суббота, 31 октября 2020 г.

Microbes in the gut could be protective against hazardous radiation exposure

Scientists showed that mice exposed to potentially lethal levels of total body radiation were protected from radiation damage if they had specific types of bacteria in their gut. They demonstrated that the bacteria mitigated radiation exposure and enhanced the recovery of blood cell production as well as repair of the gastrointestinal tract.

пятница, 30 октября 2020 г.

Difficult to build a family after exposure to chemical weapons

People who have been exposed to chemical warfare agents (CWAs) feel uncertain, decades after the exposure, about their survival and ability to build a family, a new study shows. Women are more severely affected than men.

Parasitology: Bringing the locals onboard

A new study examines local perceptions of Chagas disease in a region where the infectious agent is endemic. The results underline the need to take social and cultural factors into account in campaigns designed to curb infectious diseases.

Face mask aims to deactivate virus to protect others

Researchers have developed a face mask with an embedded antiviral layer that sanitizes the wearer's respiratory droplets to make them less infectious to others.

Is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting dengue virus case numbers?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dramatic changes to human mobility, which has the potential to change the transmission dynamics of other infectious diseases. Now, researchers have found that social distancing has led to a significant increase in dengue infections in Thailand but no change in dengue in Singapore or Malaysia.

Early results from DETECT study suggest fitness trackers can predict COVID-19 infections

Examining data from the first six weeks of their landmark DETECT study, scientists see encouraging signs that wearable fitness devices can improve public health efforts to control COVID-19.

COVID-19 Employer Information for Transit Maintenance Workers

What Transit Maintenance Workers Need to Know About COVID-19

COVID-19 Employer Information for Rail Transit Operators

What Rail Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19

COVID-19 Employer Information for Bus Transit Operators

What Bus Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19

What Maritime Pilots Need to Know about COVID-19

What Maritime Pilots Need to Know about COVID-19

Considerations for Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities

Myocarditis linked to COVID-19 not as common as believed, study shows

A new study suggests myocarditis caused by COVID-19 may be a relatively rare occurrence.

Models show how COVID-19 cuts a neighborhood path

Researchers have created a new model of how the coronavirus can spread through a community. The model factors in network exposure -- whom one interacts with -- and demographics to simulate at a more detailed level both where and how quickly the coronavirus could spread through Seattle and 18 other major cities.

Water fleas on 'happy pills' have more offspring

Dopamine can trigger feelings of happiness in humans. Water fleas that are exposed to dopamine-regulating substances apparently gain several advantages.

High rate of symptomless COVID-19 infection among grocery store workers

Grocery store employees are likely to be at heightened risk of COVID-19 infection, with those in customer-facing roles 5 times as likely to test positive as their colleagues in other positions, a new study suggests.

How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Graphene-based memory resistors show promise for brain-based computing

As progress in traditional computing slows, new forms of computing are coming to the forefront. A team of engineers is attempting to pioneer a type of computing that mimics the efficiency of the brain's neural networks while exploiting the brain's analog nature.

Evolution of consumption: A psychological ownership framework

Technological innovations are rapidly changing how we consume goods and services. In many domains, we are trading ownership of private material goods for access to use shared and experiential goods and services. This article outlines how the downstream effects of these consumption changes are channeled through their influence on psychological ownership -- the feeling that a thing is MINE.

четверг, 29 октября 2020 г.

Comparing sensitivity of all genes to chemical exposure

An environmental health scientist has used an unprecedented objective approach to identify which molecular mechanisms in mammals are the most sensitive to chemical exposures.

World's first agreed guidance for people with diabetes to exercise safely

An academic has helped draw up a landmark agreement amongst international experts, setting out the world's first standard guidance on how people with diabetes can use modern glucose monitoring devices to help them exercise safely. The guidance will be a crucial resource for healthcare professionals around the world, so they can help people with type 1 diabetes.

Muscle pain and energy-rich blood: Cholesterol medicine affects the organs differently

Contrary to expectation, treatment with statins has a different effect on blood cells than on muscle cells, a new study reveals. Today, statins are mainly used in the treatment of elevated cholesterol, but the new results may help design drugs for a number of conditions.

Genomic study reveals role for hypothalamus in inflammatory bowel disease

Using sophisticated 3D genomic mapping and integrating with public data resulting from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), researchers have found significant genetic correlations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and stress and depression.

Priming the immune system to attack cancer

New research showed how immune 'training' transforms innate immune cells to target tumors. The findings could inform new approaches to cancer immunotherapy or even strategies for preventing tumor growth.

Cancer-fighting gene restrains 'jumping genes'

About half of all tumors have mutations of the gene p53, normally responsible for warding off cancer. Now scientists have discovered a new role for p53 in its fight against tumors: preventing retrotransposons, or 'jumping genes,' from hopping around the human genome. In cells with missing or mutated p53, the team found, retrotransposons move and multiply more than usual. The finding could lead to new ways of detecting or treating cancers with p53 mutations.

COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings

COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings

Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission

Community Mitigation Framework

Isolate If You Are Sick

Isolate If You Are Sick

High-sugar diet can damage the gut, intensifying risk for colitis

Mice fed diets high in sugar developed worse colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and researchers examining their large intestines found more of the bacteria that can damage the gut's protective mucus layer.

Denisovan DNA in the genome of early East Asians

Researchers analyzed the genome of the oldest human fossil found in Mongolia to date and show that the 34,000-year-old woman inherited around 25 percent of her DNA from western Eurasians, demonstrating that people moved across the Eurasian continent shortly after it had first been settled by the ancestors of present-day populations. This individual and a 40,000-year-old individual from China also carried DNA from Denisovans, an extinct form of hominins that inhabited Asia before modern humans arrived.

Positive outlook predicts less memory decline

The happier we feel, the less likely we are to experience memory decline.

Learning the language of sugars

We're told not to eat too much sugar, but in reality, all of our cells are covered in sugar molecules called glycans. Glycans regulate many important processes including infection by bacteria and viruses, but little is known about them because their structures are highly complex. A team has now created a new suite of deep learning and bioinformatics tools that enable the comprehensive study of glycan sequences, providing insights into their functions and improving our understanding of infectious diseases.

Social isolation puts women at higher risk of hypertension

Researchers are discovering that social isolation affects the health of men and women in different ways -- including placing women at higher risk of high blood pressure.

Younger knee replacement patients more likely to require reoperation

Knee replacement surgery, also known as total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is increasing among patients 65 and younger. One study projects a potential 183% increase in the number of TKA and revision TKA surgeries by the year 2030 in that age group, raising concerns about poorer clinical outcomes, lower patient satisfaction and diminished joint survival compared to an older patient population.

Manufacturing Workers and Employers

Manufacturing Workers and Employers

COVID-19 Employer Information for Public Health Inspectors

COVID-19 Employer Information for Public Health Inspectors

What Construction Workers Need to Know about COVID-19

What Construction Workers Need to Know about COVID-19

Protecting Seafood Processing Workers from COVID-19

Guidance for seafood processing workers and employers on protection from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Employer Information for Banks

COVID-19 Employer Information for Banks

Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers

Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers

COVID-19 Employer Information for Nail Salons

COVID-19 Employer Information for Nail Salons

Mechanics of mucus in cystic fibrosis patients

New research examines the properties of the mucus of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and the role it plays in a pathogens' ability to survive. The new information could have important implications for CF treatment.

Performance test for neural interfaces

Researchers develop guidelines to standardize analysis of electrodes.

COVID-19 Forecasts: Deaths

CDC works with partners to bring together weekly forecasts for COVID-19 deaths in one place. These forecasts have been developed independently and shared publicly. It is important to bring these forecasts together to help understand how they compare with each other and how much uncertainty there is about what may happen in the upcoming four weeks.

How the immune system deals with the gut's plethora of microbes

New research suggests that our immune system may play an active role in shaping the digestive-tract flora, which is tightly linked to health and disease.

Nudges fail more often than is reported

New research has shown that despite the widespread use of behavioral interventions across society, failed interventions are surprisingly common.

Small brain device proves big game changer for severely paralysed patients

A tiny device the size of a small paperclip has been shown to help patients with upper limb paralysis to text, email and even shop online in the first human trial.

среда, 28 октября 2020 г.

Average body temperature among healthy adults declined over the past two decades

In the nearly two centuries since German physician Carl Wunderlich established 98.6°F as the standard 'normal' body temperature, it has been used by parents and doctors alike as the measure by which fevers -- and often the severity of illness -- have been assessed.

Study helps explain why motivation to learn declines with age

Neuroscientists have identified a brain circuit critical for learning to make decisions that require evaluating the cost or reward of an action. They showed this circuit is negatively affected by aging and in Huntington's disease.

A patch that could help heal broken hearts

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide in recent years. During a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), a blocked artery and the resulting oxygen deprivation cause massive cardiac cell death, blood vessel impairment and inflammation. Now, researchers have developed a cardiac patch with tiny engineered blood vessels that improved recovery from MI in rats and pigs.

Living in Shared Housing

Living in Shared Housing

Death rates among people with severe COVID-19 drop by a half in England

Death rates from people with severe COVID-19 in hospital have dropped to around a half of the rate at the peak of the pandemic, new research has revealed.

When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19

If you have or think you might have COVID-19, it is important to stay home and away from other people. Staying away from others helps stop the spread of COVID-19.

Paracetamol poisonings up

In 2003, the painkiller paracetamol became available in Switzerland in tablets with a higher dose of the active ingredient. This correlates with an increase in cases of paracetamol poisoning in the country, as a data analysis shows.

Genetic analysis system yields new insights into bacterial pneumonia

A team of infectious disease researchers has developed a new method to identify virulence genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae, the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia. Using this technique in a mouse model of pneumonia, they were able to gain new insights into the progression of the disease and its interaction with the flu virus.

An artificial cell on a chip

Researchers have developed a precisely controllable system for mimicking biochemical reaction cascades in cells. Using microfluidic technology, they produce miniature polymeric reaction containers equipped with the desired properties. This 'cell on a chip' is useful not only for studying processes in cells, but also for the development of new synthetic pathways for chemical applications or for biological active substances in medicine.

Specific and rapid expansion of blood vessels

Upon a heart infarct or stroke, rapid restoration of blood flow, and oxygen delivery to the hypo perfused regions is of eminent importance to prevent further damage to heart or brain. Arterial diameter is a critical determinant of blood flow conductance. Scientists have now discovered a novel mechanism to structurally increase arterial diameter by selectively increasing the size of arterial endothelial cells, thereby allowing rapid increases in flow.

Judges' decisions in sport focus more on vigor than skill

Researchers analyzed almost 550 men's and women's mixed martial arts contests, using data collated for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and found the rate at which competitors fight is more likely to result in judges awarding victory than the skill with which they attack their opponents.

Estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects of PFASs could depend on the presence of estrogen

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have received intense scrutiny in recent years because of their persistence in the environment and potential endocrine-disrupting effects. However, their estrogenic activities are controversial, with different studies showing apparently contradictory results. Now, researchers have used a combination of laboratory experiments and computer modeling to reveal that PFASs can interact with the estrogen receptor in different ways to influence estrogen-controlled gene expression.

'Fast' MRI detects breast cancers that 3-D mammograms may miss

In a retrospective study of asymptomatic patients, all of whom had a negative 3-D mammogram within the previous 11 months, abbreviated MRI detected roughly 27 cancers per 1,000 women screened.

