news 2023

  Searching for signs of alien life in our own solar system    Scientists have long been captivated by the possibility of discovering evidence for extraterrestrial life in the universe. While many of the world's largest telescopes are pointed toward distant galaxies and star systems, some think there's a strong possibility that life could be detected much closer to home.

An intervention developed at the CHU de Québec - Université Laval helps children cope with the stress preceding surgery People undergoing surgery under general anaesthetic often experience considerable stress in the minutes leading up to the operation. This situation is even more problematic in young children, because they are less well equipped to understand what is happening, and because they are separated from their parents when they enter the operating room.

McGill study links bacterial infection with moderate but significant increase in the risk of Alzheimer's disease in older adults A common stomach bacteria found in two thirds of the world population may be linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association , investigated whether a clinically apparent Helicobacter pylori (H.

New findings underscore the urgency of addressing adverse childhood experiences, taking steps to mitigate their long-term impact on people's health  Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or neglect, either alone or combined with other types of childhood trauma, increases the risk of chronic pain and related disability in adulthood, according to new research.

A new study from Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute published in the journal Microbiome has found changes in the microbiome in multiple locations in the body are linked to the formation of kidney stones. The human microbiome comprises trillions of microorganisms, including healthy bacteria.

An intervention developed at Laval University makes it possible to offer the right type of delivery, to the right patient, at the right time. Women who have already had a caesarean section can now benefit from an intervention that makes it easier to decide whether to have a vaginal birth or a caesarean section in a subsequent pregnancy.

New research explores pain management strategies including the use of prescription medications and alcohol From exercise and over-the-counter medications to alcohol use and prescription drugs, North Americans report using a number of different strategies to manage and prevent day-to-day pain. Some of these strategies are useful to mitigate pain, and others, like alcohol, are actually counterproductive and can make pain worse.

There is an urgent need for mental health supports and interventions for youth in British Columbia, according to the results of a new report led by Simon Fraser University. The recently released report , which surveyed nearly 15,000 youth in the province, found half of 15- to 17-year-olds indicated that their mental health was fair or poor and nearly 40 per cent screened positive for depression (38 per cent) and generalized anxiety (39 per cent).

New study on vapes challenges belief that adolescents experience less severe withdrawal symptoms from nicotine than adults  Vapes or e-cigarettes were introduced as a potentially safer alternative to traditional smoking to curb tobacco use. However, the popularity of vapes has risen among an age group it wasn't intended for: adolescents.

Now that ChatGPT can "see" and "hear," could it be useful for people with mobility, sensory or cognitive disabilities? Whether it's a question of analyzing medical images, detecting drug interactions, or creating brain-computer interfaces, it seems like the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry are endless.

Groundbreaking work by IRCM scientists using an RNA-based therapeutic approach gives hope for a future cure for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health problem affecting approximately 30 percent of people in Western countries and which has been in sharp increase over the last three decades.

University of Waterloo researchers are pioneering a method to detect breast cancer in women early enough for them to receive life-saving treatment. The innovative technology will be cheaper and safer than common cancer diagnostic tools. The innovative technology aims to be more accurate as well as cheaper to provide than today's most common diagnostic tools such as X-ray mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Topics Western researchers have unveiled crucial insights into the sleep health of middle-aged and older adults in Canada, identifying social determinants that contribute to disparities in sleep satisfaction, efficiency, and duration. The study revealed that men report sleeping better than women, and contrary to previously held beliefs, sleep actually improves with age.

McGill researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a 'lab on a chip' that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible. As part of a recent study, the results of which were published in the journal  Advanced Materials, the McGill team developed capillaric chips that act as miniature laboratories.

AI breakthrough may lead to highly personalized medicine in the treatment of serious diseases Machine learning is now helping researchers analyze the makeup of unfamiliar cells, which could lead to more personalized medicine in the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. Researchers at the University of Waterloo developed GraphNovo, a new program that provides a more accurate understanding of the peptide sequences in cells.

Discovery may lead to medical advances in bio-implants, wearable sensors, and more How do you create strong, yet quick-release connections between living and non-living tissues? This is a question that continues to puzzle bioengineers who aim to create materials that bond together for advanced biomedical applications.

Following a program of physical exercise combined with cognitive training can greatly help older people with mild cognitive impairment, a national study finds. Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly can be slowed or even reversed if they follow a combined program of physical exercise and cognitive training, according to the results of a clinical study of 175 seniors diagnosed with the disorder.

University of Waterloo engineers use AI to advance cancer treatment monitoring  Engineers from the University of Waterloo are harnessing artificial intelligence to help doctors better see and control a non-invasive cancer treatment and, in the process, save lives. Their imaging system will allow for the safer and more effective use of high-intensity, focused ultrasound to destroy a wide range of cancerous, often deadly, tumours.

Major work led by Dr. André Veillette's team in collaboration with a group of researchers managed to identify a previously unknown way which prevents phagocytosis. Major work led by Dr. André Veillette's team at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), in collaboration with a group of researchers, and just published in Nature Immunology , managed to identify a previously unknown way which prevents phagocytosis, which is a process that promotes the immune system's response to cancer.

The virus that causes cold sores can survive and remain infectious for several hours on food or food-related surfaces. It is generally accepted that the virus responsible for cold sores is transmitted via saliva or direct contact with the lesions it causes. However, there are other potential transmission routes, according to a study published by a team from Université Laval in the Journal of Applied Microbiology .