Andrea May Cooper

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This study tested how high-melting lipids with unequal-length chains affect membrane organization in lipid mixtures used to model cell membranes. All mixtures formed both large visible domains and smaller nanoscale patches, but one lipid (SMPC) showed unusually strong nanoscale phase separation compared to what its melting point would predict. The finding highlights that the position of a fatty acid chain on a lipid molecule meaningfully alters how that lipid behaves in a mixture.

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Researchers combined 15 studies covering over 10,000 teenagers to determine whether using social media more is linked to greater or lesser ability to understand and share others' feelings. They found a small but real positive association between social media use and total empathy, slightly favoring the idea that social media can support connection rather than replace it. The strength of the association varied by age and how social media use was measured, suggesting the relationship is complex and depends on how and why teens use these platforms.

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This study examined how high-melting lipids with mismatched chain lengths affect the way lipid membranes organize into distinct regions at different scales. All tested mixtures formed visible ordered and disordered patches, but subtle differences in chain position shifted the temperatures at which these patches form and affected nano-scale organization. The results show that where a lipid chain attaches on the molecule's backbone has a surprisingly strong effect on membrane phase behavior.

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Researchers built artificial cell membranes with different lipid compositions in each layer to study how the two layers influence each other's physical organization. They found that the type of low-melting lipid used dramatically affects how much of one layer needs to change before the membrane stops separating into distinct regions, and in one case observed a theoretically predicted but rarely seen arrangement where opposite layers separate independently. The work introduces a numerical measure of how strongly the two membrane layers are coupled, advancing understanding of how real cell membranes organize themselves.

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A pediatric rheumatology clinic found that 87.5% of lab monitoring visits for children on arthritis medications ordered a full metabolic panel when only a simple creatinine test was needed, costing more per visit. Through physician education and updates to electronic ordering systems, the clinic increased creatinine-only ordering from 12.5% to 99% of eligible visits. The change cut unnecessary testing costs without compromising patient safety.

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This study identified two DNA regions that control when and where the gene Lhx2 turns on during limb development in vertebrates. These regulatory regions respond to two key growth signals — Fgf and Wnt — that coordinate limb growth from the tip, and disrupting their binding sites eliminated gene activation. The results reveal a mechanism by which major limb-patterning signals converge to keep Lhx2 active in the right cells at the right time.

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This review argues that venoms — toxins delivered through wounds — are far more widespread in nature than traditionally recognized, extending well beyond animals to include plants, fungi, single-celled organisms, bacteria, and even viruses. Examples range from plants that inject toxins through spine-like structures to bacteria with molecular injection systems that puncture target cells. Expanding the definition of venom to these organisms reshapes understanding of how toxin delivery evolved across life.

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Researchers analyzed three large U.S. datasets spanning early to late adolescence and found that Black girls consistently had the highest rates of both suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts compared to Black boys, White girls, and White boys. The pattern held across all three datasets despite differences in age ranges and how data were collected. The findings call for urgent clinical attention to Black girls, a group historically underserved in mental health care.

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Researchers used electrical recording technology to capture the biting behaviors of Culicoides sonorensis midges — tiny insects that spread viruses to livestock — as they fed on human hands. They identified five distinct families of electrical waveforms corresponding to skin penetration, site preparation, blood ingestion, an unknown resting phase, and withdrawal, and confirmed the correspondence using video and interruption experiments. This waveform library provides a new tool for studying how these midges transmit pathogens and for developing strategies to control them.

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This protocol describes how to synchronize electrical feeding recordings from parasitic insects with video footage so researchers can link specific electrical signals to observed insect behaviors. The procedure uses behavioral coding software to align the two data streams for analysis. It provides a standardized method that can help researchers decode what insects are doing inside a host's skin during feeding.

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This commentary describes new research showing that tuberculosis bacteria trigger an early immune response dominated by a signaling molecule called type I interferon, which causes neutrophils to accumulate and block the normal communication between the immune cells that fight the infection. When this interferon response is not controlled very early, the disease progresses rapidly. The findings point to the first hours of infection as a critical window that determines disease outcome.

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This study followed 256 children from ages 2 to 4.5 years and found that how much parents talked about emotions and asked questions during picture-book conversations predicted how well children understood emotions at later time points. Children who talked more about emotions during those conversations also developed stronger emotion understanding. The findings suggest that the specific way parents engage children in discussing feelings — not just exposure to emotion talk — shapes how children learn to recognize and name emotions.

