/releases

Many excess deaths attributed to natural causes are actually uncounted COVID-19 deaths, new analysis reveals
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240206161547.htm

A new study provides the first concrete data showing that many of these excess deaths were indeed uncounted COVID-19 deaths. The study compared reported COVID-19 deaths to excess deaths due to non-COVID, natural causes, such as diseases and chronic illnesses, and found that increases in non-COVID excess deaths occurred at the same time or in the month prior to increases in reported COVID-19 deaths in most US counties. Source: ScienceDaily

New antibiotic cures superbugs without bacterial resistance — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230216161214.htm

The discovery was serendipitous. The U.S. Army had a pressing need to charge cell phones while in the field — essential for soldier survival. Because bacteria are miniature power plants, compounds were designed by Bazan’s group to harness bacterial energy as a “’microbial”’ battery. Later the idea arose to re-purpose these compounds as potential antibiotics.

“When asked to determine if the chemical compounds could serve as antibiotics, we thought they would be highly toxic to human cells similar to bleach,” said Mahan, the project lead investigator. “Most were toxic — but one was not — and it could kill every bacterial pathogen we tested.”

What makes the drug unique is the failure of bacteria to become resistant to it. And bacterial resistance is typically a major barrier to antibiotic development since it limits a drug’s potential value in the marketplace.

“The key finding was that bacterial resistance to the drug was virtually undetectable,” said lead author Heithoff. “Most drugs fail at this stage of development and never get to clinical practice.”

The antibiotic has a unique mechanism of action. Contrary to most drugs (like penicillin) that target a specific germ function, the new drug targets many functions simultaneously.

“The drug appears to affect the bacterial membrane which, in turn, disrupts multiple bacterial functions,” explained Low, the co-project lead. “This may account for the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and low level of bacterial resistance.”

“This class of antibiotics has potential as a new versatile therapy for antimicrobial resistant pathogens,” Samuel said.

Additional drug safety and efficacy studies will need to be conducted to fully understand the clinical benefits and risks before the drug can be used in clinical practice.

#antibiotiques #antibiorésistance

Source:
Douglas M. Heithoff, Scott P. Mahan, Lucien Barnes V, Semen A. Leyn, Cyril X. George, Jaime E. Zlamal, Jakkarin Limwongyut, Guillermo C. Bazan, Jeffrey C. Fried, Lynn N. Fitzgibbons, John K. House, Charles E. Samuel, Andrei L. Osterman, David A. Low, Michael J. Mahan. A broad-spectrum synthetic antibiotic that does not evoke bacterial resistance. eBioMedicine, 2023; 104461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104461

Chemists resolve origin of perovskite instability
▻https://diasp.eu/p/11341637

Chemists resolve origin of perovskite instability

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200707113212.htm

Researchers have demystified the reasons for instability in an inorganic perovskite. The source of thermodynamic instability in the halide perovskite cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) is the inorganic cesium atom and its ’’rattling’’ behavior within the crystal structure.

Opioid prescription doses are increasingly being tapered, often more rapidly than recommended : Physicians advise caution, collaboration with patients on tapering plans — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191118100836.htm

Baisser trop vite les doses d’opioides a également des conséquences dramatiques... la crise est là pour durer. Il faut la prendre en compte, et faire participer les Sackler et les autres profiteurs et organisateurs de la vente des opioides aux coûts d’une désintoxication réussie.

Stigma and safety fears have made daily dose tapering of opioid prescriptions more common. New research from UC Davis Health physicians, however, shows tapering can occur at rates as much as six times higher than recommended, putting patients at risk of withdrawal, uncontrolled pain or mental health crises.

The study — “Trends and Rapidity of Dose Tapering Among Patients Prescribed Long-term Opioid Therapy, 2008-2017” — is published in JAMA Network Open. The results also will be presented at the Nov. 16-19 North American Primary Care Research Group meeting in Toronto.

