Researchers from the University of Otago and Japan found that administering ghrelin daily improved blood flow in affected limbs, promoting new blood vessel growth and cell survival. This suggests a potential new treatment for critical limb ischemia, an advanced form of peripheral artery disease.
New research reveals how mountain ranges on New Zealand's South Island directly impacted the evolution of diverse freshwater fish species. The study shows that the island's landscape developed in six main tectonic zones, each with distinct river drainage catchments, which led to divergent fish DNA sequences over time.
Researchers have identified two distinct species of little blue penguins in Australia and New Zealand, based on genetic analysis. The study reveals that the birds' calls and mating habits differ between the two populations.
The conservation community has taken swift and coordinated action to prevent the introduction and spread of Batrachocytrium salamandrivorans, a deadly fungal pathogen threatening North American salamander populations. Conservation organizations have called for policy changes to aid in preventing the disease's entry into the region.
Researchers have described a new species of fossil baleen whale, Fucaia buelli, found in the North Pacific Ocean 30-33 million years ago. The whale's transitional teeth suggest it was an active hunter that likely used suction to capture prey.
Researchers found that older toddlers as young as 32 months prefer looking at average-weight figures over obese ones, with maternal anti-fat prejudice strongly correlated. This suggests that children absorb and display societal attitudes early on, highlighting the need to address weight-based prejudice.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Christian Ohneiser found that a growing Antarctic ice sheet caused the Mediterranean Sea to evaporate and dry up around 5.6 million years ago. The study revealed an uneven effect on global sea levels, with the continent's ice growth resulting in complex interplay between gravitational and rotational eff...
A recent study using zebrafish has uncovered new insights into the causes of congenital heart defects associated with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. The research found that lowering levels of a specific cohesin protein in embryonic zebrafish produces similar types of heart defects as those found in people with CdLS.
Invasive Salmonella infections are a major cause of child illness and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, with 3.4 million illnesses and 681,000 deaths worldwide in 2010, according to new research.
Researchers have created the first three-dimensional image of the Trib1 protein, which plays a vital role in controlling protein degradation and balancing levels in cells. This discovery could help develop new drugs to treat cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia by blocking overproduction of Trib1.
Researchers have identified kisspeptin neurons as the key players in generating episodic hormone pulses crucial to normal reproductive functioning. These findings hold promise for developing new fertility treatments targeting brain circuitry disorders, which contribute to up to one-third of all infertility cases.
A new study found increasing support in the USA and Canada for smokefree laws in playgrounds, school grounds, and other areas. Most residents welcome these regulations, with majority support seen across various locations.
Three new fossil whale species have been identified in New Zealand, providing insights into the evolution of baleen whales. The discovery includes two new genera and three species, including a transitional fossil between primitive toothed and modern baleen whales.
A research team used ancient-DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating to reconstruct population histories for prehistoric seabirds in New Zealand. They found that mainland populations were rapidly decimated after human arrival, while Stewart Island populations remained relatively stable due to a decline in human numbers.
Researchers have found a biological basis for the long-held belief that eating tomatoes can cause gout flares. Tomato consumption is linked to higher levels of uric acid in the blood, comparable to other commonly accepted gout trigger foods.
Researchers at the University of Otago discovered that a normal cell process called autophagy is deregulated in diabetic hearts, leading to progressive loss of cardiac cells and cardiac dysfunction. Targeting the Beclin-1 protein presents an promising avenue for new treatments of diabetes-related cardiac disease.
Scientists have discovered that a strain of bacteria can survive without traditional nutrients by harnessing trace gases like hydrogen from the air. This breakthrough reveals the 'minimalist approach' to survival used by these microorganisms in extreme environments.
Associate Professor Suetonia Palmer's study provides an evidence-based guide on safe and effective blood-pressure-lowering drugs for patients with kidney disease and diabetes. The research, published in the Lancet journal, compared hundreds of studies to identify the most effective treatments.
Researchers estimate that fjords bury about 18 million tonnes of organic carbon annually, equivalent to 11% of global marine carbon burial. Fjords are 'hotspots' for carbon burial due to their deep and stable environments.
Scientists at University of Otago challenge traditional understanding of enzyme evolution, finding evidence of rapid evolution and ancient catalysts. The research has implications for designing proteins with biomedical applications.
Researchers have created a comprehensive family tree of living and extinct baleen whales stretching back nearly 40 million years. The study estimates that there were over 70 species, with many lineages branching out into unique body shapes and feeding strategies before extinction occurred between 30-23 million years ago.
Non-religious participants associated religious individuals with less openness and devalued them as romantic partners. Religious individuals were preferred by others who shared similar values, highlighting the role of perceived open-mindedness in religion-based dating.
Researchers at the University of Otago have identified key genetic mutations underlying deadly hereditary stomach and lobular breast cancers. The team found that these mutations also create vulnerabilities in cancer cells, making them susceptible to existing drug therapies targeting other cellular mechanisms.
A University of Otago research team analyzed satellite data from 1980-2012 to show that the timing of leaf activity has changed globally. This change in leaf phenology may lead to higher extinction risks for species that depend on this cycle, as well as impacts on ecosystem stability and functioning.
Researchers have identified a new genus and species of fur seal, Eotaria crypta, from a 15-17 million-year-old rock formation in Southern California. The discovery provides a missing link in the evolutionary history of fur seals and sea lions, resolving a 5-million-year gap in their fossil record.
A new study suggests that reversing brain inflammation caused by a high-fat diet greatly improves symptoms related to obesity and type II diabetes. Administering butein to obese mice improved glucose tolerance and brain insulin signalling, even at lower doses compared to non-treated mice.
