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Imagine it’s Friday night. You’re enjoying happy hour with friends after a long week. You’re relaxed, having indulged in several of your preferred adult beverages. Now, imagine that as you leave the bar, a police officer approaches. You’re under arrest. Flash forward to the police station. The officer takes you to a cramped room and reads you your Miranda rights: You have the right to remain silent, to an attorney, and all the rest. Let’s say you waive those rights—most people do—and the officer questions you for several hours. While Read More
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Social media apps regularly present teens with algorithmically selected content often described as “for you,” suggesting, by implication, that the curated content is not just “for you” but also “about you”—a mirror reflecting important signals about the person you are. All users of social media are exposed to these signals, but researchers understand that teens are at an especially malleable stage in the formation of personal identity. Scholars have begun to demonstrate that technology is having generation-shaping effects, not merely in the way it influences cultural outlook, behavior and privacy, Read More
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Would you rather find yourself alone in the woods with a bear or a man? This is the question currently dividing social media. Based on the responses online, it looks like most women answering the question say they would choose the bear, a decision that is shocking many men. The reactions show some men don’t understand women’s experiences. The assertion that women would prefer to encounter a bear is based on evidence about the rate of male violence against women, and on a lifetime of learning to fear and anticipate Read More
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A new survey from Wiley suggests workers do not feel artificial intelligence (AI) will be replacing the art of communication in the workplace. The vast majority—80%—of respondents in the latest Wiley Workplace Intelligence survey say soft skills are more important than ever with the evolution of AI. That’s according to the newly released report “Taking the Person Out of Interpersonal: Why AI Can Never Replace Soft Skills.” And even though AI could make it easy to draft a quick email to handle a sticky situation or settle conflicts in the Read More
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Weekly targets, annual resolutions, five-year plans—all of them so troublingly elusive. With best intentions, most of us fail to stick with the goals we set. Next time, consider pursuing them with a friend. New field research by Assistant Professor Rachel Gershon, published in Management Science, suggests that pursuing our goals with friends may make them more attainable. Gershon, along with Cynthia Cryder of Washington University and Katy Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania, specifically looked at gym attendance and found that going with a friend—even with the hurdles of coordinating Read More
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New research led by Aston University’s Dr. Carl Senior has found that the type of smile used by a political leader can influence voters to support them and their political agenda. The research is published in the journal PLOS ONE. There are many different types of smile, and the researchers, including Professor Patrick Stewart from the University of Arkansas, Professor Erik Bucy from Texas Tech University and Professor Nick Lee from Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick, UK, focused on two in particular—the “reward” smile and the “affiliative” Read More
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People not only think political news is likelier to be true if it reinforces their ideological biases, but will tend to trust news more if it leads them to adopt more extreme (and even incorrect) beliefs, finds a new study by a UCL researcher. The study, published in American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, found that when people were presented with new information on politically sensitive topics, individuals on both sides of the political spectrum struggled to detect whether the information was true or not, and were biased towards trusting news that Read More
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Parents often worry about the use of social media among children and young people. Caring about this is a good thing, and there are several reasons why you should pay attention, but there is one thing that parents needn’t worry about: young people spending time on social media does not impair their interaction with friends offline, according to a new study published in Computers in Human Behavior. “On the contrary, we find that people who use social media a lot spend more time with friends offline,” says Professor Silje Steinsbekk Read More
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It is well-established that people hold “self-servingly” biased beliefs about their own personal traits and abilities that help bolster their self-esteem. A new study, published in The Economic Journal, has tested whether this phenomenon is linked to how we assess others. The study looked at the findings of an experiment involving 426 students. In the first part of the experiment they were asked to participate in a computerized quiz. In the second part they would be paired with either a human partner who completed the same quiz, or with a Read More
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In March 2024, a 39-year-old man became the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of the new offense of cyberflashing, part of the Online Safety Act. He had sent unsolicited photos of his genitals to a 15-year-old girl and a woman. Cyberflashing now being a criminal offense is a welcome change, and the creation of this offense was informed by our research. But as researchers of young people’s use of social media, we have concerns that this is not enough to to counter the widespread nrmalization of Read More
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“This isn’t mine; this is one for the team,” said Succession star Kieran Culkin as he accepted the Best Actor award at this year’s Golden Globes. It’s a familiar aspect of Hollywood awards speeches—a reminder that the stars dazzling us on screen could not exist without the people who support them. “It’s been said, but it’s a team effort, this show,” said Succession creator Jesse Armstrong at the awards, underlining the same sentiment. Hollywood speeches aside, we do seem to focus on individuals when we acknowledge greatness. In business and Read More
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Nearly 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years. Many former entrepreneurs apply for 9-to-5 jobs to get back on their feet, but new research reveals an unexpected obstacle: hiring bias. In a Rutgers-led study published in the Spring 2024 issue of the journal Personnel Psychology, researchers created fake resumes and showed them to 219 people with corporate recruiting experience in high-tech manufacturing, software development, health care, and other industries. The resumes displayed virtually identical qualifications with one major exception: some of the fictional applicants were former business Read More
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Many schools say anti-racism and equity initiatives matter for quality education, yet specific plans are often wanting. In 2023, the not-for-profit organization People for Education reported that 73% of schools included anti-racism and equity in their school improvement plan, but only 28% of school boards actually have an anti-racism policy, strategy or approach. More work is needed from school boards to support anti-racist teaching and learning. However, in the interim, what can classroom teachers do to create equitable and anti-racist classrooms that meet their racialized students’ needs? We are two Read More
