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Science News Archive June 2023 - Page 36


Page 36 of 40

Patchwork of mutations contributing to bipolar disorder

Researchers found a link between bipolar disorder and potentially pathogenic mosaic mutations in genes associated with developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorder. Mosaic variants were also discovered in mitochondrial tRNA genes of patients with BD, suggesting a compromised contribution to the disease's molecular mechanisms.

SourceJuntendo University Research Promotion Center·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

ASCO: HER2-targeted antibody drug conjugate shows strong anti-tumor activity and durable responses across multiple tumor types

The study found an objective response rate of 61.3% with a median duration of response of 22.1 months in patients with high HER2 expression. The treatment showed promise in a significant unmet area of clinical need, providing a new option for patients with hard-to-treat HER2-positive cancers.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2023

Availability of LGBTQ mental health services for youth

The study found that only 28% of US youth-serving mental health facilities offered LGBTQ-specific services, highlighting the need for expansion of these services, particularly in underserved areas. Public mental health facilities were less likely to provide such services due to cost concerns.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 5, 2023

Climate justice: Global North owes $170 trillion for excessive CO2 emissions, says study

A new study suggests that industrialized countries in the Global North could be liable to pay a total of $170 trillion in compensation or reparations by 2050. This amount would be distributed as compensation to low-emitting countries that must decarbonize their economies faster than required, aiming to meet climate change targets.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2023

Air quality stations have collected vast stores of DNA by accident, a potentially “game-changing” discovery for tracking global biodiversity

Researchers found an astonishing record of biodiversity trapped on air quality filter samples in the UK, including over 180 plant and animal species. The study suggests that existing air quality monitoring networks could be used to track terrestrial biodiversity on a continental scale.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

Coaxing hair growth in aging hair follicle stem cells

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a way to soften stiff hair follicle stem cells, enabling them to grow hair again. By boosting the production of microRNA-205, they promote hair growth in both young and old mice, offering potential for human hair regrowth.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

Healthy vascular fat during menopause may stave off dementia later in life

Researchers found that women with higher-quality cardiovascular fat during midlife had stronger long-term memory and lower inflammation, while those with lower-quality fat had worsening working memory. The study suggests that taking care of heart health during menopause may protect brain health and reduce dementia risk.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeObservational study·DateJun 5, 2023

Microbes key to sequestering carbon in soil

A recent study has found that microbes play a crucial role in storing carbon in the soil, with a four-fold greater importance than other processes. This breakthrough could lead to improved soil health and increased food security through targeted farm management practices.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateJun 5, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mount Sinai experts present research at SLEEP 2023

Researchers from Mount Sinai Health System presented new findings on the impact of customized lighting on inpatient sleep, a machine-learned combination of ventilatory, hypoxic, and arousal burdens, and the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia on cognitive impairment. The studies aim to improve sleep timing and duration, dia...

Quantum computers are better at guessing, new study demonstrates

Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering achieved a quantum speedup advantage in a bitstring guessing game, managing strings up to 26 bits long by suppressing errors. The study demonstrates that with proper error control, quantum computers can execute complete algorithms with better scaling, even in the NISQ era.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

Childhood maltreatment predicts adult emotional difficulties

A new meta-analysis suggests a strong link between childhood maltreatment and adult alexithymia, with three types of child maltreatment - emotional neglect, physical neglect, and sexual abuse - being particularly predictive. This can lead to difficulties in identifying and describing emotions, harming social and intimate relationships.

SourceStanford University·JournalPsychological Bulletin·DateJun 5, 2023

Previously unknown antibiotic resistance widespread among bacteria

A new study reveals that previously unknown antibiotic resistance genes are widespread in bacteria across various environments, including the human microbiome. The findings suggest that these genes can pose a significant threat to human health, highlighting the need for enhanced understanding of their development and spread.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalMicrobiome·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2023

ASCO: Axi-cel significantly improves survival in patients with early relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma

A Phase III trial found that axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with early relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma, compared to standard therapy. The estimated four-year survival rate was 54.6% with axi-cel.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 5, 2023

Moving towards a more inclusive approach to medicine

A new human pangenome reference has been released, representing the genetic diversity of 47 individuals from around the world. This development may lead to breakthroughs in targeted medical treatments and a better understanding of disease responses, as regions previously missed are now being explored.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature·DateJun 5, 2023

