<![CDATA[Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum - Physiology & Pharmacology]]> https://www.scivillage.com/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 20:03:35 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Medical gender reassignment does not reduce psychiatric problems]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21416.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:46:57 +0000 Syne]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21416.html Psychiatric Morbidity Among Adolescents and Young Adults Who Contacted Specialised Gender Identity Services in Finland in 1996-2019: A Register Study

Abstract

Aim: To examine the prevalence of severe psychiatric morbidity among gender-referred adolescents, focusing on gender differences and outcomes related to medical gender reassignment.

Methods: Finnish nationwide cohort of all under-23-year-old gender-referred individuals between 1996 and 2019 (n = 2 083) and 16 643 matched controls. Cross-tabulations with X2 statistics and Cox regression were used to analyse the data.

Results: Gender-referred adolescents showed significantly higher psychiatric morbidity than controls both before (45.7% vs. 15.0%) and ≥ 2 years after referral (61.7% vs. 14.6%). Those referred after 2010 had greater psychiatric needs than earlier cohorts, both before (47.9% vs. 15.3%) and ≥ 2 years after (61.3% vs. 14.2%) referral. Among adolescents who underwent medical gender reassignment, psychiatric morbidity increased markedly during follow-up-rising from 9.8% to 60.7% in feminising gender reassignment and from 21.6% to 54.5% in masculinising gender reassignment. After adjusting for prior psychiatric treatment, all gender-referred adolescents had similarly elevated risks of psychiatric morbidity, with hazard ratios approximately three times higher than female controls and five times higher than male controls.

Conclusion: Severe psychiatric morbidity is common among gender-referred adolescents and appears to be more prevalent in those referred after the recent surge in referrals. Psychiatric needs do not subside after medical gender reassignment.

]]> Psychiatric Morbidity Among Adolescents and Young Adults Who Contacted Specialised Gender Identity Services in Finland in 1996-2019: A Register Study

Abstract

Aim: To examine the prevalence of severe psychiatric morbidity among gender-referred adolescents, focusing on gender differences and outcomes related to medical gender reassignment.

Methods: Finnish nationwide cohort of all under-23-year-old gender-referred individuals between 1996 and 2019 (n = 2 083) and 16 643 matched controls. Cross-tabulations with X2 statistics and Cox regression were used to analyse the data.

Results: Gender-referred adolescents showed significantly higher psychiatric morbidity than controls both before (45.7% vs. 15.0%) and ≥ 2 years after referral (61.7% vs. 14.6%). Those referred after 2010 had greater psychiatric needs than earlier cohorts, both before (47.9% vs. 15.3%) and ≥ 2 years after (61.3% vs. 14.2%) referral. Among adolescents who underwent medical gender reassignment, psychiatric morbidity increased markedly during follow-up-rising from 9.8% to 60.7% in feminising gender reassignment and from 21.6% to 54.5% in masculinising gender reassignment. After adjusting for prior psychiatric treatment, all gender-referred adolescents had similarly elevated risks of psychiatric morbidity, with hazard ratios approximately three times higher than female controls and five times higher than male controls.

Conclusion: Severe psychiatric morbidity is common among gender-referred adolescents and appears to be more prevalent in those referred after the recent surge in referrals. Psychiatric needs do not subside after medical gender reassignment.

]]> <![CDATA[Drug improves sexual function for patients with depression + Genital fillers worry?]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21341.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:53:48 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21341.html Drug improves sexual function for patients with depression, study finds
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1143897

INTRO: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and an inadequate response to standard antidepressants who received an add- on treatment with the drug lumateperone saw significantly improved sexual function, found a new study led by a University of Virginia School of Medicine researcher.

In a study of 480 patients, significant improvements in sexual function were seen in patients who were randomized to receive a daily 42 mg dose of lumateperone added to their antidepressant therapy compared with patients whose additional treatment was a harmless placebo. Improvements were seen across multiple patient groups including those with baseline sexual dysfunction, women, younger and older adults as well as across various aspects of sexual functioning (desire, arousal, orgasm and pleasure).

Approximately 68% of patients with major depressive disorder have sexual dysfunction, and the sexual side effects of antidepressant medications are a leading reason patients stop treatment. Lead researcher Anita H. Clayton, MD, a psychiatrist at UVA Health, hailed the findings as an important step forward in the management of sexual dysfunction in patients with depression... (MORE - no ads)

What can go wrong with genital fillers?
https://theconversation.com/men-and-wome...ong-289872

EXCERPTS: Fillers are everywhere now – smoothing lines, plumping cheeks, adding volume around the eyes, nose and lips in clinics up and down the country. But some men are now having fillers injected into their penises to increase their size. [...] Research is limited when it comes to the risks, but a recent study estimated that complications occur in about 9% of men receiving hyaluronic acid fillers.

These complications can include bruising and swelling, as well as lumps and nodules. More serious problems include skin irritation, tissue breakdown and infections. The timing of these problems can vary. Bleeding and bruising tend to occur during the first week or two. Nodules may appear around the third week. Infections often appear around six or seven weeks after treatment, although they can occur years later.

In severe cases, infection can progress rapidly to multiple organ failure. There have also been cases of tissue death requiring part of the penis to be removed. And in March, social media influencer Igho Ubiribo, known as “Ego”, died from a pulmonary embolism following a penis filler procedure in Thailand.

Hyaluronic acid is not the only way men are trying to increase penis size. Another option involves taking fat from elsewhere in the body and injecting it into the penis. This carries its own risks. These include injecting fat into the wrong area, as well as swelling and bruising. Men can also develop lumps or deformities caused by uneven fat distribution or the death of the injected fat.

There is also the risk of infection with bacteria such as S aureus or E coli. In the most serious cases, tissue can die or the patient can die from a fat embolism.

Another treatment being offered for sexual enhancement is PRP, or platelet-rich plasma. These injections are not just marketed to men. The so-called “P-shot”, or priapus shot, is promoted for men, while the “O-shot”, or orgasm shot, is marketed to women... (MORE - missing details)]]> Drug improves sexual function for patients with depression, study finds
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1143897

INTRO: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and an inadequate response to standard antidepressants who received an add- on treatment with the drug lumateperone saw significantly improved sexual function, found a new study led by a University of Virginia School of Medicine researcher.

In a study of 480 patients, significant improvements in sexual function were seen in patients who were randomized to receive a daily 42 mg dose of lumateperone added to their antidepressant therapy compared with patients whose additional treatment was a harmless placebo. Improvements were seen across multiple patient groups including those with baseline sexual dysfunction, women, younger and older adults as well as across various aspects of sexual functioning (desire, arousal, orgasm and pleasure).

Approximately 68% of patients with major depressive disorder have sexual dysfunction, and the sexual side effects of antidepressant medications are a leading reason patients stop treatment. Lead researcher Anita H. Clayton, MD, a psychiatrist at UVA Health, hailed the findings as an important step forward in the management of sexual dysfunction in patients with depression... (MORE - no ads)

What can go wrong with genital fillers?
https://theconversation.com/men-and-wome...ong-289872

EXCERPTS: Fillers are everywhere now – smoothing lines, plumping cheeks, adding volume around the eyes, nose and lips in clinics up and down the country. But some men are now having fillers injected into their penises to increase their size. [...] Research is limited when it comes to the risks, but a recent study estimated that complications occur in about 9% of men receiving hyaluronic acid fillers.

