Monday, March 25, 2024

Are there racial and ethnic differences in Medicare costs for older adults with dementia?

WILEY

In an analysis of information on Medicare beneficiaries with dementia, Medicare expenditures were higher for Black and Hispanic individuals compared with whites. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society analysis also found that expenditures were highest for Black beneficiaries in every phase of care.

The average total Medicare expenditures after being diagnosed with dementia were $165,730 for Black beneficiaries, $160,442 for Hispanic beneficiaries, and $136,326 for white beneficiaries. In the year preceding and immediately following the initial dementia diagnosis, average Medicare expenditures for Blacks were $26,337 and $20,429, compared with $21,399 and $23,176 for Hispanics and $17,182 and $18,244 for whites. The last year of life was responsible for $51,294 in costs for Blacks, $47,469 for Hispanics, and $39,499 for whites.

Greater use of high-cost care—such as emergency department, inpatient, and intensive care—drove these differences, especially during the last year of life.

“Higher expenditures do not necessarily result in higher quality care or better outcomes,” said corresponding author Natalia Olchanski, PhD, Assistant Research Professor at the Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health at Tufts Medical Center. “Some differences in care utilization may be due to the preferences of the people with dementia and their caregivers, but the trends we identified also raise the possibility of unequal access and disparities in quality of care. It’s clear from our study that improvements are needed in all phases of care to enhance care management for people with dementia and reduce disparities for disadvantaged populations.”

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.18822

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is the go-to journal for clinical aging research. We provide a diverse, interprofessional community of healthcare professionals with the latest insights on geriatrics education, clinical practice, and public policy — all supporting the high-quality, person-centered care essential to our well-being as we age.

About Wiley
Wiley is a knowledge company and a global leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions. Dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge, Wiley serves the world’s researchers, learners, innovators, and leaders, helping them achieve their goals and solve the world's most important challenges. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

JOURNAL

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

DOI

10.1111/jgs.18822

ARTICLE TITLE

Racial and ethnic differences in disease-course Medicare expenditures for beneficiaries with dementia

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-Mar-2024

Racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine use

JAMA Health Forum

About The Study: The results of this study of Medicare enrollees suggest that although nationally, Black and Hispanic individuals and individuals of other racial groups received more telemedicine visits during the pandemic and disproportionately lived in geographic regions with higher telemedicine use, after controlling for geographic region, Black and Hispanic individuals and individuals of other racial groups received fewer telemedicine visits than white individuals.

Authors: Felippe O. Marcondes, M.D., M.P.H., of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, is the corresponding author.

(doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0131)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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About JAMA Health Forum: JAMA Health Forum is an international, peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that addresses health policy and strategies affecting medicine, health and health care. The journal publishes original research, evidence-based reports and opinion about national and global health policy; innovative approaches to health care delivery; and health care economics, access, quality, safety, equity and reform. Its distribution will be solely digital and all content will be freely available for anyone to read.

Patient characteristics and telemedicine use in the US, 2022

JAMA Network Open

About The Study: In this study of 5,437 U.S. adults with health care visits in 2022, many patients, including those with the greatest care needs, chose telemedicine even after in-person visits were available. These findings support continuing this care delivery approach as an option valued by patients. Differences were not observed by most common measures of socioeconomic status. Continued monitoring of telemedicine use is needed to ensure equitable access to health care innovations.

Authors: Eva Chang, Ph.D., M.P.H., of Advocate Health in Milwaukee, is the corresponding author.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3354)

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About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

JOURNAL

JAMA Network Open

Does sedentary leisure time affect men’s risk of erectile dysfunction?

THERE IS A PILL FOR THAT

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

Previous research has identified genetic variants linked to sedentary leisure behavior, which includes activities such as watching television, using a computer, and operating a vehicle. In a new analysis published in Andrology, a higher genetic susceptibility to leisure computer usage was associated with a greater risk of erectile dysfunction in men.

In the analysis of data on more than 200,000 men, each 1.2 hour increase in leisure computer usage predicted 3.57-fold greater odds of erectile dysfunction. There was no evidence to suggest that watching television or driving for leisure increased the risk of erectile dysfunction. Also, computer use was not linked with depression, anxiety, or markers of blood vessel health, but it was associated with lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, which plays a role in sexual development and reproduction in both males and females.

