Wednesday, June 11, 2025

The monotreme sex gene is unlike that of all other mammals

Monotremes, include echidnas and platypuses

University of Adelaide

Echidna credit Ken Hurley — image:
Monotremes, which include echidnas and platypuses, differ in many aspects of their biology to all other mammals.
view more
Credit: Ken Hurley

Researchers from the University of Adelaide, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, University of Queensland and Monash University, have discovered that the genetic mechanism that determines sex in monotremes is different from all other mammals.

Monotremes, which include echidnas and platypuses, differ in many aspects of their biology to all other mammals. Most distinctly, they lay eggs into a transient pouch rather than giving birth to live young.

In almost all mammals, male sex-determination occurs via the SRY gene on the male Y chromosome. Monotremes have evolved a totally different sex chromosome system that lacks the SRY gene.

New evidence recently published in Genome Biology strongly supports that sex determination occurs through the Y-localised anti-Müllerian hormone (AMHY) gene in monotremes.

“The identity of the sex determination gene of egg-laying mammals has been a mystery for more than 20 years, since it was discovered that monotremes had sex chromosomes very different from those of all other mammals,” says co-lead author Dr Linda Shearwin, from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences.

“In this research, we provide evidence that supports AMHY as the sex determination gene of monotremes and gives the first insight into genetic control of sexual development in these mammals.

“This new understanding fills a significant knowledge gap and ultimately can be used to support conservation of these iconic Australian mammals.”

Not only is the gene that determines sex different in monotremes than in other mammals, it also performs this function differently.

“All other known mammalian sex determination genes act directly on the DNA of the cell to switch on the male development pathway genes,” says Dr Shearwin.

“AMHY is a growth factor, which is secreted and acts through a cell surface receptor to change gene expression in cells.

“In some fish and amphibian species, AMH is the sex determining gene, but AMHY in monotremes would be the first known example of a growth factor playing a sex determining role in mammals.”

AMH is an important protein hormone for human fertility, and now that the full details of the AMHX and AMHY proteins in monotremes are known, researchers can compare them with other mammals.

“Comparisons between the proteins of distantly related species, such as monotremes and humans, can give valuable information about what is essential for a protein to be functional.” says Dr Shearwin.

“In future work we would like to investigate whether the monotreme AMHY growth factor acts differently to other known AMH proteins. This will give functional insight into a unique mammalian sexual development pathway.”

Journal

Genome Biology

DOI

10.1186/s13059-025-03546-1

Daily almond snack improves health of people with metabolic syndrome

Oregon State University

image:
Handful of almonds
view more
Credit: Oregon State University

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A daily dose of almonds improved key health markers for people with metabolic syndrome in a study led by scientists at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU College of Health.

The findings, published in Nutrition Research, showed that eating 2 ounces of almonds – about 45 nuts – daily led to signs of better cardiometabolic and gut health.

The research is important because almost 40% of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome has also recently been linked with cognitive dysfunction and dementia.

Patients are considered to have metabolic syndrome if they have at least three of the following: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of “good” cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides.

“Evidence suggests that people with metabolic syndrome are three times as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke and twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease compared to people without this condition,” said Emily Ho, director of the Linus Pauling Institute. “Poor diet and inactivity contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, and gut health and chronic inflammation may also play roles.”

Ho and Laura Beaver, a research associate in the Oregon State College of Health, devised a 12-week clinical trial involving two groups of people ages 35-60 with metabolic syndrome. One group ate 320 calories’ worth of almonds every day. The other ate crackers with the same caloric value but without many of the healthy fats, protein and micronutrients found in almonds.

At four weeks and again at 12 weeks, blood samples from the almond snackers showed, as expected, a marked increase in vitamin E, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in almonds. Just one ounce of almonds contains 50% of the daily value for vitamin E – the highest amount found in one serving of any tree nut.

The researchers also saw changes in other important health biomarkers among people in the almond group, including declines in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (often referred to as “bad” cholesterol) and waist circumference. Almond snacking also appeared to help limit gut inflammation, an indicator of gut health.

“There are many reasons to believe that almonds could benefit gut health,” Beaver said. “In addition to vitamin E, almonds have polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, fiber, polyphenols, biotin, copper, potassium and magnesium. A full assessment of the nutritional impact of almonds is ongoing, but the changes in cholesterol levels we saw suggest that a metabolic shift occurred in people who snacked on almonds daily.”

The diets of more than 90% of Americans fall short of the daily estimated average requirement for vitamin E, noted co-author Maret Traber, and many people aren’t even coming close. Vitamin E is important for the proper function of many organs, nerves and muscles, and is also an anticoagulant that can reduce blood clotting.

