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New study reveals the power of smile synchronization

Smiling during conversations creates warmth, making people feel more comfortable and connected. For example, a friendly smile when meeting someone new can ease nervousness. A smile can soften tension in a debate, showing respect among the participants despite disagreement.

12 Oct 2024

Skin pigmentation may affect drug efficacy and safety

Skin pigmentation may act as a "sponge" for some medications, potentially influencing the speed with which active drugs reach their intended targets, a pair of scientists report in a perspective article published in the journal Human Genomics.

10 Oct 2024

Study reveals how bacterial selfishness affects antibiotic resistance strategies

As strains of pathogens resistant to frontline antibiotics become more common worldwide, clinicians are more often turning to combination treatments that degrade this resistance as a first treatment option.

10 Oct 2024

Baylor scientist earns NIH grant for personalized microbiome treatments

Baylor University researcher Aaron Wright, Ph.D., has earned a $5.6 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Transformative Research Award for a project that he and collaborators hope could lead to personalized – and revolutionary – treatments for gut microbiome diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis and more.

9 Oct 2024

US study uncovers antiviral resistance in swine-origin influenza, urging enhanced pandemic surveillance

Researchers in the US analyzed swine-origin influenza viruses, identifying key mutations that could reduce antiviral drug effectiveness and threaten pandemic preparedness.

9 Oct 2024

New review explores Zika virus as a potential treatment for brain cancer

A new review was published in Oncotarget's Volume 15 on September 30, 2024, entitled, "Zika virus and brain cancer: Can Zika be an effective treatment for brain cancer? A systematic review."

9 Oct 2024

Groundbreaking study challenges treatment protocols for glioblastoma in older adults

A groundbreaking study led by Dr Monika E. Hegi, MD, PhD and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) headquarters team (Felix Oppong Msc, Dr Thierry Gorlia, PhD) reveals that older adults glioblastoma patients with truly unmethylated MGMT promoter do not benefit from temozolomide (TMZ) treatment, challenging current treatment protocols and paving the way for more personalised therapies.

9 Oct 2024

Gene therapy offers hope for children with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy

Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) is a rare progressive, genetic brain disease that primarily presents in young boys, causing loss of neurological function and ultimately leading to early death.

9 Oct 2024

COVID-19 significantly raises stroke risk

Researchers conducted a metaumbrella review of 34 systematic reviews and 70 studies, uncovering a significant link between COVID-19 severity and increased stroke risk. The review emphasizes the need for further investigation into underlying mechanisms and potential biases.

9 Oct 2024

AI detects breast cancer years before diagnosis from mammograms

Recent research suggests AI mammogram scores can predict breast cancer up to six years before clinical diagnosis, offering an opportunity for earlier intervention.

8 Oct 2024

USC's Keck School of Medicine partners with StemCardia to advance heart failure treatment

The Keck School of Medicine of USC has launched a strategic collaboration with StemCardia, a biotechnology company, founded by a Keck School of Medicine faculty member, that develops cellular and genetic therapies to address heart failure.

8 Oct 2024

Electro-acupuncture shows promise in obesity management

A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Hong Kong University (HKU) has found evidence that electro-acupuncture - a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment - could be used to manage obesity.

8 Oct 2024

New insights into family adaptation in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic

A new study by the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) analyzing the resilience of Singaporean families during the COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered significant findings that highlight how most families with young children successfully adapted to the challenges brought by the global crisis.

8 Oct 2024

Researchers discover effective treatment strategy for lethal glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal brain tumor, with a median survival rate of merely 12-16 months after diagnosis. Despite surgical, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, the two-year survival rate for GBM patients is less than 10%.

7 Oct 2024

Weekly injections of anti-obesity medications cost more than surgery

The cost of taking weekly injections of popular anti-obesity medications liraglutide (Saxenda) or semaglutide (Wegovy) exceeds that of metabolic and bariatric surgery in less than a year, according to a recent analysis published in the journal Surgical Endoscopy.

7 Oct 2024

New insights on 5-fluorouracil's mechanism in different cancers

Study reveals the drug, 5-fluorouracil, acts differently in different types of cancer — a finding that could help researchers design better drug combinations.

7 Oct 2024

BU professor recognized for excellence in the field of traumatic stress studies

Denise M. Sloan, PhD, professor of psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Senior Clinician Investigator, Behavioral Science Division, National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, has received the Robert Laufer, PhD Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

7 Oct 2024