A new study by the University of Plymouth found that biodegradable plastic bags remained functional as carrier bags for over three years when exposed to air, soil, and sea. The compostable bag completely disappeared after just three months in a marine environment, while others continued to show signs of deterioration but remained intact.
A single high-dose treatment has shown promise in treating men with low-risk prostate cancer, reducing the need for multiple visits to the hospital. After two years, 94% of patients showed no sign of cancer returning, while those with medium-risk cancer saw a 95% success rate.
A new study of 2.8 million UK adults found that higher BMI is associated with a significant increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, heart failure, high blood pressure, and premature death. Adults with severe obesity class III are 12 times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have developed a new charge transfer and separation process called Twisted Intramolecular Charge Shuttle (TICS) that enables faster energy conversion in solar cells and photosynthesis. TICS molecules exhibit a bidirectional, role switching phenomenon, paving a new avenue for chemists to construct unique fluorescent probes.
Researchers successfully synthesized nanotwinned cubic boron nitride (nt-cBN) and nanotwinned diamond (nt-diamond) using onion-like boron nitride (oBN) precursors. The size change of oBN precursor results in distinct microstructures, leading to significant alteration of microstructure and performance in the produced materials.
The 2020 US Census resulted in a significant undercount of young children, impacting healthcare resources and funding. Pediatricians urge communities to take action to ensure all children are counted, as the Census has far-reaching implications for education, nutrition, and special education.
A study of over 300,000 Danish children reveals that heavier and taller kids are at greater risk of developing renal cell carcinoma as adults. Heavier boys have a 14% higher risk for every 1 kg weight difference, while taller girls have a 12% increased risk for every 8 cm height difference.
Recent studies found a strong association between teen vaping and increased engagement in nine out of ten sexual risk behaviors, as well as several substance-use behaviors. The research suggests that initiatives to reduce youth substance use and risky behavior should focus on reducing teen vaping at all frequency levels.
Research presented at ESTRO 38 conference finds that high dose radiation therapy significantly improves two-year survival rates for mesothelioma patients. The study, led by Dr. Marco Trovo, suggests radical hemi-thoracic radiotherapy as a new standard of care for this rare and aggressive cancer.
An international study of 14,500 people with obesity and 2,800 healthcare professionals found a significant disconnect between their perceptions. Only 7% of people with obesity reported not being interested in losing weight, despite 71% of healthcare providers believing this.
Research found that one-third of workers have hypertension, and combined work stress and poor sleep increase cardiovascular death risk by three times. Employers should provide stress management and sleep treatment in the workplace, especially for staff with chronic conditions.
Scientists have developed a new material for ultraviolet photodetectors that can detect UV radiation at speeds 100 times faster than existing devices. The new stretchable film uses a unique interlaced-nanowire structure to achieve high response speed and electrical stability.
A new study aims to validate the pediatric version of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) score in the emergency department setting as a predictor of mortality. The pSOFA score showed increasing mortality with higher scores, but poor sensitivity for predicting death in non-infectious patients.
Researchers found that radiotherapy after chemotherapy improved survival in patients with large tumours, with a 7-10% survival benefit at three and five years. This trial suggests that radiotherapy should be considered for these patients to balance cure rates with toxic side effects.
A study of nearly 50,000 Danish women found that those with overweight in childhood were more likely to develop hypertensive disorders during pregnancy than normal-weight peers. Women with higher childhood BMI had a significantly increased risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
A quarter of patients in Scotland have never had their body mass index (BMI) recorded by their GP, according to new research. The study found that only 20-42% of general practices were recording up-to-date BMI data, with significant variations across practices.