Digital technology and AI can support workers with dementia

People with dementia can enjoy productive and rewarding working lives in the digital era, contrary to the widespread stereotype that dementia is incompatible with the use of modern technology, according to new research.

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Digital PCR can reliably determine if chronic myeloid leukemia patients in remission can successfully discontinue drug treatment

Researchers have found that the clinical application of BCR::ABL1 digital PCR can reliably quantify stable deep molecular remission of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which will help to determine for which patients chronic drug treatment could potentially be discontinued. This transcript that is unique for CML is more sensitive and accurate than the current standard, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), for detecting ultralow levels of residual leukemic disease.

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Blue pigment improves foundation makeup shades for dark skin

Drugstores and makeup counters carry foundations in various olive, ivory and fair shades. But for people with darker skin tones, finding the right foundation shade can be a challenge. The darker foundations that exist often fall flat, appearing gray-like once applied on the skin. But now, researchers report a blue cosmetic color additive that gives darker foundations the warmth and depth that current foundations lack.

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How cells respond to stress is more nuanced than previously believed

The body's cells respond to stress -- toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults -- by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses. If the stress is manageable, cells resume normal activity; if not, they self-destruct. Scientists have believed for decades this response happens as a linear chain of events: sensors in the cell 'sound an alarm' and modify a key protein, which then changes a second protein that slows or shuts down the cell's normal function. But researchers have now discovered a cell's response is more nuanced and compartmentalized -- not fixed or rigid, as previously thought.

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AI can help doctors give intravenous nutrition to preemies

An algorithm that learned from tens of thousands of nutrition prescriptions for premature babies could reduce medical errors and better identify what nutrients the smallest patients need.

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New IVF method mimics fallopian tube environment, increasing sperm viability

The success of in vitro fertilization depends on many factors, one of which is sperm viability. A recent study documents a new way to select viable sperm and prolong their viability in the laboratory, reducing one source of variability during the process.

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Study confirms accuracy of blood test for early Alzheimer's detection in Asian populations

A study has demonstrated the high accuracy of plasma p-tau217 as a blood-based biomarker for detecting abnormal brain beta-amyloid pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

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Scientists engineer starfish cells to shape-shift in response to light

Scientists used light to control how a starfish egg cell jiggles and moves during its earliest stage of development. Their optical system could guide the design of synthetic, light-activated cells for wound healing or drug delivery.

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Fatty liver linked to increased risk of death from several diseases

A comprehensive study shows that people with fatty liver disease have almost twice the mortality rate of the general population. They have an increased risk of dying from both liver diseases and common diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

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Motion sickness brain circuit may provide new options for treating obesity

Researchers describe a new brain circuit involved in motion sickness that also contributes to regulating body temperature and metabolic balance. The findings may provide unconventional strategies for the treatment of obesity.

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New rules for the game of memory

New research on the hippocampus, a brain area essential for memory, suggests that new rules of synaptic plasticity best explain how brain activity continually reshapes the way memories are recorded in the brain.

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New function discovered for protein important in leukemia

In addition to exporting materials out of the nucleus, the protein, called Exportin-1 (also called Xpo1 or Crm1), seems to play a role in promoting gene transcription, the process that creates RNA replicas of strands of DNA to express genes.

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Novel memristors to overcome AI's 'catastrophic forgetting'

Memristors consume extremely little power and behave similarly to brain cells. Researchers have now introduced novel memristive that offer significant advantages: they are more robust, function across a wider voltage range, and can operate in both analog and digital modes. Their unique properties could help address the problem of 'catastrophic forgetting,' where artificial neural networks abruptly forget previously learned information.

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New mechanism behind adaptive immunity revealed: It could impact how we design vaccines

New imaging reveals a built-in safeguard that allows B cell populations to rapidly expand in germinal centers without introducing deleterious mutations.

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Adopting zero-emission trucks and buses could save lives, prevent asthma

Researchers used community input to design Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) air-quality model experiments. Community asked for ACT policy simulations that convert 48% of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles into zero tailpipe emission versions. Researchers simulated how this policy would change pollution levels in Illinois. They found the policy would likely prevent 500 premature deaths and 600 new pediatric asthma cases annually within the greater Chicago area.

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How childhood adversity shapes brain and behavior

Early-life adversity affects more than half of the world's children and is a significant risk factor for cognitive and mental health problems later in life. In an extensive and up-to-the-minute review of research in this domain, scholars illuminate the profound impacts of these adverse childhood experiences on brain development and introduce new paths for understanding and tackling them.

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Psychological prehabilitation improves surgical recovery

A new analysis led by surgeons finds that psychological prehabilitation can significantly enhance recovery after surgery. The study found that psychological prehabilitation significantly reduces the length of hospital stay, pain, anxiety, and depression after surgery.

