Author Archives
In short, I review clinical research on an almost daily basis. What I post tends to be articles that are relevant to the readers in addition to some curiosities that have intriguing potential.
As a hobby, I truly enjoy the puzzle-solving play that statistics and programming as in the python language bring to the table. I just do not enjoy problem-solving, I love problem-solving and the childlike inspiration and exploration of that innocent exhilaration of discovering something new.
Enjoy ;-)
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No clear path for golden rice to reach consumers
Heralded as a genetically modified crop with the potential to save millions of lives, Golden Rice has just been approved as safe for human and animal consumption by regulators in the Philippines. The rice is a beta carotene-enriched crop that… Read More ›
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Scientists warn humanity about worldwide insect decline
Insect declines and extinctions are accelerating in many parts of the world. With this comes the disappearance of irreplaceable services to humans, the consequences of which are unpredictable. A group of scientists from across the globe has united to warn… Read More ›
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Rose Scent Dramatically Improves Learning
Rose Scent Dramatically Improves Learning Rose Scent Dramatically Improves Learning “The students showed a significant increase in learning success by about 30 percent if the incense sticks were used during both the learning and sleeping phases,” says Neumann. The results… Read More ›
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Global dissatisfaction with democracy at record high, new report reveals
2019 had the ‘highest level of democratic discontent’ since detailed global recording began in 1995. Many large democracies now at their highest-ever recorded level for democratic dissatisfaction, including the UK, US, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Source: Global dissatisfaction with democracy… Read More ›
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Researchers foresee the ongoing use of cash
Are the countries of the Eurozone ready to drop cash in hand? In light of a study of the UPV and UV, the answer is no. The work concludes that in these countries, there are still many years left of… Read More ›
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1 in 4 kids who get antibiotics in children’s hospitals are prescribed drugs incorrectly
New research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that 1 in 4 of the children given antibiotics in US children’s hospitals are prescribed the drugs inappropriately. The overuse of antibiotics poses an increasing threat to… Read More ›
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First release of genetically engineered moth could herald new era of crop protection
For decades, the agriculture industry has been trying to find biological and environmentally friendly ways to manage the diamondback moth, which is widely resistant to insecticides. To combat this, a newly engineered strain of an insect pest performs well in… Read More ›
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About 1% of US opioid providers account for nearly half of all opioid doses
About 1% of US opioid providers account for nearly half of all opioid doses and more than a quarter of all opioid prescriptions, finds a study published by The BMJ today. Source: About 1% of US opioid providers account for… Read More ›
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Owners of high-status cars are on a collision course with traffic
Self-centred men who are argumentative, stubborn, disagreeable and unempathetic are much more likely to own a high-status car. Source: Owners of high-status cars are on a collision course with traffic
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Alarmingly high rate of antibiotics prescribed without evidence of office visit
Investigators evaluated hundreds of millions of antibiotic prescriptions filled by Medicaid recipients over 10 years and found 28% were not associated with a clinic visit and another 17% were associated with visits with no documented infection-related diagnosis. Source: Alarmingly high… Read More ›
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Meat isn’t good for you
A large study links red and processed meat with higher risk of heart disease and death. Eating two servings of red meat, processed meat or poultry — but not fish — per week was linked to a 3 to 7%… Read More ›
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Blue light can help heal mild traumatic brain injury
Blue light can help heal mild traumatic brain injury “Daily exposure to blue wavelength light each morning helps to re-entrain the circadian rhythm so that people get better, more regular sleep. This is likely true for everybody, but we… Read More ›
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Nearly all middle school teachers are highly stressed, MU study finds
Researchers from the University of Missouri have found that 94% of middle school teachers experience high levels of stress, which could contribute to negative outcomes for students. Researchers say that reducing the burden of teaching experienced by so many teachers… Read More ›
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Doubts raised about effectiveness of HPV vaccines
A new analysis of the clinical trials of HPV vaccines to prevent cervical cancer raises doubts about the vaccines’ effectiveness. The analysis, published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, assessed 12 published Phase 2 and 3 randomized… Read More ›
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Adult exposure to chickenpox linked to lower risk of shingles, but does not provide full protection
Adults who are exposed to a child with chickenpox (varicella) in the home are around 30% less likely to develop shingles (herpes zoster) over 20 years, finds a study in The BMJ today. Source: Adult exposure to chickenpox linked to… Read More ›
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Researchers trace coronavirus outbreak in China to snakes
Emerging viral infections — from bird flu to Ebola to Zika infections — pose major threats to global public health, and understanding their origins can help investigators design defensive strategies against future outbreaks. A new study published in the Journal… Read More ›
