Author: healthadmin
New research from the University of Warwick suggests that the rhythm of human laughter has been surprisingly consistent for at least 15 million years. By comparing the laughter of humans and other great apes, researchers found evidence that this ancient vocal pattern may provide valuable clues about how human speech gradually evolved. Humans aren’t the only primates that laugh. Chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans all produce laughter, but scientists have long wondered how these vocalizations have changed over millions of years and whether they can reveal anything about the origins of human language. Researchers analyzed recordings of laughter from four…
Nearly half of Americans with kidney failure referred for a kidney transplant never begin the evaluation process necessary to consider a donor organ, according to a new national survey. What’s even more surprising is that fewer than 1 in 5 people complete the evaluation and get placed on the transplant waiting list. Researchers say that while much attention is paid to patients once they reach the waiting list, little is known about what happens up to that point and why so many people fail to make it. Key barriers to kidney transplant waiting list The study, led by researchers at…
Obese people have worse cardiovascular health than people of normal weight, especially as they age. Not necessarily. Obese people over the age of 40 appear to have both blood pressure and cholesterol under control to levels comparable to those with a normal body mass index, according to a study published Wednesday in The Lancet. The new study tracked these cardiovascular risk factors in adults of various ages and body mass indexes over 25 years, an era before the arrival of new obesity drugs but also at a time when the use of much cheaper statins and blood pressure drugs expanded.…
How did oviraptors bring their young into the world? These feathered, bird-like dinosaurs couldn’t fly, but scientists have long wondered whether they hatched eggs like modern birds, or whether they relied more on the heat of their environment like crocodiles and turtles. New research published in Frontiers of ecology and evolution I will review the question again. Researchers in Taiwan used a combination of physical experiments and computer simulations to investigate how oviraptor eggs are warmed and how efficiently they hatch. To do so, they created a life-size model of an oviraptor and recreated its nest using artificial eggs. This…
Playing video games moderately improves various mental skills, allowing players to process information and memorize details more effectively. A recent comprehensive review of dozens of studies found that gaming provides modest performance benefits across a variety of age groups and study designs. The study was published in the journal Acta Psychologica. Cognitive ability refers to a person’s ability to receive, process, store, and retrieve information. This broad category includes everyday mental functions such as paying attention, visualizing objects in physical space, and remembering past events. These skills predict a wide range of life outcomes, from academic success to general health.…
North Carolina lawmakers are proposing new research into “forever chemicals” in the new state budget. But the project bypasses state regulators in favor of authorities under the control of the Legislature, a dead-end tactic that critics argue. The budget announced Tuesday allocates a total of $22 million to the North Carolina Cooperative Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill for research related to PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as “forever chemicals.” They are not easily broken down and are associated with health risks such as cancer. The budget would also classify employees of cooperating agencies as legislative employees, exempting them from…
Healthcare technology company Zelis has deployed an AI-native solution that helps health plans manage the complexities of independent dispute resolution under the No-Surprises Act. Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) is a process for adjudicating out-of-network claims created by the No Surprises Act of 2020 (NSA). Zelis’ solutions use AI to automate payer workflows from claim recalculation, public negotiation, dispute prevention, case management, and IDR resolution. Executives said the company announced the new solution as payers’ operations are strained by dispute volume, compliance requirements and procedural deadlines. In late May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized changes to the No-Surprise…
In Chicago, your zip code still determines your lifespan. My southeast neighbors die younger than those who live a few miles upstream from the lakeshore. A new law in Illinois finally forces the state to address one of its biggest reasons.The gap is staggering. Depending on where you live, life expectancy in this city can vary by as much as 20 years. From the late 80s in the affluent lakeside areas to the 60s in the least invested areas where polluting factories are allowed to concentrate.Even in the same city, the odds of growing old are completely different.Last week, the…
Recent research published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition provide evidence that breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life is associated with improved sleep duration in infants at 1 year of age. This study suggests that babies who are fed exclusively breast milk, or in combination with formula, are less likely to experience abnormally short sleep duration compared to babies who are fed only formula. Adequate sleep is an essential element for a child’s healthy physical and psychological development. If infants consistently get less sleep, they tend to be at increased risk for future problems such as obesity, hyperactivity,…
A new study by Virginia Tech neuroscientists at VTC’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute calls into question long-standing approaches to studying chronic neurological conditions such as dystonia, ataxia, and tremor. These disorders result from problems in the cerebellum, an area of the brain involved in coordinating movement. When the cerebellum is damaged, symptoms may include painful muscle contractions, abnormal posture, and uncontrollable shaking. For many years, neuroscientists have focused on the relationship between two types of brain cells in the cerebellum. One group, known as Purkinje cells, suppresses the activity of another group called deep cerebellar nucleus cells. Because of this…