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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 48 minutes ago

DNA is in the air
The air around us is teeming with the DNA of various organisms, ranging from people to viruses. Over the past decade, researchers have been learning how to collect airborne DNA and use it to study the movement of individual species, entire ecosystems or even attacks with biological weapons. But some hurdles remain: scientists still aren’t sure for how long DNA can persist in the air, or how far it can travel. And some experts worry that DNA plucked from the air could inadvertently reveal the characteristics of people that haven’t consented to such analysis.

Airborne genetic material can be used to paint a picture of ecosystem health, watch for invasive species and even identify humans.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01099-2?utm_source=Live+...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 51 minutes ago

No Evidence Fluoride In Drinking Water Harms IQ, Finds Decades-Long Study

There is no evidence that adding low levels of fluoride to community drinking water affects children's IQ or brain function later in life, according to a new study that tracked more than 10,000 people from their teen years through to old age.

In many regions of the world, fluoride is added to water to improve communities' dental health: it's proven to strengthen teeth and reduce decay.

The new study, which draws on longitudinal data from 10,317 high school seniors from 1957 to 2021, when participants were 80, finds no association between community water fluoridation exposure and IQ, or other measures of cognitive function later in life.

But in 2025, a widely misinterpreted paper found that exposure to high doses of fluoride, well above the 0.7 mg/L recommended by the US Public Health Service, may be associated with lower IQ in children.

Skeptics, however, were quick to point out that the data used for this review are of poor quality and provide no reason to worry about fluoride in US drinking water.

The 2025 paper mainly reviewed studies conducted in China and India. No studies from the US were available. The studies also did not control for contaminants in water.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2536005123

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 1 hour ago

Carb-heavy foods drove weight gain without more calories by lowering energy burn

Carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread, wheat, and rice increased body weight and fat mass in mice without a significant rise in total caloric intake, primarily by reducing energy expenditure rather than promoting overeating. Metabolic changes included elevated blood fatty acids, decreased essential amino acids, hepatic fat accumulation, and upregulation of genes involved in lipid synthesis and transport. Discontinuing wheat flour intake rapidly reversed weight gain and metabolic abnormalities.

Shigenobu Matsumura et al, Wheat Flour Intake Promotes Weight Gain and Metabolic Changes in Mice, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (2026). DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.70394

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 1 hour ago

Scientists make Parkinson's drug from plastic in world first
Engineered E. coli bacteria can convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste into levodopa, a key Parkinson’s disease treatment, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel–based drug production. Similar biotechnological approaches have also enabled conversion of plastics into other pharmaceuticals, supporting the potential for a circular economy that repurposes plastic waste into valuable medicines.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-026-01785-z

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 1 hour ago

Hospital delirium a 'red flag' for severe health decline

Delirium is an acute, fluctuating state of confusion, reduced awareness, and cognitive impairment, typically developing over hours or days due to underlying medical issues, infections, medication side effects, or substance withdrawal. Symptoms include hallucinations, poor focus, and emotional changes, categorized into hyperactive, hypoactive, or mixed types. It often lasts about one week but can persist, and it is most common in older adults or those hospitalized in intensive care.
Hospitalized older adults experiencing delirium face significantly increased risks of adverse outcomes, including doubled rates of falls and urinary incontinence, and 50–70% higher risks of pneumonia, fractures, stroke, sepsis, acute kidney injury, and pressure injuries. Delirium indicates multisystem vulnerability and warrants extended post-discharge care and prevention strategies.

Researchers found delirium was associated with a higher risk of 12 adverse outcomes, independent of frailty and pre-existing dementia, which shows it is a warning of longer-term vulnerability.
An episode of delirium in hospital doubled the risk of falls and urinary incontinence, and there was a 50% to 70% increased risk of pneumonia, fecal incontinence, fractures, stroke, hip fracture, sepsis, acute kidney injury, and pressure injury.

