likely to die from the disease, scientists say. They suggest that drugs used to lower inflammation in the lungs could prove beneficial to obese patients with the disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916094240.htm

1 in 10 COVID-19 patients return to hospital after being sent home from ER

A new study finds patients with low pulse oximetry readings or fever were more than three times as likely to require hospitalization after their initial discharge as compared to other COVID-19 patients.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915194245.htm

Scientists uncover a novel approach to treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Scientists have shown that pharmacological (drug) correction of the content of extracellular vesicles released within dystrophic muscles can restore their ability to regenerate muscle and prevent muscle scarring. The study reveals a promising new therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an incurable muscle-wasting condition, and has far-reaching implications for the field of regenerative medicine.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915090134.htm

A new discovery in regenerative medicine

Researchers have made an unexpected world-first stem cell discovery that may lead to new treatments for placenta complications during pregnancy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916113540.htm

COVID-19 virus uses heparan sulfate to get inside cells

Researchers discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can't grab hold of cell receptor ACE2 without a carbohydrate called heparan sulfate, which is also found on lung cell surfaces -- disrupting that interaction with a repurposed drug may help treat COVID-19.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915152448.htm

Better material for wearable biosensors

Researchers have used electrospinning to make porous silicone that allows sweat to evaporate.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200916090528.htm

Late childhood peer group status linked to heightened adult circulatory disease risk

Late childhood peer group status may be linked to a heightened risk of developing circulatory system disease --- conditions that affect the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels -- in later life, indicates new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915194255.htm

Study connects hormones we're born with to lifetime risk for immunological diseases

Differences in biological sex can dictate lifelong disease patterns, says a new study by Michigan State University researchers that links connections between specific hormones present before and after birth with immune response and lifelong immunological disease development.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915194243.htm

NIH ‘Very Concerned’ About Serious Side Effect in Coronavirus Vaccine Trial

FDA weighs whether to resuming coronavirus vaccine trial halted due to adverse event.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/nih-concerned-serious-side-effect-coronavirus-vaccine-trial

A new approach to understanding the biology of wound healing

Researchers use discarded wound dressings as a novel and non-invasive way to study the mechanisms that promote healing.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915152443.htm

Older people with early, asymptomatic Alzheimer's at risk of falls

Older people without cognitive problems who experience a fall may have undetected neurodegeneration in their brains that puts them at high risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915140133.htm

Scientists develop mathematical index to distinguish healthy microbiome from diseased

What causes some people to develop chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and metabolic syndrome while others stay healthy? A major clue could be found in their gut microbiome -- the trillions of microbes living inside the digestive system that regulate various bodily functions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915140127.htm

Key role of immune cells in brain infection

Researchers have identified the specific type of immune cell that induces brain inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Crucially, they have also determined the signalling protein that calls this immune cell into the brain from the bloodstream. The findings could aid the development of targeted treatments for the brain infection, which is the most common cause of viral encephalitis worldwide.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915133159.htm

Real neurons are noisy: Can neural implants figure that out?

Signals sent from the retina to the brain have a lot of background noise, yet we see the world clearly. Researchers show that to achieve visual clarity the brain must accurately measure how this noise is distributed across neurons when processing the signals sent down the optic nerve. These results are likely to shape the design of future retinal prosthetics and other brain-machine interfaces.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915133156.htm

Human white blood cells use molecular paddles to swim

Human white blood cells, known as leukocytes, swim using a newly described mechanism called molecular paddling, researchers report. This microswimming mechanism could explain how both immune cells and cancer cells migrate in various fluid-filled niches in the body, for good or for harm.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915133154.htm

People react better to both negative and positive events with more sleep

New research finds that after a night of shorter sleep, people react more emotionally to stressful events the next day -- and they don't find as much joy in the good things. This has important health implications: previous research shows that being unable to maintain positive emotions in the face of stress puts people at risk of inflammation and even an earlier death.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915121310.htm

To repair a damaged heart, three cells are better than one

CardioClusters use three types of cells to reduce scar tissue and improve function by integrating into and persisting within damaged heart tissue.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915110005.htm

