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Science News Archive April 2023 - Page 25


Page 25 of 37

Novel possibility to stop dementia progression?

Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia using a PREP inhibitor. The PREP inhibitor reduced Tau accumulation and toxicity in cellular models and mice with tauopathy, improving cognitive skills.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 12, 2023

New insights into glucose metabolism: targeting ATP synthase with chromium (III) nutritional supplement for improved blood sugar control

A team of researchers has discovered that chromium(III) supplementation can regulate glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic mice by targeting ATP synthase activity. This process improves mitochondrial deformation caused by high glucose levels and boosts glucose metabolism.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 12, 2023

Black women’s childhood symptoms of disordered eating predict symptoms in adulthood

A new study finds that childhood symptoms of disordered eating are predictive of symptoms in adulthood for both Black and white women. Black women's symptoms were predicted by earlier ages compared to white women, suggesting cultural and psychological factors may influence symptom presentation.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalClinical Psychological Science·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 12, 2023

Tranexamic acid does not appear to prevent maternal hemorrhage after cesarean delivery

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that tranexamic acid did not reduce the need for blood transfusions or prevent maternal death in patients with increased risk for excessive bleeding after cesarean delivery. However, patients who received tranexamic acid had less need for additional medical intervent...

Eye-opening origin story: Scientists trace key innovation in our camera-like vision to bacteria

Researchers at University of California - San Diego found that vertebrates acquired a special protein from bacteria more than 500 million years ago. This discovery reveals a new piece of genetic material introduced from foreign bacterial genes, leading to unique functionality in vertebrate eyes.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 12, 2023

Open-label placebo improved outcomes for people in treatment for opioid use disorder

A novel clinical trial demonstrated that open-label placebo increased patient retention rates by 78% compared to methadone-only treatment. Participants also reported better sleep quality, with no significant differences found in other outcome measures. The study suggests that deception-free placebo treatment can provide valuable benefits.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 12, 2023

Free trade deal is a major threat to UK public health, warn experts

Experts warn that the UK's free trade deal with CPTPP will make it harder to regulate tobacco and alcohol, ban products containing harmful pesticides, and enact policies to cut consumption of unhealthy food and drinks. A health impact assessment is needed to evaluate the potential benefits and harms of this deal.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeContent analysis·DateApr 12, 2023

Mitochondria power-supply failure may cause age-related cognitive impairment

Researchers at Salk Institute discover that dysfunctional mitochondria at synapses fail to meet energetic demand, supplying either too much or too little power and potentially causing working memory impairment with age. Adherence to the ultrastructural size principle is essential for avoiding cognitive decline in aging brains.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 12, 2023

Organoids shown to speed glycoengineered vaccine development

Researchers have developed an organoid-based method to assess the potency of glycoconjugate vaccines, speeding up the vaccine development process. This method uses tissue from a single mouse to create hundreds of immune organoids, allowing for the assessment of dozens or even hundreds of vaccine candidates in just four days.

SourceCornell University·JournalACS Central Science·DateApr 12, 2023

Study: Cancer database’s cases drop 14% in pandemic’s first year, indicating 200,000 ‘missing cases’

Researchers found a 14.4% decline in new cancer diagnoses in 2020 compared to prior years, correlating with stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study estimates that around 200,000 people may have had undiagnosed or untreated cancer cases during this time.

SourceLoma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center·JournalJAMA Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 12, 2023

COVID-19 increased weekday screentime for children: study

A new study found that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in weekday screen time among school-aged children, with boosts of up to 1.35 hours per day. This finding suggests that children used screens to fill time previously spent at school or participating in extra-curricular activities.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 12, 2023

Looking to boost revenue as an online retailer? Charge an upfront membership fee in exchange for unlimited free shipping

Researchers found that membership-based free shipping (MFS) can increase net customer revenue by up to 12.75%, as heavy buyers consolidate their spending after enrollment. Light buyers contribute the highest percentage change in revenue contribution, while heavy buyers may exploit free shipping benefits and lose money for retailers.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateApr 12, 2023

The Lancet Neurology: Identifying ‘hallmark’ Parkinson’s disease protein build-up could aid early detection and pave way for improved diagnosis and treatment

