Blog

  • Young star’s planet nursery bubbles with carbon dioxide – not water

    Young star’s planet nursery bubbles with carbon dioxide – not water

    Experts have discovered a young star whose planet-forming disk is packed with carbon dioxide and barely a trace of water. That mix flips a common expectation about what the inner zones of these disks usually hold.

    The star is located in NGC 6357, a busy nursery roughly 32 quadrillion miles from Earth. Its disk does not just look unusual, it behaves in ways that push scientists to reconsider how chemistry unfolds where rocky worlds may arise.

    Water is barely detectable


    Jenny Frediani at Stockholm University led the analysis within the eXtreme Ultraviolet Environments program. The study was focused on XUE 10, a bright F-type star surrounded by a warm, compact gas and dust disk.

    “Unlike most nearby planet-forming disks, where water vapor dominates the inner regions, this disk is surprisingly rich in carbon dioxide. In fact, water is so scarce in this system that it’s barely detectable,” said Frediani. 

    Other disks often show strong water vapor near the star, as recent observations demonstrate. That makes XUE 10’s chemistry stand out.

    Webb reveals carbon dioxide

    Webb’s MIRI instrument splits the mid-infrared light to reveal fingerprints of molecules in warm gas.

    In XUE 10, those fingerprints show four distinct forms of carbon dioxide called isotopologues that contain rare versions of oxygen or carbon atoms.

    The team measured gas temperatures around 300 to 370 Kelvin in the CO2-emitting region and set a strict upper limit on water vapor. Carbon monoxide shows up faintly, while a hydrogen line called Pfund alpha is clearly present.

    Ultraviolet light destroys water

    The young star XUE 10 lives in a harsh light bath where the far ultraviolet flux is about a thousand times stronger than what we experience near the Sun.

    Ultraviolet light can break apart molecules such as water and carbon dioxide, and that destruction frees fragments that feed other chemical reactions.

    The process can push the chemistry toward more CO2 if water is split faster than it can reform. In disks around hotter stars, water lines sometimes look weak for this reason, so the environment matters.

    Carbon dioxide isotopes shift

    The team also sees signs that oxygen isotopes in CO2 do not match the usual interstellar ratios.

    This effect, called isotope selective photodissociation, happens when rare isotopic molecules absorb different ultraviolet lines less effectively than the common ones, so they get split more often.

    The liberated oxygen atoms can end up inside new CO2 molecules. If transport moves that material inward fast enough, the inner disk inherits an isotope twist that could echo what we find in some meteorites.

    An image of the star-forming region NGC 6357 with the young star XUE 10. Observations with JWST/MIRI reveal a planet-forming disk whose spectrum shows clear detections of four distinct forms of carbon dioxide (CO2), but only little water, providing new insights into the chemical environment where planets are taking shape. Photo credit: Stockholm University (SU) and María Claudia Ramírez-Tannus, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA).
    An image of the star-forming region NGC 6357 with the young star XUE 10. Observations with JWST/MIRI reveal a planet-forming disk whose spectrum shows clear detections of four distinct forms of carbon dioxide (CO2), but only little water, providing new insights into the chemical environment where planets are taking shape. Click image to enlarge. Photo credit: Stockholm University (SU) and María Claudia Ramírez-Tannus, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA).

    Why the water is missing

    The physics inside disks is not just about chemistry – it’s also about traffic. Dust pebbles drift inward, releasing ices as they cross the water and carbon dioxide snow lines.

    At times, dust can pile up inside the water snow line, masking the water signatures beneath a bright continuum.

    In other systems, Webb has already detected CO2-rich spectra and shifts in the water-to-CO2 balance, as seen previously in the GW Lup disk.

    XUE 10 raises the stakes. Here, CO2 lines are not just present, they dominate, while water remains barely detectable.

    This hints at either very efficient water removal, very efficient CO2 production, stronger ultraviolet processing, or a combination of these.

    What it means for planet building

    Planets inherit gas and solids from their birthplaces. If a disk starts inner life rich in CO2 and poor in water vapor, the first atmospheres of rocky worlds could begin with different carbon to oxygen balances than we expect from other systems.

    “It reveals how extreme radiation environments can alter the building blocks of planets,” said Maria Claudia Ramirez Tannus, lead of the XUE collaboration at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA).

    Since most stars and many planets form in such regions, that shift may be common rather than rare.

    Disk chemistry creates more carbon dioxide

    The carbon dioxide detected includes both the common form and some rarer versions that contain slightly different kinds of carbon and oxygen atoms.

    These signals are clear enough for scientists to figure out the temperature and amount of gas, showing that the inner part of the disk is warm and filled with carbon dioxide while water is almost absent.

    The process likely unfolds as follows: strong ultraviolet light from nearby stars destroys water faster than it destroys carbon dioxide.

    The leftover fragments then react with carbon monoxide to create even more carbon dioxide, while the way dust moves in the disk limits how much fresh water ice can drift inward.

    Many questions remain

    There are still open questions. Scientists want to know how quickly water and carbon dioxide can rebuild themselves compared to the pace of mixing and movement inside a bright young disk like this one.

    Experts must also determine how much dust lies above the gas layers and blocks or changes the signals.

    To answer these questions, researchers will need to compare data across different wavelengths and use models that connect chemistry with the way material flows.

    Future observations that measure the full size and mass of the outer disk will also show how much material is still available to feed the inner regions.

    How Webb detected the molecules

    Webb’s MIRI instrument looks at light between 5 and 28 microns, a range where many molecules leave sharp, recognizable features. These features rise above the glow of warm dust, making them easier to detect.

    That sensitivity is why astronomers were able to see four different versions of carbon dioxide in this disk. It also confirms that the weak signal for water is likely real, not just a limit of the telescope’s sensitivity.

    Significance beyond a single star

    Comparisons are important. In some young disks around T Tauri stars, water dominates the inner regions. In others, carbon dioxide is stronger, and in a few cases both show up together.

    The case of XUE 10 shows that in a crowded and high-radiation environment, the balance can shift heavily toward carbon dioxide.

