Latest news with #UniversityofBasel
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Swiss researchers decode ancient 'influenza virus' genome from preserved pandemic victim
TIL Creatives Swiss scientists decode 1918 Spanish flu virus using preserved tissue sample Scientists have decoded the genome of the deadly 1918 influenza virus from preserved tissue of a Swiss patient, offering new insights into how the virus adapted to humans and triggered one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history. The pandemic killed an estimated 20 to 100 million people globally. Researchers say their work could help prepare for future pandemics by improving models of how viruses evolve and spread in human populations. The breakthrough was led by researchers from the University of Zurich and the University of Basel, using a 107-year-old preserved lung specimen from an 18-year-old male patient in Zurich who died in July 1918, during the first wave of the Spanish flu in Switzerland. "This is the first time we've had access to an influenza genome from the 1918–1920 pandemic in Switzerland," said lead researcher Verena Schünemann, a paleogeneticist at the University of Basel. 'It opens up new insights into the dynamics of how the virus adapted in Europe at the start of the pandemic.'By comparing the Swiss strain to genomes previously reconstructed in Germany and North America, the team found that the virus already carried three key adaptations to human hosts at the very start of the outbreak. Two mutations helped it resist a human immune system component that normally blocks avian-like flu viruses, while a third mutation enhanced the virus's ability to bind to human cell receptors, making it more infectious. These findings suggest that the 1918 virus had adapted to humans early, allowing it to spread rapidly across populations. One of the biggest challenges was recovering the virus's fragile RNA, which degrades far more quickly than DNA. To overcome this, the team developed a new method for extracting ancient RNA from formalin-fixed tissue, a technique that could now be used to study other historical viral outbreaks. 'Ancient RNA is only preserved over long periods under very specific conditions,' said Christian Urban, first author of the study. 'That's why we developed a new method to improve our ability to recover these fragments.'The study also highlights the untapped potential of medical archives. 'Medical collections are an invaluable archive for reconstructing ancient RNA virus genomes,' said Frank Rühli, co-author and head of UZH's Institute of Evolutionary Medicine.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Swiss researchers decode ancient 'influenza virus' genome from preserved pandemic victim
Scientists have decoded the genome of the deadly 1918 influenza virus from preserved tissue of a Swiss patient, offering new insights into how the virus adapted to humans and triggered one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history. The pandemic killed an estimated 20 to 100 million people globally. Researchers say their work could help prepare for future pandemics by improving models of how viruses evolve and spread in human populations. The breakthrough was led by researchers from the University of Zurich and the University of Basel, using a 107-year-old preserved lung specimen from an 18-year-old male patient in Zurich who died in July 1918, during the first wave of the Spanish flu in Switzerland. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Product Management Finance Management Data Science Public Policy CXO Leadership others healthcare Degree PGDM Data Analytics Design Thinking Technology MBA Cybersecurity MCA Others Artificial Intelligence Data Science Operations Management Project Management Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details "This is the first time we've had access to an influenza genome from the 1918–1920 pandemic in Switzerland," said lead researcher Verena Schünemann, a paleogeneticist at the University of Basel. 'It opens up new insights into the dynamics of how the virus adapted in Europe at the start of the pandemic.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo By comparing the Swiss strain to genomes previously reconstructed in Germany and North America, the team found that the virus already carried three key adaptations to human hosts at the very start of the outbreak. Two mutations helped it resist a human immune system component that normally blocks avian-like flu viruses, while a third mutation enhanced the virus's ability to bind to human cell receptors, making it more infectious. These findings suggest that the 1918 virus had adapted to humans early, allowing it to spread rapidly across populations. One of the biggest challenges was recovering the virus's fragile RNA, which degrades far more quickly than DNA. To overcome this, the team developed a new method for extracting ancient RNA from formalin-fixed tissue, a technique that could now be used to study other historical viral outbreaks . Live Events 'Ancient RNA is only preserved over long periods under very specific conditions,' said Christian Urban, first author of the study. 'That's why we developed a new method to improve our ability to recover these fragments.' The study also highlights the untapped potential of medical archives. 'Medical collections are an invaluable archive for reconstructing ancient RNA virus genomes,' said Frank Rühli, co-author and head of UZH's Institute of Evolutionary Medicine.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
When is the next full moon and does it really affect your health?