These complications can include bruising and swelling, as well as lumps and nodules. More serious problems include skin irritation, tissue breakdown and infections. The timing of these problems can vary. Bleeding and bruising tend to occur during the first week or two. Nodules may appear around the third week. Infections often appear around six or seven weeks after treatment, although they can occur years later.

In severe cases, infection can progress rapidly to multiple organ failure. There have also been cases of tissue death requiring part of the penis to be removed. And in March, social media influencer Igho Ubiribo, known as “Ego”, died from a pulmonary embolism following a penis filler procedure in Thailand.

Hyaluronic acid is not the only way men are trying to increase penis size. Another option involves taking fat from elsewhere in the body and injecting it into the penis. This carries its own risks. These include injecting fat into the wrong area, as well as swelling and bruising. Men can also develop lumps or deformities caused by uneven fat distribution or the death of the injected fat.

There is also the risk of infection with bacteria such as S aureus or E coli. In the most serious cases, tissue can die or the patient can die from a fat embolism.

Another treatment being offered for sexual enhancement is PRP, or platelet-rich plasma. These injections are not just marketed to men. The so-called “P-shot”, or priapus shot, is promoted for men, while the “O-shot”, or orgasm shot, is marketed to women... (MORE - missing details)]]> <![CDATA[Boy developed “toasted skin” condition from using a laptop every day]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21324.html Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:04:06 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21324.html https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/b...every-day/

EXCERPT: Two weeks later, the boy was back in the hospital, and the marks were worse. They were bigger, darker, and tender. There were patches of pink, and some of his skin was visibly breaking down. A picture of the marks is here.

Based on the appearance, the doctors started reconsidering some sort of bruising and started asking him more questions. This is when he mentioned that he was homeschooled and used a laptop for his schoolwork. He said he typically did his work by resting his laptop on his abdomen while he worked, sometimes for up to eight hours a day, and often while the laptop was charging. Then they understood what it was.

The doctors diagnosed the boy with erythema ab igne (EAI), which translates from Latin as “redness from fire” and is also sometimes called “toasted skin syndrome.” This is a skin condition caused by repeated, prolonged exposure to low-grade heat—heat not hot enough to cause actual burns. It’s most often seen in adults, and common causes include using heating pads or hot water bottles for chronic pain or sitting too close to space heaters. Some people also develop it from certain occupational hazards, like glassblowing and metal work. EAI produces a lace-like rash, just like the boy’s.

It’s unclear how EAI develops exactly. But researchers hypothesize that chronic heat exposure leads to damage to superficial blood vessels and the release of red blood cells, forming the tell-tale red reticulated pattern.

While the boy’s condition looked ominous, the good news is that EAI is generally benign and reversible—once you remove the heat source. For severe or long-term conditions, some pigmentation and scarring can remain. But the boy’s parents checked back in over several months, reporting that the rash faded and then completely resolved. Hopefully, he also got some sort of laptop stand. (MORE - missing details)]]> https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/b...every-day/

EXCERPT: Two weeks later, the boy was back in the hospital, and the marks were worse. They were bigger, darker, and tender. There were patches of pink, and some of his skin was visibly breaking down. A picture of the marks is here.

Based on the appearance, the doctors started reconsidering some sort of bruising and started asking him more questions. This is when he mentioned that he was homeschooled and used a laptop for his schoolwork. He said he typically did his work by resting his laptop on his abdomen while he worked, sometimes for up to eight hours a day, and often while the laptop was charging. Then they understood what it was.

The doctors diagnosed the boy with erythema ab igne (EAI), which translates from Latin as “redness from fire” and is also sometimes called “toasted skin syndrome.” This is a skin condition caused by repeated, prolonged exposure to low-grade heat—heat not hot enough to cause actual burns. It’s most often seen in adults, and common causes include using heating pads or hot water bottles for chronic pain or sitting too close to space heaters. Some people also develop it from certain occupational hazards, like glassblowing and metal work. EAI produces a lace-like rash, just like the boy’s.

It’s unclear how EAI develops exactly. But researchers hypothesize that chronic heat exposure leads to damage to superficial blood vessels and the release of red blood cells, forming the tell-tale red reticulated pattern.

While the boy’s condition looked ominous, the good news is that EAI is generally benign and reversible—once you remove the heat source. For severe or long-term conditions, some pigmentation and scarring can remain. But the boy’s parents checked back in over several months, reporting that the rash faded and then completely resolved. Hopefully, he also got some sort of laptop stand. (MORE - missing details)]]> <![CDATA[Marijuana smoke and lung cancer: An unsettled and unsettling question]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21291.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:37:04 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21291.html https://www.acsh.org/news/2026/09/07/mar...tion-50304

EXCERPTS: Marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens, including some nasty ones that can damage DNA. So you'd think smoking pot would be an obvious lung cancer risk. Strangely, it isn't. Now a new study reporting nearly four times the risk has stirred the pot. Sorry.

A long-time friend of mine was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I've known him for 30 years and have never once seen him smoke a cigarette or even smelled cigarette smoke on him. Marijuana is another story. He's a diehard regular.

Of course, this proves nothing. ACSH has long maintained that anecdotes don't equal evidence, especially a single story or case study. Also, about 10–20% of lung cancers occur in people who never smoked cigarettes, for reasons that largely remain unknown, so this story tells us nothing other than that a friend is ill.

Still, it made me wonder: Could smoking marijuana cause lung cancer? Well, this is surprisingly hard to determine. There are “yes” studies and “no” studies, and none of them is definitive. But a new study reporting a nearly fourfold increase in lung cancer among people diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) got my attention. Does this have any bearing here?

First, there's a certain irony here. People who wouldn't dream of eating food with trace pesticide residues or drinking from a container made with BPA may have no problem whatsoever deliberately inhaling the combustion products of marijuana. Before getting into the epidemiology, let's start with something we know for sure: Marijuana smoke contains carcinogens. This shouldn't be surprising...

[...] Given how long people have been smoking marijuana, you might think we'd have a better answer by now. We don't. So where does this leave us? Gallagher doesn't prove that marijuana causes lung cancer. But given the size of the study and the magnitude of the association, its results deserve attention.

Does smoking marijuana cause lung cancer? There's still no smoking gun. But there's enough smoke that I'd be reluctant to assume the answer is no.

Bottom line: A chemistry opinion. Chemistry tells us that when almost anything burns, PAHs and other toxins and carcinogens will form. Whether these cause disease is a function of exposure and chemical composition. One can't equate a campfire with a pack-a-day or joint-a-day habit. But intentionally inhaling smoke is far from risk-free. With marijuana, we just don't know how much risk there is... (MORE - missing details)]]> https://www.acsh.org/news/2026/09/07/mar...tion-50304

EXCERPTS: Marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens, including some nasty ones that can damage DNA. So you'd think smoking pot would be an obvious lung cancer risk. Strangely, it isn't. Now a new study reporting nearly four times the risk has stirred the pot. Sorry.

A long-time friend of mine was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I've known him for 30 years and have never once seen him smoke a cigarette or even smelled cigarette smoke on him. Marijuana is another story. He's a diehard regular.

Of course, this proves nothing. ACSH has long maintained that anecdotes don't equal evidence, especially a single story or case study. Also, about 10–20% of lung cancers occur in people who never smoked cigarettes, for reasons that largely remain unknown, so this story tells us nothing other than that a friend is ill.

