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Plasma jets reveal magnetic fields far, far away
For the first time, researchers have observed plasma jets interacting with magnetic fields in a massive galaxy cluster 600 million light years away, thanks to the help of radio telescopes and supercomputer simulations. The findings, published in the journal Nature, can help clarify how such galaxy clusters evolve.
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Implantable piezoelectric polymer improves controlled release of drugs
A membrane made from threads of a polymer commonly used in vascular sutures can be loaded with therapeutic drugs and implanted in the body, where mechanical forces activate the polymer's electric potential and slowly release the drugs. The novel system, developed by a group led by bioengineers at UC Riverside, overcomes the biggest limitations of conventional drug administration and some controlled release methods, and could improve treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.
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USC study reveals potential new treatment target in the fight against COVID-19
A new Keck School of Medicine of USC study reveals how therapies targeting a molecular chaperone called GRP78 might offer additional protection against COVID-19 and other coronaviruses that emerge in the future.
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Dental crowding: Ancient baleen whales had a mouth full
CT scans of a 25 million year-old fossil skull show the Aetiocetus weltoni had both teeth and baleen, unlike modern whales.
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Study finds health insurance disruptions associated with worse healthcare access
A new study underscores the importance of health insurance coverage continuity in access to and receipt of care and care affordability in the United States.
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A long-term study shows strong links between gestational diabetes during pregnancy and type-1 and type-2 diabetes later in life
A 23 year study being presented at the 23rd European Congress of Endocrinology (e-ECE 2021), on Monday 24 May 2021 at 14:40 CET (www.ece2021.org), has found that women who experience gestational diabetes (GDM) when they are pregnant, are more prone to developing type-1 and type-2 diabetes later in life. The long-term study suggests that autoantibody testing should be considered for women who experience GDM in order to have a better understanding of their prognosis.
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New quantum material discovered
A new semimetal has been found, showing remarkable properties: It is a quantum critical material, which means that it has phase transitions at absolute zero temperature. Usually, quantum criticality can only be created under very specific environmental conditions -- a certain pressure or an electromagnetic field. But the new material is quantum critical on its own.
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New research reveals that a low-calorie ketogenic diet can help testosterone levels in overweight men
A very low-calorie ketogenic diet can help testosterone and sex hormone (SHBG) levels in overweight men, according to a study being presented at the 23rd?European Congress of Endocrinology (e-ECE 2021), on Monday 24 May 2021 at 14:06 CET (www.ece2021.org). The study found that after following a recommended low-calorie ketogenic diet for four weeks, body weight, fat mass and body mass index (BMI) significantly decreased and a substantial increase of total testosterone and SHBG levels were also found.
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Defective gene slows down brain cells
Although many forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are thought to have genetic causes, the cellular and molecular functions of the identified genes remain unclear. Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria studied a high-risk gene and discovered its important role during a critical phase of brain development.
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Predicting chemotherapy response and tailoring treatments for pancreatic cancer patients
After discovering critical epigenetic elements involved in chemotherapy resistance of pancreatic cancer, researchers from Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center have invented a novel biomarker platform that rapidly assesses these elements as a means to predict chemotherapy response and select pancreatic cancer patients who are most likely to benefit from traditional chemotherapy versus possible alternate epigenetic therapy. This technology introduces the first-ever epigenetic precision medicine approach to pancreatic cancer.
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Dengue immune function discovery could benefit much-needed vaccine development
Despite a daunting more than 130 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections to date worldwide, another global pathogen - the mosquito-borne dengue virus - saw a record number of over 400 million cases in 2019. But vaccine development has been challenging due to the need to protect equally against all four dengue strains. The discovery of new possible biomarkers to predict clinical and immune responses to dengue virus infection could be critical to informing future vaccines.
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Surge in nitrogen has turned sargassum into the world's largest harmful algal bloom
Using a unique historical baseline (1983-2019), scientists have discovered dramatic changes in the chemistry and composition of Sargassum, floating brown seaweed, transforming this vibrant living organism into a toxic "dead zone." Results suggest that increased nitrogen availability from natural and anthropogenic sources, including sewage, is supporting blooms of Sargassum and turning a critical nursery habitat into harmful algal blooms with catastrophic impacts on coastal ecosystems, economies, and human health. Globally, harmful algal blooms are related to increased nutrient pollution.
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Experimental broadcast of whitewater river noise drives bats and birds away
The thunder of a mountain river or the crash of pounding surf have likely been changing how animals communicate and where they live for eons. A new experimental study published in the journal Nature Communications finds that birds and bats often avoid habitat swamped with loud whitewater river noise.
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Accurate evaluation of CRISPR genome editing
A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and Bar-Ilan University report in the May 24th issue of the journal Nature Communications the development of a new software tool to detect, evaluate and quantify off-target editing activity, including adverse translocation events that can cause cancer. The software is based on input taken from a standard measurement assay, involving multiplexed PCR amplification and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
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Risk of second stroke can be reduced with prevention efforts based on cause of first stroke
Having a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) greatly increases your chances of having a future stroke. Identifying the cause or causes of the first stroke is key to developing strategies to prevent additional strokes.Managing blood pressure levels, reducing or quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and regular physical activity will reduce the risk of a second stroke, along with managing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
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Obesity and cancer: Studies highlight different aspects of the connection
Multi-factorial metabolic and inflammatory abnormalities in obesity, independently or in combination, seems to be the critical biological link of obesity, cancer and racial/gender health disparities. However, the specific cross-talk between these factors remain elusive. Because of the extraordinary relevance in understanding the relationship between obesity-associated inflammation and comorbidities with cancer development, progression and intervention, three new papers emphasizing different aspects of the obesity and cancer connection can be found in the latest online issue of Obesity.
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Weight-loss maintainers sit less than weight-stable people with obesity
People who are successful at weight-loss maintenance spend less time sitting during the week and weekends compared to weight-stable individuals with obesity, according to a paper published online in Obesity, The Obesity Society's flagship journal. This is the first study to examine time spent in various sitting activities among weight-loss maintainers.
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COVID-19 mortality associated with 2 signs easily measured at home
A study of 1,095 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 found that two easily measured signs of health - respiration rate and blood-oxygen saturation - predict higher mortality. This context is lacking in current CDC guidance, which tells people with COVID-19 to seek medical care when they experience symptoms such as "trouble breathing" and "persistent pain or pressure in the chest" - indications that may be absent even when respiration and blood oxygen have reached dangerous levels, the authors say.
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Oncotarget: The Hippo pathway, RABL6A, and p53-MDM2 axes in sarcomas
Dr. Munir R. Tanas from The University of Iowa said, "Sarcomas are difficult to treat malignant mesenchymal neoplasms arising in bone or soft tissue."
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Oncotarget: Retaining nanomolar potency in lung cancer with therapy-refractory mutations
The gene correlates of LP-184 sensitivity allow additional personalization of therapeutic options for future treatment of NSCLC.
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