“The present study offered substantial evidence for a positive causal association between computer use and the risk of erectile dysfunction. However, a definitive causal association needs to be established by further research,” the authors wrote.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/andr.13611

About the Journal
The field of Andrology, emerging over the last 40 years, has produced several specialty journals covering both basic scientific and clinical areas. The International Journal of Andrology began publication in 1978 and became the official journal of the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) in 1992. The American Society of Andrology (ASA) launched the Journal of Andrology in 1980. These two leading journals in the field of Andrology are now combined into a single, even more prominent journal, Andrology. Andrology serves to increase the visibility, impact and prominence of both journals, and to better promote the field of Andrology, together with the work of the EAA and ASA.

JOURNAL

Andrology

DOI

10.1111/andr.13611

ARTICLE TITLE

A Mendelian randomization study on causal effects of leisure sedentary behavior on the risk of erectile dysfunction

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-Mar-2024

Mimicking exercise with a pill

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

NEW ORLEANS, March 18, 2024 — Doctors have long prescribed exercise to improve and protect health. In the future, a pill may offer some of the same benefits as exercise. Now, researchers report on new compounds that appear capable of mimicking the physical boost of working out — at least within rodent cells. This discovery could lead to a new way to treat muscle atrophy and other medical conditions in people, including heart failure and neurodegenerative disease.

The researchers will present their results today at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring 2024 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in person March 17-21; it features nearly 12,000 presentations on a range of science topics.

“We cannot replace exercise; exercise is important on all levels,” says Bahaa Elgendy, the project’s principal investigator who is presenting the work at the meeting. “If I can exercise, I should go ahead and get the physical activity. But there are so many cases in which a substitute is needed.”

Exercise benefits both mind and body. In this case, Elgendy, a professor of anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and his colleagues are hoping to recapitulate its potent physical effects — namely, exercise’s ability to enhance muscle cells’ metabolism and growth, along with improved muscle performance.

A drug that can mimic these effects could offset the muscle atrophy and weakness that can occur as people age or are affected by cancer, certain genetic conditions or other reasons they are unable to carry out regular physical activity. It could also potentially counter the effects of other drugs, such as new weight-loss medications that cause the loss of both fat and muscle, according to Elgendy.

The metabolic changes associated with exercise kick off with the activation of specialized proteins, known as estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), which come in three forms: ERRα, ERRβ and ERRγ. After about a decade of work, Elgendy and his colleagues developed a compound named SLU-PP-332, which activates all three forms, including the most challenging target, ERRα. This type of ERR regulates exercise-induced stress adaptation and other important physiological processes in muscle. In experiments with mice, the team found this compound increased a fatigue-resistant type of muscle fiber while also improving the animals’ endurance when they ran on a rodent treadmill.

To identify SLU-PP-332, the researchers scrutinized the structure of the ERRs and how they bind to molecules that activate them. Then, to improve upon their discovery and develop variations that could be patented, Elgendy and his team designed new molecules to strengthen the interaction with the receptors and thus provoke a stronger response than what SLU-PP-332 can provide. When developing the new compounds, the team also optimized the molecules for other desirable characteristics, such as stability and low potential for toxicity.

The team compared the potency of SLU-PP-332 with that of the new compounds by looking at RNA, a measure of gene expression, from about 15,000 genes in cells from rat heart muscle. The new compounds prompted a greater increase in the presence of the RNA, suggesting they more potently simulate the effects of exercise.

Research using SLU-PP-332 suggests targeting ERRs could be useful against specific diseases. Studies in animals with this preliminary compound indicate that it could have a benefit against obesity, heart failure or a decline in kidney function with age. The results in the updated research suggest the new compounds could have similar effects.

ERR activity also appears to counter damaging processes that occur in the brain in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and those who have other neurodegenerative conditions. While SLU-PP-332 cannot pass into the brain, some of the new compounds were developed to do so.

“In all of these conditions, ERRs play a major role,” Elgendy says. “If you have a compound that can activate them effectively, you could generate so many beneficial effects.”

Elgendy and his colleagues hope to test the new compounds in animal models through Pelagos Pharmaceuticals, a startup company they have co-founded. They are also looking into the possibility of developing the compounds as potential treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.

