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Science News Archive November 2021 - Page 30


Page 30 of 40

A new tool for studying COVID’s impact on gut health

Researchers developed a human Intestine Chip to study coronavirus infection and test potential treatments. The chip showed that nafamostat reduced virus presence while remdesivir damaged intestinal tissue, offering insights into underlying causes of GI symptoms and improving understanding of treatment efficacy and toxicity.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2021

Self-assembled fibrillar networks arranged as a simple model of cytoskeletons induce complex functional responses

Scientists at CiQUS develop a self-assembled fibrillar network that mimics the structure of a possible cytoskeleton inside water droplets or protocells. The resulting system can induce complex responses such as nutrient uptake, membrane fusion, and molecular exchange.

SourceCenter for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2021

Blood plasma protein fibrinogen interacts directly with nerve cells to cause brain inflammation

A USF Health study reveals that fibrinogen can directly interact with neurons, leading to inflammation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. The researchers found that blocking the binding of fibrinogen to its receptors may alleviate short-term memory problems associated with these diseases.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalBiomolecules·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2021

American Pediatric Society names Dr. Megan A. Moreno as the recipient of the 2022 Norman J. Siegel Outstanding Science Award

The American Pediatric Society (APS) has named Dr. Megan A. Moreno the recipient of the 2022 Norman J. Siegel Outstanding Science Award, recognizing her significant contributions to pediatric science and adolescent health. The award acknowledges her pioneering work on social media research and its impact on adolescent wellbeing.

Returning genomic research findings reveals unrecognized disease risks

A new study published in The American Journal of Human Genetics found that 76.3% of participants who received actionable genomic results were unaware they carried increased risk variants, even though half met clinical criteria for genetic testing. Comprehensive sequencing revealed previously missed variants, emphasizing the need for mo...

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalThe American Journal of Human Genetics·DateNov 8, 2021

Ludwig Cancer Research study identifies cell interactions essential to antitumor immunity

A recent Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a crucial cellular interaction that enhances the immune system's ability to destroy cancer cells. The interaction involves antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T lymphocytes (TILs), which work together to boost and sustain T cell functionality. This discovery opens new avenues for tre...

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Cell·DateNov 8, 2021

Genetic analysis uncovers shared evolutionary history of fish fins and vertebrate limbs

Researchers used CRISPR gene-editing tools to show that a gene controlling bone growth in fish fins plays the same role in forming fingers and toes in four-legged creatures. The study suggests that the last common ancestor between ray- and lobe-finned fish already had the genetic toolkit to shape their appendages.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 8, 2021

Climate benefits from modest dips in oil demand likely underestimated, Stanford-led study finds

A new Stanford-led study suggests that decreasing oil demand leads to larger-than-expected carbon reductions, as the impact varies depending on market factors. The research takes into account the global oil market's structure, including perfect competition, oligopoly, and cartel scenarios, to estimate climate benefits.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 8, 2021

Converting methane to methanol -- with and without water

A team at Brookhaven National Laboratory has identified a common industrial catalyst that can efficiently convert methane to methanol with or without water. The findings suggest strategies for improving the water-free conversion, achieving 30% selectivity in the absence of water, and 80% selectivity with water.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2021

Diet restricted size of hunter-gatherer societies

A recent study by McGill University researchers found that hunter-gatherer societies were limited by the seasonal availability of food, with groups in short-growing seasons requiring a high percentage of meat in their diets. This finding is supported by ethnographic observations and simulations using a mathematical model.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateNov 8, 2021

Innovative hub to combine environmental, economic, health and social data to improve outcomes for communities and the environment

A new Digital Solutions Hub will provide a gateway to interconnected toolkits and resources, integrating existing data sources on pollution, flooding, biodiversity, geology, carbon capture, and environmental health. The hub aims to improve decision-making by providing cross-sectional data for informed decisions in various sectors.

Discrimination increases risk for mental health issues in young adults

A UCLA study found that young adults experiencing discrimination are at a higher risk for short- and long-term behavioral and mental health problems. The study suggests that the effects of discrimination are connected to disparities in care and institutional discrimination, leading to inequities in diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes.

New study finds genes and air pollution multiply healthy people’s risk of depression

A new study reveals that genetic predisposition for depression combined with exposure to high-particulate-matter air pollution greatly elevates the risk of depression. The study found that the combination of genes and air pollution has a multiplier effect on the risk of depression, suggesting potentially widespread brain effects.

SourceLieber Institute for Brain Development·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 8, 2021

Human history and migration of disease: Study tracks spread of young-onset heart arrhythmia across continents

A new study tracked the spread of a genetic mutation that causes young-onset heart arrhythmia across continents over centuries. The research found that the mutation was passed down from Northern Europe to other parts of the world through migration, and identified a specific gene, KCNQ1, as the cause of the disease.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 8, 2021

CU epidemiology researchers receive first NIH grant to study inflammatory biomarkers of intermediate age-related macular degeneration

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have been awarded a four-year grant to study systemic biomarkers of inflammation that signal the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The team aims to develop risk profiles for patients with intermediate AMD to predict rapid vision deterioration.

Bedtime linked with heart health

A large study found that sleeping between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm is associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease compared to earlier or later bedtimes. The study also showed that the riskiest time for cardiovascular disease is after midnight, potentially due to reduced morning light exposure.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Digital Health·DateNov 8, 2021