How to Protect Yourself & Others

The best way to prevent COVID-19 infection is to avoid exposure to this virus and follow these everyday preventative actions.

Returning to Work

Returning to Work

How COVID-19 Spreads

How COVID-19 Spreads

New strategy for treating common retinal diseases shows promise

Scientists have uncovered a potential new strategy for treating eye diseases that affect millions of people around the world, often resulting in blindness.

вторник, 27 октября 2020 г.

Common Investigation Protocol for Investigating Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection

Common Investigation Protocol for Investigating Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection

Investigative Criteria for Suspected Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection (ICR)

Investigative Criteria for Suspected Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection (ICR)

Crew Disembarkations through Commercial Travel

Crew Disembarkations through Commercial Travel

Langerhans cells are up to the job, they just need a chance

Researchers found that Langerhans cells (LCs) play a crucial role in mucocutaneous acute guest-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Their experiments in mice showed that when the LCs of a recipient were depleted, the formation of mucocutaneous lesions was enhanced because the infiltration of CD8+ T cells was inhibited. Their findings have significant implications for improving blood stem cell transplantation treatments and clinical outcomes for patients.

COVID-19 Questions and Answers: For People Who Use Drugs or Have Substance Use Disorder

COVID-19 Questions and Answers: For People Who Use Drugs or Have Substance Use Disorder

COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting Implementation by State

COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting Implementation by State

Aerosol microdroplets inefficient carriers of COVID-19 virus

Aerosol microdroplets do not appear to be extremely efficient at spreading the virus that leads to COVID-19. While the lingering microdroplets are certainly not risk-free, due to their small size they contain less virus than the larger droplets that are produced when someone coughs, speaks, or sneezes directly on us, said researchers.

Random effects key to containing epidemics

Scientists have discovered why dividing a large population into multiple subpopulations that do not intermix can help contain outbreaks without imposing contact restrictions within those local communities.

Black Hispanic individuals hardest hit by COVID-19

A new study shows the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Hispanic groups within the United States, with the most severe outcomes, including death and intensive care, among Hispanic Black individuals.

Biomarkers could be used in a quick, inexpensive COVID-19 blood screening tool

A new study suggests that COVID-19 affects the human body's blood concentration levels of specific metabolites -- small molecules broken down in the human body through the process of metabolism. Three specific metabolites identified in this study could act as biomarkers and one day be measured through an inexpensive blood test to quickly screen patients for the disease and predict which patients will become most critically ill.

Scientists discover how a common mutation leads to 'night owl' sleep disorder

People with delayed sleep phase disorder are unable to fall asleep until late at night (often after 2 a.m.) and have difficulty getting up in the morning. In 2017, scientists discovered a surprisingly common mutation that causes this sleep disorder by altering a key component of the biological clock that maintains the body's daily rhythms. Now, a new study reveals the molecular mechanisms involved and point the way toward potential treatments.

COVID-19 Employer Information for Utility Workers

COVID-19 Employer Information for Utility Workers

Over 80 percent of COVID-19 patients have vitamin D deficiency, study finds

Over 80 percent of 200 COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Spain have vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study.

'White matter lesion' mapping tool identifies early signs of dementia

A new tool for analyzing tissue damage seen on MRI brain scans can detect with more than 70% accuracy early signs of cognitive decline, new research shows.

Risk score predicts prognosis of outpatients with COVID-19

A new artificial intelligence-based score considers multiple factors to predict the prognosis of individual patients with COVID-19 seen at urgent care clinics or emergency departments. The tool can be used to rapidly and automatically determine which patients are most likely to develop complications and need to be hospitalized.

Ultrasounds show impact of COVID-19 on the heart

A new study identifies different types of cardiac structural damage experienced by COVID-19 patients after cardiac injury that can be associated with deadly conditions including heart attack, pulmonary embolism, heart failure, and myocarditis.

Tiny golden bullets could help tackle asbestos-related cancers

Gold nanotubes - tiny hollow cylinders one thousandth the width of a human hair - could be used to treat mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, according to a team of researchers.

Study finds PTSD interacts with klotho gene, may cause premature aging in the brain

Genetics and the environment (including psychiatric stress) may contribute to the pace of cellular aging, causing some individuals to have a biological age that exceeds their chronological age.

Kid influencers are promoting junk food brands on YouTube -- garnering more than a billion views

Kids with wildly popular YouTube channels are frequently promoting unhealthy food and drinks in their videos, warn researchers.

New COVID-19 related genes -- helpful and harmful -- found in massive screen

Researchers screened hundreds of millions of cells exposed to the COVID-19 and MERS viruses and identified dozens of genes that both enable the viruses to replicate in cells and also those that seem to slam the door on the virus. The pro-viral and anti-viral role of these genes will help guide scientists in development of new therapies to combat COVID-19, the researchers say.

SARS-CoV-2 Viral Culturing at CDC

CDC Grows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in Cell Culture

понедельник, 26 октября 2020 г.

Artificially sweetened drinks may not be heart healthier than sugary drinks

Sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be the healthy alternative they are often claimed to be, according to a research letter.

Healthcare as a climate solution

Although the link may not be obvious, healthcare and climate change -- two issues that pose major challenges around the world -- are in fact more connected than society may realize. So say researchers, who are increasingly proving this to be true.

Localized vaccination surveillance could help prevent measles outbreaks

Access to more localized data on childhood vaccination coverage, such as at the school or neighborhood levels, could help better predict and prevent measles outbreaks in the United States, according to a new study.

Time-keeping brain protein influences memory

Upsetting the brain's timekeeping can cause cognitive impairments, like when jetlag makes you feel foggy and forgetful. These impairments may stem from disrupting a protein that aligns the brain's time-keeping mechanism to the correct time of day, according to new research in fruit flies.

"Excess Death" Data Point to Pandemic's True Toll

"Excess Death" Data Point to Pandemic's True Toll

Responder Stories

Responder Stories

State gun laws may help curb violence across state lines: study

Researchers find that strong state firearm laws are associated with fewer firearm homicides -- both within the state where the laws are enacted and across state lines. Conversely, weak firearm laws in one state are linked to higher rates of homicides in neighboring states.

T-cells from recovered COVID-19 patients show promise to protect vulnerable patients from infection

T-cells taken from the blood of people who recovered from a COVID-19 infection can be successfully multiplied in the lab and maintain the ability to effectively target proteins that are key to the virus's function, according to a new study.

CRISPR screen identifies genes, drug targets to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study demonstrates how changes in human genes can reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection and describes a wide array of genes that have not previously been considered as therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2.

Estimating risk of airborne COVID-19 with mask usage, social distancing

The Contagion Airborne Transmission inequality model illustrates correlation between physical distancing and protection, the efficacy of face masks and the impact of physical activity on transmission.

Tracking evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations

Researchers tracked the mutation rate in SARS-CoV-2 virus's proteome -- the collection of proteins encoded by genetic material -- through time, starting with the first SARS-CoV-2 genome published in January and ending more than 15,300 genomes later in May. The team found some regions still actively spinning off new mutations, indicating continuing adaptation to the host environment. But the mutation rate in other regions showed signs of slowing, coalescing around single versions of key proteins.

War songs and lullabies behind origins of music

Love is not the primary reason humans developed music. A new evolutionary theory of the origins of music argues more evidence supports music coming from the need for groups to impress allies and foes, and for parents to signal their attention to infants. They also argue against the theory that making music arose out of a need for social bonding, or that it is 'auditory cheesecake' a fancy evolutionary byproduct with no purpose.

New York City's coronavirus outbreak spread from more European sources than first reported

The COVID-19 pandemic started earlier than previously thought in New York City and Long Island by dozens of people infected mostly with strains from Europe. A new analysis also shows that most of the spread was within the community, as opposed to coming from people who had traveled.

Coronavirus mutations show early safety measures and restrictions limited viral spread

Scientists analyzed genomic information from over 6,000 samples of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that early measures in states such as California and Washington were effective at limiting viral spread in the early phases of the pandemic.

Researchers discover molecular link between diet and risk of colorectal cancer

Researchers have identified a direct molecular link between meat and dairy diets and the development of antibodies in the blood that increase the chances of developing cancer. This connection may explain the high incidence of cancer among those who consume large amounts of dairy products and red meat, similar to the link between high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.

How genetic variation gives rise to differences in mathematical ability

DNA variation in a gene called ROBO1 is associated with early anatomical differences in a brain region that plays a key role in quantity representation, potentially explaining how genetic variability might shape mathematical performance in children, according to a new study.

Discoveries reshape understanding of gut microbiome

New findings could lead to new therapies for IBD and people who've had portions of their bowels removed due to conditions like colon cancer and ulcerative colitis.

Hydrogen sulfide helps maintain your drive to breathe

Researchers have found that the production of hydrogen sulfide gas is necessary to breathe normally. Inhibition of hydrogen sulfide production in rats prevented brain neurons that control breathing from functioning normally. These findings have identified new mediators of breathing that can now be explored in the context of human health and disease.

Divide and conquer :A new formula to minimize 'mathemaphobia'

Maths - it's the subject some kids love to hate, yet despite its lack of popularity, mathematics is critical for a STEM-capable workforce and vital for current and future productivity. New research finds that boosting student confidence in maths, is pivotal to greater engagement with the subject.

Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Disposable Medical Gloves

This new guidance offers a series of strategies or options to optimize supplies of disposable medical gloves in healthcare settings when there is limited supply.

Interim Guidance for Use of Pooling Procedures in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic, Screening, and Surveillance Testing

Interim Guidance for Use of Pooling Procedures in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic, Screening, and Surveillance Testing

COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country

COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country

Weight-reduction surgery for severely obese adults may prevent second heart attack, death

Adults with severe obesity (BMI >35) and a prior heart attack who undergo weight-reduction surgery may lower their risk of a second heart attack, major cardiovascular event, heart failure and death. The effect weight-reduction surgery had on the patients' weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and A1C (a Type 2 diabetes marker) seems to play a role in decreasing the risk of heart attack and death.

Nearly one in three young adults in the US does not know common stroke symptoms

Nearly 30% of U.S. adults younger than 45 don't know all five of the most common stroke symptoms, according to a recent survey. Hispanic adults, people not born in the U.S. and less educated young adults were among the most likely to be unaware of stroke symptoms. Stroke incidence and hospitalizations are rising among young adults in the U.S.

Toolkit for People 15 to 21

Young Adults: 15 to 21

Flowchart for management of HCWs with exposure to a person with COVID-19

Flowchart for management of HCWs with exposure to a person with COVID-19

Nearly one in three young adults in the US does not know common stroke symptoms

Nearly 30% of U.S. adults younger than 45 don't know all five of the most common stroke symptoms, according to a recent survey. Hispanic adults, people not born in the U.S. and less educated young adults were among the most likely to be unaware of stroke symptoms. Stroke incidence and hospitalizations are rising among young adults in the U.S.

суббота, 24 октября 2020 г.

