ResearchPod

Earths changing climate is causing more frequent, more severe extreme weather events, which are having a devastating impact on ecosystems across the planet.  Some areas show much greater vulnerability to climate change, with countries such as the Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand among the worst affected.

Professor David Ding and Sarah Beh at Singapore Management University have produced a study examining the environmental performance of Southeast Asian countries in mitigating climate change.

Read their original research here: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020999

Measurement of intravascular volume has only recently studied, covering the use of diuretics and filtration during dialysis.

Dr Matthew Kaptein of Loma Linda University reviews available evidence that may validate the IVC collapsibility index for measuring relative intravascular volume. 

He has developed a calculator tool which will help doctors navigate this important step for optimizing the intravascular volume of their patients to offer more effective treatments. 

Learn more about Kaptein's Calculator Tool: Calculator Tool

Ecological concerns and climate change have risen on governmental policies around the globe, but regulatory differences between nations may leave gaps - or even work against each other - if not planned deliberately.

Research led by Associate Professor Ishani Mukherjee at Singapore Management University focuses on the case of biodiesel policy in Indonesia, using policy network analysis to investigate types of relationships between policymakers and between the policies they enact.

Read the original research: http://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12479

For almost 30 years, the protein KRAS has been the "undruggable target" of cancer research.  Gene mutations in KRAS are responsible for 33% of all human cancers, including pancreatic, lung, and colon cancer.

A new molecule identified by Dr. Bhairavi Tolani, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco  upends conventional concepts of directly targeting the protein KRAS as a treatment strategy. Instead she suggests an alternative avenue for treatment of these deadliest cancers.

Read her original research in Nature Biotechnology here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01386-z

An estimated one in three women has experienced some form of intimate partner violence (IPV), but it can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.  Unfortunately, during the course of the pandemic and its ensuing lockdowns, rates of intimate partner violence have increased, with victims facing fewer options to leave or spend time elsewhere.

Dr Caroline Piotrowski from the University of Manitoba researches intimate partner violence, its impact on children and the increase in incidents during the pandemic. She describes how the contagion of violence can spread between those affected to those around them, and how its damage can be lessened and unlearned to stop it from spreading any further. 

Find more about her research at Sibsmattertoo.ca

Read her original research at:  https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12589

Although women make up most of the health and social sector workforce, bias, discrimination, stereotypes, and systemic barriers often prevent women from entering global health leadership roles.

Dr Sonya Smith from the American Dental Education Association and Dr Jeanne Sinkford, Dean Emerita and Professor Emerita at Howard University College of Dentistry, USA, have evaluated the disparity faced by women in this sector.

Read more about their work in Research Features

Read the original article : https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13059

Safe, reliable access to nutritious food is a challenge for many nations, and Earth’s changing climate adds an further challenges for ensuring crop productivity. To ensure food security, production needs to be environmentally sustainable, and soil microbial inoculants may be part of the solution.

Dr Maureen O’Callaghan from AgResearch Ltd and her team have assessed published research literature to understand the opportunities and limitations of soil microbial inoculants.

Read the original research: https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12811

Accumulation of fat in the liver (hepatosteatosis) and muscle (myosteatosis) affects normal physiological functioning, leading to poorer health outcomes. But what is the concurrence of these two conditions in the general population, and are there common underlying mechanisms?

Professor Julie Pasco and colleagues at Deakin University and Barwon Health in Australia investigate these metabolic alterations in a population-based study providing vital clinical insight. Their results suggest fat build-up in the liver seems to co-exist with fat accumulation in skeletal muscle, and such individuals are more likely to have sarcopenia (reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength).

Read more in Research Outreach

Read the original article:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-021-00939-9

Treatment of prostate cancer has changed dramatically over the years, with  multiple treatment options including chemotherapy, refined hormonal therapies, radiotherapies, surgery and others currently available, depending on the patient and their disease.

Dr Sakir Mutevelic, Chief Medical Officer at Curium, has witnessed the tremendous progress in cancer treatment options and the increased survival rate that goes with them.  Today, we’re talking with him about an investigational treatment for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer in development at Curium, that could be a valuable new asset in disease management.

Information for clinicians about the Eclipse trial is available here.

For patients, a web portal with more information is available here.

All trial data is available at:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05204927

We all get bored at work from time-to-time, but some jobs are more monotonous than others.

Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, mindfulness has been found to be an effective way to improve the boredom associated with remote working. So could boredom during jobs such as working on an assembly line or providing delivery services be improved with mindfulness practices too?

Prof Jochen Reb at Singapore Management University is part of an international team of researchers trying to understand how we can improve work-induced boredom.

Read their original research: http://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12370