There was also a 20% to 30% higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and heart failure. These are very strong associations that highlight delirium as a red flag for multisystem vulnerability.

Markus J Haapanen et al, Delirium and adverse clinical outcomes: a matched cohort study in the UK Biobank, The Lancet Healthy Longevity (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100816

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 1 hour ago

PFAS directly shown to alter thyroid structure and function

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are used across industries, and are present in waterproof clothing, makeup, carpets, upholstery, cookware, fast-food containers, and myriad other items we encounter in our daily lives.

Long-term exposure to PFOA, PFOS, and GenX PFAS compounds alters thyroid cellular structure and function in mice, disrupts critical signaling pathways including those linked to cancer, and increases thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. These findings provide direct evidence that PFAS exposure induces histological and functional changes in thyroid tissue, implicating PFAS in thyroid disease mechanisms.
PFAS are known for their confirmed and potentially detrimental health effects, which are hard to avoid when PFAS, which are known as "forever chemicals" considering how long they persist in the environment and in the human body (up to decades), are found in the water supply across the globe. As a result, millions of people around the world have PFAS in their blood, and PFAS have been linked to a disruption in the creation and availability of thyroid hormones. Studies also suggest that PFAS exposure increases thyroid cancer risk.
A recent paper sought to further our understanding of the effects of PFAS on the microscopic anatomy or histology of the thyroid. The paper was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Digging into the effects of three major PFAS compounds, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX, the paper's authors made three primary findings:

The three PFAS altered the thyroid's cellular function and structure in mice.
The PFAS altered several critical signaling pathways, including several involved in cancers.
PFAS treatment increased the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, which is necessary for the regulation of our metabolism.
These results directly tie PFAS exposure to changes in the histology and functioning of thyroid tissue. They also provided mechanistic clues as to how PFAS are involved in thyroid disease.

Heather A Hartmann et al, PFAS Alter Thyroid Histology and Cellular SignalingIn VitroandIn Vivo, Journal of the Endocrine Society (2025). DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf210

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 1 hour ago

Losing teeth may lead to weight gain, researchers report

Tooth loss and poor oral health, particularly loss of functional molars, are associated with increased risk of weight gain in older adults, likely due to reduced chewing ability and subsequent dietary changes toward higher-calorie, softer foods. Over four years, individuals with fewer teeth had a higher likelihood of gaining at least 5% body weight.

Losing teeth might cause you to gain weight, a new study says.
But, how?
Weight gain is significantly associated with having fewer teeth or losing the bone and gums that support teeth, researchers recently reported in the Journal of Periodontology.

The loss of teeth affects a person's chewing ability, which can limit their healthy food choices, researchers said.

These findings add to the growing body of evidence that periodontal health plays an important role in overall health, especially as we age.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums supports better nutrition, good habits and improved quality of life later in life.
Tooth loss can cause people to shun healthy fiber-rich foods like fruits and veggies in favor of softer eats that contain more calories, researchers said.

Molars that gnash together while chewing played a key role in weight loss risk, researchers found. People with missing molars had a 17% higher risk of weight gain.

Loss of functional tooth units, especially molars, were associated with higher odds of weight gain among older adults over 4 years," concluded the research team.
People hoping to maintain a healthy weight—or even lose some pounds—should include good oral health as part of their strategy, researchers suggested.

Functional tooth unit, periodontal status, and association with weight change in older adults, Journal of Periodontology (2026). doi.org/10.1002/jper.70100

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 2 hours ago

Could dark matter be made of black holes from a different universe?

