People with obesity have an increased level of biomarkers related to Alzheimer’s disease in their blood, a new study has found.
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Mice Generated with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells
The function of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a burgeoning member of innate-like T cells abundant in humans and implicated in many diseases, remains obscure. To explore this, mice with a rearranged T cell receptor (TCR) α or β locus, specific for MAIT cells, were generated via induced pluripotent stem cells derived from MAIT cells and were designated Vα19 and Vβ8 mice, respectively. Both groups of mice expressed large numbers of MAIT cells. The MAIT cells from these mice were activated by cytokines and an agonist to produce IFN-γ and IL-17. While Vβ8 mice showed resistance in a cancer metastasis model, Vα19 mice did not. Adoptive transfer of MAIT cells from the latter into the control mice, however, recapitulated the resistance.
Inequalities exist in even the most egalitarian societies, anthropologists find
There is no such thing as a society where everyone is equal. That is the key message of new research that challenges the romantic ideal of a perfectly egalitarian human society.
Anthropologist Duncan Stibbard-Hawkes and his colleague Chris von Rueden reviewed extensive evidence, such as ethnographic accounts and detailed field observation from contemporary groups often viewed as egalitarian, that is, where everyone is equal in power, wealth and status.
These included the Tanzanian Hadza, the Malay Batek and the Kalahari!Kung. They were prompted by general confusion over how to define “egalitarianism” and the desire to debunk the idea of the “noble savage,” which suggests that non-primitive people live moral, peaceful lives close to nature.
Quantifying unknown quantum states: Study explores effectiveness of existing methods
Reliably quantifying and characterizing the quantum states of various systems is highly advantageous for both quantum physics research and the development of quantum technologies. Quantifying these states typically entails performing several measurements and reconstructing them via a process known as quantum-state tomography.
Peculiar supernova SN 2021ukt transitions from Type IIn to Type Ib
Astronomers from the University of California (UC), Berkeley and elsewhere have performed spectroscopic and photometric study of a peculiar supernova designated SN 2021ukt, which underwent a transition from Type IIn to Type Ib. Results of the new study, presented Nov. 28 on the arXiv pre-print server, shed more light on the nature of this supernova.
A new nuclear ‘island’ where magic numbers break down
For decades, nuclear physicists believed that “Islands of Inversion”—regions where the normal rules of nuclear structure suddenly break down—were found mostly in neutron-rich isotopes. In these unusual pockets of the nuclear chart, magic numbers disappear, spherical shapes collapse, and nuclei unexpectedly transform into strongly deformed objects. So far, all such islands have been exotic nuclei such as beryllium-12 (N = 8), magnesium-32 (N = 20), and chromium-64 (N = 40), all of which are far away from the stable nuclei found in nature.
Parenting styles play a key role in shaping teen mental health
Mental health is a global crisis, with more than 1 billion people affected by mental health conditions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Young people are particularly affected, with suicide as the third leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 29. A new study of the mental health of Nepali adolescents published in the journal PLOS One found that more than 40% of teens suffer from anxiety and that parenting style is a major factor influencing mental well-being.
A research team led by Rabina Khadka, a public health lecturer at the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences in Kathmandu, surveyed 583 school-going adolescents in Bheemdatt Municipality, Nepal. The aim was to fill in gaps in the existing data, specifically the lack of research on how different parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian and permissive) relate to a range of mental health outcomes.
Participants were asked to fill out a four-part survey with questions covering their mental health status (levels of depression, anxiety, stress and self-esteem), perceived parenting style and personal information such as age, gender and family situation. The researchers then measured these factors using recognized psychological scales and analyzed the data to find statistical links between the type of parenting teens received and their mental health.
Ozempic can reduce metabolic risks in schizophrenia patients, multicenter study finds
Semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can help lower the risk of heart and metabolic diseases in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Glucagon-like peptide–1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RAs) drugs, such as semaglutide, mimic the natural gut hormone GLP-1 that regulates hunger and food intake. By activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain, the drug reduces hunger and slows gastric emptying, helping one feel full longer. It also enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, thereby improving blood sugar control.
Researchers in Denmark recruited 73 adults taking antipsychotic medications who were showing early signs of diabetes and had an average BMI of 36, which falls in the category of obesity. The participants, aged 18 to 65 years, were randomly assigned to receive either weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo for 6.5 months.