Some Babies Get Bad Start on Obesity Risk From Mom
Babies of mothers who have unhealthy obesity (that is, obesity along with other metabolic comorbidities) appear to have greater levels of adiposity when compared with the offspring of women with metabolically healthy obesity, researchers reported. At the time of birth, children of mothers with unhealthy obesity weighed an average of 0.62 kg (1.4 lb) more […]
Multiple sclerosis drug improves memory in mice modeling Alzheimer’s disease
Losing memory is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, a symptom of the disease that depletes a patient’s quality of life. Improving memory and slowing cognitive changes caused by the disease is an ongoing challenge for researchers seeking to develop novel therapies. In a newly published paper in Frontiers in Neuroscience, researchers at the Del Monte Institute […]
Scientists identify mechanism that may influence infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants: Enzyme process alters spike protein function
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have found that a process in cells may limit infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, and that mutations in the alpha and delta variants overcome this effect, potentially boosting the virus’s ability to spread. The findings were published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study was […]
Antiviral Pill Almost 90% Effective; ‘Boostermania’ Not Slowing; COVID Death Gene
Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Pfizer announced that its oral antiviral reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in a study of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms. “Boostermania” continues to outpace the rate of new COVID vaccinations. (NPR) As of Thursday at 8 a.m. EDT, the unofficial […]
Nerves may be key to blocking abnormal bone growth in tissue: Drugs being investigated for pain relief may prevent heterotopic ossification, study suggests.
Blocking a molecule that draws sensory nerves into musculoskeletal injuries prevents heterotopic ossification (HO), a process in which bone abnormally grows in soft tissue during healing, UT Southwestern researchers reported in a study. The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest that drugs currently being tested in clinical trials to inhibit this molecule for pain relief […]
Is CBD Good for Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder that affects a small portion of the world’s population. Symptoms typically manifest in early adulthood or late adolescence. Schizophrenia has several different symptoms, such as hallucinations and impaired brain functions. Although it is not a core symptom, people with schizophrenia also experience anxiety, and with the increasing popularity of […]
Is There a Vaccine for Hepatitis B and C?
What do hepatitis B and C have in common? Hepatitis is a family of viruses that infect the liver. While hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C can all cause short-term infections, hepatitis B and C can also lead to chronic, long-term infections that severely damage the liver over time. This can cause cirrhosis — […]
U.K. OKs Merck’s COVID Pill; Moderna Protection Wanes Too; APA Apologizes for Racism
Note that some links may require registration or subscription. The U.K.’s drug regulator cleared Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics antiviral oral drug for COVID-19, the first nation to do so. (CNBC) Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was more effective at preventing Delta variant infections among clinical trial participants vaccinated more recently, pointing to waning protection. (New England Journal […]
Three ways to reduce the carbon footprint of food purchased by US households
Most consumers want to make food purchases that are smart for their wallets, their health and the environment. And while switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet can lower one’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, it may not be realistic or healthful for everyone. Now, researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology report three ways […]
Who Are the Scientists Behind the COVID-19 Vaccines?
There’s the slick, turtleneck-loving CEO who’s really good at raising cash for his company that has yet to release any data. There’s the workaholic power couple focused on curing cancer. There’s the researcher who co-invented a recombinant DNA technology but stays at a small biotech that’s limping along. All of these characters are the unlikely […]