Lori A Carr

Scientists find microplastics in testicular tissue: University of New Mexico toxicologist John Yu and colleagues have discovered microplastics in the testicles of humans and dogs, raising concerns about potential effects on male fertility, according to a study in Toxicological Sciences. The study detected plastics such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride in the samples tested — an unexpected finding given the tight blood-tissue barrier in testicles, Yu said — and the results underscore the importance of further research into how microplastics affect human health.

Rocketing tumors into space illuminates human biology: Hematologist Catriona Jamieson, Director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, says that sending tumor organoids and stem cells aboard space flights is helping her understand stem cell aging and the mechanisms behind cancer growth. The tumors grew very rapidly, and Jamieson’s Lab Manager, Jessica Pham, suggested testing a novel blocker that appears to work as a cancer kill-switch.

First fetus-to-fetus kidney tissue transplant with rats successful: In a “first of its kind” project, surgeons in Japan transplanted kidney tissue from one rat fetus to another that was still in the womb, said Study Leader Takashi Yokoo, a Nephrologist at Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo. The advancement is a step toward the transplantation of fetal pig kidneys into human fetuses.

Bees vaccinated against bacterial disease resist virus: Honeybee hives vaccinated against American foulbrood diseases were more resistant to a virus carried by varroa mites than unvaccinated hives despite having an equivalent number of mites, veterinarian Nigel Swift of Dalan Animal Health reported at the World Vaccine Congress. The vaccine, made by Dalan, might boost honeybees’ immune systems, Dr. Swift says.

Menopause – the unspoken challenge for female workers: For women between the ages of 40 and 58, balancing the effects of menopause with the demands of their jobs is daunting, with financial losses put at $1.8 billion, and sometimes impossible, with about a quarter of women in one survey saying they were considering leaving their jobs. Bristol Myers Squibb, Adobe, and Bank of America are among the few companies that offer menopause benefits, and grassroots campaigns like Menopause Mandate and Let’s Talk Menopause raise awareness about the issue.

Can contraceptives prevent NYC rat overpopulation? The New York City Council is considering a proposal to try distributing rat contraceptives as a humane way to control the city’s rat population without the use of chemicals that harm nontarget species. The proposed pilot test would involve distributing male and female contraceptives encased in salty, fatty pellets in rat-infested areas.

WHO reports on the global hepatitis crisis: The 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Hepatitis Report reveals a rise in viral hepatitis-related deaths, making it the second-leading infectious cause of death worldwide, with over 6,000 new infections and 3,500 deaths daily. This is attributed to lacking diagnosis and treatment in many countries, although the WHO hepatitis elimination goal of 2030 may still be possible with expanded access to diagnostics, simplified service delivery, and increased funding for priority countries.

New arthritis research program gets $10M from Congress: Congress has allocated $10 Million toward a new arthritis research program under the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), with funding opportunities expected to open by July or August 2024. Despite being under the DOD, the research funding from the CDMRP can extend to populations outside the military and is not limited to military treatment facilities, said Akua Roach, Program Manager for the CDMRP Arthritis Research Program.

Global cancer cases could reach 35 Million in 2050 according to a report: A new American Cancer Society (ACS) report predicts that new cancer cases will jump 77% worldwide from about 20 million in 2022 to 35 million in 2050, largely due to population growth and the aging population. About 9.7 million people died from cancer globally in 2022, and lung cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer type and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, according to the report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Making room for the things that matter by prioritizing: Societal expectations may imply that women should try to be superior at every aspect of their jobs; however, taking that approach can lead to exhaustion, lack of focus, and dissatisfaction, writes Neuroscientist Juliette Han, a Professor at Columbia Business School. Han recommends sorting job responsibilities into three (3) categories in order to concentrate your time on the ones where you want to excel and make space for networking and other personal advancement tasks.