The next full moon – known as the Strawberry Moon – will appear on 10 June, peaking the following morning. It's not named for its colour, but because it marks the start of wild strawberry season. Some people say the full moon messes with their sleep, mood or energy. And it's not just superstition – scientists are now looking into whether lunar phases can influence things like sleep, hormones, heart health and mental wellbeing. So, is there anything in it? Here's what we know – and how to feel your best when the moon rolls around. Despite the name, the Strawberry Moon doesn't actually turn pink. The nickname comes from Native American and European traditions that tied full moons to seasonal events – in this case, the strawberry harvest. You might also hear it called the Rose Moon, Honey Moon or Mead Moon, depending on where in the world you are. This year's Strawberry Moon will be particularly striking. It's the lowest-hanging full moon of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere, which means it will look bigger and more golden as it rises at dusk. No telescope needed – just head outside and look up. The idea that the moon impacts our health has been around for centuries. While not all of it is backed by stats (and results are often mixed), scientists are starting to dig deeper into potential connections. Here's what some of the research says: A 2013 study from the University of Basel found people took longer to fall asleep, got 30% less deep sleep, and slept about 20 minutes less during a full moon, even in controlled rooms without light or clocks. More recently, researchers at the University of Washington found a similar pattern: people went to bed later and slept less in the days leading up to a full moon, no matter where they lived or whether they had electric lighting. It means since moonlight and bedtime habits were ruled out, something else might be at play, in this case, maybe our body's own rhythm responding to the lunar cycle. The average menstrual cycle lasts around 28 to 30 days – similar to the lunar cycle – so it's no surprise the two have long been linked. In fact, the word 'menstruation' shares roots with the Greek word for moon (mene) and the Latin for month (mensis). A small 1980 study did find that some women were more likely to start their periods around the new moon. But a large-scale analysis from 2017 by period-tracking app Clue, covering more than 7.5 million cycles, found no consistent link between period start dates and moon phases. Studies on the moon's impact on heart health have been mixed. A 2021 Japanese study found no link between moon phases and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. However, a small 2013 study reported that blood pressure readings were slightly lower during full and new moons – suggesting a subtle effect on circulation. The idea that the moon affects our mood goes way back. The word 'luna' (Latin for moon) was even linked to emotional shifts in ancient times. Modern research, though, doesn't show a clear link. A 2017 study in psychiatry reported no significant rise in mental health issues during different moon phases. That said, research suggests people with conditions like bipolar disorder may be more sensitive to sleep disruptions, which, as we've seen, can happen around the full moon. So if you have mood changes, it's less likely due to the moon and could be more about the knock-on effects of poorer rest. Even if you're not usually moon-sensitive, there's no harm in building a few easy habits around the full moon, especially if it helps you feel more balanced and better rested. Wind down early. Try switching off a bit sooner in the evenings before the full moon. Even 15 minutes can help signal to your brain it's time to relax. Block out the glow. Blackout curtains or an eye mask can support melatonin production, the hormone that helps you sleep. Move your body. A little gentle exercise during the day (like walking or yoga) can help regulate sleep and release stress. Skip the caffeine – or cut back after 2pm. It can sneakily mess with your sleep, even if you feel fine. Track patterns: If you notices changes, jot down how you feel during different moon phases. You might be more in sync than you realise. Read more: Strawberry moon to rise over Britain next week, but it will be in an odd place (Yahoo News UK, 3-min read) What It Means to Get Your Period on a Full Moon (21 Ninety, 3-min read) What is 'moon breathing'? The ancient technique that promises to help you fall asleep (New York Post, 3-min read)
Qatar Tribune
07-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar National Library explores women's voices in travel literature
