Health News
Top stories featured on ScienceDaily's Health & Medicine, Mind & Brain, and Living Well sections.
Reverse effects of trauma? Older brain cells linger unexpectedly before their death
Researchers report that mature oligodendrocytes -- the central nervous system cells critical for brain function -- cling to life following a fatal trauma for much, much longer than scientists knew. The findings suggest a new pathway for efforts to reverse or prevent the damage that aging and diseases such as multiple sclerosis cause to these important cells.
Clear shift in arterial diseases in diabetes
There has been a redistribution in the risk of arterial disease in type 1 and 2 diabetes. The risks of heart attack and stroke have decreased significantly, while complications in more peripheral vessels have increased in relative importance, according to new studies.
Researchers introduce enhanced brain signal analysis technique
Researchers have introduced a new, refined method for analyzing brain signals, enhancing our understanding of brain functionality. This research has the potential to improve treatments for neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, pain, epilepsy and depression.
Could AI play a role in locating damage to the brain after stroke?
Artificial intelligence (AI) may serve as a future tool for neurologists to help locate where in the brain a stroke occurred. In a new study, AI processed text from health histories and neurologic examinations to locate lesions in the brain. The study looked specifically at the large language model called generative pre-trained transformer 4 (GPT-4).
New tool provides researchers with improved understanding of stem cell aging in the brain
Researchers can use the light naturally thrown off by biological specimens to better study the different states of stem cells in the nervous system, thanks to a tool brightening their chances for studying the way stem cells age.
A combination of approved drugs enhances the delivery of anti-bacterial medications to treat tuberculosis
Researchers have found that approved drugs that were originally shown to normalize blood vessels surrounding tumors (to improve drug delivery to cancer cells) can enhance the delivery of anti-microbial medications to kill tuberculosis bacteria residing in the lungs.
Combining epigenetic cancer medications may have benefit for colorectal cancers and other tumor types
A pair of medications that make malignant cells act as if they have a virus could hold new promise for treating colorectal cancers and other solid tumors, reports a new study. The preclinical research determined how low doses of a DNMT inhibitor sensitize cancer cells to an EZH2 inhibitor, resulting in a one-two punch that combats cancer cells better than either drug alone. The findings are the foundation for an upcoming Phase I clinical trial to evaluate this combination in people with colorecta...
Researchers turn back the clock on cancer cells to offer new treatment paradigm
Scientists reversed an aggressive cancer, reverting malignant cells towards a more normal state. Rhabdoid tumors are an aggressive cancer which is missing a key tumor suppressor protein. Scientists discovered that removing a second protein from cancer cells already experiencing tumor suppressor loss can reverse cancer cell identity.
Making long-term memories requires nerve-cell damage
Just as you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, scientists have found that you can't make long-term memories without DNA damage and brain inflammation.
Getting too little sleep linked to high blood pressure
Sleeping fewer than seven hours is associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure over time, according to a new study.
Scientists extract genetic secrets from 4,000-year-old teeth to illuminate the impact of changing human diets over the centuries
Researchers have recovered remarkably preserved microbiomes from two teeth dating back 4,000 years, found in an Irish limestone cave. Genetic analyses of these microbiomes reveal major changes in the oral microenvironment from the Bronze Age to today. The teeth both belonged to the same male individual and also provided a snapshot of his oral health.
Spot-on laser treatment for skin blemishes becoming clearer with new index
Scientists have developed the first wavelength-specific irradiation index for picosecond lasers, which are used in clinical practice to treat pigmented lesions. Comparison with previously reported clinical studies confirmed that clinical results showing low complication rates and high efficacy can be explained by the indicator they developed. The use of this indicator is expected to help set irradiation conditions in clinical practice.
Want to feel young? Protect your sleep
Do you ever find yourself longing for the energy and vitality of your younger years? Feeling young is not just a matter of perception it is actually related to objective health outcomes. Previous studies have shown that feeling younger than one s actual age is associated with longer, healthier lives. There is even support for subjective age to predict actual brain age, with those feeling younger having younger brains. Feeling sleepy can make you feel ten years older.
Social, environmental factors may raise risk of developing heart disease and stroke
Neighborhoods with more adversity have up to twice the increased risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.
