ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Research reveals structure of a human endogenous reverse transcriptase

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 01:47 PM PDT

The crystal structure of a human endogenous reverse transcriptase has similarities to HIV reverse transcriptase, a well-known tractable drug target, which will help design drugs to treat cancer and other diseases, according to a study co-authored by a Rutgers researcher.

Researchers discover new leukemia-killing compounds

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 01:00 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered potential new drugs that target mitochondria in cancer cells. Their study in the journal Leukemia describes the compounds' potential for killing leukemia cells when administered by themselves or in combination with other chemotherapies.

Borrowed gene helps maize adapt to high elevations, cold temperatures

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 01:00 PM PDT

An important gene in maize called HPC1 modulates certain chemical processes that contribute to flowering time, and has its origins in 'teosinte mexicana,' a precursor to modern-day corn that grows wild in the highlands of Mexico. The findings provide insight into plant evolution and trait selection, and could have implications for corn and other crops' adaptation to low temperatures.

Signaling molecule potently stimulates hair growth

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:22 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that a signaling molecule called SCUBE3 potently stimulates hair growth and may offer a therapeutic treatment for androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss in both women and men.

Developmentally arrested IVF embryos can be coaxed to divide

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:22 AM PDT

Why do two-thirds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos go into developmental arrest? A new study shows that many embryos stored for IVF undergo characteristic genetic and metabolic changes that inhibit development. These results help explain the loss of developmental ability of many harvested embryos, and may point to strategies for increasing the proportion of developmentally competent embryos.

Scientists engineer synthetic DNA to study 'architect' genes

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:21 AM PDT

Researchers have created artificial Hox genes -- which plan and direct where cells go to develop tissues or organs -- using new synthetic DNA technology and genomic engineering in stem cells. Their findings confirm how clusters of Hox genes help cells to learn and remember where they are in the body.

Dissolving implantable device relieves pain without drugs

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:21 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a small, soft, flexible implant that relieves pain on demand and without the use of drugs. The first-of-its-kind device could provide a much-needed alternative to opioids and other highly addictive medications. It works by softly wrapping around nerves to deliver precise, targeted cooling, which numbs nerves and blocks pain signals to the brain. After the device is no longer needed, it naturally absorbs into the body -- bypassing the need for surgical extraction.

Sleep triggered by stress can help mice cope with later anxiety

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:21 AM PDT

Stress boosts a kind of sleep in mice that subsequently relieves anxiety, according to new research that also pinpoints the mechanism responsible.

Cosmological thinking meets neuroscience in new theory about brain connections

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 10:48 AM PDT

A collaboration between a former cosmologist and a computational neuroscientist generates a new way to identify essential connections between brain cells.

Optical fiber imaging method advances studies of Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 10:48 AM PDT

An optical fiber as thin as a strand of hair holds promise for use in minimally invasive deep-tissue studies of patients' brains that show the effects Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders. The challenge is efficiently increasing image resolution at the subcellular level, because loss of information is inevitable from light scrambling.

How bacteria adhere to cells: Basis for the development of a new class of antibiotics

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Researchers have unraveled how bacteria adhere to host cells and thus taken the first step towards developing a new class of antibiotics.

Researchers propose widespread banking of stool samples for fecal transplants later in life

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Changes in the way that humans live and eat have resulted in tremendous alterations in the gut microbiome, especially over the past few decades. These changes have been linked to increased rates of asthma, allergies, diseases of the digestive system, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions. Scientists propose that we can combat these trends by having individuals bank samples of their own gut microbiota when they are young and healthy for potential use later in life in an autologous fecal microbiota transplant (FMT).

Some viruses make you smell tastier to mosquitoes

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Zika and dengue fever viruses alter the scent of mice and humans they infect, a team of researchers report. The altered scent attracts mosquitoes, which bite the host, drink their infected blood and then carry the virus to its next victim.

The mere sight of a meal triggers an inflammatory response in the brain

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:32 AM PDT

Even before carbohydrates reach the bloodstream, the very sight and smell of a meal trigger the release of insulin. For the first time, researchers have shown that this insulin release depends on a short-term inflammatory response that takes place in these circumstances. In overweight individuals, however, this inflammatory response is so excessive that it can impair insulin secretion.

Shining some light on the obscure proteome

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 01:10 PM PDT

Mass-spectrometry based proteomics is the big-data science of proteins that allows the monitoring of the abundance of thousands of proteins in a sample at once. Therefore, it is a particularly well-suited readout for discovering which proteins are targeted by any small molecule. An international research team has investigated this using chemical proteomics.

