This is a constantly updated list of papers that I've found interesting
October 2024
Leveraging AI and patient metadata to develop a novel risk score for skin cancer detectionThe WHO estimates between 2-3 million new cases of skin cancer (melanoma & non-melanoma types) each year. By eye, its extremely difficult to detect the tiny differences in pigmentation, size or texture within medical images. Image segmentation, detection, and categorisation are things recent AI breakthroughs do very well at. By analysing data from over 53,000 skin lesions and integrating features such as size, colour and shape, the C4C Risk Score achieved a 69% accuracy rate, significantly higher than existing techniques. While the rapid improvement in AI tech has slowed considerably since ChatGPT-3 and the other equivalent models that hit the market, methods such as these display how the uses for AI in the medical field are constantly on the rise. Hoping to gain regulatory approval by 2025, this finding presents an opportunity for startups to enhance AI-driven diagnostic tools, addressing bottlenecks in healthcare and improving early cancer detection, particularly in overburdened systems like our NHS.
August 2024
Restoring hippocampal glucose metabolism rescues cognition across Alzheimer’s disease pathologiesAnother study displaying the potential of tools like TxGNN to use already clincally trialed pharmacologicals to treat diseases they were not initially desgined for. The study demonstrates that IDO1 inhibitors, originally developed for cancer treatment, could offer a novel approach for combating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. These researchers showed that suppressing the enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) restored healthy glucose metabolism in astrocytes—key brain cells supporting neurons—thereby reversing memory and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s models. The protective effects were consistent across amyloid and tau pathologies, with implications for other disorders such as Parkinson’s disease dementia and tauopathies. This breakthrough highlights metabolic intervention as a promising frontier in neurodegeneration research, offering startups opportunities to repurpose existing drugs for targetting other diseases.
June 2024
Hybrid working from home improves retention without damaging performanceA new study provides an optimistic outlook on hybrid working. Whether or not hyprid working (defined as 2 or more days a week at home) truly effects performance has been a hot topic since the pandemic. This work, based on 1600 people from trip.com found no drop in productivity or career growth compared to full-time non-hypbrid workers. They also found a 33% reduction in resignation rates. Women, non-managers, and those with long commutes appear to benefit the most. The study debunks myths that hybrid work is the same as fully remote work and eases concerns about its downsides. It highlights how hybrid models can maintain key elements like mentoring, innovation, and company culture, creating a so-called “win-win-win” for employees, employers, and policymakers. Such findings bode well for newer co-working regimes.
May 2024
Differential sex-dependent susceptibility to diastolic dysfunction and arrhythmia in cardiomyocytes from obese diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction modelA study by the UC Davis School of Medicine reveals sex-specific cellular mechanisms underlying heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in mice, with significant implications for tailored treatments. Male mice with HFpEF exhibited diastolic dysfunction due to slower calcium removal, leading to incomplete relaxation between heartbeats and higher arrhythmia risks. In contrast, female mice had normal calcium dynamics but showed increased stiffness from altered forms of the heart filament protein titin and troponin I phosphorylation. These findings suggest distinct therapeutic targets: reducing cardiac stiffness for women and enhancing calcium removal for men. Using a “two-hit” mouse model incorporating obesity, diabetes, and aldosterone infusion, the study underscores the critical need for sex-specific approaches in HFpEF research and treatment, potentially inspiring new precision medicine innovations for startups focusing on cardiovascular health. Such findings provide more backing for the formation of personalised healthcare.
April 2024
Vitamin D regulates microbiome-dependent cancer immunityA study published in Science provides more evidence for the role of vitamin D in cancer immunity. The work reveals that vitamin D enhances cancer immunity in mice by promoting the growth of a gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, which suppresses tumor growth. Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute and collaborators found that vitamin D acts on intestinal epithelial cells to increase this bacteria, improving resistance to transplanted tumors and boosting responses to immunotherapy. Mice with a vitamin D-rich diet or supplemented with Bacteroides fragilis exhibited better tumor suppression, though the effect was absent in vitamin D-deficient conditions. Analysis of Danish population data further supported an association between low vitamin D levels and higher cancer risk, while cancer patients with higher vitamin D showed better immunotherapy outcomes. Although these findings underscore vitamin D’s potential in modulating the microbiome for cancer immunity, the exact mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating further investigation. These insights open avenues for startups to explore microbiome-targeted therapies and dietary interventions to enhance immunotherapy effectiveness in cancer treatment.
March 2024
Long-term outcomes following hospital admission for COVID-19 versus seasonal influenza: a cohort studyA new study sheds light on the long-term health impacts of COVID-19 compared to seasonal flu. Whether COVID-19 leads to more severe long-term complications than influenza has been a topic of ongoing debate. This research, based on hospitalised patients, found that COVID-19 patients experienced higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular issues than those admitted for flu. The study also highlighted that these lasting effects underscore the need for better post-discharge care and monitoring. By showing the importance of personalised management strategies, it offers valuable insights into how healthcare systems can adapt. Such findings open up opportunities for innovative solutions, like remote monitoring tools and tailored rehabilitation programs, which could help improve recovery and support long-term well-being.
