Posts in category: Uncategorized

Is lockdown an effective response to a pandemic, or would it be better to let individuals spontaneously reduce their risk of infection? Research published today suggests these two highly-debated options lead to similar outcomes.

Romantic poet Lord Byron—famed for his rich and expressive portrayal of landscape and human emotions—is considered to be one of the key figures of English literature.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in late October 2023 urging consumers to avoid purchasing and to immediately stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products because of risk of eye infection that could result in partial vision loss or even blindness. More products were soon added to the list, and a few others have been voluntarily recalled. No cases of eye infection from the products have been reported as of mid-November 2023. It’s just the latest in a series of warnings and recalls related to bacterial or fungal contamination of these products.

The long-term use of painkillers from a young age may be linked to an increased risk of poor mental health later in life. This is according to research led by scientists at the University of Liverpool and St George’s, University of London which is published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe.

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have identified a key molecule, Themis2, within natural killer (NK) cells. These cells play a pivotal role in eliminating virus-infected cells. Themis2 remembers viral antigens and further regulates the differentiation of these NK cells into more potent immune memory NK cells, enhancing their killing ability and overall function.

Many risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS), which causes damage to the central nervous system, have been identified. However, it is still unknown why the disease occurs. In recent years, the herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been established as the leading risk factor.

A study by the University of Seville, CABIMER and IRB Barcelona led by the researchers Andrés Aguilera (US-CABIMER) and Aleix Bayona Feliu (IRB Barcelona) raises the possibility that DNA–RNA hybrids and the mutations in various cellular factors that form them may be responsible for the emergence of carcinogenic processes. The authors therefore stress the need to study these factors to understand and assess possible cancer risks.

During even the most routine visits, physicians listen to sounds inside their patients’ bodies—air moving in and out of the lungs, heart beats and even digested food progressing through the long gastrointestinal tract. These sounds provide valuable information about a person’s health. And when these sounds subtly change or downright stop, it can signal a serious problem that warrants time-sensitive intervention.

Among the nation’s hospitals, those that serve high numbers of Black and Hispanic patients are far less likely to have advanced medical equipment and critical services that have been shown to boost the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, according to a study led by investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

MIT researchers have designed a wearable ultrasound monitor, in the form of a patch, that can image organs within the body without the need for an ultrasound operator or application of gel.