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  • 菲律賓國旗

  Superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050, study estimates

  The new study published in The Lancet reveals alarming projections about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), predicting that the number of global deaths due to resistant infections could rise nearly 70% by 2050. From 2025 to 2050, AMR could be responsible for over 39 million deaths, driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs. The research highlights significant regional disparities, with South Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected.Courtesy NIAIDLead author Dr. Chris Murray emphasized the urgent need for new antibiotics and better antibiotic stewardship to address this growing threat. The study found that while AMR deaths among children under 5 have decreased due to improved sanitation, vaccination, and treatment programs, deaths among adults over 70 have increased dramatically.The study also explored potential future scenarios: if healthcare access improves and new antibiotics are developed, millions of deaths could be prevented. However, without intervention, global deaths attributable to AMR could reach 1.9 million annually by 2050. The research underscores the critical need for global investment in combating AMR through better healthcare, more effective drugs, and targeted action to reduce the burden of superbugs.

  2024-09-22 09:00
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  • 菲律賓國旗

  Diving lizard's built-in 「scuba tank」 allows it to breathe underwater, scientists say

  In a Costa Rican rainforest, a semiaquatic lizard called a diving anole uses an unusual method to prolong its time underwater. The lizard traps an air bubble on its head, which swells and deflates, allowing it to breathe stored oxygen while submerged, according to Dr. Lindsey Swierk, an assistant research professor at Binghamton University.Swierk's recent study, published in Biology Letters, found that this bubble-breathing technique helps anoles hide from predators like birds and snakes. During her experiments with the species Anolis aquaticus, Swierk observed that bubble-breathing anoles could remain underwater for an average of 3 ½ minutes — 32% longer than those that were prevented from forming bubbles.A throat-pumping action called gular pumping may play a part in circulating stored oxygen, affecting how long anoles can stay underwater. Lindsey SwierkWhile air-breathing insects like water beetles and diving bell spiders use a similar tactic, anoles are the only vertebrates known to use bubbles for respiration. Swierk collaborated with other researchers to better understand how the bubble-breathing mechanism works. They discovered that anoles trapped oxygen-filled bubbles on their heads, possibly stored in their lungs or air pockets on their skin, which helped prolong their dives.However, this strategy comes with drawbacks. Mountain streams are cold, and anoles, being ectotherms, rely on their environment to regulate body temperature. Prolonged exposure to cold water could impair the lizards’ ability to run, defend territory, or digest food. Additionally, if a predator spots a submerged anole, it might simply wait for the lizard to resurface.Swierk continues to explore how anoles’ head shapes and skin structures might affect bubble formation and whether the lizards absorb oxygen from the water while submerged.

  2024-09-21 09:00
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  • 菲律賓國旗

  Nearly two-thirds of supermarket baby foods are unhealthy, study finds

  The U.S. baby food market is flooded with products that fail to meet nutritional standards, often containing excessive sugar, salt, and misleading claims, according to a new study published in the journal *Nutrients*. The study examined 651 baby and toddler foods from 10 major U.S. supermarkets and found that 60% did not comply with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) nutritional guidelines for infants and toddlers. Many products had high sugar content, hidden sweeteners, and excessive salt levels, contributing to poor dietary habits early in life.One of the major culprits identified was baby food pouches, which have seen a 900% sales increase in the U.S. over the past 13 years. These pouches are often high in sugar and are not ideal for teaching babies to chew and experience different textures, according to pediatric experts. Misleading advertising is also prevalent, with 99.4% of products making unregulated health claims, such as “organic” or “no artificial colors,” which can mislead parents into thinking the food is healthier than it actually is.Some baby foods have misleading labeling.The study highlights the urgent need for better regulation and transparency in the baby food market to protect infant health and guide parents in making informed choices.

  2024-09-22 09:00