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Treating addiction
Alcohol and drug addiction can cause many harms. This Research in Context feature looks at research into the causes of addiction and new ways to treat...
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November 22, 2022 Edition
COVID-19 disrupts gut microbiome
Researchers found that COVID-19 disrupts the gut microbiome and gut lining, allowing pathogenic bacteria to thrive and enter the bloodstream.
Immune cells control waste clearance in the brain
Scientists identified a type of immune cell that helps clear waste products in the brain, suggesting new strategies for preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Ancient viral DNA may help humans fight infections
Researchers found that stretches of viral DNA long embedded in the human genome can produce proteins that help block infection by viruses.
November 8, 2022 Edition
E-cigarettes linked with blood vessel damage
Both cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users had impaired blood vessel function and increased, but different, signs of inflammation.
Structure of hepatitis C proteins reveals viral vulnerabilities
The structure of key hepatitis C virus proteins provides new insights into how the virus invades cells and could inform development of vaccines or antiviral therapies.
How the Black Death shaped human evolution
Genetic variants that helped the immune system fight the Black Death may have had the side effect of increasing susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
November 1, 2022 Edition
How timing of eating affects metabolism and weight gain
A study in mice found that eating burns more energy when restricted to certain times of the day.
Experimental cat allergy shots provide longer-lasting relief
An experimental approach that combines cat allergy shots with a monoclonal antibody led to more effective relief that continued a year after treatment ended.
Skin compounds associated with attractiveness to mosquitoes
People with higher levels of compounds called carboxylic acids on their skin were more attractive to mosquitoes, and remained so for years.
October 25, 2022 Edition
Robotic exoskeleton helps people walk
Researchers created a robotic leg exoskeleton that provides personalized walking assistance under real-world conditions.
Potential contributor to sex differences in Alzheimer's risk
An enzyme that is more abundant in women contributes to the buildup of tau tangles in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
"Slow" vaccine delivery improves immune response to HIV
An experimental HIV vaccine, delivered as increasing doses over several days, led to long-lasting and diverse antibody production in monkeys.
October 18, 2022 Edition
No association of Viagra and Cialis with reduced Alzheimer's disease risk
Researchers found no evidence that the drugs Viagra and Cialis reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Bionic pancreas simplifies management of type 1 diabetes
A bionic pancreas managed blood glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes better and with less user input than existing methods.
Compounds block pain without sedation in mice
Researchers identified several compounds that activate a specific pain-blunting receptor on cells.
October 4, 2022 Edition
Popular diabetes drugs compared in large trial
A comparison of four common drugs for treating type 2 diabetes showed that two outperformed the others in maintaining target blood sugar levels.
Daily multivitamin may improve cognition in older adults
In a clinical trial, cocoa extract did not improve cognitive function in older adults, but a daily multivitamin did.
How diet may disrupt gut microbes to promote weight gain
Mice fed a high-sugar diet lost immune cells in their guts that normally help regulate the absorption of dietary fat.
September 27, 2022 Edition
Telehealth improves treatment for opioid use disorder
People with opioid use disorder who received telehealth services were more likely to stay on their medications and had a lower risk of overdose during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assessing how SARS-CoV-2 mutations might affect rapid tests
Scientists developed a method that can assess thousands of potential mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify those that could affect performance of rapid antigen tests.
Swarm of tiny robots scrub teeth
Tiny magnetically controlled “robots” that can scrub experimental teeth might one day be adapted to help people who lack the fine motor skills to brush and floss on their own.
September 20, 2022 Edition
Black tea drinking associated with reduced deaths
Drinking black tea was associated with a modest reduction in death in a large study.
Night breathing patterns identify people with Parkinson's disease
An advanced computer program was able to identify people with Parkinson's disease from their breathing patterns during sleep.
Spirituality, religion linked to heart health among Black Americans
Religion and spirituality were associated with improved heart health in a study of Black Americans.
September 13, 2022 Edition
Leisure activities may improve longevity for older adults
Older adults who got the recommended amount of physical activity per week through a variety of leisure activities had a reduced risk of death over a decade.
Brain stimulation can affect memory in older adults
A noninvasive method that stimulates specific brain regions led to month-long memory improvements in older adults.
Scientists create a developing mouse embryo model from stem cells
Using mouse stem cells, researchers created a model embryo that mirrors brain and heart development.