February 2024
Association of PM2.5 Exposure and Alzheimer Disease Pathology in Brain Bank Donors—Effect Modification by APOE GenotypeA study published in Neurology links traffic-related air pollution exposure to higher levels of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, in post-mortem brain analyses. Examining brain tissue from 224 individuals with an average age of 76, researchers found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the year and three years prior to death significantly increased the likelihood of amyloid plaque accumulation. Notably, individuals without the APOE e4 gene variant exhibited the strongest correlation, highlighting the potential role of environmental factors in non-genetic Alzheimer’s cases. While the findings strengthen the evidence linking air pollution to neurodegeneration, limitations such as reliance on final home addresses and a homogenous study population warrant further investigation. These insights not only advance scientific understanding of environmental contributors to dementia but also suggest potential pathways for startups to innovate air quality monitoring and mitigation technologies aimed at urban health challenges.
December 2023
Late-life shift in caloric intake affects fly metabolism and longevityWith the influx of personalised healthcare companies, and the huge rise in consumption of supplements, could there be more natural, simple methods to increase longevity? A recent study looked into the effects of caloric intake on metabolism and longevity in fruit flies. The researchers found that transitioning from a high-calorie to a low-calorie diet, even later in life, significantly reduced mortality rates and extended lifespan. Conversely, switching from a low-calorie to a high-calorie diet increased mortality and shortened lifespan. Diet has always been known to be important, across the sciences, but the timeline by at which such a change can effect the human body has been less studied. These findings suggest that dietary changes can rapidly influence aging processes, highlighting the potential for caloric restriction interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of high-calorie diets and promote longevity.
November 2023
Treatment of 95 post-Covid patients with SSRIsOne method of drug discovery, is simply to attempt to discover new uses for the current pharmacologicals we already have. Here, the authors looked at how SSRIs, a common set of antidepressants, could be used to treat post-COVID. The research focuses on the presence of hypometabolic areas in the pons—a region of the brainstem—and its potential link to vagus nerve dysfunction, which may contribute to dysautonomia in post-COVID syndrome. This study sheds some light on the neurological underpinnings of post-COVID-19 symptoms and suggests that SSRIs could aid in this case. The findings highlight the importance of exploring targeted treatments for post-COVID-19 patients, particularly those experiencing neurological complications.
October 2023
The impact of founder personalities on startup successFounders are obviously paramount when attempting to predict the success of a startup. This variability of this factor alone, makes normal methods of company valuation (DCF etc) useless in this space. So can we quantify what makes a good founder? Are the specfic traits that we can select for, to increase our odds of picking a winner? According to this paper, yes. They found that traits such as openness to experience, conscientiousness, and emotional stability are positively associated with startup performance. On the other side, high levels of neuroticism were linked to lower success rates. The findings suggest that the personality traits of founders play a significant role in the trajectory of a startup. While psychological facotrs are always evaluated when deciding whether to invest in a startup, this is done in a qualitative heuristic way by humans, could a framework involving more quantitative measuremnts of founders traits be more effective?
September 2023
Best humans still outperform artificial intelligence in a creative divergent thinking taskThis study investigates the comparative performance of humans and AI in creative tasks. The researchers evaluated ChatGPT-3, ChatGPT-4, and Copy.Ai against human participants using the Alternative Uses Task (AUT), which measures divergent thinking by asking individuals to list as many uses as possible for a common object. Results indicated that human participants generated more original and varied responses than the AI models, highlighting the current limitations of AI in replicating human creativity. This research underscores the unique aspects of human creative cognition that AI has yet to fully emulate. It suggests that, despite how far in AI language models have come in recent years, human creativity remains superior in tasks requiring divergent thinking. Such findings have implications for the next steps in the development of AI systems, emphasising the need to further explore and integrate the nuances of human creativity into AI algorithms.
August 2023
Estimating the association between Facebook adoption and well-being in 72 countriesHow social media (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) effects cognitive, psychological and social development is still unclear. I think most of us have an implicit feeling that many aspects of the platforms must be detrimental for users, especially in adolescents. But how true is this? We are inundated with negative associations between social media use and health, but how much of this is based on real, tractable data? The findings of this paper indicate that the impact of social media on well-being is minimal, with effect sizes explaining less than 1% of the variation in mental health outcomes. This suggests that other factors, such as family environment and offline social interactions, play a more substantial role in adolescents’ mental health. This insight encourages a shift in focus from solely targeting social media usage to addressing broader environmental and personal factors that contribute to adolescents’ mental health. The results of this paper came as a suprise to me, as governments around the world rush to limit access to the platforms to minors.
