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2020 Research Highlights - Promising Medical Findings
NIH findings with potential for enhancing human health include new approaches to COVID-19, a universal mosquito vaccine, and advances in restoring vis...
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2020 Research Highlights - Human Health Advances
NIH accomplishments in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment include COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, better diagnosis of prostate cancer, and...
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2020 Research Highlights - Basic Research Insights
Noteworthy NIH advances in basic research include progress in understanding SARS-CoV-2, discovery of an exercise-induced protein that generates new br...
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September 15, 2020 Edition
How high fructose intake may trigger fatty liver disease
A study suggested that consuming high amounts of fructose may promote non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by damaging the intestinal barrier.
Brain scans may help predict response to OCD therapies
Differences in brain activity seen on scans taken before psychotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder corresponded with responses to treatment.
Artificial pancreas helps children with type 1 diabetes
A new artificial pancreas system, which monitors and regulates blood glucose levels, proved safe and effective in young children with type 1 diabetes.
September 1, 2020 Edition
Treatments linked to drop in lung cancer deaths
Deaths from the most common lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, declined sharply after 2013, faster than the drop in new cases of the disease.
Factors that affect depression risk
A screen of more than 100 diverse factors in people’s daily lives suggested that getting enough social support and limiting how much media you use may help prevent depression.
Oral solution forms synthetic GI lining
Researchers developed a method to create a synthetic film on the surface of the small intestine that could be used to deliver drugs and influence nutrient absorption.
August 18, 2020 Edition
Immune cells for common cold may recognize SARS-CoV-2
Blood samples taken before the COVID-19 pandemic showed that some people already had certain immune cells that recognize SARS-CoV-2, possibly because of common colds.
Multifocal contact lenses slow myopia progression in children
NIH-funded clinical trial provides independent evidence that multifocal contact lenses reduce worsening nearsightedness.
Blood tests show promise for early Alzheimer's diagnosis
Blood levels of a protein called ptau217 were associated with damage to the brain caused by Alzheimer's disease, and may one day help diagnose disease before symptoms appear.
August 4, 2020 Edition
Potent neutralizing antibodies target new regions of coronavirus spike
Researchers identified some of the most potent and diverse antibodies discovered to date that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, targeting multiple regions on the viral spike.
High blood sugar may blunt benefits of aerobic exercise
Mice with high blood sugar levels had lower gains from aerobic exercise than normal mice. The results suggest that diet changes may be needed to get the most from aerobic exercise.
Screening drug additives for biological activity
A computational screen of more than 600 compounds listed as FDA-approved inactive ingredients found some that may warrant follow-up studies for previously unknown effects.
July 28, 2020 Edition
What goosebumps are for
Researchers discovered a new role for goosebumps that could have implications for reversing hair loss and understanding wound healing in the skin.
Sex differences in brain anatomy
An analysis of more than 2,000 brain scans showed sex differences in the volume of certain regions in the human brain that may contribute to differences in brain disease and behavior.
Approach to prevent fall injuries no better than usual care
In a large study, individualized plans designed to prevent serious injuries from falls among older adults who are at high risk didn’t improve upon usual care.
July 21, 2020 Edition
Stopping scar tissue improves healing after heart attack in mice
Mice deficient in a certain protein formed larger scars after a heart attack and had worse heart function. The study suggests an approach to improve heart function after heart attack.
Exercise-induced protein may reverse age-related cognitive decline
Researchers found that an exercise-induced protein may restore age-related loss of memory and new brain cell growth.
Experimental coronavirus vaccine is safe and produces immune response
Early results from the first COVID-19 vaccine candidate tested in people showed that it triggered an immune response against the virus with no serious side effects.
July 14, 2020 Edition
Faster, better images from cutting-edge microscopes
New techniques dramatically reduced the time needed to process complex images from fluorescence microscopes and also improved their quality.
Advanced imaging reveals structure of tooth enamel
Advanced imaging techniques gave insight into the detailed structure of tooth enamel crystals. The findings could lead to new approaches to prevent or reverse cavities.
DNA changes linked to endometriosis
Researchers found changes to DNA in the uterine cells of women with endometriosis that weren’t seen in women without the condition.
June 30, 2020 Edition
Gut bacteria influence behavior in worms
Specific gut bacteria influenced eating decisions in worms by affecting their response to odors. The findings give insight into one way gut microbes may affect behavior.
Potent antibodies found in people recovered from COVID-19
Although most people who recovered from COVID-19 had low levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in their blood, researchers identified potent infection-blocking antibodies.
Lower wealth linked with faster physical and mental aging
Older adults with less wealth had sharper declines in many measures of physical and mental health than those with more wealth.
June 23, 2020 Edition
Universal mosquito vaccine tested
A small trial showed that a vaccine designed to provide broad protection against mosquito-borne diseases is safe and causes a strong immune response in healthy volunteers.
Signature of virus exposure may help detect liver cancer
A blood test that measures people’s exposure to different viruses identified those who later developed liver cancer. The test could play an important role in improving outcomes for patients.
Unique genomic features of fatal coronaviruses
A genomic analysis may help explain why some coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2, can be deadly, while others cause only mild illness.