Amid volumes of mobile location data, new framework reduces consumers’ privacy risk, preserves advertisers’ utility

A new framework developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers significantly reduces consumers' privacy risk while preserving advertisers' utility in mobile location data analysis. The framework uses machine learning to quantify personalized privacy risks and performs personalized data obfuscation.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateJun 5, 2023

Newly discovered brain mechanism linked to anxiety, OCD

Researchers at the University of Utah Health have made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of microglia in controlling anxiety-related behaviors. The study found that specific microglia populations activate anxiety behaviors while others dampen them, and these cells communicate with neurons to invoke behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

Disadvantaged neighbourhoods and depression symptoms associated with premature aging

A new study found that living in urban environments with material and social inequities is associated with premature biological aging. Depressive symptoms also accelerate epigenetic age acceleration, regardless of neighborhood deprivation. The researchers used DNA methylation-based estimators to examine aging at the cellular level and ...

SourceMcMaster University·JournalThe Journals of Gerontology Series A·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2023

Pre-training in medical data: A survey

Pre-training in medical data tackles challenges such as data scarcity and privacy concerns using AI techniques like transfer learning and self-supervised learning. Recent advances and new frontiers of pre-training-based techniques are introduced, including applications to medical images, bio-signal data, EHR data, and multi-modality data.

SourceBeijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.·JournalMachine Intelligence Research·DateJun 5, 2023

Plants allocate enough carbon to underground mycorrhizal fungi equivalent to roughly one-third of carbon emitted yearly by fossil fuels

Researchers found that plants allocate a significant amount of carbon to mycorrhizal fungi, equivalent to roughly one-third of carbon emitted yearly by fossil fuels. This discovery highlights the importance of understanding fungal networks in soil ecosystems and their role in mitigating climate change.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

Researchers find major link between cardiovascular health and disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis

A new study by the University of Utah Health reveals that people with higher cardiovascular disease risk are more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders. The study suggests prioritizing cardiovascular health can help prevent these conditions and improve quality of life.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 5, 2023

Pumping the brakes on autoimmune disease

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have discovered a new treatment for autoimmune diseases using LY3361237, an antibody that activates BTLA to inhibit the immune system. The study provides insight into the molecular biology of the immune system and could lead to the development of more effective therapies.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalStructure·DateJun 5, 2023

Muscle fibers: An unexpected organization revealed

Researchers at the University of Liège have made a groundbreaking discovery of a novel organisation of muscle fibres in Parophidion vassali, a fish that produces sounds using specialized muscles. This new arrangement of myofibrils forms an enormous network within the muscle fibre, potentially allowing for rapid contraction while retain...

SourceUniversity of Liège·JournalCell and Tissue Research·DateJun 5, 2023

A supervised hospital walking program may reduce nursing facility admissions for older adults

A supervised hospital walking program has been shown to reduce nursing facility admissions for older adults by lowering the proportion of patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities from 13% to 8%. However, low participation rates and limited impact on length of stay or inpatient falls were noted.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2023

Breastfeeding for longer may be linked to better exam results in later life

A study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood found that children breastfed for longer had improved educational outcomes at age 16, with modest gains in academic achievement. The research analyzed data from the Millennium Cohort Study and found a strong association between breastfeeding duration and better exam results.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2023

DNA sequencing in newborns reveals years of actionable findings for infants and families

Researchers from the BabySeq Project found that over 10% of newborns had unanticipated mutations in disease-associated genes, all medically actionable. The study prompted genetic testing, specialty consultations, and procedures among at-risk family members, including risk-reducing surgeries for mothers.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2023

River diversions may cause microplastics to remain longer on land and in streams before reaching oceans

A new study reveals that diverting streams and rivers for irrigation can significantly extend the time microplastics spend in river catchments. Researchers found a strong link between urbanisation and microplastic concentrations, with microplastic loads increasing downstream of more urbanised areas.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalWater Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

The research group led by Prof. Seung Hwan Ko, in Dept. of Mechanical Engineering in Seoul National University, developed liquid metal based stretchable room temperature soldering sticker patch

Researchers developed a liquid metal-based stretchable soldering sticker patch to resolve the issue of electrical connection between rigid chips and soft conductors. The technology uses freestanding liquid metal-nanowire composites to create a stable interface, allowing for direct connection between elastic electrodes and hard chips.

SourceSeoul National University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJun 5, 2023