Science and research news from across Europe. Covers major discoveries, university leadership, disease burden and costs, and research policy in the region.
Research presented at ECCMID found that unvaccinated patients accounted for most measles cases, with children under two years old being at higher risk of dying from the disease. The study also highlighted the impact of measles on young populations, with one in 1,000 cases resulting in death.
A three-year study of 1,078 hypertensive patients with heart disease found that faster walkers had a significantly lower risk of hospitalization. The study also showed that fast walkers spent shorter lengths of time in the hospital compared to slow walkers.
A new study reveals that European rivers have a much higher density of barriers than previously thought, with up to one barrier per kilometer. A newly developed smartphone app, Barrier Tracker, is now available to help document and update this information.
Researchers found that West Nile virus reemerged in Greece in 2017 after a two-year hiatus, causing 45 cases of infection, primarily in southern regions. The study highlights the importance of mosquito management and public education to prevent transmission, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and ESTRO join forces to launch E2-RADIatE, a pan-European infrastructure for efficient collaboration in radiation oncology. The initiative aims to generate robust data on cancer treatment and develop new therapeutic strategies.
Researchers developed a new colour-coded visual tool, IRIS, to measure hospital compliance with guidelines and improve infection control. The tool improved hand hygiene compliance in five Dutch wards but had limited impact on antibiotic use.
A new study reveals that swapping cars for shared bicycles avoids up to 73 deaths and saves $226 million annually. The use of mechanical bicycles offers the most health benefits, with Paris and Barcelona experiencing notable reductions in fatalities and pollution exposure.
Manolis Pasparakis, a professor at the University of Cologne, has received a 2.5 million euro ERC Advanced Grant to investigate the role of necroptosis in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. His research focuses on the mechanisms regulating inflammation.
The European Commission considers a partial ban on valproate use in pregnancy amid concerns about physical abnormalities and developmental problems. Experts debate the balance between treatment efficacy and risk, highlighting the need for informed patient choice and regular review.
Many European countries have shortcomings in policies and programmes to support viral hepatitis elimination efforts, with notable gaps in national coordination and public awareness. The Hep-CORE study highlights the need for governments to address these issues and incorporate civil society perspectives into monitoring strategies.
Researchers analyzed ancient tools, ornaments, and human remains to find that early Homo sapiens adapted to climate change by staying interconnected. The study found that a vast social network helped these ancestors survive a volcanic eruption 40,000 years ago and potentially inform our response to modern global warming.
Peatland initiation coincided with warming and increased precipitation, forming globally important carbon sinks. The study's findings have implications for future changes in peatland distribution.
A single treatment of fecal microbiota transplantation produces sustained clinical and cognitive improvements in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. The study showed significant reductions in HE episodes and hospitalizations, as well as improvements in cognitive function over 1 year.
Phase 2 studies of tropifexor and seladelpar demonstrate potent anti-cholestatic and anti-inflammatory activity without increasing pruritus. Tropifexor and seladelpar are being explored as potential treatments for patients with primary biliary cholangitis, a progressive liver disease.
The SORAMIC study found no overall survival benefit of adding selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) to sorafenib for patients with unresectable primary liver cancer. However, subgroup analyses suggested possible survival benefits in younger patients and those with certain cirrhosis characteristics.
A study found that budesonide add-on therapy improves biochemical markers of disease activity but fails to improve liver histology in high-risk patients with primary biliary cholangitis. Budesonide was shown to produce clinically meaningful improvements in serum alkaline phosphatase levels.
A nationwide US study confirms a significant decrease in liver transplant probabilities for HCC patients between 2005-2007 and 2014-2016. Patients with Medicaid insurance were less likely to receive transplants than those with private/commercial insurance.
A real-world study found that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) after direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment have lower all-cause mortality. Achieving SVR reduced mortality from both liver-related and unrelated causes at all stages of disease.
Two nationwide hepatitis C elimination programs in Georgia and Iceland have reported high levels of engagement, initiation of direct-acting antiviral agents, and cure among patients chronically infected with HCV. In Georgia, over 90% of diagnosed individuals were cured, while in Iceland, the prevalence of active HCV infection among peo...
NGM282, an engineered analogue of FGF19, inhibits bile acid synthesis and decreases markers of hepatic inflammation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Significant reductions in serum levels of ALT and AST were observed in the NGM282 3 mg/day treatment group.
