Comment

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 13 minutes ago

Microplastics detected in cat placentas and fetuses during early pregnancy

In a small study of eight cats at early stages of pregnancy, researchers detected 19 different kinds of microplastic particles in fetuses from two cats and in the placentas of three cats.

Humans and other animals worldwide are increasingly exposed to microplastics, which are small particles of plastic contaminants. Studies suggest that microplastics can have a variety of adverse health effects. For instance, research in rodents suggests that fetuses exposed to microplastics during pregnancy may experience impaired development. Microplastics have also been found in human amniotic fluid, further raising concerns about fetal exposure.

To deepen our understanding of this topic, researchers investigated whether microplastics could be found in cat placentas and fetuses during early stages of pregnancy. They evaluated eight pregnant stray cats that had been brought to a veterinary hospital as part of a population-control program in northern Italy.

Using a standard chemical analysis technique known as Raman spectroscopy, the researchers detected microplastics in fetal tissue from two of the cats and in placental tissue from three of the cats. They found a total of 19 different types of microplastics in the tissue samples.

These findings show that even during early stages of pregnancy, microplastics may accumulate in cat placentas. They also suggest that microplastics may be able to cross the placental barrier and accumulate in cat fetuses. However, further research will be needed to determine whether microplastics in cat placentas and fetuses might impact fetal health and development.

In light of their findings and the findings of earlier studies, the researchers call for limits on the general use of plastics and for the development of alternative materials. They also call for policymakers and industrial stakeholders to enact strategies for mitigating plastic pollution that poses risks to humans and animals.

 Detection of microplastics in the feline placenta and fetus, PLOS One (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320694

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 35 minutes ago

Scientists create 'fungi tiles' with elephant skin texture to cool buildings

A team of scientists  has developed "fungi tiles" that could one day help to bring the heat down in buildings without consuming energy.

These wall tiles are made from a new biomaterial combining fungi's root network—called mycelium—and organic waste. Earlier research has shown that mycelium-bound composites are more energy efficient than conventional building insulation materials such as expanded vermiculite and lightweight expanded clay aggregate.

Building on this proven insulating property, the  team worked with local ecology and biomimicry design firm bioSEA to add a bumpy, wrinkly texture to the tile, mimicking an elephant's ability to regulate heat from its skin. Elephants do not have sweat glands and rely on these wrinkles and crevices on their skin to regulate heat.

In laboratory experiments, the scientists found that the cooling rate of their elephant skin–inspired mycelium tile was 25% better than a fully flat mycelium tile, and the heating rate was 2% lower. They also found that the elephant skin-inspired tile's cooling effect improved a further 70% in simulated rain conditions, making it suitable for tropical climates.

Mycelium-bound composites are created by growing fungi on organic matter such as sawdust or agricultural waste. As the fungus grows, it binds the organic matter into a solid, porous composite.

For this study, the  scientists used the mycelium of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)—a commonly found fungus—and bamboo shavings collected from a furniture shop.

These two components were mixed with oats and water and packed into a hexagonal mold with an elephant skin–inspired texture designed by bioSEA using computational modeling and algorithms to select the optimal design.

The mycelium tiles were left to grow in the dark for two weeks, then removed from the hexagonal mold and left to grow in the same conditions for another two weeks.

Finally, the tiles were dried in an oven at 48°C for three days. This final step removes any remaining moisture, prohibiting further mycelial growth.

The scientists found that the elephant skin-inspired tile absorbed heat more slowly. When its bumpy textured surface faced the heat source, its temperature increased by 5.01°C per minute, compared to 5.85°C per minute when its flat surface was exposed to heat. As a control, the scientists also heated a flat mycelium tile and found it gained 5.11°C per minute.

The elephant-skin-inspired tile cooled fastest when heated from the flat side, losing 4.26°C per minute. When heated from the textured side, its flat side lost 3.12°C per minute. The fully flat control tile lost 3.56°C per minute.

