Health News

A genetic signature in newborns can predict neonatal sepsis before symptoms even start to show, according to a new study. The study, led by University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University researchers in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia, has the potential to help healthcare workers diagnose babies earlier, including in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where neonatal sepsis is of particular concern.

Researchers have studied how well doctors used GPT-4 — an artificial intelligence (AI) large language model system — for diagnosing patients.

Doctors detail what we learned after the first season following the approval of RSV vaccines. The vaccine effectively prevented severe illness in older, but only 24 percent of eligible US adults received the vaccine, compared to 50 percent for flu shots. Better public awareness and improved vaccine access are needed to increase uptake.

Buildup of a protein called filamentous actin, or F-actin, in the brain inhibits the removal of cellular wastes, including DNA, lipids, proteins and organelles. The resulting accumulation of waste diminishes neuronal functions and contributes to cognitive decline. By tweaking a few very specific genes in the neurons of aging fruit flies, the researchers prevented F-actin buildup, maintained cellular recycling and extended the healthy lifespan of fruit flies by approximately 30%.

Researchers have found a potential new diagnostic marker that could be used to better detect the level of tissue damage in our bodies.

Wearable electronic devices are potential tools to monitor blood glucose levels (BGLs) among people with diabetes, but their limited size and power lead to noticeable measurement errors. In a recent study, researchers developed a screening technique that can filter out low-quality data in a preprocessing step, enhancing the accuracy of BGL estimations. Their findings could pave the way to convenient glucose monitoring using consumer electronics, eliminating the need for finger pricks.

In dementia diseases such as Alzheimer’s, incorrectly folded proteins accumulate in the brain. Researchers have now resolved a particularly active species of protein fibrils with unprecedented precision. The formation of potentially toxic molecules on the surface of protein fibrils was studied from early to late stages spanning over a period of hours.

The human genetic code is fully mapped out, providing scientists with a blueprint of the DNA to identify genomic regions and their variations responsible for diseases. Traditional statistical tools effectively pinpoint these genetic ‘needles in the haystack,’ yet they face challenges in understanding how many genes contribute to diseases, as seen in diabetes or schizophrenia.

A new study shows that heart failure mortality has decreased in Sweden over the last 20 years.

Becoming less sociable protects older monkeys from getting ill, new research shows.