Category: General
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Baby Strollers/Pushchairs Expose Babies to High Level of Toxic Air Pollution
Pushing babies in strollers (pushchairs) can expose them to alarming levels of air pollution. This finding was made by researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK and published in the journal Environment International. Babies Inhaling Air Pollutants The researchers looked at how much air pollutants babies can inhale while being pushed in strollers…
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Importance of Matching Biological Clock With Day-Night Cycle
Scientists have discovered more evidence that it’s importance to keep our biological clocks in sync with our environment. Our circadian rhythms are the internal 24-hour biological clock in our bodies. This internal clock regulates many biological processes such as our metabolism. Numerous studies have shown that when our circadian rhythms become out of sync with…
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Scientists Turn Off Allergic Itching by Blocking Common Skin Protein
Scientists have found that blocking a skin protein called periostin can reduce allergic itch. Periostin is a protein commonly found in the skin. It is associated with activating itch-associated neurons in the skin. When researchers from North Carolina State University blocked the periostin receptors on these neurons, the itch response in mice with eczema was…
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Surgical and Cotton Masks Ineffective Against SARS COV-2 Coronavirus, Says Study
Surgical and cotton masks were ineffective in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This conclusion was from a study conducted at two hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. The research report was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. How Effective are Masks Against SARS-CoV-2? N95 and surgical masks have been…
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New Trial Drug Significantly Blocks COVID-19 Infections in Human ‘Organoids’
A new trial drug dramatically blocks the COVID-19 coronavirus load by 1,000 to 5,000 times in human organoids. The drug is called hrsACE2 (human recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). Organoids are three dimensional replicas of cells in culture. The finding was made by researchers at the University of British Columbia and is published in the…
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Feeding Babies Solid Food Too Early May Introduce Future Health Risks
Feeding infants solid food before three months may increase future health risks such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Researchers found early solid food in babies causes changes in the gut bacteria and bacterial byproducts, called short-chain fatty acids. These changes may portend future health risks, especially the chance of being overweight. The findings were by…
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Relative Humidity Indoors Between 40 to 60 Percent Can Slow Virus Transmission
Mice kept in environments with 40 to 60 percent relative humidity have much less ability to transmit viruses to non-infected mice. Researchers from Yale University made this conclusion after finishing their review study. The findings were published in the journal Annual Review of Virology, and the article is titled “Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections.” Seasonal…
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Substances Linked to Bladder Cancer Found in Urine of E-cigarette Users
A review study shows e-cigarette users can have up to six substances with a strong link to bladder cancer in their urine. Researchers from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and NYU Langone Health reported the findings. They analyzed multiple studies that looked at urine of people who used e-cigarettes and sometimes…
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Researchers Produce Fat Busting Human Protein in the Lab
A fat busting human protein called APOA5 (Apolipoprotein A5) was produced in a lab by researchers. APOA5 clears out fats called triglycerides that circulate in our blood. Too much of this fat causes you to grow that fat belly. APOA5 plays an important role in metabolizing and clearing excess levels of triglycerides from the bloodstream.…
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Rural Babies Display More Negative Emotions Than Urban Babies
Babies born to rural families display more negative emotions like anger and frustration than their urban counterparts. The researchers found, in contrast, that babies born in cities are less fussy and not as bothered by limits set by their caregivers. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Community Psychology by researchers from Washington…