Researchers reveal that complete blood count setpoints are stable, patient-specific biomarkers that persist for decades, offering new avenues for personalized medicine and precision diagnostics.
The instrument uses light to move atoms to measure incredibly small forces.
A new study finds that chimpanzees’ self-medication has helped scientists identify some promising plants for future pharmaceuticals. In the study, Oxford researchers have identified no less than 13 plants with potent wound-healing and infection-fighting properties.
Continue reading “Chimps use medicinal plants to treat illnesses, may help find new drugs” »
Imagine a world in which a vaccine is a cream you rub onto your skin instead of a needle a health care worker pushes into your one of your muscles. Even better, it’s entirely pain-free and not followed by fever, swelling, redness or a sore arm. No standing in a long line to get it. Plus, it’s cheap.
Thanks to Stanford University researchers’ domestication of a bacterial species that hangs out on the skin of close to everyone on Earth, that vision could become a reality.
“We all hate needles — everybody does,” said Michael Fischbach, PhD, the Liu (Liao) Family Professor and a professor of bioengineering. “I haven’t found a single person who doesn’t like the idea that it’s possible to replace a shot with a cream.”
Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have uncovered compelling evidence that children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a rare genetic disorder affecting airway function, are significantly more likely than children without PCD to have asthma. The findings, recently published in a JAMA Network Open research letter, highlight the importance of routine asthma screening for children with PCD and suggest some children with asthma may have undiagnosed PCD.
An estimated 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 people in the United States have PCD. It affects the microscopic, hair-like structures called cilia that line the airways and help clear mucus, leading to an increased risk of serious breathing problems and infections in people with the inherited condition.
“The connection between PCD and asthma has not previously received much attention,” said Benjamin Gaston, MD, the Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, who co-led the study. “Our data analysis revealed an undeniable link, showing children with PCD were 22 times more likely to have asthma compared to children without PCD characteristics.”
Researchers optimized portable low-field MRI with machine learning to improve brain morphometry and white matter hyperintensity detection, making Alzheimer’s diagnosis more accessible and cost-effective.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, contagious virus that affects your respiratory system. It spreads easily and leads to cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose and cough.
Most people with RSV have mild symptoms that go away on their own in a week or two. But RSV can lead to serious complications, especially for babies, older adults, and people with certain conditions.
If you have RSV and you can’t breathe well or you’re dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital. You may need IV fluids, oxygen, or ventilation (which helps with your air flow).
Just 37% of kids have gotten flu shots this year, according to new CDC data. That’s down seven percentage points, from 44% of kids getting shots by this same time last year.
The data concerns health officials, especially since a record number of children died of flu-related causes last year.
Ultimately, 55% of kids got vaccinated against the flu during the 2023–24 flu season, which was the lowest rate in 12 years, a CDC official told NBC News. Vaccination rates have fallen for a variety of childhood vaccines in recent years. The trend has been blamed on vaccine fatigue after the pandemic as well as misinformation about the safety of childhood shots.
A cutting-edge X-ray method reveals the 3D orientation of nanoscale material structures, offering fresh insights into their functionality.
Researchers at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) have developed a groundbreaking technique called X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography (XL-DOT). This method reveals the three-dimensional arrangement of a material’s structural building blocks at the nanoscale. Its first application focused on a polycrystalline catalyst, enabling scientists to visualize crystal grains, grain boundaries, and defects—critical features that influence catalyst performance. Beyond catalysis, XL-DOT offers unprecedented insights into the structure of various functional materials used in information technology, energy storage, and biomedical applications.
Research from Washington University shows that glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, has its own internal clock that synchronizes with the host’s circadian rhythms to optimize its growth by responding to daily hormone releases like cortisol.
Targeting these circadian signals in treatment slowed tumor growth significantly in both lab and animal studies. This synchronization could explain the mixed effects of dexamethasone, a common treatment, depending on the timing of its administration. The study highlights the potential of chronotherapy, aligning treatment with the body’s natural rhythms, to improve cancer outcomes.
Circadian Rhythms and Human Biology.