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Slow, silent 'scream' of epithelial cells detected for first time

It has long been thought that only nerve and heart cells use electric impulses to communicate, while epithelial cells -- which compose the linings of our skin, organs and body cavities -- are mute, serving mostly as protective barriers that can absorb and secrete various substances. But researchers have now upended the status quo by showing that epithelial cells do indeed 'talk' to each other, albeit with slow electrical signals.

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Oxytocin system of breastfeeding affected in mothers with postnatal depression

The oxytocin system -- which helps release breast milk and strengthens the bond between mother and baby -- may be affected during breastfeeding in mothers experiencing postnatal depression.

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New members of the CDKL family of genes linked to neurodevelopmental disorders

Researchers have deepened our understanding of two of the five members of the CDKL family of genes, CDKL2 and CDKL1. They show that variants in these genes can lead to neurodevelopmental conditions, including epilepsy, and propose a mechanism by which the defective variants may cause the neurological symptoms in affected individuals.

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Cellular circuit controls how DNA damage is repaired, affecting risk of disease as we age

New findings show that the mitochondria powering our cells also control the ability of a DNA repair protein to suppress the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which causes zombie-like cells to spew inflammatory molecules that can contribute to chronic inflammation in the body.

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Mother's high-fat diet can cause liver stress in fetus

When mothers eat a diet high in fat and sugars, their unborn babies can develop liver stress that continues into early life. A new study sheds light on changes to the fetus's bile acid, which affects how liver disease develops and progresses.

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Depressing findings for those suffering from eating disorders

New research shows that people with eating disorders are more harshly judged than those suffering from depression, making it much harder for them to seek treatment.

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New research explores mental health costs of emotional labor at work

'Fake it till you make it' might be common advice to climb the corporate ladder, but new research shows that this attitude could also adversely affect job satisfaction and mental health.

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Delhi air pollution worse than expected as water vapor skews figures

New Delhi's air pollution is more severe than previously estimated with particles absorbing atmospheric water vapor leading to particulate matter levels across the city being underestimated by up to 20%.

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Retiring abroad puts older adults at risk for loneliness

Many people dream of retiring to a warmer, less expensive country. But retirees who move abroad may be at greater risk of loneliness than those who stay in their home country, according to new research.

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'Doomsday Clock' and patterns of mortality and mental health in the United States

A new study investigated the mortality and mental health correlates of the iconic Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock.

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Food insecurity today, heart disease tomorrow?

Struggling to afford food today could mean heart problems tomorrow. Young adults experiencing food insecurity have a 41% greater risk of developing heart disease in midlife, even after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors, according to a new study. Food insecurity -- struggling to get enough nutritious food to stay healthy -- affects one in eight households in the U.S. each year.

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Hepatic stellate cells control liver function and regeneration

Until now, doctors knew hepatic stellate cells mainly as drivers of liver fibrosis. The actual functions of this cell type have hardly been studied to date. Researchers have now determined that hepatic stellate cells control liver metabolism as well as liver regeneration and size. The results of the study could contribute to new therapeutic approaches for liver diseases.

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Robotic helper making mistakes? Just nudge it in the right direction

MIT researchers developed a framework that lets a user correct a robot's behavior during deployment using simple interactions, such as by pointing to an item, tracing a trajectory, or nudging the robot's arm.

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Bad sleep harms old-age memory by disrupting the brain's 'waste removal system'

Poor sleep among older adults is linked to disruptions in the brain's 'waste removal system', according to researchers. A recent study offers valuable insight into how sleep quality impacts brain functioning.

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Receiving low-glucose alerts improves diabetic drivers' safety on the road

A Japanese study has found that the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, equipped with sensors that alert diabetics when their blood sugar levels drop, can potentially make diabetic drivers safer on the road. Those who used the devices had lower incidences of low blood sugar and reported increased confidence in driving.

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Decoding the neural basis of affective empathy: How the brain feels others' pain

A research team has uncovered key insights into how the brain processes others' distress. Using miniature endoscopic calcium imaging, the researchers identified specific neural ensembles in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that encode empathic freezing, a behavioral response in which an observer reacts with fear when witnessing distress in others.

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New CAR-T cell therapy shows promise for hard-to-treat cancers

Researchers have successfully developed a supercharged iteration of CAR-T cell therapy that can enhance the effectiveness and longevity of the cells, particularly against cancer cells that are harder for prior CAR-T therapies to detect and fight.

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Is red wine a healthier choice than white wine? Uncorking the cancer risks

Researchers have conducted a study that scours 'the vast and often contradictory literature on the carcinogenicity of red and white wine' to assess whether this assumption holds up, and to compare the cancer risks associated with wine type.

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GIFs helping footballers to sleep better

A recent study has found that short animations known as GIFs (Graphic Interchange Format) can improve the sleep of professional female footballers.

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High temperatures could affect brain function in preadolescents

Exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with lower connectivity in three brain networks in preadolescents, suggesting that heat may impact brain function.

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Alzheimer's treatment may lie in the brain's own cleanup crew

A new study suggests a promising alternative to previous attempts to remove the sticky, toxic amyloid beta plaques from brains with Alzheimer's Disease: enhancing the brain's own immune cells to clear these plaques more effectively. The findings could reshape the future of Alzheimer's treatments, shifting the focus from simply removing plaques to harnessing the brain's natural defenses.