The research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R21AG065657 and RF1AG077160.

Visit the ACS Spring 2024 program to learn more about this presentation, “Exercise in a pill: Design and synthesis of novel ERR agonists as exercise mimetics,” and more scientific presentations.

###

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Title
Exercise in a pill: Design and synthesis of novel ERR agonists as exercise mimetics

Abstract
Estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) belong to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, a group of ligand-activated transcription factors. Ligands for nuclear receptors have the ability to either activate or inhibit the transcription factors responsible for regulating numerous genes associated with vital physiological functions, including metabolism, immunity, inflammation, homeostasis, development, cellular growth, and reproduction. Within the estrogen-related receptors subfamily, there exist three members: ERRα, ERRβ, and ERRγ. These receptors are closely related to estrogen receptors (ERs); however, ERRs exhibit constitutive activity unlike ER receptors, and can function without ligands. ERRα is known to be highly intractable as a drug target. We recently developed the first class of ERR pan agonists that was shown to induce ERRα-specific acute aerobic exercise genetic program. ERRα activation was critical for enhancing exercise endurance in mice, and our chemical tool increased mitochondrial function and cellular respiration in a skeletal muscle cell line. Using state-of-the-art computational techniques and iterative medicinal chemistry, we have identified novel chemotypes of potent ERR pan agonists with improved drug-like and pharmacokinetic properties for future use in animal models.

The progress we made in developing pan agonists that target all three isoforms of ERR is predicted to launch this target's clinical translatability. Anticipated applications for these novel ligands extend beyond their role as exercise mimetics. They hold significant potential for treating metabolic disorders, conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as neurodegenerative diseases.

Child Development Perspectives Journal

Q&A: Universality of executive functions: A focus on Latin America

SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Executive functions (EFs) have been defined as the ability to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve a goal. Although EFs have been identified as a cornerstone of cognitive development, knowledge of this fundamental ability in children is primarily based on research with North American and Western European samples from middle to high socioeconomic status.

A new article published in the journal Child Development Perspectives highlights the advances that have been made in developmental EFs research from Latin American
(LATAM) regions, an understudied area that provides a unique context important to understanding EFs. The findings suggest the potential for both universality and cultural specificity in EFs development.

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) had the opportunity to discuss this important research and its implications with author Dr. Lucas G. Gago Galvagno from the Universidad Abierta Interamericana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

SRCD: What sparked your interest in studying this subject?
Dr. Galvagno: My interest in studying this topic was sparked by a fascination with assessing emotional and cognitive regulation, particularly the capacity for early-life self-regulation. Recognizing self-regulation as a fundamental cognitive ability crucial for explaining overall human development, I became intrigued by the exploration of these skills from the earliest years of life. Understanding how individuals navigate and regulate their emotions and thoughts has profound implications for their overall well-being and success. Additionally, my curiosity extends to exploring the cross-cultural differences in these cognitive capacities, as it intrigues me to unravel how sociocultural and environmental factors shape the development of essential cognitive functions. Unraveling these intricacies promises not only a deeper understanding of individual development but also insights into the varied pathways that shape cognition across different countries and cultures.

SRCD: Can you please provide a brief overview of the study?
Dr. Galvagno: Most studies show consistent developmental patterns in executive function (EF) during the first 12 years, demonstrating increased cohesion, longitudinal stability, age-related improvements, and positive predictions for social and educational outcomes. However, there are also culture-specific variations influenced by sociocultural factors like social vulnerability, income inequality, educational environment, parenting styles, and regional values. To comprehensively understand EF development, a sociocultural lens is crucial, especially when considering cultural influences in Latin American countries. For example, in collectivistic cultures that tend to promote self-regulation and obedience to authorities in home and school education, children control their behavior to meet adult’s expectations. This contrasts with samples of children (1-12 years) from the United States and Western Europe, where children are possibly allowed to express their negative emotions more freely related to signs of assertion promoted in individualistic cultures.

SRCD: What is the primary takeaway?
Dr. Galvagno: The primary takeaway from this study is the recognition of the universality of executive function (EF), but also the intricate interplay between cultural, socioeconomic, and familial factors in shaping the early development of these abilities in children, particularly within the context of Latin America. By embracing this contextualized approach, we can foster more effective and inclusive pathways for supporting the cognitive and emotional development of children, promoting resilience and adaptability across diverse socio-cultural landscapes.

