Preterm birth, prolonged labor influenced by progesterone balance

New research by the National Institutes of Health found that unbalanced progesterone signals may cause some pregnant women to experience preterm labor or prolonged labor. The study in mice — published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — provides novel insights for developing treatments.

NIH study shows hyaluronan is effective in treating chronic lung disease

NIH researchers and their collaborators found that inhaling unfragmented hyaluronan improves lung function in patients suffering from severe exacerbation of COPD. Hyaluronan is a sugar secreted by living tissue that acts as a scaffold for cells. Utilized as a treatment, hyaluronan decreased the number of days in the hospital.

New Research Shows Air Pollution Could Play a Role in Development of Cardiometabolic Diseases, Diabetes

Air pollution is the world’s leading environmental risk factor, and causes more than nine million deaths per year. New research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows air pollution may play a role in the development of cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes. Importantly, the effects were reversible with cessation of exposure.

EHP names new editor-in-chief

Joel Kaufman, M.D., M.P.H., has been named the new Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. Kaufman will assume the new role on Feb. 1, 2020, upon retirement of the current editor, Sally Darney, Ph.D.

Permanent hair dye and straighteners may increase breast cancer risk

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health found that women who use permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who don’t use these products. The study suggests that breast cancer risk increased with more frequent use of these chemical hair products.

Research into RNA-DNA ‘R-loops’ could shed light on cancer formation

Accumulation of unusual RNA-DNA hybrids, known as R-loops, are often associated with cancers. Xiaoyu Xue, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas State University, is heading a research study examining the role of the human motor protein Aquarius (AQR) in resolving R-loops to gain insight into possible avenues of cancer prevention.