Cleveland Clinic researchers have shown, for the first time in humans, that choline is directly linked to increased production of a gut bacteria byproduct that increases the risk of blood-clotting events like heart attack and stroke. However, the research also showed that adding a low dose of aspirin may reduce that risk. In a small...
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Stem cells may improve tendon healing, reduce retear risk in rotator cuff surgery
An injection of a patient’s bone marrow stem cells during rotator cuff surgery significantly improved healing and tendon durability, according to a study presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Each year in the U.S., more than 2 million people have rotator cuff surgery to re-attach their shoulder tendon...
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Stem cell innovation regrows rotator cuffs
A team of researchers from UConn Health has found a way to regenerate rotator cuff tendons after they’re torn, using a nano-textured fabric seeded with stem cells. Every time you throw a ball, swing a golf club, reach for a jar on a shelf, or cradle a baby, you can thank your rotator cuff....
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Protection for the gut barrier: New approach may prevent graft-versus-host disease
Stem cell transplants can save lives, for example in patients with leukemia. However, these treatments are not free of risks. One complication that may occur is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), basically donor-derived immune cells attacking the recipient’s body. A team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has identified molecular mechanisms that may protect patients against...
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Study signals need to screen genes for stem cell transplants
Regenerative medicine using human pluripotent stem cells to grow transplantable tissue outside the body carries the promise to treat a range of intractable disorders, such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. However, a research team from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI), Harvard Medical School (HMS), and the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad...
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Medicare recipients using rehabilitation services report major functional improvements
The latest study by Assistant Professor Nancy Gell (center) shows that regardless of demographics senior citizens benefit equally from the use of rehabilitation services offered through Medicare. A new study showing significant patient-reported functional improvement among Medicare recipients who utilize rehabilitation services offers hope for America’s 65-and-older set, which is expected to double by...
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‘Mind-blowing’ study of people born with one hand reveals scientists have misunderstood how the brain works for centuries
Study suggests brain areas are organised by functions rather than body parts This could fundamentally change our understanding of how the brain works Study looked at one-handed people as they performed different tasks The area of the brain associated with the subjects’ missing hand was activated when they used different body parts A ‘mind-blowing’ discovery...
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Autism Speaks issues special report
Autism Speaks today issued the first in a series of annual, in-depth reports on special topics in autism. Autism and Health: Advances in Understanding and Treating the Health Conditions that Frequently Accompany Autism gathers into one comprehensive report the most authoritative research and the latest guidelines on treatment and support of children and adults with...
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More evidence Parkinson’s starts in the gut: Removing a section of digestive tract nerve lowers your risk by 40%, study claims
A new study provides more evidence that Parkinson’s disease starts in the gut Scientists studied patients who had vagotomies – a removal of part of a nerve which extends from the brainstem to the abdomen Those who had the trunk removed were 40% less likely to develop the disease More evidence has emerged suggesting that...
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Discovery offers new hope to repair spinal cord injuries
Todd McDevitt (right), Jessica Butts (center) and Dylan McCreedy (left) created a special type of neuron from human stem cells that could potentially repair spinal cord injuries. Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes created a special type of neuron from human stem cells that could potentially repair spinal cord injuries. These cells, called V2a interneurons, transmit...