Study finds women have more brain changes after menopause

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 01:09 PM PDT

Women who have gone through menopause may have more of a brain biomarker called white matter hyperintensities than premenopausal women or men of the same age, according to a new study.

Organoids reveal similarities between myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Rett syndrome

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Using brain organoids, researchers discover mutational commonalities between muscular dystrophy type 1 and Rett syndrome, suggesting the potential of a similar treatment for both.

Immune cells anchored in tissues offer unique defenses against pathogens and cancers

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Researchers have gained ground in understanding unique immune cells equipped to remember the identities of malicious invaders. The researchers developed a new atlas that describes tissue-resident memory T cells in diverse tissue settings, boosting the prospects of the development of immune defense strategies to enhance immunity at sites vulnerable to infection.

New clues on unsolved genetic diseases in children

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered a new way to interpret unsolved Mendelian diseases -- diseases inherited from either parent due to gene mutations in the developing egg or sperm -- through studying the inheritance of a protein known as SMCHD1 which is coded by the SMCHD1 gene.

Awake prone positioning does not offer benefit in reducing intubation for COVID-19 induced acute respiratory failure

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

A large multicenter, randomized clinical trial revealed no difference in the risk of endotracheal intubation requirement at 30 days between awake prone positioning and standard positioning for patients with COVID-19 who suffered from acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Norovirus and other 'stomach viruses' can spread through saliva

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

A class of viruses known to cause severe diarrheal diseases -- including the one famous for widespread outbreaks on cruise ships -- can grow in the salivary glands of mice and spread through their saliva, scientists have discovered. The findings show that a new route of transmission exists for these common viruses, which afflict billions of people each year worldwide and can be deadly.

Helping babies to sleep more

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Researchers have trained new mothers in skills that help newborns sleep more during the night. New research shows that second children in these families also slept longer.

Researchers develop online portal to show how biases in RNA sequences affect gene expression

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Researchers explain the importance of identifying and understanding how differences between tissues and cells alter gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code.

'Quake brain' effects suffered by resilient Cantabrians fade over time

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

New research suggests the brain function of otherwise-healthy individuals exposed to event trauma has the ability to 'bounce back' over time once the threat resolves. Researchers conducted a follow-up study on a group of Cantabrians, who had been exposed to trauma during the region's earthquakes over a decade ago.

How friends can work together to help protect against unwanted sexual experiences in the first year of college

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

A new study is helping researchers understand how women in their early college years can use friends-based strategies to help avoid unwanted sexual experiences.

Study reveals the job problems contributing to physician suicide

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Physical and mental health, substance use, relationships, legal matters and finances all contribute to physician suicide, a new study shows.

An engaging leadership style may boost employee engagement

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:02 PM PDT

A new analysis suggests that a particular leadership style dubbed 'engaging leadership' can boost employees' engagement and enhance team effectiveness within the workplace.

Pollution exposure associated with multimorbidity risk

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

Exposure to the air pollution known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk of having a cluster of multiple chronic diseases, according to a new study.

Could carbon monoxide foam help fight inflammation?

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

A new way to safely deliver carbon monoxide to the body might help fight inflammation. Inspired by molecular gastronomy, researchers incorporated carbon monoxide into foams that can be delivered to the digestive tract.

Artificial intelligence techniques used to obtain antibiotic resistance patterns

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

New research analyzes antibiotic resistance patterns, with the aim of finding trends that can help decide which treatment to apply to each type of patient and stop the spread of bacteria.

Music is key to converting consumers' good intentions to actual purchases in ethical and sustainable markets

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:12 AM PDT

Companies selling ethical and sustainable products should use up-tempo major mode music in their marketing to help well-meaning consumers convert their good intentions into actual purchases, new research shows.

A new personalized treatment concept to prevent colitis in a mouse model

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

A new oral treatment for ulcerative colitis that focuses on reducing inflammation in gut microbiota has been developed by researchers.

Being mindful can improve your interactions with co-workers, new study finds

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Although mindfulness originates within an individual, a new study has found the benefits do not end with this person. The real payoffs emerge when an individual's mindfulness is translated into mindful interactions and relationships. Such interactions -- infused with intentionality, compassion and presence -- can bring about more harmonious and healthy organizations.

Monitoring COVID-19: Could medicine found in wastewater provide an early warning?

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Research on wastewater finds that a large spike in acetaminophen preceded a spike in viral RNA during one COVID-19 wave in Western New York.

