Latest news with #SãoPauloStateUniversity
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Vitamin D supplementation shows promise in treating breast cancer patients: here's how
A recent Brazilian study reveals that vitamin D supplementation significantly boosts chemotherapy's effectiveness in breast cancer patients. Researchers found that 43% of participants taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily experienced disease remission compared to 24% in the placebo group. Soaking up some sunshine can not only brighten your day, but also have therapeutic effects. Vitamin D, also known as the 'sunshine vitamin', which the body naturally produces when exposed to the sun, and also found in certain foods are essential nutrient. This fat-soluble nutrient plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bones, supporting immune function, and promoting overall well-being. A new study has found that vitamin D supplementation nearly doubled the treatment response rate in breast cancer patients. Vitamin D supplementation and breast cancer treatment outcomes A recent study conducted by the researchers at the Botucatu School of Medicine at São Paulo State University (FMB-UNESP) in Brazil found that low-dose vitamin D supplementation can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment in women with breast cancer. The study is published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer. The study involved 80 women over the age of 45 who were about to start treatment. The researchers separated the participants into two groups: 40 participants were given 2,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D a day, while the other 40 received placebo tablets. Easy ways to increase your Vitamin D intake The researchers were surprised by the result after six months of cancer treatment and supplementation. They found that in 43% of participants who took vitamin D, the disease disappeared with chemotherapy, compared to 24% of the placebo group. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo All the participants had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which is used to facilitate surgery to remove the tumor. 'Even with a small sample of participants, it was possible to observe a significant difference in the response to chemotherapy. In addition, the dosage used in the research [2,000 IU per day] is far below the target dose for correcting vitamin D deficiency, which is usually 50,000 IU per week,' Eduardo Carvalho-Pessoa, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement. Vitamin D and immunity Vitamin D is a hormone that plays a crucial role in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, both essential for bone health. Recent studies have also shown vitamin D's role in boosting the immune system by helping to fight infections and diseases, including cancer. The recommended daily intake is 600 IU for those who are not deficient in the vitamin, and 800 IU a day for older people. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 IU of vitamin D per day for babies. Excessive vitamin D intake can be toxic and cause vomiting, weakness, bone pain, and kidney stones. 'With supplementation, levels increased throughout chemotherapy treatment, which reinforces a possible contribution to the patients' recovery. Vitamin D is an accessible and inexpensive option compared to other drugs used to improve the response to chemotherapy, some of which are not even included in the list of the Unified Health System [the Brazilian national public health network, known as the SUS, its acronym in Portuguese],' Carvalho-Pessoa added. The researchers are hoping to further investigate the auxiliary role of the substance in the response to cancer treatment. 'These are encouraging results that justify a new round of studies with a larger number of participants. This will allow a greater understanding of the role of vitamin D in increasing the response to chemotherapy treatment and, consequently, in the greater likelihood of breast cancer remission,' he said. NB: This information is based on internet research and is intended for general knowledge only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Benefits of Vitamin D fighting breast cancer — and more
For Thursday, June 12, WGN's Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch An added bonus from taking Vitamin D? It could help fight cancer Vitamin D increases the likelihood that breast cancer treatment will work. Researchers at São Paulo State University studied breast cancer patients older than 45. They discovered, those who took Vitamin D nearly doubled their treatment response rate. Vitamin D supplements increase the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment. Doctors say it's an easy and accessible way to boost breast cancer treatment. Have faith in better health. A new study reveals that trust in individuals and institutions enhances overall well-being. People who are trusting have higher levels of well-being and quality of life. And that can impact longevity. The American Psychological Association reports that the cycle continues, since feeling healthy also makes people more trusting. People who trust others are happier and satisfied across all ages than those who are skeptical and reluctant to trust. Doctors may be able to check your breath for measures of health just as easily as they check your blood pressure. The journal Cell Press reports that every person has a breathing fingerprint. Scientists say they can identify people based solely on their one-of-a-kind breathing pattern with 96.8% accuracy. The nasal respiratory score can also give doctors insights into physical and mental health. Researchers measured airflow from each nostril for 24 hours, first revealing the unique breaths. They followed study participants for years. They say their breathing offered a window into the brain and lung function, exercise and physical health, their sleep patterns, depression levels, and anxiety. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