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Consultants have to rely heavily on employee interviews for information on the way a company operates. Credit: fauxels/Pexels Around the world, more and more companies are publishing sustainability reports—public scorecards detailing their impacts on society and the environment. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports outline the positive and negative effects of a company’s activities, and the steps they’re taking in response. Companies publish these reports as their own documents. But often, externally hired consultants play an invisible role in gathering data and framing it in a positive narrative the public Read More
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New research co-authored by a UC Riverside business professor provides some sound advice for managers of retail outlets that limit their product selection to a particular brand: Managers should factor in the strength of their brand when structuring the pay incentives for their sales staff. The study, “Group or Individual Sales Incentives? What is Best for Brand-Managed Retail Sales Operations?” is published in the Journal of Marketing. The study focused on what marketing scholars call “brand-managed” retail operations. These outlets include “stores within stores,” such as counters in major department Read More
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In a new study, researchers have used online surveys conducted primarily when Donald Trump was president to show that both Republican and Democratic voters provided explicit moral justification for politicians’ statements that were factually inaccurate, especially when they aligned with their personal politics. The study was conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Rice University, the University of Colorado-Boulder, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It appears in the American Journal of Sociology. “What we found is that political misinformation isn’t just about whether voters can tell facts from fiction,” said Read More
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Eighty percent of climatic migrants are women and children. This figure means that a new international legal framework is required to protect human rights by adding gender-sensitive measures to policies and legislation. This is the claim made by Susana Borràs, a researcher from the University of Rovira’s Department of Public Law in an article published in the journal Environmental Policy and Law, in which she discusses the complexities of perpetuating inequalities, vulnerabilities and the lack of protection of migrant women and children. “Climate change is clear evidence that human rights Read More
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New research from the University of Kansas has found that an intervention based on the science of reading and math effectively helped English learners boost their comprehension, visualize and synthesize information, and make connections that significantly improved their math performance. The intervention, performed for 30 minutes twice a week for 10 weeks with 66 third-grade English language learners who displayed math learning difficulties, improved students’ performance when compared to students who received general instruction. This indicates that emphasizing cognitive concepts involved in the science of reading and math are key Read More
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A new study from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University published in the Journal of Business and Technical Communication shows that ChatGPT can help students create effective visualizations, but is not as helpful in providing data analysis. Data literacy is a critical skill that technical and professional communication instruction emphasizes to create effective data visualizations. However, students with limited math and coding skills often struggle to analyze data and customize visualizations. Emily DeJeu, assistant teaching professor of business management communication at the Tepper School, found promising ways Read More
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AI explanation chart. Credit: PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301429 Businesses unsure how to survive the next global tragedy should have no fear, with a new study showing how artificial intelligence (AI) can help organizations stay afloat in rapidly changing times. The new study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) examined how AI can predict what factors impact an organization’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from economic disruptions. “eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) for improving organizational regility” was published in PLOS ONE. Data was collected from 44 industry Read More
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Durham NC Data (Table 4): Racial difference in hit rate (left) and false alarm rate (right) for all possible combinations of x-values. Credit: Journal of Quantitative Criminology (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10940-024-09585-4 Black drivers are more frequently searched during traffic stops without finding contraband than white drivers, according to a University of Michigan study. Institute for Social Research scientists Maggie Meyer and Richard Gonzalez analyzed data from 98 million traffic stops, and showed that innocent Black drivers were likely to be searched about 3.4 to 4.5% of the time while innocent white drivers Read More
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Abercrombie & Fitch. Balenciaga. Starbucks. In recent years, these brands and many others have faced extreme public backlash due to insensitive comments from executives, changes to loyalty programs, controversial advertising decisions, and more. In today’s hyperconnected world, negative information about brands can quickly snowball online, resulting in widespread calls for boycotts and lost sales. In the most extreme cases, companies may lose hundreds of millions of dollars. The customers most upset by bad news are often a brand’s most loyal, says Wayne Hoyer, marketing professor and James L. Bayless/William S. Read More
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Credit: Anete Lusina from Pexels Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience unacceptably high rates of domestic, family and sexual violence. An Australian woman dies every 15 days at the hands of a current or former partner, and most partner homicides follow a history of male-perpetrated violence. As part of this conversation, many Australians are asking how we can do better at addressing such a complicated issue. Read More
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Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National Cabinet meets on Wednesday to specifically discuss the issue. There is no single solution here. We need to look at the whole of our society when we consider how to make it safer for women. One huge part of our society is schools, where Australians spend about 13 years of their lives. As part of Read More
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More than 1 in 5 10-year-olds experienced physical punishment in 2020 and 2021 in the U.K., reports a new research briefing by UCL researchers. Physical punishment, such as smacking and hitting, is the most common form of violence against children. Scotland and Wales recently prohibited physical punishment in all settings, while physical punishment in the home remains legal in England and Northern Ireland. The research briefing presents findings from a project that used data from large representative U.K. cohort studies to examine the prevalence of child physical punishment in the Read More
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In 2023, 410 people were murdered in Philadelphia—more than a quarter of them under age 25. In addition to the people who died, countless others lost loved ones and people they relied on. As a social scientist who studies different forms of violence and how they affect a person’s health, I know that the violence young people in Philadelphia experience is about more than shootings, homicides and physical injuries. Social science recognizes many different types of violence beyond the physical—for example, poverty, racism and negative interactions with police. Furthermore, violence Read More
