Graphical abstract summarizes the workflow and major findings of the study. Credit: Science China Press In a recent study published in the Science Bulletin, researchers comprehensively examined the composition and phenotypic features of myeloid cells in human failing hearts at a single-cell level, offering valuable insights into potential targets for monitoring and treating cardiac inflammation […]
The suicide rate for men is about four times higher than for women. While men make up 50% of the population, they account for 80% of the suicides. Yet, suicide risk in men often goes unnoticed. Now new research may offer hope. A UCLA-led study of public health records has identified a vocabulary associated with […]
EPOC X Electrode Montage (adapted from Williams et al., 2023). Credit: Frontiers in Neuroergonomics (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2024.1340732 As people age, their brains do, too. But if a brain ages prematurely, there is potential for age-related diseases such as mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease. If “brain age” could be easily calculated, then premature brain […]
Left anterior descending coronary artery with atherosclerotic lesion immunofluorescently stained for alpha-smooth muscle cell (green), collagen-I (red) and nuclei (blue) in an animal model. Credit: Dr. Onorina Manzo Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have uncovered a way to unleash in blood vessels the protective effects of a type of fat-related molecule known as a sphingolipid, suggesting […]
This study analyzed 1,937 infertile and 640 fertile men, validating disease-causing variants in RASopathy-linked genes. Credit: Andero Kalju. A surprisingly high fraction of infertile men presenting congenital testicular maldescent, cryptorchidism were revealed as undiagnosed cases of congenital RASopathy syndromes, as stated in a recent publication in Frontiers in Endocrinology by researchers from the University of […]
For years, even as opioid overdose deaths dramatically increased, doctors and other prescribers in the United States needed special permission from the federal government if they wanted to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication that helps patients overcome opioid addiction and prevents fatal overdoses. That requirement, called an “X waiver,” was eliminated on January 12, 2023, due […]
To make chemotherapy dosing more accurate, MIT engineers have come up with a way to continuously measure how much drug is in the patient’s system during the hours-long infusion. This could help compensate for differences caused by body composition, genetics, drug toxicity, and circadian fluctuations. Credit: Courtesy of the researchers When cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, […]
NECTIN4 amplification predicts EV response in mUC. Credit: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024). DOI: 10.1200/JCO.23.01983 An interdisciplinary research team has published new findings that indicate which patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma could benefit in particular from the new targeted therapy with the antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, […]
Credit: Markus Winkler from Pexels Semaglutide (sold as Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus) was initially developed to treat diabetes. It works by stimulating the production of insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check. This type of drug is increasingly being prescribed for weight loss, despite the fact it was initially approved for another purpose. Recently, […]
There are many factors which affect how successfully a vaccine is rolled out. One of these is the public health communication strategy. Surprisingly, a key factor in determining the success of these strategies is religion. While some religious groups were keen to be vaccinated against COVID-19, others were much more hesitant. During the height of […]
Fluorescence image of sensory axons, in red, connecting with visceral white fat tissue seven days after a spinal cord injury in an adult mouse. Credit: Andrea Tedeschi Conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, and vascular diseases commonly diagnosed in people with spinal cord injuries can be traced to abnormal post-injury neuronal activity that causes abdominal […]
In a proof-of-concept study, researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of a potential new therapy for Timothy syndrome, an often life-threatening and rare genetic disorder that affects a wide range of bodily systems, leading to severe cardiac, neurological, and psychiatric symptoms as well as physical differences such as webbed fingers and toes. The treatment restored typical cellular […]
Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has gained immense popularity since its inception in 2023. It has boasted a number of sold out games and has set audience attendance records in Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Detroit and Minnesota. Despite this, the league is still lacking in safety measures. Currently, the PWHL […]
Pathological assessments of brains from individuals with Pick’s disease. Credit: The Lancet Neurology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00083-8 Pick’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease of unknown genetic origin, is a rare type of frontotemporal dementia that affects people under the age of 65. The condition causes changes in personality, behavior and sometimes language impairment. In patients with the […]
Primary human hepatocytes display a circadian rhythm in culture. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm9281 Giving drugs at different times of day could significantly affect how they are metabolized in the liver, according to a new study from MIT. Using tiny, engineered livers derived from cells from human donors, the researchers found that many genes […]
Overall procedure of wheeze counting algorithm development and applications. Credit: PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294447 A University of Texas at Dallas researcher and his international colleagues have developed an algorithm that might one day provide early medical alerts about the onset of asthma attacks or other respiratory problems. The algorithm, described in a study published […]
