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Full 2017 NIH Research Highlights List

Posted byconnie dello buonoPosted inMenu

Findings with Potential for Enhancing Human Health

With NIH support, scientists across the United States and the world conduct wide-ranging research to improve the health of our nation. Groundbreaking NIH-funded research often receives top scientific honors. In 2017, these included 4 NIH-supported Nobel Prize winners and 2 NIH-funded recipients of top awards from the Lasker Foundation. Here’s just a small sampling of the research accomplishments made by NIH-supported scientists in 2017. For more health and medical research findings from NIH, visit NIH Research Matters.

Full 2017 NIH Research Highlights List

Young woman at store looking at apples

How dietary factors influence disease risk

Of hundreds of thousands of deaths studied from heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, nearly half were associated with eating habits: low consumption of foods widely considered vital for health and overconsumption of other foods that are not. Experts attribute recent reductions in the annual death rate from these diseases to improvements in dietary choices.

Traffic jam

Combatting epigenetic effects from outdoor air pollution

Outdoor air pollution is associated with heart attacks, strokes, and cancers. Researchers found that particles in exhaust from cars and trucks can cause epigenetic changes—alterations that affect how genes are switched on and off without changing the DNA sequence itself. These changes weren’t seen when people were given a daily B vitamin supplement before exposure to the particles. The findings could help guide the development of future prevention therapies.

Man on park bench holding his stomach in discomfort

Changing gut bacteria in Crohn’s disease

Digestive problems can arise when the balance of microbes in the gut become out of whack. People with Crohn’s diseases and other inflammatory bowel diseases tend to have an imbalance in their microbial populations. Researchers found a role for the bacterial enzyme urease in the development of microbial population imbalance and inflammatory bowel disease. Future treatments that target urease could be helpful for restoring balance.

Scheme showing potential outcomes on a cell culture

Drugs extend healthy lifespan in mice

Drugs that remove senescent cells, which no longer divide, from the body have prolonged the healthy lifespan of lab animals. Scientists devised a method to identify different classes of compounds with the potential for eliminating senescent cells. One novel class of drug delayed several age-related symptoms in mice. Eliminating senescent cells might one day extend healthy lifespan in people, but these drugs will require careful study to discover any undesirable side effects.

Scientist working with blood samples

Methods detect prions in blood and skin

Prion diseases are a group of rare, fatal brain diseases that affect animals and humans. They’re caused by normally harmless proteins that become abnormal and form clumps in the brain. An easy, noninvasive prion detection method is needed because prion carriers who haven’t yet developed symptoms may unwittingly transmit prions to others when they donate blood. Researchers developed a new method that accurately detects prions in blood. Another team detected prions in skin samples.

Illustration of RNA molecules

Quick, sensitive diagnostic tests with CRISPR

CRISPR is a gene-editing technique known for its ability to replace faulty genes, but it also has potential for diagnostics. Scientists reported that they’ve developed a CRISPR-based tool that can detect tiny amounts of Zika and Dengue virus, distinguish pathogenic bacteria, and identify tiny DNA variations. The components of the system can be freeze-dried and reconstituted on paper for field applications, opening the door to many practical uses.

Immunofluorescent microscope image of mouse pancreatic islet

Biomarkers for early organ transplant rejection

Receiving an organ from a donor can save a patient’s life, but sometimes the patient’s immune system will attack and destroy the donated organ. If doctors could detect organ rejection early on, they could adjust treatments and help reduce organ damage. Researchers showed that certain biomarkers released by the donor organs might be used to detect transplant injury earlier than current techniques.

Man in football helmet

Predicting recovery time for sports concussions

After athletes are sidelined by a concussion, they need time to recover or they risk long-term problems like headaches and dizziness. Investigators are developing a blood test that measures the level of a brain injury marker to help determine which injuries need longer recovery times.

Published by connie dello buono

Connie Dello Buono is based in Sunnyvale California. Her first ebook is about women's health, Birthing Ways Healing Ways and her recent one is about cancer prevention, Curated Healing Ways. She had helped women have holistic childbirth as childbirth educator, founded Motherhealth, to serve seniors in the bay area with holistic caregivers and blogs at www.clubalthea.com with more than 10,000 health and finance related posts. Connie trains her own caregivers, which are the favorites of most bay area seniors who are home bound and alone. She is active in the rehab and nursing facilities, volunteering on music and movement for seniors. She is a member of Lion's club and offered scholarships to students in the Philippines. She is active at churchinsunnyvale.us and has Fridays Bible home study in Sunnyvale using the recovery version of the Bible , free at biblesforamerica.us She loves dancing and teaching and her courses can be found at https://teachclub.com/@thriveafter60 She is California Life Insurance licensed providing life insurance for older adults with health issues and helping women retire safely with income for life. at menloassetca.com , she helps with 401k rollover. 3 Benefit plans - Mortgage protection using term life insurance to pay for mortgage balance in event of death - Final Expense plan using Single Issue Whole Life Insurance, with cash back, disability benefit and guaranteed in the presence of health issues - Fixed Index Annuity retirement plan for safe, accessibility, less fees, less taxes, avoids probate as it goes directly to beneficiaries, rate of return with no downside market participation. She brings compassion and understanding to the needs of her clients, bringing holistic approach in health and life insurance. Her goal is to free families from worries especially during covid with caregivers and life insurance in the presence of health issues, especially for women. She can be reached at 408-854-1883 , motherhealth@gmail.com

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