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A new study has explored the complex patterns which lead to an intimate partner homicide (IPH), in an effort to better understand and prevent the tragic event happening. The research delved into the criminal careers of people who had been involved in at least one incidence of lethal and non-lethal intimate partner violence in Quebec, Canada, over three decades. Statistics indicate that approximately 20% of all homicides in the country are attributed to IPH. Co-author Dr. Sarah Paquette from the University of Portsmouth’s Department of Psychology, said, “Intimate partner homicide Read More
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New research from the University of Manchester has found that children are being swept up in murder and attempted murder cases—and being tried in adult courts—partly due to rap music culture being used as evidence against them. Rap lyrics and videos are regularly used as prosecution evidence in youth violence criminal cases in England and Wales. The material selected by the state typically has violent themes, often from the popular “drill” rap music genre, and is composed by one or more of the defendants or by one of their friends. Read More
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Truth Social was more effective at driving news attention toward Donald Trump during the 2022 midterm election cycle than Twitter (now known as X) was during the 2016 primary election season, a pattern driven mostly by partisan media on the left and the right, according to a new paper by a University at Buffalo communication researcher. But that success had limits. Journalists covered Trump’s social media use differently during those times and across those platforms, directly embedding his Truth Social posts into their stories far less frequently than was the Read More
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With winter sports swinging into action, adults around the country have volunteered or been volunteered by others (humorously known as being “volun-told”) to coach junior sports teams. While most coaches are eager to work with children to build their skills, confidence and passion for sport, one aspect of the job that coaches may approach with trepidation is working with parents. This can be especially difficult for the many coaches who are also parents, as they need to balance dual roles and relationships. As researchers in sports coaching and family psychology, Read More
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The spotlight is yet again shining on the national crisis of violence against women in Australia, and the calls for increased action and improved responses to all forms of domestic, family and sexual violence has intensified over the last three weeks. With the need for a perpetrator register or a disclosure scheme emerging as one option to improve women’s safety, Monash University and University of Liverpool researchers have published a study examining whether such schemes actually improve women’s safety. Domestic violence disclosure schemes (DVDS) provide a mechanism—for victim-survivors, individuals who Read More
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Construction workers typically work six days a week but research tracking a five-day work week in the industry shows flexibility is key to improving worker well-being, with minimal perceived impact on productivity. The interim report, led by RMIT University in collaboration with the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce (CICT), tracked five pilot infrastructure projects trialing a five-day work week to address issues such as the lack of time for life, poor health and well-being, and difficulty in attracting a diverse workforce. A survey conducted at three of the pilot sites found Read More
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A study led by a UC Riverside graduate student has found that Latino high school students achieve higher grades when they perceive a more positive school climate and when they have a stronger sense of self-esteem. Published in the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, the study also found that a strong sense of ethnic identity contributed to better self-esteem. It suggests that supportive and inclusive school environments contribute to academic success. The paper is titled “Predicting Academic Success Using a Critical Approach: The Impact of Campus Climate, Ethnic Identity, and Read More
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Victims of financial abuse from their partner in England and Wales are being failed by an “inadequate” legal response, new research warns. Coerced debt causes considerable harm. People often live with the effects of being forced to give money or take out loans or credit cards long after the abusive relationship has ended. Using the law to tackle it is more complex than other forms of abuse because to be free of the harmful effects of the abuse people’s contractual liability for the debt may need to be set aside. Read More
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Air Transport Network and Nighttime Light Intensity around Asia for 2019. Credit: Jin Murakami, with Data from ICAO Global Traffic Flow (2019) and NASA Earth Observatory (2019) Be it for work or vacation, chances are that many will have passed through an airport. In the largest cities, the airport presents to travelers the first glimpse of a new land and a reflection of the surrounding city. Beyond first impressions, airports stand as an important economic hub for local policymakers, with a continuous flow of goods and passengers fueling the urban Read More
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Before you buy something, or visit a new restaurant, or see a new film, you may be tempted to check out the online reviews. Researching what strangers think of the things we might like has become a familiar part of the modern consumer experience. But how can we know which reviews to trust? Which ones are written by honest customers sharing their genuine experiences, and which ones are posted with ulterior motives? For while consumer reviews can guide us towards the best products and services, concealed within the shadows are Read More
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Before you buy something, or visit a new restaurant, or see a new film, you may be tempted to check out the online reviews. Researching what strangers think of the things we might like has become a familiar part of the modern consumer experience. But how can we know which reviews to trust? Which ones are written by honest customers sharing their genuine experiences, and which ones are posted with ulterior motives? For while consumer reviews can guide us towards the best products and services, concealed within the shadows are Read More
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Credit: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels Listening to music benefits older adults’ cognitive health, even if it’s music they haven’t heard before or don’t enjoy very much, according to a study by Simon Fraser University and Health Research BC researchers. Led by SFU neuroscientist Sarah Faber, the study published in Network Neuroscience discovered that listening to music activates brain regions linked to reward in older adults, regardless of their familiarity with the music. “Hearing music engages multiple networks across our brains,” says Faber. “On top of the physical properties of sounds Read More
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Researchers are exploring a new theory on how the chemistry of the brain causes people to form political opinions. James Cook University neuroscientist Professor Zoltan Sarnyai was part of an international team exploring the threat-based neural switch theory, which they hope will calm the political landscape and help people make more considered judgments. The study is published in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. ‘”History has shown us that economic crises and other sociopolitical threats often lead to a rise of polarization and radicalism, whereby people become more susceptible to intolerant Read More
