GALVESTON, Texas -Researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that testosterone replacement therapy may slow disease progression of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The paper is currently available in Chronic Respiratory Disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is predicted by the World Health Organization to be the third-leading cause of...
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Viruses show new promise in treating cancer
Viruses have shown renewed promise in the treatment of cancer after new research has shown they retain their cancer-killing ability even when injected into the bloodstream. This electron microscope image shows white blood cells containing virus particles (shown in red circles). White blood cells can reactivate the virus as it travels to the tumor site, allowing it...
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Researchers testing new brain cancer vaccine
Rush University Medical Center is part of a new clinical trial testing whether an experimental vaccine can help patients’ immune systems stop the spread of glioblastoma—an aggressive form of brain cancer with very few current treatment options. Glioblastoma (histology slide). Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 Led by neuro-oncologist Clement Pillainayagam, MD, the phase II clinical trial...
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Scientists identify new cellular target to weaken P. aeruginosa—a severe threat to patients with cystic fibrosis
Scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have identified new means of fighting drug-tolerant bacteria, a growing global threat as menacing as drug-resistant microbes. Little is known about the mechanisms leading to tolerance, a strategy that makes bacteria “indifferent” to antibiotics and almost “un-killable,” which results in chronic infections extremely...
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Caspase-2 enzyme inhibitor shows promise for ameliorating fatty liver disease
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered using mice and human clinical specimens, that caspase-2, a protein-cleaving enzyme, is a critical driver of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a chronic and aggressive liver condition. By identifying caspase-2’s critical role, they believe an inhibitor of this enzyme could provide an effective way to stop...
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Five reasons you could develop heart disease before 50
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet people generally associate it with an older, aging population. But heart attacks, strokes and other types of heart disease can be blind to age—particularly when certain factors are in play. Here are five reasons why heart disease can strike by the age of 50:...
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Make-up and skincare contain a cocktail of chemicals that could leave women infertile or even cause breast cancer
Chemicals include parabens and BPA, which encourage male breast growth Women with these chemicals in their urine produce abnormal hormone levels Preservatives in cosmetics mimic oestrogen and can cause weight gain Make-up and skin care products contain a cocktail of chemicals that could leave women infertile and even cause breast cancer. These chemicals include parabens and BPA, which...
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Dietary fiber reduces brain inflammation during aging
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES URBANA, Ill. – As mammals age, immune cells in the brain known as microglia become chronically inflamed. In this state, they produce chemicals known to impair cognitive and motor function. That’s one explanation for why memory fades and other brain functions decline during old age....
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Mixed chemicals in beauty products may harm women’s hormones
As we go about our daily lives, we are exposed to many different chemicals that could have negative effects on our hormones. These hormonal changes have been linked to several adverse health outcomes such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, understanding chemicals that influence hormone levels is important for public health—and particularly for women’s...
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What is the link between lupus and arthritis?
Lupus and arthritis are different conditions, but lupus often causes people to develop arthritis or joint pain. The causes and treatments for lupus and arthritis are different, so people should be aware of the differences between the two conditions. There may be a genetic link between lupus and arthritis, though there are also significant genetic...