    Taking that diversity seriously helps us predict exoplanet atmospheres with fewer wrong assumptions. It also connects disk chemistry with the odd isotope signatures scientists have puzzled over in meteorites for decades.

    The study is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

    Image Credit: NASA/CXC/PSU/L. Townsley et al; UKIRT; JPL-Caltech

    —–

    Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates. 

    Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

    —–

    Continue Reading

  • ‘Ice Road Truckers’ Gets New Season on History Channel After 8 Years

    ‘Ice Road Truckers’ Gets New Season on History Channel After 8 Years

    “Ice Road Truckers” is sliding back onto the small screen for the first time since 2017, as the show will return for a new season on History Channel after eight years off the air.

    Season 12 will premiere on the cable network on Oct. 1. Series vets Todd Dewey and Lisa Kelly will join a group of ice-trucking rookies as they navigate over North Canada’s frozen lakes and icy roads to deliver supplies and necessities to far-out communities cut off from civilization. “With a winter window shorter than ever and no time to waste, these drivers risk everything to haul in a lifeline of goods while chasing big paydays before the opportunity melts away under their chained tires,” reads the logline.

    “Ice Road Truckers,” from “Deadliest Catch” executive producer Thom Beers, first launched on History in 2007 and ran for 11 seasons through 2017. The series was never officially canceled, but after Season 11, cast members said in interviews they were never asked to return back to the show.

    “Ice Road Truckers” is produced for the History Channel and Corus Entertainment by Original Productions and Eagle Vision. Jeff Hasler, Brian Lovett, Meredith Prunkard and Patrick Costello are executive producers for Original Productions; Kyle Irving, Lisa Meeches and Rebecca Gibson are EPs for Eagle Vision. Rachel Nelson and Lynne Carter are the executives in charge at Corus, and Eli Lehrer, Mary E. Donahue and Alex Hicks serve as executive producers for History.

    “The timing couldn’t be better to bring back a beloved series that once resonated with our viewers for over a decade,” said Eli Lehrer, executive vice president and head of programming for the History Channel.

    Continue Reading

  • Determination of the 90% Effective Dose of Remimazolam Continuous Infu

    Determination of the 90% Effective Dose of Remimazolam Continuous Infu

    Introduction

    Sevoflurane is the most frequently administered inhaled anesthetic in pediatric patients owing to its hemodynamic stability, absence of airway irritation, and rapid induction and emergence.1 Nevertheless, a significant limitation of sevoflurane anesthesia in this population is its association with emergence agitation and delirium, which has been reported to occur with an incidence ranging from 10% to 80%.2 Pediatric emergence delirium (ED) is a complex psychomotor disturbance that commonly manifests during the early post-anesthesia period. It is defined by symptoms such as inconsolable crying, involuntary motor activity, restlessness, and disorientation.3 Although ED is typically transient and self-limiting, its occurrence may precipitate a range of postoperative complications, including self-injurious behavior, surgical wound dehiscence or hemorrhage, and the removal of indwelling catheters. Furthermore, ED substantially increases the length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), thereby creating significant challenges for medical staff and diminishing parental satisfaction.4,5

    The precise pathogenesis of ED remains elusive. Nevertheless, a variety of pharmacological interventions have been explored for the prevention or management of pediatric emergence delirium, including α2-adrenergic receptor agonists,6 sedatives,7 opioids,8,9 and non-opioid analgesics. Nevertheless, the use of these drugs may result in adverse effects such as bradycardia, respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and delayed recovery. Given these concerns, it is highly valuable to investigate more suitable alternatives for the prevention of pediatric ED.

    Remimazolam, a novel water-soluble ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, has been safely utilized for sedation in pediatric procedures and for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia.10,11 Due to the activity of non-specific tissue esterases, it is subsequently rapidly hydrolyzed into a pharmacologically inactive carboxylic acid metabolite (CNS 7054). This characteristic confers the advantages of rapid onset and offset of sedation, as well as a predictable duration of action.12 When utilized for anesthesia, remimazolam exhibits a mild inhibitory effect on respiration and circulation, and its sedative effects can be effectively reversed by flumazenil.13 Remimazolam exhibits a high clearance rate and a short context-sensitive half-life in pediatric patients. After normalization by body weight, its pharmacokinetic properties are comparable to those observed in adults, enabling the development of target-controlled infusion protocols.14

    A study conducted by Yang et al demonstrates that administering 0.2 mg/kg of remimazolam at the conclusion of adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia can significantly reduce the incidence of ED.15 Additionally, the research by Cai et al indicates that either a continuous intraoperative infusion of remimazolam at 1 mg/kg/h or a single intravenous bolus dose of 0.2 mg/kg administered at the end of surgery can effectively decrease the incidence of ED in pediatric patients following laparoscopic surgery.16 Although remimazolam demonstrates considerable potential and advantages, its efficacy and role in preventing pediatric ED remain underexplored, particularly regarding the determination of the optimal dosage and administration protocol. Therefore, we aimed to determine the 90% effective dose (ED90) of remimazolam when continuously infused during surgery for preventing ED in children undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane general anesthesia.

    Methods

    Study Design

    This is a prospective, double-blind, sequential allocation dose-finding study. This study received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of The Affiliated Women and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University, China (Approval Number: EC2024-163; Approval Date: December 11, 2024). Prior to the enrollment of patients, we registered the clinical trial at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number: ChiCTR2400094727; Principal Investigator: Zhongsai Yang; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=254654; Registration Date: December 26, 2024). Written informed consent was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of the children prior to their enrollment. This study was conducted in strict compliance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and clinical trial CONSORT.

    Patients and Setting

    We prospectively recruited patients aged 3–7 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status I or II who underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia at The Affiliated Women and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University, located in Zhejiang Province, China, between January 2025 and February 2025. The exclusion criteria were as follows: preoperative respiratory tract infection; incidents in the recovery room (eg, airway spasm, wound bleeding, etc.); allergy to remimazolam; abnormal liver or kidney function; abnormal cardiac function; bradycardia (heart rate less than 60 beats per minute); neurological or psychiatric disorders, including patients with a history of epilepsy, developmental delay, or autism; a history of three or more surgeries; use of anticonvulsant, sedative, or analgesic drugs within two weeks; severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥5.0); and declined to participate in.

