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Changing long-term opioid prescribing behavior
Notifying clinicians that one of their patients died of an overdose reduced the amount of opioids they prescribed for up to a year afterwards.
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Link between hydration and aging
Higher blood sodium in middle age was associated with increased mortality, chronic disease risk, and biological aging.
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Lab-grown eye cells form new neural connections
Eye cells that were grown from skin-derived stem cells could be collected from 3D cultures and coaxed to form new neural connections.
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July 9, 2019 Edition
Diversity enhances genomic analyses
By exploring the genomes of non-European people, researchers identified new genetic variants associated with conditions like kidney disease and diabetes.
Stress links poverty to inflammation and heart disease
In people with lower incomes, stress-related brain activity was linked to more inflammation in the body. This may explain why people with lower incomes have a higher risk of heart disease.
Diagnosing COPD
A simple measurement can be used to diagnose clinically significant airflow obstruction, the key characteristic of COPD. The findings may lead to earlier detection and treatment.
June 25, 2019 Edition
Gut microbe provokes release of inflammatory substance
Researchers discovered how a gut microbe linked to Crohn’s disease may stimulate immune cells to trigger inflammation.
Social acceptance helps mental health after war trauma
Researchers found that acceptance and support from community and family may lessen the toll of mental health conditions experienced by former child soldiers.
Language patterns may predict psychosis
In a proof-of-concept study, spoken language patterns predicted which people at risk for psychosis would progress to full psychosis within two years with 93% accuracy.
June 18, 2019 Edition
Drug may slow development of type 1 diabetes
An experimental drug called teplizumab may delay development of type 1 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease
Artificial light during sleep linked to obesity
Women who slept with a television or light on were more likely to gain weight and develop obesity. The findings suggest that turning off lights at bedtime could help keep off extra pounds.
Asthma cases dropped when air pollution declined
Drops in outdoor air pollutants over a 21-year period in Southern California were associated with 20% fewer asthma diagnoses in children.
June 11, 2019 Edition
Microbiome influences risk of preterm birth
Researchers found that the vaginal microbiome changes substantially during pregnancy. Patterns of changes early in pregnancy may help identify women at high risk for preterm birth.
How many steps for better health?
Researchers found that older women who took more steps per day had a lower risk of dying until 7,500 steps a day, beyond which the benefit leveled off.
Technique lowers risk of complications in heart valve replacement
Researchers devised a technique to avoid a fatal complication during a procedure to replace the heart’s mitral valve.
June 4, 2019 Edition
Machine learning reveals four types of sepsis
Researchers used machine learning to identify four types of sepsis that may affect treatment outcomes. The findings could aid the development of better treatment strategies.
Gene deletion raises risk of kidney transplant rejection
Kidney transplant recipients with two copies of a certain DNA sequence deletion had an increased risk of transplant rejection. This risk was highest when the donor had one or more copies of the intact sequence.
Rethinking inhaled steroids for mild persistent asthma
In a short-term clinical trial, many patients with mild persistent asthma didn’t respond any better to inhaled steroids than placebo. The study suggests a way to help guide personalized treatments.
May 21, 2019 Edition
Understanding rheumatoid arthritis at the cellular level
Researchers identified ways that immune cells and joint cells interact to produce the inflammation and tissue damage seen in rheumatoid arthritis.
Engineered phages treat drug-resistant infection
Engineered phages were used to treat a teenager’s life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infection. The approach could be used to combat otherwise untreatable infections.
Eating highly processed foods linked to weight gain
When people ate a diet full of highly processed foods, they consumed more calories and gained more weight than when they ate a minimally processed diet.
May 14, 2019 Edition
Gene expression signatures of Alzheimer's disease
A resource of gene expression patterns from the brain cells of people who had Alzheimer's disease may enable advances in understanding how the disease develops.
Biomarker identifies children who eat before blood tests
Researchers showed that levels of free fatty acids in the blood can help identify children who have eaten too close to a blood test for type 2 diabetes.
Blood test may detect myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Researchers developed a blood test that, in a pilot study, accurately identified people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
May 7, 2019 Edition
Nanoparticle robots sweep away biofilms
Researchers developed microrobots that destroy and remove biofilms. After further development, the technology could be used for teeth, implants, and medical devices.
Scientists create speech using brain signals
Scientists used brain signals recorded from patients with epilepsy to program a computer to mimic natural speech.
Delayed treatment safe for some people with diabetic eye disease
People with diabetic macular edema but good vision didn’t benefit from starting treatment before vision loss developed.
April 30, 2019 Edition
How ketamine relieves symptoms of depression
Researchers uncovered how the fast-acting antidepressant ketamine’s effects are sustained over time. The insights may help guide the development of future treatments for mood disorders.
Injected liquid forms a gel in damaged heart
In an animal study, a liquid biomaterial transformed into a gel at the site of damage after a heart attack. The findings could lead to new approaches for treating damaged tissues.
Gene therapy reverses rare immune disorder
Eight infants with a rare genetic disorder had their immune systems repaired by a new gene therapy approach.