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Consumer devices can be used to assess brain health

Technology is changing how physicians think about assessing patients and, in turn, how patients expect to be able to measure their own health. Apps designed for smartphones and wearable devices can provide unique insights into users' brain health. It is estimated that 55 million individuals worldwide suffer from some form of dementia. Alzheimer's disease and related dementias being the leading causes, with numbers expected to triple by 2050.

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When you get hurt matters: Circadian rhythms affect muscle repair

The body's internal clock doesn't just dictate when we sleep -- it also determines how quickly our muscles heal. A new study in mice suggests that muscle injuries heal faster when they occur during the body's natural waking hours.

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Stressed out? It may increase the risk of stroke

Some people living with chronic stress have a higher risk of stroke, according to a new study. The study looked at younger adults and found an association between stress and stroke, with no known cause, in female participants, but not male participants. This study does not prove that stress causes stroke; it only shows an association.

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New study examines how physics students perceive recognition

Experts see peer recognition as important to student success in physics, and a new study gives college-level physics instructors insight into how students perceive the message from their classmates that 'you're good at physics.' Even when women receive similar amounts of recognition from peers as men for excelling in physics classes, they perceive significantly less peer recognition, the researchers found.

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The pupil as a window into the sleeping brain

For the first time, researchers have been able to observe how the pupils react during sleep over a period of several hours. A look under the eyelids showed them that more happens in the brain during sleep than was previously assumed.

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How to clear the toxic tau protein that can lead to Alzheimer's and related diseases

The neurotransmitter glutamate is essential for regulating everything from mood to memory, but it can also encourage a toxic buildup of protein, which can contribute to Alzheimer's and related diseases. Scientists now describe a new approach for counteracting these devastating and often fatal neurodegenerative effects. Researchers made their discovery by studying lab mice as well as human brain 'organoids,' which are rudimentary brain-like structures grown in the lab.

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New antibodies show potential to defeat all SARS-CoV-2 variants

A team has found two antibodies that can work together to neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19 in all its current known variations in a laboratory environment. More research is needed, but the approach shows promise in developing treatments to keep pace with evolving viruses.

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Feeling is believing: Bionic hand 'knows' what it's touching, grasps like a human

Engineers have developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human, carefully conforming and adjusting its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds.

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Creativity boosts standardized literacy and numeracy test scores: Australia

A groundbreaking study shows that creativity plays an essential role in academic success, suggesting that students who think outside the box are more likely to excel in literacy and numeracy assessments.

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Synthetic microbiome therapy suppresses bacterial infection without antibiotics

A synthetic microbiome therapy, tested in mice, holds promise as a new treatment for C. difficile, a notoriously difficult-to-treat bacterial infection, according to a team of researchers. The targeted treatment was as effective as human fecal transplants in mice against C. difficile infection with fewer safety concerns, protect against severe symptoms and decrease recurrent infections.

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Kicking yourself: Going against one's better judgment amplifies self-blame

When people go along with opinions that go against their own, they feel more culpable for the decision if things go wrong than if they hadn't received another opinion, researchers have found.

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Scientists discover key protein in resilience to stress

When faced with chronic stress, why do some people develop anxiety and depressive symptoms while others show resilience? A protein that acts as a cannabinoid receptor and is present in the structure controlling exchanges between the bloodstream and the brain could be part of the answer, according to a new study.

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Reactive nitrogen species dominance is key in the fight against antimicrobial resistance

The balance between two types of molecules -- reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) -- plays a crucial role in tackling drug-resistant bacteria, according to a new study.

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From dormant to danger: How VZV reactivation is driving central nervous system infections

Researchers observed a rise in adult central nervous system (CNS) infections, primarily aseptic meningitis caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), post-2019. The researchers highlighted the potential of zoster vaccination to reduce CNS infections. Meanwhile, CNS infection by herpesviruses, including VZV, may contribute to the progression of dementia. Furthermore, the potential effect of zoster vaccines in preventing dementia progression by reducing VZV reactivation has also been highlighted.

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New combination treatment strategy dramatically increases cell death in leukemia

Scientists have identified an innovative combination of treatment strategies that work collaboratively to effectively kill acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, a frequently incurable form of cancer. New research findings suggest that a class of drugs known as MCL-1 (myeloid leukemia cell-1) inhibitors interact with a type of kinase inhibitor that targets the SRC gene to efficiently trigger cell death in AML cells.

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Stem cell transplant clears clinical safety hurdle for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration

Wet AMD in its early stages can be treated with drugs to reduce the formation of new blood vessels, but this treatment is inefficient in cases where blood vessel formation is already in its advanced stages. A new, alternative treatment for those patients may be surgical removal of the abnormal blood vessels followed by the transplantation of stem cell-derived retinal cells, according to a recent study.

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