Researchers from Aston University have found that people following healthy eating accounts on social media for as little as two weeks ate more fruit and vegetables and less junk food. The work is published in the journal DIGITAL HEALTH. Previous research has shown that positive social norms about fruit and vegetables increases individuals’ consumption. The […]
In today’s digital age, social media platforms like TikTok have become integral parts of our lives, offering not just entertainment and catchy dances but also a wealth of information on topics ranging from home improvement to world news. According to some reports, many young people even prefer to use social media in place of traditional […]
Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, for which a risk factor is their greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes, with a disproportionate impact on those of non-European heritage. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have identified four previously unknown genetic variants associated with diabetes risk in all survivors. Published in […]
New research has found a significant association between participating in low to moderate intensity exercise and reduced rates of depression. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) carried out an umbrella review of studies carried out across the world to examine the potential of physical activity as a mental health intervention. The analysis, published in the […]
Credit: Tara Winstead from Pexels Around 1 in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed when people experience problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that negatively impacts them at school or work, in social settings and […]
The unique circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic altered a long-held convention that doctors provide care regardless of personal risk. In a study assessing doctors’ tolerance for refusing care to COVID-19 patients, Duke Health researchers identified a growing acceptance to withhold care because of safety concerns. “All the papers throughout history have shown that physicians […]
In terms of men’s health issues, prostate cancer features high on the agenda. It’s the second most diagnosed cancer in men globally—closely followed by lung cancer. And it’s the most common cancer in men in the UK. As the prostate is a reproductive organ with its main job being to help make semen—the fluid that […]
Schematic evolutionary simulation and tested optimization approaches. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303165121 Cleveland Clinic researchers developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can determine the best combination and timeline to use when prescribing drugs to treat a bacterial infection, based solely on how quickly the bacteria grow given certain […]
There’s been an increase in content posted on TikTok and Instagram recently discussing the alleged dangers of birth control. Content creators have shared concerns about the pill’s side-effects ranging from weight gain to low libido and fluctuating moods. Other claims are misleading because they exaggerate the risks associated with contraception, cancer and infertility. Many of […]
Graphical abstract. Credit: iScience (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109288 A new paper describes the role of two RNA-binding proteins in the development of sarcoma and carcinoma cancers, highlighting the important and emerging role of RNA-binding proteins in cancer research and offering a new avenue for therapeutic targets. This research was a key component of the Ph.D. thesis […]
Evolution of annual per capita fish consumption over the past 50 years. A range of economic, nutritional, religious and ideological factors influence our diets. The key, however, lies in finding a balance that cares for both our health and that of the planet. The traditional Mediterranean and Atlantic diets are two options that meet these […]
Each LED in the device mirrors the activity of a few thousand neurons. Credit: University of California San Diego Researchers have created a thin film that combines an electrode grid and LEDs that can both track and produce a visual representation of the brain’s activity in real-time during surgery—a huge improvement over the current state […]
As patients with congenital heart diseases live longer, researchers are attempting to understand some of the other complications they may face as they age. A team from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) used state-of-the-art technologies to understand the underlying biology of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD). The findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, reveal unprecedented insights […]
Gene enrichment for select Basal-like network modules. Network diagram for eight nonconserved Basal-like modules that include OS genes. Nodes are grouped by their module membership. Module genes that are enriched for at least one GO process are colored to represent their enrichment category. Node size reflects its number of connections. Credit: GEN Biotechnology (2024). DOI: […]
Proportion of persons with an improvement in HbA1c of 0.5% (5.5 mmol/mol) and 1% (11 mmol/mol) and time in range of 5% and 10%. Credit: Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1177/19322968241242386 Blood sugar levels improve when adults with type 1 diabetes use modern insulin pumps. These are the findings of a study […]
Schematic to show the direct (T1R3-dependent) and indirect (bacteria-dependent) impact of the artificial sweetener neotame on the intestinal epithelial cell. Credit: Frontiers in Nutrition (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1366409 New research has discovered that neotame, one of the new generation of artificial sweeteners, is capable of damaging the human intestine and causing illness. The study is the […]
