What if people could detect cancer and other diseases with the same speed and ease as a pregnancy test or blood glucose meter? Researchers at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology are a step closer to realizing this goal by integrating machine learning-based analysis into point-of-care biosensing technologies.
Vaccine experts removed by Trump health chief sound the alarm
Vaccination experts recently fired by Donald Trump’s administration sounded the alarm in a Monday editorial, saying they were “deeply concerned” by the actions of a US health secretary known for his vaccine skepticism.
Despite overall progress, low birthweight rates still high in certain Indian states
Despite overall progress in bringing down low birthweight numbers across India over the past 30 years, rates remain stubbornly high in certain states, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal accounting for almost half of all such births, finds research published in BMJ Global Health.
Potential Medicaid cuts could lead to more than 16,500 medically-preventable deaths each year
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine estimates the potential effects on Medicaid enrollment, uninsurance, financial strain, health care access, and health outcomes from potential Medicaid budget cuts being considered in Congress, including the House reconciliation bill advanced in May.
Smartphones may improve accuracy of medical devices across skin tones
As concern grows over racial bias in common medical tools like pulse oximeters, a new study shows that smartphones may offer a simple, accessible way to help correct the problem. Researchers at Brown University and Morgan State University have developed a method for using smartphone cameras to objectively measure skin tone, a factor known to affect the accuracy of pulse oximetry—the technique that monitors oxygen levels through the skin.
Minutes instead of months: Algorithm rapidly identifies cell types to match patients with effective cancer therapies
Researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a novel algorithm that could provide a revolutionary tool for determining the best options for patients—both in the treatment of cancer and in the prescription of medicines.
Early mitochondrial impairment and myelin loss tied to multiple sclerosis brain damage
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects an estimated 2.3 million people worldwide. Approximately 80% of people with MS have inflammation in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that helps control movement and balance, potentially leading to tremors, poor coordination, and trouble with motor control. These problems often persist and can worsen over time, as the cerebellum gradually loses healthy brain tissue.
Integrative exome sequencing and machine learning identify new genes contributing to systemic sclerosis risk
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune disease with complex genetic causes. Some genetic contributors have been identified, but others remain unknown, which has impeded development of targeted treatments. In a new study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions used complementary approaches that integrate exome sequencing and evolutionary action machine learning to identify protein changes and their associated mechanisms in SSc.
Enzyme inhibitor strategy converts neuroblastoma cells into healthy neurons in mice
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Lund University in Sweden have identified a new treatment strategy for neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer. By combining two antioxidant enzyme inhibitors, they have converted cancer cells in mice into healthy nerve cells.
Immune tolerance to gut microbes is initiated by a key bacterial sensor, researchers discover
Thousands of bacterial and other microbial species live in the human gut, supporting healthy digestion, immunity, metabolism and other functions. Precisely how these microbes are protected from immune attack has been unclear, but now a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators has found that this immune “tolerance” to gut microbes depends on an ancient bacterial-sensing protein called STING—normally considered a trigger for inflammation. The surprising result could lead to new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions involving gut inflammation.