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Long-chain unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids uniquely alter the aggregation rate of insulin Credit: ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00583 Scientists within Texas A&M AgriLife Research have discovered a surprising connection between certain fatty acids and insulin when mixed in solution. Their study, published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, showed the presence of fats led insulin to clump together and form toxic aggregates. These omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential dietary components needed for cell growth and membrane structures. They are also believed to provide an array of health benefits Read More
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StanfordPhD studentMetta Nicholson observes a gas burner in a home where scientists measured air pollution as part of their data collection in California, Texas, Colorado, New York, and Washington, D.C. Credit: Rob Jackson, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability A study of air pollution in U.S. homes found that households with gas or propane stoves regularly breathe unhealthy levels of nitrogen dioxide. “I didn’t expect to see pollutant concentrations breach health benchmarks in bedrooms within an hour of gas stove use, and stay there for hours after the stove is turned Read More
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Micrograph showing inflammation of the large bowel in a case of inflammatory bowel disease. Colonic biopsy. Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 Inulin, a type of fiber found in certain plant-based foods and fiber supplements, causes inflammation in the gut and exacerbates inflammatory bowel disease in a preclinical model, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The surprising findings could pave the way for therapeutic diets that may help ease symptoms and promote gut health.? The study, published March 20 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, shows that inulin, Read More
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Youth with high blood pressure are nearly four times more likely to be at long-term risk of serious heart conditions including stroke and heart attack, according to a new study. The research, led by McMaster University, will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Hypertension affects one of every 15 children and adolescents worldwide and is a growing concern, according to researchers. Despite this, it is unclear what happens to these children in the long-term. Researchers compared 25,605 youth diagnosed with hypertension Read More
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For college students seeking to improve their mental health, a potential answer may be right outside their window: birdwatching. A new study finds people who have nature-based experiences report better well-being and lower psychological distress than those who do not. Birdwatching in particular yielded promising results, with higher gains in subjective well-being and more reduction in distress than more generic nature exposure, such as walks. Because birdwatching is an easily accessible activity, the results are encouraging for college students—who are among those most likely to suffer from mental health problems. Read More
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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday told countries negotiating a global agreement on handling future pandemics to “get this done”, as they hit the half-way stage in last-ditch talks. World Health Organization member states have spent the last two years drafting an international accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, but negotiations are fast running out of time. At what should have been the final round of talks in March, countries drifted even further apart than before, with disputes widening over access to emerging pathogens for research in the Read More
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The Warburg effect and metabolic rewiring. Credit: Cancer Biology & Medicine Researchers have revealed crucial insights into how the Warburg effect causes the dedifferentiation of cancer cells through epigenetic reprogramming. This discovery potentially opens up new avenues for cancer treatments that target cellular metabolism. A century after Otto Warburg first described the phenomenon where cancer cells undergo glycolysis instead of oxygen respiration—even in oxygen-rich environments—the so-called Warburg effect continues to be a fundamental element in understanding cancer metabolism and a key factor in the detection of tumors through PET scans. Read More
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The Examining Quality, Use and Impact of Psychotropic (Use) in older adults with intellectual disabilities (EQUIP) study, has revealed that more than half of older adults with intellectual disability take psychotropic medicines, including antipsychotics and antidepressants used to treat mental illness. While these medicines are critical to treat mental illness and improve quality of life, inappropriate use can increase risks of side effects including constipation, falls and impact levels of activity. Historically, these medicines may have been prescribed for behaviors of concern in the absence of mental illness. Key findings Read More
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Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels A research group at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the University of Seville has made a significant advance by discovering the crucial role of the protein Galectin-3 in the progression of various types of brain tumors. In these tumors, the most abundant immune system cells, microglia and macrophages, overexpress Galectin-3, which creates an immunosuppressed environment that inhibits the action of other immune cells against cancer cells. In vitro findings have shown that specific inhibition of Galectin-3 in microglial cells promotes expression of Read More
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Children with life-limiting rare diseases and their caregivers face tremendous stress and anxiety about the heart-breaking decisions before them. A new intervention—designed at Children’s National Hospital to support the palliative needs of these families—improved their spiritual and emotional well-being, according to research published in the journal, Pediatrics. Called FACE Rare (FAmily CEntered Pediatric Advance Care Planning Intervention for Rare Diseases), the counseling tools were found to be safe, effective and increased feelings of peace among families in this underserved population. “Seventy-four percent of the families in that intervention group reported Read More
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Immunity (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.04.006 The Wistar Institute assistant professor Filippo Veglia, Ph.D., and team, have discovered a key mechanism of how glioblastoma—a serious and often fatal brain cancer—suppresses the immune system so that the tumor can grow unimpeded by the body’s defenses. The lab’s discovery was published in the paper, “Glucose-driven histone lactylation promotes the immunosuppressive activity of monocyte-derived macrophages in glioblastoma,” in the journal Immunity. “Our study shows that the cellular mechanisms of cancer’s self-preservation, when sufficiently understood, can be used against the disease very effectively,” Read More
