An orange dwarf star has yielded the tiniest ‘starquakes’ ever recorded, measured by an international team of scientists. Named Epsilon Indi, the star is the smallest and coolest dwarf star yet observed with solar-like oscillations – “starquakes” like those shown by the Sun. These oscillations provide indirect glimpses of stellar interiors – just as earthquakes tell us about Earth's interior – and so are important sources of information about the makeup of the star. The measurements ...

When we talk, we often use our hands in addition to words. Gesturing is a phenomenon that has been observed across languages and cultures. Some cultures are typically thought to use more gestures than others. To find out if the deeply rooted stereotype of Italians gesturing more than other cultures is true, researchers in Sweden have examined the differences in gesture rate and function between Italians and Swedes who were telling a story to a friend. “We show that Italians do gesture more than Swedes, which was expected,” ...

Researchers at the University of Leeds and Lancaster University in the UK have identified a new potential target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease – PDE4B. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and disability in old age. As the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is on the increase, new treatments are urgently needed to improve the quality of life for people living with the disease. PDE4B is an enzyme inside cells that breaks down a molecule known as cyclic AMP, which regulates a range of cellular processes. Based on an Australian study that identified the ...

Scientists from Nagoya University have discovered a novel regulatory mechanism that controls the opening of stomata in plants, which is crucial for harnessing solar energy through photosynthesis. The team uncovered the role of phosphorylation at the 881st threonine residue (Thr881) of the plasma membrane proton pump in response to red and blue light in this process. This research opens up possibilities for manipulating plant physiology in specific ways, benefiting agriculture and the environment. The researchers reported their findings in Nature Communications. “This phosphorylation event, ...

As authorities crack down on illicit drugs, University of South Australia experts have issued an alert on the use of the synthetic stimulant pentylone, as new research finds a 75% increase in detections across Australia.   In a new study as part of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, researchers identified 20 different novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in wastewater treatment plants across Australia (between Feb 22-23) with pentylone detected at every collection site. Other NPS, eutylone and phenibut were also commonly detected.   Pentylone, (street name ‘bath salts’), ...

It’s taboo to consume seaweed soup before exams in Korea since it can lead to failing the exam. The belief is rooted in the idea that the slippery nature of seaweed may cause people to slip and falter during the test. The slick surface of seaweeds such as seaweed and kelp is attributed to alginate, a mucilaginous substance. Notably, an intriguing study exploring the use of alginate for the treatment of retinal detachment has been recently published.   A collaborative effort between Professor Hyung Joon Cha from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the School of Convergence Science and Technology and Dr. Geunho Choi from ...

Researchers say more needs to be done for depressed stroke survivors as new findings show 60% of stroke survivors would experience depression within 18 years, a much higher estimation than previous studies. This compares to 22% of the general population experiencing depression in the same time frame. The King’s College London study, published today in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, also found 90% of cases of depression occurred within five years of surviving a stroke, indicating a key time for healthcare intervention. The findings, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, looks at incidence of mild ...

Researchers have successfully transformed CO2 into methanol by shining sunlight on single atoms of copper deposited on a light-activated material, a discovery that paves the way for creating new green fuels. An international team of researchers from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, University of Queensland and University of Ulm have designed a material, made up of copper anchored on nanocrystalline carbon nitride. The copper atoms are nested ...

Following the events of Jan. 6, 2021 — when a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an effort to interrupt the certification process of the 2020 presidential election — experts began to question how to protect the next presidential election from a similar threat. To that end, University of Notre Dame political scientists have partnered with preeminent scholars of democracy from across the country to produce a set of recommendations to strengthen and safeguard democracy in America. The University’s Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy established the January 6th, ...

Scientists have developed a new lung surfactant that is produced synthetically rather than relying on the use of animal tissues. With further development, the formulation could provide a cheaper and more readily available alternative to Infasurf, a medication used to prevent and treat respiratory distress in premature babies.   Surfactants are substances that decrease surface tension where liquids interface with other liquids, gases or solids. In addition to their use in medicines, they are found in a wide range of products including detergents, cosmetics, motor oils and adhesives.   Suzanne Farver Lukjan, a lecturer in chemistry ...

Researchers have identified a new complex-carbohydrate biomolecule, or glycan, that plays a key role in the nasal colonization of the Bordetella bacteria responsible for whooping cough. The discovery could make it possible to create a new drug or vaccine that interferes with the glycan to greatly reduce or even stop ongoing Bordetella transmission.   Bordetella pertussis is the cause of the respiratory infection pertussis, which is widely known as whooping cough. Today’s pertussis vaccines keep people from getting severely sick, but they don’t eliminate the bacteria because it excels at colonizing, ...

A new study found higher levels of neurodegeneration in rats that consumed reused deep fried cooking oils and their offspring compared to rats on a normal diet. Deep frying, which involves completely submerging food in hot oil, is a common method of food preparation around the world.   Results from the study also suggest that the increased neurodegeneration is tied to the oil’s effects on the bidirectional communication network between the liver, gut and brain. The liver–gut–brain axis plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions, and its dysregulation has been ...

