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NYU research: Hair sampling shows unintended 'bath salt' use

A recent study by NYU researchers found that four out of ten nightclub/festival attendees who use ecstasy tested positive for 'bath salts', despite reporting no use. The study used hair sampling to detect novel psychoactive substances in ecstasy users, highlighting the need for education and awareness about the risks of adulterated drugs.

SourceNew York University·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateFeb 18, 2016

Salt and sodium intake remains high in China

A recent study in JAMA found that all provinces in China exceeded the recommended daily maximum intake of salt (5 g/d) and sodium (2 g/d), highlighting a persistent public health concern. The study suggests that total diet studies underestimate sodium consumption due to increased use of processed foods and seasonings.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateFeb 16, 2016

Toward roads that de-ice themselves

Researchers have developed a road material that de-ices itself by releasing de-icing salt as it wears away, potentially eliminating the need for annual salt applications. The new composite, combining potassium formate with styrene-butadiene-styrene and bitumen, significantly delays ice formation in lab studies.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·DateDec 16, 2015

Low sugar diet makes foods taste sweeter but does not change preferred level of sweetness

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals that a low sugar diet can make foods taste sweeter, but does not change an individual's preferred level of sweetness. Despite the difference in sweetness ratings, participants on a reduced sugar diet did not alter their preference for sucrose content.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateNov 25, 2015

Shocking new way to get the salt out

A new approach to desalination, called shock electrodialysis, uses an electrically driven shockwave to separate salty and fresh water streams, allowing easy separation without filters or boiling. This method can be scaled up for large-scale seawater desalination and may also sterilize contaminated water.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateNov 12, 2015

Fossil landscapes in New England

The study found that the glacial ice covering New England's highest peaks was unable to erode the rock below, preserving the landscape in a fossil state. The contrast between stable summit landscapes and adjacent valleys deeply eroded by glacial ice contributed to the development of northern Appalachian topography.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateOct 26, 2015

Anti-clumping strategy for nanoparticles

Researchers identified key factors leading to nanoparticles' instability and aggregation in industrial applications. The conditions include the electric force imbalance between particles and attractive or repulsive forces.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateOct 16, 2015

What's behind your thirst?

Researchers at McGill University Health Centre discover the structure of a key protein involved in body hydration and temperature regulation. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments and diagnostic tests for conditions such as hyponatremia, a disorder that affects sodium levels in the blood.

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 15, 2015

Extra brain cells make males remember sex

A pair of neurons found in the brains of male nematode worms, called 'mystery cells of the male' or 'MCMs', are responsible for sex-based differences in learning and behavior. These MCMs create behavioral differences between males and females by changing a brain circuit common to both sexes.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature·DateOct 14, 2015

Plants also suffer from stress

A team of researchers has identified a protein family that helps plants grow on salt, revealing a mechanism for improving plant growth under salt stress conditions. The study found that these proteins support the cellulose synthase machinery during cellulose synthesis, helping plants maintain biomass production under salt.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalCell·DateSep 4, 2015

High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis

New research suggests that high salt diets may exacerbate autoimmune neuroinflammation in individuals with specific genetic backgrounds, particularly females. The study found that mice fed a high salt diet exhibited worsened clinical signs of multiple sclerosis, while those with certain genetic variants showed no response to salt.

Health-care providers a major contributor to problem of antibiotic overuse

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that 10% of health care providers write an antibiotic prescription for nearly every patient (95 percent or more) who walks in with a cold, bronchitis or other acute respiratory infection. This variation is driven by individual provider habits rather than differences in patient char...

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJul 20, 2015

Eating out = high blood pressure?

A recent study by Duke-NUS Medical School researchers found an association between meals eaten away from home and high blood pressure in university-going young adults. The study, which surveyed over 500 participants, showed that pre-hypertension was prevalent in 27.4% of the population, with men more likely to be affected than women.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalAmerican Journal of Hypertension·DateApr 10, 2015

Scientists tackle our addiction to salt and fat by altering foods' pore size, number

Researchers have discovered that manipulating porosity in processed foods can increase the release of salt during chewing, allowing for reduced salt content without sacrificing flavor. By controlling pore size and number, food manufacturers may be able to create lower-sodium alternatives to popular snacks.

Salt affects organs

Excess dietary sodium can adversely affect target organs even in absence of blood pressure increase, including reduced function of endothelium, increased arterial stiffness, and kidney damage. Reducing sodium intake can help mitigate these effects.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 10, 2015

A high-salt diet could protect against invading microbes

A study published in Cell Metabolism reveals that a high-salt diet can increase sodium accumulation in the skin, boosting the immune response to skin-infecting parasites. This finding suggests that dietary salt may have therapeutic potential in promoting host defense against microbial infections.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMar 3, 2015