A study in mice finds that a compound modeled on a protein found in bananas safely protects against multiple strains of the influenza virus, Ebola and coronaviruses. Source: Antiviral compound offers hope against deadly flu
Month: January 2020
Vitamin C-B1-steroid combo linked to lower septic shock mortality in kids
Treating septic shock in children with a combination of intravenous vitamin C, vitamin B1 and hydrocortisone (a commonly used steroid) is associated with lower mortality, according to a study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Source:… Read More ›
Adult exposure to chickenpox linked to lower risk of shingles, but does not provide full protection
Adults who are exposed to a child with chickenpox (varicella) in the home are around 30% less likely to develop shingles (herpes zoster) over 20 years, finds a study in The BMJ today. Source: Adult exposure to chickenpox linked to… Read More ›
Can lithium halt progression of Alzheimer’s disease?
In a new study, a team of researchers at McGill University has shown that, when given in a formulation that facilitates passage to the brain, lithium in doses up to 400 times lower than what is currently being prescribed for… Read More ›
Patients suffer invasive treatments for harmless cancers
Australians are increasingly being diagnosed with cancers that will do them no harm if left undetected or untreated, exposing them to unnecessary surgeries and chemotherapy, says a new study published online today in the Medical Journal of Australia. Source: Patients… Read More ›
An egg a day not tied to risk of heart disease
The controversy about whether eggs are good or bad for your heart health may be solved, and about one a day is fine. A team of researchers from the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University and Hamilton Health… Read More ›
Study assesses absorption, blood levels of active ingredients in sunscreen
A randomized clinical trial with 48 healthy volunteers assessed the absorption of six active ingredients (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate) in four sunscreen products formulated as lotion and sprays (aerosol, nonaerosol and pump). This study builds on a prior… Read More ›
Treatment for depression must also restore proper functioning of the blood-brain barrier
To better treat people with depression, not only must we treat the neurons affected by the disease, but we must also restore the integrity of the barrier that regulates exchanges between blood circulation and the brain. This is the conclusion… Read More ›
Plant pigment can significantly reduce blood pressure
A new paper in Nutrition Reviews finds that intake of the flavonoid quercetin can greatly reduce high blood pressure in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. Source: Plant pigment can significantly reduce blood pressure
Blue light can help heal mild traumatic brain injury
Daily exposure to blue wavelength light each morning helps to re-entrain the circadian rhythm so that people get better, more regular sleep which was translated into improvements in cognitive function, reduced daytime sleepiness and actual brain repair. Source: Blue light… Read More ›
Whooping cough evolving into a superbug
Whooping cough bacteria are becoming smarter at colonising and feeding off unwitting hosts — whether they have been vaccinated or not — strengthening calls for a new vaccine, according to UNSW researchers. Source: Whooping cough evolving into a superbug
America’s most widely consumed oil causes genetic changes in the brain
New UC Riverside research shows soybean oil not only leads to obesity and diabetes, but could also affect neurological conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Source: America’s most widely consumed oil causes genetic changes in the brain
Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy metals as biggest contributors to IQ loss
Adverse outcomes from childhood exposures to lead and mercury are on the decline in the United States, likely due to decades of restrictions on the use of heavy metals, a new study finds. Source: Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy… Read More ›
Gut bacteria could guard against Parkinson’s, study finds
A common bacteria that boosts digestive health can slow — and even reverse — build-up of a protein associated with Parkinson’s, new research suggests. Source: Gut bacteria could guard against Parkinson’s, study finds
Egg-based flu vaccines: Not all they’re cracked up to be?
Flu season is underway in the Northern Hemisphere, sickening millions of people and in rare cases, causing hospitalization or death. The best prevention is a flu shot, but it’s not unusual for these vaccines to be less effective than intended…. Read More ›
Could pancreatitis be a stress hormone deficiency?
UT Southwestern researchers find that humans and mice with pancreatitis are deficient in a stress hormone called FGF21. Source: Could pancreatitis be a stress hormone deficiency?
MDI biological scientists identify pathways that extend lifespan by 500%
Scientists at the MDI Biological Laboratory, in collaboration with scientists from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, Calif., and Nanjing University in China, have identified synergistic cellular pathways for longevity that amplify lifespan fivefold in C. elegans,… Read More ›
Tea drinkers live longer
Drinking tea at least three times a week is linked with a longer and healthier life, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Source: Tea… Read More ›
Copper-based nanomaterials can kill cancer cells in mice
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from KU Leuven, the University of Bremen, the Leibniz Institute of Materials Engineering, and the University of Ioannina has succeeded in killing tumor cells in mice using nano-sized copper compounds together with immunotherapy. After the… Read More ›
BPA replacement hinders heart function, study reveals
BPA’s counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study. Source: BPA replacement hinders heart function, study reveals