Author: healthadmin
A new global initiative launched today aims to fill a critical gap in ALS/MND drug discovery, impacting both the researchers developing treatments and the people urgently awaiting them. Current cell models used to test treatments do not reflect the diverse nature of the disease. ALS Therapeutic Development Institute (ALS TDI), LifeArc, and Axol Biosciences announced the launch of the Patient-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-Based Sporadic ALS Modeling Improvement Study (PRISM), a joint effort to expand access to high-quality patient-derived stem cell models that better reflect the biological complexity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a heterogeneous disease. 10-15% of…
Nearly 15 years after discovering MXenes, a versatile class of two-dimensional conductive nanomaterials, researchers at Drexel University have developed a method to create one-dimensional versions known as MXene nanoscrolls. These ultra-thin structures are about 100 times thinner than a human hair and are even more conductive than flat structures, potentially enabling significant improvements in technologies such as energy storage devices, biosensors, and wearable electronics. Research published in journals advanced materialspresent a scalable method to fabricate these nanoscrolls from MXene precursors with precise control over their shape and chemical composition. “Two-dimensional morphology is very important in many applications, but there are…
Squids and cuttlefish are some of the ocean’s most fascinating animals, known for their discolored skin and jet-like movements. For decades, scientists have been trying to understand how these unusual creatures evolved. Their limited fossil record and complex genomes have slowed progress. Now, new research finally has a clear answer. Research published in natural ecology and evolution Researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) combined a large genomic dataset with three newly sequenced squid genomes. The study reveals a “long fusion” pattern that explains how squid and cuttlefish, together known as decapod (deca-limbed) cephalopods, evolved into…
New research suggests that loving-kindness and compassion meditation, as well as long periods of meditation, may lead to reduced anxiety over time by cultivating self-compassion and loosening the grip of distressing thoughts. Research: Frequent loving-kindness meditation reduces anxiety in long-term practitioners through greater self-compassion and cognitive flexibility. Image credit: chayanuphol / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal scientific reportresearchers investigated how long-term loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKCM) practice affects anxiety through self-compassion and cognitive fusion, while considering the role of practice frequency. Background and long-term benefits of LKCM What if practicing kindness towards yourself could reduce anxiety?…
UnitedHealthcare announced Thursday that it has launched a generative artificial intelligence companion to improve care coordination for members. The AI companion, called Avery, allows users to find information about coverage, personal benefits, appointment schedules, claim approval status, benefit descriptions, and more. Eligible members can access the tool through the UnitedHealthcare app or myuhc.com. Craig Kurzweil, United Healthcare’s chief data and analytics officer, told Fierce Healthcare that Avery was trained using “tremendous amounts of data” across the system. A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson said the patterns are created using conversations and voice calls with advocates, and the AI bot is “fine-tuned” until it…
Researchers combined genetic epidemiology, transcriptomics, molecular docking, and mouse experiments to show how common endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect biological pathways associated with major depressive disorder. Study: Bisphenol A exposure and major depressive disorder: an integrated analysis combining network toxicology, molecular docking, genetic epidemiology, and transcriptomic validation. Image credit: monticello / Shutterstock New research published in journal translational psychiatry Shedding light on the potential molecular relationship between the common environmental chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Using an integrative multi-omics approach, researchers identified six common molecular targets linking BPA exposure and depression-related pathways. These findings highlight perturbations in synaptic…
Erin Brockovich speaks to a crowd at Need to Feed Restaurant in Whitfield County about eternal chemicals. WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) – Efforts to permanently contain a chemical in North Georgia continued Tuesday. Prominent activist Erin Brockovich held a town hall with Georgia PFAS at Need to Feed Restaurant in Whitfield County. She says she learns something new and shocking every time she goes to a different city hall in the state. “(PFAS) is very quiet. It has almost no odor. It has no color. People don’t realize it’s in the water or in the soil,” Brockovich said. Concerns continue…
A new review suggests that vitamin D does more than support bones in childhood, but says more solid human evidence is still needed for its most powerful non-skeletal effects. Important points Vitamin D is clearly important for skeletal health during the first 1,000 days, especially for preventing rickets and supporting early bone development. This review suggests that vitamin D may also influence immune, metabolic, and selected neurodevelopmental pathways, providing biological plausibility as a programming factor in early childhood. Most evidence for non-skeletal benefits in humans remains complex, limited and context-dependent, with stronger signals often observed in people and populations with…
FRANKFORT — Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill that critics say would prevent Kentuckians from suing pesticide companies for failing to warn them of the dangers of their products. Beshear said this is “dangerous to Kentuckians” and “ignores the health of America.” Bechar’s Tuesday Veto Message Senate Bill 199, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell (R-Murray), would “close the public’s access to court to seek damages from the manufacturers of these pesticides, if the products simply carry federal Environmental Protection Agency-approved warning labels.” “These labels do not warn consumers of the risks of using these pesticides, including the…
A major study from UK Biobank suggests that for the same total amount of activity, doing more activity at a vigorous intensity is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia and other chronic diseases. Research: Amount and intensity of physical activity and risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular chronic diseases. Image credit: muse studio / Shutterstock In a recent study published in european heart journalresearchers evaluated the association between percentage of vigorous physical activity (%VPA) and incidence of chronic disease outcomes. PA is a modifiable lifestyle factor that can reduce the risk of chronic disease and mortality. Guidelines…