10 selected Research Luxembourg results – April 2024

10 May 2024

This article was originally in French and German on science.lu 

Predicting a cardiac arrhythmia before its onset: it’s now possible.

Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB)

Researchers at the LCSB have recently developed a machine learning model capable of predicting the transition from a normal heart rhythm to atrial fibrillation (sudden acceleration of heartbeats due to impulses from the upper heart chambers). The LCSB model can raise the alarm on average 30 minutes before the onset of fibrillation, with an accuracy of approximately 80%, which will facilitate the work of physicians responsible for urgently managing this potentially lethal condition.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with risks of heart failure, dementia, and stroke. Treatment can sometimes be heavy, whether through electrical shock or ablation of a specific area responsible for abnormal electrical signals. Being able to predict an episode of atrial fibrillation early enough would allow caregivers to take preventive measures to maintain a stable heart rhythm.

To the press release / To the publication

How do certain brain tumors manipulate our immune cells to their advantage?

Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH)

Researchers at the LIH have conducted a study that reveals how glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of primary brain tumor, interacts with the brain’s immune system.

They have notably discovered that glioblastoma cells give complex instructions to their neighboring microenvironment to survive and evade the immune system. The discovery of the characteristics of microglia (the immune cells of the brain) in response to signals from glioblastoma has been particularly significant. Indeed, it appears that upon contact with glioblastoma, these microglia alter their appearance and behavior to mimic both cells responsible for the destruction of harmful substances (phagocytes) and cells involved in the education of other immune cells in the blood, subsequently preventing them from performing their protective functions. The cancer thus somewhat short-circuits our immune system.

This research opens crucial perspectives for future treatments. Their findings underscore the need to develop tailored immunotherapies against brain tumors.

To the press release / To the publication

Discovering scientific communication through a new open-access book

Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine of the University of Luxembourg (FSTM); Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR)

The University of Luxembourg and the FNR have published “50 essentials on science communication,” a book dedicated to scientific communication in our modern societies. The book is aimed at young scientists as well as communication officers in research institutions and anyone interested in the subject.

Scientific communication serves to inform and educate, while also connecting scientists with individuals, institutions, and organizations external to research. “Our modern knowledge societies are faced with extremely complex issues such as pandemics, artificial intelligence, and climate change. Science must do a tremendous job to be perceived as a reliable source of information and not allow misinformation to prevail,” elaborates Dirk Hans, co-author of the book.

The three authors of the book are Jean-Paul Bertemes, head of the Science and Society program at the FNR, Serge Haan, professor and coordinator for public engagement and citizen science activities at the University, and Dirk Hans, teacher and trainer in scientific communication.

To the press release / To the publication

Vaccine against bronchiolitis: did it reduce the winter surge of infections in Luxembourg?

Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL)

A new study provides the first concrete evidence that vaccination with nirsevimab protects infants against severe forms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Luxembourg. This is particularly important in the context of strain on the healthcare system during winter peaks of respiratory infections.

RSV infections are a major cause of hospitalization among very young children. Nirsevimab, a new monoclonal antibody administered as a vaccine, has demonstrated its effectiveness in clinical trials. It reduces both hospitalization and disease severity in infants.

In October 2023, vaccination with nirsevimab began simultaneously in the maternity wards of the four Luxembourgish hospitals. This study aimed to estimate neonatal vaccination coverage and to investigate the effect of this vaccination on children under 5 years old by comparing pediatric hospitalization data related to RSV between the pre-vaccination period (weeks 39-52 of 2022) and the post-vaccination period of 2023, respectively.

To the publication

Microbiome: Is it associated with mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease?

National Centre of Excellence in Research – Parkinson (NCER-PD)

A recent study by the NCER-PD demonstrates that there is no specific microbiomic signature linked to cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. In other words, the influence of intestinal microbial flora (the microbiome) on the symptoms of this disease, if it exists, still needs to be demonstrated.

