Lori A Carr

Gut bacteria may bacteria may be linked to food addiction: Researchers found that an abundance of Proteobacteria in the gut is linked to food addiction in both humans and mice, while higher levels of Blautia and Actinobacteria appear to have protective effects against this condition. The findings, presented at the Federation of European Neurosciences Societies meeting and published in Gut, highlight the potential for manipulating gut microbiota to treat food addiction and related eating disorders.

Radioactive chips may protect rhinos from poaching: Scientists in South Africa injected tiny radioactive pellets into the horns of twenty (20) live rhinoceros in an antipoaching project led by the University of the Witwatersrand’s Radiation and Health Physics Unit. The radioactive chips will not harm the environment or the rhinos’ health; however, they will render the horns useless for human consumption and will make them easier to detect at borders, airports, and harbors

AI (Artificial Intelligence) detects 13 cancer types with 98.2% accuracy: An AI model, EMethylNET, was 98.2% accurate in detecting 13 cancer types and other non-cancer samples using DNA data from tissue samples, researchers reported in the journal Biology Methods and Protocols. “Depending on the availability of training data, this method can be extended to detect hundreds of cancer types,” researchers said.

Brain implants significantly reduces boy’s severe seizures: A young patient with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), a treatment-resistant form of epilepsy, is the first to receive a neurostimulator implant to control seizures. The device sends electrical signals deep into the brain and appears to have lessened the boy’s severe daytime seizures by at least 80%.

Bionic leg enables amputees to walk naturally and faster: A bionic leg that boosts brain and spinal cord signals has enabled seven amputees to walk 41% faster than those with standard robotic prosthetics, with peak speeds comparable to those without amputations, offering a more natural walking experience for amputees. “This is the first study that demonstrates natural gait patterns with a full neural modulation where the person’s brain is 100% in command of the bionic prosthesis, not a robotic algorithm,” said Hugh Herr, Co-Author of the study in Nature Medicine.

FDA issues draft guidance for clinical trial diversity: The FDA is accepting comments on draft guidance suggesting ways that drugmakers and medical device makers can improve diversity in clinical trial participant pools. Goals for a “diversity action plan” should consider the estimated prevalence of the target disease, and the agency will require most makers of new drugs and devices to submit clinical trial diversity plans.

All-girls team invents device to save animal and human lives: A team of four (4) girls at Colorado’s STEM School om Highlands Ranch, calling themselves the “Rubber Duckies”, chose to solve the animal-car collision problem for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. The “Duckies” have invented an infrared system that detects animals near roadways and feeds the information into an AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithm that analyzes the data and, if the presence of an animal is confirmed, alerts the driver to slow down and beware. The car company “Audi” has expressed interest, and the girls are planning to test a dashcam-like prototype next.

Blood tests may reduce maternal, fetal mortality rates: New blood tests that detect biomarkers of preeclampsia might enable early interventions for people at high risk for the condition and prevent complications and maternal and fetal deaths. The tests “absolutely represent an exciting advancement, especially when you look at the field of preeclampsia and the fact that there’s been very little new introduced to the field in decades,” said Preeclampsia Foundation CEO Eleni Tsigas.

Treat the cat or treat the person to quell allergies? Sublingual liquid allergen immunotherapy reduced symptoms in a subgroup of people with cat allergies, according to a presentation by allergist Pascal Demoly at the Francophone Congress of Allergology. However, pulmonologist Alain Didier said that most allergen immunotherapy trial results have been negative, and he suggested that people with cat allergies can vaccinate the cat against Fel d 1 or feed it a diet rich in Immunoglobulin Y.

Smart bandages can detect infection, inflammation: Researchers are developing smart bandages capable of autonomously monitoring wound healing and detecting issues like infections and inflammation, according to a study published in the journal Nature Materials. The findings showed potential results in animal models, suggesting these high-tech dressings could revolutionize wound care by assisting in real time, delivering treatments and improving patient outcomes.