Risk gene for Alzheimer's has early effects on the brain

A genetic predisposition to late-onset Alzheimer's disease affects how the brains of young adults cope with certain memory tasks. Researchers find are based on studies with magnetic resonance imaging in individuals at the age of about 20 years. The scientists suspect that the observed effects could be related to very early disease processes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915110001.htm

Doctors get plenty of advice on starting treatment; this could help them know when to stop

Decades of effort have improved the chances that patients will get the scans, routine tests and medicines that can do them the most good - and avoid the ones that won't help them at all. But in the push toward evidence-based medicine, a new study says, a key step has mostly gotten overlooked: helping doctors stop or scale back - or deintensify - treatment once it has started.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914115904.htm

The Wnt pathway gets even more complicated

A new role for Casein Kinase-1 on RNF43 is identified.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915105957.htm

Rising temperatures could shift US West Nile virus transmission

West Nile virus spreads most efficiently in the US at temperatures between 24-25 degrees Celsius (75.2-77 degrees Fahrenheit), a new study shows.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915105932.htm

Researchers use soy to improve bone cancer treatment

Researchers showed that the slow release of soy-based chemical compounds from a 3D-printed bone-like scaffold resulted in a reduction in bone cancer cells while building up healthy cells and reducing harmful inflammation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915090132.htm

Biologic therapy for psoriasis may reduce heart disease

Biologic therapy for psoriasis - protein-based infusions to suppress inflammation - was associated with a significant reduction in high-risk plaque in heart arteries, over one-year, according to new research. The positive association between biologic therapy and a decrease in high-risk plaque in heart arteries was significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and psoriasis severity.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915090119.htm

Two amino acids are the Marie Kondo of molecular liquid phase separation

Biologists have identified unique roles for the amino acids arginine and lysine in contributing to molecule liquid phase properties and their regulation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915090114.htm

Glass tables can cause life-threatening injuries

Faulty glass in tables can cause life-threatening injuries, according to a new study, which provides evidence that stricter federal regulations are needed to protect consumers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915090112.htm

Cannabis farms are a modern slavery 'blind spot' for UK police, study suggests

Migrants arrested for tending plants in the flats, houses and attics where cannabis is grown in bulk are often victims of trafficking and 'debt bondage' - yet many are not recognized as such by police, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200915090106.htm

Braving the Cold of Antarctica to Raise Money for Cancer

Mitchel Beres ran 10 miles around McMurdo Station for Obliteride 2020.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/braving-cold-antarctica-raise-money-cancer

Hostility linked with higher risk of death after second heart attacks

Heart attack patients who are sarcastic or irritable could be putting their health at risk. 'Hostility is a personality trait that includes being sarcastic, cynical, resentful, impatient or irritable.'

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914194029.htm

Combining two precision medicines can treat drug-resistant cancers

Launching a dual-pronged attack on tumours using a combination of two innovative precision medicines could treat patients with multiple common cancers, a new clinical trial shows.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914194027.htm

Human activities promote disease-spreading mosquitoes; more study needed for prevention

Disease-spreading mosquitoes may be more likely to occupy areas impacted by human activities like pesticide use and habitat destruction, than they are areas less disturbed by humans, a recent study found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914172925.htm

Virtual reality trains public to reverse opioid overdoses

The United States has seen a 200% increase in the rate of deaths by opioid overdose in the last 20 years. But many of these deaths were preventable. Naloxone, also called Narcan, is a prescription drug that reverses opioid overdoses, and in more than 40 states there is a standing order policy, which makes it available to anyone, without an individual prescription from a healthcare provider.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914160752.htm

Excessive lung release of neutrophil DNA traps may explain severe complications in COVID-19 patients

Researchers have detected significant amounts of DNA traps in distinct compartments of the lungs of patients who died from Covid-19. These traps, called NETs, are released massively into the airways, the lung tissue and the blood vessels. Such excessive release could be a major contributor to severe disease complications leading to in-hospital death.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914114129.htm

How to Prevent Breast Cancer Pharmacologically

Several preventive medications have been shown to reduce risk.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/prevent-breast-cancer-pharmacologically

Substance use disorders linked to COVID-19 susceptibility

A recent study found that people with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more susceptible to COVID-19 and its complications. The findings suggest that health care providers should closely monitor patients with SUDs and develop action plans to help shield them from infection and severe outcomes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914115900.htm

Is Dining Out a Risk Factor for COVID-19?

