A genetic disposition that plays a role in the development of the heart in the embryo also appears to play a key role in the human immune system.
Category: Research Results
All Weight Loss Isn’t Equal For Reducing Heart Failure Risk
DALLAS – Nov. 9, 2020 – Reducing the level of body fat and waist size are linked to a lower risk of heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes, a study led by UT Southwestern researchers indicates. The findings, reported today in Circulation, suggest that all weight loss isn’t equal when it comes to mitigating the risk of heart disease.
Marine Fisheries Will Not Offset Farm Losses after Nuclear War
After a nuclear war, wild-catch marine fisheries will not offset the loss of food grown on land, especially if widespread overfishing continues, according to a Rutgers co-authored study. But effective pre-war fisheries management would greatly boost the oceans’ potential contribution of protein and nutrients during a global food emergency, according to the study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study for the first time explored the effects of nuclear war on wild-catch marine fisheries.
COVID misinformation a roadblock to curbing pandemic
Two new studies suggest that the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 will make it harder for communities to bring the pandemic under control.
The first found that stereotypes and fears of stigma may be barriers to COVID testing. The other found that believing in COVID conspiracies makes people less likely to support public health policies to reduce the spread of the virus.
Study Finds Patients Prefer Doctors Who Share Their Same Race/Ethnicity
Patients who shared the same racial or ethnic background as their physician were more likely to give the maximum patient rating score, according to a new analysis of 117,589 patient surveys from 2014 to 2017.
A better understanding of coral skeleton growth suggests ways to restore reefs
In a new study, University of Wisconsin–Madison physicists observed reef-forming corals at the nanoscale and identified how they create their skeletons. The results provide an explanation for how corals are resistant to acidifying oceans and suggest that controlling water temperature, not acidity, is crucial to mitigating loss and restoring reefs.
Study finds surprising diversity in early child care
A new study of kindergarteners in one Midwestern state identified seven different pathways the children took in their early education and care before arriving at school.
Young survivors of acute myeloid leukemia have long-term complications from treatment
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients treated for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a high risk of developing several long-term health complications after treatment, a study led by UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers has found. The most common complications were cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory diseases. The complications – known as late effects – were more present among non-white AYA patients and those living in more deprived neighborhoods.
Rapid test shows ‘solid performance’ for diagnosing infection around joint implants
The recently FDA-authorized alpha-defensin lateral flow test is a highly accurate, ten-minute test for diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) – a serious and costly complication of total joint replacement, reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio in partnership with Wolters Kluwer.
Wound-Healing Biomaterials Activate the Immune System to Create Stronger Skin
A new hydrogel can trigger the body’s adaptive immune system, leading to improved tissue repair abilities
You drive like a girl: Study uncovers gender bias in perceptions of ride-sharing performance
While digital brokerages provide a more efficient method for the exchange of goods and services and an improved way for consumers to voice their opinions about the quality of work they receive, bias and discrimination can emerge as part of the review process, according to Notre Dame research.
Study finds that clinicians who prescribe unnecessary antibiotics fuel future antibiotic use
At a glance:
• Receipt of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections makes it more likely that patients and their families will seek care and receive antibiotics for future respiratory viral infections.
• Antibiotics work against bacteria but not against viruses, and improper use can make bacteria resistant to these drugs.
• The analysis reveals concerning variations in the prescribing patterns of urgent care clinicians.
• In the year after their visit, patients randomly assigned to clinicians who prescribed more antibiotics got 15 percent more antibiotics for viral respiratory infections compared with patients seen by clinicians who prescribed the fewest antibiotics.
• The findings underscore the importance of judicious antibiotic prescribing only for infections that can benefit from antibiotic therapy.
Home-Visiting Program Shows Promise of Reducing Risk of Obesity Among Native American Children
Lessons on healthy feeding practices delivered to young mothers through a brief home-visiting intervention put Native American infants on a healthier growth trajectory, lowering their risks for obesity.
For young athletes, inadequate sleep leads to decreased performance
Most young athletes don’t get enough sleep – and that may significantly affect their sports performance, according to a paper in the November issue of Current Sports Medicine Reports, official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Newly discovered fossil documents small-scale evolutionary changes in an extinct human species
Males of the extinct human species Paranthropus robustus were thought to be substantially larger than females — much like the size differences seen in modern-day primates such as gorillas, orangutans and baboons. But a new fossil discovery in South Africa instead suggests that P. robustus evolved rapidly during a turbulent period of local climate change about 2 million years ago, resulting in anatomical changes that previously were attributed to sex.
