Category: Health Problems

Inverse link for plasma 25(OH)D concentration, risk of T2DM

(HealthDay)—There is an inverse association for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration with diabetes risk, according to a study published online April 19 in PLOS ONE. Sue K. Park, M.D., Ph.D., from the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea, and colleagues performed a cohort study involving 903 adults who were known to be

Researchers identify spike in severe black lung disease among former US coal miners

The number of cases of progressive massive fibrosis, the most severe form of black lung disease, has been increasing dramatically among coal workers and especially younger workers in central Appalachia. These new findings represent the first-ever documentation of this spike and were presented by Kirsten Almberg, research assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences

Space-like gravity weakens biochemical signals in muscle formation

Astronauts go through many physiological changes during their time in spaceflight, including lower muscle mass and slower muscle development. Similar symptoms can occur in the muscles of people on Earth’s surface, too. In fact, it could affect everyone to some extent later in life. “Age-related skeletal muscle disorders, such as sarcopenia, are becoming a greater

Surgery benefits older women with breast cancer

In a BJS (British Journal of Surgery) analysis of 18,730 older patients with oestrogen receptor- positive breast cancer in the UK, the risk of dying from breast cancer was greater in patients treated with primary endocrine therapy than in those who received surgery. For the study, researchers analysed cancer registration data from two English regions

Posttraumatic stress affects academics

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by traumatic military experiences is associated with feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness and/or guilt. New Penn State research is evaluating how PTSD symptoms increase risks for academic difficulties as well. Steffany Fredman, assistant professor of human development and family studies and the Karl R. Fink and Diane Wendle Fink Early

Surveillance intensity not associated with earlier detection of recurrence or improved survival in colorectal cancer

A national retrospective study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found no association between intensity of post-treatment surveillance and detection of recurrence or overall survival (OS) in patients with stage I, II or III colorectal cancer (CRC). Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study is

Clues found to early lung transplant failure

Among organ transplant patients, those receiving new lungs face a higher rate of organ failure and death compared with people undergoing heart, kidney and liver transplants. One of the culprits is inflammation that damages the newly transplanted lung. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Northwestern University Feinberg School of

Researchers discover novel mode of neurotransmitter-based communication

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine have discovered the first example of a novel mode of neurotransmitter-based communication. The discovery, published in Nature Communications, challenges current dogma about mechanisms of signaling in the brain, and uncovers new pathways for developing therapies for disorders like epilepsy, anxiety and chronic pain. Voltage-gated potassium

Molecular basis for varied presentations of ETEC explored

(HealthDay)—The EtpA adhesion molecule, which is secreted by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain H10407, is a dominant ETEC blood group A-specific lectin/hemagglutinin, according to a study published online May 17 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Pardeep Kumar, Ph.D., from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues examined the molecular basis

Adding chiropractic to usual care beneficial for low back pain

(HealthDay)—For active-duty military personnel, the addition of chiropractic care to usual medical care is associated with improvements in low back pain intensity and disability, according to a study published online May 18 in JAMA Network Open. Christine M. Goertz, Ph.D., from the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research in Davenport, Iowa, and colleagues conducted a three-site