A study found that the Italian outbreak is predominantly caused by strains linked to recent European outbreaks, highlighting the risk of acute HAV infection via sexual transmission in high-risk groups like MSM. The study also emphasizes the importance of hepatitis A vaccine coverage and awareness campaigns for prevention.
A prospective study found that linkage to care specialists can facilitate rapid access to hepatitis C treatment, with 60% of patients initiated on treatment. The study highlights the importance of increasing HCV diagnosis and treatment to meet WHO goals by 2030.
A Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fermented milk products, and coffee has been shown to improve gut microbial diversity and reduce hospitalization risk in patients with liver cirrhosis. The study found that Turkish individuals had higher microbial diversity compared to US participants.
The HEPAHEALTH Project Report reveals a significant increase in liver disease mortality in Europe and Central Asia, driven by high alcohol consumption and obesity rates. The report emphasizes the need for effective prevention strategies to mitigate this growing health concern.
A new RAND Corporation report reveals Russia's sophisticated social media campaign targeting the Baltics, Ukraine, and nearby states. The report recommends strengthening tracking, blocking, and tagging of Russian propaganda, offering alternative media, and developing compelling arguments to align populations with Western values.
Geologists from KU Leuven have found that magmas split into two separate liquids under specific conditions, leading to the formation of Kiruna-type iron ore deposits. These discoveries may help identify new iron ore deposits globally.
A Swedish study found that statins significantly reduce the risk of death, liver transplantation, and variceal bleeding in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The study also showed a reduced risk of these outcomes in patients receiving azathioprine but not ursodeoxycholic acid.
The animated short film aims to raise public awareness about the challenges of liver failure and liver cirrhosis. The film highlights the DIALIVE technology, a novel liver dialysis device undergoing clinical trials to assess its safety and efficacy.
Researchers at Lund University found that migratory birds have a less variable immune system than sedentary birds, possibly due to the reduced diversity of pathogens in their breeding grounds. This adaptation could provide a survival advantage, as dealing with multiple pathogens is often difficult for birds when they first encounter them.
Houston Methodist is leading an international research effort for spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder. The $6 million, five-year study aims to bring promising investigational therapies to patients with SCA1 and SCA3.
The CNRS secured 15 out of 34 French projects funded by the ERC Advanced Grants, marking a significant lead among European hosting institutions. This achievement comes at a time when the CNRS has demonstrated its expertise in various scientific domains.
The European Research Council has invested €650 million in advanced frontier research, with 269 senior researchers across Europe receiving funding for groundbreaking projects. The grants are expected to lead to major scientific advances and potentially create jobs.
New observations suggest dark matter may only interact through gravity, contradicting previous findings. Researchers used the Atacama Large Millimetre Array to study a galaxy cluster and found no separation between dark matter and its surrounding galaxy.
The automated protocol simplifies sample preparation, reducing time and error. Researchers can now seamlessly transition to automation, relieving them from monotonous pipetting tasks.
A new study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that long-term exposure to high levels of road traffic and ozone significantly increases the risk of asthma symptoms and medication use. The study also identified a biological marker, 8-isoprostane, which is exhaled in the breath and linked to tissue damage in the lungs.
A study found that the number of plant species on European mountain peaks increased by five times more than during the period 1957-66, and is accelerating due to global warming. The researchers believe that some specialized species will be outcompeted as warmer climates spread, but local conditions and microclimates play a role.
A new study reveals that biodiversity on mountain peaks in Europe is increasing at an accelerated rate, with plants colonizing higher altitudes in response to warmer temperatures. This trend suggests a risk of disrupting mountain ecosystems as certain species may not be able to adapt to changing conditions.
Researchers at Cardiff University have discovered a significant scarcity of phosphorus in cosmic supernovae, which could pose a challenge to the existence of life beyond Earth. The finding suggests that material blown out into space by these stellar explosions may vary dramatically in chemical composition.
A recent study by Spanish researchers reveals the significant environmental cost of egg production in Spain, including greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. The analysis shows that feed choice and layer replacement are key factors contributing to these impacts.
Researchers used Subaru telescope in Hawaii and Isaac Newton telescope in Canary Islands to create 3D map of universe's first 16 billion years. The team found nearly 4000 early galaxies, many of which may have evolved into Milky Way-like galaxies. These discoveries provide crucial information about early phases of galaxy formation.
