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Science News for May 1, 2023


Children’s Hospital Los Angeles researchers uncover new clues to origins of the most common pediatric kidney cancer

Children's Hospital Los Angeles researchers have identified a disruption in early kidney progenitor cell development linked to the formation of Wilms tumor. The study found that these cells can reproduce the original tumor and are aggressive, drug-resistant, and metastasize like cancer cells.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2023

A new method to test cancer drug toxicity

Researchers at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and Tufts Medical Center have developed a new platform to test cardiac side effects of chemotherapy using canine heart tissue. The platform yields quicker and more comprehensive results than standard rodent models, making it a promising alternative for cancer drug toxicity testing.

SourceTufts University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2023

Obesity associated with increased risk of complications after surgery

New research published in the journal SURGERY found that obesity is associated with increased risk of complications following surgery, including infection, blood clots, and kidney complications. Patients with overweight or obesity had higher risk-adjusted odds of developing these post-operative outcomes compared to those of normal weight.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalSurgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

Lithography-free photonic chip offers speed and accuracy for artificial intelligence

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science have created a photonic device that provides programmable on-chip information processing without lithography. This breakthrough enables superior accuracy and flexibility for AI applications, overcoming limitations of traditional electronic systems.

Herpes study adds to understanding of viral reinfections, how to potentially prevent them

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a key protein involved in viral reinfections that could be targeted by antiviral drugs. Inhibiting heparanase activity can protect against herpes simplex virus type 1 reinfection, potentially leading to breakthroughs in preventing recurrent infections.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2023

Risk of rehospitalization in younger women after heart attack nearly double that of men

A study supported by the National Institutes of Health found that younger women are nearly twice as likely to be rehospitalized after a heart attack as men. The disparity is largely due to higher rates of risk factors such as obesity and depression among women, which contribute to more adverse outcomes.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 1, 2023

Pusan National University study suggests that hospital admissions for acute kidney injury may be linked to air pollution

A new study suggests that increased exposure to air pollution may be associated with first hospital admissions for acute kidney injury. The research found a link between PM2.5, NO2, and O3 exposure and an increased risk of AKI, even at low annual exposures.

SourcePusan National University·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

Study identifies genetic mutations that contribute to adult epilepsy

Researchers have identified 11 somatic mutations in the RAS/MAPK pathway that contribute to treatment-resistant adult epilepsy, suggesting the potential for repurposed anti-cancer agents as new treatments. This study provides insight into the genetic mechanisms underlying this form of epilepsy and opens up new avenues for targeted ther...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·TypeCase study·DateMay 1, 2023

Air pollution exposure associated with increased risk of irregular heartbeat: Large study

A large Chinese study found that acute air pollution exposure is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmia, with the strongest link seen in atrial flutter and supraventricular tachycardia. Exposure to pollutants like nitrogen dioxide was found to persist for up to 24 hours after initial exposure.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 1, 2023

The inequalities of low-carbon electricity

A UNIGE team analyzed the socio-economic impacts of 248 electricity transition scenarios on 296 European regions, finding that southern and south-eastern regions may be more vulnerable to negative effects. The benefits of a low-carbon electricity sector tend to concentrate in richer northern Europe.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateMay 1, 2023

AJRCCM “Abstracts Issue” showcases research at the ATS 2023 International Conference

The American Thoracic Society International Conference Abstracts publication features selected abstracts on COPD treatment, including a study on improving depression through home-based pulmonary rehabilitation. The issue also highlights recent findings on sleep apnea severity, as well as research on health equity and access to care.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateMay 1, 2023

Columbia University study finds that improved access to mental health care is associated with reductions in suicide risk

Researchers at Columbia University found that increased access to mental health care is associated with lower suicide rates in the US. The study used a new method to measure access to care and found that areas with shorter travel times to providers had significantly lower suicide rates.

SourceColumbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

Prolonged power outages, often caused by weather events, hit some parts of the U.S. harder than others

A study analyzing three years of power outages across the US found that Americans bearing the brunt of climate change and health inequities are most at risk in four regions. Heavy precipitation, tropical cyclones, and storms with high winds make power outages more likely, especially in the South, Northeast, and Appalachia. The research...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

Assessing the impact of going off-grid on transmission charge and energy market outcomes

A team of researchers found that prosumers, who produce their own electricity, can lower transmission charges when generating less energy. However, when producing a large amount of renewable energy, transmission charges increase. The study suggests levying a per-MWh tax on prosumer consumption to reduce the likelihood of death spirals.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalApplied Energy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 1, 2023

Exposure to airplane noise increases risk of sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night

A new study found that people exposed to moderate aircraft noise were less likely to get the minimum recommended sleep each night. The risk increased among those living near airports or large water bodies, as well as those with no hearing loss. Exposure levels as low as 45 dB were associated with short sleep duration.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeObservational study·DateMay 1, 2023

More than a decade after the theory of interdependent networks was introduced, researchers establish the first physics laboratory benchmark for its manifestation

Physicists have developed a controlled system of interdependent superconducting networks, a physical analogy to the interdependent networks involved in the Italy blackout. The study shows that coupled systems exhibit an abrupt transition, while separate networks show a smooth transition, as predicted by the theory.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalNature Physics·DateMay 1, 2023

50-year study offers insight into effects of climate on bird reproduction

A 50-year global meta-analysis of bird reproductive output found that a warming climate negatively affects larger and migratory bird species. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that smaller, sedentary species are less affected by climate change.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

Researchers develop clever algorithm to improve our understanding of particle beams in accelerators

A team of scientists at SLAC and Argonne National Laboratory has developed an algorithm that pairs machine-learning techniques with classical beam physics equations to precisely predict a particle beam's distribution of positions and velocities. This detailed information will help improve experimental reliability, especially at higher ...

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 1, 2023

State study: labor induction doesn’t always reduce caesarean birth risk or improve outcomes for term pregnancies

A new Michigan statewide study found that inducing labor at 39 weeks of pregnancy does not necessarily reduce the risk of cesarean births. In fact, for some birthing individuals, it may even have the opposite effect if hospitals don't take a thoughtful approach to induction policies.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Perinatology·DateMay 1, 2023

HIV status is not associated with mpox treatment outcomes in persons using tecovirimat

A cohort study of 196 people treated with tecovirimat found that HIV status did not impact treatment outcomes. Only 22% of participants experienced nonsevere adverse effects, and 4 serious adverse events occurred, with 3 being persons with HIV. The findings contradict previous uncertainty about HIV's role in mpox acquisition.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

In US system of allocating livers for transplanting, geographic inequity persists despite recent policy changes

A new study suggests that the US liver allocation policy remains biased towards certain regions, with a customized approach to equalize supply-to-demand ratios being recommended. The researchers developed a model that accurately predicts the change in a patient's organ-offer acceptance probability due to changes in policy.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalManufacturing and Service Operations Management·DateMay 1, 2023

Harmful fisheries subsidies are leading to more fishing vessels chasing fewer fish, resulting in adverse environmental and societal impacts: UBC study

Harmful fisheries subsidies support fishing in waters outside jurisdictions of their home nation, impacting developing countries and the environment. These subsidies disproportionately affect marginalized communities and lead to food insecurity and economic dependence on fishing.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalMarine Policy·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 1, 2023

Research shows that lymph node sampling during kidney tumor surgery is safe

Researchers analyzed outcomes for 144 Colorado patients who had lymph node sampling at the time of surgery for kidney tumors between 2005 and 2019. They found no statistically significant difference in clinically significant complications between patients who underwent more extensive lymph node sampling than those who didn’t.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalThe Journal of Urology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 1, 2023