In a recent study published in the journal Eurosurveillance, researchers investigated the unusual rise in emergency department (ED) visits for pneumonia among children aged 5–14 years in England since November 2023. Their findings indicate that this increase, which persisted into early summer 2024, was primarily driven by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), even as other seasonal respiratory [...]
In a recent study published in PLoS Computational Biology, researchers used mathematical modelling to evaluate whether prioritizing older individuals for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster vaccinations consistently leads to optimal public health outcomes across diverse socio-economic settings. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were crucial in reducing transmission and protecting healthcare [...]
A Yale School of Medicine team reports in a new study that an artificial intelligence (AI) model was able to reliably diagnose people living with Marfan syndrome from a simple facial photograph. Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder, affecting about 1 in 3,000 people, which impacts the body's connective tissues. "Patients living with Marfan [...]
In a recent study published in Science Advances, a group of researchers assessed whether dendritic spine head diameter in the temporal cortex is a better predictor of episodic memory performance in older adults than synapse quantity, accounting for β amyloid (Aβ) plaques (Clusters of protein fragments in the brain), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) (Twisted protein fibers [...]
Parasites take an enormous toll on human and veterinary health. But researchers may have found a way for patients with brain disorders and a common brain parasite to become frenemies. A new study published in Nature Microbiology has pioneered the use of a single-celled parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, to inject therapeutic proteins into brain cells. The brain is very picky about [...]
A new study has revealed important information about how a patient's testosterone level can help protect them from severe Covid-19. Previous research involving Swansea University investigated how sex hormones are likely to be important determinants of Covid-19 severity. Now digit ratio expert Professor John Manning, of the Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) research team, has [...]
Researchers have shown that a fluorescence detection system that doesn't contain any lenses can provide highly sensitive detection of deadly microorganisms in drinking water. With further development, the new approach could provide a low-cost and easy-to-use way to monitor water quality in resource-limited settings such as developing countries or areas affected by disasters. It [...]
DNA is crucial for life, and its organization has been a significant scientific challenge. GROVER, a model developed by BIOTEC, decodes DNA like text, promising advancements in genomics and personalized medicine. DNA holds the essential information required to sustain life. Deciphering how this information is stored and organized has been one of the greatest scientific [...]
Family members of patients recently discharged from the hospital may have a higher risk of getting an antibiotic-resistant infection, often called a superbug, even if the patient was not diagnosed with the same infection, suggesting hospitals play a role in the community spread of resistant bacteria, according to study in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, [...]
New research shows that mental exertion is often linked with negative emotions. A meta-analysis of 170 studies revealed that regardless of the task or population, increased mental effort correlates with feelings of frustration and stress. This phenomenon is less pronounced in Asian populations, possibly due to different educational experiences. Despite this, people still engage [...]