    Study Protocol

    All patients were required to fast from solid food for 6 hours and clear liquids for 2 hours prior to surgery. A 22 gauge peripheral vein catheter was inserted in the preoperative preparation room. Upon entering the operating room, standard monitoring was initiated, comprising electrocardiogram (ECG), non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, and bispectral index (BIS) monitoring. Prior to anesthesia induction, atropine was administered at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg to inhibit airway secretions. For postoperative analgesia, flurbiprofen axetil was given at a dose of 1 mg/kg (with a maximum dose of 50 mg). To prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting, dexamethasone was administered at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (maximum dose 5 mg), along with tropisetron at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (maximum dose 5 mg). The anesthesia induction protocol consisted of propofol at 3 mg/kg, fentanyl at 3 μg/kg, and cisatracurium besilate at 0.1 mg/kg.

    Following the successful induction of anesthesia, and once the child was fully muscle-relaxed and unconscious, an endotracheal tube was inserted. Remifentanil was administered via continuous infusion at a rate of 10 to 20 μg/kg/h, the concentration of sevoflurane was titrated within the range of 1% to 3%, and the target BIS value was maintained between 40 and 60. During the operation, vital signs were maintained within 20% of their baseline values through meticulous monitoring and timely interventions with adjustments in the dose of remifentanil and sevoflurane. The end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO2) was maintained within the range of 35 to 45 mmHg by finely adjusting the respiratory rate and tidal volume of mechanical ventilation.

    Atropine was administered to the patient when the heart rate (HR) decreased to less than 60 bpm. If the mean arterial pressure (MAP) dropped by more than 20% from the baseline value, the dosage of maintenance anesthetic drugs was adjusted accordingly. Additionally, norepinephrine or epinephrine was administered as needed to stabilize the patient’s condition based on the anesthesiologist’s discretion. When the MAP increased by more than 30% of the baseline value, clinicians implemented clinical intervention measures based on their professional experience to ensure the safe and successful completion of both anesthesia and surgery.

    Upon completion of the surgery, the administration of maintenance anesthetic drugs was discontinued, and the child, with the endotracheal tube still in place, was transferred to the PACU.

    In the PACU, once the child’s spontaneous respiration was fully recovered, neostigmine at a dose of 0.02 mg/kg and atropine at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg were administered as needed to antagonize any residual muscle relaxation. The endotracheal tube was extubated upon fulfillment of predefined criteria, specifically when the tidal volume was adequate (≥6 mL/kg) and the respiratory rate was at least 15 breaths per minute. Then, the child underwent close monitoring and evaluation in the PACU. Upon achieving an Aldrete score of 9 or higher, the child was transferred back to the ward under supervision.

    Administration Management of Remimazolam Infusion and the Biased Coin Design Up-and-Down, Sequential Method (BCD-UDM)

    Remimazolam was continuously infused from the initiation of anesthesia induction until 5 minutes before the conclusion of surgery, at which point the infusion was terminated. Based on the existing literature16 and the results of the preliminary experiment, the predetermined infusion rate of remimazolam for the first patient was set at 0.8 mg/kg/h, with a dose increment or decrement gradient of 0.1 mg/kg/h. Dose for next patient was based on the response of the previous patient using the BCD-UDM.17 In brief, if the dose administered to the previous patient is considered ineffective (defined as the dose that failed to prevent the patient from experiencing ED), the dose for the next patient will be increased by 0.1 mg/kg/h. Conversely, if the dose administered to the preceding patient is determined to be effective (defined as the dose that successfully prevented the occurrence of ED), the dose for the subsequent patient is established via randomization using the BCD-UDM method with the statistical software R (Γ=0.9). For the next patient, there is an 11% probability [b=(1-Γ)/Γ=0.11] that the remimazolam dose will be decreased by 0.1 mg/kg/h, while there is an 89% probability (1-b=0.89) that it will remain unchanged.

    In accordance with the requirements specified in the remimazolam drug instruction manual, the upper limit of the dose for this study was determined to be 3 mg/kg/h. The study drug was prepared by a research assistant who was not involved in either the clinical management or the study. An anesthesiologist in the recovery room is responsible for ED assessment and management. This anesthesiologist, along with the patients and their guardians, was kept unaware of the dose of remimazolam administered.

    Diagnosis and Management of Emergence Delirium During the Recovery Period

    In the PACU, following extubation of the child’s endotracheal tube, a trained anesthesiologist evaluated the presence and severity of ED during the period from extubation until the child was transferred to the ward. The anesthesiologist systematically documented the corresponding data. If any signs of delirium or restlessness were observed during this period, the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale (Table S1) would be promptly employed for evaluation. A score of ≥10 points on the PAED scale indicates emergence delirium (ED), while a score of ≥15 points suggests severe ED.18 Additionally, the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale (Table S2) would also be used to assess pediatric pain behavior. On the FLACC scale, a score of 0 indicates no pain and comfort, 1–3 points indicate mild pain, 4–6 points indicate moderate pain, and 7–10 points indicate severe pain.19

    Diagnostic process for delirium: postoperative delirium is diagnosed when the PAED score is ≥10 and the FLACC score <4. When the PAED score is ≥10 and the FLACC score is ≥4, indicating moderate to severe pain in the patient, an intravenous injection of 0.1 μg/kg sufentanil is administered. Then, the PAED score is reassessed 5 minutes later. If the reassessed PAED score remains ≥10, ED is diagnosed, irrespective of the FLACC score. Additionally, if a child exhibits ED with a PAED score of ≥15 and the episode duration is ≥2 minutes, it is classified as severe ED.20 If the child does not exhibit ED but the FLACC score is ≥4, rescue analgesics (0.1 μg/kg of sufentanil) are administered. If the patient is asleep, pain assessment is not performed. Patients diagnosed with delirium receive initial comfort measures. Should these measures prove ineffective, an intravenous injection of 1 mg/kg of propofol were administered for treatment and were repeated as necessary. The administration of rescue boluses of propofol and sufentanil was documented.

