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During infection, SARS-CoV-2 binds to a cellular receptor known as angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) before entering a cell and replicating. Because it is not well established whether common blood pressure medications can increase the levels of ACE2, there has been some concern that patients taking these medications might be more susceptible to COVID-19.

A new study performed in human lung airway cells is one of the first to show a potential link between exposure to organophosphate pesticides and increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. The findings could have implications for veterans, many of whom were exposed to organophosphate pesticides during wartime.

Wild blueberry fields in Down East Maine are warming faster than the state as a whole, according to a new University of Maine study on the effects of climate change on the barrens over the past 40 years. The difference in rising temperature rates suggests the need to develop specific wild blueberry management strategies, such as irrigation and fertilizer use, to mitigate the effects of climate change on Down East fields, rather than using tactics devised from statewide climate patterns.

A new study from University of Kentucky Markey Cancer researchers shows that Artemisia annua, a plant that has been traditionally used for its anti-malaria components, shows promise in treating ovarian cancer.

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for up to 15% of lung cancer cases. SCLC initially responds well to chemotherapy, but it often recurs in a poorly understood treatment-resistant form that is usually fatal. This study identified molecular changes in four subtypes of advanced SCLC. The findings could lead to the development of new targeted therapies for advanced SCLC.

A new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers finds that new mothers who receive opioids after uncomplicated vaginal births face an increased risk of serious opioid-related events regardless of the opioid dosage, a finding that could significantly impact care delivery.

A team of researchers searched for pieces of an asteroid tracked in space and then observed to impact Botswana on June 2018. Guided by SETI Institute astronomer Peter Jenniskens, they found 23 meteorites deep inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and have published their findings in the journal Meteoritics and Planetary Science. "Combining observations of the small asteroid in space with information gleaned from the meteorites shows it likely came from Vesta," said Jenniskens.

Researchers at the University of Delaware's Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI) have done developed a new method to convert single-use plastic waste into ready-to-use molecules for jet fuels, diesel and lubricants. It requires 50% less energy than other technologies and doesn't add carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And their process can treat a variety of plastics, even when they are mixed together.

A small study from Mayo Clinic researchers raises the concern that some transplant patients may have a limited immune response after being vaccinated for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine. Their findings are published as a letter to the editor in the American Journal of Transplantation.

In the workplace, whether or not we believe that a supervisor has treated us fairly depends on a number of factors, including motive, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame.

With climate change looming, what must people hear to convince them to change their ways to stop harming the environment? A new Johns Hopkins University study finds stories to be significantly more motivating than scientific facts-- at least for some people.

A new paper co-authored by MGH Institute of Health Professions Brain Recovery Lab Director Dr. Teresa Kimberley, published in the The Lancet, details how patients who incorporated vagus nerve simulation during physical or occupational therapy showed 2-3 times the improvement in arm and hand function compared to those who received only intense rehabilitation and sham stimulation.

Analysis of sales data and flood risk data over two decades indicates that housing markets fail to fully account for information about flood risk. The findings suggest that policies to improve risk communication could influence market outcomes. (WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n18s5kcE0So)

Fast turnaround of COVID-19 test results for healthcare workers is critical. Investigators have now developed a COVID-19 testing strategy that maximizes the proportion of negative results after a single round of testing, allowing prompt notification of results. The method also reduces the need for increasingly limited test reagents, as fewer additional tests are required. Their strategy is described in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier.

Henry Ford Health System researchers find that opioids are unnecessary for pain relief following knee surgery.

A Lancaster University professor has introduced a new concept for rapidly analysing for the presence of a virus from colds to coronaviruses. However, although the concept can identify that someone has a type of coronavirus for example, it would not be able to determine the type of coronavirus, or variants. Additional tests would still be required to find out the specific virus someone was infected with.

A new study involving University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Associate Professor Karen Lloyd finds a new microbial ecosystem thriving in violent conditions.

Amsterdam, April 26, 2021 - Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) face a wide range of symptoms and challenges. A team from Parkinson's UK, including several Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors, surveyed patients to find out which PD symptoms troubled them most and how priorities may change with condition duration. Their goal was to identify where improved treatments and strategies are most needed to help maintain independence and quality of life. They report their findings in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.

Brain changes in people with Alzheimer's disease and in those with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have significant similarities.

A study by a University of Illinois Chicago pediatric dentist has shown a novel way to track potential COVID-19 cases -- testing children who visit the dentist. The study also showed an over 2% positivity rate for the asymptomatic children tested.