Could taking statins benefit your mouth in addition to your arteries? A new study conducted in cell cultures showed that cholesterol-lowering drugs help to dampen the inflammation associated with periodontal disease by altering the behavior of macrophages, a type of immune cell.   Statins are the most common type of prescription medication in the United States today, taken by over 40 million Americans to lower cholesterol. The study suggests these drugs improve gum health and reduce the risk of heart disease.   Subramanya Pandruvada, an assistant professor in the College ...

A newly discovered feedback loop involving estrogen may explain why women might become dependent on nicotine more quickly and with less nicotine exposure than men. The research could lead to new treatments for women who are having trouble quitting nicotine-containing products such as cigarettes.   Sally Pauss is a doctoral student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington. She led the project.   “Studies show that women have a higher propensity to develop addiction to nicotine than men and are less successful at quitting,” said Pauss, ...

Many individuals eligible for lung cancer screening (LCS) also suffer from multiple health issues at the same time, known as comorbid conditions. This study explores how primary care physicians (PCPs) factor comorbidities into their shared decision-making conversations with patients to discuss the harms and benefits of lung cancer screening. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 PCPs affiliated with the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City between October 2020 and February 2021. PCPs were asked questions to examine their understanding of how comorbidities ...

Large language models (LLMs) are neural network–based computer programs that use a detailed statistical understanding of written language to perform many tasks, including text generation, summarization, software development, and prediction. However, LLMs can produce text that, while may seem correct, is not fact-based. This study investigates whether a popular LLM, ChatGPT-3.5, could produce high-quality, accurate, and bias-free summaries of medical research abstracts and determine the relevance of various journals and their articles to different medical specialties. Ten articles ...

This study explores the extent to which pediatric health care was interrupted during and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was measured based on three primary outcomes of interest: foregone care, foregone well-child or vaccination-related visits, and complete absence of well-child or vaccination-related visits. Researchers extracted data from a nationwide longitudinal survey known as CovEx (COVID Experiences Survey) that had been administered in two “waves'' to a cohort of parents of children between five and 12 years of age. Wave 1 took place October 8-November 13, 2020, and Wave 2 took place March 24-May 7, 2021, with an 82% retention rate of participants. Data was ...

The purpose of this study was to delve deeper into the link between fathers’ perceptions of their adolescent sons’ preparedness to engage in sexual intercourse, and how likely they were to provide their sons with guidance on using condoms correctly and consistently. Researchers recruited 191 father-son pairs from among Black and Latino residents of the South Bronx in New York City; adolescent participants ranged in age from 15 to 19 years old. Using a sequential mixed-methods explanatory design, all participants completed a confidential survey, after which a random ...

Genital tucking is the practice of hiding or minimizing the appearance of one’s genitals and gonads. It is practiced by transgender women and gender diverse individuals who were assigned male at birth. In this study, researchers designed a 27-question survey related to such factors as the length of time individuals spent tucked; how commonly and frequently; and understandings of, concerns for, and positive/negative history of potential adverse effects. Only 23% of the 98 respondents reported discussing ...

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 25 March 2024    Annals of Internal Medicine Tip Sheet     @Annalsofim    Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent.    ----------------------------    1. Annual vaccination campaign with ...

There's a growing awareness of the role medicine as an institution has played in creating and perpetuating health inequities facing historically marginalized groups, yet systemic racism and implicit biases continue to shape aspects of clinical practice such as care management decisions and patient communication.  Addressing medical racism has become an essential part of the medical education curriculum, though most published curricula treat health equity as a lecture topic separate from clinical practice. In this report, authors from the Emory University School of Medicine present a new approach to threading (cohesively incorporating) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and ...

In 2015, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) launched EvidenceNOW: Advancing Heart Health. This three-year initiative, AHRQ’s largest-ever investment in primary care research, was designed to provide external quality improvement support to help small and medium-size primary care practices implement the latest evidence and improve their delivery of cardiovascular care.  AHRQ awarded grants to primary care practices in seven regions across the U.S. to implement this initiative and to evaluate their own experiences with it, thereby accounting for regional differences in needs and existing resources. Additionally, ...

Collaboration Between Medical Department Staff and Their IT Colleagues on an EHR Optimization Project Leads to Improved Productivity Between June and October 2021, members of Marshall University’s Department of Family and Community Health collaborated with their school’s Information Technology (IT) team to conduct a four-month, department-wide optimization project to improve their usage of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) software. The software was implemented across their institution ...

Providence, R.I. -- A new study from Annals of Family Medicine reveals that a father's understanding of his son's readiness for sexual relationships plays a crucial role in the timing and effectiveness of discussions regarding condom use guidance. The findings offer valuable insights for family-focused health care providers, guiding them to encourage fathers to initiate conversations about sexual readiness and the importance of correct and consistent condom use with their adolescent sons. In 2021, 47% of adolescent males in the 12th grade reported engaging in sexual activity, yet condom use has declined. These trends contribute to negative sexual health outcomes among ...

In recent years, the U.S. government has invested substantially in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which have become synonymous in policy discussions with primary care for the socially vulnerable. Conversely, no such investment has been made in independent practices serving socially vulnerable patients. As independent practices become less financially viable, this disparity could severely limit primary care options for socially vulnerable patients. This mixed-methods study considers the extent to which independent family physicians ...