    Data Collection and Outcome Assessment

    The primary outcome was the effective or ineffective dose of remimazolam for preventing ED. Secondary outcomes were as follows: PAED scale, time of occurrence and interventions in patients with ED; FLACC scale and dose of rescued sufentanil; patients extubation time (defined as the time interval from the discontinuation of anesthetics to extubation), post-anesthesia recovery time (defined as the time from the discontinuation of anesthetics until the child reaches a fully conscious state, characterized by spontaneous eye opening, normal responses to questions, and compliance with movement instructions), as well as the duration of stay in the PACU (defined as the time interval from transfer to the PACU until departure from the PACU), as well as delayed recovery, which is defined as a length of stay in the PACU exceeding 120 minutes; the incidence of adverse effects during the intraoperative and postoperative recovery periods, such as hypotension, and bradycardia. In addition, the level of preoperative anxiety assessed by the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale,21 the anesthesia duration, surgical procedure duration, volume of infused fluids, and concentration of sevoflurane were recorded. The demographic characteristics of patients, including gender, age, weight, height, and BMI, as well as the ASA score, type of surgery, and baseline blood pressure and heart rate, were also systematically recorded.

    Statistical Analysis

    In a dose-finding study employing the biased coin up-and-down design, the data distribution exhibits both non-independence and an unknown structure. Simulation analyses demonstrate that enrolling a minimum of 20 to 40 patients typically provides robust and reliable estimates of the target dose across the majority of scenarios. To account for potential dropouts and achieve a sufficiently narrow 95% confidence interval (95% CI), this study approximately determined a sample size of 52 pediatric patients.

    Continuous data were assessed for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Measurement data conforming to the normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD), and measurement data not conforming to the normal distribution were expressed as median (M) and interquartile range (IQR). Enumeration data were expressed as the number and percentage (%). The ED90 and 95% confidence interval of remimazolam were calculated via the isotonic regression method, which was used as the primary estimate. And Probit regression was also used as a backup estimate in this study. The Pearson χ2 goodness-of-fit test was used to evaluate the satisfaction of the probit model fitting the data. The GraphPad prism software (ver. 10.4.0) was used for graphing. The data processing and statistical analysis of this study were carried out using the SPSS software (ver. 29.0), and the BCD random sequence was generated using the R for Windows software (ver. 4.3.2).

    Results

    The patient recruitment and follow-up period extended from January 1, 2025, to February 28, 2025 (Figure 1). A total of 58 patients were assessed for eligibility. Among the participants, one patient had a neurological or psychiatric disorder (specifically, autism), two patients had upper respiratory tract infections with a fever exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, and three patients declined to participate in the study. Finally, a total of 52 patients were involved in the study, and all of them successfully completed the final analysis. The demographic and baseline characteristics of the patients are presented in Table 1.

    Table 1 Demographic and Baseline Characteristics of the Patients

    Figure 1 Study recruitment diagram.

    The sequence of allocation, as well as the response to the administration of remimazolam, is illustrated in Figure 2. The estimated ED90 and 95% confidence interval [95% CI] of remimazolam for preventing ED in pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane general anesthesia was 1.08 mg/kg/h (1.03–1.97 mg/kg/h) with the isotonic regression method and was 1.07 mg/kg/h (1.02–1.26 mg/kg/h) with Probit probability regression. The results of the Pearson goodness-of-fit χ2 test indicated that the probit model exhibited an adequate fit (P = 0.38).

    Figure 2 Data of the sequential up-and-down responses of remimazolam for the prevention of ED. The starting dose is 0.80 mg/kg/h, and the dose increment is 0.10 mg/kg/h. Solid dots represent successful prevention of ED, while hollow dots represent failure of preventing ED.

    Secondary results are shown in Table 2. The mean extubation time for the patients was 29.94 ± 6.53 minutes, the post-anesthesia recovery time was 45.96 ± 10.53 minutes, and the duration of stay in the PACU was 52.58 ± 9.82 minutes. During the study period, sufentanil rescue was administered in 3 patients (5.8%); hypotension was observed in 4 patients (7.7%) during the anesthesia process; there were no cases of nausea and vomiting, delayed recovery, bradycardia, or hypoxemia during post-anesthesia recovery time.

    Table 2 Postoperative Outcomes and Complications

    For patients who experienced ED, the infusion dose of remimazolam, PAED scores, the timing of ED occurrence, and the interventions administered to patients with ED were summarized in Table 3. A total of eight patients developed delirium, as indicated by a PAED score of ≥10. Among them, one child experienced severe delirium (PAED score ≥16), and four patients received propofol treatment for the management of delirium symptoms.

    Table 3 Failure of Remimazolam in Preventing ED

    Discussion

    The main finding of this study is that the optimal dose of remimazolam for preventing ED in pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia is 1.08 mg/kg/h (95% CI: 1.03–1.97 mg/kg/h). Furthermore, no severe adverse effects were observed during remimazolam infusion within the dose range of 0.8–1.2 mg/kg/h in pediatric patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to explore the dose-response study of remimazolam in preventing ED in pediatric patients.

    Currently, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms underlying post-anesthetic delirium in pediatric patients remain incompletely understood. Recognized high-risk factors include the use of sevoflurane inhalation, preoperative anxiety, unstable anesthetic induction, male sex, preschool age, parental anxiety, and certain types of surgeries (eg, craniofacial surgeries).22 In this study, we enrolled preschool pediatric patients aged 3 to 7 years who underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia. Our results indicate that in 90% of this kind of population who did not experience ED, the infusion dose of remimazolam was 1.08 mg/kg/h. In addition, our results indicated that 4 out of 18 patients (22%, Figure 2) experienced ED at an infusion dose of 1.0 mg/kg/h, which is obviously higher than that reported by Cai et al16 in whose study the incidence of ED was 5% with remimazolam infusion dose at 1.0 mg/kg/h for pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Carefully comparing the protocols of the two studies, we acknowledged that the different types of surgeries might account for this discrepancy.

