A new study highlights the biochemical mechanisms behind ZMapp, a promising experimental treatment against Ebola virus infection developed with the involvement of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Using single-particle electron microscopy, researchers determined the structures of each monoclonal antibody in the Zmapp cocktail and how each one binds to vulnerable sites on the Ebola […]
Tag: health
Kissing transfers 80 million bacteria
A new study shows that a kiss lasting only ten seconds can transfer an average of 80 million bacteria between partners. That may sound like a lot, but the study goes on to show that a single kiss doesn’t noticeably change the similarity of the bacterial community in the mouths of two partners. However, repeated kisses […]
Healthy baby birth weight depends on mother’s birth country
Babies born in Canada from immigrant mothers, especially from East and South Asian mothers, are often of lower weight than babies from Canadian’s mothers, but it’s not worrisome a new study shows. It’s usually thought that smaller infants are more likely to die or suffer adverse events than heavier infants. Research now shows that clinicians […]
To visit ED, or not to visit ED?
One in five patients who are discharged from hospital emergency departments (ED) without being admitted could just as easily have gotten the treatment they need at a family practice, according to a new report. Data compiled by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) helps determine which emergency room visits are avoidable and could help […]
Why anesthesia may cause memory problems
After surgery using a general anesthetic, up to a third of patients experience memory problems for months afterward and a new study helps explain why. Many anesthetics work by binding to specific receptors (GABA A receptors) in the brain and increasing the function of these receptors, leading to drowsiness and memory loss. The new study shows […]
Ebola: how ZMAb, and ZMapp, works
Researchers at the Public Health Agency of Canada have studied how the experimental Ebola-treating antibody cocktail ZMAb – a major constituent of the drug ZMApp – fights the virus. They report that the drug binds to the proteins on the surface of the virus and neutralises its activity. The researchers say the findings may help […]
This robot makes you feel like there’s someone behind you
A new study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the “feeling of presence” phenomenon, where people feel like there is a presence with them in a room even though they are alone. Scientists usually attribute this feeling to medical conditions such epilepsy, stroke, migraine and tumors. Researchers have now devised a robot capable of giving […]
How to prevent a world without antibiotics
A new mathematical model suggests that in addition to looking for new drugs, we should also be using strategies to prolong the life of old ones. Most drugs only work for a certain period of time until organisms develop resistance. This lifetime can be prolonged by using antibiotics sparingly or combining them into ‘drug cocktails’ […]
Micro-scallop robot could swim in human blood
Researchers have created an artificial micro-swimmer which could swim through viscous fluids such as saliva and blood by opening and closing its shells at different rates. The robot consists of two silicone polymer shells, each only 300 micrometres in size, connected by a single hinge. An external magnetic field is used to drive the movement […]
What exactly is an unusual sexual fantasy?
A new paper makes one of the first attempts to determine which types of sexual fantasies are rare, unusual, common, or typical from a statistical point of view. The authors used an internet survey with 1,516 adults from Quebec who ranked 55 sexual fantasies and wrote their own favourite. The survey indicated that men have […]
Alternative hospital funding can be risky
A review of worldwide experience with an alternative model of hospital funding suggests that it increases the number of patients needing post-acute care. Activity-based funding (ABF) is a system whereby hospitals are paid a set rate for each episode of care, intended to fund the bundle of services provided to patients with particular diagnoses, as […]
Screening software could help find new drugs
A new method of screening molecules for their ability to bind to enzymes and other proteins could help discover potential new drugs. A newly built model looks at covalent bonding, a much stronger type of chemical attraction but one that is harder to model. Computer models that predict which molecules will interact with enzymes have existed […]
Controlling Ebola outbreak in West Africa most effective way to decrease international
Controlling the Ebola virus outbreak at the source in West Africa is the most effective way to decrease international risk of transmission, a new study of global airline travel patterns shows. The authors used a model that predicts that three people infected with Ebola are predicted to fly from West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra […]
Got milk? No? Check your vitamin D
Children who drink rice, almond, soy or goat’s milk have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood than those who drink cow’s milk, according to a new study. Canadian regulations stipulate that every 100 millilitres of cow’s milk must be fortified with 40 International Units of vitamin D, non-cow’s milk is not subject to […]
Senegal is now Ebola-free
On Friday, October 17, the World Health Organization declared that Senegal is now free of Ebola virus transmission. Senegal had a single case of Ebola in late August. All those who contacted the patient have now completed the 21-day monitoring period are are symptom free and tested negative for the virus. A similar announcement about […]
Ebola in DRC different than that in West Africa
The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is caused by a different virus strain than the one circulating in West Africa, a new study shows. Researchers conclude that the two Ebola outbreaks are not linked to one another. At least 49 people have died from Ebola in Congo between July 26 […]