News18
09-06-2025
- Science
- News18
20 City-Killer Asteroids Lurking Near Venus, Slight Shift And They Could One Day Slam Into Earth
Last Updated: Scientists have found 20 large asteroids near Venus with erratic orbits that could one day collide with Earth, posing a potential risk to cities. But no immediate danger detected The universe is brimming with mysteries, and among them are millions of asteroids hurtling through space. Imagine if one of these massive rocks were to collide with Earth, an entire city could be obliterated within minutes. This is not science fiction, but a conclusion drawn from recent astronomical research. Scientists have identified 20 large asteroids orbiting near Venus that have the potential to strike Earth in the future. These asteroids have been ominously nicknamed 'city killers'. There are concerns that some of these space rocks might one day collide with our planet. Researchers from São Paulo State University in Brazil have been studying these asteroids and discovered that they orbit close to Venus. Among them are 'Trojan' asteroids, which maintain stable positions either ahead of or behind the planet in its orbit. Additionally, there is an unusual 'quasi-moon' called Zoozve. A striking feature of these asteroids is their erratic orbits, that is, they do not follow a fixed path around any planet, making them difficult to track. Scientists believe these asteroids originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and measure over 140 metres in diameter. A collision with any one of them could cause devastation on a city-wide scale. Currently, these asteroids are far from Earth and do not present an immediate threat. However, Venus is just 40 million kilometres away from our planet. If the orbits of these asteroids were to shift slightly, Earth's gravity could pull them in, making it challenging to prevent a catastrophic impact. Many of these asteroids follow unpredictable, zigzagging trajectories and only become visible when they approach Earth. Moreover, many remain hidden because the Sun's brightness obscures them from observation. Valerio Carruba, the lead author of the study, stated, 'We should not underestimate the potential danger posed by these bodies, but it is also true that there is no immediate cause for alarm." Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Earth in danger? Giant ‘city-killer' asteroids hiding near Venus could strike without warning; scientists warn
Astronomers have found a cluster of giant asteroids co-orbiting the Sun with Venus—space rocks that might become a long-term hazard for Earth. These are not ordinary asteroids. Sometimes referred to as city killers because of their size, many are bigger than 140 meters; they are big enough to wipe out a whole urban centre upon impact. More concerning is that they can be hidden from our telescopes by the Sun's intense glare. These so-called co-orbital asteroids don't move in orbit around Venus but follow similar orbits around the Sun. Out of the 20 discovered to date, there are "Trojan" asteroids, which stay either in front of or behind Venus in its orbit, and a quasi-moon called Zoozve. They are said to have originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and were later drawn into Venus's vicinity by gravitational forces. Venus co-orbital asteroids remain hidden and potentially hazardous The major issue with these asteroids is not only their size, but also how hard they are to observe. Their proximity to the Sun from our point on Earth means that it is almost impossible for telescopes on the ground to spot them. The light of the Sun drowns out their thin reflection, and astronomers are left with very brief glimpses of visibility; if any.". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tired of High Power Bills? Plug in This Device elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Additionally, observational biases favor observing asteroids with high eccentricity (those that move widely around the Sun), as they sometimes come close to Earth where they are more easily seen. Conversely, low-eccentricity, co-orbital asteroids stand a better chance of being obscured in the Sun's glare as they go about their orbits. Currently, the discovered Venus co-orbitals do not threaten anything directly. However, that does not imply they are secure. The problem lies in their unstable orbits. Because these objects have no defined path, planetary gravitational jolts particularly from Earth may ultimately send them off course. Researchers at São Paulo State University ran simulations on what happened with these asteroids over 36,000 years. The simulations revealed that although most of the objects had relatively consistent paths, some had behavior that indicated they might wander towards Earth in the long term. Since Venus is only 40 million kilometers (25 million miles) from Earth, any change in course, even