Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) developed an experimental diagnostic test for COVID-19 that can visually detect the presence of the virus in 10 minutes. It uses a simple assay containing plasmonic gold nanoparticles to detect a color change when the virus is present. The test does not require the use of any advanced laboratory techniques, such as those commonly used to amplify DNA, for analysis. The authors published their work last week in the American Chemical Society’s nanotechnology journal ACS Nano.
Category: Research Results
Balancing the economy while saving the planet
If you make your bio-product 100% sustainable it may be way too expensive to produce.
Phase III Trial Shows Avelumab an Immunotherapy Treatment for Advanced Urothelial Cancer Prolongs Overall Survival
During a plenary session of the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Scientific Program, findings will be presented from the global phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 randomized study conducted by investigators from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington Medicine along with several other research centers. The results demonstrated significantly prolonged overall survival of patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic urothelial cancer when treated with first-line immunotherapy avelumab plus best supportive care (BSC) compared to BSC alone (following disease control on induction chemotherapy).
Tackling airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors
Preventing airborne transmission of Covid-19 should be the next front of the battle against the virus, argue experts from the University of Surrey.
Chinese pterodactyl wings its way to the United Kingdom
The first ever specimen of a pterodactyl, more commonly found in China and Brazil, has been found in the United Kingdom.
Argonne researchers create active material out of microscopic spinning particles
Argonne researchers have created a new kind of self-healing active material out of “microspinners,” which self-assemble under a magnetic field to form a lattice.
Mental health outcomes among health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and insomnia among health care workers in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic are reported in this observational study.
Atlantic Health System Leads Phase 1 Study on CPI-613® (Devimistat), First-in-Class Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer to be Presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2020
Dr. Alistar has pioneered the use of CPI-613® (devimistat), a unique first-in-class treatment for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, in combination with two chemotherapy drugs. Devimistat uniquely targets enzymes involved in cancer cell metabolism, against pancreatic cancer. The study’s efficacy data suggest devimistat has synergy with chemotherapy.The current study was funded by the drug’s manufacturer, New Jersey-based Rafael Pharmaceuticals and by Atlantic Health System.
Study Shows Profound Benefit with Targeted Therapy for Patients with Early Stage NSCLC
According to findings led by researchers at Yale Cancer Center, treatment with the targeted therapy osimertinib following surgery significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR gene mutations.
Inequities in Access to Kidney Transplantation Exist Even with Universal Healthcare
• In a study of patients with newly diagnosed kidney failure at 71 kidney centers in the UK, older age, additional illnesses, obesity, and lower socioeconomic status were associated with a lower likelihood of being put on transplant waiting list.
Genetics May Explain High COVID-19 Mortality in Italy, Inform Global Pandemic Response
On March 11th 2020 the World Health Organization declared Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic.
Taking time to commune with nature increases feelings of connection to it, study shows
The Notre Dame study showed that students reported increased mindfulness towards the environment after performing ecological attachment tasks like contemplating nature, or practicing environmental preservation tasks like recycling and limiting electricity usage.
Researchers track how bacteria purge toxic metals
Cornell researchers combined genetic engineering, single-molecule tracking and protein quantitation to get a closer look at this mechanism and understand how it functions. The knowledge could lead to the development of more effective antibacterial treatments.
Two bacteria allow spittlebugs to thrive on low-nutrient meals
A new study examines the symbiotic relationship between two types of bacteria and spittlebugs that helps the insect live on very low-nutrient food. The bacteria use a metabolic “trick” also employed by cancer cells to create the right conditions for converting the poor food into the necessary building blocks for survival.
Users of high-potency cannabis four times more likely to report associated problems
Users of high-potency cannabis are four times more likely to report associated problems, and twice as likely to report anxiety disorder, than users of lower-potency strains, according to new research from the University of Bristol.
4,000 years of contact, conflict & cultural change had little genetic impact in Near East
The Near East was a crossroad for the ancient world’s greatest civilizations, and invasions over centuries caused enormous changes in cultures, religions and languages.
Researchers Identify Mechanisms That Make Skin a Protective Barrier
Study Could Help Doctors Understand and Treat Common Conditions
Patients still not telling MDs about use of natural health products
The research team conducted the patient survey between November 2018 and February 2019 at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic in Toronto.