Even factoring in those who take supplements, vitamin E remains a nutrient of concern in the U.S. Consuming almonds could help fill this gap.

“Unless there is concern about nut allergies, it’s easy to recommend a handful or two of almonds as a healthy snack, especially for people concerned about their metabolic disease risk,” Ho said.

The Almond Board of California, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and the National Institutes of Health supported the study.

Linus Pauling Institute researchers Scott Leonard, Sandra Uesugi, Carmen Wong, Lily-Marie Lytle, Anusha Vasudevan, Ethan Papenhausen, Yashasvini Jupudi and Gerd Bobe also participated in the research, as did Deborah Bella of Prelude: An Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery Community in Corvallis.

Journal

Nutrition Research

DOI

10.1016/j.nutres.2025.04.011

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Beneficial changes in total cholesterol, LDL-C, biomarkers of intestinal inflammation, and vitamin E status in adults with metabolic syndrome consuming almonds as snack foods: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Article Publication Date

12-Jun-2025

Program helps cancer survivors return to work with confidence

First-of-its-kind tool can ease transition and improve quality of life, study finds

McGill University

A new pilot project led by McGill University researchers is showing early success in helping cancer survivors return to work, addressing an aspect of recovery they say is often overlooked.

iCanWork is an online support program being developed by Christine Maheu, Associate Professor at McGill’s Ingram School of Nursing, in collaboration with BC Cancer.

“Work isn’t considered a key health indicator in cancer care, even though it’s a major concern from the moment someone is diagnosed and is associated with better quality of life in survivors” said Maheu.

Lingering side effects of cancer treatment like fatigue, “chemo brain” and anxiety can make it hard to focus, stay organized and manage stress, making the return to work feel overwhelming, she explained.

Promising early results

In a randomized trial involving 24 cancer survivors, Maheu and her colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of iCanWork.

In the 10-step program, survivors met virtually with return-to-work counsellors and therapists who helped manage the hurdles to reintegration and referred them to additional specialists when needed.

Half of the participants returned to full-time work within three months, compared to about one-third in the control group. Participants also reported working more effectively, feeling more socially connected and found pain interfered less in their daily lives.

“One participant said without the sessions, she would have quit. Another had considered early retirement but changed her plans,” said Maheu.

A missing piece in cancer care

The first-of-its-kind program aims to fill a gap in Canadian cancer care. Only four per cent of employers have cancer-specific return-to-work policies, which the authors say are more common in some European countries.

The gap also has financial consequences. Maheu said previous research shows that, on average, cancer patients face over $2,500 a month in lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses like medication and home care. Employers, meanwhile, often spend up to $24,000 to replace a worker on medical leave. “Having proper support in place benefits both sides,” said Maheu.

The team is preparing a larger trial and looking for partners to help scale iCanWork across Canada.

The structured program tested in the study is still in development, but survivors can already access tools and resources through the Cancer and Work website, launched in 2016 and recognized with the 2020 CIHR Inclusive Research Excellence Prize for its accessible and inclusive design.

About the study

“Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of iCanWork: Theory-Guided Return-to-Work Intervention for Individuals Touched by Cancer” by Christine Maheu and Maureen Parkinson et al. was published in Current Oncology. The study was funded by the Work Wellness Institute.

Journal

Current Oncology

DOI

10.3390/curroncol32050266

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of iCanWork: Theory-Guided Return-to-Work Intervention for Individuals Touched by Cancer

Methanol poisoning could be easily detected with a ‘breathalyzer’ sensor

American Chemical Society

Breathalyzers are a frequently used tool to measure the amount of ethanol in someone’s breath, which relates to their blood alcohol content. However, alcoholic beverages contaminated by methanol (sometimes called wood alcohol) are hard to identify and toxic if ingested. Researchers reporting in ACS Sensors have developed a prototype sensor that quickly and easily detects small amounts of methanol in breath — a step toward developing a “methanol breathalyzer” to efficiently diagnose poisonings.

Methanol and ethanol, despite being structurally similar, have vastly different effects on the body when ingested. Ethanol gives wine, beer and spirits their classification as alcoholic beverages and causes physiological effects like nausea, dizziness and temporary neurological impairment. However, consuming even small amounts of methanol can cause blindness, convulsions and even death. Methanol is an inexpensive industrial solvent that is sometimes added to alcoholic beverages to lower their cost, a practice that was particularly common when bootleg alcohol production was rife. But in 2025, this practice still causes cases of methanol poisoning and death. Diagnosing methanol poisoning typically involves analyzing blood samples from an affected person, which can be costly and complicated — especially considering that tainted alcohol is found primarily in low-income countries. So, Dusan Losic and colleagues instead wanted to create a reliable and easy-to-use methanol breathalyzer sensor.

