news 2023

The pathogens want to benefit as long as possible from the food supply that life in the vector mosquitoes offers them Instead of being transmitted to humans as quickly as possible, malaria parasites develop in mosquitoes for up to twelve days and even run the risk of not being transmitted. Mathematical modelling allowed  researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin to study the evolution of malaria parasites over hundreds of generations.

New study reveals how high blood sugar makes lung infections worse; the findings may lead to a strategy for reversing this susceptibility For decades, it has been known that people with diabetes are at a substantially increased risk of developing severe lung disease if they become infected with viruses such as influenza, as well as with bacteria and fungi.

Dr Abbie Jordan from Bath's Centre for Pain Research was involved in the new analysis published via the Cochrane Library. Published on Thursday 14 December 2023 Last updated on Thursday 14 December 2023 Health psychologists at the University of Bath are calling for an overhaul of services for children living with chronic pain.

Neurological signs and symptoms of the different subgroups of a rare condition, called xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), have been systematically characterised for the first time by researchers at UCL and the UK National Xeroderma Pigmentosum Service. XP is a group of rare genetic disorders, affecting around 120 people in the UK, in which patients are not able to repair the damage in their DNA caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

Last Updated: 14 Dec 2023 00:01:45 New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found that in-turned eyelids and ear disorders are the most common health conditions in Shar Pei dogs in the UK; both resulting from the breed's characteristic loose, thickened and folded skin. This research highlights that urgent action is needed to discourage the normalisation and high public demand for dogs such as Shar Pei with extreme body shapes that threaten the dog's welfare.

A Johns Hopkins team has developed a new algorithm that can create 'super-scans' of the brain M agnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields to create images of the body that allow doctors to diagnose injury or illness more accurately. Susceptibility tensor imaging (STI), a specialized MRI technique, measures the magnetic susceptibility of different tissues in the brain by quantifying how they become magnetized when exposed to the MRI scanner's magnetic field.

New method developed by Johns Hopkins researchers could enhance the body's ability to fight cancer and make vaccines more effective in targeting tumors Johns Hopkins researchers have identified minuscule particles that supercharge therapeutic cancer vaccines, which train the immune system to attack tumors.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects many children and is often accompanied by other conditions, such as metabolic disorders, asthma and dental caries. However, uncertainties remain as to the chronology of onset of such conditions, particularly when it comes to knowing which are linked with ADHD over time or, on the other hand, which increase the risk of developing ADHD symptoms.

Study: Association of cumulative loneliness with all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1996 to 2019 Working from well-established research on the detrimental health effects of loneliness, University of Michigan researchers set out to study whether feeling lonely at multiple times through the years leads to more serious illness and higher mortality risk in mid to later life.

New data show relatively low use of illicit substances, yet overdose death rates among adolescents have risen in recent years The percentage of teenagers reporting they used any illicit substances in 2023 held steady below the pre-pandemic levels reported in 2020, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey.

A US research team with significant involvement from MedUni Vienna has analysed the molecular structures of human T cells, providing an unprecedentedly detailed description of how the immune system works. The results, which have now been published in the top journal "Nature", could help to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapies and find new approaches for the future treatment of a variety of diseases such as autoimmune diseases or cancer.

Researchers from The University of Queensland have found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) respond well to fertility treatments and have the same birth rate as women without the condition. Dr Katrina Moss from UQ's School of Public Health said the findings should offer some reassurance for women with PCOS who are concerned about their fertility.

A link between increased levels of a hormone and nausea during pregnancy, including morning sickness, is reported in new research A link between increased levels of a hormone and nausea during pregnancy, including morning sickness, is reported in new research. The study, which is published in Nature and led by the University of Cambridge in collaboration with researchers from the University of Glasgow and others, sheds light on these complex metabolic processes and offer potential avenues for treatment going forward.

Study: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Tuberculosis Incidence, Arkansas, United States, 2010-2021 Progress toward the elimination of tuberculosis in the United States has been stalled by significant racial and ethnic disparities often masked by stateand national-level data, say University of Michigan researchers.

Studies published in the Lancet Global Health finds that only one-quarter of people thinks their health system works well. The People's Voice Survey analysed people's views and trust in the system in 15 countries, adding a missing component to how one evaluates health system performance. Swiss TPH contributed to these studies.

New research explores pain management strategies including the use of prescription medications and alcohol From exercise and over-the-counter medications to alcohol use and prescription drugs, North Americans report using a number of different strategies to manage and prevent day-to-day pain. Some of these strategies are useful to mitigate pain, and others, like alcohol, are actually counterproductive and can make pain worse.

Sneezing on the bus, coughing on the streetcar, catching a cold at work - a record number of sick notes and wastewater analyses show an unprecedented viral load throughout Austria. The winter, and with it the new COVID-19 wave, has hit Austria hard. The virus, which has been keeping us on our toes since the beginning of 2020, is once again sweeping through the country, even if its progress is to be slowed down with the help of vaccinations and precautionary measures.

Many reports from antiquity about outbreaks of plague mention Egypt as the source of pestilences that reached the Mediterranean. But was this really the case? Researchers from the University of Basel are conducting a critical analysis of the ancient written and documentary evidence combined with archaeogenetic findings to add some context to the traditional view.

Researchers have identified the steps for the biosynthesis of the chemotherapeutic agent for cancer therapy Part of modern cancer therapy is the use of toxic chemicals, called chemotherapeutics, that kill the tumor. Unfortunately, these chemicals are often very complex, difficult to obtain and thus expensive.

A series of papers in the Lancet Global Health published yesterday finds that only one-quarter of people thinks their health system works well. The People's Voice Survey analysed people's views and trust in the system in 15 countries, adding a missing component to how one evaluates health system performance.