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Researchers develop new tool for tackling disseminated intravascular coagulation

Researchers have developed a new tool for addressing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) - a blood disorder that proves fatal in many patients.

17 Feb 2021

Prolonged sedentary time linked to distractibility in adults with overweight, obesity

Scientists used accelerometers to track daily activity levels for a week in 89 adults with obesity or overweight and, in a series of tests, measured their ability to multitask and maintain their attention despite distractions.

17 Feb 2021

Immune system directly links personality to long-term mortality risk, study reveals

Ground-breaking research led by University of Limerick has revealed for the first time that the immune system directly links personality to long-term risk of death.

17 Feb 2021

Nanotherapy shows potential for treating severe Crohn's disease

Scientists from the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago demonstrated that a nanotherapy reduces intestinal inflammation and shrinks lesions in a rodent model of severe Crohn's disease.

17 Feb 2021

Study reveals role of platelets in the development of lupus

Platelets may play a key role in the development of lupus, according to a study published today by researchers at Université Laval and CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center.

17 Feb 2021

Blood-clotting protein linked with tumor pathogenesis of CNS B-cell lymphoma

In people with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, cancerous B cells--a type of white blood cell--accumulate to form tumors in the brain or spinal cord, often in close proximity to blood vessels.

17 Feb 2021

Accumulation of fatty tissue in the neck predicts adiposity, heart problems

Researchers from the University of Granada warn that an accumulation of fatty tissue in the neck (both the double chin and the deeper deposits, located between muscles and around the cervical vertebrae) is a predictor of central and overall adiposity, cardiometabolic risk, and a pro-inflammatory profile in sedentary young adults.

17 Feb 2021

New N501Y SARS-CoV-2 mutations increase binding to host cell receptor

A team of researchers used several assays, atomic force microscopy, and simulations to determine that the N501Y mutation in the virus’s receptor-binding domain (RBD) increased the interaction of the virus with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.

17 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein increases infectivity of spike-based pseudoviruses

In a recent study conducted at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, India, a team of scientists screened specific genes of SARS-CoV-2 to identify factors that may contribute to viral infectivity.

17 Feb 2021

Bats and pangolins in Southeast Asia harbor SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses, study finds

A new study has reported evidence that SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses (SC2r-CoVs) are circulating in bats in Southeast Asia. This has extended the geographical area where SC2r-CoVs are found, underscoring the urgency of identifying the immediate ancestor of SARS-CoV-2.

17 Feb 2021

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site remains a mystery

A new study discusses the origin of the furin cleavage site on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is responsible for the virus’s relatively high infectivity compared to relatives in the betacoronavirus subgenus.

17 Feb 2021

What are the main food safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic?

A new study deals with the main food safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

17 Feb 2021

China's SARS and SARS-CoV-2 outbreak management in comparative perspective

A new study compares the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak with the earlier SARS-CoV epidemic to understand the best way to respond to it sensitively and flexibly. This involves early detection, using multiple screening tests, followed by management of the clinical features as required, in order to prevent disease-related injury.

17 Feb 2021

Probiotics may be beneficial in COVID-19 treatment

A new study explores the role of common probiotics in managing the disease, which could prove to be of great value, given the emergence of new variants and the broad spectrum of clinical disease in COVID-19.

17 Feb 2021

Study shows that physical embodiment can occur without sense of touch

Researchers at the University of Chicago, the University of Birmingham, and Bournemouth University have uncovered evidence that physical embodiment can occur without the sense of touch, thanks to a study involving two participants who lack the ability to feel touch. The research was published on Feb. 12 in Experimental Brain Research.

17 Feb 2021

Self-sterilizing polymers are effective at inactivating SARS-CoV-2 virus

Researchers from North Carolina State University, Boston University, and Kraton Corporation have demonstrated a family of self-sterilizing polymers that are effective at inactivating coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19.

17 Feb 2021

New type of antibody marks infected cells, makes them visible to the immune system

Scientists at Cardiff University have discovered a unique way to target a common virus that affects one in 200 newborn babies in the UK but for which there is only limited treatments available.

17 Feb 2021

Simulating an overactive autoimmune response leads to changes in the brain region

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan show that simulating an overactive autoimmune response in mice leads to changes in the hippocampal region of the brain.

17 Feb 2021

Study reveals the therapeutic applications of medicinal plants

Both Asia and Africa are home to many plants that can be used for the treatment of many diseases and their medicinal properties are gaining interest in western societies.

17 Feb 2021

Drastic population collapse in Central Africa was caused by prolonged disease epidemic, indicates study

A new study published in the journal Science Advances shows that Bantu-speaking communities in the Congo rainforest underwent a major population collapse from 1600 to 1400 years ago, probably due to a prolonged disease epidemic, and that significant resettlement did not restart until around 1000 years ago.

16 Feb 2021