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Neanderthal genes make some humans more pain-sensitive

People with three Neanderthal-inherited gene variants in SCN9A are more sensitive to certain types of pain, revealing past interbreeding's genetic influence on modern humans. This study, led by UCL researchers, underscores pain sensitivity as a crucial evolutionary trait potentially shaped by Neanderthal genetics.

10 Oct 2023

Climate change and health: A transdisciplinary approach

Climate change is already now impacting people's health across the globe and is undermining factors for health and wellbeing, such as clean air and water, food, safe shelter, and economic opportunities.

10 Oct 2023

Study finds unequal access to high-quality parks in Philadelphia

In urban areas throughout the United States, it is imperative for all communities to have equal access to high quality parks.

9 Oct 2023

Does smoking tobacco damage sperm quality?

Tobacco smoking is linked to diminished semen quality by triggering stress reactions in sperm cells, a study in the journal Antioxidants reveals. Researchers identified that smokers had poorer sperm quality, possibly due to elevated stress responses in their sperm cells.

8 Oct 2023

New findings about nerve pathways to brown fat could lead to obesity treatments

A UCLA-led team of researchers has found nerve pathways that supply brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of tissue that releases chemical energy from fat metabolism as heat – a finding that could pave the way toward using it to treat obesity and related metabolic conditions.

5 Oct 2023

Is climate change turning up the heat on China's aging population?

Rising temperatures and an aging population in China exacerbate heat-related mortality risks, new study finds. The research highlights the urgent need for policies that address both cold and heat-related health risks among the elderly.

2 Oct 2023

What are the pharmacological properties of black goji berries?

The pharmacological effects of the components of Lycium ruthenicum Murray fruits.

29 Sep 2023

Sushi and other raw seafood can spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria, study warns

Bacteria in raw seafood can make you sick. Seafood can also spread bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

28 Sep 2023

Rising temperatures could increase hospital visits from alcohol- and substance-related disorders

Hospital visits from alcohol- and substance-related disorders are driven by elevated temperatures and could be further affected by rising temperatures due to climate change, according to new research by environmental health scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

26 Sep 2023

Decoding tauopathies: New study identifies non-coding RNA as a key player in Alzheimer's

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine identify a key step in the development of harmful tau tangles, offering a potential target for preventing brain damage in diseases like Alzheimer's. The study highlights the role of long noncoding RNAs, particularly SNHG8, in stress granule formation and tau aggregation, opening new avenues for treatment.

22 Sep 2023

E-cigarettes not a gateway to smoking, may even speed its decline, says new study

New study led by Queen Mary University of London finds no evidence that e-cigarettes act as a gateway to smoking at the population level. The research also suggests that alternative nicotine products may be competing against cigarettes, potentially accelerating the decline in smoking, although more data is needed for confirmation.

22 Sep 2023

Renowned experts comprehensively review how climate change occurs and increases risk of cardiovascular disease

There is already robust evidence that people living with cardiovascular disease are disproportionately affected by poor air quality and extreme temperatures, in large part due to climate change, the greatest threat to human health of the 21st century.

21 Sep 2023

Lurie Children's neurosurgeon performs computer-guided radiofrequency ablation to decrease hypertonia in cerebral palsy

Jeffrey Raskin, MS, MD, a neurosurgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, performed the first ever computer-guided radiofrequency ablation to decrease excessive muscle tone (called hypertonia) in a child with cerebral palsy.

20 Sep 2023

Rural nursing home supporters fear proposed staffing standards will trigger more closures

Many rural communities like this one face a health care dilemma: Is it better to have a nursing home that struggles to hire workers or no nursing home at all?

15 Sep 2023

Flexible thin-film neural electrodes show promise for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy

Flexible thin-film electrodes placed directly on brain tissue show promise for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, as demonstrated recently by scientists at Tokyo Tech.

14 Sep 2023

International experts discuss recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation

Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation, and what they mean for patients, were considered by a group of around 75 international experts at a three-day meeting that began on Monday.

13 Sep 2023

Is DNA methylation the missing link in diagnosing and treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis?

Researchers across Europe have delved into the DNA methylation patterns in CD4+ T-cells of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, unveiling potential new biomarkers for these conditions. Their study suggests that these unique profiles could serve as both diagnostic and prognostic tools, although further validation is needed for real-world clinical application.

10 Sep 2023

Heat-related deaths are up, and not just because it’s getting hotter

Heat-related illness and deaths in California and the U.S. are on the rise along with temperatures, and an increase in drug use and homelessness is a significant part of the problem, according to public health officials and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

8 Sep 2023

Can brown fat really keep you slim? New study digs into the science of diet-induced thermogenesis

The research paper delves into the role of brown adipose tissue and its protein, UCP1, in diet-induced thermogenesis, questioning whether it could be a key to fighting obesity. Despite some evidence suggesting that brown fat activity could influence weight, the study calls for more research to determine the causality between reduced brown adipose tissue activity and obesity.

7 Sep 2023

New study highlights impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department visits in British Columbia

A new study showing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies used to manage the virus on emergency department (ED) visits in British Columbia can help with future planning.

5 Sep 2023