Building on more than two decades of research, a study by MIT neuroscientists at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory reports a new way to treat pathology and symptoms of fragile X syndrome, the most common genetically-caused autism spectrum disorder. The team showed that augmenting a novel type of neurotransmitter signaling reduced hallmarks of fragile X in mouse models of the disorder. The new approach described in Cell Reports works by targeting a specific molecular subunit of  “NMDA” receptors that they discovered plays a key role in how neurons synthesize ...

In their effort to answer a decades-old biological question about how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is able to establish infection of liver cells, research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University identified a vulnerability that opens the door to new treatments. The team successfully disrupted the virus’s ability to infect human liver cells in the laboratory using a compound already in clinical trials against cancer — laying the ...

Large birds – our closest relations to dinosaurs - are capable of technical innovation, by solving a physical task to gain access to food. This is the first time scientists have been able to show that palaeognath birds such as emus and rheas can solve tricky problems. In the study, published today in Scientific Reports, emus, which have previously been called the ‘world’s dumbest bird’ were able to create one new technique to access food (lining up a hole with a food chamber) and moved the hole in the most efficient direction towards food in 90% of cases. A male rhea ...

New York, NY [February 20, 2025]—Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators have identified novel genetic interactions that may contribute to congenital heart disease (CHD), a common birth defect. Details on their findings were reported in the February 20 online issue of The American Journal of Human Genetics [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2025.01.024]. “Our research reveals the potential for digenic inheritance—where two genes work together to cause disease—expanding our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of congenital heart ...

About The Study: The results of this study suggest a modest increase in the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy among individuals with type 2 diabetes associated with semaglutide use, smaller than that previously reported, and warranting further investigation into the clinical implications of this association.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Cindy X. Cai, MD, MS, email ccai6@jhmi.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.6555) Editor’s ...

About The Study: This cohort study found significant inequities in incidence of behavioral flags in the electronic health record among racially and socioeconomically marginalized pediatric patients. This finding was most pronounced for Black or African American patients younger than 8 years, suggesting that this phenomenon may be a response to Black families rather than specific patient behavior. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, April Edwell, MD, MAEd, email April.edwell@ucsf.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61079) Editor’s ...

Paxlovid does not significantly reduce COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality among vaccinated older adults, according to new UCLA-led research. The study questions the assumption that Paxlovid’s effectiveness in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in unvaccinated adults also applies to vaccinated adults. Pfizer’s 2022 clinical trial found reduced COVID-19 hospitalization in unvaccinated middle-aged adults; while a subsequent 2024 clinical trial found no significant reduction in vaccinated middle-aged adults. Since most older Americans have already received two or more COVID-19 vaccines, Paxlovid’s effectiveness on vaccinated ...

Biomedical metal implant materials are widely used in clinical applications, including dental implants, hip replacement, bone plates, and screws. However, traditional manufacturing processes face limitations in meeting customized medical needs, internal structural control, and efficient material utilization. For example, when producing complex-shaped titanium alloy parts using conventional methods, the material consumption ratio is as high as 10:1-20:1, leading to significant material waste. As a result, ...

Introduction Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, plays a central role in the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and liver and kidney diseases, are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants serve as the body’s primary defense against ROS, maintaining redox homeostasis and preventing cellular damage. However, when ROS levels exceed the capacity of antioxidant defenses, oxidative stress ensues, contributing ...

New research shows that turtles are responding to climate change by nesting earlier. Researchers monitoring nesting green and loggerhead turtles in Cyprus have discovered they are returning to their regular nesting spots earlier each year to compensate for rising temperatures. In sea turtles, temperature determines the biological sex of offspring, with more females born when it is warmer, as well as fewer successful hatchings when it gets too hot. Turtles also have “natal philopatry”, which means they return to nest in the area where they themselves hatched. A research team from the University of Exeter and the Society for the Protection of ...

A new study from Western New England University (WNE) has revealed that long-term grape consumption significantly impacts muscle health, with notable benefits for both men and women. The research, published in the journal Foods, suggests that a diet including grapes can modify gene expression in muscle, potentially offering a new nutritional strategy for maintaining muscle mass and function.  Around 30 million tons of grapes are consumed every year, and their benefits extend beyond nutrition. Grapes have been shown to ...

INDIANAPOLIS – Chronic pain is complex and difficult to treat. Prescribing opioid pain medications has become controversial but may help some patients. With the goal of informing clinician practice, a new study explores the harms and benefits of continuing and of discontinuing the long-term prescription of opioid medicines to adults with chronic pain. The authors analyzed the opinions of 28 experts on the harms versus benefits of maintaining, tapering or terminating opioid pain medication prescriptions ...

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has announced the 2025 class of Senior Members, comprised of 162 emerging inventors from NAI’s Member Institutions. This year’s class of NAI Senior Members is the largest to date and hails from 64 NAI Member Institutions across the nation. Collectively, they are named inventors on over 1200 U.S. patents.  “To see this program grow year over year is a testament to the dedication our Member Institutions have to fostering innovation on their campuses and supporting their inventive staff ...