Investigating and responding to COVID-19 cases in non-healthcare work settings

Investigating and responding to COVID-19 cases in non-healthcare work settings

Testing Strategy for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in High-Density Critical Infrastructure Workplaces after a COVID-19 Case Is Identified

Testing Strategy for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in High-Density Critical Infrastructure Workplaces after a COVID-19 Case Is Identified

Interim Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Correctional and Detention Facilities

Interim Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Correctional and Detention Facilities

SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategy: Considerations for Non-Healthcare Workplaces

SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategy: Considerations for Non-Healthcare Workplaces

Researchers reveal why heat stress damages sperm

Biologists have used the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to identify molecular mechanisms that produce DNA damage in sperm and contribute to male infertility following exposure to heat.

COVID-19 anxiety linked to body image issues

A new study has found that anxiety and stress directly linked to COVID-19 could be causing a number of body image issues. The research, which involved 506 UK adults, found that worries linked to COVID-19 were associated with body dissatisfaction and a desire for thinness in women, and associated with body fat dissatisfaction and a desire for muscularity in men.

Scientist develops new way to test for COVID-19 antibodies

New research details how a cell-free test rapidly detects COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies and could aid in vaccine testing and drug discovery efforts.

Malaria-preventive drugs dramatically reduce infections in school children

Use of preventive antimalarial treatments reduces by half the number of malaria infections among schoolchildren, according to a new analysis published today in The Lancet Global Health.

Ancient origins of speed control during movement

Movement in animals is complex. Little has been known about how spinal inhibitory interneurons work to silence other neurons and related muscle groups in coordination with the active muscle groups across changing speeds. Now a research team has discovered in a study of zebrafish that there is a very orderly relationship between when these critical inhibitory neurons are born, their participation in different speeds of movement and what part of a motor neuron they innervate.

Interim Operational Considerations for Public Health Management of Healthcare Workers Exposed to or Infected with COVID-19: non-US Healthcare Settings

Interim Operational Considerations for Public Health Management of Healthcare Workers Exposed to or Infected with COVID-19: non-US Healthcare Settings

New imaging method reveals HIV's sugary shield in unprecedented detail

Scientists have devised a method for mapping in unprecedented detail the thickets of slippery sugar molecules that help shield HIV from the immune system. Mapping these shields will give researchers a more complete understanding of why antibodies react to some spots on the virus but not others, and may shape the design of new vaccines that target the most vulnerable sites on viruses.

New therapeutic approach against leukemia

Using an RNA molecule complex, researchers can prevent retention of cancer stem cell in their tumor supporting niche.

Research team discovers molecular processes in kidney cells that attract and feed COVID-19

What about the kidneys make them a hotspot for COVID-19's cytokine storm? A research team says it's the presence of a protein found on specialized renal transport cells.

PTSD and alcohol abuse go hand-in-hand, but males and females exhibit symptoms differently

Through intricate experiments designed to account for sex-specific differences, scientists have zeroed-in on certain changes in the brain that may be responsible for driving alcohol abuse among people with PTSD. In studies with rodents, researchers found that males and females exhibit their own distinct symptoms and brain features of PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Such differences are not typically accounted for in laboratory-based studies yet could lead to more successful clinical treatments.

Hydroxychloroquine does not prevent COVID-19 in health care workers, trial shows

Researchers found that taking hydroxychloroquine once or twice weekly did not prevent the development of COVID-19 in health care workers better than the placebo.

пятница, 23 октября 2020 г.

Targeted Wastewater Surveillance at Facilities, Institutions, and Workplaces

Targeted Wastewater Surveillance at Facilities, Institutions, and Workplaces

Developing a Wastewater Surveillance Sampling Strategy

Developing a Wastewater Surveillance Sampling Strategy

Wastewater Surveillance Testing Methods

Wastewater Surveillance Testing Methods

Wastewater Surveillance Data Reporting & Analytics

Wastewater Surveillance Data Reporting & Analytics

Tips for Voters to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

Tips for Voters to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

Toolkit for Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 During Elections

Toolkit for Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 During Elections

Evaluation and Management Considerations for Neonates At Risk for COVID-19

Evaluation and Management Considerations for Neonates At Risk for COVID-19

Targeted Wastewater Surveillance at Facilities, Institutions, and Workplaces

Targeted Wastewater Surveillance at Facilities, Institutions, and Workplaces

How to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in densely populated areas globally

How to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in densely populated areas globally

National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS)

National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS)

Public Health Interpretation and Use of Wastewater Surveillance Data

Public Health Interpretation and Use of Wastewater Surveillance Data

COVID-19 a double blow for chronic disease patients

The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated into a 'syndemic' for people with chronic illnesses, a new study analyzing data from low and middle-income countries shows.

Happiness and the evolution of brain size

Serotonin can act as a growth factor for the stem cells in the fetal human brain that determine brain size.

A new technique predicts how earthquakes would affect a city's hospitals

An international research team has developed a methodology to help disaster preparedness officials in large cities make contingency plans on a region-wide basis to make sure that emergency responders can get patients to the hospital facilities that are likeliest to remain in commission after a quake.

34% of older adults in the US are prescribed potentially inappropriate drugs

The prescription of potentially inappropriate medications to older adults is linked to increased hospitalizations, and it costs patients, on average, more than $450 per year, according to a new study.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

COVIDView Weekly Summary

COVIDView

Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters

Recommended Precautions for Preventing Spread of COVID-19 in Election Polling Locations

Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Institutions of Higher Education

Institutions of higher education (IHE), working together with local health departments, have an important role in slowing the spread of diseases, and protecting vulnerable students, staff, and faculty to help ensure a safe and healthy learning environment.

Aspirin use reduces risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were taking a daily low-dose aspirin to protect against cardiovascular disease had a significantly lower risk of complications and death compared to those who were not taking aspirin, according to a new study.

Guide to Global Digital Tools for COVID-19 Response

CDC has received many questions about digital tools being used globally to response to COVID-19. Tools include those used for contact tracing and surveillance, among other activities. This guide describes how each tool functions and other details. The document is meant to be a dynamic resource that will be routinely updated as additional tools are reported from the field offices and as additional questions about the functional elements arise.

Operational Considerations for Adapting a Contact Tracing Program to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Operational Considerations for Adapting a Contact Tracing Program to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Gut hormone blocks brain cell formation and is linked to Parkinson's dementia

A gut hormone, ghrelin, is a key regulator of new nerve cells in the adult brain, a research team has discovered. It could help pave the way for new drugs to treat dementia in patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Tracer molecule may improve imaging tests for brain injury

Researchers have validated a new radiolabeled molecule that can be used with imaging tests to accurately detect and characterize brain injury.

Details about broadly neutralizing antibodies provide insights for universal flu vaccine

New research from an immunology team may shed light on the challenges of developing a universal flu vaccine that would provide long-lasting and broad protection against influenza viruses.

'Spooky' similarity in how brains and computers see

The brain detects 3D shape fragments (bumps, hollows, shafts, spheres) in the beginning stages of object vision - a newly discovered strategy of natural intelligence that researchers also found in artificial intelligence networks trained to recognize visual objects.

Technology shines the light on ovarian cancer treatments

A scientist and entrepreneur is working to use simple LED light to help determine if certain chemotherapy options will work for specific patients.

Obesity and disease tied to dramatic dietary changes

The 'mismatch hypothesis' argues that our bodies evolved to digest the foods that our ancestors ate, and that human bodies will struggle and largely fail to metabolize a radically new set of foods. This intuitive idea is hard to test directly, but the Turkana, a pastoralist population in remote Kenya, present a natural experiment: genetically homogenous populations whose diets stretch across a lifestyle gradient from relatively 'matched' to extremely 'mismatched' with their recent evolutionary history.

четверг, 22 октября 2020 г.

How'd we get so picky about friendship late in life? Ask the chimps

When humans age, they tend to favor small circles of meaningful, already established friendships rather than seek new ones. People are also more likely to lean toward positive relationships rather than ones that bring tension or conflict. These behaviors were thought to be unique to humans but it turns out chimpanzees, one of our closest living relatives, have these traits, too. The study shows what's believed to be the first evidence of nonhuman animals actively selecting who they socialize with during aging.

Multiple sclerosis as the flip side of immune fitness

About half of the people with multiple sclerosis have the HLA-DR15 gene variant. A study has now shown how this genetic predisposition contributes to the development of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis in combination with environmental factors. The decisive factor is the shaping of a repertoire of immune cells which - although they are effective in fighting off pathogens such as Epstein-Barr virus - also attack brain tissue.

New approach to fighting cancer could reduce costs and side effects

Researchers have developed a novel approach based on microfluidic technology to 'purify' the immune cells of patients in the fight against cancer.

Preventing lead poisoning at the source

Using a variety of public records, researchers examined every rental property in Cleveland from 2016-18 on factors related to the likelihood that the property could have lead-safety problems.

Cognitive elements of language have existed for 40 million years

Humans are not the only beings that can identify rules in complex language-like constructions -- monkeys and great apes can do so, too, a new study has shown. Researcher used a series of experiments based on an 'artificial grammar' to conclude that this ability can be traced back to our ancient primate ancestors.

New research reveals why low oxygen damages the brain

Brain cell dysfunction in low oxygen is, surprisingly, caused by the very same responder system that is intended to be protective, according to a newly published study.

Turbulent era sparked leap in human behavior, adaptability 320,000 years ago

The first analysis of a sedimentary drill core representing 1 million years of environmental history in the East African Rift Valley shows that at the same time early humans were abandoning old tools in favor of more sophisticated technology and broadening their trade, their landscape was experiencing frequent fluctuations in vegetation and water supply that made resources less reliably available. The findings suggest that instability in their landscape was a key driver of human adaptability.

Drinking green tea and coffee daily linked to lower death risk in people with diabetes

Drinking plenty of both green tea and coffee is linked to a lower risk of dying from any cause among people with type 2 diabetes, suggests new research.

Steroid inhalers/pills for asthma linked to heightened risk of brittle bones and fractures

Taking steroid inhalers or tablets to treat asthma or control flare-ups is linked to a heightened risk of brittle bones (osteoporosis) and increased vulnerability to broken bones (fragility fractures), finds new research.

Previous Forecasts of Total Deaths

Previous COVID-19 Forecasts

COVID-19 Forecasts: Deaths

CDC works with partners to bring together weekly forecasts for COVID-19 deaths in one place. These forecasts have been developed independently and shared publicly. It is important to bring these forecasts together to help understand how they compare with each other and how much uncertainty there is about what may happen in the upcoming four weeks.

Bacterial metabolism of dietary soy may lower risk factor for dementia

A metabolite produced following consumption of dietary soy may decrease a key risk factor for dementia - with the help of the right bacteria, according to a new discovery.

Innovation spins spider web architecture into 3D imaging technology

Innovators are taking cues from nature to develop 3D photodetectors for biomedical imaging. The researchers used some architectural features from spider webs to develop the technology.

Communication Resources for Travelers

Communication Resources for Travelers

Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Travel

This page includes information about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for travelers and travel-related industries.

After You Travel

Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread.

Road Travel Toolkit for Transportation Partners

Communication Toolkit for Transportation Partners to Inform Road Travelers

Air Travel Toolkit for Airline Partners

Communication Toolkit for Airlines to inform Travelers and Crew

Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Southern Border Toolkit for Partners

Southern Border Toolkit for Partners

Know Your Travel Risk

Know Your Travel Risk

среда, 21 октября 2020 г.

Previous COVID-19 Forecasts: Cases

Previous COVID-19 Forecasts: Cases

COVID-19 Forecasts: Cases

Learn about COVID-19 forecasts and modeling for new cases.