SRCD: Why are these findings important today?
Dr. Galvagno: Understanding the early development of executive functions (EFs) in Latin American contexts is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, replicating and extending findings from studies in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries is essential for building a theoretical understanding of EFs that considers diverse backgrounds. Secondly, when creating programs and interventions to promote EFs, it is critical to account for the specific context of children in Latin America, considering factors such as vulnerability, lower overall levels of EFs, and a more collectivist culture. Adjusting interventions to the local context is necessary.

SRCD: How does this research differ from what’s been studied to date?
Dr. Galvagno: This research differs from previous studies in several key aspects. Firstly, it stands out for its specific focus on the development of executive functions (EFs) in the Latin American context, making a unique contribution to existing literature. Many previous studies have predominantly centered on high-income countries, and this research seeks to fill a gap by examining how sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and cultural factors specific to Latin America relate to EF development in children. Secondly, the research distinguishes itself by responding to the call from theorists advocating for a more grounded approach toEF studies in context. By doing so, it provides a more contextualized and specific perspective, recognizing the importance of understanding how the local environment influences children's cognitive development. Furthermore, the research stands out by its emphasis on exploring the relationship between universality and culture-specificity in EF development. This approach allows for discerning common patterns and cultural variations in the development of these cognitive functions, enriching our understanding of diversity in childhood cognitive development.

SRCD: Was there anything that surprised you?
Dr. Galvagno: One aspect that has consistently surprised me in these findings is the profound impact of diverse parenting styles and cultural influences on children's regulatory processes. The ongoing revelation of how different cultural backgrounds and parenting practices shape distinct forms of emotional and cognitive regulation in children continues to be astonishing. Particularly within the Latin American context, characterized by more collectivist societies and higher poverty rates compared to more central countries, children develop specific regulatory mechanisms to navigate the unique demands of their environment. It is fascinating to observe how infants in this context demonstrate adaptive forms of emotional and cognitive regulation influenced by their surroundings. For instance, in families enduring generations of poverty, there tends to be a heightened prevalence of emotional and cognitive dysregulation, also associated with lower levels of parental regulation. Unraveling these nuanced patterns sheds light not only on the resilience of children facing adversities but also on the intricate interplay between cultural and environmental factors that influence the development of essential cognitive skills.

SRCD: Who should know about these findings?
Dr. Galvagno: These findings are relevant and important for various stakeholders involved in child development, education, and policymaking. First and foremost, educators should be aware of these findings as they offer insights into the diverse ways in which children regulate their emotions and thoughts, highlighting the importance of tailoring educational approaches to individual and cultural differences. Parents can also benefit from this knowledge, gaining a deeper understanding of how their parenting styles and the cultural context may impact their child's cognitive and emotional development. Additionally, policymakers should take note, as these findings underscore the significance of considering cultural and socioeconomic factors when designing interventions and support systems for children. Finally, mental health professionals may find these insights valuable in their work, especially when working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds or those facing socioeconomic challenges.

SRCD: What’s next?
Dr. Galvagno: More work is needed with diverse groups of participants (children and families from rural areas, Indigenous populations, or populations of mixed ancestry, and in Central America), as well as studies that are larger, longitudinal, and with cross-cultural designs, to expand our understanding and be able to generalize results (Narea, 2016). As work in this area grows, we will be able to consider the interactions among multiple factors in the Latin American context that may affect our understanding of the development of EFs in novel ways.

JOURNAL

Child Development

DOI

10.1111/cdep.12505

ARTICLE TITLE

Importance of cultural context in the study of children's executive functions: Advances in Latin America research

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-Mar-2024

Pioneering muscle monitoring in space to help astronauts stay strong in low-gravity

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

Handheld device could also bring about a step-change in muscle monitoring back on Earth

Astronauts have been able to track their muscle health in spaceflight for the first time using a handheld device, revealing which muscles are most at risk of weakening in low gravity conditions.

An international research team, including the University of Southampton and led by Charité University in Berlin, monitored the muscle health of twelve astronauts before, during and after a stay on the International Space Station (ISS).

