Youths conceived with assisted reproductive technology had 58% increased odds of developing intellectual disabilities at ages 8 or older, as well as a higher likelihood of severe deficits, compared with those born without ART, according to a study in Pediatrics. Researchers also found that intellectual disabilities and known genetic disorders were more likely among those born through intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared with those born through traditional in vitro fertilization.

Research reported in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences found older adults who participated in a local choir called Community of Voices enjoyed the group activity and it led to a happier outlook and less loneliness. Researcher Julene Johnson said many older adults experience loneliness, social isolation and depression and initiatives are needed to help them remain engaged in the community.

The Food Bank of North Alabama's mobile pantry works with senior communities to ensure low-income elderly residents have access to healthy foods. Food Bank of North Alabama Executive Director Shirley Schofield said almost 20% of seniors in the state need food assistance, and the state has applied to be part of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which is designed to help the elderly get needed food supplies.

Individuals with Parkinson's disease who had normal cognition at baseline had similar odds of mortality as those in the general population, but shorter survival was found among those with mild cognitive impairment, dementia onset, postural imbalance and gait disorder, freezing of gait, elevated disease severity, hyposmia and slower performance in the Timed Up and Go test, researchers reported in Neurology. The findings also showed that increased cerebrospinal fluid leukocytes and lower dopamine transporter activity had a significant link to shorter Parkinson's survival.

Chinese researchers found that mice with Parkinson's disease that received astilbin, a flavanonol found in several plants and alcoholic beverages, had significantly better motor function, as well as reduced dopaminergic neuron loss, glia cell activation in the substantia nigra and oxidative stress, suggesting its neuroprotective effects, compared with controls that were given a saline solution. The findings were published in the journal International Immunopharmacology.

A data review conducted by US cancer centers, including the National Cancer Institute, found that Hispanic adults with HIV living in the US are at an increased risk of human papillomavirus-related cancers, with the highest risk being for anal cancer, according to findings in the journal Cancer. Researchers culled data from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study and took into account survival and incidence rates among Hispanics, non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites.

Patients with human papillomavirus-positive throat cancer who received standard cisplatin chemotherapy had a substantially higher two-year overall survival rate, as well as fewer recurrences and deaths over six years, compared with those who were given cetuximab, according to a study in The Lancet. Researchers found similar toxicity and side effects with the treatments.

The FDA gave Spectrum Dynamics 510(k) clearance for its VERITON-CT 64 SPECT/CT system, a digital wide-bore scanner that features 360-degree multidetector geometry and provides threefold higher volumetric sensitivity and twofold increased throughput, compared with conventional dual-head analog SPECT cameras.

Hermes Medical Solutions launched its Hybrid3D selective internal radiation therapy software, which offers FDA-approved technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin dose planning using glass and resin microspheres and yttrium-90 microsphere dose verification.

A study of US and Canadian programs published in the American Journal of Roentgenology showed that only eight of 59 faculty members in nuclear medicine with leadership roles were female, and only about 13% and 12.5% held first- and second-in-command roles, respectively, compared with 87% and 87.5% of men. "This discrepancy calls for new strategies to promote diversity in leadership and academia in nuclear medicine," researchers concluded.