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar National Library organised a symposium exploring the often-overlooked contributions of women to the genre of travel literature. Bringing together leading researchers and academics, the event examined how female travellers from the 19th and early 20th centuries used travel—and the literature it inspired—as a means of personal empowerment, self-discovery and the reimagining of prevailing social norms. Titled 'Women's Travel Literature: Journeys Through Female Eyes—Between the Real and the Imagined', the symposium highlighted the distinctive voices of female travellers who documented their encounters with the East during an era when women were often excluded from the traditional literary canon. The event featured presentations by a distinguished group of international scholars, including Dr. Falestin Naili (University of Basel, Switzerland), Dr. Leila Jabri (Institute of Heritage, Tunisia), Dr. Soundouss El-Ketani (Royal Military College of Canada), and Dr. Nadia Riahi (University of Tunis). Each offered valuable insights into the lives and legacies of women like Hilma Granqvist, Princess Therese of Bavaria, Cristina Belgiojoso, and Isabelle Eberhardt—figures who contributed to the understanding of cultural 'otherness' through their travel writings, artistic works and ethnographic observations. Dr. Moez Dridi, senior archives specialist at Qatar National Library, opened the symposium with a general introduction that set the stage for exploring how travel allowed women to question identity, engage with themes of social justice and construct new relationships between gender, space and cultural boundaries. 'The writings of these women offer an overlooked but profoundly enriching perspective on both travel and the shaping of Orientalism,' said Dr. Dridi. 'They invite us to revisit history through a female lens, one that challenges dominant narratives and uncovers new dimensions of intercultural understanding,' he added. The symposium invited attendees to reflect on whether female Orientalism exists—developed in the same historical period as its male counterpart—through the lived experiences and intellectual contributions of women travellers, archaeologists and ethnologists who engaged with distant lands in transformative ways. The event was conducted in both Arabic and English and welcomed researchers, academics and members of the public with an interest in literature, gender studies, history and cross-cultural exploration. To learn more about upcoming events at Qatar National Library, please visit the Library's website at
Telegraph
26-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Placebo pills can improve women's PMS symptoms
Placebo pills can improve women's PMS symptoms, a study has found. The trial involving 150 women found that placebo pills were more effective than standard treatments for the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMS is the umbrella term given to the symptoms women can experience in the weeks before their period, which includes mood swings, depression, tiredness and bloating. Researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland split the group of women ages between 18 and 45 with PMS symptoms into three groups. One group was given standard treatment, which can include antidepressants and hormone-based pills such as oral contraceptives. The second group was given a placebo pill without being told, while a third was given the placebo and told it was a placebo – known as an open-label placebo – along with an explanation as to why it may help. Previous studies have shown the potential for open-label placebos – which are typically sugar pills and have no active ingredients – to help with conditions such as IBS, chronic lower back pain, ADHD, depression and menopausal hot flushes. The third group, who were given the open-label placebo and told it had no active medication, had the best response on every metric, the researchers said. Standard treatments were least effective The pills were taken twice a day for six weeks and the women in this group saw an average 79.3 per cent reduction in their symptom intensity and 82.5 per cent fall in interference in their lives. They also had the highest decrease (70.7 per cent) of psychological symptom intensity between menstrual cycles. Meanwhile, women receiving just the placebo without the explanation reported a 50.4 per cent reduction in symptoms, a 50.3 per cent drop in interference in their lives and a 42.6 per cent fall in mental health symptoms. Those who received standard treatments reported the smallest improvements of the three groups. Symptoms within this group were reduced by 33 per cent, interference in daily lives was 45.7 per cent lower, and psychological symptoms decreased by just 29.1 per cent. While the 'placebo effect' is a well-known concept that describes the benefits a patient feels from a treatment that cannot be attributed to the placebo itself, it is even less clear why telling someone they are taking a placebo may help. The researchers suggest the expectation created by an explanation could provide a boost, giving women a 'sense of autonomy and empowerment'. The authors of the study, which is published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal, acknowledged that there were limitations in the design of the trial. The trial had been advertised as a study for a side-effect free intervention for PMS, which may have attracted participants who were more open to unconventional treatments or those who were dissatisfied with existing treatments. Results were also reliant on people's accurate reporting of their own symptoms. The researchers concluded that supplying open-label placebos 'with a treatment rationale to women with PMS can decrease symptom intensity and interference considerably in the absence of substantial side-effects and with full transparency'. They said the treatments 'could serve as an acceptable, efficacious and safe intervention for PMS'.