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New data from the REAL-PE analysis investigated catheter-based pulmonary embolism (PE) treatment, showing women and Black people were less frequently treated with minimally invasive therapy compared to men or non-Black patients. The late-breaking results were presented today at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions. PE is often caused by blood clots in the legs, otherwise known as deep vein thrombosis, that travel through the veins and into the lungs. PE affects around 900,000 people in the U.S. each year, with 10–30% dying within one month Read More
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The first panoramic view of infection pathways in the human placenta has been created, which could highlight potential drug targets to develop pregnancy-safe therapies for malaria, toxoplasmosis and listeria, all diseases that can cause severe pregnancy complications. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge, the University of Dundee, and collaborators, used novel ‘mini placenta’ models to map the placental response to infections in early development. This work is part of the wider Human Cell Atlas consortium, which aims to map every cell type in the human body Read More
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An analysis of 15 name-brand drugs and their “skinny label” generic counterparts found that competition from these counterparts saved Medicare Part D nearly $15 billion from 2015 to 2021. Skinny labeling allows generic drug manufacturers to exclude labeling information that remains patent-protected by the brand name manufacturer. However, a recent federal appeals court ruling involving a skinny-label generic version of the beta-blocker carvedilol (Coreg; GlaxoSmithKline) has increased liability risk for manufacturers of skinny-label generics. The brief research report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Read More
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Activated T cells that carry a certain marker protein on their surface are controlled by natural killer (NK) cells, another cell type of the immune system. In this way, the body presumably curbs destructive immune reactions. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) now discovered that NK cells can impair the effect of cancer therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in this way. They could also be responsible for the rapid decline of therapeutic CAR-T cells. Interventions in this mechanism could potentially Read More
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Non-enzymatic production of diindoles. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46559-3 Researchers at the University of Toronto have found naturally occurring compounds in the gut that can be harnessed to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of digestive issues. This can be achieved by binding the compounds to an important, but poorly understood, nuclear receptor. The gut microbiome hosts bacteria that produce compounds as by-products of feeding on our digestive remnants. The compounds can bind to nuclear receptors, which help transcribe DNA to produce proteins and non-coding RNA segments. By identifying which Read More
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Neuroblastoma is a common pediatric cancer that originates in developing nerve cells outside the brain. While increasingly intensive treatments have improved the survival of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, currently more than 40% of patients do not survive. New research from the University of Chicago shows the potential for a promising new approach to treating neuroblastoma by targeting RNA modifications associated with the disease. In a new study published in Cell Reports, scientists show that a drug molecule designed to inhibit proteins that add modifications to RNA transcripts reduced the growth Read More
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UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering PhD candidate Anna Slezak is first author on recent paper on developing in-situ cancer vaccines could make immunotherapies more effective in the blood cancer acute myeloid leukemia and other blood cancers. Credit: Ryne Montoya Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that forms in the soft marrow of the bones, typically attacking cells that would otherwise form the key component of the body’s immunodefense system, white blood cells. In a new study published in Blood Advances, researchers from the UChicago Pritzker Read More
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Extending the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in premature infants by two weeks significantly increases lung volume and lung diffusion capacity, according to a new study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. CPAP treatment is common for preterm infants with breathing issues, but researchers note there is no consensus on optimal treatment length when the preterm infant is doing well. Preterm birth is the most common cause of altered lung development and breathing issues Read More
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An alternative method of transferring blood cells to weakened newborns through their umbilical cord does not carry long-term neurodevelopmental risks compared to standard practice, a recent study found. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Umbilical cord blood contains oxygen and beneficial nutrients for newborns, experts say. Doctors may delay clamping a newborn’s umbilical cord to pass nutrients through their cord if they have poor breathing or a low heart rate immediately after birth. A study found that umbilical Read More
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Use of an eye ultrasound may quickly and safely identify children with brain drainage tube failure in the emergency department, according to a new study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. A ventricular shunt is a surgically implanted thin, plastic tube that drains extra fluid and relieves pressure on the brain. Children receive ventricular shunts for hydrocephalus, a condition where brain fluid doesn’t drain or reabsorb properly from brain bleeds, tumors, or other causes. Nearly 30% of shunts Read More
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Preterm infants supported with a multicomponent intravenous lipid emulsion saw improved brain development compared to those given a single-fat source, a new study finds. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Soybean-only lipid emulsions traditionally have been used in neonatal intensive care units to provide intravenous nutritional support to preterm infants, according to researchers. This study investigated the effects of newer multicomponent lipid emulsions, with fat sources derived from soybeans, olives, coconuts, and fish oil, on preterm brain development Read More
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Rotavirus vaccines do not cause significant outbreaks of the disease in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), according to a new national study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. The findings are important, study authors say, because many NICUs avoid vaccinating against rotavirus due to a theoretical risk of transmission, yet some infants are too old to receive the vaccine once discharged from the NICU. The study conducted at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia evaluated the risk of vaccinated patients Read More
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Artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT displayed lower concern than physicians in 36% of potential developmental delays, according to a new study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Researchers found ChatGPT made different conclusions about the abnormality of a potential delay than pediatricians 41% of the time. The study investigated how ChatGPT responded to parents’ concerns whether their child’s development was normal or abnormal, including if the response aligned with a pediatrician’s diagnosis. The research found that ChatGPT rarely Read More