A team of MIT researchers found highly memorable images have stronger and sustained responses in ventro-occipital brain cortices, peaking at around 300ms. Conceptually similar but easily forgettable images quickly fade away. Credit: Alex Shipps/MIT CSAIL For nearly a decade, a team of MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) researchers have been seeking to […]
Cedars-Sinai investigators can identify comprehensive cardiovascular risk from CT scans obtained without contrast dye, which some patients cannot tolerate, through the use of AI algorithms. Credit: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center A recent study designed and implemented by investigators at Cedars-Sinai found that artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately evaluate cardiovascular risk during a routine chest computed tomography […]
Credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels An Australian researcher says we should consider cholesterol screening earlier in life, with his team’s latest research showing that interventions to prevent and reduce “bad” cholesterol in childhood and young adulthood may help prevent premature heart disease later in life. Publishing in JAMA, researchers from the Baker Heart and Diabetes […]
An artistic recreation of MRSA. Michigan State University researcher Xuefei Huang is developing new vaccine science in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Credit: Jennifer Oosthuizen, medical illustrator. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Image Library. Driven by the overuse of antimicrobials, pathogens are quickly building up resistances to once-successful treatments. It’s estimated that […]
The majority of children and teens with chronic skin diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia areata (hair loss) and vitiligo (pigment loss) feel stigmatized by peers for their condition and are sometimes bullied, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. As a result, these children have a poor quality of life that includes suffering from […]
The majority of children and teens with chronic skin diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia areata (hair loss) and vitiligo (pigment loss) feel stigmatized by peers for their condition and are sometimes bullied, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. As a result, these children have a poor quality of life that includes suffering from […]
A new study published in JAMA led by John W. Ayers, Ph.D., from the Qualcomm Institute within UC San Diego, finds that X’s Community Notes, a crowdsourced approach to addressing misinformation, countered false health information in popular posts about COVID-19 vaccines with accurate, credible responses. Credit: Screenshot by Qualcomm Institute, UC San Diego As the […]
Credit: L. Francisco Lorenzo-Martín (EPFL) In a breakthrough for cancer research, scientists at EPFL have created lab-grown mini-colons that can accurately mimic the development of colorectal tumors, offering a powerful new tool for studying and testing treatments for the disease. As our battle against cancer rages on, the quest for more sophisticated and realistic models […]
Nursing homes in disadvantaged communities are more likely to overmedicate residents with antipsychotics, especially homes that are understaffed, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. “The neighborhood in which a nursing home is located seems to influence how widely antipsychotics are used, even when they may not be indicated,” said Jasmine Travers, assistant […]
Multimodal analyses of cells from abnormal tunnels in Crohn’s disease converge to illuminate underlying pathomechanisms. Credit: Med/Cell Press (Elsevier) Mount Sinai researchers have published the first study to use single-cell analysis in identifying several pathophysiological mechanisms of abnormal passageways in the digestive system known as perianal fistulae, a common complication of Crohn’s disease. These findings […]
Dr. Jan Böttcher, group leader and TUM Junior Fellow at the Institute of Molecular Immunology at Klinikum rechts der Isar (left) and doctoral student Sebastian Lacher in front of an immunofluorescence microscopy image of a tumor in which tumor-infiltrating immune cells can be seen. Credit: Astrid Eckert / TUM Tumors actively prevent the formation of […]
Mara Rue, Ph.D., co-lead author and scientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science. Credit: Peter Kim/Allen Institute Scientists have long known that our brains are organized into specialized areas, each responsible for distinct tasks. The visual cortex processes what we see, for instance, while the motor cortex governs movement. But how these regions form—and […]
Example of a tumor obtained by reducing the expression levels of a Polycomb protein. On the left is an example of precursor tissue of the eye during normal development. On the right, a tumor has been initiated by reducing the level of a Polycomb protein. DNA is stained blue. In green, a protein located at […]
Identification of 18 patients diagnosed with muscular dystrophy carrying biallelic SNUPN variants. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45933-5 A study, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on a newly identified subtype of muscular dystrophy, revealing an unsuspected role of SNUPN gene in muscle cell function. Led by Assistant Prof. Dr. Nathalie Escande Beillard, Prof. Dr. […]
Peptide inhibitors bringing about collagen (shown in green) retention inside cells. Credit: Ishier Raote/Centro de Regulación Genómica Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona and the University of Cologne in Germany have developed a new experimental strategy to tackle scarring and fibrosis. Experiments with patient-derived human cells and animal models showed the strategy […]
Researchers from NDORMS in collaboration with international institutions have demonstrated the potential of using environmental measurements and deep learning modeling to predict malaria outbreaks in South Asia. The study offers promising insights into improving early warning systems for one of the world’s deadliest diseases. Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, with approximately half of […]
