8-21-2024

ALL THE REASONS A CUP OF COFFEE REALLY CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU

Consuming too much caffeine is definitely bad for your health, and there may be good reasons why some people want to quit it altogether. But if you despair at the idea of giving up your morning coffee, fear not. There’s lots of research out there to show that moderate coffee intake is linked with all sorts of benefits. As well as well-known pluses improving heart health, a daily cup of coffee even seems to be good for your brain and may help prevent mental illness. For a start, coffee contains
8-21-2024

HOW PERSONALITY TRAITS MIGHT INTERACT TO AFFECT SELF-CONTROL

Neuroticism may moderate the relationship between certain personality traits and self-control, and the interaction effects appear to differ by the type of self-control . Self-control is important for mental and physical health, and certain personality traits are linked to the trait. Previous studies suggest that conscientiousness and extraversion enhance self-control, whereas neuroticism hampers it. However, the link between personality and self-control
8-21-2024

STUDY REVEALS THE BENEFITS AND DOWNSIDE OF FASTING

Low-calorie diets and intermittent fasting have been shown to have numerous health benefits: They can delay the onset of some age-related diseases and lengthen lifespan, not only in humans but many other organisms. Many complex mechanisms underlie this phenomenon. Previous work from MIT has shown that one way fasting exerts its beneficial effects is by boosting the regenerative abilities of intestinal stem cells, which helps the intestine recover from injuries or inflammation. In a study of mice, MIT researchers have now identified the pathway that enables this enhanced regeneration, 
8-21-2024

EXAMINING NEW WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS, PEDIATRIC BARIATRIC PATIENTS

 Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have surged in popularity as a treatment for weight loss and management. The increase involves not only adults but also adolescents, along with bariatric surgery patients. Michael Kochis, a resident in the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, realized that little research had been done regarding the use of these drugs on adolescent bariatric surgery patients. Kochis and his team examined practice patterns across the nation, and he spoke to the Gazette about the

8-21-2024

BEST TYPES OF EXERCISE FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

  A new study has revealed the best types of exercise for patients with type 1 diabetes. The research was led by the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco in partnership with Staffordshire University to investigate training optimization for diabetic patients. The work was published in The American Journal of Cardiology. 
8-21-2024

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO PARTICLES MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Exposure to dust and particles at work may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, a University of Gothenburg study shows. Among Swedish construction workers, followed since the 1970s, the risk was 15% higher among exposed. Chronic kidney disease is the most common form of kidney disease and involves a slow and progressive deterioration of the kidneys’ ability to cleanse the body. Harmful substances and fluids that would otherwise have been excreted from the body with the urine are instead retained. Research in recent years shows that outdoor air pollution

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8-21-2024

EARLY INTERVENTIONS MAY IMPROVE LONG-TERM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUNG CHILDHOOD BRAIN TUMOR SURVIVORS

Children who survive a brain tumor often experience effects from both the cancer and its treatment long after therapy concludes. Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital found very young children treated for brain tumors were less prepared for school (represented by lower academic readiness scores) compared to their peers. This gap persisted once survivors entered formal schooling. Children from families of higher socioeconomic status were partially protected from the effect, suggesting that providing early developmental resources may proactively help reduce the academic achievement gap. The findings are published in

8-21-2024

SCOPING REVIEW EXPLORES MUSIC-BASED MOVEMENT THERAPY

  Music-based movement therapy, known as the Ronnie Gardiner method, has the potential to contribute to rehabilitation after a stroke and in other brain disorders. These are the results of a scoping review from the University of Gothenburg. The Ronnie Gardiner method was developed by and named after the popular Swedish-American jazz drummer Ronald “Ronnie” Gardiner, born in 1932. The method is used in rehabilitation in Sweden and internationally,

8-21-2024

RESEARCHERS EXPLORE POTENTIAL FOR AI IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

 Generative artificial intelligence (AI) powered by human language has made remarkable progress and gained widespread use through tools such as ChatGPT. While it is mostly known for helping with reading and writing, scientists are starting to explore how this type of AI can be used in research. In a recent study, Rutgers researchers, including from Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health, show that generative AI can model basic biological structures, like amino