A new CDC study leaves the question of indoor versus outdoor dinning unanswered.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/dining-risk-factor-covid19

Immune system affects mind and body, study indicates

Researchers have discovered that a molecule produced by the immune system acts on the brain to change the behavior of mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914131915.htm

Botox for TMJ disorders may not lead to bone loss in the short term, but more research is needed

Botox injections to manage jaw and facial pain do not result in clinically significant changes in jaw bone when used short term and in low doses, according to researchers. However, they found evidence of bone loss when higher doses were used.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914131910.htm

New treatments for deadly lung disease could be revealed by 3D modeling

A 3D bioengineered model of lung tissue is poking holes in decades worth of flat, Petri dish observations into how the deadly disease pulmonary fibrosis progresses.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914112226.htm

DNA damage caused by migrating light energy

Ultraviolet light endangers the integrity of human genetic information and may cause skin cancer. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that DNA damage may also occur far away from the point of incidence of the radiation. They produced an artificially modeled DNA sequence in new architecture and detected DNA damage at a distance of 30 DNA building blocks.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914112216.htm

Fast and efficient method to produce red blood cells developed

Researchers have developed a faster and more efficient way to manufacture red blood cells that cuts down on cell culture time by half. The cells are frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed on demand to produce matured RBCs in only 11 days, removing the need for continuous 23-day manufacturing. The team also designed complementary technology for more targeted cell sorting and purification.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914095905.htm

Bioactive nano-capsules to hijack cell behavior

Many diseases are caused by defects in signaling pathways of body cells. In the future, bioactive nanocapsules could become a valuable tool for medicine to control these pathways. Researchers have taken an important step in this direction: They succeed in having several different nanocapsules work in tandem to amplify a natural signaling cascade and influence cell behavior.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914095903.htm

Painless paper patch test for glucose levels uses microneedles

Researchers have developed a microneedle patch for monitoring glucose levels using a paper sensor. The device painlessly monitors fluid in the skin within seconds. Anyone can use the disposable patch without training, making it highly practical. Additionally, fabrication is easy, low cost, and the glucose sensor can be swapped for other paper-based sensors that monitor other important biomarkers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914095848.htm

Embryos taking shape via buckling

The embryo of an animal first looks like a hollow sphere. Invaginations then appear at different stages of development, which will give rise to the body's structures. Although buckling could be the dominant mechanism that triggers invagination, it has never been possible of measuring the tiny forces involved. This gap has finally been filled.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914095846.htm

Asthma patients given risky levels of steroid tablets

More than one quarter of asthma patients have been prescribed potentially dangerous amounts of steroid tablets, with researchers warning this puts them at greater risk of serious side-effects.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200913162929.htm

Role of protein in development of new hearing hair cells

Researchers have conducted a study that has determined the role that a critical protein plays in the development of hair cells. These hair cells are vital for hearing. Some of these cells amplify sounds that come into the ear, and others transform sound waves into electrical signals that travel to the brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200911200012.htm

Gene could decrease likelihood of developing alcoholic cirrhosis

Researchers are learning more about how a person's genes play a role in the possibility they'll suffer from alcoholic cirrhosis with the discovery of a gene that could make the disease less likely.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200911200010.htm

Quantum thermometer using nanodiamonds senses a 'fever' in tiny worms C. elegans

Measuring the temperature of objects at a nanometer-scale has been a long challenge, especially in living biological samples, because of the lack of precise and reliable nanothermometers. An international team of researchers has realized a quantum technology to probe temperature on a nanometer-scale, and have observed a 'fever' in tiny nematode worms under pharmacological treatment. This strengthens the connection between quantum sensing and biology and ushers in novel thermal imaging technologies in biomedical research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200911141739.htm