Investigating and responding to COVID-19 cases in non-healthcare work settings

Investigating and responding to COVID-19 cases in non-healthcare work settings

SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategy: Considerations for Non-Healthcare Workplaces

SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategy: Considerations for Non-Healthcare Workplaces

COVID-19 Employer Information for Hotels, Resorts, and Lodges

COVID-19 Employer Information for Hotels, Resorts, and Lodges

Cleaning, Disinfection, and Hand Hygiene in Schools - a Toolkit for School Administrators

Cleaning, Disinfection, and Hand Hygiene in Schools

Testing Strategy for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in High-Density Critical Infrastructure Workplaces after a COVID-19 Case Is Identified

Testing Strategy for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in High-Density Critical Infrastructure Workplaces after a COVID-19 Case Is Identified

Americans' responses to COVID-19 stay-home orders differed according to population density

Americans strongly reduced their visits to grocery stores, pharmacies, and transit stations following stay-at-home orders from mayors and governors earlier this year, but did not reduce their visits to parks and beaches.

Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19

This guidance outlines key considerations for states and healthcare systems to consider strategies for transferring patients, staff, and supplies between health facilities to optimize patient care, balance resources, and minimize use of crisis care standards. One option is the identification of relief healthcare facilities and establishing or coordinating with existing federal, state, or regional Medical Operation Coordination Cells (MOCC). The implementation of the elements highlighted in this guidance can be found in the Federal MOCC Toolkit reference throughout.

Transcription factors may inadvertently lock in DNA mistakes

A team of researchers has found that transcription factors have a tendency to bind strongly to 'mismatched' sections of DNA, i.e. sections of the genome that were not copied correctly. The strong binding of transcription factors to these mismatched sections of regulatory DNA might be a way in which random mutations become a problem that leads to disease, including cancer.

Scientists take major step toward Angelman Syndrome gene therapy

Babies born with a faulty maternal copy of the UBE3A gene will develop Angelman syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with no cure and limited treatments. Now, for the first time, scientists show that gene editing and gene therapy techniques can be used to restore UBE3A in human neuron cultures and treat deficits in an animal model of Angelman syndrome.

Diagnosing Parkinson's disease with skin samples could lead to earlier detection

New research shows a simple skin test can accurately identify Parkinson's disease, which could lead to earlier detection of the disease and better outcomes for patients. Currently, Parkinson's disease is diagnosed by clinical signs and symptoms but only definitively diagnosed at autopsy. The researchers conducted a blinded study of 50 skin samples using an assay originally designed to detect mad cow disease.

Seeing no longer believing: the manipulation of online images

A peace sign from Martin Luther King, Jr, becomes a rude gesture; dolphins in Venice's Grand Canal - manipulated or mis-used images posted as truth. Researchers say image editing software is so common and easy to use, it has the power to re-imagine history. Even the White House is doing it and deadline-driven journalists lack the tools to tell the difference, especially when images come from social media.

Nanogenerator 'scavenges' power from their surroundings

Imagine a mobile phone charger that doesn't need a wireless or mains power source. Or a pacemaker with inbuilt organic energy sources within the human body. Researchers are picking up the challenge of 'scavenging' invisible power from low-frequency vibrations in the surrounding environment, including wind, air or even contact-separation energy (static electricity).

Vitamin A boosts fat burning in cold conditions

A recent study shows that cold ambient temperatures increase vitamin A levels in humans and mice. This helps convert 'bad' white adipose tissue into 'good' brown adipose tissue which stimulates fat burning and heat generation.

Print Resources

Print Resources

Virtual Reality health appointments can help patients address eating disorders

Research has revealed that Virtual Reality (VR) technology can have significant impact on the validity of remote health appointments for those with eating disorders, through a process called Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET).

Cognitive performance - Better than our predecessors

We employ our cognitive skills daily to assimilate and process information. A new empirical study shows that we do better at this task than those born a century ago. But cognitive capacity still begins to stagnate at around the age of 35.

Congress must clarify limits of gene-editing technologies

How the next Congress decides to handle the issue editing human sperm and eggs will affect the science, ethics and financing of genomic editing for decades to come, said a law professor who studies the ethical and policy implications of advanced biotechnologies.

Evidence review confirms CDC guidance about infectivity of novel coronavirus

A new review of dozens of studies suggests that people may shed virus for prolonged periods, but those with mild or no symptoms may be infectious for no more than about 10 days. People who are severely ill from COVID-19 may be infectious for as long as 20 days, according to the review.

High flavanol diet may lead to lower blood pressure

People who consume a diet including flavanol-rich foods and drinks, including tea, apples and berries, could lead to lower blood pressure, according to the first study using objective measures of thousands of UK residents' diet.

Hypothyroidism in pregnant mothers linked to ADHD in their children

Low levels of key, body-regulating chemicals in mothers during the first three months of pregnancy may interfere with the baby's brain development, a large study shows.

Community noise may affect dementia risk

Results from a new study support emerging evidence suggesting that noise may influence individuals' risk of developing dementia later in life.

Does classroom indoor environmental quality affect teaching and learning?

What impact does a classroom's indoor environment have on teaching, learning, and students' academic achievement in colleges and universities? This is the question researchers set out to answer in their analysis of all relevant published studies.

Phase 3 clinical trial to treat mild Alzheimer's disease using deep brain stimulation

Medical researchers are enrolling individuals in an international phase 3 clinical trial to examine the safety and effectiveness of deep brain stimulation to treat Alzheimer's. The study uses electrical impulses to stimulate the region of the brain known as the fornix, which is associated with memory and learning.

вторник, 20 октября 2020 г.

Salt-based mosquito-control products are ineffective

A new study by a bevy of expert mosquito researchers offers an important warning to consumers: Products claiming to reduce mosquito populations with salt-water solutions are ineffective. In a series of lab tests using nine mosquito species, researchers found no evidence that adult mosquitoes are killed by salt ingested at concentrations used in several popular mosquito-control products.

New anti-AB vaccine could help halt Alzheimer's progression, preclinical study finds

A preclinical study by neuroscientists indicates that an antigen-presenting dendritic vaccine with a specific antibody response to oligomeric A-beta may be safer and offer clinical benefit in treating Alzheimer's disease. The vaccine uses immune cells known as dendritic cells loaded with a modified A beta peptide as the antigen.

Cutting-edge, whole-heart imaging provides new details on heart defects

A cutting-edge technique that allows scientists to zoom into tiny details in a 3D image of a whole animal heart may lead to new insights on congenital heart disease.

Targeting the shell of the Ebola virus

As the world grapples with COVID-19, the Ebola virus is again raging. Researchers are using supercomputers to simulate the inner workings of Ebola (as well as COVID-19), looking at how molecules move, atom by atom, to carry out their functions. Now, they have revealed structural features of the Ebola virus's protein shell to provide therapeutic targets to destabilize the virus and knock it out with an antiviral treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy reduces insomnia symptoms among young drinkers

More than half of young adults at risk for alcohol-related harm report symptoms of insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the first-line treatments for insomnia, but it's never been tested on young adults who are actively drinking. Researchers evaluated CBT's effect on young adult binge drinkers with insomnia to determine if this treatment can improve their sleep and potentially affect alcohol use outcomes.

Does the new heart transplant allocation policy encourage gaming by providers?

A new national policy was created to make determining who receives a heart transplant more fair. But new data shows it changed some practice patterns, too.

Coronavirus vaccines stir doubts among many people worldwide, new study shows

A new study highlights potential global hesitancy to accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Based on data collected with the previously validated COVID-SCORE survey of a sample of over 13,400 individuals from 19 countries that have been hard-hit by the virus, the investigators found that 72 percent of participants would likely take the vaccine. Of the remaining 28 percent, 14 percent would refuse, while 14 percent would hesitate, which translates into tens of millions of potential vaccine avoiders.

Anti-inflammatory therapy shows promise in slowing progression of multiple sclerosis

Intranasal administration of an anti-inflammatory drug helped reduce disease progression in a preclinical model of multiple sclerosis, according to recent research.

The road to uncovering a novel mechanism for disposing of misfolded proteins

The discovery of the cause of a rare liver disease in babies led to uncovering a novel cellular mechanism for disposing of misfolded proteins that has implications for neurodegenerative conditions of older age.

CRISPR meets Pac-Man: New DNA cut-and-paste tool enables bigger gene edits

Gene editing for the development of new treatments, and for studying disease as well as normal function in humans and other organisms, may advance more quickly with a new tool for cutting larger pieces of DNA out of a cell's genome, according to a new study.

New tool pulls elusive COVID-19 marker from human blood

Researchers have created a surface that repels every other element of human blood except an elusive cytokine critical to understanding the progress of COVID-19 in individual patients.

Coronavirus: Study finds further door opener into the cell

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is known to infect cells via the receptor ACE2. Researchers have now identified neuropilin-1 as a factor that can facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry into the cells' interior. Neuropilin-1 is localized in the respiratory and olfactory epithelia.

Neuropilin-1 drives SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, finds breakthrough study

Researchers have potentially identified what makes SARS-CoV-2 highly infectious and able to spread rapidly in human cells. The findings describe how the virus's ability to infect human cells can be reduced by inhibitors that block a newly discovered interaction between virus and host, demonstrating a potential anti-viral treatment.

COVID-19: Distancing and masks -- good but not enough

Decades-old data is being used to describe the propagation of tiny droplets. Now a fluid dynamics team has developed new models: Masks and distancing are good, but not enough. Even with a mask, infectious droplets can be transmitted over several meters and remain in the air longer than previously thought.

Focal epilepsy often overlooked

Having subtler symptoms, a form of epilepsy that affects only one part of the brain often goes undiagnosed long enough to cause unexpected seizures that contribute to car crashes, a new study finds.

Study shows active older adults have better physical and mental health

Older adults with higher physical activity and lower sitting time have better overall physical and mental health, according to a new study.

Cannabis reduces OCD symptoms by half in the short-term

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) report that the severity of symptoms was reduced by about half within four hours of smoking cannabis. After smoking cannabis, users with OCD reported it reduced their compulsions by 60%, intrusions, or unwanted thoughts, by 49% and anxiety by 52%. The study also found that higher doses and cannabis with higher concentrations of CBD were associated with larger reductions in compulsions.

Community Mitigation (Non-US Settings)

Community Mitigation (Non-US Settings)

понедельник, 19 октября 2020 г.

Wear Face Masks on Public Transportation Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs

Wear Face Masks on Public Transportation Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs

Patients who had more severe COVID-19 may be the best donors for convalescent plasma therapy

Sex, age, and severity of disease may be useful in identifying COVID-19 survivors who are likely to have high levels of antibodies that can protect against the disease.

Criteria to predict cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients identified

Researchers have developed and validated predictive criteria for early identification of COVID-19 patients who are developing hyperimmune responses, raising the possibility for early therapeutic intervention.

New lab test clarifies the potential protective effects of COVID-19 antibodies

Knowing you have developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus after recovering from COVID-19 doesn't tell you everything about your immunity. Scientists have developed a new lab testing procedure for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 that gives results more quickly than existing assays and specifically identifies so-called 'neutralizing' antibodies.

Mouthwashes, oral rinses may inactivate human coronaviruses, study finds

Certain oral antiseptics and mouthwashes may have the ability to inactivate human coronaviruses, according to a new study. The results indicate that some of these products might be useful for reducing the viral load, or amount of virus, in the mouth after infection and may help to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Immune activation in the liver illuminated with new glycan-tagging strategy

A signaling system implicated in liver fibrosis and immune activation is better understood thanks to this creative chemical fishing lure.