Findings published in Nature Scientific Reports indicate that the astronauts’ daily exercise regime was effective in preserving most muscle groups, but crucial lower leg muscles showed signs of deterioration.

The technology and assessment protocol used in space could also bring about a step-change in healthcare back on Earth, allowing healthcare professionals to better monitor muscle health in neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease and stroke, and in patients in critical care.

“Being able to perform inflight muscle health checks will allow the astronauts to see which muscles are losing strength and adjust their exercise programme accordingly,” says Professor Maria Stokes OBE, UK lead of the project, from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton. “Being able to personalise exercises like this will be crucial on future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.”

Muscle loss in space

Microgravity conditions during spaceflight mean astronauts’ bodies aren’t subjected to the workload they are used to on Earth, meaning muscles don’t have to work very hard to perform functional tasks onboard the spacecraft. This puts astronauts at risk of muscle weakness and bone loss, with up to a 20 per cent decrease in skeletal muscle mass over a month.

To counteract this, astronauts onboard the ISS perform an exercise programme for around two hours a day, six or seven days a week. Until now, monitoring the effectiveness of this programme has only been possible with pre- and post-flight checks due to a lack of appropriate equipment.

Handheld device

The MyotonPRO is a smartphone-sized device which measures the properties of superficial skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue (fat), and skin. It’s non-invasive and uses a ‘tap and listen’ method, sending a precision impulse causing the tissues to oscillate and recording the way the tissue responds to compute various characteristics, such as stiffness, tone and elasticity.

The device was used to measure specific points on the astronauts’ bodies throughout their mission, before the flight, during a 4 to 11-month stay onboard the ISS, and up to three months post-flight. Researchers were particularly interested in measuring passive muscle stiffness, as it reflects muscle strength, which is not possible to measure in multiple muscles in space.

“People tend to associate stiffness with poor flexibility and mobility, but an adequate degree of passive stiffness is needed to maintain joint stability and posture,” says co-lead author Paul Muckelt, a research fellow at the University of Southampton. “Stiffness provides support during movement, preventing excessive stretching of muscles and reducing the risk of injury. It also contributes to the efficiency of movement by storing and releasing elastic energy during activities, such as walking or running.”

Passive muscle stiffness can shift throughout the day, so recording conditions needed to be standardised to ensure accuracy.

Weakening of crucial leg muscles

The team found that the astronauts’ exercise programme was effective in preserving muscle stiffness in most sites measured, including the shoulders, neck, back and thigh. But crucially, the tibialis anterior showed signs of waning in all 12 astronauts. The tibialis anterior, located in the front of the lower leg, lifts the foot upwards towards the shin. This movement is essential for walking and running.

The soleus and gastrocnemius muscles in the calf act in opposition to the tibialis anterior, pointing the foot downward. The soleus also showed a decrease in stiffness compared to preflight, but it did increase gradually over time on the ISS. The gastrocnemius increased in stiffness, indicating it might take over most of the function of the calf.

The Achilles tendon (attached to both muscles) also decreased in stiffness compared to preflight measurements. Monitoring the Achilles is important as sudden reloading, such as that induced by a change in gravitation force, could result in injury or even rupture.

Professor Dieter Blottner at the Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, who led the Myotones Project said: “These lower leg muscles have a vital role in gait and ankle joint stabilisation. Impaired function could hinder performance on missions during planetary excursions and risk injury on return to Earth’s gravity, so exercises which target these muscles should be included in the astronauts’ exercise regimes going forward.”

Use on Earth

Measuring muscle health in this relatively simple way in space could translate to everyday life back on Earth - in healthcare settings, sports, remote communities and even people’s homes.

Assessing stiffness and other muscle characteristics helps in managing neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Currently, clinical assessments involve subjective methods, rating stiffness as mild, moderate or severe.

MyotonPRO offers objective measurements for a more accurate and sensitive assessment of the effects of different treatments. In the future, devices like this could be used by patients to monitor drug effects at home, akin to self-testing blood in diabetes.

Dr Martin Warner, co-senior author of the research paper from the University of Southampton said: “This technology and the use of passive muscle stiffness as a muscle health indicator could be used by many health professionals during clinical assessments. Widespread uptake could revolutionise healthcare in neuro-musculoskeletal, critical care and geriatric medicine, rehabilitation and precision medicine.”

