by Tom Rickey, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory PNNL is expanding the library of data on known fentanyl variants, keeping first responders such as hazardous materials workers safe in the field. Credit: Gorodenkoff | Shutterstock.com While COVID has ruled the headlines for two years running, a different epidemic is claiming the lives of more than 100,000...
Month: <span>February 2022</span>
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Is good dental care key to stroke prevention?
by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dental care following a stroke appears to reduce the chance of a second stroke, according to researchers at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Credit: Shutterstock For adults who have had a stroke staying on top of dental care may prevent a second stroke, according to research...
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Smartphone app can vibrate a single drop of blood to determine how well it clots
by University of Washington Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new blood-clotting test that uses only a single drop of blood and a smartphone vibration motor and camera. The system includes a plastic attachment that holds a tiny cup of blood beneath the phone’s camera (shown here). Note: This photo simulates how...
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There’s no autism epidemic. But there is an autism diagnosis epidemic
By Rachel Burr Gerrard Feb. 10, 2022 ADOBE Is there an autism epidemic? No. The increase in the autism rate recently reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention represent an autism diagnosis epidemic. Writing in the weekly journal MMWR, CDC researchers reported that autism rates in the United States increased from 1 in 150 children in...
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In a victory for pain experts, CDC tones down its opioid prescribing guidelines
By Andrew Joseph Feb. 10, 2022 ADOBE Federal health officials on Thursday abandoned their influential recommendations that opioid prescribers should aim for certain dose thresholds when treating chronic pain. The changes came as part of a proposed update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s controversial 2016 guidelines on opioid prescribing. The recommendations are an attempt...
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P53 protein plays a key role in tissue repair, study finds
by University of Bristol Once the collective migration of cells has closed the breach, the damaged leader cells need to be cleared from the tissue. When the leaders (blue nuclei) cannot be eliminated by their neighbours (green nuclei) their permanence in the epithelium compromises its regular architecture. Credit: University of Bristol New research led by...
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Epstein-barr virus: It causes mono and maybe MS. Is a vaccine near?
The mononucleosis virus, Epstein-Barr, has become a major suspect in the search for what causes multiple sclerosis. Now researchers are raising the next logical question—can we stop both MS and mononucleosis by preventing Epstein-Barr infections, which occur in 95% of adults? Epstein-Barr vaccines currently under development by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the pharmaceutical...
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Clearance of protein linked to Alzheimer’s controlled by circadian cycle
by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Circadian rhythms control the removal of a key protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute The brain’s ability to clear a protein closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease is tied to our circadian cycle, according to research published today in PLOS Genetics. The research underscores the importance of healthy sleep habits...
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Calorie restriction trial reveals key factors in extending human health
by Yale University Credit: CC0 Public Domain Decades of research has shown that limits on calorie intake by flies, worms, and mice can enhance life span in laboratory conditions. But whether such calorie restriction can do the same for humans remains unclear. Now a new study led by Yale researchers confirms the health benefits of...
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Diets high in flavonoids may help people with Parkinson’s live longer
A new study finds that a flavonoid-rich diet reduces mortality in people with Parkinson’s disease. Robert Lang/Stocksy People living with Parkinson’s disease have higher mortality risk compared to the general population. Researchers recently showed that a diet rich in flavonoids — compounds present in brightly colored foods such as blueberries, strawberries, red wine, and tea...