EurekAlert! - Breaking News

SLAS Technology June special issue on 3D cell culture

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The June edition of SLAS Technology is a Special Issue entitled, 'Emerging Trends in 3D Cell Culture: High-Throughput Screening, Disease Modeling and Translational Medicine.' Free online access to the articles in this collection is courtesy of Corning Life Sciences, the issue's sponsor.

Nutritional supplement proves 92% effective in boosting brain function

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Individuals with communication disorders report improvement with focus, speech, and motor skills, after using a patented nutritional supplement.

SLAS Discovery's June issue on synthetic biology available now

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The June edition of SLAS Discovery features the cover article, 'A Perspective on Synthetic Biology in Drug Discovery and Development -- Current Impact and Future Opportunities' by Florian David, Ph.D. (Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden), Andrew M. Davis, Ph.D. (AstraZeneca, Cambridge, England, UK). Michael Gossing, Ph.D., Martin A. Hayes, Ph.D., and Elvira Romero, Ph.D., and Louis H. Scott, Ph.D. (AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden), and Mark J. Wigglesworth, Ph.D. (AstraZeneca, London, England, UK).

Computer simulations of the brain can predict language recovery in stroke survivors

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Speech rehabilitation experts can predict how well a patient will recover from aphasia, a disorder caused by damage to the part of the brain responsible for producing language.

Colorectal Cancer: UVA Health Expert Helps Develop New National Screening Guidelines

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Most Americans should get screened for colorectal cancer beginning at age 45 instead of age 50, according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which includes UVA Health's Li Li, MD, PhD, MPH. This recommendation applies to Americans without symptoms who do not have a history of colorectal polyps or a personal or family health history of genetic disorders that increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Social identity within the anti-vaccine movement

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A study of more than 1,000 demographically representative participants found that about 22 percent of Americans self-identify as anti-vaxxers, and tend to embrace the label as a form of social identity.

New form of silicon could enable next-gen electronic and energy devices

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A team led by Carnegie's Thomas Shiell and Timothy Strobel developed a new method for synthesizing a novel crystalline form of silicon with a hexagonal structure that could potentially be used to create next-generation electronic and energy devices with enhanced properties that exceed those of the "normal" cubic form of silicon used today.

New drug effective against lung cancers caused by common genetic error

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new drug reduced tumor size in patients who have lung cancer patients with a specific, disease-causing change in the gene KRAS, a study found.

Beyond synthetic biology, synthetic ecology boosts health by engineering the environment

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

In a new Nature Communications study, researchers from BU's Microbiome Initiative discovered that providing microbial communities with a broader variety of food sources didn't increase the variety of microbial species within their experiments, but more food did fuel more microbial growth. The team's ultimate goal is to learn how to direct microbiome behavior through environmental molecules like food sources.

Magnetism drives metals to insulators in new experiment

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new experiment offers the cleanest proof yet for magnetism-driven transitions of metals to insulators.

Why scientists want to solve an underground mystery about where microbes live

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A team of BU biologists revealed, for the first time, that it is possible to accurately predict the abundance of different species of soil microbes in different parts of the world.

Fungus creates a fast track for carbon

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

New research focused on interactions among microbes in water suggests fungal microparasites play a bigger than expected role in aquatic food webs and the global carbon cycle.

"Mexican variant" and monitoring actions of SARS-CoV-2 genome

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

It has recently become prominent in Mexico and, similarly to other variants, presents a mutation in the Spike protein of the coronavirus. The "Mexican variant" was identified by a research group of the University of Bologna

Adapting laboratory techniques for remote instruction

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign designed a laboratory exercise to teach students how to use micropipettes, through remote learning, using at-home kits.

Genomics-informed decisions can help save species from extinction

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers in Lund, Copenhagen and Norwich have shown that harmful mutations present in the DNA play an important - yet neglected - role in the conservation and translocation programs of threatened species.