8-21-2024

NEW STUDY PROVIDES FURTHER SUPPORT FOR PSILOCYBIN’S POTENTIAL TO TREAT DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

High doses of psilocybin—the active ingredient in magic mushrooms—appears to have a similar effect on depressive symptoms as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug escitalopram, suggests a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ today. The findings show that patients treated with high dose psilocybin showed better responses than those treated with placebo in antidepressant trials, although the effect size was small. The researchers point out that flaws in study designs may have overestimated the effectiveness of psychedelics, but say high dose psilocybin “appeared to have the potential

8-21-2024

SUICIDE RATES AMONG DOCTORS HAVE DECLINED, BUT FEMALE DOCTORS STILL AT HIGH RISK

  Suicide rates among doctors have declined over time, but are still significantly higher for female doctors compared with the general population, finds an analysis of evidence from 20 countries published by The BMJ today. The researchers acknowledge that physician suicide risk varies across different countries and regions, but say the results highlight the ongoing need for continued research and prevention efforts, particularly among female physicians. According to some estimates, one doctor dies by suicide every day in the US, and around one every 10 days

8-21-2024

CALLS FOR COLD WATER SWIMMING TO BE MADE SAFER FOR WOMEN

Cold water swimming is growing in popularity among women, but more support is needed to make many wild swimming sites in the UK safer and more accessible, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The research, published in Women’s Health, explored the habits of women who enjoy cold water swimming and was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the University of Portsmouth, University of Sussex, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, University of Plymouth and Bournemouth University. The team surveyed 1,114 women in the UK aged 16 to

8-21-2024

HOW MUCH DOES YOUR PHONE’S BLUE LIGHT REALLY DELAY YOUR SLEEP? RELAX, IT’S JUST 2.7 MINUTES

  It’s one of the most pervasive messages about technology and sleep. We’re told bright, blue light from screens prevents us falling asleep easily. We’re told to avoid scrolling on our phones before bedtime or while in bed. We’re sold glasses to help filter out blue light. We put our phones on “night mode” to minimize exposure to blue light. But what does the science actually tell us about the impact of bright, blue light and sleep? When our group of sleep experts from Sweden, Australia

8-21-2024

FLEXIBILITY MAY HELP MIDDLE-AGED INDIVIDUALS LIVE LONGER

Flexibility exercises are often included in the exercise regimens of athletes and exercisers. New research in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports suggests that levels of flexibility may affect survival in middle-aged individuals. After analyzing data on 3,139 people (66% men) aged 46–65 years, investigators obtained a body flexibility score, termed Flexindex. This score was derived from a combination of the passive range of motion in 20 movements (each scored 0–4) involving 7 different joints, resulting in a score range of 0–80. Flexindex was 35% higher in

8-21-2024

MOST BABY FOODS IN US GROCERY STORES ARE UNHEALTHY, STUDY SHOWS

A staggering 60% of infant and toddler foods fail to meet nutritional recommendations, and none meet promotional requirements set by World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to new research published today in the journal Nutrients. In the absence of US-specific nutrition or promotional guidelines for these foods, researchers at The George Institute for Global Health assessed data on 651 infant and toddler food products sold in the top ten US grocery chains held in the Institute’s FoodSwitch database against this international benchmark. Among all products, 70% failed to meet protein

8-21-2024

DISRUPTION OF PROTEIN INTERACTION IN T CELLS LINKED TO AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

 The immune system is tightly regulated to ensure that it only responds to actual health threats, instead of attacking our own bodies, which happens in cases of autoimmunity. Now, researchers from Japan report a new protein–protein interaction that could account for some autoimmune conditions and suggest new avenues for treatment. In a study published this month in Immunity, researchers from Osaka University have revealed that interaction between two transcription factors is required for certain immune cells to behave appropriately. Regulatory T cells (Tregs)

8-21-2024

THERAPEUTIC APP MIGHT EASE ANXIETY IN YOUNG ADULTS

It’s not a replacement for actual psychotherapy, but a newly designed app could help young adults with mental health issues lower their anxiety, researchers report. The app, dubbed Maya, “can be an accessible and impactful tool for those looking for support around anxiety. It is incredible to see our ideas come to life,” said study co-first author and app designer Dr. Avital Falk. She’s associate professor of psychology in clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, in New York City. The Weill Cornell team began developing the new app

8-21-2024

SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE EFFECTS OF ROBOTIC POSTURAL STAND TRAINING COMBINED WITH SPINAL CORD EPIDURAL STIMULATION

Schematic of the Robotic Upright Stand Trainer (RobUST). Trunk perturbation or assistance as needed forces (exemplified by the dashed arrows) are generated by mounted motors and delivered by the cables attached to the trunk harness. Pelvis motors and cables apply a constant force to assist pelvic control. Trunk kinematic data used in real time to control RobUST are collected through motion capture cameras mounted on the frame.