Still, it made me wonder: Could smoking marijuana cause lung cancer? Well, this is surprisingly hard to determine. There are “yes” studies and “no” studies, and none of them is definitive. But a new study reporting a nearly fourfold increase in lung cancer among people diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) got my attention. Does this have any bearing here?

First, there's a certain irony here. People who wouldn't dream of eating food with trace pesticide residues or drinking from a container made with BPA may have no problem whatsoever deliberately inhaling the combustion products of marijuana. Before getting into the epidemiology, let's start with something we know for sure: Marijuana smoke contains carcinogens. This shouldn't be surprising...

[...] Given how long people have been smoking marijuana, you might think we'd have a better answer by now. We don't. So where does this leave us? Gallagher doesn't prove that marijuana causes lung cancer. But given the size of the study and the magnitude of the association, its results deserve attention.

Does smoking marijuana cause lung cancer? There's still no smoking gun. But there's enough smoke that I'd be reluctant to assume the answer is no.

Bottom line: A chemistry opinion. Chemistry tells us that when almost anything burns, PAHs and other toxins and carcinogens will form. Whether these cause disease is a function of exposure and chemical composition. One can't equate a campfire with a pack-a-day or joint-a-day habit. But intentionally inhaling smoke is far from risk-free. With marijuana, we just don't know how much risk there is... (MORE - missing details)]]> <![CDATA[While syphilis rises across Europe, Denmark defies the trend]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21253.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:04:35 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21253.html A decade without congenital syphilis: a Danish success story
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1142250

INTRO: Across Europe, cases of congenital syphilis nearly doubled within just one year from 78 in 2023 to 140 in 2024 among 14 countries reporting data. In contrast, Denmark has marked 10 years without a single case of vertical syphilis transmission from mother to child since 2016.

The main reason for this achievement: since 2010, Denmark has been offering universal screening for syphilis to pregnant women free of charge as part of a comprehensive prenatal care programme. This screening is implemented by general practitioners and usually takes place during the first antenatal visit.

According to data published in the journal Eurosurveillance, five children with congenital syphilis infection were recorded among almost 900,000 live births in Denmark between 2010 and 2024. During this 15-year study period, four out of those five cases occurred despite the existing screening approach as two women arrived in Denmark late in their pregnancy and two were infected late in their pregnancy. A reporting irregularity led to delayed follow-up in the fifth case.

Lausten-Thomsen et al. looked at the number of syphilis infections detected during pregnancy, the number of screened pregnancies, confirmed congenital syphilis cases, and the total number of live births for each calendar year during the study period from 2010 to 2024.

During this time, almost one million (963,424) pregnant women were tested for syphilis in Denmark which corresponded to an overall testing rate of 99% and treatment uptake among those who tested positive was close to 100%. According to the presented data, 1,720 pregnant women were initially tested positive for syphilis, but active infection was confirmed in only 10% (172) of them after additional testing.

Unless it is treated timely, congenital syphilis can cause stillbirth, preterm birth, death of the neonate or can lead to serious long-term complications. This is why most European countries, including Denmark, have implemented testing programmes for pregnant people in their first trimester of pregnancy. Such antenatal screening combined with prompt antibiotic therapy when syphilis infection is detected is highly effective in preventing congenital syphilis.

The authors also evaluated the overall national syphilis incidence for Denmark and their model showed an upward trend corresponding to a mean annual increase of around 6%. They also noted a stable trend in the prevalence of pregnancies with confirmed active syphilis infection. However, this has not translated into cases of congenital syphilis unlike in other European countries. Lausten-Thomsen et al. thus argue that this “indicates a well-functioning healthcare system providing diagnosis and treatment before pregnancy. Despite increasing syphilis notifications in the general population, including among women aged 15–49 years, we observed no temporal increase in congenital syphilis.”

Based on their findings, Lausten-Thomsen et al. conclude the “results highlight the public health value of maintaining high screening coverage and robust surveillance, even in low-incidence countries. Continued attention to vulnerable groups and early antenatal engagement will be essential to sustain these achievements.”

Given that Denmark met the set benchmarks for elimination of congenital syphilis for the European Region for 2025 (fewer than ten cases per 100,000 live births) and 2030 (≤ 1 case) ahead of time, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognised that the country has eliminated congenital syphilis. The data published in this paper fed into the WHO decision. (MORE - no ads)]]> A decade without congenital syphilis: a Danish success story
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1142250

INTRO: Across Europe, cases of congenital syphilis nearly doubled within just one year from 78 in 2023 to 140 in 2024 among 14 countries reporting data. In contrast, Denmark has marked 10 years without a single case of vertical syphilis transmission from mother to child since 2016.

The main reason for this achievement: since 2010, Denmark has been offering universal screening for syphilis to pregnant women free of charge as part of a comprehensive prenatal care programme. This screening is implemented by general practitioners and usually takes place during the first antenatal visit.

According to data published in the journal Eurosurveillance, five children with congenital syphilis infection were recorded among almost 900,000 live births in Denmark between 2010 and 2024. During this 15-year study period, four out of those five cases occurred despite the existing screening approach as two women arrived in Denmark late in their pregnancy and two were infected late in their pregnancy. A reporting irregularity led to delayed follow-up in the fifth case.

Lausten-Thomsen et al. looked at the number of syphilis infections detected during pregnancy, the number of screened pregnancies, confirmed congenital syphilis cases, and the total number of live births for each calendar year during the study period from 2010 to 2024.

During this time, almost one million (963,424) pregnant women were tested for syphilis in Denmark which corresponded to an overall testing rate of 99% and treatment uptake among those who tested positive was close to 100%. According to the presented data, 1,720 pregnant women were initially tested positive for syphilis, but active infection was confirmed in only 10% (172) of them after additional testing.

Unless it is treated timely, congenital syphilis can cause stillbirth, preterm birth, death of the neonate or can lead to serious long-term complications. This is why most European countries, including Denmark, have implemented testing programmes for pregnant people in their first trimester of pregnancy. Such antenatal screening combined with prompt antibiotic therapy when syphilis infection is detected is highly effective in preventing congenital syphilis.

The authors also evaluated the overall national syphilis incidence for Denmark and their model showed an upward trend corresponding to a mean annual increase of around 6%. They also noted a stable trend in the prevalence of pregnancies with confirmed active syphilis infection. However, this has not translated into cases of congenital syphilis unlike in other European countries. Lausten-Thomsen et al. thus argue that this “indicates a well-functioning healthcare system providing diagnosis and treatment before pregnancy. Despite increasing syphilis notifications in the general population, including among women aged 15–49 years, we observed no temporal increase in congenital syphilis.”

Based on their findings, Lausten-Thomsen et al. conclude the “results highlight the public health value of maintaining high screening coverage and robust surveillance, even in low-incidence countries. Continued attention to vulnerable groups and early antenatal engagement will be essential to sustain these achievements.”

Given that Denmark met the set benchmarks for elimination of congenital syphilis for the European Region for 2025 (fewer than ten cases per 100,000 live births) and 2030 (≤ 1 case) ahead of time, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognised that the country has eliminated congenital syphilis. The data published in this paper fed into the WHO decision. (MORE - no ads)]]> <![CDATA[New artificial sweetener doesn't spike insulin like some others]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21238.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:16:16 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21238.html New Zero-Cal Sugar Is 3,500x Sweeter Than Sucrose – But Doesn't Spike Insulin
https://www.sciencealert.com/this-new-ze...ke-insulin

INTRO: Artificial sweeteners might have zero calories, but that doesn't mean they have zero impact on the body. Even though some high-intensity artificial sweeteners contain little or no sugar, recent evidence suggests they can still influence natural sugar responses.