Researchers identify important factors for regulating the body's immune response

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Researchers are learning more about how special regulatory T cells can impact the immune system's response and how those cells could be manipulated for potential treatments for food allergies and autoimmune disease.

RNA modifications in mitochondria promote invasive spread of cancer

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Mitochondria are the power plants of cells, and they contain their own genetic material and RNA molecules. Scientists have now discovered that certain modifications in mitochondrial RNA boost the invasive spread of cancer cells by supporting protein synthesis in mitochondria. They have established that a specific gene expression signature correlating with high levels of mitochondrial RNA modifications is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer. When the researchers blocked the responsible RNA modifying enzyme in cancer cells, the number of metastases was reduced. Certain antibiotics that suppress protein synthesis in mitochondria were also able to prevent the invasive spread of cancer cells in laboratory experiments.

Scientists discover mechanism controlling spread of pancreatic cancer

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Scientists have shown it is possible to reverse a key process that allows pancreatic cancer cells to grow and spread around the body. These findings show that a protein called GREM1 is key to regulating the type of cells found in pancreatic cancer -- and manipulating its levels can both fuel and reverse the ability of these cells to change into a more aggressive subtype. Researchers hope, in the future, to use this knowledge to find ways to reverse more advanced pancreatic cancer into a less aggressive form, which is easier to treat.

SARS-CoV-2 study on mechanisms involved in alveolar infection

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Researchers have simulated SARS-CoV-2 infection in human lungs, thereby generating key insights into the mechanisms involved. Using cultured lung tissue samples, the researchers showed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has only limited capacity for directly infecting cells within human alveoli. The majority of viruses which reach the lungs are ingested by macrophages (cells of the innate immune system). Ingestion activates a targeted anti-viral immune response within these immune cells.

Skin's protective chains uncovered

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:10 AM PDT

The skin's top layer contains a diverse set of hundreds of lipid molecules called ceramides with varying chain lengths that play a vital role in its barrier function.

Measuring levels of proteins in eye fluid may accurately predict need for lifelong macular degeneration therapy

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 07:23 AM PDT

In a study of eye fluid from 38 patients, researchers say they have found that levels of a specific protein appears to help accurately predict whether people with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration may need lifelong, frequent eye injections to preserve vision or if they can be safely weaned off the treatments.

Off-shelf glucose monitors prove accurate for dialysis patients

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 07:22 AM PDT

New research reveals that a factory-calibrated continuous glucose monitor (CGM) may be sufficiently accurate for use by people on dialysis, a group often plagued by dangerous swings in blood-sugar levels.

Combining genetics and brain MRI can aid in predicting chances of Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT

Researchers are studying how a combination of genetics and brain MRIs may be used to predict the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease in the future.

Targeting a human protein to squash SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT

Scientists report that apratoxin S4, an anticancer drug candidate that targets a human protein, can interfere with the replication of many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A, offering a possible pan-viral therapy.

Sleep is linked to heart health

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT

American Heart Association's checklist to measure cardiovascular health is updated, now called Life's Essential 8™, adding healthy sleep as essential for optimal cardiovascular health. Other health and lifestyle factors in the checklist, which were part of the previous, 7-item scoring tool, are nicotine exposure, physical activity, diet, weight, blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. The new sleep metric suggests 7-9 hours of sleep daily for optimal cardiovascular health for adults, and more for children depending on age.

Only 1 in 5 people in the U.S. has optimal heart health

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT

Researchers found the U.S. population is well below optimal levels of cardiovascular health after applying the Life's Essential 8™ cardiovascular health scoring, the American Heart Association's updated metrics to measure heart and brain health. Life's Essential 8™ scoring was calculated using data from more than 23,400 adults and children from national health surveys from 2013-2018. Results show 80% of people in the U.S. have below-optimal cardiovascular health, and scores differed significantly according to age, gender, race/ethnicity, family income and depression status.

Mantle cell lymphoma treatment varies according to setting

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

There is considerable variation in the management of mantle cell lymphoma across different clinical settings, and some strategies do not always conform with what might be expected, according to a recent analysis.

No more binge eating: Signal pathway in the brain that controls food intake discovered

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a novel approach to treating eating disorders. The scientists showed that a group of nerve cells in the hypothalamus (so-called AgRP, agouti-related peptide neurons) control the release of endogenous lysophospholipids, which in turn control the excitability of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, which stimulates food intake.