“Tapering plans should be based on the needs and histories of each patient and adjusted as needed to avoid adverse outcomes,” said study author Alicia Agnoli, assistant professor of family and community medicine. “Unfortunately, a lot of tapering occurs due to policy pressures and a rush to get doses below a specific and sometimes arbitrary threshold. That approach can be detrimental in the long run.”

They also found that the rate of dose reduction often was well beyond the CDC’s recommendation of 10% per month. The average reduction overall was 27.6% per month. Nearly 20% of patients tapered at a rate of 40% per month, and 5% tapered at a rate faster than 60% per month.

The 2016 policy could have been misinterpreted, leading many prescribers and health systems to insist on faster-than-recommended tapering, according to Agnoli.

“There is definitely a lot of pressure to reduce opioid use among patients, but there also is a need for more training and guidance for prescribers on how to help them safely do so,” Agnoli said.

#Opioides #Désintoxication

The world is getting wetter, yet water may become less available for North America and Eurasia: Plants will demand more water in the future making less water available for people — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191104112828.htm

With climate change, plants of the future will consume more water than in the present day, leading to less water available for people living in North America and Eurasia, according to a Dartmouth-led study in Nature Geoscience. The research suggests a drier future despite anticipated precipitation increases for places like the United States and Europe, populous regions already facing water stresses.

#climat #eau #plantes

Mapping international drug use through the world’s largest wastewater study — ScienceDaily

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191023093445.htm

A seven-year project monitoring illicit drug use in 37 countries via wastewater samples shows that cocaine use was skyrocketing in Europe in 2017 and Australia had a serious problem with methamphetamine.

In a paper released today in Addiction, researchers from 41 international institutions released their findings after analysing sewage samples from 60 million people between 2011 and 2017, the largest wastewater-based study undertaken in the world.

University of South Australia chemist Dr Richard Bade — one of the lead authors — says Adelaide, Canberra and Toowoomba were the three Australian cities monitored among 120 cities worldwide.

In 2017, Adelaide’s wastewater was monitored for a week, revealing between 507 and 659 milligrams of methamphetamine per 1000 people each day. In contrast, both Canberra and Toowoomba recorded levels of between 271-331 milligrams of methamphetamine.

#drogue #cartographie

New compound which kills antibiotic-resistant superbugs discovered
▻https://diasp.eu/p/9129036

New compound which kills antibiotic-resistant superbugs discovered

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190528095213.htm

A new compound has killed antibiotic resistant gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli, during tests.

Nearly a quarter of West Antarctic ice is now unstable — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190516114601.htm

Brève | Un quart de la calotte polaire Ouest-Antarctique est instable
▻https://www.futura-sciences.com/planete/breves/continent-antarctique-quart-calotte-polaire-ouest-antarctique-insta

https://fr.cdn.v5.futura-sciences.com/buildsv6/images/largeoriginal/e/0/7/e078c1a767_50150212_glacier-thwaites-antarctica-2009.jpg

Le manteau de glace de l’#Antarctique s’affine de plus en plus, tout particulièrement dans l’ouest du continent où 24 % de la calotte est aujourd’hui instable c’est-à-dire que ses #glaciers perdent plus de glace, en fondant où en produisant des #icebergs, qu’ils n’en gagnent grâce aux chutes de #neige, d’après une étude parue dans le journal Geophysical Research Letters. La plupart des glaciers les plus importants et les plus vulnérables de l’Ouest-Antarctique s’amincissent, dont le glacier Thwaites, qualifié de glacier le plus dangereux du monde, et le glacier de l’île du Pin, à un rythme devenu cinq fois plus rapide qu’en 1992. Ils ont perdu jusqu’à 122 mètres d’épaisseur par endroit.

https://fr.cdn.v5.futura-sciences.com/buildsv6/images/mediumoriginal/c/e/2/ce27736e74_50150213_ice-thickness-change-antarctic.gif

Variations d’épaisseur de la calotte polaire antarctique (à gauche) et contribution de cette perte de glace à l’élévation du niveau marin (à droite) entre 1992 et 2019, à partir des données compilées par quatre satellites de l’Agence spatiale européenne (ESA). © Andrew Shepherd et. al, Geophysical Research Letters, 2019 .