An atom chip interferometer that could detect quantum gravity

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Physicists in Israel have created a quantum interferometer on an atom chip. This device can be used to explore the fundamentals of quantum theory by studying the interference pattern between two beams of atoms. University of Groningen physicist, Anupam Mazumdar, describes how the device could be adapted to use mesoscopic particles instead of atoms. This modification would allow for expanded applications.

UMass Amherst food scientists aim to make plant-based protein tastier and healthier

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

As meat-eating continues to increase around the world, food scientists are focusing on ways to create healthier, better-tasting and more sustainable plant-based protein products that mimic meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs.

A novel tuberculosis regimen shortens treatment course for patients

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A phase III clinical trial led by an investigator at the Medical University of South Carolina found that a novel four-month regimen was just as effective at treating tuberculosis as the standard six-month regimen. The findings are reported in the May 6, 2021 New England Journal of Medicine.

Collaboration controls killers

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

St. Jude immunologists are researching how effector and killer T cells can be controlled to destroy cancer cells that resist treatment.

Vitamin D may not protect against COVID-19, as previously suggested

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

While previous research early in the pandemic suggested that vitamin D cuts the risk of contracting COVID-19, a new study from McGill University finds there is no genetic evidence that the vitamin works as a protective measure against the coronavirus.

Remote patient monitoring may reduce need to hospitalize cancer patients

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A study by researchers at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has found that cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who received care at home via remote patient monitoring were significantly less likely to require hospitalization for their illness, compared to cancer patients with COVID-19 who did not participate in the program. Results of the study were presented Friday, June 4, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Early warning system for COVID-19 gets faster through wastewater detection and tracing

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new research paper builds on previous research of COVID-19 testing in municipal sewer systems and subsequent tracing the virus back to the source by more accurately modelling a system's treelike network of one-way pipes and manholes, and by speeding up the detection/tracing process through automatic sensors installed in specific manholes, chosen according to an easier-to-use algorithm.

Understanding the skin's defense system

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

It can be easy to forget that the human skin is an organ. It's also the largest one and it's exposed, charged with keeping our inner biology safe from the perils of the outside world. Michigan State University's Sangbum Park is someone who never takes skin or its biological functions for granted. He's studying skin at the cellular level to better understand it and help us support it when it's fighting injury, infection or disease.

Bacteria are connected to how babies experience fear

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Why do some babies react to perceived danger more than others? According to new research from Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, part of the answer may be found in a surprising place: an infant's digestive system.

Newly approved targeted therapy sotorasib prolongs survival in KRAS G12C-mutated lung cancer

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Results from the Phase II cohort of the CodeBreaK 100 study showed that treatment with the KRAS G12C inhibitor sotorasib achieved a 37.1% objective response rate and 12.5 months median overall survival in previously treated patients with KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Wide variation in cost and transparency of payer-negotiated prices for thyroid cancer care

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Since Jan. 1, 2021, hospitals in the US have been required by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide pricing information online about items and services. A team of researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts Eye and Ear leveraged the newly available data to analyze price transparency and price variation for the treatment of thyroid cancer.

New study into green tea's potential to help tackle COVID-19

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A Swansea University academic is part of a team investigating how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling Covid-19.Dr Suresh Mohankumar carried out the research with colleagues in India during his time at JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research Their findings suggest that one of the compounds in green tea could combat the coronavirus behind Covid-19.

A missing antibody molecule may indicate when dengue will become deadly

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The antibody's altered structure helps explain an enduring mystery of dengue--why only a fraction of those infected will develop severe disease.

COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impact on the mental health of adolescents

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A study of over 59,000 Icelandic adolescents by a team of Icelandic and North American behavioral and social scientists found that COVID-19 has had a significant, detrimental impact on adolescent mental health, especially in girls. The study is the first to investigate and document age- and gender-specific changes in adolescent mental health problems and substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic, while accounting for upward trends that were appearing before the pandemic.

Geologist identifies new form of quasicrystal

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A UMass Lowell geologist is among the researchers who have discovered a new type of manmade quasicrystal created by the first test blast of an atomic bomb.

