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New painkillers reduce overdose risk

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute developed new opioid pain relievers that are as potent as morphine but do not slow or stop breathing, reducing the risk of overdose. The compounds show a spectrum of bias between signaling pathways, providing an opportunity to expand the therapeutic window and administer drugs safely.

No simple way of predicting breathing difficulties in pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs from external features

Research by University of Cambridge suggests that external features cannot accurately predict breathing difficulties in pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs. Breeders should focus on breeding for open nostrils and avoiding dogs with short muzzles, wide faces and thick necks to reduce the risk of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 1, 2017

Sleep disorders may increase cognitive problems particularly in those at risk for Alzheimer's

Research suggests that sleep disorders are associated with diminished cognition in individuals carrying a genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, APOE-ε4 carriers showed greater cognitive deficits with various indices of sleep-disordered breathing compared to those without the allele. The study found increased over...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateJul 21, 2017

Coming out of their shells

Researchers have identified energy metabolism adaptations in soft-shelled turtles that enabled them to lose their hard shells and explore aquatic environments. These adaptations were found in mitochondrial DNA-encoded proteins associated with aerobic respiration and are linked to the evolution of soft-shells in three turtle lineages.

Lifting your spirits doesn't require many reps

A new study from the University of Connecticut found that even light physical activity can improve mental well-being and reduce depression. The research suggests that individuals who engage in low-intensity exercise, such as a leisurely walk, experience greater benefits than those who undertake vigorous activities.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Health Psychology·DateMay 12, 2017

Columbia and Harvard researchers find yoga and controlled breathing reduce depressive symptoms

Researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Harvard School of Medicine found that yoga classes and coherent breathing reduced depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder. Participants who took three yoga classes a week showed significant improvement compared to those taking two classes.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateMar 15, 2017

Diaphragm much older than expected

Researchers found evidence of a diaphragm-like structure in early pelycosaurs, dating back over 300 million years. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the evolution of respiratory systems and warm-bloodedness.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences·DateNov 18, 2016

New brainstem model reveals how brains control breathing

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new brainstem model that shows how the brain controls breathing in response to changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The study found that when exposed to decreased oxygen or increased carbon dioxide, the brain releases PGE2 to regulate breathing.

SourceeLife·DateJul 5, 2016

Watching a forest breathe

Researchers obtained detailed measurements of carbon exchange in a temperate deciduous forest, revealing that trees exhale less CO2 during the day than previously thought. The study confirmed that forest photosynthesis doesn't decline over the course of summer, contrary to conventional wisdom used in climate models.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·DateJun 29, 2016

Simple screening tool helps determine COPD risk

A simple 7-item screening tool has been developed to identify patients at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The tool uses predictive factors such as gender, age, smoking history, and breathlessness to assess COPD risk in primary care settings.

SourceWiley·JournalRespirology·DateJun 29, 2016

Telling irregularities

A clinical study confirmed a strong correlation between minor heart rate irregularities and the survival prospects of heart attack patients. The new method, measuring respiratory sinus arrhythmia, produces a specific picture of the body's functional condition.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 27, 2016

Serotonin reduces apnea and could be a clue to understanding sudden infant death syndrome

Researchers found that serotonin shortens apnoeic events by interacting with the 5-HT3 receptor, which is highly expressed in healthy babies. This discovery may provide a new lead in understanding and treating SIDS and asphyxia., Serotonin's role in promoting inspiration and stopping apnea could be key to preventing these infant deaths.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateApr 27, 2016

Snappy Sleep Stager system identifies gene related to shorter sleep

Researchers at RIKEN QBiC have developed a new method for monitoring mouse sleep cycles using the Snappy Sleep Stager, a non-invasive and automated system. The system has identified a new short-sleeper gene, Nr3a, which is associated with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and depression, all of which are linked to sleep disturbances.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 7, 2016

Enough oxygen long before animals rose

Studies have shown that oxygen levels in the deep ocean were at least 4% of modern concentrations 1.4 billion years ago, indicating that animals could exist and evolve with this amount of oxygen. Despite this, animals did not appear on Earth until about 600 million years ago.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016