Tag: could

New 3D-printed device could help treat spinal cord injuries

Engineers and medical researchers at the University of Minnesota have teamed up to create a groundbreaking 3-D-printed device that could someday help patients with long-term spinal cord injuries regain some function. A 3-D-printed guide, made of silicone, serves as a platform for specialized cells that are then 3-D printed on top of it. The guide

Too much sleep could be worse for health than too little

An analysis of pooled data from dozens of studies covering more than 3 million people finds that self-reported sleep duration outside of 7–8 hours each night is linked to a higher risk of death and cardiovascular diseases. The study — which scientists at Keele University in the United Kingdom led and which is now published

Quantity over quality—larger muscles could compensate for poor muscle quality in chronic kidney disease patients

The size of muscles in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) could be more important to maintaining good physical performance than muscle quality, new research has shown. In a paper published in the journal Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, researchers from the University of Leicester have found that patients with large muscles had better physical function,

Bile acids from the gut could help to treat cocaine abuse

Bile acids that aid fat digestion are also found to reduce the rewarding properties of cocaine use, according to a study publishing on July 26 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by India Reddy, Nicholas Smith, and Robb Flynn of Vanderbilt University, Aurelio Galli of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues. The results

How microchips could help detect prostate cancer

Professor of Electronic Engineering Andrew Flewitt is working with researchers at the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Cambridge Centre on a more accurate PSA blood test to detect prostate cancer. At present, the test has limitations for diagnosis and has to be sent off to central labs for the results, a process which can take up

Wearable, at-home patch could spot your A-fib early

(HealthDay)—The common but dangerous heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation—or a-fib—can go undetected for years. Now, research suggests a high-tech, wearable patch might spot the condition early. Use of the Zio XT wireless patch, made by iRhythm, produced “an almost threefold improvement in the rate of diagnosis of a-fib in those actively monitored compared

Oxygen therapy could help combat dementia in individuals with lung disease

Breathing in additional oxygen improves the function of blood vessels in the brain of people with breathing difficulties caused by lung conditions, according to new research published in Experimental Physiology. These findings could have implications for future research aiming to prevent the development of diseases affecting the brain, such as dementia. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Why Your Coffee Machine Could Be Making You Sick

A study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology has identified coffee machines as one of a number of factors that could increase our exposure to fungal toxins in the home. “Coffee makers are just an example of a machine that may release steam indoors and increase the water and humidity that may help

Could Activated Charcoal Be Messing With Your Birth Control?

From teeth whitening to trendy dishes – activated charcoal is taking social media by storm. But recent warnings have highlighted some pretty serious health impacts of the edible. Activated charcoal has long been used as a natural remedy to flush toxins from the body – reducing bloating and even treating poisoning. It’s quickly become a

Targeting ‘microtubules’ could prevent heart failure

One of the most common causes of congestive heart failure is “stiff heart syndrome.” According to Dr. Jerry Sokol — a cardiologist in Deer Park, NY — this causes fluid to build up and back up into the lungs. This occurs “usually in patients older than age 60,” he says. At the microcellular level, they

Prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment could improve with AI

Researchers in Sweden have shown how data-driven AI could contribute to a better understanding of how prostate cancer develops, and even improve clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Every cancer tumor is unique, with characteristics that change over time. This so-called heterogeneity is due to competing clones within a given tumor, as well as

Vertical mergers could be challenging for primary care

(HealthDay)—Vertical level mergers, which incorporate not just health care providers, but also insurers, retailers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), could pose challenges in primary care, according to an article published in Medical Economics. In order to compete with other players in health care and new entrants in the industry, the biggest players are merging to

Improved CPR training could save more lives, research finds

More people will survive cardiac arrest if resuscitation course designers and instructors address shortcomings in educational offerings, new research shows. A new statement released today by the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease, in its journal Circulation, indicates standardized online and in-person courses are falling short and