Dermatologists advise their patients to avoid harmful ultraviolet light, which can cause skin damage, photo-aging and skin cancer. But they also may prescribe light therapy to treat certain skin conditions. Light therapy is a treatment that uses different wavelengths of light to treat various skin conditions. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Dawn Davis, a […]
The percentage of married American women under the age of 50 who are infertile rose between 2011 and 2019, new government statistics show. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth show that “the percentage of married women ages 15–49 who were infertile rose from 2011–2015 (6.7%) to 2015–2019 (8.7%),” according to researchers. There was […]
by CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Biomedical sequencing of RNA at CeMM. Credit: Klaus Pichler / CEMM When pathogens invade the body, the immune system must react immediately to prevent or contain an infection. But how do our defense cells stay ready when no attacker is in sight? […]
Nearly 40% of Americans live where the air is polluted enough to harm them, a new report warns. In the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report, released Wednesday, the number of people living with levels of air pollution that could jeopardize their health climbed from about 119 million in 2023 to 131 million […]
Lisa Pisano looks at photos of her dog after her surgeries at NYU Langone Health in New York on Monday, April 22, 2024. Doctors transplanted a pig kidney into Pisano, who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also included a fix for her failing heart. Credit: AP Photo/Shelby Lum Doctors […]
The number of people in France living beyond 110 years is growing fast, the national demographic studies institute said Wednesday, with women dominating the supercentenarian contest. The phenomenon was unheard of in France of until the late 1980s, but in 2022 the authorities recorded 39 cases of people dying aged 110 or older, the INED […]
An oak tree with new leaf growth also shows pollen and a drop of water hanging among the branches at a park in Richardson, Texas, Thursday, March 21, 2024. There are three main types of pollen. Earlier in the spring, tree pollen is the main culprit. After that grasses pollinate, followed by weeds in the […]
Global immunization efforts have saved at least 154 million lives in the past 50 years, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, adding that most of those to benefit were infants. That is the equivalent of six lives saved every minute of every year of the half century, the UN health agency said. In a study […]
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a new online heat forecaster to help communities better prepare for summer’s scorching temperatures. The HeatRisk Forecast Tool is a joint effort between the CDC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service to give Americans a week-long heads-up that broiling temperatures are […]
A budget-busting 3.6 million Medicare recipients could now be eligible for coverage of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, a new KFF analysis says. That’s because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Wegovy (semaglutide) to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke in certain patients, the study says. The FDA’s ruling […]
Researchers at Texas Children’s Cancer Center and the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Methodist have published results of a Phase I clinical trial of a novel immunotherapy for high-risk sarcomas in the journal Nature Cancer. The therapy uses chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells […]
It can be difficult to understand how busy parents often feel lonely. But a new survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds it is a widespread issue that most parents experience. Credit: The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center A new national survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds […]
A new study has found that Black women with poor cardiovascular health may face an elevated risk of early signs of cognitive decline in midlife. The study, which is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, included 363 Black and 402 white women who enrolled in the Chicago site of the Study of […]
Credit: Eren Li from Pexels Sleep and sleep disturbances have consequences for the development of adolescents and young adults. In a new article, researchers examine sleep during these periods, focusing on the effects of ethnic and racial discrimination. They conclude that improving sleep may boost health for all youth, but especially for those affected by […]
Why do some young children struggle to sit through a story one day but not the next? Why do they rush impulsively into one activity but not another? Parents and teachers often focus on individual differences as they prepare children for formal schooling, but traditional measurement approaches make it difficult to study fluctuations in children’s […]
Essential tremor, a nervous system disorder that causes rhythmic shaking, is one of the most common movement disorders. A new study published in the Annals of Neurology reveals details on the increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia that individuals with essential tremor may face. The research represents the longest available longitudinal prospective […]
Researchers have identified Australian regions with high rates of cardiac arrest and low rates of CPR, prompting calls for targeted education campaigns to improve awareness about avoiding and treating heart issues. The Monash University-led project identified Australian regions with high incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and low rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The […]
U.S. health officials issued a warning Tuesday about counterfeit Botox injections that have sickened 22 people. Half of the individuals have ended up in the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency issued an alert to doctors on Tuesday. The cases started in early November and have been reported in […]
