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Science News Archive April 2022 - Page 25


Page 25 of 37

Clarifying carb confusion: experts propose evidence-based scoring system to assess the overall healthfulness of carb-containing foods

A new 'Carbohydrate Food Quality Score' considers a comprehensive approach to quantify CF quality, incorporating fiber-to-carbohydrate and free sugar ratios, sodium, potassium, and whole grain content. The scoring system aims to offer relevant recommendations to improve nutrient intake and public health.

Accounting for genetic factors that cause normal variations in PSA levels may improve the accuracy of prostate cancer detection

A study suggests that accounting for genetic factors causing normal variations in PSA levels could improve the accuracy of prostate cancer detection. By analyzing data from over 95,000 men, researchers identified a polygenic score that accounted for 7.3-8.7% of variation in baseline PSA levels and was not associated with prostate cancer.

Aprotinin is effective in COVID-19 patients – researchers of Goethe University and University of Kent paved the way

Researchers from Goethe University and University of Kent found aprotinin effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Delta and Omicron, by preventing virus entry into host cells. A recent phase III clinical study demonstrated the treatment reduced hospital stays by five days.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Investigation·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 11, 2022

Neptune is cooler than we thought: Study reveals unexpected changes in atmospheric temperatures

A new study by University of Leicester researchers reveals Neptune's atmospheric temperatures have dropped by roughly 8 degrees Celsius between 2003 and 2018, with unexpected stratospheric warming at the south pole. The cause of these changes is currently unknown, but may be related to seasonal variations in atmospheric chemistry.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalPlanetary Science·TypeObservational study·DateApr 11, 2022

Researchers map lung development after birth into late childhood for the first time

Scientists have constructed a detailed map of lung development after birth, providing insights into the genetic and epigenetic factors that affect lung health. The study used next-generation single-cell sequencing technologies to analyze over 80,000 human and mouse lung cells, revealing clues on how cell types communicate and develop.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCell Genomics·DateApr 11, 2022

Chemists harness the sun to upcycle plastic waste

Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a way to use light and oxygen to upcycle polystyrene into benzoic acid, a product stocked in chemistry labs and used in various products. The process is mild, climate-friendly, and scalable to commercial waste streams.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 11, 2022

Pediatric cancer patients in lower- and middle-income countries faced significantly higher mortality risk during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pediatric cancer patients from lower- and middle-income countries faced a higher risk of all-cause mortality than those in high-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that patients in LMICs had 35.7 times the risk of all-cause mortality compared to those in HICs.

Concussion worse if fighters rapidly cut weight before boxing and MMA matches, ground-breaking study reveals for the first time

Researchers found that fighters who rapidly cut weight before bouts are more likely to suffer concussions or be misdiagnosed with head trauma. The study also discovered that the practice may not offer a competitive advantage and can leave fighters at a disadvantage more often than not.

SourceUniversity of Essex·JournalClinical Journal of Sport Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateApr 11, 2022

Lung cancer drug could improve survival rates for bladder cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

A phase two randomised placebo controlled trial showed giving patients nintedanib, as well as chemotherapy before surgery or radiotherapy, significantly increased overall survival rates at one, two and five years. Nintedanib blocks different proteins from sending signals to cancer cells to grow, causing the cancer cells to die.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 11, 2022

Think piece

Researchers have developed a new MRI technique that captures the brain's function during normal behavior, revealing its activities on a scale previously unknown. This 'time-lapse' imaging method, called manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI), uses manganese as a contrast agent to highlight brain cell activity and neural projections.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalNMR in Biomedicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2022

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy shows promise for opioid addiction treatment

A pair of studies published by Washington State University scientists found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help individuals with opioid addiction reduce their methadone dose and better manage pain and withdrawal symptoms. The treatment involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, resulting in significant dose reduct...

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Addictions Nursing·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 11, 2022

Structure‒tissue exposure/selectivity relationship (STR) correlates with clinical efficacy/safety

Researchers investigated the structure‒tissue exposure/selectivity relationship (STR) in correlation with observed clinical efficacy/toxicity using seven selective estrogen receptor modulators. The results showed that tissue exposure/selectivity of SERMs was correlated with clinical efficacy/safety, while plasma exposure was not.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B·DateApr 11, 2022

New approach for delivery of anti-HIV antibody therapy shows promise in phase I clinical trial

A phase I clinical trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a novel adeno-associated viral vector-based treatment for HIV, producing measurable amounts of a broadly neutralizing antibody. The treatment showed wide-ranging clinical implications for potentially preventing or treating HIV and other infections.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 11, 2022

Former partners-in-crime likely to violently turn on one another – UK crime gang study

A UK crime gang study found that OCG members who previously offended together are more likely to become victims of violence, with a 56-fold increase in risk. The study also revealed cycles of escalating violence within the criminal milieu, with harassment increasing the potential for violence by 243 times.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Quantitative Criminology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 11, 2022

The Kryptonite of the “superhero ideal”

A recent study by Wellesley College psychologist Sally A. Theran suggests that cultivating authentic relationships can help combat the negative effects of the 'superhero ideal' on mental health. Authenticity in relationships is key to mediating the relationship between the pressure to be a perfect achiever and depressive symptoms.

SourceWellesley College·JournalActa Psychologica·TypeSurvey·DateApr 11, 2022

Multidisciplinary approach to weight management – including bariatric surgery – is a viable option for adolescents with obesity

A new study published in Surgical Endoscopy found that adolescents with obesity who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy benefited from reduced obesity and concomitant organ damage, regardless of their age at the time of surgery. Additionally, adolescents with a family history of bariatric surgery had a higher weight prior to weig...

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalSurgical Endoscopy·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 11, 2022

Researchers study how to unlock clinical risk-prediction models so they can be applied to multiple clinical settings

A team of NYU Tandon researchers investigated the variability of mortality prediction models when applied to different hospitals and geographic regions. They found that these models exhibit a lack of generalizability due to dataset shifts in race and clinical variables, leading to disparities in performance across racial groups.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalPLOS Digital Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 11, 2022