Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

High-Dose Vitamin D Significantly Reduces Disease Activity in Early MS Onset: Clinical Trial

2025-03-25

A French study published in JAMA found that 100,000 IU of oral cholecalciferol every two weeks significantly reduced disease activity in clinically isolated syndrome and early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The randomized controlled trial of 316 participants showed a significantly lower rate of disease activity in the high-dose vitamin D group compared to the placebo group. This research supports vitamin D as a potentially inexpensive and well-tolerated treatment option, especially in areas with limited access to standard therapies.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech Multiple Sclerosis Vitamin D Clinical Trial

Groundbreaking: iPS Cell Therapy Restores Movement in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

2025-03-24

Japanese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in the world's first clinical trial using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) to treat spinal cord injuries. Two out of four patients showed significant improvement in motor function, with one now able to stand unaided and begin walking practice. The study primarily focused on safety, and future clinical trials are hoped to bring this promising treatment to more patients.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech iPS cells stem cell therapy

AI Discovers Novel Weight-Loss Molecule Rivaling Ozempic, Without Side Effects

2025-03-07

Stanford Medicine researchers, using an AI algorithm, have identified a naturally occurring molecule, BRP, that rivals semaglutide (Ozempic) in suppressing appetite and reducing body weight. Importantly, animal testing showed BRP avoids side effects like nausea, constipation, and muscle loss. BRP acts through a distinct but similar metabolic pathway, targeting the hypothalamus to control appetite. A company has been formed to launch human clinical trials. This breakthrough relied on AI to sift through thousands of proteins, offering a promising new avenue for obesity treatment.

(medicalxpress.com)

AI weight loss biomedicine

Mice Exhibit Paramedic-Like Behavior: Neural Mechanisms Unveiled

2025-03-05

UCLA researchers have discovered that mice display prosocial behavior towards unresponsive conspecifics, characterized by intense head-directed grooming. This behavior is driven by an amygdala-regulated response. Experiments showed mice differentiating between sedated and stressed peers, grooming the head of sedated mice and the body of stressed ones. Neural recordings and optogenetic manipulation pinpointed the medial amygdala (MeA) as crucial; silencing MeA GABAergic neurons suppressed head grooming while activation enhanced it. This research illuminates the neural basis of prosocial behavior in mice, offering insights into broader animal social behaviors. This falls under the Tech category.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech prosocial behavior

Turning Therapeutic Bleeding into Lifesaving Donations: The Australian Hemochromatosis Story

2025-03-01

Australian research reveals that blood regularly discarded from individuals with hemochromatosis, an iron overload disorder, can be used to save lives. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is the first globally to allow these individuals to donate both blood and plasma. A study shows that reframing these patients as donors instead of patients, along with increased awareness, could significantly boost blood supplies and save countless lives. Currently, 15,000 Australians with hemochromatosis make 37,000 donations annually, and Australia is the first country to allow plasma donations from this group.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech hemochromatosis blood donation plasma donation

Daily Omega-3s May Slow Biological Aging

2025-02-09

A three-year clinical trial involving over 700 older adults suggests that consuming one gram of omega-3 fatty acids daily may slow the rate of biological aging. Researchers used epigenetic clocks to measure aging and found omega-3 consumption moderately slowed aging by up to four months. Combining omega-3 with vitamin D and exercise showed even greater benefits, significantly impacting cancer risk and frailty. Published in Nature Aging, this study highlights omega-3's potential as an anti-aging intervention.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech Aging Health

Heavy Social Media Use Linked to Higher Irritability

2025-01-23

A study published in JAMA Network Open found a correlation between frequent social media use and higher levels of irritability among US adults. The research, involving 42,597 participants, revealed that even after accounting for anxiety and depression, frequent use, especially among active posters, was associated with increased irritability scores. A dose-response relationship was observed, with TikTok users exhibiting the largest increase in irritability when posting multiple times daily. Political engagement also correlated with higher irritability levels. The findings suggest a potential feedback loop between social media use and irritability.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech irritability

Commercial Tea Bags Release Millions of Microplastics, Entering Human Intestinal Cells

2024-12-23

Research from the Autonomous University of Barcelona reveals that commercial tea bags release millions of microplastics and nanoplastics during brewing. The study, published in Chemosphere, shows for the first time that these particles can be absorbed by human intestinal cells, entering the bloodstream and potentially spreading throughout the body. Analysis of tea bags made from nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose revealed polypropylene released the highest number of particles—approximately 1.2 billion per milliliter. The microplastics were even observed entering the cell nucleus. The findings highlight the need for further research into the long-term health effects of chronic exposure and for regulations to mitigate microplastic contamination from food packaging.

(medicalxpress.com)

Tech microplastic pollution tea bags human health