Based on 277 completed questionnaires, 99 per cent of the patients surveyed were using natural health products, and 46 per cent were using natural health products and prescription medications concurrently. Of those using natural health products, 42 per cent did not disclose use to their primary care physician.
Study: Climate Scientists Create Model for Global Forest Growth Through 2060
In a new study, researchers at the University at Albany have turned to more than a century’s worth of data (from 1901 to 2012) in NOAA’s International Tree Ring Data Bank to both analyze historical tree growth at 3,579 forests around the world and create a model for future projections (from 2045 to 2060).
Global Environmental Changes Leading to Shorter, Younger Trees
Ongoing environmental changes are transforming forests worldwide, resulting in shorter and younger trees. Researchers found that a range of factors, including rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels, have caused a dramatic decrease in the age and stature of forests.
Autism severity can change substantially during early childhood
A UC Davis MIND Institute study found that around 30% of young children with autism have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3, with some losing their autism diagnoses entirely. It also found that girls tend to show greater reduction and less rise in their autism symptom severity than boys with autism. Children with higher IQs were more likely to show a reduction in their symptoms.
In Planet Formation, It’s Location, Location, Location
When it comes to the best region to form planets, it’s all about location. Planets in the nearby star cluster Westerlund 2 may have a rough time forming in the crowded core. Astronomers using Hubble find that energy from hefty stars is blowing away planet-forming dust clouds from smaller stars.
Stem Cell Treatments ‘Go Deep’ to Regenerate Sun-Damaged Skin
For a while now, some plastic surgeons have been using stem cells to treat aging, sun-damaged skin. But while they’ve been getting good results, it’s been unclear exactly how these treatments – using adult stem cells harvested from the patient’s own body – work to rejuvenate “photoaged” facial skin.
Study: Exposure to police violence may be more impactful for individuals who perceive police as a threat to their personal safety
New research from the Race and Opportunity Lab in the Brown School’s Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis sheds light on youths’ reactions to social media videos showing violence in their communities. “Exposure to police violence may be more impactful for individuals who perceive police as a threat to their personal safety,” the lead author said.
UNH Researchers Find Wildfires Can Alter Arctic Watersheds for 50 Years
Climate change has contributed to the increase in the number of wildfires in the Arctic where it can dramatically shift stream chemistry and potentially harm both ecosystems and humans. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that some aftereffects, like decreased carbon and increased nitrogen, can last up to five decades and could have major implications on vital waterways.
Ludwig Lausanne Study Charts the Immune Landscape of Multiple Brain Cancers
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has profiled, in a sweeping comparative analysis, the distinct immune landscapes of tumors that arise in the brain, or gliomas, and those that metastasize to the organ from the lungs, breast and skin.
Colorado tool, My-DST, may pick best multiple myeloma treatment
University of Colorado Cancer Center team uses liquid biopsy to predict multiple myeloma drug resistance and sensitivity.
Restoring Nerve-Muscle Communication in ALS
A new study finds that restoring the protein SV2 in a genetic form of ALS can correct abnormalities in transmission and even prevent cells from dying, providing a new target for future therapies.
New drug combinations help overcome resistance to immunotherapy
A new study from researchers at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center helps explain how disruptions in genes can lead to the resistance to one of the leading immunotherapies, PD-1 blockade, and how new drug combinations could help overcome resistance to the anti-PD-1 therapy in a mechanistically-based way.
At-home screening for ovarian, breast cancers is effective
At-home genetic-testing kits for breast and ovarian cancer risk are just as effective, and in some cases even more so, than the typical protocol for genetic testing, which requires repeated office visits and counseling, according to a study led by UW Medicine researchers.
Study Shows Uptick in At-Home Pediatric Fractures During COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 social distancing measures, including the closure of schools and parks and the indefinite cancellation of team sports, have led to a nearly 60% decrease overall in pediatric fractures but an increase in the proportion of fractures sustained at home, according to a new study by researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The findings, published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, suggest a need for increased awareness of at-home safety measures.
Material and genetic resemblance in the Bronze Age Southern Levant
Different “Canaanite” people from the Bronze Age Southern Levant not only culturally, but also genetically resemble each other more than other populations. A team around Ron Pinhasi from the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology found in a recent study that their DNA is a mixture of two populations: The Chalcolithic Zagros and Early Bronze Age Caucasus. The results have been published in “Cell”.