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Researchers used electrical recording technology to characterize how Culex tarsalis mosquitoes probe and feed on human skin, mapping each phase of the process — from surface salivation and skin penetration to blood vessel searching, ingestion, and withdrawal — onto distinct electrical signal patterns. They identified several waveform types not previously seen in another mosquito species studied with this method. The resulting waveform library provides a foundation for studying how pathogens, insecticides, and other factors affect mosquito feeding.

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Brain imaging of 9-year-olds showed that the same brain regions involved in empathy in adults activated when children either won or lost tokens for peers and watched their peers' resulting emotional reactions. Activity in these regions did not differ based on whether children were playing for themselves or for a peer, meaning feelings like pride or guilt from playing for oneself did not intensify empathic responses. Children appear to process their own and others' emotions using the same neural machinery from middle childhood onward.

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A quality improvement project at a pediatric rheumatology clinic nearly tripled pneumococcal vaccination rates in children with immune-suppressing conditions, reaching over 86% fully vaccinated — up from around 10-63% depending on the patient group. The improvements came from creating a vaccination checklist, generating lists of eligible patients, educating staff, and building reminders into pre-visit planning. Sustaining these rates protects a high-risk population from a potentially life-threatening infection.

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This multicenter study of 110 children with a syndrome that affects both the kidneys and eyes (TINU) found that most patients developed severe, bilateral eye inflammation requiring multiple medications, with nearly half needing biologic drugs to control it. While kidney disease resolved in 90% of patients, eye inflammation persisted or recurred in about a quarter. The findings support checking urine and blood markers for kidney involvement in any child who presents with the type of eye inflammation seen in this syndrome.

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This study tested whether wireless in-ear communication devices improve how well surgical teams understand each other during joint replacement procedures compared to simply speaking loudly. Participants using the in-ear devices correctly identified spoken phrases nearly twice as often and rated communication as significantly more clear and effective. In-ear communication appears to be a practical and safe way to reduce miscommunication in noisy operating rooms.

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Tuberculosis infection in mice disrupted liver metabolism, suppressing the genes that control blood sugar production and reducing the liver's ability to respond to insulin. The same pattern appeared in humans, where a metabolic signature of insulin resistance correlated with active TB and reversed with successful treatment. The findings indicate that TB-driven interferon signaling in the liver impairs glucose metabolism, suggesting TB itself can cause metabolic disease.

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Researchers tested whether two standardized treatment plans for eye inflammation (uveitis) linked to juvenile arthritis could be practically used in clinics and compared in research studies. The plans worked well in practice and controlled uveitis in most patients within six months, but nearly all patients who needed the stronger biologic treatment chose the same drug at the same dose. That lack of variation makes it difficult to compare the two treatment options in future research.

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This paper describes a method for using electrical recording equipment to track mosquito feeding behavior in detail as the insects probe and feed on human hands, making the invisible process inside skin visible as electrical waveforms on a computer. The technique was applied to Culex tarsalis mosquitoes and can be adapted to other species. Understanding these feeding steps could reveal new targets for blocking disease transmission.

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A survey of immunosuppressed children with rheumatic diseases and their parents found that while most understood their increased infection risk, many held misconceptions about influenza symptoms and vaccine safety — especially fear of disease flares after vaccination. These insights helped drive improvements that raised the clinic's influenza vaccination rate from 72% to 85.5% in one season. The study highlights that targeted education addressing specific misconceptions can meaningfully improve vaccination rates in this high-risk group.

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A prospective study of 37 immunocompromised children found that most had detectable antibody responses after two COVID-19 vaccine doses, and a third dose significantly boosted both antibody levels and T-cell responses, bringing T-cell response rates to 100%. The study is the first to measure both immune response types after the third dose in immunocompromised children. The results support the recommendation for a third vaccine dose in this vulnerable population.

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Drawing on lessons from COVID-19 clinical trials, this paper adds three new recommendations to an existing set of guidelines for running complex cancer drug trials: use pragmatic, streamlined study designs; minimize paper-based processes to reduce environmental impact; and communicate directly with patients to improve participation. The COVID-19 trials showed that simplified, patient-centered designs can achieve rapid recruitment and broad representation. These principles can make future oncology trials faster, more inclusive, and more efficient.