Scientists map the human proteome

Twenty years after the release of the human genome, the genetic 'blueprint' of human life, an international research team has now mapped the first draft sequence of the human proteome.

For toddlers with autism, more intervention hours are not necessarily better

Two prominent early intervention models for toddlers with autism show a very similar impact, whether delivered at 15-hours or 25-hours per week intensities, a study has found.

Research network aims to improve learning outcomes for students underrepresented in STEM

A recent report lays out gaps in the biology education field and proposes leveraging an existing research coordination network called Equity and Diversity in Undergraduate STEM (EDU-STEM) to tackle them.

An ultrasonic projector for medicine

A chip-based technology that modulates intensive sound pressure profiles with high resolution opens up new possibilities for ultrasound therapy.

Lullabies in any language relax babies

Researchers have determined that American infants relaxed when played lullabies that were unfamiliar and in a foreign language. The new findings supported the latter hypothesis: infants responded to universal elements of songs, despite the unfamiliarity of their melodies and words, and relaxed. The researchers also predict that the results could be replicated with a different group of subjects from another culture.

AI methods of analyzing social networks find new cell types in tissue

In situ sequencing enables gene activity inside body tissues to be depicted in microscope images. To facilitate interpretation of the vast quantities of information generated. Researchers have now developed an entirely new method of image analysis. Based on algorithms used in artificial intelligence, the method was originally devised to enhance understanding of social networks.

Hand-held device reads levels of cancer biomarker

Researchers have created the prototype for a hand-held device to measure a biomarker for cancer, paving the way for home-based cancer monitoring and to improve access to diagnostic testing.

Exercise and nutrition regimen benefits physical, cognitive health

Researchers studied the effects of a 12-week exercise regimen on 148 active-duty Air Force airmen, half of whom also received a twice-daily nutrient beverage that included protein; the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA; lutein; phospholipids; vitamin D; B vitamins and other micronutrients; along with a muscle-promoting compound known as HMB. Both groups improved in physical and cognitive function, with added gains among those who regularly consumed the nutritional beverage, the team reports.

What lies between grey and white in the brain

A multidisciplinary team has succeeded in making the superficial white matter visible in the living human brain.

The 'goldilocks day': The perfect day for kids' bone health

Not too little, not too much - Goldilocks' 'just right' approach can now assess children's daily activities as new research confirms the best make up of a child's day to maximize bone health and function in children.

Research could lead to customized cochlear implants

Researcher have analyzed the accuracy of predictions for cochlear implant outcomes, with a view to further improve their performance in noisy environments.

Natural killer cells also have a memory function

Good news for the human immune system: researchers have managed to ascribe an immunological memory function to a subset of cytotoxic NK cells, which have hitherto been regarded as antigen-non-specific.

Changes in blood metabolite profile are visible years before diagnosis of alcohol-related disease

A new study has shown that the serum metabolite profile can be used to identify individuals likely at risk of developing an alcohol-related disease in the future. The finding also opens up new avenues for preventing alcohol-related adverse effects.

How cancer cells escape crowded tumors

When trapped in a crowded environment, cells of the human body try to escape. Scientists now discovered that it is the cell nucleus, which triggers the 'evasion reflex'. This reflex is activated once cell compression exceeds the size of the nucleus. This unexpected finding could help to predict treatment response and metastatic spreading of tumors.

One-two punch of symptoms that exacerbate Alzheimer's

A new Alzheimer's study found that impaired blood flow in the brain is correlated with the buildup of tau tangles, a hallmark indicator of cognitive decline.The work suggests that treatments targeting vascular health in the brain -- as well as amyloid plaques and tau tangles -- may be more effective in preserving memory.

Interim Considerations for Health Departments for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Homeless Shelters and Encampments

Interim Considerations for Health Departments for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Homeless Shelters and Encampments

Resources for Laboratories Working on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Resources and interim guidelines for laboratory professionals working with specimens from persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Testing Guidelines for Nursing Homes

Testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes

Big babies could be at higher risk of common heart rhythm disorder in adulthood

Elevated birth weight is linked with developing atrial fibrillation later in life, according to new research.

Malice leaves a nasty smell

Unhealthy behaviours trigger moral judgments that are similar to the basic emotions that contribute to our ability to survive. Two different hypotheses are to be found in the current scientific literature as to the identity of these emotions. After developing a new approach to brain imaging, a research team shows that unhealthy behaviors trigger brain responses that are similar to those prompted by bad smells.

Children, Teens, and Young Adults

Caring for Children

Daily Activities and Going Out

Going Out

воскресенье, 18 октября 2020 г.

суббота, 17 октября 2020 г.

Fats fighting back against bacteria

With antibiotic-resistant superbugs on the rise, this research shows a new way that cells are using to protect themselves - using fats as a covert weapon, and giving us new insights into alternative ways to fight infection.

Calcium bursts kill drug-resistant tumor cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) -- a process in which tumors become resistant to multiple medicines -- is the main cause of failure of cancer chemotherapy. Tumor cells often acquire MDR by boosting their production of proteins that pump drugs out of the cell, rendering the chemotherapies ineffective. Now, researchers have developed nanoparticles that release bursts of calcium inside tumor cells, inhibiting drug pumps and reversing MDR.

Investigational ALS drug prolongs patient survival in clinical trial

An experimental medication that was recently shown to slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has now demonstrated the potential to also prolong patient survival. The findings come from a recent clinical trial.

пятница, 16 октября 2020 г.

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Non-Healthcare Workplaces

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Non-Healthcare Workplaces

Octopus-inspired sucker transfers thin, delicate tissue grafts and biosensors

Thin tissue grafts and flexible electronics have a host of applications for wound healing, regenerative medicine and biosensing. A new device inspired by an octopus's sucker rapidly transfers delicate tissue or electronic sheets to the patient, overcoming a key barrier to clinical application.

New research comparing HIV medications set to change international recommendations

A new study is set to change international treatment recommendations for people who are newly diagnosed with HIV -- an update that could affect nearly two million people per year worldwide.

Viral 'molecular scissor' is next COVID-19 drug target

Inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2-PLpro enzyme is a novel avenue to explore in rational design of COVID-19 drugs, according to new research.

Existing medications may fight coronavirus infection

Researchers have identified three existing drugs with the potential to clear SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Fraction of money earmarked for COVID-19 recovery could boost climate efforts

Global stimulus plans for economic recovery after the pandemic could easily cover climate-friendly policies, suggests a new study.

Boost to develop microalgae into health foods

A new discovery may provide the crucial link that helps accelerate development of microalgae into beneficial human health supplements.

Know Your Travel Risk

Know Your Travel Risk

COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting Implementation by State

COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting Implementation by State

Study explains the process that exacerbates MS

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) gradually develop increasing functional impairment. Researchers have now found a possible explanation for the progressive course of the disease in mice and how it can be reversed. The study can prove valuable to future treatments.

Remember that fake news you read? It may help you remember even more

Thinking back on a time you encountered false information or 'fake news' may prime your brain to better recall truthful memories.

Safe sex or risky romance? Young adults make the rational choice

Eros, the fabled Greek god of love, was said to bring confusion and weaken the mind. New research, however, suggests that young adults are instead quite rational when it comes to selecting potential sexual partners.

People with Certain Medical Conditions

People of Any Age with Underlying Medical Conditions

Pinpointing the 'silent' mutations that gave the coronavirus an evolutionary edge

Researchers have identified a number of 'silent' mutations in the roughly 30,000 letters of the COVID-19 virus's genetic code that helped it thrive once it made the leap from bats and other wildlife to humans -- and possibly helped set the stage for the global pandemic.

How is STEM children's programming prioritizing diversity?

The first large-scale analysis of characters featured in STEM-related educational programming revealed that of the characters appearing in STEM television programming for kids ages 3 to 6, Latinx and females are left behind.

Is sitting always bad for your mind? A new study suggests maybe not

It's generally accepted health advice that adults of all ages should sit less, move more, and engage in regular exercise to feel better and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, when it comes to the brain and cognition, a new study of older adults suggests that some sedentariness isn't all bad, so long as basic physical activity benchmarks are being met.

Could excessive sugar intake contribute to aggressive behaviors, ADHD, bipolar disorder?

New research suggests that conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and even aggressive behaviors may be linked with sugar intake, and that it may have an evolutionary basis.

Communication Resources for Travelers

Communication Resources for Travelers

Schools and Childcare Programs

Schools & Childcare: Guidance for School Settings

Colleges, Universities, and Higher Learning

Resources for Institutes of Higher Education

Plant genetic engineering to fight 'hidden hunger'

More than two billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient malnutrition due to deficiencies in minerals and vitamins. Poor people in developing countries are most affected, as their diets are typically dominated by starchy staple foods, which are inexpensive sources of calories but contain low amounts of micronutrients. Researchers now explain how plant genetic engineering can help to sustainably address micronutrient malnutrition.

Researchers make counterintuitive discoveries about immune-like characteristics of cells

Biologists reveal that tissue perturbations by chemotherapy agents promote stem cell expansion and that fibroblast cells exhibit unexpected, immune-like behavior.

Gel instrumental in 3D bioprinting biological tissues

The eventual creation of replacement biological parts requires fully three-dimensional capabilities that two-dimensional and three-dimensional thin-film bioprinting cannot supply. Now, using a yield stress gel, engineers can place tiny aggregates of cells exactly where they want to build the complex shapes that will be necessary to replace bone, cartilage and other tissues.

Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Non-healthcare Workplaces: Information for Employers

Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Non-healthcare Workplaces: Information for Employers

How to Report COVID-19 Laboratory Data

Reporting COVID-19 Laboratory Data

четверг, 15 октября 2020 г.

Trigger that leads to faster nerve healing

Damaged nerves regenerate faster when protein clusters are broken apart, releasing mRNAs that can be used to rebuild the nerve. Scientists have found the trigger that could be used to accelerate regrowth more.

A new approach boosts lithium-ion battery efficiency and puts out fires, too

Building new functionality into an overlooked lithium-ion battery component addresses two major goals of battery research: extending the driving range of electric vehicles and reducing the danger that laptops, cell phones and other devices will burst into flames.

Inexpensive and rapid testing of drugs for resistant infections possible

A rapid and simple method for testing the efficacy of antibacterial drugs on infectious microbes has been developed and validated.

Responder Stories

Responder Stories

Considerations for Monitoring and Evaluation of Mitigation Strategies Implemented in Institutions of Higher Education

Considerations for Monitoring and Evaluation of Mitigation Strategies Implemented in Institutions of Higher Education

Machine learning uncovers potential new TB drugs

Using a machine-learning approach that incorporates uncertainty, researchers identified several promising compounds that target a protein required for the survival of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

Ultrasound technique offers more precise, quantified assessments of lung health

Researchers have developed a technique that uses ultrasound to provide non-invasive assessments of pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary edema. The technique has been shown to both quantify lung scarring and detect lung fluid in rats. A study on pulmonary edema in humans is under way.

Athletes fear being judged as weak when they experience pain or injury

Researchers have carried out the first multi-centered, international, qualitative study exploring the athlete experience (in their own words) of sporting low back pain (LBP). The study found a culture of concealment of pain and injury in rowers, leading to poor outcomes for these athletes.

