New research from Trinity College and University of Edinburgh has examined the association between vitamin D and COVID-19, and found that ambient ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation (which is key for vitamin D production in the skin) at an individual’s place of residence in the weeks before COVID-19 infection, was strongly protective against severe disease and
Past neuroscience studies have consistently showed that sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation. For instance, some neuroimaging research showed that the brain regions that are activated while humans are encoding waking experiences can later be reactivated during sleep, particularly during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Interestingly, the same brain regions are also associated
One of the greatest things about being a woman is the ability to carry a pocketbook or a purse. While men oftentimes shove everything in their pockets, women always carry some form of bag around that makes life just that much easier. Whether we’re going to work, out on the town with friends, or on
When people see a toothbrush, a car, a tree—any individual object—their brain automatically associates it with other things it naturally occurs with, allowing humans to build context for their surroundings and set expectations for the world. By using machine-learning and brain imaging, researchers measured the extent of the “co-occurrence” phenomenon and identified the brain region
Important insights into the cellular processes underlying healthy bone formation and development have been gleaned by a RIKEN-led study into a previously unknown bone disorder1. Many bone disorders have genetic origins. Advances in genetics are helping scientists track down the mutations responsible for them. Shiro Ikegawa of the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences has
Our skin is one of the most important parts of the body. It is also the largest. It is part of the integumentary system, providing coverage and outer protection to the more delicate components of the body. The skin along with the bone structure largely determine the appearance of an individual. It is therefore of
Malaria vaccine that uses live parasites provides 100% protection against a wide range of strains when given alongside 86p pills A vaccine combined with chloroquine gave 100% protection against the disease The US scientists behind the study said the level of protection is ‘unprecedented’ The cheap antimalarial drug was previously touted as a Covid treatment A
Most people associate the term “wearable” with a fitness tracker, smartwatch, or wireless earbuds. But what if you could wear cutting-edge biotechnology in your clothing, and it could warn you when you were exposed to something dangerous? A team of researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Massachusetts
If you have watched TV since the 1990s, the sitcom theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” has likely been stuck in your head at one point or another. New research from UC Davis suggests these experiences are more than a passing nuisance—they play an important role in helping memories form, not only for the
Physical activity that conforms to medical and health association guidelines is associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (Afib) and stroke, according to a study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), who analyzed nearly 100,000 individuals equipped with wrist-worn accelerometers to measure their movement. The researchers’ findings suggest that data from wearables, including
New research from the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences reveals that young adults’ sex, number of prescription medications, and amount of physical activity have a significant effect on their falling patterns, which have previously received scant study. Published in PLOS ONE, the observational study by Shirley Rietdyk, professor in the Department of
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. and the leading cause of cancer death, with about 80% of the total 154,000 deaths recorded each year caused by cigarette smoking. Black men are more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than persons of any other racial or ethnic group, pointing
‘Jelly’ that could renew damaged knee joints: Scientists hope jab will stimulate the growth of cartilage once injected An injection of jelly could help treat worn-out joints. Scientists hope the jab, using jelly found in donated umbilical cords, will stimulate the growth of cushioning cartilage once injected into the knees of patients with osteoarthritis. Tests
The Australian public’s infection control literacy continues to expand. We know what PPE is, what “flattening the curve” means, and we are growing increasingly familiar with the term “deep clean.” But what does a deep clean involve, and when is it necessary? This week, media reported that a ward at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital was
Adults with periodontitis transmit bacteria that can cause the disease in future to their children, and the bacteria remain in the oral cavity even when the children undergo treatment of various kinds, reinforcing the need for preventive care in the first year of a baby’s life. This is the main conclusion of a study conducted
Interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia is consistently ranked among the top lightweight fighters currently active in the boxing world, a fact which can be attributed to his work ethic when it comes to training hard and staying ring-ready. In a new video on his YouTube channel, Garcia and his personal chef Manny Duran break down
With a strategic alliance, 24-hour production and a bit of luck, Pfizer and BioNTech were able to roll out their COVID vaccine at a brisk pace and relatively free of controversy. US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and BioNTech, a smaller German biotech firm, joined forces on April 9, 2020, as the world reeled from the pandemic,
Non-circulating memory T cells, whose main function is to provide local protection against re-infection, contribute to chronic transplant rejection, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers reveal in a paper published today in Science Immunology. The scientists show that these “tissue-resident memory T cells” are harmful in situations where antigens that the cells recognize are
A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that just under 20 percent of HIV-uninfected patients visiting Baltimore sexual health clinics were aware of pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP), a daily regimen that decreases a person’s risk of contracting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent. The paper,
New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that regular physical activity is a safe diabetes prevention strategy for people residing in relatively polluted regions. The study, which is the first to investigate the combined effects of physical activity and pollution exposure on type 2
