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Science News Archive February 2023 - Page 11


Page 11 of 36

A new model of palliative care to empower communities in Africa

A culturally appropriate model of end-of-life care is being developed in Ghana to address the scarcity of palliative care in low-resource communities. COMPASS Ghana aims to provide universal end-of-life care by the end of the decade, utilizing a compassionate community approach that involves patients and caregivers in care provision.

SourceLancaster University·JournalBMJ Supportive & Palliative Care·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 21, 2023

When is remdesivir effective for COVID-19?

A new analysis of COVID-19 patient data reveals that remdesivir significantly lowers mortality in unvaccinated patients with conventional oxygen support. The study found no evidence of varying treatment effects based on age, comorbidities, or inflammation levels.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 21, 2023

Cardiovascular benefits of lipid-lowering drugs apply across ethnicities and regions

A recent study found that lipid-lowering therapies reduce major adverse cardiovascular events across diverse ethnic groups and regions. The analysis of 53 trials involving over 329,000 participants revealed consistent risk reductions of up to 45% in certain minority populations.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 21, 2023

Study provides roadmap for using convalescent plasma as an effective COVID-19 treatment

A new analysis reveals that convalescent plasma can be used to prevent hospitalizations and save lives in COVID-19 patients. Early treatment with high doses of antibodies significantly reduced hospitalization rates by up to 50%. The study provides a roadmap for using convalescent plasma as an effective therapy for future pandemics.

SourceBrown University·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 21, 2023

A new model to better understand what’s inside colliding black holes

A new model developed by researchers at Columbia University and the University of Mississippi improves the accuracy of gravitational wave analysis by including nonlinear interactions. This enhanced modeling method will help scientists better understand the structure of merging black holes and test Einstein's theory of general relativity.

SourceColumbia University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 21, 2023

Satisfying mid-life relationships linked to lower multiple chronic disease risk in older age

Research published in General Psychiatry found that satisfying mid-life relationships are linked to a lower risk of accumulating multiple long-term conditions in older age. The study, which included 13,714 Australian women, suggests that stronger social connections and higher relationship satisfaction are associated with a lower risk o...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalGeneral Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 21, 2023

CHOP researchers develop first effective preclinical models for most common genetic cause of Leigh Syndrome

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia developed two new zebrafish models for studying SURF1 mitochondrial disease, a major cause of Leigh syndrome. The team identified two drugs, cysteamine bitartrate and N-acetylcysteine, that showed potential in preventing neurological decompensation in patients with Leigh syndrome.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 21, 2023

US Census data vulnerable to attack without enhanced privacy measures

Computer scientists designed a reconstruction attack that proves US Census data can be exposed and stolen with current privacy measures. The study demonstrates risks to individual respondents' privacy, highlighting the need for differential privacy techniques to protect sensitive information.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2023

New cloud research project launched at the German Antarctic station Neumayer-III

The COALA project aims to measure the relationships between aerosols and clouds in Antarctica's 'clean-air laboratory' using ground-based instruments. Long-term observations will help scientists better understand cloud formation, precipitation, and radiation budget in this region.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 21, 2023

For the first time, an innovative intervention program offers help for people suffering from maladaptive daydreaming

Maladaptive daydreaming is characterized by extensive immersion in vivid fantasies and can impair social, family, and employment functions. The new study's results show significant improvement in treatment groups, with around one-fourth of participants completely recovered from the condition.

SourceUniversity of Haifa·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 21, 2023

Any regular physical activity at any age linked to better brain function in later life

A long-term study found that regular leisure time physical activity at any age is associated with better brain function in later life. Maintaining an exercise routine throughout adulthood was particularly beneficial for preserving mental acuity and memory. The study, which included over 1,400 participants, showed that being physically ...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 21, 2023

New research reveals possible COVID vaccine blood clot connection

A new Australian study found fundamental differences in how the AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines impact the immune system, with some people receiving more effective protection than others. The study revealed a potential explanation for the connection between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clotting cases.

SourceFlinders University·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 21, 2023

Gameto licenses Wyss Institute tech to grow human ovaries in the lab

Scientists at the Wyss Institute and Gameto develop a living, fully human ovarian organoid that supports egg cell maturation and secretes sex hormones. This technology enables the study of human ovarian biology without tissue from patients and could lead to new treatments for infertility and ovarian cancer.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 21, 2023

Climate and geography develop spiritual connections between giant trees and human beings

A macroecological study found that giant tree properties, such as trunk circumference and age, are strongly correlated with climatic factors. The probability of a tree being an object of faith tends to increase with lower annual precipitation, highlighting the impact of climate change on spiritual ecosystem services.

SourceNational Institute for Environmental Studies·JournalNature Plants·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2023

Celebrity tweets likely shaped US negative public opinion of COVID-19 pandemic

An analysis of 13 million tweets suggests that celebrity tweets, particularly from politicians and news anchors, played a significant role in shaping public opinion on the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring social media activity to combat misinformation and promote health-protective behaviors.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Health & Care Informatics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2023

Arsenic contaminates private drinking water wells across the western Great Basin

A new study maps high arsenic levels in groundwater wells across northern Nevada, northeastern California, and western Utah, with over 49,000 users at risk. The model uses geologic, hydrologic, and tectonic variables to predict elevated arsenic levels, particularly in regions like Carson Desert basin and Truckee Meadows.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 21, 2023

Excess nutrients lead to dramatic ecosystem changes in Cape Cod’s Waquoit Bay; the bay is a harbinger for estuaries worldwide, say researchers

Researchers found that Waquoit Bay has shifted from a benthic to a pelagically-dominated ecosystem due to human causes, including excess nutrient pollution and climate change. The bay's ecosystem degradation has broader implications for estuaries worldwide.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalEstuaries and Coasts·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 21, 2023