We are all familiar with the term lifespan. However, someone with a long lifespan does not necessarily have a long healthy quality of life. A relatively new term gaining importance as we live longer is healthspan. Healthspan refers to the length of time a person is healthy, not just alive. As we age, some people

Researchers have uncovered a new class of therapeutic molecules that target the cancer stem cells responsible for metastasis and tumour relapse. Not all cancer cells are the same and various types of cancer cells may exist within the same tumour. Research suggests that a subpopulation of cancer cells, known as cancer stem cells, are responsible

A recent meta-analysis examines whether the heart health claims associated with soy protein should be revoked. Eat onions, they cure cancer. That’d be a pretty handy way of boosting the sale of onions, right? So what’s stopping onion producers making such an outlandish claim? In the United States, you can thank the Food and Drug

Researchers investigated the impact of high-dose radiation on the host immune system during cancer treatments. Over four-fifths of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer mainly occurs in current or former smokers. The treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer are mainly based on the stage of cancer. Radiation therapy

A recent study has examined the effects of exercise on period pain and long-term quality of life. Period pain is a common problem for women of child bearing age and it has a high socioeconomic impact. The cause of period pain is attributed to increased levels of prostaglandins, which cause hyper contractions of the myometrium

Researchers investigate whether there is an association between androgen depletion therapy and dementia. Prostate cancer is androgen sensitive, meaning this cancer grows in response to the presence of androgens. Androgens are male sex hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Androgen deprivation therapy (the removal of circulating androgens) is one of the main approaches to treating

Researchers develop an antisense oligonucleotide ointment that may be useful as a topical treatment for skin cancer Skin cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for one-third of all cancers worldwide. UV exposure puts us at risk for skin cancers by inactivating cell apoptosis. Cell apoptosis is regulated cell death that allows the body to

A recent research study assesses non-invasive methods for screening and detecting endometrial cancer in women. Due to its positioning in the human body, the detection of endometrial cancer in women traditionally requires invasive procedures. However, advancements in biotechnology have unveiled non-invasive methods to screen the endometrium for early detection of endometrial cancer. Early detection is

The link between smoking and cardiovascular disease is well known, but how much more likely is a smoker to suffer from various subtypes of cardiovascular disease? In 2016, 9.4 million deaths were caused by heart disease, making it the number one cause of death in the world. The link between smoking and cardiovascular disease is

Researchers recently identified a group of mood neurons in the brain that may play a key role in emotional development in adolescence. The amygdala is an almond-shaped brain structure that is made up of a set of nerve cells (neurons) responsible for emotional processing and emotional response learning. The amygdala is unique because it continues

In honour of Cord Blood Awareness Month this month, let’s find out what cord blood is and why it matters. Cord blood and tissue come from the placenta and the baby’s umbilical cord. Cord blood is collected after the birth of a baby, once the umbilical cord has been cut. This makes it a safe

Researchers uncover an easy-to-measure and reliable predictor of survival and unplanned hospitalizations amongst patients suffering from blood cancer. This quick and easy measure is gait speed (the speed with patients walk). Gait speed has been recommended as “a practical assessment of functional and physical performance in older patients with cancer.” A second measure that is

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen studied how exercising at different times of day may have different effects on metabolism. Circadian rhythms are biological functions that occur repeatedly over periods of about 24 hours. Some daily rhythms, such as feeding, are easy to identify, while others are less obvious as they happen at the cellular

Scientists at the University of Plymouth explored a novel mechanism for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. The research focused on a type of immune cells called macrophages. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the bowel, causing abdominal cramps, loose stools, weight loss, and increased risk of colorectal cancer. There is no cure for this

A recent study conducted in America investigated the effects of vitamin D on asthma in obese children. Asthma is a long-term respiratory syndrome that can have a serious effect on children’s health. This clinical syndrome involves inflammation of the lungs and hyper-responsiveness of the airways. It is a syndrome that can be caused by many

Researchers investigate whether a combination of fulvestrant and anastrozole will increase survival in HR+breast-cancer patients.   Breast cancer is a complex disease that is difficult to treat. There are different types of breast cancer and each type requires its own unique treatment strategy. There are two broad categories of breast cancer: hormone receptor positive (HR+)

In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, researchers studied the link between a plant-based diet and gingivitis in patients.   Gingivitis and periodontal disease affects about 732 million people worldwide and is increasing drastically. Periodontal disease and gingivitis are one the most common and preventable oral diseases. Researchers examined the effects

Researchers find that existing drug treatment is effective against SCCOHT, a rare and fatal form of ovarian cancer that affects young women. Small cell carcinoma of the ovary is a rare, highly malignant tumor that affect young women with a median age of diagnosis of 24 years. Approximately 3% of cancers in women affect the