Brussels has launched a wave of investigations against China in the past few months. The European Union on Wednesday announced a probe into China’s medical devices market, prompting an immediate accusation from Beijing that the bloc was engaging in “protectionism”. Brussels fears China is favoring its own suppliers when it comes to the procurement of […]
US health authorities said Tuesday they had discovered fragments of bird flu virus in the nation’s pasteurized cow milk supply during the course of a large study, but the samples likely posed no health risk to humans. An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has spread among dairy cattle herds throughout the country and […]
The tobacco industry has long appealed to youth through targeted marketing that glamorizes smoking with imagery of candy-flavored products, celebrity endorsements, social settings, and other enticing tactics. That marketing approach appears to be particularly effective on social media, according to a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers. Published in […]
The blue circle represents ground truth-based evidence, the pink represents potential methods, and the gray area represents supplemental methods. Credit: Mini Han Wang, Zhuhai People’s Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the more common eye diseases, affecting up to 30% of the world’s population. This disease can […]
In Europe and North America, 30 to 60% of dietary energy intake in adults comes from ultra-processed foods. An increasing number of epidemiological studies suggest a link between higher consumption levels of ultra-processed foods with higher risks of diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Emulsifiers are among the most commonly used additives. They are often added […]
This Nov. 11, 2013 file photo shows a bedroom built by Mike Spangler using some reclaimed materials, in Belle, W.Va. Nearly one-third of American adults don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Some of the major causes: Stress, anxiety and a culture that experts say is about productivity, not rest. […]
Mayo Clinic researchers have used a new approach to chemotherapy to more than double the typical survival rate for patients with stomach cancer and peritoneal metastasis, which is cancer that has spread to the lining of the abdominal cavity, according to a study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. Stomach cancer, which is also […]
Mary Kaupas participates in a experiment to study how humans of various ages reach for targets. Tubes monitor her breathing to measure how much energy she uses. Credit: Erik Summerside/Mary Kaupas It’s one of the inescapable realities of aging: The older we get, the slower we tend to move—whether we’re walking around the block or […]
Main Effect of Medication (Ibudilast > Placebo) on Whole Brain Activation to Stress vs. Control. Participants treated with ibudilast had greater activation than those treated with placebo during stress relative to control conditions in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex (whole-brain cluster corrected at Z > 3.1, p < .05). Credit: Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental […]
Even with important strides in addressing health issues across the globe, men have not benefited equally compared to women. Men’s life expectancies have not grown as steadily as women’s over the past few decades, and they are expected to live about five years less than women, according to 2021 global health data from the Human […]
by Christopher Pepping, Geoff Macdonald, Tim Cronin and Yuthika Girme, The Conversation Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make it difficult for them to find a partner or maintain a relationship. But is […]
Inspired by swimming fish and the microstructure of the nasal cavity, short-swimming fibrous nasal drops with the ability to transport drugs along the nasal mucosa were innovatively constructed by guiding electrospun fibers into the swimming short fibrous nasal drops via electrospinning, homogenization, and subsequent multifunctional modifications to achieve precise intraventricular administration by targeting the nasal […]
Group comparisons of lnGALP scores in the CoGM and WM, CoT, and normalized brain volume in MS as compared with HC (A–D); in MS patients on H-DMT (HT) as compared with MS patients on low-efficacy or no DMT (LT) and as compared with HC (E–H); and in progressive versus RMS patients in the HT group […]
Credit: Magda Ehlers from Pexels No one can predict the future, but putting together an advance directive can bring you peace of mind and a plan for your medical care during an emergency or end of life. Dr. Maisha Robinson, chair of the Palliative Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic in Florida, advises people to have […]
Study finds that interaction between strangers leads to higher levels of inter- and intra-brain synchronization compared to that in close acquaintances. Credit: Yuto Kurihara from Waseda University We experience the world and connect with others through social interactions. Engaging in activities, such as conversations, cooperative tasks, and intimate relationships, deeply affect brain activity leading to […]
Validation via cancers diagnosis. Credit: Nature Sustainability (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01323-9 An accurate, affordable, environmentally and user-friendly diagnostic tool for multiple cancers—including pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers—is reported in a paper in Nature Sustainability. The tool can diagnose cancers within minutes and could help to address the need for accessible diagnostic tools, especially in remote areas. […]
Eventually, most adults reach a point where we realize we are out of touch with those much younger than us. Perhaps it is a pop culture reference that sparks the realization. For me, this moment happened when I was in my late 20s and working with adolescents in school settings to help them quit smoking. […]