Disparities in COVID-19 rates among adults with kidney failure in New York City

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Among adults with kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis in New York City, Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to develop symptomatic COVID-19 than White patients. Neighborhood-level social vulnerability factors were associated with COVID-19 incidence among White patients, but these factors did not explain racial/ethnic disparities.

Plant competition during climate change

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Freiburg researchers show how extreme drought and plant invasion impact ecosystems in the Mediterranean region

Preventing suicide among a 'hidden population' in public housing

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

New research suggests that African American families living in public housing are a "hidden population" when it comes to national suicide prevention efforts.

Attentive listening helps teens open up, study finds

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Engaged listening techniques such as eye contact, nodding and using key words to praise openness helps teenagers when they admit bad behaviour and share hurt feelings with their parents, a new study has shown.

Using HPC and experiment, researchers continue to refine graphene production

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

From touch screens and advanced electronic sensors to better drug delivery devices, graphene has become one of the most promising new materials in recent decades. In an effort to produce cheap, defect-free graphene in larger quantities, researchers from the Technical University of Munich have been using GCS HPC resources to develop more efficient methods for producing graphene at the industrial scale.

How to retard time for cells

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at Leipzig University, in collaboration with colleagues from Germany and England, have succeeded in reversibly slowing down cellular processes. A team of biophysicists led by Professor Josef Alfons Käs and Dr Jörg Schnauß were able to show in experiments that cells can be transferred into slow motion without changing the temperature. From a physical point of view, such possibilities have so far only been available in the context of the theory of relativity.

Gene protection for COVID-19 identified

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A genetic link has been discovered explaining why some people catch Covid but don't get sick. The gene is found three times as often in people who are asymptomatic. This is the first clear evidence of genetic resistance because the study compared severely affected people with an asymptomatic COVID group and used next generation sequencing to focus in detail and at scale on the HLA genes which are packed together on chromosome 6.

Geostationary Earth Orbit Hyperspectral Infrared Radiance data improve local severe storm forecasts proofed by using a new Hybrid OSSE method

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists are developing data assimilation methods for Numerical Weather Prediction models that will increase the quality of initialization data from satellites. The Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) is designed to use data assimilation to investigate the potential impact of future atmospheric observing systems. Traditional OSSE processes require significant effort to compute, simulate, and calibrate information, then assimilate the data to produce a forecast. Therefore, model meteorologists are working to make this process more efficient.

Substantial carbon dioxide emissions from northern peatlands drained for crop cultivation

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new study shows that substantial amounts of carbon dioxide were released during the last millennium because of crop cultivation on peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere.

Self-excising designer proteins report isoform expression

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Our proteome is much bigger than our genome because one gene produces several variants of proteins called protein isoforms, whose disbalance is implicated in many diseases. A new bioengineered reporter system developed at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich now allows for the first time to follow protein isoform expression over time in live cells. The method helps to decipher the underlying regulatory mechanisms and enables screening for potential molecular interventions.

Multisensory facilitation near the body in all directions

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology, Keio University, and the University of Tokyo investigated audio-tactile multisensory integration near the body using touch detection with task-irrelevant approaching and receding sounds in all directions: front, rear, left, and right. They found that the tactile stimulus was detected faster near the body space than far from it when a sound approached from any direction. Thus, peripersonal representations exist with approaching sound, irrespective of direction.

Ten-fold increase in carbon offset cost predicted

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The cost of offsetting corporate carbon emissions needs to increase ten-fold to drive meaningful climate action, says a landmark report by Trove Research and UCL.

Don't like your greens? Blame it on Brassica domestication

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Delicious to some, but a bitter bane to others' taste buds, vegetables like broccoli rabe, bok choy and turnips are a dinner staple -- and picky eater conflict -- around the world. It all likely started in the mountains near present-day Afghanistan, where humans first domesticated turnips 3,500 to 6,000 years ago, according to a new study recently published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Corals tell Arabian Sea story of global warming

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Coral insights into 1,000 years of seasonal changes in the Arabian Sea warn of significant impacts caused by global warming.

