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What health messaging can help us make better choices at the vending machine?
JAMA Network Open
Labels reminding us of the healthiness (or lack thereof) and the calorie count of items at the vending machine may help us make healthier choices with our drinks but not our snacks, according to an international study. The researchers tested four Read more about What health messaging can help us make better choices at the vending machine?
InternationalUniversity of Pennsylvania, USA -
Should Medicare support genetic screening for Asian Australians at risk of reacting to epilepsy medication?
JAMA Dermatology
A specific gene is associated with an increased risk of a life threatening reaction to an epilepsy medication in many Asian populations, and an Australian study has found genetic screening for new Asian-Australian epilepsy patients is a Read more about Should Medicare support genetic screening for Asian Australians at risk of reacting to epilepsy medication?
Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales|The University of Sydney -
Could bad sleep during your childhood spell a risk of early adulthood psychosis?
JAMA Psychiatry
In a study involving over 12,000 kids and close to 4000 young adults, UK and Aussie researchers say they found a link between persistent shorter sleep in childhood and psychosis in young adulthood. Sleep duration was collected at multiple intervals Read more about Could bad sleep during your childhood spell a risk of early adulthood psychosis?
Australia; International; VICThe University of Melbourne|University of Birmingham, UK -
Google AI Alphafold 3 could supercharge biological research and drug discovery
Nature
AlphaFold 3, an AI model for looking at protein and molecular structures, could open up exciting possibilities for drug discovery, agricultural research, biological research, genetics, and more, according to researchers at Google DeepMind and Read more about Google AI Alphafold 3 could supercharge biological research and drug discovery
InternationalGoogle DeepMind, UK -
Potential link between PTSD and autism found in mice
iScience
People on the autism spectrum may be predisposed to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a study of a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Queensland suggests. The Read more about Potential link between PTSD and autism found in mice
Australia; QLD; ACTThe Australian National University|The University of Queensland -
Grandmothers could be the answer to adolescent angst
Scientific Reports
New research has found that investment by maternal grandmothers into grandchildren who have suffered multiple adverse early life experiences (AELE’s) could significantly reduce emotional and behavioural problems in these children. Grandmothers Read more about Grandmothers could be the answer to adolescent angst
Australia; WAEdith Cowan University -
Sleep apnea patients can breathe easy about CPAP therapy, computer simulations suggest
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology
A new comprehensive evaluation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, based on computer simulations of the respiratory tract, has found no adverse impact from its use in any part of the respiratory system. Read more about Sleep apnea patients can breathe easy about CPAP therapy, computer simulations suggest
Australia; NSWUniversity of Technology Sydney (UTS) -
These dramatic snakes fake their own deaths, complete with oozing blood effects
Biology Letters
Dice snakes, which are found across Europe and into Asia, fake their own deaths to avoid predators, and now researchers have found that by including some convincing dramatic effects such as smearing themselves with poo and oozing blood from their Read more about These dramatic snakes fake their own deaths, complete with oozing blood effects
InternationalUniversity of Belgrade, Serbia -
Why getting in touch with our ‘gerbil brain’ could help machines listen better
Current Biology
Macquarie University researchers have debunked a 75-year-old theory about how humans determine where sounds are coming from, and it could unlock the secret to creating a next generation of more adaptable and efficient hearing devices ranging from Read more about Why getting in touch with our ‘gerbil brain’ could help machines listen better
Australia; NSWMacquarie University -
New rock art discoveries in Eastern Sudan reaffirm catastrophic climate change
The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology
New archaeological findings from the hyper-arid Atbai Desert, in Eastern Sudan, indicate the Sahara Desert was once a lush and green environment. New archaeological findings from the hyper-arid Atbai Desert, in Eastern Sudan, indicate the Sahara Read more about New rock art discoveries in Eastern Sudan reaffirm catastrophic climate change
Australia; International; NSWMacquarie University -
Naltrexone offers hope for Long COVID patients
Frontiers in Immunology
Researchers from Griffith University’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) have made a discovery that could bring relief to those struggling with Long COVID. They've identified a way to restore the faulty function of Read more about Naltrexone offers hope for Long COVID patients
Australia; QLDGriffith University|Mater Research -
Testing high risk babies at 3 months of age could help identify cerebral palsy
JAMA Network Open
Early testing of three- or four-month-old babies who are at high risk of cerebral palsy was able to reliably predict the condition and its severity at two and three years old, according to Australian research. The study looked at 116 babies who were Read more about Testing high risk babies at 3 months of age could help identify cerebral palsy
Australia; VICMonash University|Hudson Institute of Medical Research... -
Over 30% of Aussies with difficult-to-treat asthma may be current smokers
Respirology
36. 2% of Aussies with difficult-to-treat asthma may also be current smokers, according to an Aussie survey of 6,048 people with asthma, which found that 21. 7% met the international criteria for difficult-to-treat asthma. The study also found that Read more about Over 30% of Aussies with difficult-to-treat asthma may be current smokers
Australia; NSWMacquarie University|The University of New South Wales... -
Relaxation therapy might help mums produce more milk
JAMA Pediatrics
British and Malaysian researchers reviewing 16 previous studies say that relaxation interventions were associated with an increase in milk production in mums, and subsequent additional weight to their bubs. The researchers say listening to music, Read more about Relaxation therapy might help mums produce more milk
InternationalUniversity of Oxford, UK -
Carrying 2 copies of a particular form of this gene may cause a distinct type of Alzheimer's
Nature Medicine
Spanish and US scientists say almost everyone they investigated who had two copies of a particular form of a gene called APOE, a form called APOE4, went on to develop signs of Alzheimer's disease, which may mean it's a distinct genetic form of the Read more about Carrying 2 copies of a particular form of this gene may cause a distinct type of Alzheimer's
InternationalHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Spain -
How Venus dried up
Nature
US researchers have proposed a new possible reason as to why our spicy celestial neighbour Venus lost most of its water. They say a chemical reaction called HCO+ dissociative recombination - a process that would double the loss of water into space Read more about How Venus dried up
InternationalUniversity of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA -
To boost quality of life while aging - stay active or get active by 55
PLOS Medicine
A new study of more than 10,000 Australian women showed a significant link between regular exercise during mid-age and physical health later in life, even when the exercise routine was not started until their mid-50s. New research from Charles Read more about To boost quality of life while aging - stay active or get active by 55
Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney -
Smart wild orangutan spotted treating a facial wound with medicinal plant
Scientific Reports
German and Indonesian scientists were lucky enough to witness the first known example of a wild animal using a plant with medicinal properties to treat a wound. The male Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) in question, named Rakus, was seen chewing up Read more about Smart wild orangutan spotted treating a facial wound with medicinal plant
InternationalMax Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany -
The near-collapse of Earth's magnetic field may have contributed to complex life
Communications Earth & Environment
An unusual reduction in the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field between 591 and 565 million years ago coincided with a significant increase in the oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans, according to international researchers who say this Read more about The near-collapse of Earth's magnetic field may have contributed to complex life
InternationalUniversity of Rochester, USA -
EXPERT REACTION: Examining the impact of IVF on childhood cancer risk
JAMA Network Open
Children conceived by IVF have no overall increased risk of childhood cancer, according to a large study by international researchers. The team looked at a cohort of about 8. 5 million children, 260,000 of whom had been born using medically assisted Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Examining the impact of IVF on childhood cancer risk
Australia; International; NSW; VICFrench National Health Insurance, France