Developmental psychology: Concern for others emerges during second year of life
An empirical longitudinal study tracked the emergence of empathic concern in children.
Secrets of the naked mole-rat: new study reveals how their unique metabolism protects them from heart attacks
This unusual, subterranean mammal with extreme longevity shows genetic adaptations to low oxygen environments which could offer opportunities for advancing other areas of physiological and medical research in humans, including the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
New technique for predicting protein dynamics may prove big breakthrough for drug discovery
Understanding the structure of proteins is critical for demystifying their functions and developing drugs that target them. To that end, a team of researchers has developed a way of using machine learning to rapidly predict multiple protein configurations to advance understanding of protein dynamics and functions.
Risk factors for faster aging in the brain revealed in new study
Researchers have used data from UK Biobank participants to reveal that diabetes, traffic-related air pollution and alcohol intake are the most harmful out of 15 modifiable risk factors for dementia.
Not unique to humans but uniquely human: researchers identify factor involved in brain expansion in humans
What makes us human? According to neurobiologists it is our neocortex. This outer layer of the brain is rich in neurons and lets us do abstract thinking, create art, and speak complex languages. An international team has identified a new factor that might have contributed to neocortex expansion in humans.
Popular obesity drugs may lead to medical procedure complications
New research suggests people who are scheduled for certain medical procedures should stop taking popular weight loss drugs in the days or weeks prior to avoid complications.
New enzymatic cocktail can kill tuberculosis-causing mycobacteria
An enzymatic cocktail can kill a variety of mycobacterial species of bacteria, including those that cause tuberculosis.
Safer, more efficient drug discovery
Researchers have discovered a safer and more efficient technique for testing new drugs while they are in development.
Researchers create biocompatible nanoparticles to enhance systemic delivery of cancer immunotherapy
Researchers are enhancing immunotherapy effects against malignant tumors by developing and validating patent-ending poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid), or PLGA, nanoparticles modified with adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.
Researchers discover a mechanism that could improve platinum-based cancer therapy
Researchers say they have discovered that the protein puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (NPEPPS) plays a role in regulating response to platinum chemotherapy in patients with bladder cancer.
The serious side of kid and canine play
With two-thirds of children in the U.S. failing to meet national physical activity guidelines, kinesiologistshave been looking at the impact of the family dog on the exercise habits of kids. Could having a canine best friend get kids on their feet and help bring them more in line with the minimum recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day?
Couples with similar drinking habits may live longer
The couple that drinks together might live longer together, too, says a University of Michigan researcher.
Implantable batteries can run on the body's own oxygen
From pacemakers to neurostimulators, implantable medical devices rely on batteries to keep the heart on beat and dampen pain. But batteries eventually run low and require invasive surgeries to replace. To address these challenges, researchers have devised an implantable battery that runs on oxygen in the body. The study shows in rats that the proof-of-concept design can deliver stable power and is compatible with the biological system.
Accelerating CAR T cell therapy: Lipid nanoparticles speed up manufacturing
Engineers have developed a novel method for manufacturing CAR T cells, one that takes just 24 hours and requires only one step, thanks to the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the potent delivery vehicles that played a critical role in the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines.
Old immune systems revitalized in mouse study, improving vaccine response
Those with aging immune systems struggle to fight off novel viruses and respond weakly to vaccination. Researchers were able to revitalize the immune system in mice.
Memory self-test via smartphone can identify early signs of Alzheimer's disease
Dedicated memory tests on smartphones enable the detection of 'mild cognitive impairment', a condition that may indicate Alzheimer's disease, with high accuracy.
New testing approach improves detection of rare but emerging Powassan virus spread by deer ticks
Researchers have come up with a new, more accurate method for detecting in ticks the emerging Powassan virus, which can cause life-threatening neuroinvasive disease, including encephalitis and meningitis.
Study finds high prevalence of hidden brain changes in people with heart disease
A new analysis involving over 13,000 people has found changes to blood vessels in the brain that can increase the risk of stroke and dementia are common in people with a range of heart conditions, regardless of whether they have experienced a stroke.