Structural uniqueness of the green- and red-light sensing photosensor in cyanobacteria

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Certain cyanobacteria can change the absorbing light colors for photosynthesis using a green- and red-light sensing photosensor protein. A Japanese research group revealed the unique conformation of the bilin chromophore and the unique protein structure that potentially functions as a proton transfer route to bilin. They also demonstrated that RcaE undergoes protonation and deprotonation of the bilin chromophore during the green and red photoconversion.

How do bad kidneys lead to heart disease? Broken cellular clocks provide new clues

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Kyushu University researchers find that one of the causes of CKD induced heart failures is the over expression of G protein-coupled receptor 68 in monocytes. Monocyte disruption was caused by the activation of the Clock gene, the key regulator of circadian rhythm via the increased level of vitamin A in the body resulting from kidney dysfunction.

Giving brown fat a boost to fight type 2 diabetes

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Increasing a protein concentrated in brown fat appears to lower blood sugar, promote insulin sensitivity, and protect against fatty liver disease by remodeling white fat to a healthier state, a new study led by UT Southwestern scientists suggests. The finding, published online in Nature Communications, could eventually lead to new solutions for patients with diabetes and related conditions.

MLB 'FEVER' -- improved elbow MRI view for Major League Baseball pitchers

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

According to a pilot study published in ARRS' American Journal of Roentgenology, the flexed elbow valgus external rotation (FEVER) view can improve MRI evaluation of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in Major League Baseball pitchers. The increased joint space width confirms elbow valgus stress with FEVER view. Diagnostic confidence increased, and additional UCLs were identified as abnormal.

Most Californians unaware of law to prevent gun violence but would support using it

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new study shows that two-thirds of Californians don't know about a law designed to prevent a person at risk of hurting themselves or others from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. More than 80% of survey participants were supportive once they read about this law.

Underground storage of carbon captured directly from air -- green and economical

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Conventional carbon capture is limited by high transportation costs and the need for intensive purification. Membrane-based direct air capture is a promising alternative because capture and storage can be performed at the same remote sites, and low CO2 purity is acceptable for geological storage because the impurities are not hazardous. Molecular dynamics simulations of geological storage of CO2-N2-O2 mixtures from direct air capture demonstrated that this approach is both environmentally acceptable and economically viable.

Lessons from the last pandemic point the way toward universal flu vaccines

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new study from the University of Chicago and Scripps Research Institute shows that during the last great pandemic--2009's H1N1 influenza pandemic--people developed strong, effective immune responses to stable, conserved parts of the virus.

Technique inspired by lace making could someday weave structures in space

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Princeton University researchers have twisted flexible strips into a wide array of shapes called bigon rings. The technique could help create structures that change shape in response to changing conditions.

Getting they/them pronouns right

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The social trend of announcing preferred pronouns, which is often seen in email signatures, Twitter bios and Zoom settings, improves how pronouns are understood, especially when using 'they/them,' according to a study by psychology experts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Oncotarget: Inflammatory microenvironment & hepatic macrophage in hepatocellular carcinoma

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

"The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide, and HCC is amongst the leading causes of cancer death globally."

Study finds lower mortality rate for men at high risk for death from prostate cancer who received early postoperative radiation therapy

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new, retrospective study focuses on men who have both high-grade prostate cancer that extends outside the prostate and/or has spread into the lymph nodes. For these men who are at high risk of dying from the disease, there was a significant reduction in the risk of death with adjuvant radiation therapy (aRT) use, suggesting that it should be offered to these men.

NTU scientists establish new records of Singapore's sea-level history

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Climate scientists at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU, Singapore) have extended the known record of Singapore's sea-level to almost 10,000 years ago, providing a more robust dataset to aid future predictions of sea-level rise.

