News
Researchers discover unusual bacteria-killing toxin
The study, led by John Whitney at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, shows that the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known to cause hospital-acquired infections such as pneumonia, secretes a toxin that has evolved to kill other species of bacteria
Blood Test Predicts Neurotoxic Complications of CAR-T Cell Therapy
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests a simple blood test—administered before CAR-T cell treatment is initiated—may identify which patients are predisposed to developing neurotoxic side effects in the days and weeks after CAR-T cell therapy.
New Parkinson's Test Developed Thanks to Woman’s Hyper-Sensitive Sense of Smell
Scientists have harnessed the power of a woman's hyper-sensitive sense of smell to develop a test to determine whether people have Parkinson's disease.
How does a walk in nature impact the brain?
A new study shows how exposure to nature through a one-hour walk in a natural setting can prevent mental strain and possibly reduce the incidence of mental ill-health.
How a key brain network responds to seasonal shifts in day length
A recent paper examined the difference in neuronal communication in the hypothalamic network that regulates physiological function in response to the photoperiod. The researchers uncovered a novel mechanism of adaptation to seasonal changes in the day length, which could help develop new treatments for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other conditions linked to seasonal changes in photoperiod.
A Breakthrough for Fast, Efficient Production of Human Immune Cells
A University of British Columbia (UBC) research team has developed a new, fast, efficient process for producing cancer-fighting immune cells in the lab. The discovery could help transform the field of immune cell therapy from an expensive, niche endeavor to something easily scalable and broadly applicable.
The effects of taurine supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress in women
In a recent study published in Nutrition, researchers investigated the effects of supplementing taurine on the biomarkers of oxidative stress in females aged 55-70.
Rates of high blood pressure during pregnancy are higher among individuals from more recent generations.
Gen Zers and millennials are approximately two times more likely to be newly diagnosed with high blood pressure during pregnancy, which includes preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, compared with pregnant people from the baby boomer generation even after adjusting for age differences at pregnancy, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.
Novel Photon-Counting CT Improves Myeloma Bone Disease Detection
The new technology, known as photon-counting detector CT, debuted in the clinic in 2021 after decades of development. By directly converting individual x-ray photons into an electric signal, photon-counting detector CT can decrease the detector pixel size and improve the image’s spatial resolution.
Majority of Underrepresented Early Career Scientists Experience Mental Distress
Social unrest due to systemic racism is causing early career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds to experience psychological distress, according to new results from a research survey conducted by University of Pittsburgh scientists. Such distress is a red flag as academic institutions nationwide strive to improve diversity. But less than a third said social unrest negatively impacted their ability to work, and survey participants were more than twice as likely to say their mentoring relationships were positively, rather than negatively, impacted.
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