A collaboration between astrophysicists and ecologists is helping to monitor rare and endangered species using thermal infrared imagery captured by drones. The project aims to track, find, and monitor endangered animals easily and prevent poaching.
Research found that Australian offshore island emus were smaller versions of their mainland relatives and their body size correlated to the size of their inhabited islands. The study analyzed DNA and bone measurements of extinct small emus on King Island, Tasmania, and Kangaroo Island.
Researchers have found that massive black holes in the center of most galaxies can disrupt and modify binary system orbits, leading to observable gravitational waves. This process could force binaries to merge sooner, producing detectable ripples in space-time.
Astronomers found intense X-ray radiation from red dwarf stars can strip away a planet's ozone layer, making it uninhabitable. This means that life on land might only survive in the oceans.
A study by University of Seville finds that human primary activities are synchronized with the winter day as a synchronizer, rather than clock time. The study characterizes laborer's activities along the daily and yearly cycle of light and dark, revealing latitudinal patterns tied to the light/dark cycle.
Astronomers have discovered that the Beatles' record company funded Godfrey Hounsfield's X-ray research, leading to the invention of the CT scanner. The band's music has also inspired NASA to name their Lucy mission after the 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' song.
A new age-map of the Milky Way's center shows that a period of star formation lasting around 4 billion years created the complex structure. The map, produced by an international team, combines data from millions of stars and spectroscopic surveys, revealing that the bar-shaped structure was formed about 7 billion years ago.
A team of astronomers has found that galaxies like the Milky Way are slowly increasing in size due to star formation on their outskirts. The study, led by Cristina Martínez-Lombilla, reveals a growth rate of around 500 meters per second, which is fast enough to cover the distance from Liverpool to London in about twelve minutes.
A team of astronomers found 72 very bright but quick events in a recent survey, which they believe could be related to supernovae. The transients appear hot and large, expanding and cooling as they evolve, sparking debate about their origin.
New research suggests that high sea levels in the Mediterranean Sea may have triggered the formation of Mount Etna's distinctive cone structure. This theory proposes that changes in the volcano's magma behavior coincide with periods of rising sea levels, which could also explain similar changes at other volcanic sites worldwide.
A study by GEOMAR and international colleagues reveals a 4-fold reduction in Pb concentrations in European surface waters since the phasing out of leaded gasoline. However, legacy Pb from Mediterranean sources persists, suggesting sediments are now a new source of Pb to the environment.
Researchers have developed a biocompatible synthetic material that replicates tissue mechanics and alters color when it changes shape, like chameleon skin. The material is composed of a unique triblock copolymer with carefully selected structural parameters, exhibiting flexibility, strain profile, and optical properties.
The study found that Buša cattle account for a significant proportion of neutral genetic diversity in Bos taurus worldwide. The breed's unique genetic variation makes it an important conservation target for maintaining global genetic and functional diversity.
A new EIT Health project, 'MoveIT', aims to analyze gait patterns and warn patients of potential falls. The project uses sensors placed on patients' shoes and upper body to gather data for further research.
Researchers found that economic profit is the main motivation behind salvage logging in protected areas, despite warnings about its harm to biodiversity and regeneration capacity. Salvage logging should be banned from protected areas unless necessary for safety reasons, according to ecologists.
Researchers analyzed 732 Formula One races to find that drivers of similar status, age, or competing in safe conditions are more likely to experience collisions. The study suggests that targeting these factors could aid in preventing conflicts among drivers.
Fabrice Barresi has been awarded the Heine H. Hansen Award by European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). This award is presented annually at the European Lung Cancer Congress to a lung cancer investigator who has made a special contribution to this field.
A study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology reveals that around half of vision impairment in Western Europe is preventable. The UK has a relatively low prevalence of blindness, but higher rates of moderate to severe vision impairment compared to some non-EU countries.
Researchers at Chalmers University found that ships in the English Channel have the highest rate of sulphur violations in northern Europe, with up to 98% non-compliance. The lowest compliance rates were observed in the western part of the channel and Baltic Sea.
A consortium of 60 scientists will apply single-cell technologies to experimental model systems, combined with genome editing and advanced microscopy. This will help understand how cells stay healthy or progress towards disease and develop effective therapeutics. The project also aims to improve early diagnoses and intervention.