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Researchers identified a DNA regulatory region near the Gdf5 gene — which shapes joint structure during development — and found that it integrates both activating and suppressing signals from multiple transcription factors to fine-tune gene expression in the developing elbow. Disrupting binding sites for Fox and Sox proteins eliminated activity, while disrupting Sox-only sites increased it, and Lmx1b sites contributed to the asymmetric pattern of gene activation. These findings help explain how precise joint geometry is established during embryonic development.

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Parents and their 2-3-year-old children discussed picture books depicting self-conscious emotions like guilt, shame, and embarrassment, revealing that parents and children talked about different aspects of each emotion depending on which emotion was depicted and the gender of the character shown. Parents who asked more questions and talked more about emotions elicited more emotion talk from their children, even after accounting for children's age and language ability. The results suggest that parent-guided conversations are a key context in which young children begin to understand complex social emotions.

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This study identified the best reference genes — genes used as stable benchmarks in gene expression experiments — for the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis under seven different experimental conditions including virus infection, developmental stages, and tissue types. The optimal reference genes varied by condition, and just two genes were sufficient for reliable normalization in each case. These findings provide a practical resource for researchers studying gene activity in this important livestock pest.

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A six-week wellness leadership course for medical faculty reduced burnout and prevented the empathy decline and rising resting heart rates seen in a control group during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty who completed more of the course showed less physiological stress over time. The intervention demonstrates that structured wellness training can protect physicians' emotional functioning and physical well-being even during periods of intense occupational strain.

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Three proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium that causes TB) were found to trigger immune responses in both TB patients and healthy vaccinated individuals in a TB-endemic country, and when combined into a single fusion protein, they reduced bacterial load in vaccinated mice. However, despite reducing bacteria, the vaccination did not provide meaningful protection against disease progression. The results indicate that triggering an immune response is not sufficient on its own — vaccines must also avoid harmful immune imbalances to be effective.

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Researchers identified 27 Rab protein genes in locusts and found that silencing two of them — LmRab5 and LmRab11A — caused 100% mortality in nymphs, with visible damage to the gut and arrested molting respectively. Beyond their developmental roles, the two genes had opposite effects on the efficiency of RNA interference: silencing LmRab5 reduced RNAi effectiveness while silencing LmRab11A enhanced it. The study establishes a framework for understanding how intracellular trafficking shapes both locust development and gene-silencing technology in insects.

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Researchers silenced a key enzyme subunit (V-ATPase-c) in locusts and found it is essential for survival: nymphs failed to form new cuticle and died during molting at rates above 90%. The same subunit was also required for the RNA interference (RNAi) gene-silencing process to work, because without it, the double-stranded RNA used in RNAi accumulated in cell compartments and could not reach its target. These findings identify V-ATPase-c as a potential target for new locust pest control strategies.

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This is the same 2021 American College of Rheumatology guideline on non-pharmacologic management, medication monitoring, immunizations, and imaging for juvenile idiopathic arthritis as PMID 35233989, providing recommendations applicable across all JIA subtypes based on systematic review and expert-patient consensus. Evidence quality was low for all recommendations, making most conditional rather than strong. The guideline supports shared decision-making between clinicians and families.

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This is the same 2021 American College of Rheumatology guideline on drug treatment of oligoarthritis, TMJ arthritis, and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis as PMID 35233993, covering initial and follow-up therapy recommendations developed through systematic review and expert consensus. Most recommendations are conditional due to low evidence quality, but the guideline serves as a practical tool for clinicians, patients, and caregivers navigating treatment choices.

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These 2021 guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology address the non-drug aspects of managing juvenile idiopathic arthritis across all disease types, including physical therapy, diet, lab monitoring for medications, vaccination, and imaging. Developed with clinicians and patient/caregiver input, most recommendations are conditional given limited evidence. The guidelines are intended as a decision-support tool, not a mandate, to be applied with clinical judgment.

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These are the 2021 American College of Rheumatology treatment guidelines for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), covering drug therapies for forms that affect few joints, the jaw, and the systemic type with fever and organ involvement. The guidelines provide recommendations on starting and stopping treatments and were developed with input from clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Most recommendations are conditional due to low-quality evidence, but they offer a practical framework for treatment decisions.