July 2023
Heat-related mortality in Europe during the summer of 2022This study looked into mortality rates across Europe during the summer of 2022. The researchers analysed temperature and mortality data from 35 countries, estimating that over 61,000 heat-related deaths occurred during this period. The findings highlight the significant public health threat posed by rising temperatures and underscore the urgent need for effective heat adaptation strategies and policies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on human health.
June 2023
Taurine deficiency as a driver of agingThis group investigated the role of taurine deficiency in aging. Researchers observed that taurine levels decline with age in various species, including us. Supplementing taurine in middle-aged animals, such as mice and monkeys, led to increased lifespan and improved health markers, including enhanced muscle strength, coordination, and immune function. These findings suggest that taurine deficiency may be a driver of aging, and that taurine supplementation could be a potential strategy to promote healthy aging. This research provides valuable insights into the biological mechanisms of aging, highlighting taurine as a significant factor in the aging process. The study’s implications extend to developing dietary or pharmacological interventions aimed at increasing taurine levels to enhance healthspan and longevity. With the rise of tailored healthcare and huge number of companies selling supplements, this paper will likely give rise to additional avenues in this space.
May 2023
Geometric constraints on human brain functionWe can all agree that the anatomy and architectural properties of the brain constrain its function. The exact mechanism, or mechanisms, that allow the relatively static neuroanatomy of the brain to give rise to the complex and dynamic spatiotemporal signalling cascades from which consciousness emerges, is unclear. Much of the field has based their research on the idea of more domain-specifc functions of brain areas, where differing functions can be ascribed to regions based on the properties of their neuronal subpopulations, and their connectivty to other regions. Less focus has looked at the geometry of the brain, which defines the path of least resistance and aspects of proximity and diffusion. This work challenges the classical paradigm of functionally specialised, connectivity-driven brain activity, instead identifying geometry as a central determinant of neuronal dynamics. By introducing a unifying, physically principled model of brain-wide activity, the findings redefine how large-scale dynamics are conceptualised, with significant implications for neuroimaging, computational modeling, and the study of structure-function relationships. This paradigm shift not only enhances our understanding of brain organisation but also provides a framework for exploring neurodevelopmental and pathological processes through the lens of geometry and wave dynamics.
April 2023
Engineering longevity—design of a synthetic gene oscillator to slow cellular agingThe research group behind this study developed a soft electronic skin (e-skin) that has similar physical properties of skin (flexibility & stretchability), and has integrated ciruits to 'sense' pressure changes, strain and temperature. The e-skin uses nanotech and appears to be very accurate in its readings of pressure & strain detection, and temperature. Its self-healing properties and ability to interface with human skin make it a promising tool for applications in healthcare monitoring, robotics, and human-machine interactions. The research advances the field of bioelectronics by addressing durability and functionality challenges in wearable devices. Such tech could be the basis of many breakthroughs in personalised health diagnostics, prosthetics, and interactive robotics, opening new avenues for commercial exploitation in healthtech and assistive technologies.
March 2023
Vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia: Effects of sex, APOE, and baseline cognitive statusThe study examined the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and the incidence of dementia. Using data from over 12,000 dementia-free individuals, the group found a 40% lower incidence of dementia in those that took vitamin D supplements than those who didn't. The protective effect of vitamin D appears to be more pronounced in women and individuals without the APOE ε4 gene, which is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation could be a viable strategy for reducing dementia risk, particularly in specific populations. This research contributes to the understanding of modifiable risk factors for dementia and may influence public health recommendations regarding vitamin D intake. For the startup ecosystem, these insights could lead to the development of new preventive health products or services aimed at cognitive health maintenance, potentially benefiting aging populations.
February 2023
Association between cannabis use and blood pressure levels according to comorbidities and socioeconomic statusThe study investigated the relationship between cannabis consumption and blood pressure in adults in the US. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2005 and 2012, the group analysed the blood pressure of people with varying histories of cannabis use, adjusting for confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, and tobacco use. The findings indicate that current cannabis users had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels compared to non-users. These results suggest a potential link between cannabis use and elevated blood pressure, highlighting the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and long-term cardiovascular implications. With the relatively laxed outlook on cannabis use across many developed and underdeveloped countries, and uncertain understanding of the short or long-term effects of cannabis use, more work elucidating other potential risk factors is needed.
January 2023
Genome-wide association study of school grades identifies genetic overlap between language ability, psychopathology and creativityThe study looked into the genetic factors influencing academic performance and their connections to language skills, mental health, and creativity. They analysed the genomes of 30,982 individuals, and found that genetic variants associated with better lanugage ability also correlate with an increased risk for certain psychiatric disorders, notably schizophrenia. Such variants were also more prevalent in people in creative industries. Overall, these findings suggest that language ability, creativity, and susceptibility to certain mental health conditions may share common genetic roots. Understanding these connections could inform future educational strategies and mental health interventions, aiding the sector-wide focus on personalised healthcare