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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 11:46am

Scientists question nematode cancer tests

Doctors have raised concerns that a commercial cancer test produces higher levels of false negatives ... than published figures suggest. The N-NOSE test, sold by Japanese start-up Hirotsu Bio Science, detects the presence of cancer on the basis of whether microscopic nematode worms move towards a urine sample. Hirotsu Bio Science chief technology officer Eric di Luccio suggests that the criticisms are “100% bullshit”. The company has highlighted that the doctors’ figures have not been subject to peer review. Two Japanese medical societies have launched an investigation, with results expected early next year.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03733-9?utm_source=Live+...

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Why some scientists aren’t using ChatGPT

“Why am I even a researcher if I don’t write my own research?” asks psychologist Ada Kaluzna. She is one of those who have shunned using generative artificial intellige..., because she feels it could disrupt her ability to learn and think creatively. Others are concerned about the tendency of chatbots to make up facts and citations when answering niche questions. Some scientists think that the most cutting-edge AI tools could be useful — especially when writing in a language other than your mother tongue — but are stuck on the waiting list for ChatGPT-4.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04071-6?utm_source=Live+...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 11:29am

Baby Survives Incredibly Rare Pregnancy Outside of Mother's Uterus

A 37 year old woman from the French island of Réunion east of Madagascar visited a hospital emergency department, only to discover she was – in fact – pregnant. That was okay.

Scans soon revealed a rather surprising twist. Though there was a 23-week-old baby happily kicking around inside the woman's body, her uterus was completely empty. The fetus had instead set anchor to the membrane lining the abdominal cavity, just above the mother's tailbone.

Identifying the situation as a case of abdominal ectopic pregnancy, the woman's medical care team sent her to a more suitable hospital, where at 29 weeks the baby was delivered surgically and placed into neonatal intensive care. Around 2 months after being delivered, the child was given the all-clear to go home.

Most ectopic pregnancies implant themselves into the lining of one of the two fallopian tubes that channel ova from the ovaries, resulting in a potentially life-threatening situation should the embryo continue to grow. Without suitable medical care, as many as 10 percent of such pregnancies can claim the parent's and child's lives. Yet in less than one percent of ectopic pregnancies, the newly-formed embryo drifts out of the uterus's internal environment altogether and into the abdominal cavity, where it settles against the peritoneal membrane, spleen, or some other tissue or organ, and weaves itself a placenta.

Surprisingly, this arrangement isn't always as disastrous for the embryo as it seems. At least, not at first. Sooner or later, however, the unsupported weight of the growing child and pressure of surrounding organs pose risks to both the child's development and their parent's health.

Maternal death beyond 20 weeks of gestation can occur in as many as nearly one in five cases thanks to shock, hemorrhaging, and multiple organ failure.

For the woman in this case, a timely visit to the emergency department almost certainly saved her life.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm2120220?

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 11:10am

She continued to have trouble breathing and developed new problems like difficulty swallowing, weakness on one side, tingling and numbness, and unsteady walking, so the girl was admitted to a pediatric hospital for a thorough evaluation.

Otolaryngologists examined her vocal cords again, and this time they diagnosed bilateral vocal cord paralysis, essentially meaning both her vocal cords were unable to move. But they still couldn't find a cause for the paralysis.

Results from a battery of tests ruled out infections and neurological disorders. Her brain and spine scans showed no obvious issues that could be related to her symptoms, nor did tests on her swallowing.

Based on their findings, doctors concluded that the teenager's previous COVID-19 infection appeared to have weakened her vocal cords, and may also be the cause of her numbness and weakness on one side.

Botulinum toxin injections into her throat muscles – a method that's shown efficacy in treating some throat pathologies in children – was unsuccessful in alleviating her breathing issues.

Eventually the girl had surgery for a tracheostomy, where a small opening is made in the trachea (windpipe) to assist breathing. And finally, her breathing got better.Her weakness, tingling, and numbness improved over time, raising the likelihood that they were related to her past COVID-19 infection.

The medical team tried a few times to see if she could breathe without the tracheostomy, but it wasn't until the 15th month after insertion that they were able to remove it safely.