    The results of current study suggest higher 1.1–1.2 mg/kg/h of remimazolam infusion dose produces less incidence of ED. Given that the pediatric patients in the current study were associated with several high-risk factors for the occurrence of ED during the anesthesia recovery period, we propose that selecting a more appropriate dose of remimazolam (approaching or a little higher than ED90) is particularly critical. This approach can effectively reduce the incidence of ED, alleviate the postoperative management burden on clinical anesthesiologists, and enhance the quality of postoperative recovery for pediatric patients. Additionally, we did not find any undesirable adverse adverse effect associated with high dose infusion in the current study. Therefore, our results suggest the dose of 1.1 and 1.2 mg/kg/h of remimazolam infusion are an effective and safety dose for the study population in the current study.

    The precise mechanism by which remimazolam decreases the incidence of ED remains to be further elucidated. Prior investigations indicate that its potential protective effects may be attributed to a variety of factors, including sedative properties, agonistic effects on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, anti-inflammatory capabilities, vasodilatory actions, and antioxidant activities.23 Nevertheless, the continuous administration of remimazolam during BIS-guided anesthesia can effectively reduce the requirement for sevoflurane, thereby decreasing the incidence of ED. However, this hypothesis needs to be further validated, despite the findings of a recent cohort study suggesting that the dose of sevoflurane was not associated with the severity or occurrence of delirium.24 However, it should be noted that opioids, such as remifentanil, are frequently utilized in clinical anesthesia. Although the dosage in the current study is typically determined based on body weight, it remains unclear whether they interact with remimazolam or whether their combined use influences the risk of ED. Further investigation into this area is warranted.

    In this study, our protocol specifies that the specific antagonist flumazenil was not used to reverse the effects of remimazolam for rapid awakening in children. The extubation time was 29.94 ± 6.53 min, and the recovery time was 45.96 ± 10.53 min, and no patients experienced delayed recovery, which is similar to prior studies16 indicating that infusion of remimazolam at the study dose does not affect the metabolic profiles and leads to delayed recovery.

    A large number of studies have investigated the effects of remimazolam on the prevention and treatment of postoperative delirium across diverse populations, utilizing various protocols, doses, and delivery strategies. These studies recommend a broad infusion dose range of 0.1 to 3.0 mg/kg/h.15,16,25–30 In this study, we possess a distinct advantage in providing dose-response information for the prevention of ED within specific high-incidence populations. Although the ED90 was determined in this study, further investigations into the minimal effective dose for this population using the traditional up-and-down method could provide valuable insights for clinical reference.

    When concerns regarding the safety of remimazolam in pediatric use were raised, a study conducted by Fang et al demonstrated that remimazolam exhibited good tolerability for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia in preschool-age children. It was also found to be non-inferior to propofol, with a lower incidence of adverse effects.10 Similar to prior findings, no other severe adverse events were observed in the current study, which reinforces the safety of remimazolam infusion in pediatric patients. However, caution should be paid when large doses are used in specific population.31

    This study has several limitations. First, while this study determined the ED90 of remimazolam for preventing ED in preschool age children undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy, it was unable to account for potential confounding effects from other variables that might influence the results. Therefore, further studies are warranted to address various scenarios in clinical practice. Second, variations in anesthesia management protocols, particularly in postoperative pain management, might influence the ED90 results of remimazolam for preventing ED, thereby limiting the generalizability of these findings. Third, despite the integration of the FLACC score and the utilization of the PAED assessment scale for diagnosing delirium—both evaluated by a trained professional physician—the scoring system remains inherently subjective. Consequently, clearly differentiating between delirium and postoperative pain in the PACU poses a significant challenge, which may subsequently affect the results despite measures taken, such as pain management strictly adhering to the study protocol and the ED being reassessed via PAED assessment scale 5 minutes after a FLACC score of ≥4. Fourth, it should be noted that our study enrolled pediatric patients without specifically considering factors such as sex, surgical duration or preoperative anxiety, which may influence ED incidence and dose-response relationships. Further studies investigating the impact of these variables on the dose requirements of remimazolam for preventing ED may be warranted. Finally, the 95% CI of the ED90 lies outside the range of doses examined in this study, and therefore, this value was not directly observed. As a result, clinical application of this dose should be approached with caution. Further studies focusing on relatively higher doses in this area are warranted.

    In preschool age children undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia with sevoflurane, the ED90 of remimazolam for preventing emergence delirium during intraoperative continuous infusion was 1.08 mg/kg/h (1.03–1.97 mg/kg/h). However, cautions should be paid as the 95% CI of the ED90 lies outside the range of doses examined in this study.

    Abbreviations

    ED, emergence delirium; ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; PACU, post-anesthesia care unit; BMI, Body mass index; BIS, Bispectral index; PONV, postoperative nausea and vomiting.

    Data Sharing Statement

    The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to the privacy policy but are available from the corresponding authors on reasonable requests.

    Acknowledgment

    The authors sincerely express their gratitude to the colleagues and faculty members from the Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Women and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China, for their valuable contributions and support throughout the study.

    Author Contributions

    All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

    Funding

    There is no funding to report.

