A new study investigated the beneficial effects of choline, an important nutrient, in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease across two generations. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the least understood chronic neurodegenerative diseases affecting over 30 million people worldwide. It most commonly affects people over the age of 65 years. Usually, the disease starts
Month: February 2019
The prevalence of food allergies has thoroughly been researched in children. A recent survey investigated the commonness and severity of food allergies in American adults. Food allergies are a potentially fatal condition that can affect the quality of life many patients. Many studies have previously investigated the prevalence of food allergies amongst children, but
A new study by Italian researchers investigated whether the use of pulsed radiofrequency can help relieve lower back pain and sciatica. Lower back pain can be excruciating and debilitating. One of the most common causes of lower back pain is lumbar disc herniation. Discs are like cushions that sit in between vertebrae and act
A recent study determined how emotion regulation may alter negative health effects due to family stress. The human body responds to psychological stress through chronic and acute symptoms. Facing chronic stress at an early age has been identified to increase susceptibility to depression, cardiovascular disease, a weaker immune system, and overall poorer health. An
A recent study investigated why immunotherapy for breast cancer is not as effective as a cancer treatment. Despite the recent advancements in immunotherapy and the new era of personalized medicine to treat different forms of cancer, breast cancer has proven to be a difficult opponent for this new therapy. Previous trials have shown that immunotherapy
A recent study investigated whether one of the benefits of lifting weights is reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Resistance exercise has been shown to improve many cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. However, there is limited information on the benefits of lifting weights
A recent article published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research examined the growth trends of children’s bones. Monitoring bone growth is important for children with developmental and skeletal disorders, such as constitutional growth delay and scoliosis. Healthcare professionals can assess when bones stop growing longitudinally, an event termed epiphyseal fusion, to better understand developmental conditions.
Research shows promise towards understanding the underpinning cellular causes of skin cancer and its potential treatment. The incidence of skin cancer is rising with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a form of non-melanoma skin cancer that is the second most common form of cancer in the United States. Of these, between 2-5% of patients
A study published in Hypertension investigated whether women or men benefit more from a low-salt diet to lower blood pressure. Previous studies suggest women suffer from salt-sensitive high blood pressure more than men. Salt intake can raise blood pressure and can be dangerous for the heart, resulting in heart disease. Therefore, people who suffer
In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers tested whether body mass index is still an effective calculation for projecting cardiovascular health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple calculation of an individual’s weight (in kilograms), divided by their height (in meters squared). Obesity is known to be a
A recent study developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a new device to detect epileptic seizures and act as an epilepsy warning. Despite receiving medication, approximately 30% of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures. Seizures occurring during sleep can be especially dangerous and are often unwitnessed. These epileptic patients are also at high risk
Myth: Using metformin during pregnancy causes birth defects. Truth: This is false. Metformin is an oral tablet that is used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. Also, it is used to treat gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. There has been an increase in the use of metformin during pregnancy
New research investigates the potential effects of a plant-based diet on improving athletic performance and overall health in middle-aged and older endurance athletes. It is no secret that regular exercise is essential for good health. Keeping active in combination with a nutritious diet is beneficial in preventing obesity, maintaining bone density, and preventing loss of
A new study in JAMA Internal Medicine accessed data from over 25000 patients to analyze the risk of community-acquired pneumonia in both non-HIV and HIV patients using opioids as painkillers. People with HIV suffer severe immune deficiencies that compromise their body’s ability to fight pathological conditions, making them prone to a wide spectrum of
A study explores the variation in pain relievers during labor in American women to determine if there are differences in pain relief provided in the different states. Pain relief during labour is usually provided in the form of an epidural. Women who choose to receive this type of pain relief report lower pain and higher
A new study published in Nature Medicine has shown a way to decode the fate of precancerous lung lesions in the development of invasive lung cancer. Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer worldwide, causing an estimated 1.8 million deaths globally in 2018. The disease develops when abnormal cancer cells in the lungs begin
A large-scale study recently published in The Lancet looked at whether a drug used to treat depression was beneficial for stroke recovery. A stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain rupture or get blocked by a blood clot. Blood flow is essential in providing nutrients and oxygen to the brain and a stroke
In a new study in Nature Communications, Tzelepis and colleagues report on a new gene target for leukemia treatment. Acute myeloid leukemia is a type of cancer that affects blood cells, leading to abnormal growths that interfere with normal blood cells. It is extremely aggressive and can lead to death within a few weeks
A recent study attempted to classify patients into five types of insomnia while evaluating differences in expression, treatment, and biology. Humans have a complicated relationship with sleep, often involving mixed feelings. We might yearn to have more time to dedicate for sleep or search for ways to improve its quality. Yet, often simultaneously, we
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic set out to teach a computer how to identify heart disease using an EKG test in patients who do not yet have symptoms. A type of heart disease, called asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, causes the heart to pump improperly without any obvious symptoms. It occurs in 3-6% of the population.
Past methods for antitumor therapies have focused on enhancing systemic immune activity. Yale University researchers have highlighted developments in a more recent approach to cancer immunotherapy that may result in more effective treatments. Since its inception, cancer research has largely been based on the premise of enhancement therapies: immune system boosting treatments that increase
Rumour: Access to high-speed internet reduces sleep quality. Truth: This is true. About 20% of adults ages 19-29 have reported that notifications on their phones wake them up at night. Poor sleep has become a public health concern. Adults are recommended to sleep for seven to nine hours each night to be well-rested. Laptops, computers,
To determine the consequences of increasingly sedentary lifestyles, researchers recently studied how physical activity can counter the negative effects of sitting. Recent statistics show that the average person sits for at least 12 hours per day. This has caused the scientific community to coin the term “sitting disease” to refer to the effects physical
Many cancer patients find that they develop cognitive problems as they become ill. A new study found that aspirin could limit cognitive problems in mice with cancer. Almost half of cancer patients with solid tumors develop cognitive problems, including problems with learning, concentration, and memory. Some of these problems can remain decades after successful cancer
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers examined blood results to determine the effects of smoking on aging. As a society, we are widely aware of the risks of smoking – cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that smoking tobacco results in 480,000 deaths
A New Zealand study published in The Lancet quantifies how much whole grain foods one should eat to prevent diseases and maintain health and wellness. Whole grain foods have long been linked to different health benefits. Whole grain foods include barley, brown rice, buckwheat, oatmeal and whole wheat products. Whole grain foods, as well as
In a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers reviewed the effects of taking probiotics during pregnancy on breast milk sugars and levels. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), are sugar molecules found only in human breast milk. They are typically non-digestible by humans but are very important for infants. It is said that breastfed infants are
Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat of present times. A recent study published in Nature Communications discussed the impact of sewage contamination in the development of antibiotic resistance. Developments of resistant pathogens pose a great challenge in the field of medicine. Bacteria can evolve into resistant forms to overcome antibiotics and favour its survival. Sewage