"She was having her senior prom a year and a quarter to the date of when she lost her function, and she told me she was not going to go to the prom with her tracheostomy in place," says Hartnick.

"We decided to intervene so that she could graduate high school and go to her prom tracheostomy-free, which she did."

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.20...

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 11:10am

Teenager's Vocal Cords Paralyzed After COVID in World First

Days after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, an otherwise healthy teenage girl suddenly had trouble breathing. COVID-19 appeared to have paralyzed her vocal cords.
The girl needed a surgical tracheostomy – an opening in her windpipe below her voice box – to support her breathing for over a year. According to a new case report on the event, COVID's impact on the nervous system may cause vocal cord paralysis in rare cases.
The authors say this is the first case of vocal cord paralysis in a teenager after a COVID-19 diagnosis, though there have been reports of the condition in adults.

The virus has known neurologic complications, including headache, seizure, and peripheral neuropathy.
The current case reveals that vocal cord paralysis may be an additional neuropathic sequela of the virus
Thirteen days after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, the 15-year-old girl presented to a hospital emergency department. Her initial symptoms including congestion, fever, and fatigue, improved after five days. But she reported having trouble breathing suddenly nine days after the positive test, especially when active.

Emergency department doctors noted her breathing was rapid and noisy when inhaling, indicating obstructed airflow, though her oxygen levels were normal. Tests for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections were negative.

The patient, who had a history of asthma and anxiety, was given steroids and bronchodilators for a suspected asthma attack, but it didn't help.

Otolaryngologists examined her vocal cords and diagnosed paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM), where the vocal cords close instead of opening while a person is breathing in. She began speech therapy to treat this involuntary closure, but her symptoms didn't improve and it became clear they didn't match the typical signs of PVFM.
Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 10:31am

New ultra-high speed processor to advance AI, driverless vehicles and more

A team of international scientists has developed an ultra-high speed signal processor that can analyze 400,000 real time video images concurrently, according to a paper published in Communications Engineering.

The team developed a processor that operates more than 10,000 times faster than typical electronic processors that operate in Gigabyte/s, at a record 17 Terabits/s (trillion bits per second).

The technology has profound implications for the safety and efficiency of driverless cars, medical imaging and could help find habitable planets beyond our solar system.

These are portable, ultra-precise optical rulers that could be used for everything from handheld breath scanners to detecting small movements of objects in space or finding Earth-like exoplanets.

The processor's efficiency and speed will have a major impact on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and robotic vision. The ability to process vast amounts of data in real-time will lead to more intelligent, autonomous robotic systems that can operate efficiently in real-world environments.

In astronomy, for example, processing large volumes of celestial data at unprecedented speeds will support groundbreaking discoveries. This approach will also accelerate functions of medical imaging and autonomous vehicles.

All real-time analysis and decision-making requires ultrafast analysis of video images for everything from autonomous driving to artificial intelligence in order to detect and analyze objects.

The secret to its remarkable performance lies in the integrated optical microcomb, which overcomes the bandwidth and energy limitations inherent in electronics.

 Mengxi Tan et al, Photonic signal processor based on a Kerr microcomb for real-time video image processing, Communications Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s44172-023-00135-7

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 9:58am

The study brings to light the overlooked health hazards posed by pathogens associated with microplastics in aquatic environments. It strongly advocates for immediate and decisive action to protect public health and maintain the integrity of the environment. Additionally, the research underscores the necessity for multidisciplinary research efforts to unravel the intricate interactions between microplastic-associated pathogens and to devise effective strategies for their mitigation.

More information: Huan Zhong et al, The hidden risk of microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments, Eco-Environment & Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.07.004

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 9:57am

Microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments: A hidden health risk

Microplastics, which are minute plastic particles under 5mm in size, are becoming ever more ubiquitous in marine and freshwater ecosystems around the globe. These particles, derived from primary and secondary sources, such as industrial raw material nurdles and the degradation of larger plastic items, have escalated into a major environmental issue.