Combination therapy well-tolerated and highly effective for patients with IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
A combination therapy of ivosenidib (IVO) plus venetoclax (VEN) with or without azacitidine (AZA) was found to be effective against a specific genetic subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a Phase Ib/II trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The results of this trial may support a novel course of action for patients with AML harboring an IDH1 mutation who have historically had few treatment options.
Novel targeted drug induced positive response for patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease–associated kidney cancer
In an international trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, treatment with MK-6482, the small molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2a was well tolerated and resulted in clinical responses for patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)–associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Alcohol Use in Early Adolescence may Alter Reward Motivation
The brain responds to rewarding stimuli by increasing the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. When we feel motivated, it is because our brain anticipates this dopamine reward.
The transition from early to mid-adolescence is associated with increased reward sensitivity and reward-seeking behavior, a consequence of normal brain development. This heightened sensitivity or prioritization of reward can be thought of as reflecting a greater motivation to obtain rewards. A new study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, has addressed whether drinking alcohol in early adolescence might impact the brain’s reward systems, by examining associations between alcohol initiation and subsequent changes in reward motivation while accounting for baseline scores. Differences between boys and girls were also evaluated.
As hospitals walk the tightrope of patient data-sharing, one system offers a new balance
Every major medical center in America sits on a gold mine of patient data that could be worth millions of dollars to companies that could use it to develop new treatments and technologies. A new framework could help them do so more responsibly, going beyond the minimum legal requirements and respecting patients by giving them more say in how their individual data may be used.
Adolescent exposure to anesthetics may cause alcohol use disorder, new research shows
Early exposure to anesthetics may make adolescents more susceptible to developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Gap between rich, poor neighborhoods growing in some cities
New research provides insight into how housing prices and neighborhood values have become polarized in some urban areas, with the rich getting richer and the poor becoming poorer.
Association for Molecular Pathology Releases Preliminary Results to Nationwide SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Testing Survey
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, molecular diagnostic professional society, today released the preliminary results of its April 2020 SARS-CoV-2 Testing Survey for clinical laboratories. The anonymous survey was created and administered to document clinical laboratory efforts and experiences. The results will be used to help inform future advocacy and clinical practice programs related to pandemic responses.
Tepary Bean: A New Crop for the Southern Great Plains
Research identifies tepary bean and guar as potential summer forages
Previously claimed memory boosting font “Sans Forgetica” does not actually boost memory
A font called Sans Forgetica was designed to enhance people’s memory for information displayed in that font—compared to reading information in an ordinary font, such as Arial.
Queen’s research finds an increase in faith online during the coronavirus pandemic
A research study from Queen’s University Belfast has revealed how faith leaders and communities on the island of Ireland adapted and responded to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Minimum wage increases a mixed bag, but ‘not a good idea’ amid crisis
Researchers who have parsed minimum-wage increases over the past half-decade find a mixed bag of immediate results in states that push wages higher, but the pandemic-roiled economy changes all that, they say.
Exposure to ‘good bacteria’ during pregnancy buffers risk of autism-like syndrome in offspring
Inoculation with a beneficial microorganism during pregnancy fended off an autism-like syndrome in offspring, according to a new animal study. The paper is the latest to suggest that ‘good bacteria’ impacts the brain.
Researchers use ALCF resources to model the spread of COVID-19
Argonne researchers lead highly detailed COVID-19 modeling efforts to understand how the virus spreads through populations.
Anxiety needs global health attention
Led by King’s College London in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and published in The Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine journal, the research examined a group of people with depression in Zimbabwe and found that people are nearly three times more likely to suffer this illness long-term if they also have a high level of anxiety.
Age, gender and culture ‘predict loneliness’
Young people, men and people in “individualistic” societies report higher levels of loneliness, according to a large-scale global study.
Information technology played key role in growth of ancient civilizations
When it comes to the great civilizations of human history, the pen really might have been mightier than the sword.
Human Growth Hormone Treatment After ACL Injury May Prevent Loss of Muscle Strength
A new study finds the use of HGH treatment in patients that have undergone ACL reconstructive surgery may prevent the loss of muscle strength and weakness.
Biomarkers May Help Us Understand Recovery Time After Concussion
A blood test may help researchers understand which people may take years to recover from concussion, according to a study published in the May 27, 2020 online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at a biomarker called neurofilament light chain, a nerve protein that can be detected in the blood when nerve cells are injured or die.