Chemical risk assessment not up to par, researchers say

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

The current system of chemical risk assessment is inadequate and underestimates levels of flame retardants and other pollutants needed to cause harmful health effects, according to a recent analysis.

Double duty: Early research reveals how a single drug delivers twice the impact in fragile X

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

A new study shows how two major pathways -- AKT and NMD (nonsense-mediated mRNA decay) -- interact in the context of fragile X syndrome. Researchers also found that Afuresertib, a drug currently being tested in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for several types of cancer, inhibits both pathways in neural stem cells that mimic the disease, leading the cells to act more like typical, non-disease cells.

Dynamic cells linked to brain tumor growth and recurrence

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered that aggressive tumors contain highly active cells that move throughout tissue in complicated patterns. What's more, the accumulations of these elongated, spindle-like cells found throughout the tumor, coined 'oncostreams,' serve as the basis for cancerous cells' behavior, determining how tumors grow and invade normal tissue.

Many pain medications can be used for spine-related pain in older adults

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 11:46 AM PDT

Now a new review study has found acetaminophen is safe in older adults, but non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen) may be more effective for spine-related pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories should be used short-term in lower dose courses with gastrointestinal precaution while corticosteroids show the least evidence for treating nonspecific back pain.

Role identified for key gene in developmental disability syndrome

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 10:39 AM PDT

A single gene that was previously found to be the driving force in a rare syndrome linked to epilepsy, autism and developmental disability has been identified as a linchpin in the formation of healthy neurons. Researchers say the gene, DDX3X, forms a cellular machine called a helicase, whose job it is to split open the hairpins and cul-de-sacs of RNA so that its code can be read by the protein-making machinery of the cell.

Scientists identify new brain mechanism involved in impulsive cocaine-seeking in rats

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 10:39 AM PDT

Researchers have found that blocking certain acetylcholine receptors in the lateral habenula (LHb), an area of the brain that balances reward and aversion, made it harder to resist seeking cocaine in a rat model of impulsive behavior. These findings identify a new role for these receptors that may represent a future target for the development of treatments for cocaine use disorder. There are currently no approved medications to treat cocaine use disorder.

Maternal mortality jumped during COVID-19 pandemic

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:34 AM PDT

Researchers compared maternal mortality data from 2018-March 2020, when the pandemic began, to April-December 2020. Overall, they found large increases in maternal death (33%) and late maternal deaths (41%) after March 2020 compared with before the pandemic, and conspicuous increases among Black and Hispanic mothers.

Highly effective memory B cells localized in the lungs

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:34 AM PDT

How can we increase the efficacy of vaccines used to protect against viral respiratory diseases such as influenza and COVID-19? Scientists are opening up new prospects in the field, with the triggering of memory B cells directly in the lungs looking to be a promising avenue. At present, the vaccines are administered intramuscularly and do not trigger the appearance of these cell populations.

Seat assignments drive friendships among elementary school children

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Most teachers focus on academic considerations when assigning seats. A new study is the first to show that these classroom seat assignments also have important implications for children's friendships and the enormous influence that teachers wield over the interpersonal lives of children. Friendships reflect classroom seat assignments. Students sitting next to or nearby one another were more likely to be friends with one another than students seated elsewhere in the classroom. Moreover, longitudinal analyses showed that classroom seating proximity was associated with the formation of new friendships. After seat assignments changed, students were more likely to become friends with newly near-seated classmates than with those who remained or became seated farther away.

Precision antibacterials

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Similar to the vaccines against the coronavirus, RNA-based antibiotics could significantly improve modern medicine. Research teams have investigated the prerequisites that such antibiotics must meet for this strategy to work.

Which COVID-19 vaccine type and timing are best during pregnancy?

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Study examines maternal immune responses and antibody transfer from mother to fetus for different vaccines across pregnancy trimesters.

Microfluidic-based soft robotic prosthetics promise relief for diabetic amputees

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Scientists reveal their development of a new type of prosthetic using microfluidics-enabled soft robotics that promises to greatly reduce skin ulcerations and pain in patients who have had an amputation between the ankle and knee. They started with a recent device that uses pneumatic actuators and miniaturized the actuators by designing a microfluidic chip with 10 integrated pneumatic valves to control each actuator. The control box is small and light enough to be worn as part of the prosthesis.

Immune molecules from a llama could provide protection against a vast array of SARS-like viruses including COVID-19, researchers say

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Researchers have shown that tiny, robust immune particles derived from the blood of a llama could provide strong protection against every COVID-19 variant including Omicron and 18 similar viruses.