Differences in the intestinal microbiome between people with Parkinson’s disease and control subjects without parkinsonism are widely reported in the scientific literature. This study compares, for the first time, the intestinal microbial characteristics of individuals with moderate cognitive impairment in the disease, those with Parkinson’s but without cognitive impairment, and control subjects with normal cognition. While differences in intestinal microbial flora between individuals with Parkinson’s disease and those without are well-established, such a difference has not yet been specifically described in relation to non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairments.

Further studies will therefore be necessary to elucidate the exact link between the microbiome and Parkinson’s disease.

To the publication

A new therapeutic approach could change the game for certain cancers

Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH)

Boosting the immune system on one hand, preventing cancer cells from evading the body’s natural defenses on the other: an innovative study describes a powerful combination of drugs, the STING agonist (which boosts the immune system) coupled with a compound that inhibits cancer cells’ immune evasion.

The researchers’ strategy involves fully harnessing the potential of STING agonists, a new class of drugs designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight cancer. The combination of the two drugs reduces tumor size and thus improves survival rates in preclinical studies, which is a significant step forward.

The study was led by the Tumor Immunotherapy and Microenvironment (TIME) group at LIH, in collaboration with Sprint Bioscience and the Karolinska Institute (Sweden).

To the press release / To the publication

Housing: What perspective on accessibility in times of inflation?

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Several researchers from LISER have co-authored a new major international publication on housing accessibility. Among the conclusions: an increasing number of tenants are dedicating a significant portion of their income to housing; the most modest tenants are experiencing the largest increase in the proportion of their income spent on housing expenses. One reason is that, although housing costs have increased fairly uniformly for all households, their incomes have grown less rapidly than those of wealthier households.

This report combines data from European observatories and institutes that manage housing data. In the LISER chapter, the authors examined two main indicators, the Net Housing Affordability Ratio (NHAR) and the Cumulative Housing Deprivation (CHD). NHAR is an indicator that highlights households’ ability to access and maintain housing. The goal of CHD, on the other hand, is to measure the extent of housing deprivation within a population.

To the press release / To the publication

Gender inequalities in times of crisis: a study highlights the issue

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Economic shocks disproportionately affect the most vulnerable individuals – often less affluent and single-parent families, predominantly women. This is the disheartening conclusion of a new study by LISER on the effects of price increases on gender inequalities in the short and medium term. The study demonstrates the impact on women: reduced well-being and increased exposure to the risks of poverty and material deprivation, particularly in the essential area of housing.

Households led by women, across all income brackets, prioritize essential expenses such as food and heating. This makes them more vulnerable to inflation in these critical areas. Conversely, households led by men typically allocate a larger portion of their budget to non-essential goods and services.

According to the authors of the report, “a multi-faceted policy approach, sensitive to the complex interaction between gender, income, and household composition, is desirable in addressing the risks of inflation.”

To the presse release (in French) / To the publication (in French)

Species of mayflies: how many are there in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History (MNHN)

A new study on mayflies in Luxembourg has identified 49 species, thus creating a more comprehensive national checklist. Mayflies are small aquatic insects whose presence in a body of water is considered an indicator of water quality.

The study also identified three species that had not been observed since 1950, raising concerns about their potential extinction in Luxembourg. One species, Arthroplea congener, was even observed for the very first time. A. congener is a relic of the glacial era with a remarkable peculiarity: to feed in the larval stage, it filters water – but since its habitat is stagnant water, its mouthparts have evolved into a kind of lasso, allowing it to create its own current of water.

The researchers’ work underscores the need to continue researching the ecological needs of different species and to protect their habitats.

To the press release / To the publication

Can one write about anything in children’s literature?

Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE)

It is entirely possible if the format is adapted to the age of the readers. In a book recently published by the University of Luxembourg, the authors affirm the power of contemporary children’s literature and the great diversity of themes addressed.

Their work explores, from various angles, the creativity of works aimed at young readers. Five major themes are studied: censorship in the history of children’s literature (comparison between France, Germany, and the USA), the intimate, environmental issues, collective memory concerning major historical events, and finally the societal implications of children’s literature, notably in the fight against various forms of invisibilization and discrimination against minorities.

To the press release (in French)

Author: Diane Bertel

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