Repurposing drugs for a pan-coronavirus treatment

A new study identifies drug targets common to all three coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV) and potential drugs that could be repurposed as COVID-19 treatments. Researchers suggest that repurposed pan-coronavirus therapeutics may offer a rapid treatment response against future emerging coronavirus strains.

Will the COVID-19 virus become endemic?

A new article explores the potential for the COVID-19 virus to become endemic, a regular feature producing recurring outbreaks in humans.

Automatic decision-making prevents us harming others

The processes our brains use to avoid harming other people are automatic and reflexive - and quite different from those used when avoiding harm to ourselves, according to new research.

Novel antiviral strategy for treatment of COVID-19

Researchers have discovered a novel antiviral strategy for treatment of COVID-19 using existing metallodrugs.

A new toolkit for capturing how COVID-19 impacts crime

A new set of assessment tools shows promise in capturing how the COVID-19 pandemic affects patterns of criminal activity.

Guidance and Tips for Tribal Community Living During COVID-19

Social Distancing for Tribal Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission

Predicting influenza epidemics

Researchers have developed a unique method to predict influenza epidemics by combining several sources of data. The forecasts can be used, for example, when planning healthcare provision, such that resources can be redistributed in the best possible manner and give everyone the best possible care during an epidemic.

Small RNA as a central player in infections

The most important pathogenicity factors of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori are centrally regulated by a small RNA molecule, NikS. And this was not the only surprise that NikS provided.

Study upends understanding about joint injuries

An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can lead to severe osteoarthritis in both animal and human patients. Now, a new interdisciplinary study on the protein that lubricates our joints says that lubricant may actually be a precursor of joint disease.

Empathy exacerbates discussions about immigration

Discussions about immigration are heated, even antagonistic. But what happens when supporters and opponents undertake to show more empathy? A study reveals that people who support immigration are ready and willing to adopt an empathetic approach and a wider perspective. By contrast, when opponents of immigration are asked to engage in perspective taking, they feel more competition with their 'adversary.'

Breakthrough blood test developed for brain tumors

Genetic mutations that promote the growth of the most common type of adult brain tumors can be accurately detected and monitored in blood samples using an enhanced form of liquid biopsy.

среда, 14 октября 2020 г.

Severe morning sickness linked to depression new study finds

Severe morning sickness increases the risk of depression both during and after pregnancy, new research has found.

Are corals genetically equipped to survive climate change?

A research team has taken a close look at the genomes of fifteen species in the coral genus, Acropora, to determine if they're suited to a warmer ocean.

Researchers mine data and connect the dots about processes driving neuroblastoma

Scientists lead genome analysis to better understand one of the most common childhood solid tumors.

вторник, 13 октября 2020 г.

Chemists create new crystal form of insecticide, boosting its ability to fight mosquitoes and malaria

Through a simple process of heating and cooling, researchers have created a new crystal form of deltamethrin -- a common insecticide used to control malaria -- resulting in an insecticide that is up to 12 times more effective against mosquitoes than the existing form.

As genome-editing trials become more common, informed consent is changing

As public interest and expanded research in human genome editing grows, many questions remain about ethical, legal and social implications of the technology. People who are seriously ill may overestimate the benefits of early clinical trials while underestimating the risks. This makes properly understanding informed consent, the full knowledge of risks and benefits of treatments, especially important.

понедельник, 12 октября 2020 г.

A circular economy could save the world's economy post-COVID-19

The world's economy is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with many industries under threat. Researchers have concluded that adopting circular economy strategies would be the best way for the world's economy to recover, whilst enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Scientists find neurochemicals have unexpectedly profound roles in the human brain

In first-of-their-kind observations in the human brain, an international team of researchers has revealed two well-known neurochemicals -- dopamine and serotonin -- are at work at sub-second speeds to shape how people perceive the world and take action based on their perception.

To protect nature's benefits, focus on people

New paper calls for the consideration of people's diverse needs in order to develop effective nature-based policies and investments in ecosystems.

Very low risk to newborns from moms with COVID-19, finds study

Moms with COVID-19 who take basic precautions rarely pass the virus to their newborns, even if breastfeeding and rooming together, a new study finds.

Total deaths recorded during the pandemic far exceed those attributed to COVID-19, new data show

For every two deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the U.S., a third American dies as a result of the pandemic, according to new data. The study shows that deaths between March 1 and Aug. 1 increased 20 percent compared to previous years -- maybe not surprising in a pandemic. But deaths attributed to COVID-19 only accounted for 67 percent of those deaths.

Osteoarthritis biomarker could help 300 million people worldwide

Researchers are a step closer to finding a new biomarker for osteoarthritis, a painful condition which affects more than 300 million people worldwide.

Risk of dying from COVID-19 greater for men, unmarried and born in low and middle income countries, Swedish study finds

Being a man, having a lower income, having a lower level of education, not being married, and being born abroad in low- or middle-income countries -- these are factors that, independent of one another, are related to an elevated risk of dying from COVID-19 in Sweden.

Black and Asian patients have increased risk of severe COVID-19 at different stages of the disease, UK study finds

Patients of Black ethnicity have an increased risk of requiring hospital admission for COVID-19, while patients of Asian ethnicity have an increased risk of dying in hospital from COVID-19, compared to White patients, a study in the UK has found.

Media trust correlated with COVID-19 prevention behaviors, study finds

A new study finds that whether someone takes proper precautions to fight COVID-19 may be linked to whether they trust right- or left-leaning media outlets.

Young people hospitalized with COVID-19 face substantial adverse outcomes

Researchers analyzed records from 419 hospitals to study the clinical trajectories of 3,222 hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged 18-34. The researchers found that over one-fifth of the patients (21 percent) required intensive care, 10 percent required mechanical ventilation and 2.7 percent died.

Certain pre-existing conditions may double, triple mortality risk for COVID-19

A large, international study of COVID-19 patients confirmed that cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, stroke and cancer can increase a patient's risk of dying from the virus.

Pandemic-related stress leads to less employee engagement

As COVID-19 cases surged this spring, the pandemic led some people more than others to ponder their own mortality. A new study in China and the United States suggests that these people were the ones who showed the highest levels of stress and the least engagement at work. But the research also uncovered a bright spot: The right kind of boss helped reduce stress and increase engagement in their workers who were anxious about COVID-19.

Stay-at-home orders cut noise exposure nearly in half

People's exposure to environmental noise dropped nearly in half during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to researchers who analyzed data from the Apple Hearing Study.

Identification of a viral factor that impairs immune responses in COVID-19 patients

Researchers aimed to characterize the viral factor(s) determining immune activation upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and found that ORF3b, a gene encoded by SARS-CoV-2, is a potent IFN antagonist.

Most nations failing to protect nature in COVID-19 pandemic recovery plans

The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to reset the global economy and reverse decades of ecosystem and species losses, but most countries are failing to invest in nature-related economic reforms or investments, according to a new paper.

Immune evasion strategy used by Malaria-causing parasite

A team of researchers has found that the Plasmodium parasite, which transmits malaria to humans through infected mosquitos, triggers changes in human genes that alter the body's adaptive immune response to malarial infections.

New research on SARS-CoV-2 virus 'survivability'

COVID-19 causing virus lasts for 10 days longer than Influenza on some surfaces Lower temps, glass, stainless steel and paper banknotes give virus longer life.

воскресенье, 11 октября 2020 г.

Novel therapeutic approach against Epstein-Barr virus-associated tumors

A research team hsd discovered that certain exosomes can effectively control Epstein-Barr virus-associated tumors and induce T-cell anti-tumor immunity. The novel findings provide insights into new therapeutic approach for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated tumors.

суббота, 10 октября 2020 г.

пятница, 9 октября 2020 г.

Why COVID-19 Will Hit "Marjorie" Harder

Why COVID-19 Will Hit "Marjorie" Harder

Hydroxychloroquine does not counter SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters, high dose of favipiravir does: study

Virologists have shown that a treatment with the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine does not limit SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus replication in hamsters. A high dose of the anti-flu drug favipiravir, by contrast, has an antiviral effect in the hamsters.

Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities

Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities

There's a gene for detecting that fishy smell, olfactory GWAS shows

Some people carry a mutation in a particular gene that makes the smell of fish less intense. The study, which is the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of olfactory genes in humans involving a sniff test and looked at over 9,000 people from Iceland, also shows that people vary in their ability to discern the smell of licorice and cinnamon.

HIV up close: Unprecedented view of virus reveals essential steps for causing AIDS

Accomplishing a feat that had been a pipe dream for decades, scientists have recreated in a test tube the first steps of infection by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Doing so has provided up-close access to the virus -- which is otherwise obstructed from view deep within the cell -- and enabled identification of essential components that HIV needs to replicate within its human host.

Correctional and Detention Facilities

Resources for Correctional and Detention Facilities

Nerve cell activity shows how confident we are

Should I or shouldn't I? The activity of individual nerve cells in the brain tells us how confident we are in our decisions. The result is unexpected - the researchers were actually on the trail of a completely different evaluation mechanism.

The choroid plexus: A conduit for prenatal inflammation?

New work offers an unprecedented real-time view of the choroid plexus in a mouse model, providing a glimpse of how disturbances of the mother's immune system during pregnancy disrupt the developing brain.

Bone Loss: Perforated bone tissue from too little sugar

Bone marrow cancer is currently an incurable disease that affects about 400 people in Norway every year. One Norwegian researcher has now found an important reason for bone destruction in people with this disease.

Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 during Pregnancy

Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 during Pregnancy

Clinical Care Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Clinical Care Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Effects of poverty on childhood development seen in children as young as 5

Researchers have found that health inequities can be measured in children as young as 5 years old. The research contributes to a growing body of literature finding that children of color who are also poor face greater health inequities than their white counterparts.

Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for COVID-19

Health care providers should contact their local/state health department immediately to notify them of patients with fever and lower respiratory illness who they suspect may have COVID-19.

четверг, 8 октября 2020 г.

Flowchart for management of HCWs with exposure to a person with COVID-19

Flowchart for management of HCWs with exposure to a person with COVID-19

Lack of support prolongs unemployment

Unemployed persons whose appointment with the responsible caseworker at the employment office is canceled unexpectedly remain unemployed for an average of twelve days longer.

Exercise intensity not linked to mortality risk in older adults, finds trial

Exercise intensity appears to make no difference to risk of mortality among older adults, suggests a randomized controlled trial.

Pregnancy complications linked to heightened risk of heart disease and stroke in later life

Pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and pre-term birth are linked to a heightened risk of heart disease in later life, suggests an overarching (umbrella) analysis of data.

Older adults using cannabis to treat common health conditions

Researchers report that older adults are increasingly using cannabis to treat a variety of common health conditions, including pain, sleep disturbances and psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression.

CDC's Interim Guidance for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic

CDC's Interim Guidance for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic

среда, 7 октября 2020 г.

The effects of oxytocin on social anxiety depend on location, location, location

The findings of the study show that oxytocin produced in the BNST increases stress-induced social anxiety behaviors in mice. This may provide an explanation as to why oxytocin can sometimes have antisocial effects.

Researchers develop tools to sharpen 3D view of large RNA molecules

Scientists developed a method for generating high resolution 3D images of RNA, overcoming challenges limiting 3D analysis and imaging of RNA to only small molecules and pieces of RNA for the past 50 years. The new method, which expands the scope of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, will enable researchers to understand the shape and structure of RNA molecules and learn how they interact with other molecules.