Libby Moxon, Exploration Science Officer for Lunar and Microgravity at the UK Space Agency (UKSA), said: “As we approach increasingly ambitious missions that will see us travel deeper into space for longer, it’s imperative we fully understand how space travel impacts human muscle properties, so we can protect astronauts’ muscle health on long-duration missions.

“The University of Southampton’s fascinating research, supported by the UK Space Agency, demonstrates how innovative technology can support this goal, taking advantage of the microgravity environment to provide insights that will also help improve healthcare in space and back on Earth.”

Muscle stiffness indicating mission crew health in space is published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports and is available online.

The study was funded through the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the German Aerospace Agency (DLR), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Ends

Contact

Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton, press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.

Notes for editors

Muscle stiffness indicating mission crew health in space is published in Nature Scientific Reports and is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54759-6
For Interviews with Professor Maria Stokes, Dr Martin Warner and Paul Muckelt please contact Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.
Images:
1. 1. Close up image of the MyotonPRO device over the Medial Gastrocnemius muscle - one of the sites tested in the Myotones project. Credit to Myoton AS, Estonia.
  2. NASA astronaut using the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) in the Tranquility node of the International Space Station to exercise. This is not one of the astronauts who participated in the study. Credit NASA. Original available here: Nyberg with ARED in Node 3 | NASA Image and Video Library

Download here: https://safesend.soton.ac.uk/pickup?claimID=px5Kdq6ZStg7dEtB&claimPasscode=vPftkJKJg2fu6UCR

Additional information

The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2023). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 22,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 200,000 alumni. www.southampton.ac.uk

www.southampton.ac.uk/news/contact-press-team.page

JOURNAL

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-024-54759-6

ARTICLE TITLE

Pioneering muscle monitoring in space to help astronauts stay strong in low-gravity

GREENWASHING CAPITALI$M

New research network and hub will integrate biodiversity in the financial system

The £7 million programme is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Grant and Award Announcement

UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

A research and innovation programme that will embed biodiversity into the financial system has launched a network and hub to deliver its second phase.

Incorporating biodiversity impact in financial decision-making is critical to ensure we can reduce the global economy’s damage to the planet and improve sustainability.

The £7 million programme is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The programme’s new network and strategic coordination hub have received £3 million of that investment to utilise the outcomes delivered in the first phase of the programme.

This multi-stakeholder community will build knowledge, tools, collaboration and capacity that can support this goal. The network will connect with the financial services sector as well as business, public and third sectors.

The Integrating Finance & Biodiversity for a Nature Positive programme has three flagship initiatives:

Financing green sector transitions: This initiative supports the agricultural sector, which accounts for over 70% of landcover, to restore nature.
Greening finance for nature: This initiative addresses how decision-making processes in financial institutions such as banks and asset management companies impact nature.
Financing biodiversity: This initiative delivers investment in biodiversity conservation.

Professor Louise Heathwaite, Executive Chair of NERC, said:

"This NERC funding will empower financial decision makers in the financial, agricultural and public sectors to consider the impact of biodiversity in their investments.

"The research will support the transition to a more nature-positive global financial system, and it expands NERC’s growing Green Finance portfolio of investments."

The finance system has a key role in shaping how the global economy responds to the intertwined challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.

According to the Nature of Business Survey, the majority of business leaders want to take steps to tackle biodiversity loss, but progress has been slow due to a lack of data.

Dr Nick Wells, Principal Investigator of the network and Director of Impact and Innovation at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), said:

"Our vision is to build national capability bridging scientific, finance, policy and third sector communities, harnessing and catalysing world-leading science to enable the greening of finance for nature and mobilisation of capital for nature recovery."

Emily McKenzie, the Technical Director of The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), said:

"To close the financing gap for nature and biodiversity protection and recovery, businesses and financial institutions need to begin to measure and disclose their impacts on nature and their dependencies on the many vital services that nature provides. This is at the core of the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures.

"To achieve this, companies and financial institutions urgently need to be able to access robust data, models and tools to assess their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

"I’m delighted to welcome UKRI’s Integrating Finance and Biodiversity for a Nature Positive Future Programme, which will play an important role in filling the data and knowledge gaps and help accelerate progress."

