Gut bacteria could be responsible for side effect of Parkinson's drug

Bacteria in the small intestine can deaminate levodopa, the main drug that is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Bacterial processing of the unabsorbed fractions of the drug results in a metabolite that reduces gut motility. These findings were described in the journal BMC Biology on 20 October by scientists from the University of Groningen. Since the disease is already associated with constipation, processing of the drug by gut bacteria may worsen gastrointestinal complications.

Significant link found between air pollution and neurological disorders

Air pollution was significantly associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for several neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias, in a long-term study of more than 63 million older U.S. adults, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

New evidence to guide the practice of blood transfusions in children with severe malaria

Blood transfusions increase the survival of children admitted to the hospital with complications by severe malaria, and could be beneficial even at higher hemoglobin levels than those currently recommended. These are the main findings of a study led by ISGlobal, a center supported by 'la Caixa' Foundation, and published in The Lancet Haematology.

Vaccine storage demands could leave 3B people in virus cold

From factory to syringe, the world's most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates need nonstop sterile refrigeration to work.

Europe tightens virus curbs as global cases top 40 million

A raft of European nations including Italy and Belgium took desperate new measures on Monday to try to combat a second wave of coronavirus infections as the worldwide caseload topped 40 million.

Unhealthy behaviors trigger same brain responses as bad smells

Unhealthy behaviors trigger moral judgments that are similar to the basic emotions that contribute to our ability to survive. Two hypotheses are prevalent in the current scientific literature as to the identity of these emotions. Some researchers single out disgust, while others opt for pain. After developing a new approach to brain imaging, a research team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has come down on the side of disgust. The study, which can be found in Science Advances, shows that unhealthy behaviors trigger brain responses that are similar to those prompted by bad smells. The research also identifies for the first time a biomarker in the brain for disgust.

CBD helps reduce lung damage from COVID by increasing levels of protective peptide

One way CBD appears to reduce the "cytokine storm" that damages the lungs and kills many patients with COVID-19 is by enabling an increase in levels of a natural peptide called apelin, which is known to reduce inflammation and whose levels are dramatically reduced in the face of this storm.

68% of deaths from firearms are from self-harm, majority in older men in rural regions

A new study of gun injuries and deaths in Ontario found that 68% of firearm-related deaths were from self-harm, and they most often occurred in older men living in rural regions, pointing to the need for targeted prevention efforts. The study is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Mystery over decline in sea turtle sightings

The number of sea turtles spotted along the coasts of the UK and Ireland has declined in recent years, researchers say.