A newly released study concluded that killer heat waves might become a more common occurrence over the following years as the global average temperatures continue rising. According to the study, if climate changes will keep going on the same path, around three-quarters of humanity will have to face “lethal heat waves” on an annual basis.

“We found that killer heat waves around the world are becoming more common, and that this trend already seems unavoidable,” stated Camillo Mora, the study’s lead author.

Killer Heat Waves to Become Common by 2100

The research team collected climatic data for all known locations and times for any recorded heat-related death. According to Mora, the international study team identified over 1,900 locations around the world where heat waves have been the reported cause of death. These values go back to 1980.

After collecting this data, the team then compared it to “normal” climate periods. In doing so, they also tried to determine the key elements contributing to the excess mortality.

Study results pegged humidity and temperatures as the main culprits. High humidity is known to reduce the body’s ability to produce and cool via perspiration. As heat cannot be expelled from the body, it creates the so-called “heat cytotoxicity”.

The duration of the heat wave was also a key element. However, it did not help improve the predictive accuracy.

After obtaining this data, the scientists then plugged it into the average projection for 20 of the global climate models that span up until 2100.

These projections indicate that some 50 percent of the population will be exposed to killer heat waves on an annual basis by 2100. This value was calculated in the scenario in which nations also managed to outperform the Paris Climate Agreement targets.

Also, tests showed that around 30 percent of humanity already encounters such a super hot heat wave at least at one point in the year.

Research results are available in a paper in the journal Nature Climate Change. 

Image Source: NASA Earth Observatory

A new study found a link between frequently eating a high quantity of fried potatoes and the risks of an early death. This research was conducted over a period of eight years and found that a regular French consumption of French fries could potentially double the risks of premature mortality.

Fried Potatoes Determined as Being the Number One Culprits

This new study was carried out in America, over eight years, and included 4,440 participants. These were aged in between 45 to 79 years old at the baseline. By the study’s end, 236 of the participants had died.

Research analyzed the possible consequences of consuming both fried and unfried potatoes. By analyzing the gathered data, the team observed that a disproportionate number of those to pass away before the study’s end consumed high quantities of hot chips.

However, this dish is not the only one to blame. Potato gems and hash browns also were also tied to such health issued. Basically, the increased premature mortality risks were linked to all forms of potatoes seared in boiling oil.

Still, the study does not put the blame of being killers on fried potatoes. Instead, it is pointing out the correlation between the high consumed quantities and the increased risks.

“The frequent consumption of fried potatoes appears to be associated with an increased mortality risk. Additional studies in larger sample sizes should be performed to confirm if overall potato consumption is associated with higher mortality risk,” concluded the study team.

The fact that potatoes consumed in boiling oil are an unhealthy choice is not really new. But the research team does point out that the increased mortality risks may also be the consequence of the lifestyle choices tied to a high intake of chips.

French fries and other such potato-based products can be safely consumed and savored. But this should be done at moderate levels, and not on very frequently, for example, on a daily basis.

According to this study, Americans eat, on average around 31 pounds of hot fried potato chips every year.

Analysis results are available in a paper in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Image Source: Pixabay

A new study made a quite surprising claim as its researchers stated that fetuses could apparently recognize or at least prefer face-like patterns of light while in the womb.

The research team said that it decided to conduct this study to test out a common belief. Newborn babies were noted to be particularly attracted to faces. So the scientists decided to find out if this preference started as they were still in the womb or not.

Previous research already indicated that while still in the womb, babies can detect and react to sounds. Their mother’s voice or music, in general, are given as an example.

“Vision really was the last of the sensory systems for us to understand. And that’s because, until now, we haven’t able to look at vision,” stated Vincent Reid.

He is the leader of the new study and a psychology professor at the Lancaster University in Britain.

Fetuses Preferred Face-Like Patterns

Together with his team, Reid created a primitive face-like red light system. This wasn’t precisely a face but presented the same visual parameters as it. Then, the researchers shined this light on the abdomen of 39 mothers-to-be in their third trimester of pregnancy. At the same time, the scientists watched the fetuses’ reaction to the light thanks to sophisticated ultrasounds.

The team moved around the light and watched as some of the fetuses followed it around as it changed positions. Also, they observed that these were more likely to follow the face-like pattern more than any other. They also followed this over a longer period of time.

According to results, the overall visual response rate was somewhat low. But in those that did, the fetuses were more likely to respond to the ‘face’. Still, the team stresses some facts.

For example, babies will not instantly recognize their mothers’ face, as they are unable to see it. People should also abstain from trying to repeat the experiment on their own.

The visual response rate may have been low, but their significance was “noteworthy”. Researchers, in general, seem to consider this as a step forward in understanding the evolution process.

It could come offer information about the development of the visual system. Or of the moment when the brain starts accumulating and responding to stimuli and information. More research on the matter is still needed. This study’s results are available in the journal Current Biology.

Image Source: Wikimedia

A recently released study claims that even moderate drinking could lead to cognitive damages when compared to light drinkers or those who do not drink alcohol at all. This contradicts the common belief that this type of drinking may actually be beneficial for the health.