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Symptoms associated with Long COVID in children differ based on the child’s age, according to a nationwide, multi-site study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Experts say that the study findings allow clinicians to recognize and manage Long COVID in children more accurately based on common symptoms. The study characterized pediatric Long COVID symptoms and how they differ based on a child’s age. The study identifies symptoms in different age groups including young children, such as infants, toddlers, Read More
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Health care providers can more effectively connect parents and other caregivers of children to needed social resources when they present a menu of options rather than using standard screening tools, a recent study found. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. According to researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, health care providers typically use risk-based screening to identify families facing food and housing insecurity, financial strain, and unsafe environments. Experts say this approach can lead to inequalities in Read More
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Resident physicians at more than 98% of U.S. training programs aren’t paid enough to afford childcare, according to a new national study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Childcare remains unaffordable even at most programs that subsidize childcare or offer it onsite, the examination of data from the Labor Department and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) revealed. “People in the United States from many walks of life struggle to pay for childcare, and resident physicians Read More
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Credit: JESSICA TICOZZELLI from Pexels Children in rural areas were more than six times as likely to check into a hospital without pediatric services compared to children in urban areas, a new study found. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto. Researchers studied approximately 80,000 hospital claims for nearly 37,000 children with multiple chronic conditions. The hospitalizations occurred between 2012 and 2017 in Colo., Mass., and N.H. The study found that 41.9% of children in urban areas were first Read More
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Response rates and progression-free survival with bavituximab plus pembrolizumab in HCC. a) Waterfall plot depicts best percentage change in tumor dimensions from baseline per RECIST 1.1 among evaluable patients (n?=?28). Asterisks indicates patients with new lesions demonstrating PD. ORR objective response rate, PR partial response, CR complete response, SD stable disease, PD progressive disease. b) Kaplan-Meier curve shows the probability of progression-free survival over time among evaluable patients. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46542-y A drug that targets a protein known as phosphatidylserine boosted the response rate for hepatocellular carcinoma Read More
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Discovery of candidate genes through large case–control association analysis of CP. a, LoF variants or missense variants (REVEL score >0.75) in 25 genes enriched in CP cases compared with controls (cases n?=?1,578; controls n?=?125,748 unrelated individuals). b–g, Location of the variants and the number of affected cases shown separately in GPM6A (b), FOXD1 (c), BSG (d), POSTN (e), SLC9A3R1 (f) and STXBP5 (g). Orange circles, stop-gain variants; red circles, frameshift variants; purple circles, splicing variants; blue circles, missense variants. Credit: Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02912-z The world’s largest study of Read More
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CFZ rescues polyQ toxicity in worms and developing zebrafish. (a) Scheme illustrating the pipeline followed to evaluate Htt-Q94 in developing zebrafish. (b) Representative images of zebrafish embryos 24 h after microinjection of the Htt-Q94-CFP expressing plasmid or DMSO. Note the accumulation of dead embryos (black asterisk) upon Htt-Q94-CFP expression, which was significantly rescued by CFZ (c) Quantification from the experiment defined in (a,b). (d) Scheme illustrating the pipeline used to evaluate the effect of CFZ in a worm model of polyQ toxicity. (e) Quantification of data from (d). Credit: eBioMedicine Read More
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Researchers at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) and the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT) have succeeded in visualizing the movement patterns of the internal speech muscles of a stuttering patient using real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method helps to improve our understanding of the mechanical aspects of stuttering, to identify muscle malfunctions in speech disorders, and to aid in the acquisition and reinforcement of new speech patterns. The results have been published in The Lancet. Stuttering is a speech disorder with abnormal movements and disturbed coordination Read More
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The top row shows a representation of an adult bird’s song. After an injection that silences neurons in the High Vocal Center, the song is dramatically degraded (second and third row). However, after just two weeks, the birds are able to sing their original songs very accurately. Note how the visual representation of the song is nearly identical from the top row to the bottom row (25 days post injection). Credit: Lois lab Every year, more than 795,000 people experience a stroke, often resulting in brain damage that impairs their Read More
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Study overview and cohort description. a Stage 1, symptomatic cohort: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccinees are shown in red. MenACWY vaccinees are placebo vaccinees (blue). NAAT+ve are participants with COVID-19, NAAT-ve are people who had COVID-19-like symptoms and thus had a CT visit but were subsequently shown not to have COVID-19 (gray); (b) Stage 2: all participants had COVID-19 (i.e. were NAAT+ve). D0: Baseline visit, before vaccination. CT: COVID-19 test visit. CT?+?7: 7 days after CT visit. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47463-6 A study by scientists at the University of Oxford, Read More
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NK cell and anti-HER2 antibody combined treatment in a humanized mice model of HER2-positive breast cancer. Credit: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02918-4 Researchers at the UAB and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute have confirmed that patients with the presence of NK lymphocytes around tumors have a better response to treatment. This confirms the feasibility of using cytokines secreted by NK cells as markers of response to treatment with a simple blood test and supports the use of these lymphocytes to reinforce treatment in patients Read More
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Overview of patient measurements. Small dot indicates single breath measurement, big dot indicates multiple breath measurements. Red numbers indicate DKA, blue in control and green non-diabetic. Credit: Frontiers in Endocrinology (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1360989 Researchers are using breath analysis to monitor patients’ health status in real time and check levels of certain medicines. Scientists from the University of Basel and University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB) have developed a technique that enables them to measure certain parameters from the breath exhaled by their young patients. Their results have been published in Frontiers Read More
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Drug overdose rates skyrocketed in the United States during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 92,000 people died due to overdose in 2020. Public health experts worried early in the pandemic that lockdowns and other measures to control the spread of the virus could lead to more overdoses. In work published in the American Journal of Public Health, Syracuse University researchers quantify how much the pandemic measures and economic policies impacted those rates. The findings provide answers to lawmakers and Read More