    Disclosure

    The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

    References

    1. Kim YH, Yoon SZ, Lim HJ, Yoon SM. Prophylactic use of midazolam or propofol at the end of surgery may reduce the incidence of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2011;39(5):904–908. doi:10.1177/0310057X1103900516

    2. Vlajkovic GP, Sindjelic RP. Emergence delirium in children: many questions, few answers. Anesth Analg. 2007;104(1):84–91. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000250914.91881.a8

    3. Frelich M, Lečbychová K, Vodička V, et al. Effect of BIS-guided anesthesia on emergence delirium following general anesthesia in children: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2024;43(1):101318. doi:10.1016/j.accpm.2023.101318

    4. Mason KP. Paediatric emergence delirium: a comprehensive review and interpretation of the literature. Br J Anaesth. 2017;118(3):335–343. doi:10.1093/bja/aew477

    5. Fu SH, Miao MR, Zhang LY, et al. Prophylactic application of dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of emergence delirium in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2024;43(6):101426. doi:10.1016/j.accpm.2024.101426

    6. Zhou D, Yang XD, Wu HY, Xiong GL, Wang LK. Determination of the ED90 of dexmedetomidine infusion to prevent emergence agitation in children undergoing dental rehabilitation with sevoflurane anesthesia: a biased-coin up-and-down sequential allocation trial. Anesth Analg. 2024;139(4):761–769. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000006626

    7. Shafa A, Rajabi F, Golkar K, Habibzadeh MR. Premedication propofol dose to prevent emergency delirium. Iran J Psychiatry. 2022;17(3):304–311. doi:10.18502/ijps.v17i3.9730

    8. Kim MS, Moon BE, Kim H, Lee JR. Comparison of propofol and fentanyl administered at the end of anaesthesia for prevention of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia in children. Br J Anaesth. 2013;110(2):274–280. doi:10.1093/bja/aes382

    9. He J, Zhang L, Tao T, et al. Nalbuphine reduces the incidence of emergence agitation in children undergoing Adenotonsillectomy: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study. J Clin Anesth. 2023;85:111044. doi:10.1016/j.jclinane.2022.111044

    10. Fang YB, Zhong JW, Szmuk P, et al. Safety and efficacy of remimazolam tosilate for general anaesthesia in paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery: a multicentre, randomised, single-blind, controlled trial. Anaesthesia. 2025;80(3):259–268. doi:10.1111/anae.16475

    11. Lee JH, Lee J, Park SH, Han SH, Kim JH, Park JW. Comparison between remimazolam and propofol anaesthesia for interventional neuroradiology: a randomised controlled trial. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2024;43(2):101337. doi:10.1016/j.accpm.2023.101337

    12. Kim KM. Remimazolam: pharmacological characteristics and clinical applications in anesthesiology. Anesth Pain Med. 2022;17(1):1–11. doi:10.17085/apm.21115

    13. Philip AB, Brohan J, Goudra B. The role of GABA receptors in anesthesia and sedation: an updated review. CNS Drugs. 2025;39(1):39–54. doi:10.1007/s40263-024-01128-6

    14. Gao YQ, Ihmsen H, Hu ZY, et al. Pharmacokinetics of remimazolam after intravenous infusion in anaesthetised children. Br J Anaesth. 2023;131(5):914–920. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2023.08.019

    15. Yang X, Lin C, Chen S, Huang Y, Cheng Q, Yao Y. Remimazolam for the prevention of emergence delirium in children following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia: a randomized controlled study. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022;16:3413–3420. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S381611

    16. Cai YH, Zhong JW, Ma HY, et al. Effect of remimazolam on emergence delirium in children undergoing laparoscopic surgery: a double-blinded randomized trial. Anesthesiology. 2024;141(3):500–510. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005077

    17. Görges M, Zhou G, Brant R, Ansermino JM. Sequential allocation trial design in anesthesia: an introduction to methods, modeling, and clinical applications. Paediatr Anaesth. 2017;27(3):240–247. doi:10.1111/pan.13088

    18. Sikich N, Lerman J. Development and psychometric evaluation of the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium scale. Anesthesiology. 2004;100(5):1138–1145. doi:10.1097/00000542-200405000-00015

    19. Peng T, Qu S, Du Z, Chen Z, Xiao T, Chen R. A systematic review of the measurement properties of face, legs, activity, cry and consolability scale for pediatric pain assessment. J Pain Res. 2023;16:1185–1196. doi:10.2147/JPR.S397064

    20. Somaini M, Engelhardt T, Fumagalli R, Ingelmo PM. Emergence delirium or pain after anaesthesia–how to distinguish between the two in young children: a retrospective analysis of observational studies. Br J Anaesth. 2016;116(3):377–383. doi:10.1093/bja/aev552

    21. Liang Y, Huang W, Hu X, et al. Preoperative anxiety in children aged 2–7 years old: a cross-sectional analysis of the associated risk factors. Transl Pediatr. 2021;10(8):2024–2034. doi:10.21037/tp-21-215

    22. Larsen LG, Wegger M, Lé Greves S, Erngaard L, Hansen TG. Emergence agitation in paediatric day case surgery: a randomised, single-blinded study comparing narcotrend and heart rate variability with standard monitoring. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2022;39(3):261–268. doi:10.1097/EJA.0000000000001649

    23. Sigel E, Ernst M. The benzodiazepine binding sites of GABAA receptors. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2018;39(7):659–671. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2018.03.006

    24. Taylor J, Payne T, Casey C, et al. Sevoflurane dose and postoperative delirium: a prospective cohort analysis. Br J Anaesth. 2023;130(2):e289–e297. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2022.08.022

    25. Lu Y, Xu Q, Dai H, et al. Remimazolam for the prevention of emergence agitation in adults following nasal surgery under general anesthesia: a prospective randomized clinical controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2025;25(1):8. doi:10.1186/s12871-024-02875-1

    26. Fujimoto D, Obata N, Mizobuchi S. Effectiveness of remimazolam in preventing postoperative delirium in elderly patients with proximal femoral fractures. J Anesth. 2024;38(4):475–482. doi:10.1007/s00540-024-03339-z

    27. Fang PP, Hu J, Wei QF, et al. Effect of remimazolam besylate vs propofol on incidence of postoperative delirium in older patients undergoing Hip surgery: a randomized noninferiority trial. Int J Surg. 2025;111(1):1469–1472. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001908

    28. Deng Y, Qin Z, Wu Q, et al. Efficacy and safety of remimazolam besylate versus dexmedetomidine for sedation in non-intubated older patients with agitated delirium after orthopedic surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022;16:2439–2451. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S373772