a small one, could eventually cause one of these giant space rocks to come close enough to raise alarms. Potential danger posed by hidden Venus co-orbital asteroids While the likelihood of a collision with Earth is still tiny, scientists advise that we shouldn't rule out the possibility altogether. Dr. Valerio Carruba, the author of the research, puts it this way, "I believe that we should not underestimate their potential danger, but I would not lose sleep over this issue." The largest problem is in the unknown; how many co-orbital asteroids remain undiscovered? Because many are likely to be blinded by sunlight and have orbits that conceal them, the 20 we are aware of might be only a small percentage of what actually exists. Why monitoring these asteroids is important As global efforts to enhance planetary defense increase, the finding of Venus co-orbitals emphasizes the necessity of widening our observation capacity particularly through space-based telescopes that are not confined by the Earth location or the Sun's effects. Since these objects don't have regular orbits and can change under the influence of gravity, they are some of the more unpredictable hazards in our solar system. The earlier we detect and follow them, the better equipped we'll be to react if one does stray into Earth's orbit. Why unseen Venus co-orbital asteroids demand careful attention Even though these asteroids are not an immediate threat, they are a blind spot in the study of near-Earth objects . Their size, proximity, and unpredictability qualify them for consideration not alarm, but attentiveness. The more our observation technologies and instruments become advanced, the more research such as this reminds us that what we cannot see can hurt us too and preparing for what we cannot see is an essential aspect of planetary defense. Also Read | Elon Musk's feud with Trump puts $22B SpaceX contracts at risk; what it means for America's space future
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Asteroids with ‘unstable orbits' hide around Venus—do they threaten Earth?
Venus has groupies—a family of asteroids that share its orbit, either trailing it or leading it as the planet revolves around the sun. Researchers have known that such stealthy space rocks might exist for years, but now, a pair of papers (one published in a journal, and one a pre-print undergoing peer-review) conclude that some might develop unstable orbits and, over a very long period of time, arch toward Earth. But despite what several histrionic headlines have claimed, Earth is not at risk of one of these asteroids suddenly sneaking up on us and vaporizing a city. While some of these asteroids could be large enough to cause this sort of damage, there is no evidence whatsoever suggesting any of these Venus-pursuing asteroids are currently heading our way. 'I wouldn't say that these objects are not dangerous,' says Valerio Carruba, an asteroid dynamicist at the São Paulo State University in Brazil and a co-author of both studies. 'But I don't think there is any reason to panic.' These studies simply highlight that asteroids near Venus have the potential to fly our way on sometime in the next few thousand years or so. 'The likelihood of one colliding with Earth any time soon is extremely low,' says Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. who was not involved with the new research. 'There isn't too much to be worried about here.' The real problem, though, is that asteroids like this are remarkably difficult to find, and you can't protect yourself against a danger you cannot see. Fortunately, in the next few years, two of the most advanced observatories ever built are coming online. And together, they will find more asteroids—including those hiding near Venus—than the sum total already identified by the world's telescopes. While the Japanese and European space agencies mostly request time on busy telescopes to search for these space rocks, NASA leads the pack: It funds a network of observatories solely dedicated to finding sketchy-looking asteroids. Planetary defenders are chiefly concerned about near-Earth asteroids. As the name suggests, these have orbits that hew close to Earth's own. Many of these asteroids were removed from the largely stable belt between Mars and Jupiter, either through the chaotic gravitational pull of the planets (often Jupiter, as it's the most massive) or through asteroid-on-asteroid collisions. If one gets within 4.6 million miles of Earth's orbit, there's a chance that, over time, both orbits cross and a collision becomes possible. And if that asteroid is 460 feet long, it's big enough to plunge through the atmosphere and (with a direct hit) destroy a city. Combined, these characteristics describe 'potentially hazardous asteroids'—and finding them is of paramount importance. Asteroids are first found because of the sunlight they reflect. That works well for most, but there are known to be asteroids hiding interior to Earth's orbit, toward the direction of the sun. And that's a problem. Astronomers seeking out these asteroids cannot just point their telescopes directly at the sun: It would be like trying to see a lit match in front of a nuclear explosion. Instead, they look in the vicinity of the sun in the few minutes just after sunset, or just before sunrise. Not only are these surveys severely time-limited, but by aiming close to the horizon, they are peering through more of the Earth's atmosphere, which distorts what they are looking at. 