For those with diabetes or blood glucose issues, that could be a problem. Researchers at the biotechnology company, Amai Proteins Ltd., have now designed, developed, and tested a hyper-sweet alternative – 3,500 times as sweet as sucrose by weight.

The key, however, is that it doesn't change glucose or insulin responses. In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, funded by the company and run by its researchers, the novel sweetening product showed no significant impact on either measure.

In fact, their study published in Food Chemistry reports that it produced an overall glucose response 31-fold lower than typical sugar and an insulin response 81-fold lower. The trial is the first of its kind to investigate the metabolic effects of a 'sweet protein'... (MORE - details)]]> New Zero-Cal Sugar Is 3,500x Sweeter Than Sucrose – But Doesn't Spike Insulin
https://www.sciencealert.com/this-new-ze...ke-insulin

INTRO: Artificial sweeteners might have zero calories, but that doesn't mean they have zero impact on the body. Even though some high-intensity artificial sweeteners contain little or no sugar, recent evidence suggests they can still influence natural sugar responses.

For those with diabetes or blood glucose issues, that could be a problem. Researchers at the biotechnology company, Amai Proteins Ltd., have now designed, developed, and tested a hyper-sweet alternative – 3,500 times as sweet as sucrose by weight.

The key, however, is that it doesn't change glucose or insulin responses. In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, funded by the company and run by its researchers, the novel sweetening product showed no significant impact on either measure.

In fact, their study published in Food Chemistry reports that it produced an overall glucose response 31-fold lower than typical sugar and an insulin response 81-fold lower. The trial is the first of its kind to investigate the metabolic effects of a 'sweet protein'... (MORE - details)]]> <![CDATA[Woodlands in urban areas linked to reduced antidepressant use]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21166.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:42:37 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21166.html https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1141211

INTRO: Improving and maintaining woodlands in deprived communities is linked with reduced antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication use, research suggests. People living in deprived communities are less likely to use medication for depression and anxiety if they have easy access to well-maintained woodlands, the study found.

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow analysed data from more than 129,000 people over five years. The study is one of the largest analyses of its kind, assessing how investments in local woodlands in and around towns in Scotland affect people's mental health.

The researchers used NHS prescription records and census data to see whether people living within a 10-minute walk of an improved woodland area were more or less likely to be taking medication for depression or anxiety. Woodland improvements had been supported through Scottish Forestry's Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) initiative, which provided funding for practical improvements such as new footpaths, better signage, and community events.

The initiative prioritised areas that were more socially and financially disadvantaged, where woodlands required improved management to reduce barriers and enable more local people to use and enjoy them.

People living in urban deprived communities that were close to a woodland area that had been made more welcoming and easier for people to use were 10 per cent less likely to be prescribed antidepressants and six per cent less like to be prescribed anti-anxiety medication, than those living further away.

This was the case even when accounting for other factors linked to mental health outcomes, such as demographics and poverty. The benefit of living near these woodlands showed up for the same people even when their proximity to these woodlands changed. For example, when someone moved closer to an improved woodland, their need for medication went down.

By tracking the same individuals over time, the researchers say they can be more confident that it was the woodland improvements making the difference, rather than simply healthier or wealthier people happening to live in greener areas... (MORE - no ads)]]> https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1141211

INTRO: Improving and maintaining woodlands in deprived communities is linked with reduced antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication use, research suggests. People living in deprived communities are less likely to use medication for depression and anxiety if they have easy access to well-maintained woodlands, the study found.

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow analysed data from more than 129,000 people over five years. The study is one of the largest analyses of its kind, assessing how investments in local woodlands in and around towns in Scotland affect people's mental health.

The researchers used NHS prescription records and census data to see whether people living within a 10-minute walk of an improved woodland area were more or less likely to be taking medication for depression or anxiety. Woodland improvements had been supported through Scottish Forestry's Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) initiative, which provided funding for practical improvements such as new footpaths, better signage, and community events.

The initiative prioritised areas that were more socially and financially disadvantaged, where woodlands required improved management to reduce barriers and enable more local people to use and enjoy them.

People living in urban deprived communities that were close to a woodland area that had been made more welcoming and easier for people to use were 10 per cent less likely to be prescribed antidepressants and six per cent less like to be prescribed anti-anxiety medication, than those living further away.

This was the case even when accounting for other factors linked to mental health outcomes, such as demographics and poverty. The benefit of living near these woodlands showed up for the same people even when their proximity to these woodlands changed. For example, when someone moved closer to an improved woodland, their need for medication went down.

By tracking the same individuals over time, the researchers say they can be more confident that it was the woodland improvements making the difference, rather than simply healthier or wealthier people happening to live in greener areas... (MORE - no ads)]]> <![CDATA[New effective skin cancer vaccine]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21138.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:53:57 +0000 Magical Realist]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21138.html
The companies tested the vaccine together with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda, a widely used melanoma treatment. Thousands of patients who have undergone surgery to remove high-risk melanoma tumors could benefit as soon as next year if regulators approve the vaccine, Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in an interview.

This is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine, which trains a patient's immune system to fight tumors by targeting specific mutations in those cells, and the first such ​study to show that adding a treatment to Keytruda worked better than that therapy alone. Merck, Moderna and other companies are testing similar approaches against lung, breast and pancreatic cancers.

Karen Knudsen, ​CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, said the Moderna results could signal a new era for treating solid-tumor cancers.

"The positive hit here leads us ⁠into truly this next phase in immunotherapy," Knudsen said. "This is an auspicious start — this is where things begin.

The results signaled a reversal of fortune for Moderna, which has struggled to generate new products beyond ​its COVID-19 vaccine and faced pushback over its mRNA technology from President Donald Trump's administration. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines and ​cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine projects.

Still, the National Cancer Institute has continued to fund trials of cancer vaccines, including those based on mRNA.

Moderna shares surged to multiyear highs, adding nearly $40 billion to the company's market capitalization. Merck climbed 12% on hopes the vaccine will expand its prospects in cancer as Keytruda, once the world's best-selling drug, faces patent expiration later this decade.

The trial results attracted new investor interest in the biotech sector broadly. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (.NBI), opens new tab climbed 5.2% to a ​record high."---- https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation...026-08-19/]]>
The companies tested the vaccine together with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda, a widely used melanoma treatment. Thousands of patients who have undergone surgery to remove high-risk melanoma tumors could benefit as soon as next year if regulators approve the vaccine, Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in an interview.

This is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine, which trains a patient's immune system to fight tumors by targeting specific mutations in those cells, and the first such ​study to show that adding a treatment to Keytruda worked better than that therapy alone. Merck, Moderna and other companies are testing similar approaches against lung, breast and pancreatic cancers.

Karen Knudsen, ​CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, said the Moderna results could signal a new era for treating solid-tumor cancers.

"The positive hit here leads us ⁠into truly this next phase in immunotherapy," Knudsen said. "This is an auspicious start — this is where things begin.

The results signaled a reversal of fortune for Moderna, which has struggled to generate new products beyond ​its COVID-19 vaccine and faced pushback over its mRNA technology from President Donald Trump's administration. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines and ​cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine projects.

Still, the National Cancer Institute has continued to fund trials of cancer vaccines, including those based on mRNA.

