In a collaborative effort between researchers at Karolinska Institutet and several Chinese hospitals and universities, gene therapy was administered to ten patients, leading to noticeable hearing improvement across all participants. The therapy was found to be safe and well-tolerated. “This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,” stated Maoli Duan, one of the study’s corresponding authors and a consultant and docent at the Karolinska Institutet’s Department of…
An artificial intelligence (AI) model has shown remarkable accuracy in predicting which patients are most at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The results have outperformed current clinical methods used by doctors. It is developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University with federal funding. This new system combines underutilized heart imaging with a wide array of medical data to focus on uncovering hidden indicators of heart disease. This innovation could lead to life-saving interventions for high-risk patients. It would also reduce…
Benzaldehyde is a compound best known for its almond-like aroma. It can halt the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer cells. It is possible for those who have become resistant to standard treatments. Scientists from Fujita Health University in Japan have identified a mechanism by which benzaldehyde interferes with complex protein signaling pathways, suppressing tumor progression and resistance. Benzaldehyde exerts its anticancer action by breaking the interaction between the signaling protein 14-3-3ζ and phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 28 (H3S28ph)….
A new study has reconstructed two 4000-year-old genomes from the rare pathogen Mycobacterium lepromatosis To the point Hansen’s Disease, more commonly known as leprosy, is a chronic disease that can lead to physical impairment. Today it exists in over 100 countries, and while the infection is treatable, access to treatment varies widely with socioeconomic conditions. Its mention in historical texts give us a glimpse into its past impact on population health in Europe and Asia. Prolonged untreated infection can result…
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known to be associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but how and why they are connected remains unknown. Researchers from Mass General Brigham discovered that HBV does not cause liver inflammation or cancer on its own, but worsens liver inflammation and may make patients more susceptible to early cancer development caused by environmental carcinogens. Limiting carcinogen exposure or reducing inflammation could mitigate this risk. The results are published in Nature Communications. “Our…
New survey shows only 1% of men consider bone health a top concern; what they don’t know can hurt them COLUMBUS, Ohio – Weak bones can have deadly consequences. Women often get bone density tests to screen for osteoporosis, yet many men don’t even realize they are at risk until they suffer a major fracture. June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, with a focus on raising awareness about osteoporosis in men. A new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University…
Study links coffee consumption to lower risk of all-cause mortality; benefits diminished with additives While you’re probably not pouring your morning cup for the long-term health benefits, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risk of mortality. In a new observational study, researchers from the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University found the association between coffee consumption and mortality risk changes with the amount of sweeteners and saturated fat added to…
Huntington’s disease has long defied attempts to rescue suffering neurons. A new study in Cell Reports shows that transplanting healthy human glial progenitor cells into the brains of adult animal models of the disease not only slowed motor and cognitive decline but also extended lifespan. These findings shift our understanding of Huntington’s pathology and open a potential path to cell-based therapies in adults already showing symptoms. “Glia are essential caretakers of neurons,” said Steve Goldman, MD, PhD, co-director of the…
A study involving over 700 pregnant women analyzes for the first time how air pollution may affect fetal brain development Fetuses more exposed to certain air pollutants show changes in the size of specific brain structures, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This is the main finding of a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with the BCNatal center (Hospital Sant Joan…
A new method improving the accuracy of interpreting blood pressure measurements taken at the ankle could be crucial for people who cannot have their arm blood pressure measured. New research from the University of Exeter Medical School, published in BMJ Open and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), analysed data from over 33,000 people to create a personalised predictive model for more accurately estimating arm blood pressure from ankle readings – when compared to previously…
Leg amputation caused by arterial disease four times higher in disadvantaged areas Leg amputation rates caused by arterial disease are four times as high in the most disadvantaged areas in England. The new study, from the University of Sheffield, also found patients living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are more likely to die following leg amputation compared with those living in the least disadvantaged areas. Whilst socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with a higher risk of amputation, this new study…
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A daily dose of almonds improved key health markers for people with metabolic syndrome in a study led by scientists at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU College of Health. The findings, published in Nutrition Research, showed that eating 2 ounces of almonds – about 45 nuts – daily led to signs of better cardiometabolic and gut health. The research is important because almost 40% of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have…
Among the billions of neurons in the brain, fewer than 500 are responsible for suppressing binge drinking, according to new research by Gilles E. Martin, PhD, associate professor of neurobiology. Published in Nature Neuroscience, these findings provide insights into binge drinking behavior and alcohol dependency that may lead to new therapeutic targets. “It’s really hard to comprehend how only a few neurons can have such a profound effect on behavior,” said Dr Martin, a member of the Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research…
In a major clinical study, the tool boosted productivity by up to 40% without compromising accuracy CHICAGO — A first-of-its-kind generative AI system, developed in-house at Northwestern Medicine, is revolutionizing radiology — boosting productivity, identifying life-threatening conditions in milliseconds and offering a breakthrough solution to the global radiologist shortage, a large new study finds. The findings will be published on Thursday (June 5) in JAMA Network Open. “This is, to my knowledge, the first use of AI that demonstrably improves…
By reprogramming the behavior of brain cells, new gene therapy could stop Alzheimer’s at the source Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease that could help protect the brain from damage and preserve cognitive function. Unlike existing treatments for Alzheimer’s that target unhealthy protein deposits in the brain, the new approach could help address the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease by influencing the behavior of brain cells themselves. Alzheimer’s…
New tool provides a path for a scalable, cost-effective way to assess functional decline and could help end the argument over whether aging should be categorized as a disease A team of international researchers has developed a new biological age “clock” that estimates how well someone is aging, not just how “old” they or their various organs might be. The IC Clock, which is described in a study in Nature Aging, measures intrinsic capacity (IC), the sum of six key…
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