Based on these findings, the scientists recommended installing the tiles with the flat side adhered to the building façade and the textured surface exposed to external heat for optimal thermal performance.

 Eugene Soh et al, Biodegradable mycelium tiles with elephant skin inspired texture for thermal regulation of buildings, Energy and Buildings (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115187

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 20 hours ago

Feeding mice that model triple-negative breast cancer a high-linoleic-acid diet increased FABP5 levels, mTORC1 activation and tumor growth. The researchers also found increased levels of FABP5 and linoleic acid in the tumors and blood samples from newly diagnosed triple-negative patients.

The findings show that linoleic acid can have a role in breast cancer, though in a more targeted and defined context than previously appreciated. The study also is thought to be the first to establish a specific mechanism through which this common dietary ingredient influences disease.

Nikos Koundouros et al, Direct sensing of dietary ω-6 linoleic acid through FABP5-mTORC1 signaling, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adm9805

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 20 hours ago

Omega-6 fatty acid promotes the growth of an aggressive type of breast cancer, study finds

Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in seed oils such as soybean and safflower oil, and animal products including pork and eggs, specifically enhances the growth of the hard-to-treat "triple negative" breast cancer subtype, according to a preclinical study  by  Medicine investigators. The discovery could lead to new dietary and pharmaceutical strategies against breast and other cancers.

In the study, published March 14 in Science, the researchers found that linoleic acid can activate a major growth pathway in tumor cells by binding to a protein called FABP5. Comparing breast cancer subtypes, the team observed that this growth pathway activation occurs in triple-negative tumor cells, where FABP5 is particularly abundant, but not in other hormone-sensitive subtypes. In a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer, a diet high in linoleic acid enhanced tumor growth.

This discovery helps clarify the relationship between dietary fats and cancer, and sheds light on how to define which patients might benefit the most from specific nutritional recommendations in a personalized manner.

Omega-6 linoleic acid is a diet-derived nutrient that is considered essential in mammals for supporting multiple bodily processes. However, the abundance of this fat in "Western-style" diets has increased significantly since the 1950s, coinciding with the increased usage of seed oils in fried and ultra-processed foods.

This has led to concerns that excessive omega-6 intake might be one of the explanations for rising rates of certain diseases, including breast cancers. But decades of studies have yielded mixed and inconclusive results, and have never uncovered any biological mechanism tying omega-6s to cancers.

In the new study, the researchers sought to resolve this confusion by initially looking at breast cancer, which has been linked to modifiable factors such as obesity. They looked at the ability of omega-6 fatty acids—particularly linoleic acid, the dominant one in the Western diet—to drive an important, nutrient-sensing growth pathway called the mTORC1 pathway.

A key initial finding was that linoleic acid does indeed activate mTORC1 in cell and animal models of breast cancers, but only in triple-negative subtypes. (The term "triple negative" refers to the absence of three receptors, including estrogen receptors, that are often expressed by breast tumor cells and can be targeted with specific treatments.)

The scientists discovered that this subtype-specific effect occurs because the polyunsaturated fatty acid forms a complex with FABP5, which is produced at high levels in triple-negative breast tumors but not in other subtypes, leading to the assembly and activation of mTORC1, a major regulator of cell metabolism and cancer cell growth.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 20 hours ago

"So, the question is how do you keep the positives of border fences and toss the negatives?"
Here are four ways the researchers think physical borders can maintain national security while also minimizing harm to wildlife.

Cut down on lights and noise. Many international border areas were dark, quiet and uninhabited before fences and walls were installed. That means the animals who live there haven't grown accustomed to navigating light-flooded, noise-polluted environments full of human activity. Dimming lights and restricting the hours in which noisy construction can take place would go a long way toward supporting wildlife in those areas.

Let animals pass. What if border walls carved out passageways for small animals? What if border security workers opened temporary gaps in the fence a few times every migratory season? Taking these occasional measures would help lessen the disruption some species have experienced with the construction of border walls.
Use different materials. A coiled, sharp material called concertina wire tops many border fences to discourage people from climbing over. One study found that for some species, concertina wire was responsible for one to two deaths per mile per year along about 600 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, a perilously high mortality rate. Constructing fences with a different type of wire could save thousands of animals' lives every year.

