- Sugar is processed differently in the brains of obesity-prone vs. obesity-resistant rats
A new study tracked what happens in the brains of rats in real time in the brain when presented with glucose, a type of sugar, labeled with a tracer. The tracer allowed the researchers to measure this new sugar in the brain.
- 1 day ago 3 Feb 23, 2:06am -
- Study links adoption of electric vehicles with less air pollution and improved health
A team of researchers have now begun to document the actual impact of electric vehicle adoption in the first study to use real-world data to link electric cars, air pollution and health. Leveraging publicly available datasets, the researchers analyzed a 'natural experiment' occurring in California as residents in the state rapidly transitioned to electric cars, or light-duty zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs). The team compared data on total ZEV registration, air pollution levels and asthma-related…
- 1 day ago 3 Feb 23, 2:05am -
- Just one quality conversation with a friend boosts daily well-being
Study shows just one quality conversation with a friend during the day makes you happier and less stressed by day's end.
- 1 day ago 3 Feb 23, 12:22am -
- Human brain organoids respond to visual stimuli when transplanted into adult rats
Researchers show that brain organoids -- clumps of lab-grown neurons -- can integrate with rat brains and respond to visual stimulation like flashing lights.
- 1 day ago 2 Feb 23, 9:56pm -
- Study provides an explanation and potential solution for severe graft-versus-host disease
Researchers found that alterations in the gut microbiome that are linked to graft-versus-host disease severity are connected to an increase in oxygen levels in the intestine that follows immune-mediated intestinal damage. Pharmacologically reducing intestinal oxygen levels alleviated the microbial imbalance and reduced the severity of the condition in animal models.
- 1 day ago 2 Feb 23, 9:56pm -
- Sparse, small, but diverse neural connections help make perception reliable, efficient
First detailed mapping and modeling of thalamus inputs onto visual cortex neurons show brain leverages 'wisdom of the crowd' to process sensory information.
- 1 day ago 2 Feb 23, 9:56pm -
- Reading out RNA structures in real time
A new microscopic technique allows for the real-time study of RNA G-quadruplexes in living cells, with implications for the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:48pm -
- Combined steroid and statin treatment could reduce 'accelerated aging' in preterm babies, study in rats suggests
Potentially life-saving steroids commonly given to preterm babies also increase the risk of long-term cardiovascular problems, but a new study in rats has found that if given in conjunction with statins, their positive effects remain while the potential negative side-effects are 'weeded out'.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:25am -
- Mapping Mexico's dengue fever hotspots
Scientists have analyzed data from Mexico's Ministry of Health to identify dengue fever hotspots. Working with epidemiologists at the University of North Texas and Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, the team calculated environmental and socioeconomic risk factors and mapped areas where severe outbreaks occur.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:24am -
- Molecular machines could treat fungal infections
Scientists show that light-activated nanoscale drills can kill pathogenic fungi.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:24am -
- Social isolation, loneliness increase risk for heart failure
A new study shows that both social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher rates of heart failure but whether or not a person feels lonely is more important in determining risk than if they are actually alone.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:23am -
- Antidepressants used for chronic pain on the rise, but are they effective?
New research has found some antidepressants may be effective in treating certain chronic pain conditions, but others lack convincing evidence on their effectiveness.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:23am -
- Early diagnosis and monitoring of lupus nephritis -- on your smartphone
A pair of researchers reports the success of their new, at-home method for early diagnosis and monitoring of lupus nephritis. or inflammation of the kidneys, one of the most severe complications for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, known as lupus.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:23am -
- Does lifetime exposure to estrogen affect risk of stroke?
People with a higher cumulative estrogen exposure throughout their life may have a lower risk of stroke, according to a new study. The lower risk was found for both ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 6:23am -
- Researcher takes another step toward discovering how a brain molecule could halt MS
A researcher is one step closer to demonstrating the potential of a brain molecule called fractalkine to halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers injected fractalkine into mice with chemically induced MS. They found the treatment increased the number of new oligodendrocytes -- vital brain and spinal cord cells that produce myelin in both embryonic and adult brains -- which are damaged during the MS autoimmune attack.
- 2 days ago 2 Feb 23, 12:12am -