Moderna shares surged to multiyear highs, adding nearly $40 billion to the company's market capitalization. Merck climbed 12% on hopes the vaccine will expand its prospects in cancer as Keytruda, once the world's best-selling drug, faces patent expiration later this decade.

The trial results attracted new investor interest in the biotech sector broadly. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (.NBI), opens new tab climbed 5.2% to a ​record high."---- https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation...026-08-19/]]> <![CDATA[New effective skin cancer vaccine]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21137.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:52:53 +0000 Magical Realist]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21137.html
The companies tested the vaccine together with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda, a widely used melanoma treatment. Thousands of patients who have undergone surgery to remove high-risk melanoma tumors could benefit as soon as next year if regulators approve the vaccine, Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in an interview.

This is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine, which trains a patient's immune system to fight tumors by targeting specific mutations in those cells, and the first such ​study to show that adding a treatment to Keytruda worked better than that therapy alone. Merck, Moderna and other companies are testing similar approaches against lung, breast and pancreatic cancers.
Karen Knudsen, ​CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, said the Moderna results could signal a new era for treating solid-tumor cancers.

"The positive hit here leads us ⁠into truly this next phase in immunotherapy," Knudsen said. "This is an auspicious start — this is where things begin.

The results signaled a reversal of fortune for Moderna, which has struggled to generate new products beyond ​its COVID-19 vaccine and faced pushback over its mRNA technology from President Donald Trump's administration. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines and ​cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine projects.

Still, the National Cancer Institute has continued to fund trials of cancer vaccines, including those based on mRNA.

Moderna shares surged to multiyear highs, adding nearly $40 billion to the company's market capitalization. Merck climbed 12% on hopes the vaccine will expand its prospects in cancer as Keytruda, once the world's best-selling drug, faces patent expiration later this decade.

The trial results attracted new investor interest in the biotech sector broadly. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (.NBI), opens new tab climbed 5.2% to a ​record high."]]>
The companies tested the vaccine together with Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda, a widely used melanoma treatment. Thousands of patients who have undergone surgery to remove high-risk melanoma tumors could benefit as soon as next year if regulators approve the vaccine, Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in an interview.

This is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine, which trains a patient's immune system to fight tumors by targeting specific mutations in those cells, and the first such ​study to show that adding a treatment to Keytruda worked better than that therapy alone. Merck, Moderna and other companies are testing similar approaches against lung, breast and pancreatic cancers.
Karen Knudsen, ​CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, said the Moderna results could signal a new era for treating solid-tumor cancers.

"The positive hit here leads us ⁠into truly this next phase in immunotherapy," Knudsen said. "This is an auspicious start — this is where things begin.

The results signaled a reversal of fortune for Moderna, which has struggled to generate new products beyond ​its COVID-19 vaccine and faced pushback over its mRNA technology from President Donald Trump's administration. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines and ​cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine projects.

Still, the National Cancer Institute has continued to fund trials of cancer vaccines, including those based on mRNA.

Moderna shares surged to multiyear highs, adding nearly $40 billion to the company's market capitalization. Merck climbed 12% on hopes the vaccine will expand its prospects in cancer as Keytruda, once the world's best-selling drug, faces patent expiration later this decade.

The trial results attracted new investor interest in the biotech sector broadly. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (.NBI), opens new tab climbed 5.2% to a ​record high."]]> <![CDATA[How to stop a lab leak from starting the next pandemic (mad science pharma)]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21131.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:07:03 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21131.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026...=url-share

INTRO: In February of last year, the journal Cell published a study in which virologists in China screened nearly a thousand bat samples, gathered from five provinces and stored at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in search of new coronaviruses. The intended purpose of work like this is to give early warning: to learn which animal viruses are close to being able to infect people, so that virologists know what to watch for and have a chance to prepare.

They found that a handful of samples carried relatives of MERS, a deadly coronavirus. The researchers then showed that one of those viruses could enter human cells through the same cellular doorway as the viruses that cause SARS and Covid-19.

The scientists grew the virus in lab-made versions of human airway, nose and intestine cells, where it multiplied. They proposed testing it next in mice engineered with the same human cellular doorway. They also identified features that limited how efficiently the virus could infect human cells. More lab work could create a virus without those limitations, and members of this group did those kinds of experiments previously.

All of this was done outside high containment, two rungs short of the sort of precautions reserved for the deadliest pathogens. Leading virologists rang the alarm, saying that the level of safety was inadequate for a new virus potentially capable of infecting people through the air.

When Cell drew criticism for publishing the study, a spokesperson for the journal said that biosafety decisions like these rest with a study’s lead scientist and its institution and that the researchers “did not break any rules or policies of the journal.” Cell was right. In China and in the United States there are surprisingly few constraints on this type of research. Scientists can still gather novel coronaviruses, enhance them in the lab under relatively low biosafety conditions and even accidentally cause an outbreak - without breaking any rules.

Rules would not have prevented what happened a month later, when a worker at a Fort Detrick laboratory in Frederick, Md., found a large hole in an airtight suit. About an hour’s drive from Washington, Fort Detrick contains some of the country’s maximum-containment laboratories, where scientists handle deadly pathogens, including Ebola and hantavirus. The F.B.I. was brought in, and dozens of staff members were interviewed.

Investigators concluded that the damage was deliberate but were unable to determine who was responsible. The investigation also turned up evidence of other serious violations of safety protocols - failures that had nothing to do with the apparent sabotage and would probably not have come to light without it. The laboratory was shut down for nearly six months.

I have worked in a laboratory that engineers viruses (of the type that do not cause disease), and what strikes me about both of these episodes is how much rests on the judgment and the good behavior of individuals. Scientists are people. Mistakes, bad calls and moments of anger all happen, and pathogens escape from laboratories more often than you might think... (MORE - details)]]> https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026...=url-share

INTRO: In February of last year, the journal Cell published a study in which virologists in China screened nearly a thousand bat samples, gathered from five provinces and stored at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in search of new coronaviruses. The intended purpose of work like this is to give early warning: to learn which animal viruses are close to being able to infect people, so that virologists know what to watch for and have a chance to prepare.

They found that a handful of samples carried relatives of MERS, a deadly coronavirus. The researchers then showed that one of those viruses could enter human cells through the same cellular doorway as the viruses that cause SARS and Covid-19.

The scientists grew the virus in lab-made versions of human airway, nose and intestine cells, where it multiplied. They proposed testing it next in mice engineered with the same human cellular doorway. They also identified features that limited how efficiently the virus could infect human cells. More lab work could create a virus without those limitations, and members of this group did those kinds of experiments previously.

All of this was done outside high containment, two rungs short of the sort of precautions reserved for the deadliest pathogens. Leading virologists rang the alarm, saying that the level of safety was inadequate for a new virus potentially capable of infecting people through the air.

When Cell drew criticism for publishing the study, a spokesperson for the journal said that biosafety decisions like these rest with a study’s lead scientist and its institution and that the researchers “did not break any rules or policies of the journal.” Cell was right. In China and in the United States there are surprisingly few constraints on this type of research. Scientists can still gather novel coronaviruses, enhance them in the lab under relatively low biosafety conditions and even accidentally cause an outbreak - without breaking any rules.

Rules would not have prevented what happened a month later, when a worker at a Fort Detrick laboratory in Frederick, Md., found a large hole in an airtight suit. About an hour’s drive from Washington, Fort Detrick contains some of the country’s maximum-containment laboratories, where scientists handle deadly pathogens, including Ebola and hantavirus. The F.B.I. was brought in, and dozens of staff members were interviewed.