    29. Zhang J, Zhang J, Wang Y, et al. Effect of remimazolam vs propofol on emergence from general anesthesia in patients undergoing cerebral endovascular procedures: a randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial. J Clin Anesth. 2024;93:111356. doi:10.1016/j.jclinane.2023.111356

    30. Wang M, Liu J, Liu W, et al. Effectiveness of perioperative remimazolam in preventing postoperative delirium: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res. 2025;30(1):122. doi:10.1186/s40001-025-02383-z

    31. Xu Q, Qian J, Zhang SQ, Xia F, Hu HJ, Xiao F. Dose-response study of remimazolam combined with remifentanil for attenuating stress response during laryngeal mask airway insertion in elderly female patients: a prospective double-blinded study. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2025;19:1575–1583. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S494426

    Continue Reading

  • BROAD ARROW PRESENTS ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE OWNED BY DANIEL – GlobeNewswire

    1. BROAD ARROW PRESENTS ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE OWNED BY DANIEL  GlobeNewswire
    2. BROAD ARROW PRESENTS ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE OWNED BY DANIEL RICCIARDO AT ZOUTE CONCOURS AUCTION  Yahoo Finance
    3. Daniel Ricciardo’s Aston Martin Valkyrie to be sold at auction  Gamereactor UK
    4. Former F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo’s rare Aston Martin hyercar is heading to auction and could sell for…  MSN
    5. 160km-Only Aston Martin Valkyrie, Owned by F1 Legend Daniel Ricciardo, Heads to Elite Zoute Auction  Stock Titan

    Continue Reading

  • Long-Term Management of Basal Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Reconstructive Procedures Before the Acquisition of Negative Margins

    Long-Term Management of Basal Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Reconstructive Procedures Before the Acquisition of Negative Margins


    Continue Reading

  • International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation: German bobsleigh athlete Simon Wulff has been sanctioned with a 21-month period of ineligibility

    The International Testing Agency (ITA) reports that German athlete Simon Wulff has been sanctioned with a 21-month period of ineligibility after testing positive for the prohibited substance methylhexanamine.

    The professional bobsleigh athlete Simon Wulff tested positive for 4-methylhexan-2-amine (methylhexanamine) following an in-competition doping control of 7 December 2024.

    The World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and Mr Wulff have concluded a Case Resolution Agreement pursuant to Art. 10.8.2 of the IBSF Anti-Doping Rules (IBSF ADR) according to which the athlete is sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation based on Art. 2.1 of the IBSF ADR with a period of Ineligibility of twenty-one (21) months starting on the date of the sample collection.

    While there is no indication that the athlete, who was cooperative during the proceedings, committed the anti-doping rule violation intentionally, he was – despite significant efforts – not able to establish the source of the prohibited substance identified in his sample. The athlete will therefore be eligible to participate in any activities and competitions as of 7 September 2026. The athlete is, inter alia, allowed to return to train with a team two months before expiry of the period Ineligibility, i.e. as of 7 July 2026.

    Continue Reading

  • UK's first PISCES private company trading platform gets green light – Dentons

    1. UK’s first PISCES private company trading platform gets green light  Dentons
    2. UK: London Stock Exchange to launch the Private Securities Market  Lexology
    3. IFLR weekly roundup: The UK’s FCA approves first PISCES private stock market platform  IFLR
    4. Over-regulation could squander chance for Pisces to revive UK equity market  FT Adviser
    5. London Stock Exchange’s Private Securities Market Obtains PISCES Approval Notice by FCA  Crowdfund Insider

    Continue Reading

  • DNA identifies the ‘ketchup’ used on food by the Roman Empire

    DNA identifies the ‘ketchup’ used on food by the Roman Empire

    Romans loved garum, a salty fish sauce that showed up on tables from Spain to Syria. A new study spells out which fish actually went into it by reading DNA from tiny bones buried in an ancient salting vat.  

    The team worked at Adro Vello, a Roman era fish processing site on Spain’s northwest coast.


    They pulled fragments from the bottom of a vat and extracted ancient DNA, which is genetic material preserved in old remains, to identify the species and peek at past fish populations.  

    Paula F. Campos, CIIMAR at the University of Porto, is the corresponding author who helped lead the genetic work.

    Romans and their sauces

    Roman cooks made fish sauces and pastes in large stone vats along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.

    Workers salted, crushed, and left small fish under controlled fermentation, which broke down tissues and created a savory liquid that seasoned everything from vegetables to meat.  

    That process destroyed the usual features scientists use to tell one fish from another.

    Bones were shattered, and acids from fermentation damaged the DNA inside them, which makes species identification tough without genetics.  

    Even so, the Adro Vello bones held enough information to test a clear question. Did Romans really pack these vats with sardines, as some earlier visual identifications hinted.  

    Reading the recipe

    Researchers sampled the residue at the bottom of a single vat and cleaned the tiny vertebrae and scales. They then built DNA libraries and compared overlapping sequences against the reference genome of European sardine.  

    From those fragments, they assembled the full mitochondrial genome of multiple fish, which is a small circular chromosome inside the cell’s energy factories that helps track maternal lineages. Depth of coverage varied across samples, but it was sufficient to confirm identity.  

    They also used radiocarbon dating, a technique that estimates age by measuring the decay of carbon isotopes, to anchor the material to the early third century AD. That timeline lines up with the period when this coastal factory was active.  

    DNA found in the Roman sauce

    The sauce makers at Adro Vello were using European sardine. Genetic signatures placed the ancient fish with present day sardines from the central Atlantic Iberian region, which signals continuity across nearly two thousand years.  

    Population analyses showed less admixture, meaning less mixing between distant sardine groups, than we see in many modern samples.

    That result hints at lower connectivity among stocks in Roman times, likely due to different fishing pressure and maritime movement.  

    These insights do more than satisfy culinary curiosity. They add data points for how human activity and environment shape marine populations over long periods.  