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The number of people accessing medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Aotearoa New Zealand increased significantly between 2006 and 2022. But the disorder is still underdiagnosed and under-treated compared to global ADHD prevalence estimates. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the part of the brain that helps people plan, control impulses and execute tasks. It is treated primarily with methylphenidate. New research using demographic and dispensing data from pharmacists—showed a 10-fold increase in dispensing of ADHD medication for adults over the study period. During the same time frame, there Read More
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Pandemics, global warming, and rampant gun violence are all clear lessons in the need to move large groups of people to change their behavior. When a crisis hits, researchers, policymakers, health officials, and community leaders have to know how best to encourage people to change en masse and quickly. Each crisis leads to rehashing the same strategies, even those that have not worked in the past, due to the lack of definitive science of what interventions work across the board combined with well intended but erroneous intuitions. To produce evidence Read More
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Psychological and physical health status and quality of life increased over the treatment period (A). Psychological distress improved over the 13-week treatment period (B). Self-reported craving also reduced over the treatment period (C). Credit: Clinical Case Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.8740 Researchers are recommending full-scale human trials after an insomnia drug helped a man withdraw from his 16 drinks-a-day addiction. A Florey-led case report, published today in Clinical Case Reports, describes how a 31-year-old man, who consumed 16 alcoholic drinks a day, had poor liver function and suffered from insomnia, withdrew Read More
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Artistic rendering of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) (blue) on a T cell attaching to a targeted cancer protein (red) on another cell. Credit: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Targeting anti-cancer therapy to affect cancer cells but not healthy cells is challenging. For chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T–cell immunotherapy, where a patient’s own immune cells are re-engineered to attack cancer cells, many solid and brain cancers lack an effective target. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have identified 156 potential targets through a comprehensive analysis paired with an experimental validation Read More
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For individuals without a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC), increasing the interval between colonoscopies for those with a first colonoscopy with negative findings seems safe and can avoid unnecessary colonoscopies, according to a study published online May 2 in JAMA Oncology. Qunfeng Liang, from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, and colleagues assessed how many years after a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC a second colonoscopy can be performed. The exposed group included individuals without a family history of CRC who had a first colonoscopy with Read More
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Doctors in Texas are describing the only known human case of H5N1 avian flu connected to the ongoing outbreak of the disease in dairy cows. Bird flu in humans remains extremely rare, but in the hundreds of cases documented worldwide over the past few years, about half proved fatal—upping scientists’ concerns about the possibility that an easily transmitted human bird flu might one day emerge. The unidentified Texas man, a dairy farm worker, appears to have been lucky: His case of H5N1 amounted to little more than a case of Read More
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One-third of patients undergoing surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) also have severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip—which is associated with worse spinal alignment and physical functioning, reports a study in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. These differences persist even following operative treatment of ASD, according to the new research by Alan H. Daniels, MD and Bassel Diebo, MD of Brown University and colleagues from 20 North American spinal surgery centers. “Concomitant hip and spine disease are common, yet they remain challenging for joint arthroplasty and spine surgeons,” Read More
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The success of a national weight management program has been highlighted in a study in the journal Obesity. The 12-week NHS Digital Weight Management Program gives diet, exercise and lifestyle advice via a phone app or online, to patients referred by their GP with a high BMI plus hypertension, diabetes or both. The 32,000 people who finished the program in the first year saw an average weight loss of 2.2 kilos (5lbs); with those who attended more (at least 60%) of the program losing an average of 3.9 kilos (8.5lbs). Read More
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According to Rutgers Health researchers, training correctional officers in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for adults, a 7.5-hour national education program from the National Council of Mental Wellbeing, may help provide them with the necessary skills to effectively identify signs and symptoms of mental distress and advocate for incarcerated individuals facing mental health crises. Led by Pamela Valera, an assistant professor in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at Rutgers School of Public Health, the researchers collaborated with the National Council of Mental Wellbeing to develop the pilot study, published Read More
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (2024). DOI: 10.1089/jir.2024.0032 A new study found extensive alternative splicing of messenger RNA in the blood cells of untreated multiple sclerosis patients compared to healthy controls. The study, which showed that highly dysregulated alternative splicing was largely corrected by interferon-ß (IFN-ß) therapy, is published in the Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research. Anthony Reder and Xuan Feng, from the University of Chicago Department of Medicine, and coauthors, reported that during long-term IFN-ß therapy, multiple sclerosis exacerbations were linked to more dysregulated Read More
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The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called ChatGPT is a powerful way for Black women to educate themselves about HIV prevention, as it provides reliable and culturally sensitive information, according to a study in The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. “In addition to immediately available information, regardless of time or geographic location, privacy and anonymity can be maintained compared with being physically present in a clinical office setting,” lead investigator Rasheeta D. Chandler, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, Associate Professor of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, Read More
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One in six residents of assisted living facilities is subject to verbal, physical or other aggression by fellow residents in a typical month, and those suffering from dementia are most at risk, new research finds in the first large-scale study of the phenomenon. Involving 930 residents of 14 licensed assisted living facilities in New York state, the study found incidents of resident-to-resident aggression, also called resident-to-resident elder mistreatment, were nearly as prevalent as they are in nursing homes. That was unexpected, since assisted living residents tend to be less impaired, Read More
