Author: healthadmin
A new review reveals how genes, hormones, lifestyle and environmental stressors interact throughout the lifespan to lead to different changes in blood pressure in women and men, and why future prevention needs to become more individualized. Research: Intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of sex differences in blood pressure. Image credit: Miljan Zivkovic / Shutterstock In a recent review published in npj cardiovascular healthour group investigated how biological and environmental factors shape sex-specific changes in blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular risk across the lifespan. Blood pressure problems remain one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Men and…
Chikungunya (named after the Kimakonde word for “bend” and its characteristic joint pain) is classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease. it is caused by a virus and spreads Aedes mosquito. Symptoms include high fever, muscle aches, back pain, headache, fatigue, nausea, and skin rash. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that by 2026, there will be around 33,000 symptomatic cases of chikungunya worldwide, with nine deaths, mostly in South America. At present, the virus is not endemic in Europe or North America, where cases are limited to travelers returning from tropical or…
Researchers have discovered how acids on the surface of bacteria give these microorganisms their characteristic “stick” shape by repelling enzymes that turn cylindrical cells into shape-shifting clumps. The survey results are natural microbiologyprovides new understanding of how bacteria control their growth and provides insight into the nature of early life on Earth. The study also points to a strategy to overcome antibiotic resistance by targeting wall teichoic acids, mysterious molecules that coat the surface of certain bacteria. Bacteria exist in many different shapes, but the most common are rod-shaped bacteria. The shape of bacteria is medically important because the cell…
As warmer weather arrives across the United States, outdoor enthusiasts are returning to America’s parks and forests to hike and run the country’s beautiful and often remote trail networks. However, with the influx of tourists comes an increase in wilderness emergencies, some of which require complex and costly search and rescue operations. Seven hikers were rescued in one week in April in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and another was found dead on the trail after failing to return from a solo backpacking trip. A new paper by Boston University researchers attempts to curb such incidents using the first data on…
“Standard MRI shows white matter hyperintensity, which is common in healthy older people,” explains Professor Tan. “DTI captures the microstructural integrity of white matter, namely fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), which is much more sensitive to subtle damage caused by small vessel disease.” The team built DenseNet, a densely connected convolutional neural network that learns hierarchical features directly from raw DTI volumes. They trained and validated it on an internal dataset of 134 SVCI patients and 171 SIVD patients. To confirm that the model works with data from different scanners and populations, we used unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA)…
A single infusion of VERVE-102 significantly lowered PCSK9 and LDL cholesterol in a small phase 1 trial, providing initial evidence of a potentially durable genetic approach to cholesterol control, although long-term safety and clinical benefit have yet to be proven. Study: In vivo base editing of PCSK9 by VERVE-102 for hypercholesterolemia. Image credit: Crystal Light / Shutterstock In a recent study published in New England Medical Journalresearchers announced interim clinical results from the ongoing Heart-2 clinical trial. Heart-2 is a trial designed to test the safety and efficacy of the innovative VERVE-102. alive A base editing therapeutic designed to permanently…
Transposons, DNA sequences that can self-replicate and move (jump) across the genome, are widespread and can affect cell survival if left unchecked. Cells control these “jump genes” by silencing them, but little was known about how cells recognize and protect themselves from invading transposons. Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital answered that question by showing that cells sense aberrant RNA patterns produced by invading transposons and respond by activating pathways that silence them. Additionally, this process extends to any invading DNA as long as it generates enough RNA interference for the cell to detect. This research today nature communicationsprovides…
A scientific review published today: NEJM Evidence JournalThe study, coordinated by the Dole Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), evaluated outcomes in adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in middle-income countries. In contrast to high-income countries, where mortality rates range from 16% to 26%, the study found that mortality rates were significantly higher in the countries analyzed. The study recruited 52 studies and approximately 48,707 patients and found an overall mortality rate of 37.1%, increasing to 59.3% for patients requiring respiratory support. Severe pneumonia remains an underdiagnosed problem Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains one of the…
Post-hoc analyzes of two phase 2 trials associate letaltortide with changes in fatty acid oxidation, insulin resistance biomarkers, and lipid metabolism, providing new clues about how triple receptor drugs can improve cardiometabolic health. Study: Retatortide, lipid, and metabolite profiles in obese participants with and without type 2 diabetes. Image credit: khomkrit sunkatechon / Shutterstock Recent research published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Retatrutide treatment was shown to alter metabolites associated with insulin resistance and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in obese patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). These changes were consistent with improved metabolic health. This finding…
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Africa’s next-generation power projects are increasingly being built around solar power, wind power and battery storage as governments and investors move away from coal and large hydroelectric dams for cheaper, faster and more reliable electricity.This shift is evident in the $1.5 billion energy deal between China and Zambia announced in early May, which includes three separate 300 megawatt projects spanning solar, wind and coal-fired power. While the introduction of coal underscores the continent’s continued need for reliable baseload electricity, African countries facing rising fuel import prices, declining grid reliability and increased industrial demand as a result…