8-21-2024

FREE MEALS AT SCHOOL MAY BOOST ATTENDANCE, LOWER OBESITY RATES

A review of U.S. data from 2012 through 2024 finds that when kids get free school meals, there’s a potential for a slight increase in attendance and a lowering of child obesity rates. Even kids from higher-income households benefited, as many took advantage of wholesome lunches provided by schools, the researchers said. That means they could eat healthier fare “instead of bringing food from home or purchasing competitive foods at school from the a? la carte line or vending machines, foods known to be less healthy,” said a team led

8-21-2024

THIS WEEK COULD BRING FDA APPROVAL OF FALL COVID-19 VACCINES

Updated COVID-19 vaccines may receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week. Two sources familiar with the issue told CNN that updated mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer that target the KP.2 variant could be greenlit as early as this week. The news agency said the sources declined to be named because information around the timing of approval has not yet been made public. It is not clear whether approval for the Novavax non-mRNA shot, targeted to the JN.1 strain, would be approved simultaneously. If approval does

8-21-2024

GETTING A TOOTH PULLED IS EASY—MUCH HARDER TO GET AN IMPLANT

When Bobby Moske went to a community clinic a few years ago with a toothache, he couldn’t find a dentist in Marin County willing to take Medicaid to do a root canal. Marin Community Clinics referred the 75-year-old to a dentist about 20 miles away in San Francisco, but his tooth decayed while he waited months for authorization to cover the procedure. In the end, his tooth was pulled. It was the sixth time in a decade Moske had lost a tooth because of lack of dental care, he said.

8-21-2024

SOMATIC THERAPIES MAY BUILD AWARENESS OF THE MIND–BODY CONNECTION TO TREAT TRAUMA. COULD THEY COULD HELP YOU?

As you read this, draw your attention to your jaw. Are you aware of any sensations? Are there areas of tension? Does your jaw feel tight or relaxed? Now imagine releasing any tension. What would that feel like? Next, bring your awareness back to your breathing and back to this article. This may seem familiar. You might have scanned areas of your body before, checked where you may be carrying tension and been prompted to see if you can release it. This is just one example of approaches to build

8-21-2024

STUDY DETERMINES MOST COMMON LONG COVID SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN AND TEENS

A research team led by the National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER Initiative and supported by its Clinical Science Core (CSC) at NYU Langone Health, has designed a new way to identify which school-age children and adolescents most likely have long COVID. Solely for the purpose of further study and not for use in clinical diagnoses, the team’s new measure (index) identifies children and teens with the highest chances of having long COVID. The research index is based on long-term symptoms that were more common among children with a history of

8-21-2024

ASPORIN IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

  A new study from researchers with UCLA Health and collaborating organizations has found that asporin, a protein encoded by the ASPN gene, plays a protective role in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Their findings, published on August 21 in the journal Circulation, offer new insights into this incurable, often-fatal disease and suggest potential new ways to treat it. “We were surprised to find that asporin, which previously had not been linked to PAH, gets upregulated to increased levels as a response to counteract this disease process,” said

8-21-2024

I’VE RECOVERED FROM A COLD BUT I STILL HAVE A HOARSE VOICE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Cold, flu, COVID and RSV have been circulating across Australia this winter. Many of us have caught and recovered from one of these common upper respiratory tract infections. But for some people their impact is ongoing. Even if your throat isn’t sore anymore, your voice may still be hoarse or croaky. So what happens to the voice when we get a virus? And what happens after? Here’s what you should know if your voice is still hoarse for days—or even weeks—after your other symptoms have resolved. Why does my voice

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