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Opioid dependence found to permanently change brains of rats
Approximately one-quarter of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, with five to 10 percent developing an opioid use disorder or addiction. In a new study, UC San Diego researchers found that opioid dependence produced permanent changes… Read More ›
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Quercetin shown to significantly lower Blood Pressure and Triglycerides
Quercetin shown to significantly lower Blood Pressure and Triglycerides Quercetin shown to significantly lower Blood Pressure and Triglycerides The results of this meta-analysis indicate that quercetin has the ability to lower BP without causing any significant adverse effects and may… Read More ›
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Plants absorb lead from perovskite solar cells more than expected
Lead from metal-organic perovskite compounds can be absorbed particularly easily by plants. The bioavailability is significantly higher than that of lead from inorganic compounds as found in batteries. This is shown in a study by HZB researcher Antonio Abate with… Read More ›
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Persistent environmental contaminant changes the gut microbiome of mice
An industrial chemical — phased out since 2002, but previously used in stain and water-repellent products and firefighting foam — alters the gut microbiome of mice and could have implications for human health, according to an international team of researchers…. Read More ›
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Study: MS drug costs nearly triple over 7 years, even with introduction of generic
The cost of prescriptions for multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs nearly tripled over seven years, and the introduction of a generic version of one of the most common drugs had little overall effect on prices, according to a study published in… Read More ›
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Exposure to chemicals in drinking water associated with 5% of annual bladder cancer burden in Europe
Macro study analyzes for the first time the presence and health impact of trihalomethanes in tap water in 26 European Union countries. Source: Exposure to chemicals in drinking water associated with 5% of annual bladder cancer burden in Europe
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BPA activates immune response in mice that passes down through generations
Some plastic food and beverage containers still contain bisphenol A (BPA), which can mimic the hormone estrogen. Although experts say that small amounts of BPA detected in foods are unlikely to cause problems, some people worry that constant low-level exposures… Read More ›
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The Lancet: Fewer than half of US clinical trials have complied with the law on reporting results, despite new regulations
Less than half (41%) of clinical trial results are reported promptly onto the US trial registry, and 1 in 3 trials remain unreported, according to the first comprehensive study of compliance since new US regulations came into effect in January… Read More ›
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The way you dance is unique, and computers can tell it’s you
Nearly everyone responds to music with movement, whether through subtle toe-tapping or an all-out boogie. A recent discovery shows that our dance style is almost always the same, regardless of the type of music, and a computer can identify the… Read More ›
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Health of poor Brits worse than that of those born a century ago
The self-reported health of poor Brits is worse than that of people born a century ago, suggests a large nationally representative study of more than 200,000 working-age people, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Source: Health… Read More ›
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Copper nanoparticles and immunotherapy rapidly eliminate cancer cells – Pilot Study
Copper nanoparticles and immunotherapy rapidly eliminate cancer cells – Pilot Study The combination of the nanoparticles and immunotherapy made the tumours disappear entirely and, as a result, works as a vaccine for lung and colon cancer – the two types… Read More ›
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Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy metals as biggest contributors to IQ loss
Adverse outcomes from childhood exposures to lead and mercury are on the decline in the United States, likely due to decades of restrictions on the use of heavy metals, a new study finds. Source: Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy… Read More ›
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Early humans revealed to have engineered optimized stone tools at Olduvai Gorge
Early Stone Age populations living between 1.8-1.2 million years ago engineered their stone tools in complex ways to make optimized cutting tools. Source: Early humans revealed to have engineered optimized stone tools at Olduvai Gorge
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How does your body respond to feelings of moral outrage? It depends on your politics
USC study finds that liberals and conservatives feel moral violations in different areas of their bodies, interpret them as distinct complex feelings and make different moral and political judgments. Source: How does your body respond to feelings of moral outrage?… Read More ›
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Nanomaterial fabric destroys nerve agents in battlefield-relevant conditions
Northwestern University scientists have successfully combined a nanomaterial effective at destroying toxic nerve agents with textile fibers. This new composite material one day could be integrated into protective suits and face masks for use by humans facing hazardous conditions, such… Read More ›
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BPA replacement hinders heart function, study reveals
BPA’s counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study. Source: BPA replacement hinders heart function, study reveals