Increase binational cooperation. To ensure a better future for some of the world's most beloved species, government leaders and scientists on both sides of every border barrier should work together to arrive at common security and preservation goals.

Cole Sennett et al, International border fences and walls negatively affect wildlife: A review, Biological Conservation (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110957

Part 3

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 20 hours ago

The first is habitat fragmentation. Borders can cut animals off from their natural ranges, and that is especially dangerous for animals with a very small travel radius, such as reptiles and some birds. Imagine a lizard who only travels up to a quarter mile from home. Then, imagine a fence going up in the middle of that lizard's already tiny range, restricting its stomping grounds—and potential food supply—even more. And don't forget that border infrastructure like bright lights, non-native landscaping, roads and increased staff will further hamper that lizard's ability to hunt, forage and even reproduce.
The second involves less genetic variation. International borders can disrupt animals' ability to interact and breed with each other. That means that over time, they become less genetically diverse, leading to a decrease in immunity to certain diseases. With time, they may even become inbred and unable to reproduce.
And, finally, there are fewer safety nets. Some endangered species are legally protected in one country but illegally poached in another. Without international cooperation on wildlife conservation, lax hunting laws and enforcement will continue to hurt animals who exist on both sides of a border fence.
There are a few benefits too:
Even in places where animals are threatened by poaching on one side of a border fence, they're shielded from it on the other—guaranteeing they won't go completely extinct. Borders can also shield animals from disease.
Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 20 hours ago

Border fences are bad for wildlife

International border barriers everywhere are harming wildlife by bisecting their habitats, disrupting their hunting and collecting patterns and preventing them from commingling. In some cases, the borders are causing so much harm that they could cause certain species to go extinct.

That's according to a new study published in the journal Biological Conservation.

The literature review, which analyzed 42 studies on wildlife and borders by scientists across the globe, was part of a special issue on addressing land degradation.

With border barriers, the habitat that animals once moved freely across is divided, fragmenting populations, reducing availability to water, lowering gene flow and even killing animals that try to cross.

Animals don't recognize political boundaries—they are tied to the resources that they need to survive. It's hard seeing animals come up against a new barrier—a huge wall or fence—that stops their ability to get a drink of water or find seasonal foods, especially in desert environments.

The problem has become worse due to a dramatic increase in border barriers in the 21st century. According to a report from the Migration Policy Institute there were just two dozen border walls across the world in 2000; two decades later, that number has tripled. 

The researchers found   three main ways in which physical borders were harming wildlife.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 21 hours ago

Frustration can lead to failure for search and rescue dogs

Search and rescue dogs are heroes in fur coats, using their incredible sense of smell to find lost hikers, disaster victims, and missing people. But a new study suggests that these life-saving dogs may face an unexpected obstacle: frustration.

Researchers found that frustration significantly impacts search and rescue dogs' ability to perform search tasks effectively. In a study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, they reported that when the dogs experience frustration—such as blocked access to a reward or an unfulfilled expectation—they are slower to complete their searches and are more prone to errors.

Search and rescue dogs are trained to work in high-pressure environments, from collapsed buildings to dense forests. While they are known for their endurance and focus, certain factors can affect their work.

To test what factors affect their work, researchers  enlisted a dozen dogs and their handlers to participate in three activities. The dogs wore special collars to track heart rate and heart rate variability—key indicators of exertion and stress. Researchers also recorded the dogs' search accuracy and speed in locating a target odor and surveyed the dogs' handlers on their behaviors.

In the first activity, the dogs rested under normal, quiet conditions for 10 minutes.

In the second "frustration activity," handlers teased the dogs with an unattainable toy, withheld their attention, and then led the dog to complete a search.