Rhian-Mari Thomas, Chief Executive of Green Finance Institute, said:

"The financial sector will be a key part of the ambition to transition to an economy that values and invests in nature – as will the research sector. The NERC Integrating Finance and Biodiversity programme will play a critically important role, bridging the UK’s world-leading research base and our unique position as a key global Green Finance Centre, to develop the new data, frameworks and financial products to support the mobilisation of private finance into nature restoration and positive nature outcomes.

"At the Green Finance Institute, through our work with the finance sector, and as host to the Group of Financial Institutions for Nature (G-FIN) we are delighted to support the NERC Integrating Finance and Biodiversity network to strengthen meaningful engagement between financial institutions and UK nature finance, facilitating transformative impact driven by evidence-based academic research."

Find out more about the first phase of the programme and research projects.

New Durham University study uses camera collars to reveal surprising diet and encounters of chacma baboons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday 20 March 2024

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

-With images and videos-

A team of scientists from Durham University has uncovered surprising insights into the behaviour of wild baboons in South Africa using an innovative camera collar system.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Primatology, provide an unprecedented baboon’s-eye view of their eating habits and interactions with other species.

Researchers have discovered that baboons are much more opportunistic foragers than they realised.

The collar cameras allowed the researchers to literally see what a baboon sees - and they were eating antelope faeces.

The collar cameras recorded footage showing baboons carefully selecting and consuming the faeces from antelope species like kudu, impala and duiker.

Researchers suggest that they might gain nutrients from the faeces when food is scarce.

The cameras also revealed close encounters between baboons and unhabituated wildlife like banded mongooses, impala and nyala.

These animals would have fled if the data had been collected by human observation, a more traditional method of studying primate behaviour.

This pioneering study highlights how collar-cameras can uncover the intricate, unseen lives of wild primates for science and conservation.

Lead researcher of the study, Ben Walton of Durham University said: “Seeing the world through the eyes of these primates gave us unparalleled insight into their daily lives, including what they eat and how they interact with each other and other species.

“It has been exciting to explore the ways in which cameras such as these could improve our understanding of primate behaviour in future.”

Commenting on the findings, study co-author Professor Russell Hill of Durham University said: “Baboons are amongst the best studied primates.

“To uncover undocumented foraging behaviour in just a few days using these collar cameras was thus really surprising.

“I have been studying baboons for years, but this primate’s eye view gave me a totally different perspective on their behaviour.”

Researchers point out that this method has amazing potential to engage the public in research and the footage from these cameras was used in the BBC Natural History Unit documentary: Animals with Cameras.

The team developed the prototype collar cameras with the BBC Natural History Unit for the TV series Animals with Cameras.

They believe the technology has huge potential for primate research on activity budgets, diet, social dynamics and more.

Researchers can study predator-prey interactions and social behaviour in a completely natural, unbiased way.

ENDS

Media Information

Ben Walton from Durham University is available for interview and can be contacted on benjamin.j.walton@durham.ac.uk.

Alternatively, please contact Durham University Communications Office for interview requests on communications.team@durham.ac.uk or +44 (0)191 334 8623.

Source

‘On-primate cameras reveal undocumented foraging behaviour and interspecies interactions in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)’, (2024), B Walton, L Findley and R Hill, International Journal of Primatology.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10764-024-00423-9

Graphics

Associated images and videos are available via the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/joq4xh8h9ws5tnrkl2jdu/h?rlkey=23rgjmwr4i28pe7f0ikpgxdv1&dl=0

About Durham University

Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research based in historic Durham City in the UK.

We are a collegiate university committed to inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham and in the world.

We conduct research that improves lives globally and we are ranked as a world top 100 university with an international reputation in research and education (QS World University Rankings 2024).

We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities and we are consistently ranked as a top 10 university in national league tables (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide).

For more information about Durham University visit: www.durham.ac.uk/about/

END OF MEDIA RELEASE – issued by Durham University Communications Office.

JOURNAL

International Journal of Primatology

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

Mystery of unexplained kidney disease revealed to patients

Peer-Reviewed Publication

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

Scientists have identified a new method of analysing genomic data in a major discovery that means patients with unexplained kidney failure are finally getting a diagnosis.

