Medicalxpress

1. Long Covid linked to multiple organ changes, research suggests

   A third of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have "abnormalities" in multiple organs months after getting infected, a UK study said on Saturday, potentially shedding light on the elusive condition of long COVID.

2. The role of the locus coeruleus, a 'blue spot' linked to sleep

   Researchers at the University of Liège (BE) Institute are using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI to provide a better understanding of how sleep is regulated.

3. Tirzepatide more effective in blood sugar control and body weight loss than semaglutide, shows meta-analysis

   A new meta-analysis combining 22 studies, to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2–6 October), shows that tirzepatide is superior to semaglutide for both control of blood sugar and in terms of amount of body weight lost by patients. The study is by Dr. Thomas Karagiannis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, and colleagues.

4. Surgeons perform second pig heart transplant, trying to save a dying man

   Surgeons have transplanted a pig's heart into a dying man in a bid to prolong his life—only the second patient to ever undergo such an experimental feat. Two days later, the man was cracking jokes and able to sit in a chair, Maryland doctors said Friday.

5. Study links obesity and poor sleep

   A new study has found people who sleep badly are also more likely to be obese.

6. Many Americans frustrated in search for low-cost COVID boosters

   Americans seeking out the new COVID boosters are finding themselves held back by insurance entanglements and supply delays.

7. Many low- and middle-income countries unprepared for the battle against cardiovascular disease, study finds

   Most health care facilities in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unprepared to treat patients with cardiovascular diseases—despite these conditions leading to millions of people dying prematurely every year, a new study reveals.

8. New research reveals gut microbiota link to colitis

   A study conducted by Jun Sun's research team at the University of Illinois Chicago has revealed a new and critical role of Axin1 in regulating intestinal epithelial development and microbial homeostasis. The research, titled "Intestinal Epithelial Axin1 Deficiency Protects Against Colitis via Altered Gut Microbiota," and published in the journal Engineering, highlights the potential therapeutic strategies for human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

9. Study finds connection between gut microbiome and bone density

   There is growing evidence that a relative abundance of certain gut microbes may be related to skeletal health, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology. If confirmed by additional research, the findings could provide the opportunity to alter gut microbiomes to achieve better bone health, as scientists learn more about "osteomicrobiology," a new term recently used to characterize this relationship.

10. One in three women have a baby in their first IVF cycle: Report

    The annual IVF report from UNSW reveals the latest numbers and trends in assisted reproductive technology.

11. New resource helps people with learning disabilities understand the benefits of vaccinations

    On Friday 22 September, researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and charity Beyond Words will launch a new resource that helps people with learning disabilities to understand the importance of vaccines, and take informed decisions about their health.

12. AI and medicine: Digital twins will be able to help us diagnose and treat diseases

    Artificial intelligence is also revolutionizing the world of medicine. In the future, we will be able to create digital twins that simulate various processes in our body. These digital representations of ourselves will be able to help us diagnose and treat diseases.

13. Full-body MRIs are the latest celebrity-endorsed health craze. Will they save your life?

    Step aside, $3,500 Cartier watches and $12,000 Birkin bags. The latest status symbol may be full-body MRI scans, touted by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and designer Zac Posen.

14. Three facts about acute lymphocytic leukemia in children

    September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The most common type of childhood cancer is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a blood and bone marrow cancer that creates immature white blood cells that can't perform their typical functions. Because of this, the disease worsens quickly.

15. AI model aims to predict how medicines taste

    A team from the UCL Global Business School for Health (GBSH) and the UCL School of Pharmacy are using data collected from an "electric tongue" to create an AI model for predicting the bitterness of drugs.

16. Study discovers novel intracellular signaling mechanisms that promote melanoma growth

    Investigators led by Kathleen Green, Ph.D., the Joseph L. Mayberry, Sr., Professor of Pathology and Toxicology, have discovered novel intercellular "crosstalk" between epidermal keratinocytes and melanoma cells that promote cancer growth and metastasis.

17. Mechanisms of phototherapy of Alzheimer's disease during sleep and wakefulness

    Photobiomodulation during sleep turns the brain into a washing machine, helping to cleanse its tissues of toxic beta-amyloid and increase resistance to the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

18. COVID has changed how people view the environment and their relationship to it

    An appreciation of the environmental benefits of lockdowns, concern about how COVID-related products have contributed to waste and hopes for a greener, pandemic-proof future are key findings of a national survey at the University of Auckland. The study's findings are published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology and Environmental Development.

19. Cultural racism found to worsen health inequities between racial groups

    Racism expressed through cultural norms can perpetuate negative health outcomes for non-white groups, according to a study by UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

20. Marital stress may be associated with worse patient‐reported outcomes after acute myocardial infarction

    About 46% of American adults are divorced, widowed or have never been married, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the proportion of never-marrieds has been rising steadily in modern times.