Soft tissue measurements critical to hominid reconstruction

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Accurate soft tissue measurements are critical when making reconstructions of human ancestors, a new study from the University of Adelaide and Arizona State University has found.

Public awareness, willingness to use gun violence restraining orders

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

This survey study in California assesses what the public knows about extreme risk protection orders and if people are willing to use them to prevent firearm-related harm, both in general and when a family member is at risk, and if not, why not. The orders temporarily suspend firearm and ammunition access by individuals a judge has deemed to be at substantial risk of harming themselves or others.

Study of past South Asian monsoons suggests stronger monsoon rainfall in the future

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

New research finds that increases in monsoon rainfall over the past million years were linked with increases in atmospheric CO2 and the import of moisture from the southern hemisphere, which suggests stronger rains in the future as CO2 levels rise.

Most US adults may lack knowledge about palliative care

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The majority of surveyed Americans had an inadequate understanding of palliative care, and frequency of health care utilization was one determinant of knowledge.

ADHD medications associated with reduced risk of suicidality in certain children

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

ADHD medications may lower suicide risk in children with hyperactivity, oppositional defiance and other behavioral disorders, according to new research from the Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI) of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania. The findings, published today in JAMA Network Open, address a significant knowledge gap in childhood suicide risk and could inform suicide prevention strategies at a time when suicide among children is on the rise.

Newly approved drug effective against lung cancer caused by genetic mutation

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The new drug sotorasib reduces tumor size and shows promise in improving survival among patients with lung tumors caused by a specific DNA mutation, according to results of a global phase 2 clinical trial led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The drug is designed to shut down the effects of the mutation, which is found in about 13% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Songbirds can control single vocal muscle fibers when singing

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Singing is crucial for the recognition, sex life and speciation of songbirds. New research published in Current Biology shows songbirds have extremely high-resolution control over their vocal output and can even control single muscle fibers.

Mothers transmitting hepatitis B to children as broken hospital procedures plague Europe

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Procedures to prevent the direct transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother to child, particularly during and after pregnancy, have significant fragmentation and gaps, a new survey presented at the 6th World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition has shown.

Screening reveals coeliac disease cases in children have doubled in 25 years

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

(Geneva, 5 June 2021) Mass screening of school-age children has led to significantly higher numbers of coeliac disease cases being diagnosed, according to a new study presented today at the 6th World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

UW researchers investigate mining-related deforestation in the Amazon

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

If you're wearing gold jewelry right now, there's a good chance it came from an illegal mining operation in the tropics and surfaced only after some rainforest was sacrificed, according to a team of University of Wisconsin researchers who studied regulatory efforts to curb some of these environmentally damaging activities.

Did heat from impacts on asteroids provide the ingredients for life on Earth?

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A research group from Kobe University has demonstrated that the heat generated by the impact of a small astronomical body could enable aqueous alteration and organic solid formation to occur on the surface of an asteroid. These results have significantly increased the number of prospective astronomical bodies that could have brought water and the origins of life to Earth.

Targeted 'radioligand' improves survival in advanced prostate cancer

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new kind of prostate cancer treatment tested at Oregon Health & Science University combines a targeting compound with a radioactive isotope to irradiate and kill cancer cells, sparing most normal tissues.

What we know about water may have just changed dramatically

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

New research shows that when water comes into contact with an electrode surface all its molecules do not respond in the same way. This can dramatically affect how well various substances can dissolve in water subject to an electrical field, which in turn, can determine how a chemical reaction will occur. And chemical reactions are a necessary component in how we make...everything. The implications of this new revelation could have a remarkable impact on all water-related processes from water purification to drug manufacturing.

A new water treatment technology could also help Mars explorers

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A UC Riverside-led team created a catalyst from molybdenum fertilizer that reduces >99.9% of perchlorate in water and could be used to clean soil on Mars and make oxygen for human explorers.

Salt marshes trap microplastics in their sediments, creating record of human plastic use

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Ecosystems Center report that microplastics have been accumulating in salt marshes for decades, creating a historical record of human plastic waste.

