Tag: research

When it comes to diet-induced obesity, your immune system is not always your friend. Adipose (fatty) tissue is infiltrated by white blood cells that have been linked to the development of inflammation, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. How this happens is complicated and under intense investigation by researchers around the world. Now, from a

Four scientists have won prestigious medical awards for genetics research and development of a widely used anesthetic nicknamed “milk of amnesia.” Winners of the $250,000 awards from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation were announced Tuesday. The prizes will be presented later this month in New York. The clinical medicine award went to John B.

Researchers are beginning recruitment in a trial to see if changing pregnant women’s hygiene habits could reduce the risks of a major cause of childhood disabilities. Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is the most common congenital infection in the UK, affecting around 1000 babies every year. If babies are infected while in the womb it can result

A comprehensive analysis of eight clinical trials and four cohort studies on cervical cancer screening by researchers from UC Davis and Kaiser Permanente Northwest has found that while Pap smears are still highly effective for detecting pre-cancerous cells and cancer, testing for the virus that causes these cancers also is an excellent screening tool. The

Around 17 percent of people die from cancer, but the disease is not a problem restricted to humans; it affects a wide range of species. From cats and dogs to fish and Tasmanian devils — even duck-billed dinosaurs seem to have been afflicted. Interestingly, under 5 percent of elephants in captivity die from cancer. This

The brain is a precision instrument. Its function depends on finely calibrated electrical activity triggering the release of chemical messages between neurons. But sometimes the brain’s careful balance is knocked out of control, as in epilepsy. Electroencephalography, or EEG, visualizes a brain’s electrical activity and can reveal how an epileptic seizure diverges from the predictable

For the past two years, Tim Riker, a lecturer of American Sign Language at Brown University’s Center for Language Studies, has worked with a group of University of Massachusetts Medical School researchers to tackle a significant problem: low levels of health literacy within the Deaf community, due in part to the disconnect between biomedical researchers

The first-ever statewide survey of Minnesota food-shelf users uncovered important information about a population whose voices are rarely represented in research. A survey of 4,250 users from 188 food shelves revealed both a demand for healthier foods, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as confidence for cooking with these foods at home. This data

Stimulant medications are an effective treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In the classroom, parents and teachers say that medications like methylphenidate (MPH) can reduce symptoms and improve behavior. Although stimulants have been in use for decades to treat ADHD in school-aged children, just how they work hasn’t been clear. But the results of a new

An increasing amount of evidence suggests that following a vegetarian diet has undeniable health benefits, so much so that a recent study out of Harvard University calculated that at least one-third of premature deaths could be prevented if everyone cut meat from their diets. Researchers say that these findings – presented at the Unite to Cure

Wouldn’t it be great if something that wasn’t kale, gluten free, or dairy free turned out to be good for you? Well, science is on your side today, with new research showing that yoghurt is an effective tool in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study, which was published in the American Journal of

Want to fight off the flu this winter? Researchers have found that consuming flavonoid-rich foods could help reduce the damage. Refresher: these include colourful foods and drinks like blueberries, capsicum, strawberries, citrus fruits, red wine and, yes, a big cup of black tea. While scientists have known for a while that flavonoid-rich foods could help bolster

Poor protein in a mother’s diet in early pregnancy, around the time of conception, can have a lasting effect on brain development, according to research recently published by University of Southampton academics. The project, led by Dr. Sandrine Willaime-Morawek, in collaboration with Professor Tom Fleming, is the first to clearly demonstrate that poor maternal nutrition

Fighting cancer means killing cancer cells. However, oncologists know that it’s also important to halt the movement of cancer cells before they spread throughout the body. New research, published today in the journal Nature Communications, shows that it may be possible to freeze cancer cells and kill them where they stand. Raymond Bergan, M.D., Division

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

NHS is ‘nowhere near crisis point yet’: Ipsos MORI chief says it’ll take a ‘few more bad winters’ for true turmoil, just days after Theresa May promised £20 billion more for the health service Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos MORI, made the controversial comments  His comments come days after Theresa May promised a cash

It’s called the Silver Tsunami—the increased incidence of cancer with ageing, combined with the rapidly ageing population means that the Australian health system needs to prepare for an onslaught of cancer diagnoses. A new study out of Monash University, published today in the journal Cell Reports, may have found a group of immune cells that

As more patients leave feedback on online platforms including social media, research shows how health and social care organisations can offer value in their response. Led by Rebecca Baines and Professor Ray Jones from the University of Plymouth in collaboration with James Munro, the CEO of Care Opinion, the study highlights 19 key factors centred

Researchers at the University of Glasgow suggest Robert Burns may have had bipolar disorder, according to a paper published in The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. More than 800 letters and journals have helped the academics to analyse the mental state of Robert Burns. The project also looked beyond Scotland’s national

A new study of the educational needs of students who are native users of American Sign Language (ASL) shows glaring disparities in their treatment by the U.S Department of Education. The article, “If you use ASL, should you study ESL? Limitations of a modality-b(i)ased policy”, by Elena Koulidobrova (Central Connecticut State University), Marlon Kunze (Gallaudet