Investigators concluded that the damage was deliberate but were unable to determine who was responsible. The investigation also turned up evidence of other serious violations of safety protocols - failures that had nothing to do with the apparent sabotage and would probably not have come to light without it. The laboratory was shut down for nearly six months.

I have worked in a laboratory that engineers viruses (of the type that do not cause disease), and what strikes me about both of these episodes is how much rests on the judgment and the good behavior of individuals. Scientists are people. Mistakes, bad calls and moments of anger all happen, and pathogens escape from laboratories more often than you might think... (MORE - details)]]> <![CDATA[Liver injuries are up 400%—and alcohol isn’t the main reason why]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21095.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:44:17 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21095.html https://gizmodo.com/liver-injuries-are-u...2000798328

EXCERPTS: American livers have been taking more of a beating over the past several decades, research out today suggests, and the primary culprit might surprise you.

Researchers at the University of Virginia studied national poison center data, looking specifically at liver injuries caused by external substances. Since 2000, such reports have skyrocketed, with the most common source of injury being acetaminophen taken alone, the over-the-counter painkiller best known by the brand name drug Tylenol, they found.

The findings show that externally caused liver injuries “have increased substantially over the past 25 years, with [acetaminophen taken alone] emerging as a growing and persistent contributor,” the researchers wrote in their paper, published Thursday in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

[...] Acetaminophen is an invaluable pain and fever reliever. Compared to other common pain meds like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it’s gentler on the stomach. It’s also considered the safest OTC painkiller that women can use while pregnant (contrary to recent fearmongering from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., taking it during pregnancy doesn’t seem to raise the risk of autism). But we’ve long known that acetaminophen has a risk of causing liver damage, especially when it’s taken in higher doses than recommended.

[...] An occasional dose of Tylenol for a headache is perfectly fine, but as with most things in medicine and life, a little moderation goes a long way. People might take more acetaminophen than recommended to cope with an especially bad bout of pain or because they mistakenly think more is always better. But the risk of liver injury is highest when overdosing... (MORE - missing details)]]> https://gizmodo.com/liver-injuries-are-u...2000798328

EXCERPTS: American livers have been taking more of a beating over the past several decades, research out today suggests, and the primary culprit might surprise you.

Researchers at the University of Virginia studied national poison center data, looking specifically at liver injuries caused by external substances. Since 2000, such reports have skyrocketed, with the most common source of injury being acetaminophen taken alone, the over-the-counter painkiller best known by the brand name drug Tylenol, they found.

The findings show that externally caused liver injuries “have increased substantially over the past 25 years, with [acetaminophen taken alone] emerging as a growing and persistent contributor,” the researchers wrote in their paper, published Thursday in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

[...] Acetaminophen is an invaluable pain and fever reliever. Compared to other common pain meds like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it’s gentler on the stomach. It’s also considered the safest OTC painkiller that women can use while pregnant (contrary to recent fearmongering from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., taking it during pregnancy doesn’t seem to raise the risk of autism). But we’ve long known that acetaminophen has a risk of causing liver damage, especially when it’s taken in higher doses than recommended.

[...] An occasional dose of Tylenol for a headache is perfectly fine, but as with most things in medicine and life, a little moderation goes a long way. People might take more acetaminophen than recommended to cope with an especially bad bout of pain or because they mistakenly think more is always better. But the risk of liver injury is highest when overdosing... (MORE - missing details)]]> <![CDATA[Common cholesterol treatment may also remove PFAS & microplastics from blood]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21075.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:20:23 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21075.html https://www.sciencealert.com/a-common-ch...from-blood

EXCERPTS: A filter used to clear excess fats from the blood of people with cardiovascular disease may also trap much smaller stowaways: some persistent synthetic chemicals and microplastics. The treatment, known as therapeutic apheresis, passes a patient's blood through a machine, filters out targeted substances, and returns the blood to the body.

It was not developed to remove environmental pollutants. It is generally used in severe cases where medication alone cannot sufficiently remove cholesterol – fat-carrying particles linked to cardiovascular disease risk. But when researchers in Germany compared blood samples collected immediately before and after the procedure, levels of some synthetic chemicals fell.

Early findings suggest that certain microplastics may also be retained by the filters. The chemicals examined in the Brain Health study are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS – used in many products such as non-stick surfaces, waterproof textiles, and some food packaging.

Because some PFAS persist in the environment and human body for years, they are often called "forever chemicals". People can be exposed to PFAS in many ways, including through contaminated water and food, consumer products, packaging, and even household dust.

[...] "Our current hypothesis is that these environmental pollutants are retained directly within the apheresis filters or that they form aggregates or complexes with lipoproteins and plasma proteins, allowing them to be co-removed during the procedure," Steenblock says. (MORE - missing details)]]> https://www.sciencealert.com/a-common-ch...from-blood

EXCERPTS: A filter used to clear excess fats from the blood of people with cardiovascular disease may also trap much smaller stowaways: some persistent synthetic chemicals and microplastics. The treatment, known as therapeutic apheresis, passes a patient's blood through a machine, filters out targeted substances, and returns the blood to the body.

It was not developed to remove environmental pollutants. It is generally used in severe cases where medication alone cannot sufficiently remove cholesterol – fat-carrying particles linked to cardiovascular disease risk. But when researchers in Germany compared blood samples collected immediately before and after the procedure, levels of some synthetic chemicals fell.

Early findings suggest that certain microplastics may also be retained by the filters. The chemicals examined in the Brain Health study are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS – used in many products such as non-stick surfaces, waterproof textiles, and some food packaging.

Because some PFAS persist in the environment and human body for years, they are often called "forever chemicals". People can be exposed to PFAS in many ways, including through contaminated water and food, consumer products, packaging, and even household dust.

[...] "Our current hypothesis is that these environmental pollutants are retained directly within the apheresis filters or that they form aggregates or complexes with lipoproteins and plasma proteins, allowing them to be co-removed during the procedure," Steenblock says. (MORE - missing details)]]> <![CDATA[Why were there no truly tiny dinosaurs? (physiology)]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21040.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:33:27 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-21040.html https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1138645

EXCERPTS:: Dinosaurs are famous for being big, from the towering Tyrannosaurus rex to the colossal Apatosaurus. But a new study published today in the journal Evolution by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History and Princeton University suggests that one of the greatest mysteries of dinosaur evolution isn’t how some species became giants—it’s why even the smallest dinosaurs never became truly tiny.

Using mathematical models to investigate the evolution of body size across vertebrates, researchers found that while energetics and physiology can explain the sizes of mammals, birds, and turtles, they cannot explain why the smallest non-bird dinosaurs remained unusually large throughout their evolutionary history. Instead, the findings suggest that competition with small-bodied early mammals may have prevented dinosaurs from becoming mouse- or sparrow-sized animals that are so common among vertebrates today.

“Everyone loves a giant dinosaur,” said study co-author Roger Benson, the Macaulay Curator of Dinosaur Paleobiology at the Museum. “But we decided to look at the other end of the scale. The absence of tiny dinosaurs may be just as interesting as the existence of giant ones. We already knew that dinosaurs prevented mammals from evolving to large sizes before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Here we suggest that mammals in turn prevented dinosaurs from evolving to small sizes.”

