Psychologists at the University of Sussex have found a link between depression and an acceleration of the rate at which the brain ages. Although scientists have previously reported that people with depression or anxiety have an increased risk of dementia in later life, this is the first study that provides comprehensive evidence for the effect...
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South Asian-Americans at higher risk for heart disease and stroke
Research review finds greater risk than for East Asian-Americans and whites (CHICAGO) – South Asians living in the United States are more likely to die of heart conditions caused by atherosclerosis, such as heart attacks and strokes, than East Asians and non-Hispanic whites in the U.S. Clinical experts at Rush University Medical Center reported this finding...
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Newer PSA Test Reportedly Would Prevent 40 Percent of Biopsies
A new blood test aims for better detection of prostate cancer, but some say it’s not the breakthrough we’ve been hoping for. Researchers continue to try to improve upon the blood test used to screen for prostate cancer— the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A new test claims to help physicians get more accuracy and avoid unnecessary...
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FDA Clears FlowTriever, First Device to Pull Blood Clots from Lungs
The FlowTriever went through a clinical study involving 106 patients with acute pulmonary embolism and RV/LV (right ventricular/left ventricular) ratio of at least 0.9 that were treated using the device instead of commonly used clot busters. According to the company, “the mean RV/LV ratio in the study decreased from a baseline of 1.53 to 1.15 at 48 hours...
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Predicting relapses in patients with autoimmune vascular disease
Patients with an autoimmune disorder called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis produce antibodies that damage blood vessels in the body. In some cases, patients’ antibodies target a protein called myeloperoxidase. New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology indicates that for patients in remission, reappearance of antibodies against myeloperoxidase is a sign that patients will experience a relapse of...
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Text messages provide support for people with diabetes
An innovative University of Auckland trial using text messages has proven a success in getting people to manage their diabetes better. Academics at the University’s National Institute for Health Innovation (NIHI), part of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, developed a text message based self-management programme. The Self-Management Support for Blood Glucose (SMS4BG) was...
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Leg exercise is critical to brain and nervous system health
In a new take on the exercise truism ‘use it, or lose it,’ researchers show neurological health is an interactive relationship with our muscles and our world Groundbreaking research shows that neurological health depends as much on signals sent by the body’s large, leg muscles to the brain as it does on directives from the...
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US soldiers may soon have health monitors IMPLANTED so remote doctors can track their blood pressure, sleep, insulin, diet – and even perform robotic surgeries remotely in emergencies
The Army Surgeon General is pushing for greater integration of technology into the military’s medical practices Chips implanted in soldiers may soon send constant data to remote hospitals This could shorten the time between battlefield injury and treatment Data from trackers could also prevent injury by detecting when troops are not ready and fit for battle ...
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Mechanisms of harmful overhydration and brain swelling
We are all familiar with the drawbacks of dehydration, but we rarely hear about the harmful effects of overhydration. For one, excess fluid accumulation can lead to dangerously low sodium levels in the blood or hyponatremia—a life-threatening condition that can result in brain swelling. Similarly, more is known about the mechanisms in the body that...
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Severe asthma: Eczema drug succeeds where others fail
Two new studies — one of which is a double-blind, randomized trial — show that the eczema drug dupilumab is safer and more effective than current therapies for treating severe asthma. Estimates suggest that up to 25 million people in the United States have asthma, and over 31 million have a form of eczema. The link between eczema, or atopic dermatitis,...