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This study found that the ratio of two versions of the ARNT protein in T-cell lymphoma cells controls how strongly and in what direction a key immune receptor (AhR) regulates gene expression. Shifting the ratio toward one version enhanced AhR activity and promoted inflammation, while shifting it the other way suppressed AhR and caused immunosuppression. A specific phosphorylation event involving an enzyme called CK2 is required for this tuning mechanism, pointing to ARNT isoform balance as a potential target for immune therapies.

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A large pediatric rare disease program sequenced genomes of nearly 1,000 families and diagnosed genetic disorders in 11-34% of cases depending on prior testing history, with long-read sequencing identifying significantly more structural variants than standard short-read methods. Data and variant resources were shared openly to help validate new disease genes and accelerate diagnoses globally. The work demonstrates that combining multiple sequencing and analysis approaches substantially improves diagnostic yield for children with undiagnosed conditions.

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Researchers found that a protein called RBFOX2 drives production of a cancer-promoting version of the ARNT transcription factor in lymphoid cancers by controlling how the gene is spliced. RBFOX2 levels are elevated in these cancers, and suppressing it reduced both the cancer-linked ARNT variant and cancer cell growth. The discovery identifies RBFOX2 as a potential therapeutic target for treating lymphoid malignancies.

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This study tested whether eight weeks of either high-intensity interval training or moderate continuous exercise changed immune cell levels in kidney transplant recipients. No significant changes in circulating immune or inflammatory cells were observed in any exercise group. The results suggest that both exercise types are immunologically safe for transplant patients, though the participants' difficulty reaching target exercise intensities points to physiological challenges in this population that warrant further study.

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This study confirmed that individuals with Down syndrome have consistently low bone density and found, using mouse models, that this leads to severely impaired fracture healing — none of the Down syndrome mice healed finger fractures over 93 days compared to half of normal mice. Bone deficits were more pronounced in males in one mouse model, mirroring the pattern seen in humans. The findings establish for the first time that Down syndrome directly impairs fracture repair, with implications for clinical monitoring and care.

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Wrist fractures at the far end of the radius bone are among the most common injuries in older adults and their rates are rising. This review summarizes the evidence for non-surgical treatment of these fractures in elderly patients and finds it to be a reasonable first approach for many, with outcomes comparable to surgery in multiple studies. The review also outlines the risks and practical limitations of non-surgical management to help guide clinical decisions.

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Researchers compared two strains of tuberculosis bacteria from related outbreaks in the UK — one that spread for over a decade and one that was quickly contained — and found the persistent strain had higher lipid content, a more hydrophobic surface, and replicated faster inside immune cells. A specific gene deletion in the outbreak strain appeared responsible for these differences, as restoring the gene made the bacteria behave more like the non-outbreak strain. The findings connect specific bacterial genetic changes to outbreak potential and may help predict which TB strains pose a higher public health risk.

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A tuberculosis vaccine made from three bacterial proteins fused together reduced the number of bacteria in the lungs of mice after aerosol infection, but also caused significant weight loss — a sign of harmful immune responses. The weight loss correlated with an imbalance between two immune signals in the lung. The findings highlight that TB vaccine research must measure not just whether bacteria are reduced but also whether the immune response itself causes damage.

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A survey of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and their parents found that overall knowledge about the eye complication uveitis was moderate, and that parents whose rheumatologist reminded them about eye exams at every visit scored significantly higher on knowledge questions. Having a personal history of uveitis was also associated with better knowledge. The results suggest that consistent, frequent discussion of uveitis risk at every clinic visit is the most effective way to improve family awareness and potentially catch eye problems earlier.

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Persistent pain after knee replacement surgery is common and can stem from many causes including implant problems, internal joint issues, or problems outside the joint entirely. This review outlines a systematic approach to diagnosing and treating the underlying cause, covering current understanding of why pain occurs and what each evaluation step should involve. A thorough, stepwise evaluation is essential to identify the correct problem and guide appropriate treatment.

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Researchers fused three tuberculosis antigens into a single protein and found it detected TB infection in patient blood samples with 66% sensitivity and 100% specificity, outperforming each antigen tested individually. A key improvement came from trimming a non-essential portion of one antigen, which boosted detection of patients with hard-to-diagnose forms of TB. The fusion protein approach addresses the variable immune responses seen across TB patients and shows promise as a more reliable diagnostic tool.