In aquatic settings, these microplastics take on the role of carriers for a range of pathogens, encompassing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. This dynamic presents a considerable hazard, with the potential to cause infections in both marine life and humans.

A new study, featured in the journal Eco-Environment & Health, reveals the hidden dangers associated with pathogen-laden microplastics in aquatic environments, underscoring an increasing concern for public health.
The research delves into how microplastics act as conduits for pathogens in various aquatic environments. It thoroughly investigates the factors influencing the adherence of pathogens to microplastics, their survival, and the probability of these pathogens being transmitted to humans via different routes of exposure.

This investigation is instrumental in shaping both public health policies and environmental strategies. It emphasizes the urgent need for intensified monitoring of microplastic contamination and calls for expanded research into the role of microplastics in pathogen transmission, along with the health risks that ensue.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 9:53am

Highlights
The Cd(II) adsorption capacity followed the order of PA > PLA > PP.
Oxygen groups played critical roles in Cd(II) adsorption by PLA MPs.
Degradation of PLA MPs enhanced Cd(II) desorption in human digestive fluid.
Cd(II) release was easier from PLA during human digestion than from PP or PA.
The study sets a foundation for future research into the long-term impacts of biodegradable microplastics on human health and the environment. It emphasizes the need for more thorough regulations and guidelines to effectively manage the use and disposal of these materials.

 Timing Jiang et al, A potential threat from biodegradable microplastics: mechanism of cadmium adsorption and desorption in the simulated gastrointestinal environment, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11783-024-1779-4

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 9:52am

Hidden dangers in eco-friendly choices: The health risks of biodegradable microplastics revealed

A study published in Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering on September 25, 2023, unveils the potential health risks associated with biodegradable microplastics, particularly polylactic acid (PLA).

This in-depth study offers a nuanced exploration of the interactions between biodegradable microplastics, specifically polylactic acid (PLA), and the heavy metal cadmium (Cd(II)). It meticulously examines and contrasts the adsorption and desorption processes of these microplastics in varied environments, ranging from natural ecological settings to simulated human gastrointestinal conditions.
This comparative analysis extends to traditional non-biodegradable microplastics, providing a rich understanding of the different environmental behaviors of these materials. Significantly, the research unveils that, despite the biodegradability of PLA, its interaction with cadmium can lead to substantial health risks.

These findings are instrumental in deepening our comprehension of the multifaceted environmental impact of microplastics, especially in relation to human health and safety, thus enriching the discourse on the ecological implications of both conventional and biodegradable plastics.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 22, 2023 at 9:32am

Research shows that sniffing women's tears reduces aggressive behaviour in men

New research, published in PLOS Biology, shows that tears from women contain chemicals that block aggression in men. The study finds that sniffing tears leads to reduced brain activity related to aggression, which results in less aggressive behaviour.

Male aggression in rodents is known to be blocked when they smell female tears. This is an example of social chemosignaling, a process that is common in animals but less common—or less understood—in humans.
To determine whether tears have the same effect in people, the researchers exposed a group of men to either women's emotional tears or saline while they played a two-person game. The game was designed to elicit aggressive behavior against the other player, whom the men were led to believe was cheating.
When given the opportunity, the men could get revenge on the other player by causing them to lose money. The men did not know what they were sniffing and could not distinguish between the tears or the saline, which were both odorless.
Revenge-seeking aggressive behavior during the game dropped more than 40% after the men sniffed women's emotional tears. When repeated in an MRI scanner, functional imaging showed two aggression-related brain regions—the prefrontal cortex and anterior insula—that became more active when the men were provoked during the game, but did not become as active in the same situations when the men were sniffing the tears.

Individually, the greater the difference in this brain activity, the less often the player took revenge during the game. Finding this link between tears, brain activity, and aggressive behavior implies that social chemosignaling is a factor in human aggression, not simply an animal curiosity.

We found that just like in mice, human tears contain a chemical signal that blocks conspecific male aggression. This goes against the notion that emotional tears are uniquely human.

 Agron S, de March CA, Weissgross R, Mishor E, Gorodisky L, Weiss T, et al. (2023) A chemical signal in human female tears lowers aggression in males. PLoS Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002442

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