    How DNA survives fermentation

    “In this study, we demonstrate that usable DNA can survive in fermentation environments, such as the brines used by the Romans to make garum,” concluded Dr. Campos.

    That is not a trivial point, since acids and microbial enzymes can chop DNA into pieces too small to read.

    The team still recovered enough high quality sequences to assemble full mitochondrial genomes and validate species calls with phylogenetic tests. 

    They also reported calendar dates consistent with the site’s archaeological layers. Those dates, along with clean damage patterns typical of truly ancient molecules, strengthen the case that the DNA is original to the vat and not modern contamination. 

    Why Roman sauce matters

    Foodways reveal trade, labor, and taste. Because garum production plants ringed the coasts, matching species to specific factories helps map supply chains and regional preferences across the empire.

    Knowing that Adro Vello used sardines fits finds from other Atlantic facilities. It suggests local fleets targeted schooling fish that could be processed quickly into sauces and pastes for shipment. 

    Linking ancient and modern sardine genomes also provides a baseline for long term change.

    Fisheries managers can compare today’s gene flow and stock structure with a historical snapshot that predates industrial fleets.  

    From Roman vats to present management

    Iberian sardines remain central to coastal economies, and managers in Portugal and Spain use a multi-year plan to set cautious catch limits and seasonal closures.

    Those measures follow scientific advice and aim to stabilize biomass through variable recruitment years. 

    Ancient data will not decide quotas, but it can refine assumptions about how populations connect and change. When models rest on sound baselines, policies stand on firmer ground. 

    The approach used here can travel well beyond Spain. Similar vats exist across the former Roman world, which means there are many chances to test whether other regions leaned on sardine, anchovy, or mixed catches.

    What comes next

    The authors plan to sample other sites to see how recipes varied from Africa to the western Mediterranean.

    With more genomes in hand, they can test whether regional fleets drew on distinct stocks or tapped a shared pool of fish. 

    Better reference genomes will only improve the resolution of species calls and population tests. As methods advance, even more degraded residues may yield clear answers. 

    History often hides in scraps. Here, scraps of bone preserved a record of taste, trade, and the lives of fish that fed an empire.

    The study is published in Antiquity.

    —–

    Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates. 

    Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

    —–

    Continue Reading

  • Dallas Cowboys’ uniform combination vs Philadelphia Eagles for NFL Week 1

    Dallas Cowboys’ uniform combination vs Philadelphia Eagles for NFL Week 1

    The Dallas Cowboys are approximately 24 hours away from kicking off the 2025-26 NFL regular season with a primetime NFC East showdown against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

    When everyone tunes into Thursday night’s game, it will be a traditional look for both teams.

    The Eagles will be wearing their standard midnight green uniforms when they welcome the Cowboys to Lincoln Financial Field, while Dallas will be in their traditional whites.

    MORE: 3 bold predictions for Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 vs Eagles

    It could spell trouble for the Cowboys, because the Eagles were an impressive 6-1 last season while wearing the green jersey/white pants combo. The Cowboys shared a look at their gameday uniform combo on social media with the caption, “Primary whites under the lights.”

    When the Cowboys welcome the Eagles to AT&T Stadium in Week 12, Dallas will once again be wearing its primary whites, while the Eagles will wear their throwback Kelly Green uniforms.

    Dallas will wear its primary whites for four consecutive weeks to start the season, before breaking out the fan-favorite All-White Arctic uniforms on the road in Week 5 against the New York Jets.

    MORE: Top 3 Dallas Cowboys fantasy football players for Week 1

    Dallas will be in its primary whites a total of 11 times throughout the season. We’ll have to see what kind of luck the uniform combo brings for the team in 2025, following a disappointing 2024 campaign.

    Kickoff between the Cowboys and Eagles is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

    A view of Dallas Cowboys players' helmets on the bench against the Washington Commanders at FedExField.

    A view of Dallas Cowboys players’ helmets on the bench against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

    — Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

    NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Where do Cowboys land following shocking trade?

    NFC East Power Rankings: Where do Cowboys rank entering 2025 season?

    3 biggest concerns for Dallas Cowboys entering Week 1 vs. Eagles

    Cowboys land Parsons replacement, bulldozer RB in 2026 NFL mock draft

    Dallas Cowboys open 2025 season with unflattering honor for Week 1

    PHOTOS: Meet Michelle Siemienowski, viral Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader from Netflix doc


    Continue Reading

  • Job openings fall again and hiring has stalled. More evidence of weakening U.S. labor market.

    Job openings fall again and hiring has stalled. More evidence of weakening U.S. labor market.

    By Jeffry Bartash

    New hires barely outpaced jobs losses in July

    There seem to be a lot of job openings in the U.S. economy, but hiring patterns indicate it’s a lot harder to find a job now.

    The number of job openings in the U.S. fell in July to the second lowest level since the pandemic and hiring patterns signaled the labor market has gotten weaker, a new survey shows.

    Job postings dropped to 7.18 million million in July from 7.36 million in the prior month, the government said Wednesday. It was the lowest level since last fall and the second smallest reading since 2020.

    Job openings are still higher compared to the last few months before the pandemic, but they have tumbled from a record 12.1 million in 2022.

    Companies simply aren’t hiring as many people anymore as they grapple with ongoing uncertainty tied to higher U.S. tariffs.

    The so-called hiring rate was unchanged at 3.3% in July and stood at the lowest level since 2013 if the pandemic era is excluded.

    The silver lining? Layoffs also remain very low.

    Companies are reluctant to shrink staff when sales and profits remain fairly strong and a persistent labor shortage would make it harder to fill open jobs when the time arises.

    Big picture: The labor market has weakened considerably over the past year – and it’s not getting any better.

    The government on Friday is expected to report another small increase in employment in August, boosting the odds of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates at its next big meeting in two weeks.

    Yet rate cuts alone are unlikely to rev up the economy.

    Market reaction: The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA fell, and the S&P 500 SPX rose, in Wednesday trading.

    -Jeffry Bartash

    This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. 

    
  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
    

    
  09-03-25 1017ET
    

    Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

    Continue Reading