A new study reveals that top firms behind most of the innovation in market infrastructure are a mix of 'new entrant' and 'incumbent' firms. Software companies and smaller brokerage firms have invested heavily in technology to stay competitive.
Researchers analyze ancient teeth to determine the plant-based food sources of Easter Islanders before European contact. The study finds that starch grains in dental calculus are consistent with modern sweet potato, contradicting previous findings on palm as a staple food.
A review of 90 studies found consistent declines in semen volume and sperm performance, as well as increases in malformed and DNA-damaged sperm with increasing male age. This decline in semen quality is a significant concern for couples delaying childbearing and may contribute to increased infertility rates.
Otago researchers have discovered a previously unknown genus of fossil baleen whales and two species within it, rewriting the history of New Zealand's ancient whales. The genus, Tohoraata, translates to 'Dawn Whale' in Māori, with the two identified species living between 27-25 million years ago.
A new study suggests that the flightless birds, moa, were completely extinct when New Zealand's human population reached around 2500 people. Researchers found that during the peak period of moa hunting, there were fewer than 1500 Polynesian settlers in NZ, with a population density of about 1 person per 100 square kilometers.
Conservation translocation is being explored as a means to combat biodiversity loss. Researchers suggest creating 'wildness' rather than restoring 'wilderness'. Reintroduction of species and ecological replacement are controversial methods being considered.
Researchers at the University of Otago have discovered a key mechanism that enables mycobacteria to survive in extreme conditions, using hydrogen as a high-energy fuel. By understanding this metabolic process, scientists hope to develop new antibiotics to tackle latent tuberculosis infections.
A group of New Zealand health policy researchers has called on the BMJ to be more transparent about its publications, particularly when it comes to funding and conflicts of interest. The researchers argue that the BMJ accepted a report without disclosing the funding source, which was paid by the Canterbury District Health Board.
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health found no link between fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Study followed nearly 1,000 people born in 1972-1973 up to age 38, controlling for factors like socio-economic status and breastfeeding.
A review and meta-analysis found that consuming higher amounts of added sugars increases blood pressure and lipids, contributing to cardiovascular risk. The study's findings support reduced sugar consumption as a measure to combat global cardiovascular disease burden.
A new study by University of Otago researchers has discovered that the modern New Zealand sea lion is a relative newcomer to the mainland, replacing an extinct prehistoric species. The team found evidence of a previously unknown lineage that dominated South Island shores until around 600 years ago.
Bacteria have been found to possess a surprisingly flexible immune system that can recognize and neutralize viruses and other foreign DNA invaders. This adaptive immunity, termed CRISPR-Cas, allows bacteria to store genetic memories of past infections and respond quickly to future exposures.
Researchers from the University of Otago used mapping methods to track smoking visibility in public areas of downtown Wellington. They found that up to 116 smokers could be seen outside bars and cafés, highlighting the need for smokefree policies to reduce the normalisation of smoking.
Researchers at the University of Otago have created a system that can precisely split minute clouds of ultracold atoms into 32 daughter clouds. The 'optical tweezers' unit uses intense laser beams to manipulate and control the atoms, enabling new tools for probing microscopic structures.
Researchers analyzed bone collagen of 49 adults from 3000-year-old skeletons to reveal the Lapita people's diet, which included reef fish, marine turtles, and free-range pigs. The study provides new insights into the socio-cultural elements of their society.
Soil bacteria, such as Mycobacterium smegmatis, use enzymes to efficiently scavenge hydrogen from the atmosphere, ramping up activity when carbon-based energy sources are scarce. This discovery has implications for understanding global climate processes and developing new catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells.
A thin transparent silicone dressing applied from day one can prevent severe skin reactions during radiation therapy, according to New Zealand research. The dressings create a protective environment for skin stem cells to heal from radiation damage.
Research by Robert Boessenecker uncovers a record of 21 marine mammal species from the San Francisco Bay Area's Purisima Formation, dating back 5-2.5 million years. A new species of fossil whale, Balaenoptera bertae, is discovered, closely related to minke and fin whales.
Researchers have determined the complex structure of a key cell membrane protein involved in sterol metabolism and resistance in a yeast model. The study's findings provide new insights into mechanisms underlying fungal resistance to triazole drugs, which can help develop new broad-spectrum drugs with minimal side effects.
Researchers at the University of Otago and Plant & Food Research have identified the genetic mechanism controlling onion bulb formation in response to changing daylight hours. This discovery will help breed new onion cultivars that can thrive in different environments, increasing crop yields and export revenue.
Researchers at University of Otago discover key cellular location of kisspeptin-Gpr54 signalling, crucial for fertility. The study reveals that targeting this signalling can enable new therapies for infertility and approaches to controlling fertility.
A team of scientists analyzed isotopes from the bones and teeth of the first New Zealanders, identifying their likely diet and childhood origins. The study suggests that the first group shared similar diets, while others had highly variable diets reflecting their geographical movements.
A new University of Otago study followed over 1000 children and found that excessive TV viewing in childhood is associated with increased risks of antisocial behavior, including criminal conviction and aggressive personality traits, in adulthood. The study suggests reducing TV viewing could help reduce rates of antisocial behavior.
A new study from the University of Otago found that consuming seven to eight servings of fruits and vegetables per day can improve mood and overall wellbeing in young adults. The research suggests a strong relationship between positive emotions and higher fruit and vegetable consumption, with no significant impact on other foods.