Narcissists feel ostracized more frequently than their less self-absorbed peers, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. This may stem not only from being shunned due to their personalities but from a tendency to misinterpret ambiguous social signals as exclusion.     “Feeling ostracized is a subjective experience based on the perception of social cues by the individual. Some may be intentionally ostracized, while others may merely believe they are being excluded when that’s not the case,” said lead author Christiane Büttner, PhD, of the University of Basel. “Our findings suggest that ...

The intestinal epithelium is a highly dynamic barrier that regulates digestion, absorption, immune responses, and communication between the gut microbiota and the nervous system. To maintain homeostasis, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) must efficiently manage protein production and secretion, a process tightly controlled by the unfolded protein response (UPR). New research published in eGastroenterology demonstrates that disruptions in the UPR contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), colorectal cancer, and other gut-related disorders. This highlights potential therapeutic strategies to restore ...

A little movement could help prevent dementia, even for frail older adults, suggests a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers found that engaging in as little as 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, compared to zero minutes per week, was associated with a 41% lower risk of developing dementia over an average four-year follow-up period. Even for frail older adults—those at elevated risk of adverse health outcomes—greater activity was associated with lower dementia risks.   The ...

Water-based adhesives face several challenges despite their environmental benefits. One major issue is that achieving high adhesion strength on various substrates, especially in wet or humid conditions, is difficult due to the inherent properties of water-based systems. Additionally, the volatility of water also leads to issues like bubble formation and uneven drying, affecting the adhesive's performance and appearance. Moreover, formulating water-based adhesives with both high solids content and low viscosity is technically demanding, ...

Philadelphia, February 20, 2025 – Researchers from the Mitochondrial Medicine Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have better characterized a spectrum of what were classically considered discrete mitochondrial DNA deletion disease syndromes. The findings offer new insights into genetic causes, potential symptoms, and disease progression, and may inform future clinical trial development. The findings were published today in the journal Genetics in Medicine. Mitochondrial disease refers to a group of disorders that affect the mitochondria, which are tiny compartments present in almost every cell of the body that ...

A longer paternity leave after the birth of a child can improve the co-parenting relationship between moms and dads in a key way, a new study finds.   Researchers found that mothers were less likely to discourage fathers’ involvement in parenting if the dads had taken more time off after their child was born.   “When fathers take longer leaves, mothers might take that as a sign that fathers are more interested in being an active parent and be less likely to try to prevent them from participating in child care,” said Reed Donithen, ...

DANVERS, Mass., February 20, 2025 – Johnson & Johnson MedTech, the global leader in heart recovery, is proud to celebrate the inaugural National Heart Recovery Awareness Day today, February 20. Recognized through a U.S. Congressional resolution, this designation will help increase awareness of heart health and how innovative medical technology helps patients return home to their families – with their native heart. There are events taking place across the country where patients are sharing their stories, including heart recovery reunions and sessions to educate healthcare providers, which underscore the impact that heart recovery has ...

An inhalable medicine with the potential to improve lung disease in people with cystic fibrosis, irrespective of their mutation type, is being tested in human trials in the UK and Europe.   Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by defects in the CFTR gene, which causes a buildup of thick sticky mucus in the lungs and digestive system. It causes lung infections and gradually affects the ability to breathe. The new lentiviral vector-based gene therapy works by inserting a functioning copy of the CFTR gene in the DNA of the epithelial cells in a patient’s airway.  At ...

Plasma arc cutting (PAC) is a thermal cutting technique widely used in manufacturing applications such as shipbuilding, aerospace, fabrication, nuclear plants decommissioning, construction industry, and the automotive industry. In this process, a jet of plasma or ionized gas is ejected at high speeds, which melts and subsequently removes unwanted parts of materials from electrically conductive workpieces such as metals. The plasma jet is typically produced in two steps: pressuring a gas through a small nozzle hole and generating an electric arc via power supply. Remarkably, the introduced arc ionizes ...

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a debilitating condition and a major cause of premature death worldwide. Chronic stress plays a significant role, but the underlying mechanism involving biochemical pathways by which stress leads to hypertension has not been well understood. Understanding these pathways could lead to the development of therapeutic agents to combat hypertension. Now, a new study from Juntendo University, Japan, led by Professor Hidefumi Waki, Dr. Keisuke Tomita, and Dr. Ko Yamanaka, published online in the journal Acta Physiologica on January 13, 2025, has shown that voluntary ...

A critically endangered species of shark could be forced to adapt to new habitats – or face extinction – as a result of changes in the ocean predicted to occur as a result of climate change, a new study has suggested. The whitefin swellshark (Cephaloscyllium albipinnum) is a species of catshark found in deeper waters just off Australia’s south and east coasts. Its precise population numbers are uncertain, but the species has been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Critically ...

The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025. According to the report, the cancer mortality rate declined from 1991 to 2022 by 49% and 33% in Black men and women, respectively, in the United States. However, African American and Black people continue to have a disproportionately elevated cancer burden compared to other population groups. According to the study, the risk of cancer death for Black individuals is two-fold that of White individuals for myeloma, prostate, uterine corpus (endometrial), and stomach cancers, and 40%-50% higher for colorectal, ...