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Study sheds light on how genes and air pollution elevate healthy people’s depression risk

A genetic predisposition for depression combined with exposure to high-particulate-matter air pollution greatly elevates the risk that healthy people will experience depression, according to a first-of-its-kind study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences from neuroscientists at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, on the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, and Peking University in Beijing, China.

9 Nov 2021

Heat and antibiotics disrupt soil microbes and nutrient cycling

Soils are home to diverse microbial communities that cycle nutrients, support agriculture, and trap carbon – an important service for climate mitigation.

9 Nov 2021

Tough protein connects directly with neurons to cause damaging inflammatory reaction in the brain

Neuroinflammatory diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury, have been linked to deposits of a tough protein known as fibrin, derived from the blood clotting factor fibrinogen.

9 Nov 2021

Study finds several common genetic loci associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in U.S. veterans

A genome-wide association study has identified several common genetic loci (genetic locations) associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in U.S. veterans of European and African ancestry, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2021.

9 Nov 2021

Tackling pollution from ammonia emissions could reduce many premature deaths

Tackling pollution from the emission of nitrogen compounds, particularly ammonia, could reduce many of the 23.3 million years of life that were lost prematurely across the world in 2013 due to nitrogen-related air pollution, an international study led by Chinese scientists has discovered using a modeling framework, including the IIASA GAINS model.

5 Nov 2021

Blood metabolite levels altered by coffee consumption and may affect chronic kidney disease risk

Food and beverages may have important effects on kidney health, but the potential biological mechanisms involved are often unclear.

5 Nov 2021

Study: Forgotten antibiotic led to lower selection of resistant bacteria

A forgotten antibiotic, temocillin, led to lower selection of resistant bacteria than the standard treatment for febrile urinary tract infection, in a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

29 Oct 2021

Genetic liability to mental health conditions may affect a person's choice of residence

Living in cities has been highlighted as an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia and, to a lesser extent, other mental health conditions. However, few studies have explored genetic effects on the choice of residence.

28 Oct 2021

Functional sperm cells can be made in a dish using primate embryonic stem cells, study shows

With global rates of male infertility continuing to rise, a new study in spermatogonial stem cell research led by researchers at the University of Georgia provides hope for future clinical therapies.

From University of Georgia 20 Oct 2021

Neuroinflammation protein associated with sex-specific survival differences in glioblastoma patients

Scientists have discovered a new link that could bring the scientific and medical community closer to understanding why glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor, is deadlier in males than females.

19 Oct 2021

Researchers map proteo-genomic connections between different human diseases

Hundreds of connections between different human diseases have been uncovered through their shared origin in our genome by an international research team led by scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, challenging the categorisation of diseases by organ, symptoms, or clinical speciality.

18 Oct 2021

Study reveals gene responsible for food-dependent form of Cushing's Syndrome

A team of scientists in Montreal and Paris has succeeded in identifying the gene responsible for the development of a food-dependent form of Cushing's Syndrome, a rare disease affecting both adrenal glands.

15 Oct 2021

Parents' stress during COVID-19 affected eating habits of children

The incredible stress parents experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the eating habits of their children, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Houston College of Education.

13 Oct 2021

Study finds higher levels of air pollutants in regions near oil and gas wells

In a 14-year analysis of air quality across California, Stanford researchers observed higher levels of air pollutants within 2.5 miles of oil and gas wells, likely worsening negative health outcomes for nearby residents.

13 Oct 2021

Eating mushrooms may benefit a person's mental health, study reveals

Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one's risk of cancer and premature death, but new research led by Penn State College of Medicine also reveals that these superfoods may benefit a person's mental health.

From Penn State University 13 Oct 2021

Long-term exposure to low concentrations of air pollution may increase mortality risk

Exposure to low concentrations of air pollution, even at levels permitted under federal regulations, may be causing tens of thousands of early deaths each year among elderly people and other vulnerable groups in the U.S., according to a large national study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

8 Oct 2021

Color-coded nutrition labels and warnings may encourage more healthful purchases

A new analysis has integrated findings from 134 studies of the impact of color-coded nutrition labels and warnings found on the front of some food packaging, indicating that these labels do indeed appear to encourage more healthful purchases.

7 Oct 2021

Scientists identify novel nairovirus associated with acute febrile illness in Japan

A previously unknown virus that can infect humans and cause disease has been identified by scientists in Japan.

5 Oct 2021

Diagnostic value of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immune responses may be limited

Can T-cell tests be used to determine whether people have had COVID-19? Scientists at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet have jointly analysed this issue under the aegis of the COMMUNITY study at Danderyd Hospital. Their study is published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

5 Oct 2021

Study finds a correlation between zika-induced neurological complications and Gas6 protein

An article by Brazilian researchers published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity elucidates one of the mechanisms whereby zika virus causes neurological complications in adult patients and microcephaly in fetuses. The discovery paves the way for future research to develop drugs that combat the virus.

4 Oct 2021

Public Health News and Research

Study sheds light on how genes and air pollution elevate healthy people’s depression risk

Heat and antibiotics disrupt soil microbes and nutrient cycling

Tough protein connects directly with neurons to cause damaging inflammatory reaction in the brain

Study finds several common genetic loci associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in U.S. veterans

Tackling pollution from ammonia emissions could reduce many premature deaths

Blood metabolite levels altered by coffee consumption and may affect chronic kidney disease risk

Study: Forgotten antibiotic led to lower selection of resistant bacteria

Genetic liability to mental health conditions may affect a person's choice of residence

Functional sperm cells can be made in a dish using primate embryonic stem cells, study shows

Neuroinflammation protein associated with sex-specific survival differences in glioblastoma patients

Researchers map proteo-genomic connections between different human diseases

Study reveals gene responsible for food-dependent form of Cushing's Syndrome

Parents' stress during COVID-19 affected eating habits of children

Study finds higher levels of air pollutants in regions near oil and gas wells

Eating mushrooms may benefit a person's mental health, study reveals

Long-term exposure to low concentrations of air pollution may increase mortality risk

Color-coded nutrition labels and warnings may encourage more healthful purchases

Scientists identify novel nairovirus associated with acute febrile illness in Japan

Diagnostic value of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immune responses may be limited

Study finds a correlation between zika-induced neurological complications and Gas6 protein

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