Experts at Newcastle University have worked with data from Genomics England 100,000 Genomes project to establish a diagnosis in patients with unexplained kidney failure.

There are numerous reasons for kidney failure, which if left untreated is life-threatening, but often patients do not get a precise diagnosis which can make their best course of treatment unclear.

Missing genetic data

Research, published in the Genetics in Medicine Open, has now revealed that for these patients areas in their genome are missing so are not detected as faulty when using the routine genetic pipelines to analyse data.

Scientists say that as this missing gene has now been identified, and mutations within it found, they have been able to classify this as NPHP1-related kidney failure.

Professor John Sayer, Deputy Dean of Biosciences at Newcastle University, said: “Our new genomic methods and their results has huge implications for the patients and families with kidney failure who were previously genetically unsolved.

“What we are now able to do is give some patients a precise diagnosis, which allows their investigations, treatment and management to be tailored to their needs for the best possible outcomes.”

In the study, experts reviewed genetic sequencing data from 959 patients with advanced kidney disease, where a total of 11 patients were identified as having a deleted region genome, leading to a complete loss of a kidney gene and this had previously been undetectable.

The new approach was also used to examine genomic data from 11,754 cases to make new genetic diagnoses of 10 other UK patients with unexplained deafness and blindness, again who had previously been genetically unexplained.

Professor Sayer, who is also a consultant nephrologist at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We knew that many of our unsolved cases had a genetic disorder, and this new approach enables us to solve these cases definitively.

“We can now give an accurate genetic diagnosis to many more families affected by kidney disease and our hope is to provide a proper diagnosis for many more families in the future.

“This work is a reminder that it is always worth investigating the underlying reasons for kidney failure to get to the bottom of the condition.

“Finding a genetic cause of kidney failure has huge implications for the patient and also for other family members, especially if they are wishing to donate a kidney to their loved one.”

The work, co-funded by Kidney Research UK and the Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund, was possible through the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes project, where Professor Sayer has been instrumental in the North East’s success of this project.

The Newcastle experts are now working with cell lines taken from patients to study more in detail the disease process and to test potential treatments.

Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals are both part of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP). NHIP is one of eight prestigious Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs) across the UK, bringing together partners to deliver excellence in research, health education and patient care.

Case study: Family finally given answers

The Bingham family have three members all affected by kidney disease.

Siblings Noah, 23, and Ariel, 19, have both had kidney transplants and their younger brother, Casper, 15, has been diagnosed with kidney disease.

The family, from Hexham, Northumberland, are part of the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes project and were one of the families identified as having the gene deletion, NPHP1-related kidney failure.

Noah presented with kidney failure just after finishing his A-levels and, at the same time, Ariel was being treated for reduced kidney function.

Both now have donated kidneys as their own organs function reduced to dangerously low levels. Sadly, Noah’s transplanted kidney failed after only 16 months, and he had to start haemodialysis again in February this year.

Mum Sarah, 51, a home educator, said: “The genetic tests carried out by Professor John Sayer and his team allowed Casper to receive his diagnosis before he was symptomatic.

“The knowledge that Casper will go into kidney failure and eventually need a transplant, though overwhelming at times, has meant that we can arrange the support he needs and help him prepare for surgery and treatments well before they are necessary.

“When nobody is able to explain why your children are ill, it is very unsettling, with no means of clarifying what might happen in the future. The diagnosis has meant that we have been able to prepare ourselves for the medical issues our children face.

“It’s great that this research is being carried out at Newcastle University as it means patients with the condition can get a better understanding of their medical needs and hopefully new treatments may be developed in the future thanks to the research that is being done.”

Sarah and husband, Darryl, 52, a chartered building surveyor, have been strong advocates for kidney patients and work with Kidney Research UK to help support patients.

Reference:

Copy number analysis from genome sequencing data of 11,754 rare disease parent-child trios: a model for identifying autosomal recessive human gene knockouts including a novel gene for autosomal recessive retinopathy. John Sayer et al. Genetics in Medicine Open. DOI: 10.1016/j.gimo.2024.101834

Ends

JOURNAL

Genetics in Medicine Open

DOI

10.1016/j.gimo.2024.101834

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Meta-analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

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