A cosmological model proposes that black holes formed before the big bang could have survived a cosmic bounce and now constitute dark matter. This scenario suggests that relic black holes, rather than undiscovered particles, may explain dark matter and account for early massive black holes observed by JWST. The model replaces the big bang singularity with a quantum transition, allowing structures from a previous universe to persist.

https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/pr4p-6m49

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 2 hours ago

A new fruit wash removes pesticides and extends shelf life

Researchers have developed a natural, biodegradable wash that removed up to 96% of pesticide residue from fruit and slowed browning and moisture loss. This could mean safer apples, grapes and other fruit that also stays fresh and crisp for days longer. With rising food prices and nearly half of all fresh produce wasted worldwide each year, finding a way to cut pesticide exposure and reduce spoilage could have a big impact. The findings are published in ACS Nano.

The new wash uses tiny particles made from starch—the same carbohydrate found in corn and potatoes—capped in iron and tannic acid. Tannic acid is a plant compound that gives tea and wine their dry taste. When iron and tannic acid join together, they form sticky, sponge-like clusters that can grab onto pesticides and lift them off the fruit's surface.

The team tested the wash by applying three commonly used pesticides to apples at typical, real-world concentrations of about 10 milligrams per liter.

In tests on apples, the wash removed between 86% and 96% of these pesticides. Rinsing with tap water, baking soda or plain starch typically removes less than half.

After washing, the fruit is dipped in the solution once again to form a light edible, biodegradable layer. Fresh-cut apples treated with the coating browned much more slowly and lost less water over two days in the fridge. Whole grapes stayed plump for 15 days at room temperature, compared with noticeable shriveling in untreated grapes.

The coating also showed antimicrobial effects, meaning it can inhibit harmful bacteria.

Tianyi Jin et al, Dual-Function Metal–Phenolic Network-Capped Starch Nanoparticles for Postharvest Pesticide Removal and Produce Preservation, ACS Nano (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c20410

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Abdominal fat is linked to a higher risk of urinary incontinence in women

Stress urinary incontinence is characterized by involuntary urine leakage during everyday activities such as coughing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising. It's that urinary leakage that occurs when pressure inside the abdomen increases and the pelvic floor can't hold it in.
Although the condition is often associated solely with aging, it is not exclusive to older women. It happens to women of all ages, including very young women. These pelvic floor muscles are rarely exercised throughout life, and without proper training, they can become weak and lose function.

Higher amounts of abdominal, particularly visceral, fat are strongly associated with increased risk of stress urinary incontinence in women, independent of total body fat or BMI. Visceral fat may contribute through mechanical pressure on the pelvic floor and metabolic effects such as chronic inflammation, potentially weakening pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscle training remains the primary treatment.
The accumulation of fat in the abdominal region, especially visceral fat (fat that accumulates between organs), significantly increases the risk of stress urinary incontinence in women. A study conducted at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, identified this region as the one most strongly associated with involuntary urine leakage, surpassing total body fat. The results are published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology and indicate that body fat distribution may be a more decisive factor than weight itself in explaining the condition.

The study results showed that women with higher amounts of body fat were more likely to experience incontinence. However, the main finding was the role of visceral fat. The presence of this type of fat increased the likelihood of stress urinary incontinence by about 51%.
There are two possible explanations. The first is mechanical. As visceral fat accumulates within the abdominal cavity, it increases pressure on the internal organs and overloads the pelvic floor, which is the structure responsible for supporting the bladder and controlling urine flow. Excess weight in this region creates constant strain. Over time, these muscles can become more fatigued and less efficient, the researchers explain.
The second mechanism is metabolic. Visceral fat does not merely function as an energy store; it is metabolically active and releases inflammatory substances that circulate throughout the body. This process can compromise muscle quality and reduce contractile capacity, including that of the pelvic floor muscles. It is low-grade chronic inflammation, which affects different tissues in the body. That can also contribute to muscle weakness.
Obesity is already recognized as a risk factor for urinary incontinence, along with aging, menopause, the number of pregnancies, and delivery conditions.
One of the main forms of treatment is strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through women's health physical therapy.

Ana Jéssica dos Santos Sousa et al, Which body region's fat accumulation increase the risk of stress urinary incontinence?, European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.114957

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