Simple sugar possible therapy for repairing myelin in multiple sclerosis

N-acetylglucosamine, a simple sugar found in human breast milk and sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement in the United States, promotes myelin repair in mouse models and correlates with myelination levels in multiple sclerosis patients according to a new study.

Mouse study suggests parental response to infant distress is innate but adapts to change

A new study in mice suggests that parents have an innate capacity to respond to an infant's cries for help and this capacity may serve as a foundation from which a parent learns to adjust to an infant's changing needs.

Fighting intestinal infections with the body's own endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids, signaling molecules produced in the body that share features with chemicals found in marijuana, can shut down genes needed for some pathogenic intestinal bacteria to colonize, multiply, and cause disease, new research shows.

Taking the STING out of MND

Researchers are working towards a potential treatment to slow the progression of motor neuron disease (MND). The research team have uncovered how inflammation in MND is triggered. Pinpointing the molecules involved in this pathway could be a first step towards a new treatment for MND.

Invisible threat: Listeria in smoked fish

Fish should be a regular component of our diets. It is an important source of biologically high-quality and easily digestible protein, minerals and vitamins. However, raw, smoked and cured fish products also often contain pathogenic germs, notably listeria. People can become infected by eating contaminated food and become ill with listeriosis.

Cerenkov luminescence imaging identifies surgical margin status in radical prostatectomy

A new intraoperative imaging technique, Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), can accurately assess surgical margins during radical prostatectomy, according to a first-in-human research. The feasibility study showed that 68Ga-PSMA CLI can image the entire excised prostate specimen's surface to detect prostate cancer tissue at the resection margin.

Advanced prostate cancer has an unexpected weakness that can be targeted by drugs

Researchers reported that the SUCLA2 gene is frequently involved in the deletion of the tumor suppressor gene RB1 in advanced prostate cancer. RB1 deletion makes cells resistant to hormone therapy but SUCLA2 deletion induces a metabolic weakness. The study showed that thymoquinone selectively killed SUCLA2-deficient prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The findings highlight a vulnerability of advanced prostate cancer cells that can be targeted by drugs.

Study confirms genetic link in cerebral palsy

An international research team including the University of Adelaide has found further evidence that rare gene mutations can cause cerebral palsy, findings which could lead to earlier diagnosis and new treatments for this devastating movement disorder.

A hydrogel that could help repair damaged nerves

Injuries to peripheral nerves -- tissues that transmit bioelectrical signals from the brain to the rest of the body -- often result in chronic pain, neurologic disorders, paralysis or disability. Now, researchers have developed a stretchable conductive hydrogel that could someday be used to repair these types of nerves when there's damage.

Physical activity and sleep in adults with arthritis

A new study has examined patterns of 24-hour physical activity and sleep among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and knee osteoarthritis.

Does general anesthesia increase dementia risk?

There are concerns that exposure to general anesthesia during surgery may contribute to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. To investigate, researchers compared exposure to general anesthesia versus regional anesthesia during elective surgery, looking for potential links to the development of dementia.

Alcohol and Substance Use

Increased stress can lead to increases in alcohol and substance use. If you or someone you care about is starting to use alcohol or other substances, or is increasing their use during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are resources that may help.

Mammals share gene pathways that allow zebrafish to grow new eyes

Working with fish, birds and mice, researchers report new evidence that some animals' natural capacity to regrow neurons is not missing, but is instead inactivated in mammals.

New key player in long-term memory

A research team has discovered that during memory consolidation, there are at least two distinct processes taking place in two different brain networks - the excitatory and inhibitory networks. The excitatory neurons are involved in creating a memory trace, and the inhibitory neurons block out background noise and allow long-term learning to take place.

Traveling brain waves help detect hard-to-see objects

A team of scientists has uncovered details of the neural mechanisms underlying the perception of objects. They found that patterns of neural signals, called traveling brain waves, exist in the visual system of the awake brain and are organized to allow the brain to perceive objects that are faint or otherwise difficult to see.

COVID-19 transmission rebounds quickly after physical distancing rules are relaxed

Looking at data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, researchers found that eight weeks after restrictions were lifted or loosened, only nine of 51 still had low rates of transmission.

As pandemic affects children's health, programs that work are still underused

Evidence-based programs known to reverse the negative effects of poverty are being widely neglected, according to a new report.

Why some friends make you feel more supported than others

It's good to have friends and family to back you up when you need it - but it's even better if your supporters are close with each other too, a new set of studies suggests. Researchers found that people perceived they had more support from a group of friends or family who all knew and liked each other than from an identical number of close relationships who were not linked.

People with Certain Medical Conditions

People of Any Age with Underlying Medical Conditions

Evidence used to update the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person's risk of severe illness from COVID-19

Evidence used to update the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person's risk of severe illness from COVID-19

Research Use Only CDC Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (Flu SC2) Multiplex Assay Real-Time RT-PCR Primers and Probes

Research Use Only CDC Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (Flu SC2) Multiplex Assay Real-Time RT-PCR Primers and Probes

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020: A method for genome editing

This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry is being awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna 'for the development of a method for genome editing.'

Supercharged 'clones' spark scarlet fever's re-emergence

Scarlet fever is on the rise worldwide, after being almost eradicated by the 1940s. Researchers says supercharged 'clones' of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes are to blame for the resurgence of the disease, which has caused high death rates for centuries.

Expanded newborn screening could save premature infants' lives

Expanding routine newborn screening to include a metabolic vulnerability profile could lead to earlier detection of life-threatening complications in babies born preterm, according to a study by UC San Francisco researchers. The new method, which was developed at UCSF, offers valuable and time-sensitive insights into which infants are at greatest risk during their most vulnerable time, immediately after birth.

Study finds odor-sensing neuron regeneration process is adaptive

Results show that diminished odor stimulation reduces the number of newly-generated neurons that express particular odorant receptors, indicating a selective alteration in the neurogenesis of these neuron subtypes.

Evidence of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and MND in brains of young people exposed to dirty air

After examining the brainstems of 186 young Mexico City residents aged between 11 months and 27 years of age, researchers, found markers not only of Alzheimer's disease, but also of Parkinson's and of motor neuron disease (MND) too. These markers of disease were coupled with the presence of tiny, distinctive nanoparticles within the brainstem - their appearance and composition indicating they were likely to come from vehicle pollution.

A simple enrollment change yields big dividends in children's early learning program

Researchers know that texting programs can greatly benefit young children's literacy. Now new research shows that parents' participation in such programs can be boosted exponentially with one simple tweak: automatic enrollment, combined with the ability to opt out.

вторник, 6 октября 2020 г.

There's a reason bacteria stay in shape

A simple theoretical model seeks to explain why bacteria remain roughly the same size and shape. The work by chemists could offer new insight into diseases, including cancer.

COVID-19 Forecasting: Background Information

COVID-19 Forecasting: Background Information

Remote control of blood sugar: Electromagnetic fields treat diabetes in animal models

Researchers may have discovered a safe new way to manage blood sugar non-invasively. Exposing diabetic mice to a combination of static electric and magnetic fields for a few hours per day normalizes blood sugar and insulin resistance. The unexpected and surprising discovery raises the possibility of using electromagnetic fields (EMFs) as a remote control to manage type 2 diabetes.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are younger, healthier than influenza patients, study finds

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were more often male, younger, and had fewer underlying medical conditions than hospitalized influenza patients, a new study found.

Study offers global review of impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment and research

A new report suggests that while COVID-19 has complicated the treatment of cancer patients, it has also spurred creative solutions to challenges in clinical care, and research into the new disease is benefiting from insights gained over years of cancer research.

Donors more likely to give to COVID causes when font matches message

Appeals seeking donations to help fight hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic were more successful when the typeface in which the appeal was written mirrored the tone of the donation request, a new study has found.

New techniques probe vital and elusive proteins

Researchers have investigated a critically important class of proteins, which adorn the outer membranes of cells. Such membrane proteins often act as receptors for binding molecules, initiating signals that can alter cell behavior in a variety of ways.

Study shows antibiotics may be viable treatment option for appendicitis

In the largest randomized US study of appendicitis, researchers report that seven in 10 patients who received antibiotics avoided surgery and that patients who took antibiotics for symptom relief fared no worse in the short term than those who underwent surgery.

Previous infection with other types of coronaviruses may lessen severity of COVID-19

Being previously infected with a coronaviruses that cause the 'common cold' may decrease the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections, according to a new study.

Children use make-believe aggression and violence to manage bad-tempered peers

Children are more likely to introduce violent themes into their pretend play, such as imaginary fighting or killing, if they are with playmates whom peers consider bad-tempered, new research suggests. Academics believe that the tendency for children to introduce aggressive themes in these situations - which seems to happen whether or not they are personally easy to anger - may be because they are 'rehearsing' strategies to cope with hot-headed friends.

New insights for drug research: Breaking the coupling process

Real-time observation of signal transmission in proteins provides new insights for drug research.

IL-21 protein a key part of immune response to central nervous system infections

Researchers now better understand the role of a protein, interleukin-21 (IL-21), in the immune system response to infections in the nervous system. The results of their recent study support further investigation into using IL-21 as a therapeutic agent for persistent central nervous system infections.

Safe resumption of research is important, feasible

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, just as public institutions and businesses closed, research programs performing human participant research (HPR) also largely ceased operations. Now, universities and healthcare organizations conducting HPR are considering reopening.

Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Potential Airborne Transmission

Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Potential Airborne Transmission

Researchers use multi-ancestry comparison to refine risk factors for coronary artery disease

Researchers have used a combination of genome-wide association analysis -- or GWAS -- and a trans-ancestry comparison of different GWAS studies, to come up with a more accurate predictor of coronary artery disease based on genetic factors.

Novel testing platform designed for breast cancer cells

A team has developed a novel testing platform to evaluate how breast cancer cells respond to the recurrent stretching that occurs in the lungs during breathing. The technology is designed to better understand the effects that the local tissue has on metastatic breast cancer to study how metastases grow in a new tissue.

Research identifies sperm biomarker associated with couples' pregnancy probability

Researchers have identified a single-measure biomarker in sperm mitochondrial DNA that may predict male reproductive health and pregnancy success.

Dried blood spot sampling offers inexpensive way to widen access to antibody testing for COVID-19

Using dried blood spot samples (DBS) is an accurate alternative to venous blood in detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests, a new study has found.

Has COVID-19 knocked us onto our backsides?

Researchers sought to examine the impact of pandemic-related changes upon physical activity and sedentary behavior, specifically sitting, across the university population.

Telehealth trains parents to improve behavior skills of children with autism

Training parents of children with autism spectrum disorder virtually about early behavioral intervention is an accessible and effective approach during the coronavirus pandemic or in other instances when in-person instruction is not possible, according to a new study.

Considerations for Institutes of Higher Education

Considerations for Institutes of Higher Education

понедельник, 5 октября 2020 г.

Dog brains do not prefer faces

Even though dogs gaze into man's eyes, dog brains may not process faces as human brains do. A new study suggests that the canine visual system is organized differently: the face network found in primates may not extend to all mammals.

Excess folic acid during pregnancy harms brain development of mice

A study of pregnant mice found high levels of folic acid were associated with significant changes in brain development of offspring.