Study: Remote learning adds pressure for teachers who work second shift as mothers
The transition to remote learning coupled with an unequal distribution of second-shift responsibilities has placed teachers who are also mothers under immense stress, according to new University at Buffalo research.
EMBARGOED: Combining electronic and photonic chips enables new record in super-fast quantum light detection
Researchers from the University of Bristol’s Quantum Engineering Technology Labs (QET Labs) and Université Côte d‘Azur have made a new miniaturized light detector to measure quantum features of light in more detail than ever before. The device, made from two silicon chips working together, was used to measure the unique properties of “squeezed” quantum light at record high speeds.
New ‘Genomic’ Method Reveals Atomic Arrangements of Battery Material
Scientists have developed a new way to decipher the atomic-level structure of materials based on data gleaned from ground-up powder samples. They describe their approach and demonstrate its ability to solve the structure of a material that shows promise for shuttling ions through sodium-ion batteries.
New study reveals disturbing surge in violent injuries during stay-at-home orders
The social isolation brought on by stay-at-home orders (SAHO) issued in the early phase of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a deadly and dangerous side effect: an increase in intentional penetrating injuries, especially firearm violence.
Trauma Hospitalizations Fall in Philly During COVID-19 Lockdown, But Gun Violence Rises
Non-intentional trauma fell compared to the period before COVID this year, but ratios of gun violence patients increased after stay-at-home orders were implemented, and were high compared to the same timeframe in previous years
Hydroxychloroquine Does Not Help Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: Study
Findings from a national study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) “do not support” the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Low risk of cancer spread on active surveillance for early prostate cancer
Men undergoing active surveillance for prostate cancer have very low rates – one percent or less – of cancer spread (metastases) or death from prostate cancer, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Urology®, an Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Penn Medicine Researchers Find Link Between Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Death Risk
According to preliminary research conducted by Penn Medicine, increasing rates of food insecurity in counties across the U.S. are independently associated with an increase in cardiovascular death rates among adults between the ages of 20 and 64. This is one of the first national analyses to evaluate changes in both food security and cardiovascular mortality over time, and to see if changes in food insecurity impact cardiovascular health.
Attending an HBCU may protect Black students from later health problems
African Americans who attend Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) may be at lower risk for health problems later in adulthood compared to African Americans who attend predominantly white institutions, a new study suggests.
How a foreign market entry fails: the case of Guggenheim Helsinki
Researchers at the Aalto University School of Business followed the Guggenheim Helsinki project closely for several years: they interviewed different parties, observed meetings and analysed news related to the project. According to the researchers, Guggenheim’s conquest of Helsinki failed due to a long political struggle that effectively produced stigma.
Study Compares Racial Disparities in Unilateral Vs. Bilateral Knee Replacement
Analyzing data from the NIS – Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database, HSS researchers found that African Americans were much less likely to undergo bilateral knee replacement compared to white patients. With respect to in-hospital complication rates, there was no significant difference.
Study confirms spit testing may help doctors diagnose concussions
Doctors may soon be able to more accurately diagnose concussions by measuring the number of certain molecules in a person’s saliva, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Human Study Shows You Burn Fat Most Efficiently by Walking at Your Own Pace
People who exercise by walking at their own pace burn fat most efficiently, according to researchers at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.
Prescriptions of Antipsychotic Medications in Young Children is Declining
The use of antipsychotics in young children is declining but doctors continue to prescribe these medications off-label for conditions not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and without the recommended psychiatric consultation, a Rutgers study found.
Investigators Discover Unique Immune Cells in Patients with Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Arthritis
A study from investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has found that the synovial fluid and blood of people experiencing checkpoint inhibitor-induced arthritis is populated by a type of T cells rarely seen in people with other types of inflammatory arthritis. The findings are being presented at the virtual American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.
Improving the Diagnosis of Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis, an Underdiagnosed Chronic Autoinflammatory Syndrome
Researchers have identified several factors that should help improve the diagnosis of chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), also known as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). The new study was presented at the virtual annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
HSS Shares Best Practices to Address Health Needs of People with Rheumatic Conditions During Pandemic
HSS shares successful strategies for developing and implementing self-management programs for people with rheumatic conditions at the virtual annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
Children with Arthritis Living in Less Affluent Families More Likely to Report Longer Duration of Morning Joint Stiffness
Children with arthritis affecting five or more joints, called polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (polyarticular JIA), living in less affluent families were twice as likely to report more than an hour of morning joint stiffness, compared to their counterparts from more affluent families, according to a study by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). Parents and physicians should be aware that morning joint stiffness may indicate early disease symptoms of polyarticular JIA and serve as a more reliable indicator than pain.