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A recent study from Trinity College Dublin scientists, sheds light on the complexities of achieving optimal vitamin D status across diverse populations. Despite substantial research on the determinants of vitamin D, levels of vitamin D deficiency remain high. The paper, “Ambient ultraviolet-B radiation, supplements and other factors interact to impact vitamin D status differently depending on ethnicity: a cross-sectional study,” was published in the journal Clinical Nutrition. Dr. Margaret M. Brennan, Research Assistant, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, School of Medicine, Trinity College and first author, said, “We Read More
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Credit: ????? ??????? from Pexels A new study presents data reflecting the current state of female representation within the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). The study is published in Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. Theda Kontis, MD, from Johns Hopkins Hospital, and co-authors, report that only 13% of 1,421 surgeons in the AAFPRS membership are female. “Given the data presented in this study, a critical need exists to continue fostering the development of female surgeons in our specialty—not only for the sake of equality but Read More
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Human heart. Credit: copyright American Heart Association Recent findings from a study on a transcatheter heart valve (THV) system, which includes a new class of transcatheter aortic valve, showed positive results in the device’s ability to function as a healthy and natural aortic valve in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The late-breaking data was presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions. AS is a thickening and narrowing of the aortic valve that can reduce blood flow to the body and potentially lead to heart Read More
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Late-breaking data from the ENGULF trial showed that a novel dual-action thrombectomy device was effective and safe in treating acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The safety and effectiveness results were presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in JSCAI. PE is a serious cardiovascular event where a blood clot causes issues with blood flow and oxygen levels in the lungs. It can be life-threatening, with up to 30% of individuals dying within one month of diagnosis. Despite recent advances in therapeutic options, Read More
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New data from the Acute Pulmonary Embolism Extraction Trial with the AlphaVac System (APEX-AX) demonstrated that catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective in patients with acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) with significant improvement in the right ventricle (RV) function and minimal major adverse events. The safety and efficacy results from the prospective trial were presented as late-breaking science at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions. Pulmonary embolism (PE), a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung, is Read More
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New clinical results highlight the need for inclusive approaches and comprehensive examinations of treatment options for peripheral artery disease (PAD), including endovascular therapy and revascularization. The data were presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions. Despite a lack of awareness, PAD, in which arteries in the extremities—often the legs—become narrowed, reducing or cutting off blood flow, contributes to 400 amputations performed each day. Additional data has emerged that highlights how disproportionately impacted underserved communities. According to a December 2023 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Read More
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Additional analysis from the SMall Annuli Randomized To Evolut or SAPIEN (SMART) study demonstrated clinical non-inferiority of self-expanding valves (SEV) versus balloon-expandable valves (BEV) in aortic stenosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and confirmed valve performance superiority over time based on hemodynamics. Data also showed similar positive results in two age groups (< or ? 80 years old). The late-breaking results were presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions. Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and small aortic annuli (SAA), typically female and Read More
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Credit: Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.02.018 In the field of biomedical research and genomics, the advancement of bioinformatics technologies and tools is opening new frontiers in the understanding of diseases and their diagnosis and treatment. In particular, differential gene expression analysis (DGE) is emerging as a crucial technique to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases. The most significant results were collected and discussed in the review “Differential gene expression analysis pipelines and bioinformatic tools for the identification of specific biomarkers: A review” by Diletta Rosati, Maria Palmieri, Read More
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Mean daily cigarette consumption among adult (?18 years) smokers in England, 2008 to 2023. Panel A shows weighted data aggregated by year. Panel B shows modeled time trends, overall, and by cigarette type. Credit: Nicotine and Tobacco Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae071 A decade-long decline in the number of cigarettes a smoker has per day has stalled, with some people actually smoking more, according to a new study by UCL researchers. Researchers found that the average person who smokes dropped from smoking 14 cigarettes per day in January 2008 to 11 Read More
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Credit: Cancer Biology & Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0293 A new perspective paper explores the current state and future directions of precision medicine in colorectal cancer (CRC). It outlines advancements in molecular testing and their implications for targeted and immunological therapies in CRC. This research is significant because it suggests pathways to more personalized treatment, potentially leading to higher survival rates and an improved quality of life for CRC patients. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. While surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy remains the standard treatment, Read More
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PLS (passenger lymphocyte syndrome) is a potentially life-threatening risk in lung transplants that has hardly been researched and is often underestimated in clinical practice. However, the complication occurs more frequently than previously thought, as shown by a recent study at the Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy in collaboration with the Department of Thoracic Surgery at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna. The results, recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, not only provide new insights into PLS, but also approaches for early detection Read More
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The team that performed the operation succesfully: Dr. Schoneveld, Prof. Nistor, Dr. Giunta, Prof. Hamdi. Credit: UZ Brussel UZ Brussel is the first hospital worldwide to perform dual-robot assisted lymphedema surgery. The main advantage of this approach is that it is much less invasive for the patient, resulting in less pain and less time spent in hospital. Moreover, robot-assisted surgery is significantly more accurate than conventional surgery. In so doing, UZ Brussel is building on its expertise in robot-assisted surgical lymphedema treatment after Professor Moustapha Hamdi performed the first-ever robot-assisted Read More