Preliminary results of two large immune therapy studies show promise in advanced cervical cancer

Preliminary results from two independent, phase II clinical trials investigating a new PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1)-based immune therapy for metastatic cervical cancer suggest potential new treatment options for a disease that currently has limited effective options and disproportionately impacts younger women.

Exposure to vitamin D in the womb might minimize risk of high blood pressure for children born to mothers with preeclampsia

Children appear to be at greater risk of having high blood pressure when their mothers had the high blood pressure condition called preeclampsia during pregnancy -- but this adverse association may be reduced or even eliminated for children who were exposed to higher levels of vitamin D in the womb.

How long does the preschool advantage last?

Children who attend preschool enter kindergarten with greater skills than those who don't, but that advantage is nearly halved by the end of the year as their counterparts quickly begin to catch up, according to new research.

New tool shows main highways of disease development

A new tool enables researchers to explore disease patterns from 7.2 million patients spanning 25 years. The tool is freely available for the scientific community and requires no prerequisite bioinformatics or medical informatics skills.

Letter from leading researchers urges terminology update, shift in COVID-19 guidance

Experts with leading research institutions across the United States are urging that researchers across disciplines must converge to deliver clear public health guidance about how SARS-CoV-2 is spread in the air.

Process for regenerating neurons in the eye and brain identified

A team of researchers has identified networks of genes that regulate the process responsible for determining whether neurons will regenerate in certain animals, such as zebrafish.

Innovation could improve detection of COVID-19 infections

Researchers have developed a way to increase the sensitivity of the primary test used to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. Applying the findings could make the nasal swab test up to 10 times more sensitive and improve our ability to identify people who are infected but do not exhibit symptoms.

Face masks unlikely to cause over-exposure to carbon dioxide, even in patients with lung disease, study finds

New research findings contradict statements linking wearing face masks to carbon dioxide poisoning by trapping carbon dioxide. During the COVID-19 pandemic the wearing of face masks has become a highly political issue with some individuals falsely claiming that wearing face masks may be putting people's health at risk.

Scientists reveal how the brain may fuel intense neural communication

In an in-depth study of neurons grown in laboratory petri dishes, researchers discovered how neuronal synapses find the energy to support intense communications bouts thought to underlie learning and memory.

High throughput screening identifies molecules that reduce cellular stress

A new article describes the discovery of several promising small molecules that appear to reduce cellular stress in mouse skin cells and could lengthen life.

Risk factors for acute kidney injury after brain hemorrhage

Patients who suffer an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) face an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) during their hospitalization. AKI can lead to sudden kidney failure, kidney damage or even death. Researchers have determined which ICH patients are at the highest risk for this kidney injury so doctors can take precautions to prevent it.

Deep learning gives drug design a boost

A computational tool may help pharmaceutical companies expand their ability to investigate the safety of drugs.

High blood pressure linked to baroreflex in rats

Researchers describe a newly observed phenomenon in the way blood pressure is maintained in certain rats.

Diagnosing COVID-19 in just 30 minutes

Researchers have developed a one-pot diagnostic method for detecting pathogenic RNAs with PCR-level sensitivity. Diagnostic technology for new infectious diseases can be developed within a week to prevent confusion caused by new epidemics in the future.

A small switch with a big impact

Minor changes in immune cells can significantly affect the immune response, scientists have now discovered. Their findings could be relevant for stem cell therapy.

Millimeter-precision drug delivery to the brain

Focused ultrasound waves help researchers to deliver drugs to the brain with pinpoint accuracy, in other words only to where their effect is desired. This method is set to enable treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders and tumours with fewer side effects in the future.

Hunger encourages risk-taking

An insufficient food supply causes animals to engage in higher-risk behavior: the willingness to take risks rises by an average of 26 per cent in animals that have experienced hunger earlier in their lives. Scientists evaluated experimental studies involving more than 100 animal species.

Women more likely to embrace behaviors aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19

Women are more likely than are men to follow guidelines outlined by medical experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, new research finds.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2020: Discovery of Hepatitis C virus

The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is being awarded jointly to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus.

How the brain helps us navigate social differences

Researchers found that, among pairs of people who had very different socioeconomic backgrounds - calculated according to education level and family income - there was a higher level of activity in an area of the frontal lobe called the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The area is associated with speech production and rule-based language as well as cognitive and attentional control.

воскресенье, 4 октября 2020 г.

Pain relief caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection may help explain COVID-19 spread

Research shows SARS-CoV-2 promotes pain relief through the receptor neuropilin-1, which gives scientists a new target for non-opioid pain therapeutics and offers one possible explanation for the unrelenting spread of COVID-19.

Some antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are more protective than others, researchers find

Researchers have found that some antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are more protective than others, when it comes to reinfection.

New COVID test doesn't use scarce reagents, catches all but the least infectious

Scientists have developed an accurate COVID-19 test doesn't use scarce reagents, paving the way for wide testing in both developing countries and industrialized nations like the United States, where reagent supplies are again in short supply.

Nitric oxide a possible treatment for COVID-19, study finds

Researchers have found that an effective way of treating the coronavirus behind the 2003 SARS epidemic also works on the closely related SARS-CoV-2 virus, the culprit in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The substance concerned is nitric oxide (NO), a compound with antiviral properties that is produced by the body itself.

Virtual follow-up care is more convenient and just as beneficial to surgical patients

Surgical patients who participate in virtual follow-up visits after their operations spend a similar amount of time with surgical team members as those who meet face-to-face.

National Academies release framework for equitable allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine for adoption by HHS, state, tribal, local, and territorial authorities

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has released the final report of a consensus study recommending a four-phased equitable allocation framework that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) authorities should adopt in the development of national and local guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine allocation.

Sensor rapidly detects COVID-19 infection

Researchers have developed a new type of multiplexed test (a test that combines multiple kinds of data) with a low-cost sensor that may enable the at-home diagnosis of a COVID-19 infection through rapid analysis of small volumes of saliva or blood, without the involvement of a medical professional, in less than 10 minutes.

Are organ transplant recipients at greater risk of death from COVID-19?

A new study analyzes death risk from COVID-19 in organ transplant recipients and finds one treatment method greatly increased the risk.

COVID-19: Social dilemmas about protective measures

The psychosocial profile of people who resist adopting suitable protective behaviors against the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus provides valuable information about preventing epidemics.

пятница, 2 октября 2020 г.

Biomedical sciences researchers find new way to prevent and cure rotavirus, other viral infections

A combination of two substances secreted by the immune system can cure and prevent rotavirus infection, as well as potentially treat other viral infections that target epithelial cells, which cover body surfaces such as skin, blood vessels, organs and the urinary tract, according to researchers.

'Liking' an article online may mean less time spent reading it

When people have the option to click 'like' on a media article they encounter online, they spend less time actually reading the text, a new study suggests. In a lab experiment, researchers found that people spent about 7 percent less time reading articles on controversial topics when they had the opportunity to upvote or downvote them than if there was no interactive element.

A first in-depth look at the latent virus reservoir of individuals living with HIV

Scientists have mapped out an atlas of the reservoir cells of eight individuals living with HIV, which they recently reported.

Counties with persistent poverty rates experience higher rates of cancer deaths

Residents of counties that experience persistent poverty face a disproportionately high risk of cancer mortality.

Cannabinoids associated with negative respiratory health effects in older adults with COPD

Cannabinoids, a class of prescription pills that contain synthetically-made chemicals found in marijuana, are associated with a 64 per cent increase in death among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the first published data on the impact of cannabinoids on the respiratory health of individuals with the lung disease.

Autoimmune disease: UM171 saves another life

A recently developed UM171 molecule was used in a blood transplant by a medical team on a young man suffering from severe aplastic anemia, an autoimmune disease.

Exosome treatment improves recovery from heart attacks in a preclinical study

Research in pigs shows that using the exosomes naturally produced from a mixture of heart muscle cells, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells -- which were all derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells -- yields regenerative benefits equivalent to the injected human induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiac cells.

Drug found to correct gene defect that causes immune-driven gut leakiness

Researchers have found that the drug tofacitinib, also called Xeljanz and approved by the FDA to treat rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis, can repair permeability defects in the intestine.

'I'll sleep when I'm dead': The sleep-deprived masculinity stereotype

In the United States, the average American sleeps less than the minimum seven hours of sleep per night recommended by the Center for Disease Control, and nearly half of Americans report negative consequences from insufficient sleep. This problem appears to be especially prevalent in men, who report getting significantly less sleep, on average, than women.

Wearable sensor to help people with inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers have designed a wearable device that monitors sweat for biomarkers that could signal flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A team of bioengineers demonstrated the wristwatch-like device in a proof-of-concept study.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk varies in patients with different types of epilepsy

People with generalized epilepsy who have seizures arising from both sides of the brain simultaneously, have a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to patients who have focal epilepsy where seizures emanate from one area of the brain, according to a Rutgers study.

CDC's role in helping cruise ship travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic

CDC's role in helping cruise ship travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations

Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations

Childhood chemo alters heart's caretaker cells

Why do 20% of children who receive cancer chemotherapy go on to develop heart failure later in life?

Smart cruise control steers drivers toward better decisions

Smart cruise control, better human decisions. Engineers study how cars and trucks move cooperatively on the road, respond to each other's environmental sensors and react as a group to lessen traffic jams and protect the humans inside.

First 'pathoconnectome' could point toward new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have achieved another first in the field of connectomics, which studies the synaptic connections between neurons. The lab has produced the first pathoconnectome, showing how eye disease alters retinal circuitry.

Deep learning model provides rapid detection of stroke-causing blockages

A sophisticated type of artificial intelligence (AI) called deep learning can help rapidly detect blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the head, potentially speeding the onset of life-saving treatment, according to a study.

Finding right drug balance for Parkinson's patients

Parkinson's disease is most commonly treated with levodopa, but the benefits wear off as the disease progresses and high doses can result in dyskinesia, which are involuntary and uncontrollable movements. To better understand the underlying reasons behind these effects, researchers created a model of the interactions between levodopa, dopamine, and the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that plays a crucial role in Parkinson's disease.

четверг, 1 октября 2020 г.

Senescent cells may be good when it comes to a bad injury

It's called senescence, when stressed cells can no longer divide to make new cells, and it's considered a factor in aging and in some diseases. Now scientists have some of the first evidence that at a younger age at least, senescent cells show up quickly after a major injury and are protective.

Girls benefit from doing sports

Extracurricular sport in middle childhood diminishes subsequent ADHD symptoms in girls, but not in boys, a new study suggests.

Cannabis data lacking, but machine learning could help

Everyone's heard of THC and CBD. But many other active compounds in cannabis interact to influence its effects. A new study confirms that those compounds are seldom tested for, and strain name is not indicative of potency or chemical makeup. Machine learning techniques could help fill the knowledge gap.

Inflammatory gene provides clue to obesity risk

A gene that helps to control inflammation increases the risk of obesity and could be turned off in mice to stop weight gain, a study has found.

High-fiber diet, low level inflammation: Sidestepping the effects of radiation

Loved or hated, the humble oat could be the new superfood for cancer patients as international research shows a diet rich in fibre could significantly reduce radiation-induced gut inflammation.

A cancer shredder

Researchers have developed a new compound for treating cancer. It destroys a protein that triggers its development.