The researchers formulated a specialized electrically conductive ink that combined a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and graphene. They then 3D-printed the ink onto a ceramic, creating the sensor. A machine created artificial breath by blending dry air with humid air containing methanol and then mimicked blowing the breath into a chamber containing the sensor. The prototype detected methanol at concentrations as low as 50 parts per billion (below the levels found in breath during methanol poisoning) and maintained its stability and performance after several repeated sensing cycles. Initially, the sensor struggled to differentiate methanol and ethanol in a breath-like environment. Therefore, the team used statistical analysis and a trained machine learning algorithm to distinguish the gases. These artificial intelligence tools allowed the sensor to detect methanol at parts-per-billion and ethanol at parts-per-million concentrations.

This work demonstrates the first step toward using graphene and this MOF to detect methanol in air. The researchers say further development is needed to distinguish between methanol and ethanol in the higher humidity of exhaled breath before an easy, simple life-saving methanol breathalyzer device becomes a reality.

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Intelligence and Security Discovery Grant, and the Australian Research Council Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing with 2D Materials.

The paper’s abstract will be available on June 11 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssensors.4c03281

###

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, e-books 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.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Journal

ACS Sensors

DOI

10.1021/acssensors.4c03281

Article Title

Machine Learning-Enhanced Chemiresistive Sensors for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Methanol Adulteration in Alcoholic Beverages

Article Publication Date

11-Jun-2025

Pasteurizing fruit smoothies could improve digestion of beneficial polyphenols

American Chemical Society

Drinking a smoothie is a popular way to consume fruits and vegetables, many of which are rich in micronutrients called polyphenols. If this beverage is purchased at a store, it’s likely been pasteurized with heat or pressure to prevent harmful bacteria growth and extend shelf-life. Now, a preliminary study in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports that processing smoothies with high heat could also make polyphenols easier for the gut microbiome to absorb.

Fruits and vegetables are key to a healthful human diet, partly because they contain polyphenols, which can protect against heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders. These beneficial components are released from food during digestion, making them available for absorption by the gut microbiome. Previous research found that food processing techniques like canning and boiling peppers and artichokes may increase the amount of polyphenols metabolized by the gut microbiota, potentially improving the health benefits of these foods. But gaps exist in scientists’ knowledge around other food processing techniques. So, Iziar Ludwig and colleagues investigated how pasteurization could affect polyphenol digestion in the gut microbiome.

The researchers first prepared a smoothie made up of Granny Smith apples, green celery, green chicory, peppermint and lemon. They split up the smoothie into three parts: One was not treated, and the others underwent either high-pressure or high-temperature pasteurization. Then, the smoothie samples were added to successive solutions meant to mimic the three stages of digestion — oral, gastric and intestinal. Post-digestion pressure- and heat-pasteurized smoothie samples had higher amounts of polyphenolic compounds (21% and 44%, respectively) available for absorption than the untreated sample (17%). The researchers attribute these results to changes in the plants’ cell walls, such as softening or rupturing, induced by pasteurization that could favor the release of polyphenols into the body.

Finally, to analyze gut microbiome transformations of polyphenols, the digested samples went through a laboratory version of colonic fermentation in vials containing human feces as the microbiota source. The gut microbiota converted most polyphenols into smaller derivatives, such as phenylpropanoic acids. Some of these derivatives have previously demonstrated antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects. The researchers determined that the largest microbiota conversions happened in the high-temperature, post-digestion smoothie sample because it started fermentation with higher overall polyphenol levels. They say this work emphasizes how smoothie processing could lead to new beverage products with enhanced bioaccessibility.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Government of Navarre.

The paper’s abstract will be available on June 11 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c09166

###

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Journal

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

DOI

10.1021/acs.jafc.4c09166

Article Title

High-Pressure and Thermal Pasteurization Applied to Smoothies Enhances (Poly)Phenol Bioaccessibility along the Gastrointestinal Tract

Article Publication Date

11-Jun-2025

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

The monotreme sex gene is unlike that of all other mammals

Journal

DOI

Daily almond snack improves health of people with metabolic syndrome

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Program helps cancer survivors return to work with confidence

Promising early results

A missing piece in cancer care

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Methanol poisoning could be easily detected with a ‘breathalyzer’ sensor

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Pasteurizing fruit smoothies could improve digestion of beneficial polyphenols

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

About Me