New genetic analysis tool tracks risks tied to CRISPR edits
While CRISPR has shown immense promise as a next-generation therapeutic tool, the gene editing technology's edits are still imperfect. Researchers have developed a new system to test and analyze CRISPR-based DNA repair and related risks from unintended but harmful 'bystander' edits.
Researchers show that introduced tardigrade proteins can slow metabolism in human cells
Tardigrade proteins are potential candidates in technologies centered on slowing the aging process and in long-term storage of human cells.
Optimizing electronic health records: Study reveals improvements in departmental productivity
Researchers identify transformative effects of electronic health record (EHR) optimization on departmental productivity.
Just ask: Patients in the ER are willing to get a flu shot
Simply asking patients to get the flu vaccine, and combining it with helpful video and print messages, is enough to persuade many who visit emergency departments to roll up their sleeves, according to a new study.
Researchers identify protein sensor that plays a role in lung fibrosis
Researchers have discovered a protein called SEL1L that plays a critical role in clearing collagen from tissue, and which may be a therapeutic target to help prevent fibrosis, scar tissue that interferes with organ function. The paper provides clues that could lead to drug development for diseases like lung fibrosis which have no therapeutic options currently.
Researchers a step closer to a cure for HIV
A new study shows virus-like particle can effectively 'shock and kill' latent HIV reservoir in those living with chronic HIV.
Beethoven's genes reveal low predisposition for beat synchronization
Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most celebrated musicians in human history, has a rather low genetic predisposition for beat synchronization, according to a new study.
Genetically engineered dendritic cells enhance the power of immunotherapy against lung cancer
A new study suggest that using CXCL9 and CXCL10-producing dendritic cells alongside immunotherapy can be a promising strategy to overcome treatment resistance and improve clinical outcomes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Developmental crossroads in the brain
Study reveals how proteins direct nerve cell precursors to turn into specialized neurons.
Silicon spikes take out 96% of virus particles
An international research team has designed and manufactured a virus-killing surface that could help control disease spread in hospitals, labs and other high-risk environments.
New treatment target identified for Alzheimer's disease
Researchers have identified a new potential target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease -- PDE4B. The researchers observed that AD mice showed memory deficits in maze tests, but memory was unimpaired in AD mice with genetically reduced PDE4B activity.
Macrophages produce heat from brown adipose tissue in response to cold
Our bodies can maintain body temperature in cold environments. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. Researchers elucidated the molecular mechanism by which macrophages, a type of immune cells, control heat production in brown adipose tissue to increase the body temperature in response to cold.
Common degenerative brain disease may begin to develop in middle age
Lewy body disease may be more common in middle-aged people than previously thought, according to a recent study. In the study, almost one in ten of over 50-year-olds were found to have tissue markers of Lewy body disease in the brain.
xCT protein is key link in inhibiting pancreatic cancer growth and limiting mood disturbances
The xCT protein, which plays an important role as a transport molecule in the cell, could play a part in cancer treatment in the future, researchers have discovered. Their recent studies on mice show that targeting the protein can not only reduce tumor growth, it can also help regulate the inflammatory response and improve mood.
Young adults with migraine, other nontraditional risk factors may have higher stroke risk
Nontraditional risk factors such as migraines are as important as traditional risk factors like high blood pressure for adults younger than ages 35-45, finds new study.
New roadmap to prevent pandemics centers on protecting biodiversity
An international team of 25 scientists has proposed a roadmap for how to prevent the next pandemic by conserving natural areas and promoting biodiversity, thereby providing animals with enough food, safe havens and distance to limit contact and the transfer of pathogens to humans.
Large-scale animal study links brain pH changes to wide-ranging cognitive issues
The International Brain pH Project Consortium unveils groundbreaking findings in a large-scale animal model study, indicating altered brain pH and lactate levels as a transdiagnostic endophenotype in neuropsychiatric disorders with cognitive impairment. This collaborative effort, involving 131 researchers across six countries, challenges existing notions and may pave the way for novel strategies in understanding and addressing biologically diverse and debilitating disorders impacting cognitive fu...
Crackdown on illicit drugs detects rise in 'designer' drug substitutes
As authorities crack down on illicit drugs, experts have issued an alert on the use of the synthetic stimulant pentylone, as new research finds a 75% increase in detections across Australia.