Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Patients used VR and local nerve-blocking drugs but could request supplemental anesthetic or pain medication if required

Medical

Patients in VR during surgery need less sedatives, trial finds

A fascinating trial has reported virtual reality immersion can reduce the amount of sedatives needed during certain types of hand surgery. The trial found patients using VR could get through an entire surgical procedure with only local anesthetic.

The metastudy concluded the majority of adverse events seen after COVID-19 vaccination can be attributed to the placebo effect

Health & Wellbeing

Most COVID vaccine side effects due to placebo effect, metastudy finds

A meta-analysis looking at 12 vaccine trials has concluded most adverse events reported following COVID-19 vaccination can be attributed to the placebo effect. The researchers claim most vaccine side effects can be attributed to the "nocebo effect."

Scientists have identified a new metabolic process that they believe could be targeted for more effective fat-burning in humans

Medical

Protein that "hacks" energy pipeline offers target for fat-burning drugs

Scientists in the US investigating the biological mechanisms behind fat burning have identified a protein that plays a key role in regulating metabolism, and demonstrated how blocking its activity can boost the process in mice.

Scientists have identified sets of proteins in the blood that can indicate how likely a person is to benefit from exercise designed to boost cardiorespiratory fitness

Medical

Blood protein score might predict which exercise will benefit you most

Why do some people benefit from some types of exercise more than others? Scientists investigating this question have demonstrated how profiles of certain proteins in the blood can predict a person's "trainability."

Researchers have found that combining two ineffective antibiotics can make for an effective new treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Medical

Failed antibiotics team up to defeat superbugs

Infectious bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to our best antibiotics. Now researchers at BIDMC have found that combining two antibiotics that no longer work can create a treatment that’s once again effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A scientific study has explored the appetite-suppressing effect of walnuts

Health & Wellbeing

Could eating walnuts help you lose weight?

For some time now, the eating of walnuts has been associated with feelings of fullness. Recently, a study uncovered what's actually going on in the brain to make this happen. The findings could lead to future treatments for obesity.

Dendric spines that transmit signals between neurons could show scientists how the protein AMPK communicates with neurons that regulate hunger.

Health & Wellbeing

Protein manipulates neurons to bring on the munchies

A new study shows that the protein AMPK regulates the neurons in the brain responsible for making you feel hungry. The findings may have implications in the treatment of obesity.

The researchers analyzed some 10,000 compounds, finding three approved drugs that might prove effective at combating CRE

Medical

Screening existing drugs to uncover new weapons against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Bacteria that are resistant to standard antibiotics represent one of the biggest threats to global health today. Help might just be at hand though, with researchers using a screening method to identify existing drugs that might well prove effective against the dangerous bacteria.

Scientists have found the remaining piece of the neurochemistry puzzle that causes hunger, and created mice who don't feel it (Photo: Shutterstock)

Biology

The Hunger Pains: Mice genetically engineered to not feel them

Teasing apart the last link in the biochemical pathway that makes us to feel hungry when we need food has resulted in an interesting rodent creation. Genetically engineered mice with artificial triggers that allowed researchers to turn off and on their hunger pangs at will, even while fasting.

A test subject in India has sent greetings to three subjects in France – without moving a muscle (Image: Shutterstock)

Science

Brain-to-brain communication used to send greetings between people

A human test subject in India has emailed the messages "hola" and "ciao" to three other people in France. Doesn't sound too impressive? Well, in this case the words were composed and interpreted using only the brain ... along with some high-tech help.

Protein from silkworm cocoons has been used to create strong yet biodegradable bone fixation devices (Photo: Shutterstock)

Medical

Broken bones could be healed with silk

Silk is an amazingly strong material, yet it also harmlessly biodegrades when left in the body. Because of that, it may soon find use in the production of better plates and screws used for securing broken bones.