Masks don’t just save lives, they also boost economy
The economy and coronavirus pandemic were two of the top issues for voters in the 2020 election, according to exit poll surveys. Notably, 52% of voters said controlling the pandemic was more important, even if it hurts the economy. But what if we didn’t have to choose?
Migration and Molt Affect How Birds Change Their Colors
Before the journey, many birds molt their bright feathers, replacing them with a more subdued palette. Watching this molt led scientists to wonder how feather color changes relate to the migrations many birds undertake twice each year.
Reducing Dementia in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
The incidence of dementia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is lower in patients receiving biologic or targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) than in patients who receive conventional synthetic DMARDs, according to a new study. The study was presented at the virtual annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
Sugar-coated viral proteins hijack and hitch a ride out of cells
Researchers from the Universities of Melbourne, York, Warwick and Oxford have shed light on how encapsulated viruses like hepatitis B, dengue and SARS-CoV-2 hijack the protein manufacturing and distribution pathways in the cell – they have also identified a potential broad spectrum anti-viral drug target to stop them in their tracks.
Swirl power: how gentle body movement will charge your mobile phone
Researchers have found a way to produce nylon fibres that are smart enough to produce electricity from simple body movement, paving the way for smart clothes that will monitor our health through miniaturised sensors and charge our devices without any external power source.
Pre-existing coronavirus antibodies could help protect children against new pandemic strain
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London have found that some antibodies, created by the immune system during infection with common cold coronaviruses, can also target SARS-CoV-2 and may confer a degree of protection against the new viral strain.
ACA results in fewer low-income uninsured, but non-urgent ER visits haven’t changed
Since the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion program went into effect 10 years ago, the U.S. has seen a larger reduction in the number of uninsured low-income, rural residents, compared to their urban contemporaries.
Using machine learning to track the pandemic’s impact on mental health
Dealing with a global pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of millions of people. A team of MIT and Harvard University researchers has shown that they can measure those effects by analyzing the language that people use to express their anxiety online.
Policy, not tech, spurred Danish dominance in wind energy
In a new study focused on Denmark, a global leader in wind energy – a relatively mature and low-cost renewable technology – researchers found that government policies have been the primary driver of that industry’s growth and development.
Weizmann Scientists Reveal the Role of Retrons in Bacteria
Prof. Rotem Sorek’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science has revealed the role retrons play in bacteria, finding that the hybrid structures are immune system guards that ensure the bacteria’s survival when it is infected by viruses. In addition, the team hopes that newly identified retrons will improve genome-editing tools.
Astronomers discover clues that unveil the mystery of fast radio bursts
Fast radio bursts, or FRBs – powerful, millisecond-duration radio waves coming from deep space outside the Milky Way Galaxy – have been among the most mysterious astronomical phenomena ever observed.
Get on the grid: ‘Micro-doses’ of Botox provide up-close improvement of facial skin
Botulinum toxin – best known by the brand name Botox – is a popular treatment to reduce facial lines and wrinkles. Over the years, plastic surgeons have explored alternative approaches to maximize effectiveness while minimizing side effects of botulinum toxin injection, including smaller doses and more-diluted concentrations.
Why a “board-certified cosmetic surgeon” isn’t a plastic surgeon, and what that means for you
Cosmetic surgery is not just another way of saying plastic surgery. Doctors who advertise themselves as certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) don’t measure up to meet the criteria required for board-certified plastic surgeons.
Expanded Birth Control Coverage May Help Reduce Disparities in Unplanned Pregnancies
Removing out-of-pocket costs for contraception may help reduce the income-related disparities that play such a significant role in unintended pregnancies, a new Michigan Medicine-led study suggests.
A Better Test for the Tumor-Targeting of CAR-T Therapies
Ludwig Cancer Research scientists have developed a method to significantly improve the preclinical evaluation of chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) T cell therapies, in which the immune system’s T cells are extracted from a patient, engineered to target a specific tumor-associated molecule and then grown and reinfused for cancer treatment.
Carbon pricing could prompt greener, smarter post-COVID recovery
As economies “build back better”, it may be an opportune time to introduce carbon pricing to tackle climate change while generating socioeconomic benefits.
Artificial Intelligence Accurately Detects Radiographic Sacroiliitis in Axial Spondyloarthritis, Improving Diagnosis and Research
New research presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows that an artificial intelligence-based analysis model enables accurate detection of definite radiographic sacroiliitis in people with axial spondyloarthritis, an advance that could be useful for both diagnosis in the clinic and classification of patients for inclusion in clinical trials.