Researchers identified a technique to detect abnormal protein deposits linked to Parkinson's disease, confirming its accuracy for early detection and characterisation. The α-synuclein seed amplification assay (αSyn-SAA) can identify people with Parkinson's disease and at-risk individuals prior to diagnosis.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 12, 2023

Reduced health risks with new epoxy resin monomer

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a new epoxy resin monomer based on isosorbide, a substance produced from glucose, to reduce contact allergies. The new monomer is far less allergenic and not based on Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalChemical Research in Toxicology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 12, 2023

Got milk? The ancient Tibetans did, according to study

Researchers found that dairy pastoralism began on the highland plateau by about 3500 years ago, supported by palaeoproteomic analysis of ancient milk proteins. This early adoption enabled expansion into the region's vast, non-arable highlands, facilitating long-term human occupation.

SourceGriffith University·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateApr 12, 2023

Sex of blood donor has no effect on recipient survival

A large clinical trial of over 8,700 patients found that the sex of a donor has no effect on the survival of recipients of red blood cell transfusions. The study used a pragmatic approach to answer the question definitively and was conducted at a lower cost than typical trials.

SourceThe Ottawa Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 12, 2023

Innovative healthcare extension project enables community-based physicians to diagnose autism in young children

A new training program has been shown to increase the accuracy of autism diagnoses in young children by primary care physicians, reducing wait times for specialist care. The ECHO Autism STAT model leverages video-conferencing technology and case-based learning to build capacity among community clinicians.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·TypeCase study·DateApr 12, 2023

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center experts to present noteworthy research at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2023 Annual Meeting

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center experts to present significant advances in cancer research at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. MSK faculty will also receive prestigious awards and lectureships, highlighting their contributions to precision medicine and tumor biology.

Photoacoustic remote sensing microscopy for lipid imaging

This technology uses light and sound to create images of the inside of the body. The research team developed a novel method that eliminates the need for ultrasonic transducers, allowing for non-contact photoacoustic signal detection and improved sensitivity. The technique has great application potential in various biomedical research.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 12, 2023

Luminous molecules

A team of chemists at the University of Basel has successfully synthesized organic light-emitting diodes by creating compounds with the exact three-dimensional structure desired. This breakthrough enables the development of more efficient and longer-lasting OLEDs.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 12, 2023

Higher dose corticosteroids associated with a 60% increased risk of death in hypoxic COVID-19 patients requiring only non-invasive oxygen therapy (The Lancet / RECOVERY trial)

A new study published in The Lancet found that higher dose corticosteroids are associated with a 60% increased risk of death in hypoxic COVID-19 patients requiring only non-invasive oxygen therapy. The RECOVERY trial also identified an excess of pneumonia and hyperglycaemia in the higher-dose corticosteroid group.

New research finds altering language of job descriptions may not help organizations address diversity issues

A new study by MIT and Michigan State University found that altering job descriptions to make them more gender-neutral has little impact on applicant behavior. Despite efforts to appeal equally to women and men, the research reveals no practical effects of 'degendering' job listing language.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalManagement Science·TypeObservational study·DateApr 12, 2023

How did Earth get its water?

Researchers propose that early interactions between the magma ocean and a molecular hydrogen proto-atmosphere could have given rise to Earth's signature features, including its abundant water. The study suggests that even dry rocky material collisions would generate large quantities of water through these atmospheric-magma interactions.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 12, 2023

The glyphosate filter

Researchers have developed a new class of materials that can efficiently remove glyphosate from groundwater. The new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a large surface area and can be customized depending on the application.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateApr 12, 2023

Whether physical exertion feels ‘easy’ or ‘hard’ may be due to dopamine levels, study suggests

Researchers found that dopamine availability in the brain affects people's self-assessment of physical effort and willingness to undertake future exertions. The study, which involved Parkinson's disease patients, suggests that dopamine level is a critical factor in helping people accurately assess how much effort a physical task requires.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·Journalnpj Parkinson s Disease·DateApr 12, 2023

Toward a safer ‘artificial muscle’ material

Researchers have created a new material that responds to substantially lower electrical charges, making it suitable for use in medical devices. The material, made of bottlebrush polymers, was found to expand and contract over 10,000 times before degrading when stimulated by voltages as low as 1,000 V.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 12, 2023