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Unused stockpiles of nuclear waste could be more useful than we might think
Chemists have found a new use for the waste product of nuclear power — transforming an unused stockpile into a versatile compound which could be used to create valuable commodity chemicals as well as new energy sources. Source: Unused stockpiles… Read More ›
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Eating Chili Peppers reduced all cause Mortality rates by 23%
Eating Chili Peppers reduced all cause Mortality rates by 23% Eating Chili Peppers reduced all cause Mortality rates by 23% Now Italian research shows that people who consume Chili Peppers on a regular basis have a mortality risk for every… Read More ›
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North Atlantic Current may cease temporarily in the next century
The North Atlantic Current transports warm water from the Gulf of Mexico towards Europe, providing much of north-western Europe with a relatively mild climate. However, scientists suspect that meltwater from Greenland and excessive rainfall could interfere with this ocean current…. Read More ›
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Health care paperwork cost US $812 billion in 2017, 4 times more per capita than Canada
Compared to Canada, the US spends four times more on health care administration ($551 vs. $2,479 per person), mostly due to the surging overhead of private insurers. Health care bureaucracy cost Americans $812 billion in 2017, representing more than one-third… Read More ›
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Half of women with heart failure get the wrong treatment
As many as 50 per cent of women suffering from cardiac arrest are given insufficient treatment, because the heart failure was not caused by a heart attack. Source: Half of women with heart failure get the wrong treatment
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DNA discovered not to be a good predictor of health
DNA discovered not to be a good predictor of health “Simply put, DNA is not your destiny, and SNPs are duds for disease prediction,” said David Wishart, professor in the University of Alberta’s Department of Biological Sciences and the… Read More ›
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More Chinese scientists in America are going back home
A growing number of Chinese scientists working in the United States and other parts of the world are returning to their homeland, enhancing China’s research productivity. In a new study, researchers found that more than 16,000 researchers have returned to… Read More ›
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Organic crop practices affect long-term soil health
Prior organic farming practices and plantings can have lasting outcomes for future soil health, weeds and crop yields, according to new Cornell University research. Source: Organic crop practices affect long-term soil health
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Choline Supplementation and Alzheimer’s Prevention
Choline Supplementation and Alzheimer’s Prevention Choline Supplementation and Alzheimer’s Prevention Choline is an attractive candidate for prevention of AD as it is considered a very safe alternative, compared with many pharmaceuticals. “At 4.5 times the RDI (recommended daily intake), we… Read More ›
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Online hate speech could be contained like a computer virus, say Cambridge researchers
Artificial intelligence is being developed that will allow advisory ”quarantining” of hate speech in a manner akin to malware filters – offering users a way to control exposure to ”hateful content” without resorting to censorship. Source: Online hate speech could… Read More ›
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Many children with kidney disease may be prescribed drugs that are toxic to the kidneys
Among 1,018 children with newly diagnosed chronic kidney disease and 4,072 children with normal kidney function who were seen at primary care practices, 71% and 50%, respectively, received at least one medication that might be toxic to the kidneys over… Read More ›
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Knee-jerk vaping bans will fail public health, experts argue
Bans and other policies restricting e-cigarette sales could do more public harm than good, according to a group of public-health, tobacco-policy and ethics experts. Source: Knee-jerk vaping bans will fail public health, experts argue
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Study examines causes of death in US breast cancer survivors
Most women who survive beyond 10 years die of non-cancer causes. Source: Study examines causes of death in US breast cancer survivors
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Psoriasis Corrected in stem cell cultures with Vitamin C
Psoriasis Corrected in stem cell cultures with Vitamin C Psoriasis Corrected in stem cell cultures with Vitamin C Lian and Murphy have previously shown that 5-hmC loss in the skin epigenome can be reprogrammed using agents as fundamental as ascorbic… Read More ›
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Lyme disease claim lines increased 117% from 2007 to 2018
From 2007 to 2018, claim lines with diagnoses of Lyme disease increased nationally 117%. The new FAIR Health Study Uncovers Geographic, Age and Gender Variation, among Other Notable Statistics. Comparing Lyme disease to other tick-borne diseases, the study draws on… Read More ›
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Castration of men was based on knowledge of the female body
For men with prostate problems, castration was a treatment method for many years. But in the early 20th century, decisions regarding castration were based on the belief that the prostate was the equivalent of the uterus in the woman. A… Read More ›
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Study finds BPA levels in humans dramatically underestimated
Researchers have developed a more accurate method of measuring bisphenol A (BPA) levels in humans and found that exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical is far higher than previously assumed. The study provides the first evidence that the measurements relied upon… Read More ›
Engineering Evil 