#climat

Rapid #permafrost thaw unrecognized threat to landscape, global warming researcher warns — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190430121755.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2019/04/190430121755_1_540x360.jpg

Le dégel rapide du #pergélisol est une menace non reconnue pour le paysage
▻https://newsbeezer.com/canadafr/un-chercheur-met-en-garde-contre-le-rechauffement-climatique-en-raison-d

Les scientifiques étudient depuis longtemps comment le dégel progressif du pergélisol survenant pendant des décennies sur des centimètres de sol de surface influera sur le rejet de carbone dans l’atmosphère. Mais Turetsky et une équipe internationale de chercheurs envisagent quelque chose de très différent : l’effondrement rapide du pergélisol qui peut transformer le paysage en quelques mois seulement par le biais d’affaissements, d’inondations et de glissements de terrain.

Le pergélisol fond si rapidement dans l’#Arctique que les scientifiques perdent leur équipement)
▻https://reporterre.net/Le-pergelisol-fond-si-rapidement-dans-l-Arctique-que-les-scientifiques-p

https://reporterre.net/IMG/arton17517.jpg

#climat

Bacteria found in ancient Irish soil halts growth of superbugs: New hope for tackling antibiotic resistance — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181227111427.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2018/12/181227111427_1_900x600.jpg

The search for replacement antibiotics to combat multi-resistance has prompted researchers to explore new sources, including folk medicines: a field of study known as ethnopharmacology. They are also focusing on environments where well-known antibiotic producers like #Streptomyces can be found.

One of the research team, Dr Gerry Quinn, a previous resident of Boho, County Fermanagh, had been aware of the healing traditions of the area for many years.

Traditionally a small amount of soil was wrapped up in cotton cloth and used to heal many ailments including toothache, throat and neck infections. Interestingly, this area was previously occupied by the Druids, around 1500 years ago, and Neolithic people 4000 years ago.

#antibiotiques #antibiorésistance #bactéries #sols #ethnopharmacologie

New material cleans and splits water
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7991313

New material cleans and splits water

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181105081705.htm

Researchers have developed a photocatalytic system based on a material in the class of metal-organic frameworks. The system can be used to degrade pollutants present in water while simultaneously producing hydrogen that can be captured and used further.

Breakthrough in treating paralysis
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7974424

Breakthrough in treating paralysis

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181031141523.htm

Three patients with chronic paraplegia were able to walk over ground thanks to precise electrical stimulation of their spinal cords via a wireless implant. In new research, Swiss scientists show that, after a few months of training, the patients were able to control previously paralyzed leg muscles even in the absence of electrical stimulation.

Mammals cannot evolve fast enough to escape current #extinction crisis — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181015154435.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2018/10/181015154435_1_900x600.jpg

An illustration of how the smaller mammals will have to evolve and diversify over the next 3-5 million years to make up for the loss of the large mammals.

#climat #capitalocène

Linguistic red flags from Facebook posts can predict future depression diagnoses — ScienceDaily
▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181015150643.htm

Research finds that the language people use in their Facebook posts can predict a future diagnosis of depression as accurately as the tools clinicians use in medical settings to screen for the disease.

In any given year, depression affects more than 6 percent of the adult population in the United States — some 16 million people — but fewer than half receive the treatment they need. What if an algorithm could scan social media and point to linguistic red flags of the disease before a formal medical diagnosis had been made?

Ah oui, ce serait fantastique pour les Big Pharma : la dépression est une maladie complexe, dont les symptômes graves sont souvent confondus avec la déprime qui est un état sychologique que nous connaissons tous. Notre Facebook, couplé avec notre assistant vocal Amazon nous gorgerait de Valium, et tout irait pour le mieux dans le Meilleur des mondes.

Considering conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD , for example, you find more signals in the way people express themselves digitally."

For six years, the WWBP, based in Penn’s Positive Psychology Center and Stony Brook’s Human Language Analysis Lab, has been studying how the words people use reflect inner feelings and contentedness. In 2014, Johannes Eichstaedt, WWBP founding research scientist, started to wonder whether it was possible for social media to predict mental health outcomes, particularly for depression.