While the largest dinosaurs weighed more than 80 tons, the smallest known non-bird dinosaurs weighed nearly one pound (approximately 450 grams)—about the size of a large rabbit. This is more than 200 times larger than the world’s smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, which weighs just 1.75 grams and the smallest mammal, the Etruscan shrew, which is about 1.8 grams. The smallest lizard, the dwarf gecko, is only 0.15 grams.

Roughly 75 percent of living mammal species and 90 percent of living bird species are smaller than the smallest non-bird dinosaurs.

“Small animals dominate modern ecosystems,” said Stephanie Lechki, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. “If we want to understand how today’s biodiversity evolved, we need to understand why tiny dinosaurs appear to have been missing.”

[...] The findings suggest that physiology alone cannot explain dinosaur body sizes. Instead, ecological factors—including competition, predation, and the availability of different ecological niches—likely played a large role in limiting how small non-avian dinosaurs could become.

The study also offers new insight into one of the most dramatic transitions in vertebrate evolution: the emergence of birds. Although birds evolved from dinosaurs, modern birds are dramatically smaller than even the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs. Birds evolved body sizes far smaller than any other group of dinosaurs in just a short time after they first appeared in the Early Cretaceous.

The researchers found that this shift toward miniature body sizes also cannot be explained by physiology alone. Instead, they propose that the evolution of powered flight fundamentally changed the ecological opportunities available to early birds. By taking to the air, birds may have escaped the ecological constraints that prevented their dinosaur ancestors from evolving into much smaller animals.

“The ability to fly may have opened entirely new ways of life,” Lechki said. “Once birds entered those new ecological niches, they were free to evolve body sizes that had simply not been possible for other dinosaurs.” (MORE - missing details, no ads)]]> https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1138645

EXCERPTS:: Dinosaurs are famous for being big, from the towering Tyrannosaurus rex to the colossal Apatosaurus. But a new study published today in the journal Evolution by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History and Princeton University suggests that one of the greatest mysteries of dinosaur evolution isn’t how some species became giants—it’s why even the smallest dinosaurs never became truly tiny.

Using mathematical models to investigate the evolution of body size across vertebrates, researchers found that while energetics and physiology can explain the sizes of mammals, birds, and turtles, they cannot explain why the smallest non-bird dinosaurs remained unusually large throughout their evolutionary history. Instead, the findings suggest that competition with small-bodied early mammals may have prevented dinosaurs from becoming mouse- or sparrow-sized animals that are so common among vertebrates today.

“Everyone loves a giant dinosaur,” said study co-author Roger Benson, the Macaulay Curator of Dinosaur Paleobiology at the Museum. “But we decided to look at the other end of the scale. The absence of tiny dinosaurs may be just as interesting as the existence of giant ones. We already knew that dinosaurs prevented mammals from evolving to large sizes before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Here we suggest that mammals in turn prevented dinosaurs from evolving to small sizes.”

While the largest dinosaurs weighed more than 80 tons, the smallest known non-bird dinosaurs weighed nearly one pound (approximately 450 grams)—about the size of a large rabbit. This is more than 200 times larger than the world’s smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, which weighs just 1.75 grams and the smallest mammal, the Etruscan shrew, which is about 1.8 grams. The smallest lizard, the dwarf gecko, is only 0.15 grams.

Roughly 75 percent of living mammal species and 90 percent of living bird species are smaller than the smallest non-bird dinosaurs.

“Small animals dominate modern ecosystems,” said Stephanie Lechki, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. “If we want to understand how today’s biodiversity evolved, we need to understand why tiny dinosaurs appear to have been missing.”

[...] The findings suggest that physiology alone cannot explain dinosaur body sizes. Instead, ecological factors—including competition, predation, and the availability of different ecological niches—likely played a large role in limiting how small non-avian dinosaurs could become.

The study also offers new insight into one of the most dramatic transitions in vertebrate evolution: the emergence of birds. Although birds evolved from dinosaurs, modern birds are dramatically smaller than even the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs. Birds evolved body sizes far smaller than any other group of dinosaurs in just a short time after they first appeared in the Early Cretaceous.

The researchers found that this shift toward miniature body sizes also cannot be explained by physiology alone. Instead, they propose that the evolution of powered flight fundamentally changed the ecological opportunities available to early birds. By taking to the air, birds may have escaped the ecological constraints that prevented their dinosaur ancestors from evolving into much smaller animals.

“The ability to fly may have opened entirely new ways of life,” Lechki said. “Once birds entered those new ecological niches, they were free to evolve body sizes that had simply not been possible for other dinosaurs.” (MORE - missing details, no ads)]]> <![CDATA[Beetroot juice may benefit pregnant women with chronic kidney disease]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-20998.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:31:11 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-20998.html https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1138394

INTRO: A daily beetroot juice supplement could offer a simple and accessible approach to supporting kidney function during pregnancy for women living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to new research led by King's College London.

Pregnancy places extra strain on the kidneys, and for women with moderate to severe CKD, around half will experience a decline in kidney function during pregnancy. Despite these risks, outcomes for pregnant women with CKD have changed little over the past 30 years, and many of the treatments used to manage kidney disease are not safe during pregnancy, meaning women often need to stop their medication for at least nine months.

In the new study, published in Kidney International Reports, researchers investigated whether dietary nitrate from beetroot juice could offer a simple, safe way to support kidney health during pregnancy.

Beetroot juice is naturally rich in nitrate, which the body converts into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps widen blood vessels and improve blood flow, leading researchers to investigate whether it could help reduce the strain placed on the kidneys during pregnancy.

The team recruited 108 pregnant women with stage 2–5 chronic kidney disease from eight hospitals across the UK. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either standard care or a daily beetroot juice supplement containing dietary nitrate before 25 weeks of pregnancy.

While the study was designed primarily to assess whether a larger clinical trial would be feasible, the findings also suggested potential benefits for both mothers and babies.

Kate Bramham, Consultant Nephrologist at King’s College Hospital, Professor at King's College London and senior author of the paper, said: "For women living with chronic kidney disease, pregnancy has always meant navigating a difficult trade-off between preserving their own health and keeping their baby safe, often with few tools to do both. These results are an encouraging first step towards a low-cost, low-risk intervention that could genuinely make a difference for this group of women, who have been underserved by research for far too long."

Women receiving beetroot juice experienced around 70% fewer serious adverse events overall than those receiving standard care. Of the serious adverse events that did occur, around half affected newborn babies.

Among women with more advanced kidney disease, the researchers also observed trends towards better kidney function after pregnancy, fewer admissions of newborn babies to neonatal care, and a reduced need for blood pressure medication during pregnancy.

Importantly, the researchers found no safety concerns associated with beetroot juice supplementation during pregnancy, including no increase in high blood potassium levels (hyperkalaemia). There have been concerns that beetroot juice could increase the risk of hyperkalaemia in pregnant women with CKD, with some online advice recommending that they avoid it. However, in this study, the authors highlight that no increase in hyperkalaemia was observed among the women receiving beetroot juice... (MORE - details)]]> https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1138394

INTRO: A daily beetroot juice supplement could offer a simple and accessible approach to supporting kidney function during pregnancy for women living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to new research led by King's College London.

Pregnancy places extra strain on the kidneys, and for women with moderate to severe CKD, around half will experience a decline in kidney function during pregnancy. Despite these risks, outcomes for pregnant women with CKD have changed little over the past 30 years, and many of the treatments used to manage kidney disease are not safe during pregnancy, meaning women often need to stop their medication for at least nine months.

