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Science News Archive September 2022 - Page 18


Page 18 of 38

Researchers decipher the mechanism that enables skin cancer to metastasize to the brain - and inhibited its spread by 80%

Tel Aviv University researchers discovered that skin cancer cells interact with astrocytes in the brain, promoting metastasis. By inhibiting this interaction using existing treatments, they delayed the spread of melanoma to the brain by 60-80%. This breakthrough has implications for treating advanced-stage melanoma.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalJCI Insight·DateSep 20, 2022

Updated climate models clouded by scientific biases, researchers find

A recent study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences identifies compensating errors in widely used climate model protocols, known as CMIP6. The researchers analyzed five CMIP6 models and found large uncertainties in cloud microphysical properties, including cloud fraction, liquid water path, and droplet effective radius.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateSep 20, 2022

Treating aneurysms with injectable toothpaste-like biomaterials

Researchers have developed an injectable shear-thinning hydrogel that exhibits enhanced cohesive strength, resisting fragmentation even under pulsating liquid flows. The gel, similar to toothpaste, retains its structure when force is removed, making it a potential breakthrough in treating critical vascular conditions.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2022

New study explains link between diabetes and UTIs

Research at Karolinska Institutet shows that people with diabetes have lower levels of psoriasin, a key peptide that weakens the bladder's protective barrier function. This increases the risk of urinary tract infections. Oestrogen therapy may help regulate the immune response to UTIs in patients with diabetes.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2022

Life imitates mica

Helen Hansma proposes that primitive life emerged from precursors corralled between layers of mica, offering a stable environment for molecules to grow and processes to develop. The presence of potassium ions in micaceous clay supports this hypothesis, as cells have high intracellular concentrations of potassium.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateSep 20, 2022

Traditoinal medicine could give new hope to heart patients

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a new mechanism in ARVC that could lead to a potential treatment strategy. They found that activating sirtuin-3 can slow down disease progression, and honokiol, a natural product extracted from the tulip tree, has been shown to work similarly.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalCirculation·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2022

New in Ethics & Human Research, September-October 2022 issue

The Hastings Center introduces five ethical criteria to improve human subject protections in phase I healthy volunteer trials and research biopsies. These guidelines focus on translational science value, fair opportunity and burden sharing, fair compensation for service, experiential welfare, and enhanced voice and recourse.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalEthics & Human Research·TypeObservational study·DateSep 19, 2022

Crop disruption from war in Ukraine could increase global carbon emissions, food prices

A new study predicts that the disruption of crop production in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion will lead to increased global carbon emissions and food prices. However, other countries are stepping up their production to compensate for the loss, which may alleviate food insecurity but with significant environmental impacts.

SourceIndiana University·JournalNature Food·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 19, 2022

Deformation fingerprints will help researchers identify, design better metallic materials

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new method to capture and predict the fatigue strength of metallic materials using automated high-resolution electron imaging. This approach allows for rapid prediction of metal failure and breakage, leading to design of safer and more resilient materials for various applications.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2022

How can surveys inspire more women to report abortions?

Researchers found that certain survey question sets can minimize stigma and increase disclosure among women. The study suggests redesigning surveys to improve data quality and support maternal, child, and reproductive health. The findings have the potential to influence national surveys and provide guidance to the field.

SourceRutgers University·JournalCulture Health & Sexuality·TypeSurvey·DateSep 19, 2022

Climate change: A threat to urban trees

A global risk assessment reveals that 56-65% of urban tree species are already at risk due to increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation. By 2050, this figure could rise to 68-76%, with France expecting a 71% risk for common ash species.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 19, 2022

Moss repair team also works in humans

A team of researchers has successfully transplanted the RNA editing machinery from a moss into human cells, including kidney and cancer cells. The corrected mechanism was found to work on over 900 targets in nuclear transcripts, offering a potential basis for inducing specific changes in human cells and treating hereditary diseases.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2022

Heart medication shows potential as treatment for alcohol use disorder

A new study has found that a medication typically used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure may also reduce alcohol consumption in humans. The study's findings support further research into spironolactone as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder, which affects millions of people in the US.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2022

Wistar scientists identify key biomarkers that reliably predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for melanoma

Researchers found mutations in leukocyte and T-cell proliferation regulation processes that contribute to ICI treatment response and resistance. The study provides a framework to develop predictors for melanoma, potentially enhancing responses and increasing patient numbers.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 19, 2022

Amino acid supplement key to reproductive health in dairy cows

A University of Illinois study shows rumen-protected lysine can improve uterine health in dairy cows during the transition period. The supplement reduced genes involved in inflammatory proteins and increased genes keeping the uterus clean, leading to less inflammation and improved reproductive outcomes.

Rheumatoid arthritis drug effective against myasthenia

A randomized clinical trial found that rituximab significantly improved disease control in patients with new-onset myasthenia gravis, reducing the need for cortisone treatments and hospitalizations. The study's results offer hope for a more effective treatment strategy, but larger studies are needed to assess long-term effects.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJAMA Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 19, 2022

COVID-19 zaps placenta’s immune response, study finds

A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that COVID-19 damages the placenta's immune response, leading to increased rates of preterm birth. The study, led by UW Medicine researchers, suggests that babies born to mothers infected with COVID-19 may need to be monitored for potential long-term effects.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·TypeCase study·DateSep 19, 2022

How might eliminating race-based adjustments in estimates of kidney function affect kidney transplant waitlisting?

A new study finds that using race-free equations for estimating kidney function can minimize racial differences in accrued preemptive waiting time. The research suggests that a specific equation, creatinine-based, reduces racial disparities more effectively than another equation, cystatin C-based.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateSep 19, 2022

India’s troubled history of monsoon droughts of the last millennium revealed by stalagmites and historical documentary sources

A new record of past Indian monsoon drought history has been developed using oxygen isotopes in stalagmites, correlating with historical accounts of severe droughts and societal changes. Protracted droughts tend to occur in clusters within decades-long intervals of weaker monsoon rainfall.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong University, Institute of Global Environmental Change·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 19, 2022

Diabetes: When circadian lipid rhythms go wrong

A study by the University of Geneva team shows that disrupted circadian clocks lead to a rigidity in the membrane of pancreatic endocrine cells, affecting their function. The researchers also found that lipid profiles oscillate more during the day than previously thought, particularly in phospholipids and sphingolipids.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeNews article·DateSep 19, 2022