“Social media data contain markers akin to the genome,” Eichstaedt explains. “With surprisingly similar methods to those used in genomics, we can comb social media data to find these markers. Depression appears to be something quite detectable in this way; it really changes people’s use of social media in a way that something like skin disease or diabetes doesn’t.”

Il y a au moins une bonne nouvelle sur la déontologie scientifique :

Rather than do what previous studies had done — recruit participants who self-reported depression — the researchers identified data from people consenting to share Facebook statuses and electronic medical-record information, and then analyzed the statuses using machine-learning techniques to distinguish those with a formal depression diagnosis.

Les marqueurs considérés sont aussi des marqueurs sociaux et économiques, qu’il faudrait traiter autrement qu’avec des médicaments.

They learned that these markers comprised emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal processes such as hostility and loneliness, sadness and rumination, and that they could predict future depression as early as three months before first documentation of the illness in a medical record.

La conclusion est fantastique : il faut rendre le balayage obligatoire !!!

Eichstaedt sees long-term potential in using these data as a form of unobtrusive screening. “The hope is that one day, these screening systems can be integrated into systems of care,” he says. “This tool raises yellow flags; eventually the hope is that you could directly funnel people it identifies into scalable treatment modalities.”

Despite some limitations to the study, including its strictly urban sample, and limitations in the field itself — not every depression diagnosis in a medical record meets the gold standard that structured clinical interviews provide, for example — the findings offer a potential new way to uncover and get help for those suffering from depression.

#Dépression #Facebook #Foutaises #Hubris_scientifique #Big_pharma #Psychologie

’Fudge factors’ in physics?
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7862444

’Fudge factors’ in physics?

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181011090459.htm

What if your theory to model and predict the electronic structure of atoms isn’t accounting for dispersion energy? You come up with some ’fudge factors’ to make it all work. But getting the right results for the wrong reasons can only take you so far.

Electrons go with the flow
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7847619

Electrons go with the flow

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181009135910.htm

You turn on a switch and the light switches on because electricity ’flows’. The usual perception is that this is like opening a faucet and the water starts to flow. But this analogy is misleading. The flow of water is determined by the theory of hydrodynamics, where the behavior of the fluid requires no knowledge of the movements of individual molecules.

First example of a bioelectronic medicine
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7841906

First example of a bioelectronic medicine

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181008183344.htm

Researchers have developed the first example of a bioelectronic medicine: an implantable, biodegradable wireless device that speeds nerve regeneration and improves healing of a damaged nerve. Their device delivered pulses of electricity to damaged nerves in rats after a surgical repair process, accelerating the regrowth of nerves and enhancing the recovery of muscle strength and control. The device is the size of a dime and the thickness of a sheet of paper.

String theory: Is dark energy even allowed?
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7842062

String theory: Is dark energy even allowed?

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181009102431.htm

In string theory, a paradigm shift could be imminent. In June, a team of string theorists published a conjecture which sounded revolutionary: String theory is said to be fundamentally incompatible with our current understanding of ’dark energy’. A new study has now found out that this conjecture seems to be incompatible with the existence of the Higgs particle.

Particles give absolute age of asteroid Itokawa
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7645858

Particles give absolute age of asteroid Itokawa

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180827100439.htm

Scientists have closely examined particles collected from the asteroid Itokawa by the spacecraft Hayabusa, finding that the parent body of Itokawa was formed about 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system was born and that it was destroyed by a collision with another asteroid about 1.5 billion years ago.

In the race of life, the tortoise beats the hare every time
▻https://diasp.eu/p/7640726

In the race of life, the tortoise beats the hare every time

▻https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180827080908.htm

Researchers have discovered that, over the long-run, the race will indeed go to the slower, steadier animal. An analysis of the reported speeds of animals based on land, air and water shows that some of the world’s fastest animals are actually some of the slowest when their movements are averaged throughout their lifetimes, giving credence to Aesop’s fable ’The Tortoise and the Hare.’