'All of these factors make it hard to search for and discover asteroids near Venus' orbit,' says Sheppard. (Here's how researchers track asteroids that might hit Earth.) Asteroids have occasionally been spotted in this sun-bleached corner of space. And twenty of them have been found scooting along the same orbital highway Venus uses to orbit the sun. These are known as co-orbital asteroids; similar rocks can be found either following or trailing other planets, most notably Jupiter. Co-orbiting asteroids tend to cluster around several gravitationally stable sections, known as Lagrange points, along the planet's orbital path. But over a timescale of about 12,000 years or so, it's thought that the Venus co-orbital asteroids can dramatically alter their orbits. They remain on the same orbital path as Venus, but instead of maintaining a circular orbit, they get creative: Some migrate to a different Lagrange point, while others zip about in a horseshoe pattern around several Lagrange points. Some of these new, exotic orbits become quite stretched-out and elliptical—and, in some cases, these orbits can eventually bring these asteroids closer to Earth. When they do, 'there is a higher chance of a collision,' says Carruba. In their first study, published in the journal Icarus earlier this year, Carruba and his team looked at the 20 known co-orbital asteroids of Venus. Their simulations forecast how their orbits would evolve over time and show that three of the space rocks—each between 1,000 and 1,300 feet or so—could approach within 46,500 miles of Earth's orbit. (For reference, the moon is an average of 240,000 miles from our planet.) That proximity may make them potentially hazardous asteroids. But there's no need to worry—it can take as long as 12,000 years for an asteroid to end up on an elliptical, near-Earth orbit. Perhaps they will be a problem for our very, very distant descendants. The team's latest study, uploaded to the pre-print server arXiv last month, delves into how easy it might be for any of Venus' co-orbital asteroids—including those astronomers have yet to find—to end up on these precarious orbits. To find out, they created virtual asteroids and simulated their many potential orbital voyages 36,000 years into the future. Many things could perturb the orbits of asteroids over that many years, so any truly accurate predictions are impossible. But the simulations came to some broad conclusions. The first is that a Venus co-orbital asteroid is more likely to approach Earth if it switches from a circular to a considerably elongated orbit—it's zooming over a larger patch of the inner solar system, including our own planet's neighborhood. The second, more surprising thing, is that some asteroids still manage to reach near-Earth space even they start out with only a mildly stretched-out orbit. It seems that their chaotic journeys through space, filled with gravitational disturbances, can still end up throwing them our way. But to be clear, these potentially worrisome orbits develop over the course of many millennia. 'This is not something to be alarmed about, as these asteroids are still relatively dynamically stable on human timescales,' says Sheppard. (These five asteroids pose the highest risk to Earth.) For Marco Fenucci, a near-Earth object dynamicist at the European Space Agency, the paper raises awareness about these relatively mysterious asteroids in Venus' orbit. And that is a good point to make, he adds: We don't know much about these asteroids, including their population size, their dimensions, and their orbits, because we struggle to find them with today's telescopes. Two upcoming facilities are about to make this task considerably easier. The first, the U.S.-owned Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is set to officially come online in the next few weeks. With a huge field-of-view, it can see huge swathes of the night sky at once, and its giant nest of mirrors can gather so much starlight than even the smallest, faintest objects can be seen. In just three to six months, the observatory could find as many as a million new asteroids, effectively doubling the current total. Meg Schwamb, a planetary scientist at Queen's University Belfast who was not involved with the new research, explains that Rubin will also conduct its own twilight surveys, the very sort used today to search for near-Venus asteroids. If these surveys are conducted over the next decade, 'Rubin could find as many as 40 to 50 percent of all objects larger than about [1,150 feet] in the interior-to-Venus-orbit population,' says Mario Jurić, an astronomer at the University of Washington and who was not involved with the new research. But, as with all ground-based optical telescopes, Rubin will still have the sun's glare, and Earth's atmosphere, to contend with. As long as the federal government decides to continue to fund the mission—something that is not guaranteed—NASA will also launch a dedicated asteroid-hunting space observatory, the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor, in the next few years. Unobstructed by Earth's atmosphere, it will seek out space rocks by viewing them through a highly-sensitive infrared scope, meaning it can see those hidden by the luminous sun. Even those asteroids sneaking around near Venus won't be able to hide from NEO Surveyor. And, finally, says Carruba, 'we can see if the impact threat is real, or not.'
