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COVID-19 lockdown measures negatively impact children's mental health

The first lockdown led to a significant increase in symptoms of depression among children, highlighting the unintended consequences of school closures, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge.

9 Dec 2020

Scientists determine key molecular processes used by coronavirus to infect human cells

When a coronavirus--including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19--infects someone, it hijacks the person's cells, co-opting their molecular machinery for its own survival and spread.

9 Dec 2020

Study shows how YTHDF3 plays a significant role in cancer metastasis

Approximately 200,000 cancer patients are diagnosed with brain metastases each year, yet few treatment options exist because the mechanisms that allow cancer to spread to the brain remain unclear.

9 Dec 2020

Researchers examine effectiveness of treating acute infectious diarrhea with probiotics

There is no evidence that probiotics are effective in treating acute infectious diarrhoea, state the authors of this Cochrane review update. Previous editions of the review had suggested they were; but a review update of the evidence, which included new trials, has overturned the review's previous findings.

9 Dec 2020

Strengthening couple relationship helps improve health

For individuals looking to improve their health in 2021, strengthening your couple relationship may be part of the answer, according to findings from a recent University of Illinois study.

8 Dec 2020

Study sheds new light on how brain encodes time and place into memories

Two studies led by UT Southwestern researchers shed new light on how the brain encodes time and place into memories. The findings, published recently in PNAS and Science, not only add to the body of fundamental research on memory but could eventually provide the basis for new treatments to combat memory loss from conditions such as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease.

8 Dec 2020

First time mothers and their infants could benefit from induction of labor at 41 weeks

There is growing evidence that pregnant women who go beyond term, especially first time mothers and their infants, will benefit from induction of labour at 41 weeks, instead of expectant management with subsequent induction of labour at 42 weeks if labour will not start spontaneously.

8 Dec 2020

Study may help explain why people lose cognitive function during traumatic brain injury

Injury or disease that afflicts a relatively small number of brain cells causes a chain reaction that stops activity across a vast network of neural circuits, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University.

8 Dec 2020

Researchers explore the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the environment

COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work, as various health and safety restrictions keep more of us at home more often.

8 Dec 2020

Reductive stress promotes protein aggregation in neuroblastoma cells, impairs neurogenesis

Cells require a balance among oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox homeostasis. Loss of that balance to create oxidative stress is often associated with neurodegeneration. Less is known about how loss of that balance at the other end of the spectrum -- reductive stress, or RS -- may affect neurons.

8 Dec 2020

Researchers assess the binding behavior of SARS-CoV-2 virus

The binding of a SARS-CoV-2 virus surface protein spike -- a projection from the spherical virus particle -- to the human cell surface protein ACE2 is the first step to infection that may lead to COVID-19 disease.

8 Dec 2020

Amilorides reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in vitro

A new U.S. study published on the bioRxiv preprint server reports the use of an amiloride-based scaffold that targets a viral RNA structure known to be essential in viral replication in the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) of the virus. The researchers say this heralds the application of these molecules as chemical probes to explore viral biology and produce specific antivirals targeting RNA regions of the coronavirus genome.

8 Dec 2020

$Using fractional exponents in epidemic models could improve predictions of disease spread$

Using fractional exponents in epidemic models could improve predictions of disease spread

A new class of epidemiological models based on alternative thinking about how contagions propagate, particularly in the early phases of a pandemic, provide a blueprint for more accurate epidemic modeling and improved disease spread predictions and responses, according to a study published recently in Scientific Reports by researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions.

8 Dec 2020

People with Bartonella infection exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms, skin lesions

Bartonella bacteria are increasingly recognized as an emerging infectious disease threat. A new study by North Carolina State University researchers has found additional instances of Bartonella infection in humans who exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms, a subset of whom also had skin lesions.

8 Dec 2020

FASLG gene may drive cytokine-linked adverse COVID-19 outcomes with age

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in December 2020 reveals the role played by certain genetic factors in this group, in particular the FASLG gene belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family.

8 Dec 2020

Troublesome COVID-19 symptoms could last more than 6 weeks

Physicians in Geneva have shown that some of the troublesome symptoms of COVID-19 could last more than 6 weeks, even in patients without underlying risk factors.

8 Dec 2020

High-performing multi-immunoassay for early diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in December 2020 indicates the ability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and time of induction to differentiate between severe and mild COVID-19 and could lead to the development of a prognostic biomarker for use early in the course of the illness.

8 Dec 2020