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Study links influenza A viral infection to microbiome, brain gene expression changes
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a study of newborn piglets, infection with influenza A was associated with disruptions in the piglets’ nasal and gut microbiomes and with potentially detrimental changes in gene activity in the hippocampus, a brain structure that plays a central role in learning and memory. Maternal vaccination against the virus during pregnancy appeared […]
Machine-learning model reliably predicts cognitive performance
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study offers insight into the health and lifestyle indicators — including diet, physical activity and weight — that align most closely with healthy brain function across the lifespan. The study used machine learning to determine which variables best predicted a person’s ability to quickly complete a task without becoming distracted. […]
Fermenting legume pulses boosts their antidiabetic, antioxidant properties
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Food scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign identified the optimal fermentation conditions for pulses ― the dried edible seeds of legumes ― that increased their antioxidant and antidiabetic properties and their soluble protein content. Using the bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v as the microorganism, the team fermented pulses obtained from varying concentrations […]
What did the COVID shutdowns teach us about public health policy?
The COVID-19 pandemic taught public health officials that communication and trust are as crucial as technology and innovation, says University of Illinois epidemiologist Becky Smith.
Eating craved foods with meals lessens cravings, boosts weight loss
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Food cravings are the downfall of many dieters, who feel locked in an eternal battle with their willpower to resist the tempting sweets, snacks and other foods they love. However, researchers in food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say in a new study that eating dessert may […]
Paper: AI-human task-sharing could cut mammography screening costs by up to 30%
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The most effective way to harness the power of artificial intelligence when screening for breast cancer may be through collaboration with human radiologists — not by wholesale replacing them, says new research co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in the intersection of health care and technology. The study finds that […]
Review: Social drinking also a well-worn path to alcohol use disorder
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When picturing a “typical” alcoholic, people tend to imagine a person drinking at home alone. But that focus overlooks the social origins of many serious alcohol problems, say the authors of a new review paper in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science. “Evidence for the centrality of social motives in problem […]
DNA origami guides new possibilities in the fight against pancreatic cancer
One of the challenges of fighting pancreatic cancer is finding ways to penetrate the organ’s dense tissue to define the margins between malignant and normal tissue. A new study uses DNA origami structures to selectively deliver fluorescent imaging agents to pancreatic cancer cells without affecting normal cells. The study, led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign mechanical science and engineering professor Bumsoo Han and professor Jong Hyun Choi at Purdue University, found that specially engineered DNA origami structures carrying imaging dye packets can specifically target human KRAS mutant cancer cells, which are present in 95% of pancreatic cancer cases.
New analytics-driven framework aims to improve care of chronic disease
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — An analytics-driven “decision framework” that accounts for the socioeconomic and demographic factors of patients can promote more equitable health care delivery and potentially improve chronic disease care outcomes, according to new research co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign business scholar who studies technology adoption in health care. A data-informed approach to […]
Omnivorous? Vegan? Makes no difference to muscle building after weight training, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study asked three questions about muscle protein synthesis in response to a nine-day diet and weight training regimen: First, does the source of protein — plant or animal-based — make any difference to muscle gain? Second, does it matter if total daily protein intake is evenly distributed throughout the day? […]
Wearable technology continuously monitors heart-rate recovery to predict risk
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The time it takes the heart to return to its baseline rhythm after exercise can predict a host of cardiovascular or metabolic disorders. In a new study, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used a “smart shirt” equipped with an electrocardiogram to track participants’ heart-rate recovery after exercise and developed a […]
How does what lives in your gut affect your health?
The hordes of microorganisms living in our digestive tracts are important to digestion and our immune systems, but what we eat can affect them, too, says Illinois pathobiology professor Chris Gaulke in a video interview.