Mayo Clinic study provides clarity on use of anticoagulants in gastrointestinal cancers

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A study by Mayo Clinic researchers provides some clarity in the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), such as apixaban and rivaroxaban, to treat acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. The findings were published Wednesday, June 2, in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Mason scientists explore herbal treatment for COVID-19

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Could an over-the-counter health "shot" help fight COVID-19? George Mason University researchers think it just might. Cell and Bioscience recently highlighted research led by Yuntao Wu and Ramin Hakami in which they examined the potential anti-coronavirus activities of an over-the-counter drink called Respiratory Detox Shot (RDS).

New findings offer improved therapy of early-stage, BRCA mutation-associated breast cancer

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new treatment with potential to improve the outcomes for patients with hereditary BRCA mutations and high-risk, early-stage breast cancer appeared June 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine and will be presented June 6 at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting. These results represent the first time a PARP inhibitor has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer returning in high-risk patients following completion of standard chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.

Story tips from Johns Hopkins experts on COVID-19

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Story tips from Johns Hopkins experts on COVID-19

Immunotherapy after bladder cancer surgery may reduce recurrence, study shows

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

ew research from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) medical oncologist Dean Bajorin, MD, and colleagues found that patients who received nivolumab (Opdivo®) after bladder cancer surgery reduced their overall risk for high-grade bladder cancer recurrence. This research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Cultural, belief system data can inform gray wolf recovery efforts in US

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The study reveals that Colorado's social environment is far more conducive to wolf recovery than states like Montana and Idaho, which currently have state legislative efforts to reduce wolf populations.

New algorithm for modern quilting

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

When it comes to the art of quilting, determining the feasibility and order of steps in advanced patterns can be notoriously complicated - and frustrating. By automating that process, a new algorithm enables quilters to focus on design and creation.

The dream team: Scientists find drug duo that may cure COVID-19 together

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

While preventative care for COVID-19 has made much noise (with vaccines having rolled out in most countries), the soaring infection rates indicate the need for effective treatments. Using cultured cells to study SARS-CoV-2 infections, researchers at the Tokyo University of Science and other institutions have discovered that the drugs cepharanthine and nelfinavir are effective at combating the virus, with the former preventing the virus from entering cells and the latter preventing the virus from replicating.

Mockingbird song decoded

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Mockingbirds follow similar musical rules as those found in human music, from Beethoven to Kendrick Lamar.

Athletic competition after COVID

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Cardiovascular imaging demonstrated no evidence of myocardial injury or myocarditis in athletes after COVID-19 infection, according to a research letter published in Circulation by Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center cardiologists.

Secret shopper study sheds light on barriers to opioid treatment for women

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

After a 2020 Vanderbilt University Medical Center study showed women have a difficult time accessing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), investigators analyzed comments received from the study's participants to further shed light on barriers to care, which included everything from long on-hold times to difficult interactions with clinic receptionists during phone calls seeking appointments.

Genetic base editing treats sickle cell disease in mice

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Sickle cell disease leads to chronic pain, organ failure, and early death in patients worldwide. A team led by Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has demonstrated a gene editing approach that efficiently corrects the mutation underlying SCD in patient blood stem cells and in mice. This treatment rescued disease symptoms in animal models, enabling long-lasting production of healthy blood cells, and could inspire a therapeutic strategy for SCD.

South Pole and East Antarctica warmer than previously thought during last ice age, two studies show

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

University of Washington glaciologists are co-authors on two papers that analyzed Antarctic ice cores to understand the continent's air temperatures during the most recent glacial period. The results help understand how the region behaves during a major climate transition.

Scientists discover new approach to stabilize cathode materials

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

UPTON, NY--A team of researchers led by chemists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory has studied an elusive property in cathode materials, called a valence gradient, to understand its effect on battery performance. The findings, published in Nature Communications, demonstrated that the valence gradient can serve as a new approach for stabilizing the structure of high-nickel-content cathodes against degradation and safety issues.