The Effects of Moderate Drinking Measured in Brain Function Levels

The new research was carried out by scientists part of University College London and the University of Oxford. Their results are available in a paper in the journal BMJ, the former British Medical Journal.

The research was an observational study and targeted the alcohol intake of participants in the Whitehall II study. Over the last three decades, this has been tracking the social behavior and ailments of around 550 British civil servants. Both men and women, these had an average age of 43 years old at the study’s baseline.

For the new study, its researchers regularly tested the Whitehall II participants. These were also asked to self-report their drinking habits and take MRIs. Through these, the researchers were able to analyze the volunteers’ brain functions.

The team noted that heavy drinkers presented increased risks of developing hippocampal atrophy. In its turn, this can lead to spatial navigation problems and even dementia. The scientists established heavy drinkers as those consuming over 30 units of alcohol every week.

Still, the team stated that: “Even those drinking moderately (14-21 units/week) had three times the odds of right sided hippocampal atrophy.”

At least when compared to abstainers. Still, the results of moderate and light drinking were quite surprising. The team reports being surprised by the lack of “protective effects” of this habit.

According to them, even so-called “social drinkers” showed signs of cognitive decline over the 30 years follow-up. So the team concluded that even moderate and light drinking can be linked to “adverse brain outcomes”.

Still, other researchers tend to disagree with the study results. They point out that this research did not take into account various lifestyle factors, including nutrition. Some also state that as this was solely an observational study, it should not conclude “causation”.

Image Source: Pexels

As far back as the Chinese Song Dynasty of 960 AD, the pug was a breed that lived literally in the lap of high luxury. They were known for their short snouts and pug face and also unusual snorting and gasping due to breathing problems caused by the elongated palates.

This affliction is more commonly known as brachycephaly. The deformity of the pug snout is the result of their unique breeding by the Chinese. Consequently, a genetic mutation occurred that puzzled scientists for centuries. Now, researchers may now know the answer to the questions brought by the pug face.

The Pug Face is the Result of Genetic Variations

The results of a recent canine study were published in the May 2017 issue of the journal Current Biology. Its aim was to try to determine the cause of brachycephaly. The research team used an X-ray process on the cranial area of 374 dogs brought into a veterinary clinic.

This group of dogs included 84 pure breeds identified by the Kennel Club of America as well as 83 mixed breeds. The team kept in mind that each dog breed that exists exhibits a particular cranial shape based on its environment, diet, and breathing patterns for overall survival. Then, they concentrated on the focus of the study and created 3D models of each dog’s skull thanks to the x-ray scanning process.

The result was the discovery of some genetic variants in dogs with pug-like features. One, in particular, was a long, interspersed nuclear element referred to as LINE-1. This was detected in a gene identified as SMOC2. By comparing the genetic variations of each breed that participated in the research, they were able to hone in on a specific part of DNA. Called QTL, this is directly related to the brachycephaly affliction that pugs and pug-like breeds suffer from.

Nonetheless, the group of scientists could not yet pinpoint the exact gene mutation that causes the smooshed faces of the pug and other dog breeds with similar facial features. Still, scientists are now closer to know the answer to what causes the pug face.

Image Source: Pixabay

The FDA recently announced that it approved a new drug to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, which is also commonly recognized and called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Radicava (edaravone) was first developed in Japan and is only the second ALS drug approved in the United States. The first one, Rilutek (riluzole) was introduced back in 1995.

Radicava to Slow the Deterioration

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement. Presently, there is no cure, and most patients die within 3 to 5 years of the diagnosis.

The newly approved Radicava has an intensive administration cycle. This treatment involves a one-hour infusion every day for 14 days. In its turn, this is followed by a two weeks break.

The following cycles involve a daily administration for 10 days out of 14. Which are then matched by another drug-free period lasting a couple of weeks. Also, the intravenous line, used for administering edaravone, is left in place indefinitely. This could potentially increase the risk of infections.

A six-month clinical trial carried out in Japan demonstrated the efficacy of Radicava. This involved 137 Japanese patients with ALS which received either edaravone or a placebo. After half a year had passed, the patients that received edaravone showed less decline than the ones in the placebo group.

This study also looked to determine this new drug’s potential adverse reactions. The most common side effects were bruising and gait disturbance.

There is evidence this ALS drug works best in early stage patients. It hasn’t been shown to prolong life, just to slow the decline caused by the disease. While the exact mechanism behind its efficacy isn’t well understood, researchers hypothesize that it targets oxidative stress on nerve cells and vascular endothelial cells.

Both ALS healthcare professionals and patients expressed excitement about this breakthrough. Some patients have already obtained it from Japan. Still, one of the issues with this treatment is the lack of hard evidence that Radicava prolongs life.

The cost of the ALS drug also comes as a problem at this stage. This treatment may cost patients around $145,000 a year. However, the drug’s producer, MT Pharma America, promised some co-pay assistance to patients with commercial insurance, adding that some may qualify for free treatments.

Image Source: Pixabay