Researchers have described the optimal timing for COVID-19 patients to take the antiviral, Paxlovid, to get the most benefit from the treatment, according to a study published April 16 in eLife. The findings suggest that taking Paxlovid three to five days after COVID-19 symptoms emerge may maximize the drug’s ability to reduce viral loads, minimize […]
by Giovanni E Ferreira, Christine Lin, Christopher Maher, Ian Harris and Joshua Zadro, The Conversation Credit: AI-generated image Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disk replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. According to a biography of the billionaire, he’s had chronic […]
New research suggests psilocybin has similar side effects to traditional antidepressants. Commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” psilocybin is a promising alternative treatment for people with medication-resistant depression and anxiety. Previous studies have suggested that the psychedelic fungi can have positive effects for patients suffering from some mental illnesses, but one question remains: Is psilocybin […]
When it comes to matters of the heart, cardiovascular disease in women is underdiagnosed compared to men. A popular scoring system used to estimate how likely a person is to develop a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years is the Framingham Risk Score. It is based on factors including age, sex, cholesterol levels, and […]
Only 4% of cancer survivors are fully adherent to current American Cancer Society (ACS) nutrition and physical activity guidelines, according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Oncology. Carter Baughman, M.D., from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance […]
A UC Davis Health study reveals persistent racial and social disparities preventing access to autoHCT, a common bone marrow transplant treatment to halt the progression of multiple myeloma. An analysis of data from three California health care organizations, published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia, showed that Black myeloma patients were less likely to receive […]
America is going the wrong way when it comes to prescribing antibiotics, with 1 in 4 prescriptions going to patients who have conditions that the drugs won’t touch, a new study finds. In fact, the percentage of all antibiotic prescriptions given to treat conditions they’re useless against was even higher in December 2021 than it […]
New research published in the European Respiratory Journal shows that nearly half of European people with bronchiectasis do not regularly practice airway clearance management. Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection. International guidelines […]
These images show microglia containing lipid droplets (white spots). Researchers at UC San Diego have revealed that in brains with Alzheimer’s and related diseases, neurons offload excess lipid droplets to microglia, which triggers further inflammation. Credit: UC San Diego Health Sciences Alzheimer’s disease causes significant problems with memory, thinking and behavior and is the most […]
For longer-term nursing home residents, initiation of antihypertensive medication is associated with an increased risk for fractures and falls, according to a study published online April 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Chintan V. Dave, Pharm.D., Ph.D., from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study using target trial emulation […]
For many decades, if not centuries, researchers, medical professionals and the general population have believed that people with flat feet are more prone to developing a variety of problems. Specifically, having flat feet was believed to predispose individuals to future pain and other musculoskeletal problems (i.e. to muscles, tendons and/or ligaments). Flat feet were believed […]
Within the last century, researchers’ understanding of genetics has undergone a profound transformation. Genes, regions of DNA that are largely responsible for our physical characteristics, were considered unchanging under the original model of genetics pioneered by biologist Gregor Mendel in 1865. That is, genes were thought to be largely unaffected by a person’s environment. The […]
Dengue infections in pregnant women may have a negative impact on the first years of children’s lives, new research has found. Dengue fever is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease globally and poses a threat to half of the world’s population. There has been a dramatic rise in cases over recent years, with cases in the […]
Illustration shows anatomy of central projections of nociceptors and A?-LTMRs and the inter-modal and inter-somatotopic crosstalk. Credit: Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47245-0 People often experience the phenomenon of injuring a hand and feeling relief from vigorously shaking it. The mechanism behind this effect is fairly well explained by the “gate control theory” of Melzack […]
About six out of 10 working-age adults hit with a cancer diagnosis say it put real pressure on their financial survival, a new report finds. “Today’s findings reiterate the critical role access to affordable, quality care and paid family medical leave plays in reducing the financial toll of cancer on those diagnosed—particularly while they are […]
In a study of patients who smoked when they were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, those who quit smoking before starting chemotherapy or radiation responded better to treatment, were less likely to need their voice boxes surgically removed, and lived significantly longer than those who continued to smoke. The research, from the University of Oklahoma, is […]
Modified sports with shorter game times and more focus on fun than winning could prove key to encouraging older Australians to play sport and keep fit. New Flinders University research has found adults play sport for the enjoyment, to improve their fitness and to socialize, but injuries, illness and family commitments can hamper participation. “We […]