In the new study, published in Kidney International Reports, researchers investigated whether dietary nitrate from beetroot juice could offer a simple, safe way to support kidney health during pregnancy.

Beetroot juice is naturally rich in nitrate, which the body converts into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps widen blood vessels and improve blood flow, leading researchers to investigate whether it could help reduce the strain placed on the kidneys during pregnancy.

The team recruited 108 pregnant women with stage 2–5 chronic kidney disease from eight hospitals across the UK. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either standard care or a daily beetroot juice supplement containing dietary nitrate before 25 weeks of pregnancy.

While the study was designed primarily to assess whether a larger clinical trial would be feasible, the findings also suggested potential benefits for both mothers and babies.

Kate Bramham, Consultant Nephrologist at King’s College Hospital, Professor at King's College London and senior author of the paper, said: "For women living with chronic kidney disease, pregnancy has always meant navigating a difficult trade-off between preserving their own health and keeping their baby safe, often with few tools to do both. These results are an encouraging first step towards a low-cost, low-risk intervention that could genuinely make a difference for this group of women, who have been underserved by research for far too long."

Women receiving beetroot juice experienced around 70% fewer serious adverse events overall than those receiving standard care. Of the serious adverse events that did occur, around half affected newborn babies.

Among women with more advanced kidney disease, the researchers also observed trends towards better kidney function after pregnancy, fewer admissions of newborn babies to neonatal care, and a reduced need for blood pressure medication during pregnancy.

Importantly, the researchers found no safety concerns associated with beetroot juice supplementation during pregnancy, including no increase in high blood potassium levels (hyperkalaemia). There have been concerns that beetroot juice could increase the risk of hyperkalaemia in pregnant women with CKD, with some online advice recommending that they avoid it. However, in this study, the authors highlight that no increase in hyperkalaemia was observed among the women receiving beetroot juice... (MORE - details)]]> <![CDATA[Shark design & swimming styles + Orcas ram world’s heaviest fish so hard it explodes]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-20949.html Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:26:15 +0000 C C]]> https://www.scivillage.com/thread-20949.html Sharks, spines and speed: The hidden architecture behind different swimming styles
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1137557

INTRO: “Shark Week,” which kicks off this week, has captivated audiences for decades with stories of these powerful ocean predators. But the secret behind their extraordinary swimming abilities lies far deeper than their impressive teeth or iconic tails – it’s hidden inside their spines.

For more than 400 million years, sharks have evolved a unique cartilage-based skeleton that provides the strength and flexibility needed to endure millions of powerful movements. While scientists understand how shark muscles drive different swimming styles, far less is known about how the internal structure of their spines helps them achieve remarkable speed, agility and endurance.

Now, Florida Atlantic University researchers and collaborators from NOAA Fisheries are taking a closer look inside the shark spine to uncover how its hidden design enables these ancient predators to move with such power, precision and stamina.

The new study, published in the Journal of Anatomy, reveals that the internal architecture of shark vertebrae is remarkably specialized, with each species evolving a vertebral column uniquely suited to the way it moves through the water. By examining the intricate mineralized structures inside the cartilaginous vertebrae of six species – the great white, shortfin mako, porbeagle, common thresher, sand tiger and basking shark – researchers discovered that the spine is far more than a flexible support column. It’s a finely engineered biomechanical system designed to maximize strength, flexibility and swimming efficiency.

To uncover these hidden adaptations, the research team analyzed vertebrae collected from different regions of each shark’s spine. Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), they created detailed 3D images that allowed them to look inside the vertebrae without damaging them... (MORE - no ads)

Orcas filmed ramming one of the world’s heaviest fish so hard it explodes, possibly for fun
https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/07...h-explodes

INTRO: A sunfish being blown to bits is the result of a never before described behavior of an orca pod in the Gulf of California. Researchers observed two separate events in which one orca held a sunfish carcass by the fin and another torpedoed toward it, blowing it into smithereens. The behavior could be a way to portion off more manageable pieces of food for calves present during the interaction, but it’s also possible that it serves an entirely different function: fun. The team said more observations of such events involving sunfish are needed to determine the exact ecological and evolutionary significance of the strategies in orca populations.

Orcas are known to be smart and ruthless hunters. They’ve been observed hunting a variety of prey, with some species, such as whales, larger than them. They use a wide range of strategies to hunt and kill prey, but now, in the Gulf of California, researchers have observed one that hasn’t been described before.

“We document how one orca holds the sunfish and lets go just before another orca hits it at high speed, causing the tissue to break apart into thousands of pieces,” said first author of the Frontiers in Ethology article, Dr Kathryn Ayres, a scientist at Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization promoting ocean health. “We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food.” (MORE - details)

https://youtu.be/r02T9w47foU

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/r02T9w47foU]]> Sharks, spines and speed: The hidden architecture behind different swimming styles
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1137557

INTRO: “Shark Week,” which kicks off this week, has captivated audiences for decades with stories of these powerful ocean predators. But the secret behind their extraordinary swimming abilities lies far deeper than their impressive teeth or iconic tails – it’s hidden inside their spines.

For more than 400 million years, sharks have evolved a unique cartilage-based skeleton that provides the strength and flexibility needed to endure millions of powerful movements. While scientists understand how shark muscles drive different swimming styles, far less is known about how the internal structure of their spines helps them achieve remarkable speed, agility and endurance.

Now, Florida Atlantic University researchers and collaborators from NOAA Fisheries are taking a closer look inside the shark spine to uncover how its hidden design enables these ancient predators to move with such power, precision and stamina.

The new study, published in the Journal of Anatomy, reveals that the internal architecture of shark vertebrae is remarkably specialized, with each species evolving a vertebral column uniquely suited to the way it moves through the water. By examining the intricate mineralized structures inside the cartilaginous vertebrae of six species – the great white, shortfin mako, porbeagle, common thresher, sand tiger and basking shark – researchers discovered that the spine is far more than a flexible support column. It’s a finely engineered biomechanical system designed to maximize strength, flexibility and swimming efficiency.

To uncover these hidden adaptations, the research team analyzed vertebrae collected from different regions of each shark’s spine. Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), they created detailed 3D images that allowed them to look inside the vertebrae without damaging them... (MORE - no ads)

Orcas filmed ramming one of the world’s heaviest fish so hard it explodes, possibly for fun
https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/07...h-explodes

INTRO: A sunfish being blown to bits is the result of a never before described behavior of an orca pod in the Gulf of California. Researchers observed two separate events in which one orca held a sunfish carcass by the fin and another torpedoed toward it, blowing it into smithereens. The behavior could be a way to portion off more manageable pieces of food for calves present during the interaction, but it’s also possible that it serves an entirely different function: fun. The team said more observations of such events involving sunfish are needed to determine the exact ecological and evolutionary significance of the strategies in orca populations.

Orcas are known to be smart and ruthless hunters. They’ve been observed hunting a variety of prey, with some species, such as whales, larger than them. They use a wide range of strategies to hunt and kill prey, but now, in the Gulf of California, researchers have observed one that hasn’t been described before.

“We document how one orca holds the sunfish and lets go just before another orca hits it at high speed, causing the tissue to break apart into thousands of pieces,” said first author of the Frontiers in Ethology article, Dr Kathryn Ayres, a scientist at Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization promoting ocean health. “We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food.” (MORE - details)

https://youtu.be/r02T9w47foU

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