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Exposure of pregnant women to persistent organic pollutants linked to smaller fetuses

Pregnant women exposed to persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, had slightly smaller fetuses than women who haven't been exposed to these chemicals, according to an analysis of ultrasound scans by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

30 Dec 2019

Combination treatment reduces breast cancer development in mice

Adding a medication used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraines to a blood pressure medicine reversed some aspects of breast cancer in the offspring of mice at high risk of the disease because of the high fat diet fed to their mothers during pregnancy.

30 Dec 2019

Chemical reprogramming of granulosa cells to form functional oocytes

By introducing a chemical cocktail to granulosa cells, researchers in China induced the cells to transform into functional oocytes in mice.

26 Dec 2019

Inserting end-modified DNA fragments with CRISPR-Cas9 yields highest efficiency

University of Illinois researchers achieved the highest reported rates of inserting genes into human cells with the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, a necessary step for harnessing CRISPR for clinical gene-therapy applications.

23 Dec 2019

2,500 vaping-related hospitalizations in the US

Over the past few months, there was a sudden surge of patients presenting with mysterious lung disease, e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), which was tied to e-cigarette use. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 2,500 hospitalizations and a total of 54 deaths.

22 Dec 2019

Links between most human diseases and genetics are shaky at best

In most cases, your genes have less than five per cent to do with your risk of developing a particular disease, according to new research by University of Alberta scientists.

20 Dec 2019

Research shows harmful effects of chemicals in vaping liquids to lung tissue

New research appearing in the journal Scientific Reports unpacks the list of chemicals that comprise flavored e-liquids and pods used in vaping and details their harmful effects to lung tissue, including inflammation and genetic damage that could indicate long-term risk for respiratory disease and even cancer.

18 Dec 2019

Don’t toss that e-cig: Vaping waste is a whole new headache for schools and cities

In her office at Boulder High School, the assistant principal has a large cardboard box where she can toss the spoils of her ongoing battle with the newest student addiction.

18 Dec 2019

Human hearts and polluted air

Air pollution is injurious to our lungs and our blood vessels, according to many previous studies. However, a new study published on December 16, 2019, in the Journal of Physiology, says that the human heart responds to air pollution in more or less the same way as that of sea-living creatures.

16 Dec 2019

E-cigarettes have long-term adverse effects on health

A new study has revealed that use of electronic cigarettes is associated with a raised risk of developing chronic lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or emphysema.

16 Dec 2019

New concepts for efficient, reliable risk assessment of nanomaterials

From dyes to construction materials, and from cosmetic products to electronics and medicine, nanomaterials are found in many different applications. But what are these materials? "Nanomaterials are defined purely by their size," explains Dr Kristin Schubert from the Department of Molecular Systems Biology at UFZ.

16 Dec 2019

E-cigarette use linked to increased risk of chronic lung diseases

E-cigarette use significantly increases a person's risk of developing chronic lung diseases like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to new UC San Francisco research, the first longitudinal study linking e-cigarettes to respiratory illness in a sample representative of the entire U.S. adult population.

16 Dec 2019

Salk researchers uncover new function of mitochondria

Mitochondria, tiny structures present in most cells, are known for their energy-generating machinery. Now, Salk researchers have discovered a new function of mitochondria: they set off molecular alarms when cells are exposed to stress or chemicals that can damage DNA, such as chemotherapy.

15 Dec 2019

Perinatal exposure of rats to flame retardants changes the liver epigenome

Studies have shown that perinatal exposure of rats and mice to common flame retardants found in household items permanently reprograms liver metabolism, often leading later in life to insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

13 Dec 2019

'Forever chemicals' remain in the human body for decades and don’t break down

They’re called “forever chemicals” because once they enter the human body, they remain there for decades.

13 Dec 2019

Skip the sweet treats to avoid holiday blues, study suggests

If you're prone to depression, this holiday season you might want to say "bah humbug" to offers of sugar plum pudding, caramel corn and chocolate babka.

12 Dec 2019

Vanda Pharmaceuticals' president wins award for effort to prevent and replace animal tests

President and CEO of Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, MD, is the inaugural recipient of The Trailblazer Award, given by the Physicians Committee--a nonprofit with more than 12,000 doctor members--for his unwavering commitment to prevent and replace animal tests and advance more human-relevant science.

12 Dec 2019

New drug combo promises help for triple negative breast cancer patients

A new preclinical study on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) reports that an experimental polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor shrank tumor four times more powerfully when used along with standard drugs than alone. The study, reported in the journal PLOS ONE, opens up a new door of opportunity for patients with this disease.

11 Dec 2019

Light to moderate lifetime alcohol use raises cancer risk

There have been conflicting reports on health benefits and harm caused by drinking alcohol. A new study from Japanese researchers has proven that taking one drink a day for a decade or two drinks for five years can raise the risk of getting cancers by 5 percent. The study titled “Light to moderate amount of lifetime alcohol consumption and risk of cancer in Japan,” was published in the latest issue of the journal Cancer.

11 Dec 2019

Toxicologists find toxic chemicals from LCDs in nearly half of household dust samples

Chemicals commonly used in smartphone, television, and computer displays were found to be potentially toxic and present in nearly half of dozens of samples of household dust collected by a team of toxicologists led by the University of Saskatchewan.

10 Dec 2019