In the third exercise, the handlers led the dogs through a moderate workout before completing the search.
The results showed:
After experiencing frustration, search dogs took significantly longer to indicate they found their search targets.
The dogs made more errors after the frustration activity.
Frustration increased the dogs' heart rate and decreased their heart rate variability, indicating a higher level of stress and reduced ability to recover.
Physical exertion caused increased heart rate but did not change heart rate variability, indicating no significant stress response to exercise.

The researchers say the information is valuable for search and rescue (SAR) handlers, many of whom rely on longstanding training methods that use frustration as a tool to build dogs' perseverance. We often think of frustration as a motivator, but these  findings show that it can backfire, slowing dogs down and increasing errors. And that's a serious concern.

It's our responsibility to make their work as stress-free and enjoyable as possible, they conclude.

Sally Dickinson et al, Frustration and its impact on search and rescue canines, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1546412

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 22 hours ago

Developing an Ecotoxicological Classification for Frequently Used Drugs in Primary Care

A classification of drugs based on their environmental impact

Scientists at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and University center Unisanté classified 35 commonly used drugs based on their impact on the aquatic biodiversity.

The aim of this research is to provide medical staff with a tool for considering the environmental risks associated with certain common drugs when prescribing them. The proposed list is subject to change when new data becomes available, their rarity being a limiting factor for classification.

Every day all around the world, thousands of drugs are consumed, whether to relieve pain, regulate blood pressure or treat infections. But what happens after ingesting these products? Evacuated via urine, many substances end up in wastewater. They are only partially eliminated by these systems, and end up in lakes, rivers and streams, posing a risk to aquatic ecosystems. This risk is now recognized, but it is difficult for doctors to know how to integrate it into their practice.

At the University of Lausanne (UNIL), scientists from the Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM) and the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment (FGSE) have carried out a classification of widely-used drugs according to their ecotoxicity, i.e. their danger to the aquatic ecosystem. Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study reveals that drugs commonly prescribed in general medicine—to combat inflammation or infection, for example—have significant consequences for the health of fish, algae and bacteria essential to aquatic biodiversity.

The researchers classified 35 drugs commonly consumed into categories ranging from low to high toxicity for aquatic ecosystems. To do this, they cross-referenced three pieces of information: the 50 most widely sold drugs  (by weight), those for which ecotoxicity thresholds exist, and the concentration of those found in the rivers  (in the form of active ingredients).

Among the most problematic drugs are common painkillers and anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac, which is toxic to fish liver and can lead to fish death. There are also antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, which can eliminate bacteria useful to the ecosystem's balance, and encourage the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Mefenamic acid and paracetamol, on the other hand, are in the category with the lowest environmental risks.

This classification is far from complete, because of the lack of data. It does, however, give some initial indications for practitioners, say the eco-toxicologists.

 Developing an Ecotoxicological Classification for Frequently Used Drugs in Primary Care, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2025). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020290

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 23 hours ago

Air pollution and traffic noise increase the risk of stroke through combination effect

New research shows that air pollution and traffic noise together may pose a greater risk for stroke than either factor alone. The researchers found that even at low levels—below the EU's air quality standards and around WHO noise recommendation levels—the risk of stroke increased significantly.

The study, published in Environment International, analyzed data from 136,897 adults in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. The results show that a 5 µg/m³ increase in air pollution (PM_2.5) raises the risk of stroke by 9%, while an 11 dB increase in traffic noise increases the risk by 6%.

When both factors are combined, the risk may be even higher. For example, in quieter areas (40 dB), an increase in PM_2.5 was linked to a 6% rise in stroke risk, but in noisier areas (80 dB), the same increase in PM_2.5 raised the risk by 11%, though this result was not statistically significant.

The fact that we see clear associations even at relatively low levels indicates that current exposure limits may not be sufficient to protect public health. Stronger regulations are needed to reduce exposure and lower the risk of stroke and other diseases, say the researchers.

 Huyen Nguyen Thi Khanh et al, Exploring the interaction between ambient air pollution and road traffic noise on stroke incidence in ten Nordic cohorts, Environment International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109403

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