COVID's impact on pregnancy, birth trends

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The COVID-19 shutdown initially seemed to hit pause on pregnancy and birth rates, new research from one major hospital system suggests, but that trend is quickly reversing.

URI scientists discover function of microbes living in oysters

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists from the University of Rhode Island have taken the first steps toward understanding the function of microbes that live on and in Eastern oysters, which may have implications for oyster health and the management of oyster reefs and aquaculture facilities.

Researchers design simulation tool to predict disease, pest spread

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

North Carolina State University researchers have developed a computer simulation tool to predict when and where pests and diseases will attack crops or forests, and also test when to apply pesticides or other management strategies to contain them.

Shoot better drone videos with a single word

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A team from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Sao Paulo and Facebook AI Research developed a model that enables a drone to shoot a video based on a desired emotion or viewer reaction. The drone uses camera angles, speeds and flight paths to generate a video that could be exciting, calm, enjoyable or nerve-wracking -- depending on what the filmmaker tells it.

Analyzing tumor microenvironment at single cell level sheds light on metastatic melanoma outcomes

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

In a new article published in Clinical Cancer Research, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers reveal how different therapies impact the surrounding immune environment of metastatic melanoma tumors according to location and identify a rare population of immune cells that is associated with improved overall survival.

CO2 emissions are rebounding, but clean energy revolutions are emerging

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

According to a new University of California San Diego article published in Nature Energy there are encouraging signs in emerging clean energy technology "niches"--countries, states or corporations--that are pioneering decarbonization.

Linked faults under Salt Lake City may elevate risk of building damage

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A complex zone of folding and faulting that links two faults underneath downtown Salt Lake City could deform the ground during a large earthquake, according to a new study.

Immune therapy after surgery lowers relapse risk in patients with high-risk melanoma

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Patients with high-risk melanoma who had a course of pembrolizumab after their surgery had a longer time before their disease recurred than patients who got either ipilimumab or high-dose interferon after surgery. These findings of a large SWOG Cancer Research Network clinical trial, S1404, will be presented at the ASCO annual meeting June 6, 2021.

Study on heavy drinking in young adults and the psychological impacts of COVID-19

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

In a sample of nearly 500 young adults ranging in age from 18 to 25, researchers saw a reduction in problematic drinking and alcohol consequences during the initial phase of the pandemic for both men and women. Additional findings showed increased rates of depression and anxiety symptoms among young women.

New method accurately reflects hotspots in epidemic

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new method to monitor epidemics like COVID-19 gives an accurate real-time estimate of the growth rate of an epidemic by carefully evaluating the relationship between the amount of viruses in infected people's bodies, called the viral load, and how fast the number of cases is increasing or decreasing.

NIH researchers identify potential new antiviral drug for COVID-19

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The experimental drug TEMPOL may be a promising oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19, suggests a study of cell cultures by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

Study finds age doesn't affect perception of 'speech-to-song illusion'

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers from the University of Kansas have published a study in PLOS ONE examining if the speech-to-song illusion happens in adults who are 55 or older as powerfully as it does with younger people.

Life stage differences shield ecological communities from collapse

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

A new study by ecologist André de Roos shows that differences between juveniles and adults of the same species are crucial for the stability of complex ecological communities. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, represents a major advance in ecological modeling at a time when biodiversity is declining and species around the world are rapidly going extinct.

A better way to introduce digital tech in the workplace

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

After a detailed study of digital technology in a hospital, MIT Sloan professor Kate Kellogg finds that experimenting with the technology, and then working to implement the best practices through coordinated governance, can help organizations better integrate technology in the workplace.

University study highlights alarming rise in usage and costs of antidepressants

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 EDT

The open-access study, published by the international DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is entitled 'Surging trends in prescriptions and costs of antidepressants in England amid COVID-19' and has investigated the trends in prescriptions and costs of various antidepressants in England during the COVID-19 pandemic.