Study finds probiotic supplement helps to form a mature microbiome in extremely preterm infants
University of Calgary researchers have shown probiotic supplements can help form a healthy microbiome in the gut of the tiniest infants who are born without a fully formed gut microbiome. The study found that a specific mix (five species) of probiotic supplement accelerated the maturation of the microbiome into a term-like state and reduced intestinal […]
Study identifies new therapeutic target for most common type of pancreatic cancer
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered a potential therapeutic target for the most common type of pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in Developmental Cell. The findings suggest ISL2, a transcription factor, can act as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) tumors and that its depletion reprograms PDA cells’ transcriptional and metabolic states. […]
Paper-based microfluidics offer pathway to rapid and low-cost prototyping
A team from the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, led by associate professor Dr. Zachary Gagnon and graduate student Md Nazibul Islam, has developed a novel way to fabricate diagnostic devices using paper-based microfluidics that can be rapidly prototyped and scaled for manufacturing. Their research was recently featured on the […]
Artificial-intelligence predicts patients’ race from their medical images
The miseducation of algorithms is a critical problem; when artificial-intelligence mirrors unconscious thoughts, racism, and biases of the humans who generated these algorithms, it can lead to serious harm. Computer programs, for example, have wrongly flagged Black defendants as twice as likely to reoffend as someone who’s white. When an AI used cost as a […]
20% of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis cases in children could be averted by household testing and treatment
One in five multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) cases in children under the age of 15 could be averted every year by household contact management, according to a new modeling study published in The Lancet Global Health. The research from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of Sheffield and Imperial College […]
Facebook posts may reveal individuals at risk for excessive drinking
Alcoholism can be a difficult condition to diagnose, especially in cases where individuals’ drinking habits are not noticed and physical symptoms have not yet manifested. In a new study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, co-author H. Andrew Schwartz, Ph.D., of the Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University, and colleagues determined that […]
Baby formula shortage: Eight tips for parents
A national shortage of baby formula has many parents worried they won’t be able to feed their babies. More than 40% of top-selling formula brands are reportedly out of stock at stores around the country. The shortage stems from pandemic supply issues worsened by recalls and the shutdown of an Abbott Laboratories production plant in […]
Insomnia in midlife may manifest as cognitive problems in retirement age
The Helsinki Health Study at the University of Helsinki investigated the development of insomnia symptoms in midlife and their effects on memory, learning ability and concentration after retirement. The follow-up period was 15–17 years. According to the study, long-term insomnia symptoms and later poorer cognitive functioning have a clear connection. “The findings indicate that severe […]
Researchers highlight crisis in dental care for people with severe mental illness
People with severe mental illnesses are falling through the cracks when it comes to oral health care, according to new research. The study explores the reasons why people with severe mental illness—such as Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder—struggle to maintain good oral health and access dental care, leaving them three times more likely than the general […]
A user’s guide to keeping your lungs healthy and functional
Take a deep breath in. Now, slowly, let it out. This simple activity is something we do all day long and seldom think about. But our lives depend on it. Every cell in the body needs oxygen, which is in the air we breathe. Your lungs receive this oxygen and then move it into the […]