Nektar Therapeutics' experimental eczema drug meets main goals of mid-stage trial
Shares of the company were halted in premarket trading.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
10 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump axes loan for Grain Belt power transmission project
WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - The administration of President Donald Trump on Wednesday axed a loan guarantee for the Grain Belt Express transmission project to send power from wind and solar energy projects in Kansas to cities in the Midwest and East. American farmers had opposed the conditional $4.9 billion loan guarantee that was initiated by the administration of former President Joe Biden, mainly due to the Grain Belt filing dozens of eminent domain, or compulsory acquisition, petitions against state landowners. The 800-mile (1,290 km) project, backed by private company Invenergy, was described by the company as the second-longest transmission line in U.S. history and a national "energy security backbone" that would connect four grid regions, including the PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid spanning states from Illinois to New Jersey. The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, or LPO, issued the conditional loan guarantee in November. The department said in a release on Wednesday it found the conditions necessary to issue the guarantee were unlikely to be met and "it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting this project." Invenergy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The project would also have supported Trump's "energy dominance" policy of maximizing energy output. The White House on May 9 had praised a $1.7 billion Invenergy investment in the project in a "list of wins" that bolster the U.S. economy and enhance national security. But Grain Belt also jarred with the administration's opposition to renewable energy sources, which it views as unreliable and expensive compared to fossil fuels. Trump only tapped the LPO for nuclear power in his first term. The Energy Department has said it is reviewing loans, including the $85 billion in closed loans and conditional commitments LPO made between the day Trump won the election in November to the day he came back into office in January.
Reuters
10 minutes ago
- Reuters
Senators seek to upgrade US airport security, reduce checkpoint lines
WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday proposed spending hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in new modern baggage screening systems and shrink airport security lines as traffic hits new records. Senator Jerry Moran, a Republican who chairs a subcommittee on aviation, along with Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Michael Bennet and Republican John Boozman, said since 2014 more than $13 billion in security ticket fees have been diverted to non-security uses. The bill would tap those funds for enhanced security efforts as air travel set a record last year and is expected to set a new one this year.
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The subtle signs in your walking that could mean you have autism
The way someone walks could reveal if they have autism, a top health expert has revealed. Professor Nicole Rinehart, who has worked as a clinical psychologist for the last 20 years and is based out of Australia, says that having an 'odd gait' is now listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a supporting diagnostic feature of autism. The DSM-5, published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the standard reference for diagnosing neurological disorders, including autism. Diagnosing autism - which impacts more than 5 million adults and over 2 million children in the US - can be difficult because there is no definitive medical test, such as blood draws or MRI scans, to diagnose the disorder. Doctors instead must look at the child or adult's developmental history and behavior to make a diagnosis. Professor Rinehart says autism could affect the way someone walks due to a difference in brain development, specifically in areas known as the basal ganglia and cerebellum. The basal ganglia acts as a filter for motor signals, ensuring smooth and coordinated movements, while the cerebellum receives information from the inner ear, eyes, and muscles and adjusts muscle activity to keep the body stable. Some of the most noticeable gait differences among autistic people, as outlined by Professor Rinehart, are toe-walking (walking on the balls of the feet), in-toeing (walking with one or both feet turned inwards), and out-toeing (walking with one or both feet turned out). However, the psychologist says some of the walking styles could be much subtler, especially among those with mild autism. She explains: 'Research has also identified more subtle differences. 'A study summarizing 30 years of research among autistic people reports that gait is characterized by walking more slowly, taking wider steps, spending longer in the 'stance' phase, when the foot leaves the ground [and] taking more time to complete each step.' Professor Rinehart says research has shown that the autistic gait 'persists across the lifespan' and some walking styles can become more distinctive with age. Experts believe a different gait pattern could potentially be a 'game changer' for autism diagnosis, particularly in young children, because it can be observed early and objectively. Those with severe autism, characterized by significant challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior, might have more pronounced gait differences. If someone with autism is exhibiting an altered gait, Professor Rinehart says there is often no need for intervention unless it is interfering with someone's ability to participate in everyday life. She says if the walking style could increase the risk or frequency of falls then it is advisable to seek support. If the gait is preventing someone from participating in the physical activities they enjoy, they could also benefit from intervention. Therapy for autistic gait, particularly toe walking, often involves a variety of approaches including physical therapy and occupational therapy. Physical therapy focuses on improving muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion, while occupational therapy helps with motor skills, balance, and coordination, often incorporating sensory integration techniques. Other options may include serial casting, orthotics, or even surgical intervention in more severe cases. When it come to children, Professor Rinehart says that rehabilitation doesn't have to occur in a clinical setting and sports and dance classes have been shown to be beneficial. She adds: 'Given children spend a large portion of their time at school, programs that integrate opportunities for movement throughout the school day allow autistic children to develop motor skills outside of the clinic and alongside peers. 'Our community-based intervention studies show autistic children's movement abilities can improve after engaging in community-based interventions, such as sports or dance. 'Community-based support models empower autistic children to have agency in how they move, rather than seeing different ways of moving as a problem to be fixed.' According to the CDC, one in every 31 children aged eight or younger had autism in 2022 - a rate of 32.2 per 1,000. That's up from one in 36 in 2020, and one in 44 in 2018. By comparison, early studies from the 1960s and 1970s estimated autism rates to be as low as 1 in 5,000. The most recent CDC report found wide geographic variation, with diagnosis rates ranging from roughly one in 100 in parts of south Texas to a striking one in 19 in San Diego. Researchers say the sharp rise in recent decades can be partially explained by improved screening, increased public awareness, and better access to services. While some blame an ultra-processed diet, chemicals and pesticides for the rise. The average age for an autism diagnoses is five, though the vast majority of parents notice odd quirks in their children, particularly around social skills, as early as two years old. Looking ahead, Professor Rinehart says more research needs to be done to better understand the autistic gait. This will be particularly beneficial to children so that treatment plans can be tailored for their individual movement styles as they develop.
