Ben Coxworth Because it doesn’t show up in either blood tests or brain scans, Parkinson’s disease can be frustratingly difficult to diagnose. A new device could help, however, by repeatedly bending the patient’s finger. It may make diagnoses easier, and allow treatment to start earlier. Developed at Melbourne, Australia’s Bionics Institute, the tool is known as the Bionics Institute Rigidity Device...
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Prostate medicines linked to type 2 diabetes risk, study suggests
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Researchers say patients should continue to take the drugs, which are commonly prescribed to older men, but warn they may need additional health checks. The team stressed that current treatment guidelines do not need to change, based on their study of patient health records. Men with enlarged prostates are commonly prescribed drugs called 5-alpha-reductase...
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CNIO researchers assess melanoma progression with a new liquid biopsy technique
CENTRO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES ONCOLÓGICAS (CNIO) When the surgeon surgically removes a melanoma, some patients are said to be ‘cancer-free’ and they do not get additional treatment. However, should the fluid obtained in the drainage implanted after surgery be tested using the liquid biopsy technique rather than be disposed of as medical waste, the test might predict the high or...
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Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 predicts advanced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY [Background] Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with liver inflammation in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and it can progress to liver fibrosis at an advanced stage, and also to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal hypertension. Although liver fibrosis is considered to be accurately diagnosed via biopsy, noninvasive methods are preferable. Aldo-keto...
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USC research shows remedy for painful jaw disease
A new treatment method could help cancer patients and others by eliminating an agonizing side effect called osteonecrosis of the jaw UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USC researchers and collaborators report a breakthrough to prevent damage to the jaw, a side effect suffered by some people undergoing treatment for cancer or osteoporosis. The newly published research is an important step toward...
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How grief affects the immune system
by Alexis Blue, University of Arizona Losing a loved one is one of the most stressful life experiences a person will endure, and its toll can be physical as well as emotional. Science has shown, for example, that widows and widowers have a 41 percent higher risk of early death, compared to their still-married peers. Bereavement’s...
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Expert tips for reducing running injuries
by Len Canter, Healthday Reporter (HealthDay)—Most runners are enthusiastic about their sport and take steps to work out safely. But injuries like stress fractures and muscle strains, among others, are common and can sideline you, sometimes for weeks if not months. Researchers point to hard heel-toe landings as one key injury risk factor. This type of landing increases vertical...
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Study suggests ‘rest is best’ for carpal tunnel and similar injuries
Rest offers relief for overuse-induced disorders without the side effects of drugs EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY Orlando, Fla. (April 9, 2019) – In a new study conducted in rats, researchers found a four-week period of rest was nearly as effective as an experimental drug at reducing discomfort and regaining function after an injury from repeated moderate-strain activity. The findings are relevant to...
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Teeth whitening products can harm protein-rich tooth layer
Researchers show active ingredient in whitening strips damages dentin EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY Orlando, Fla. (April 9, 2019) – Americans spend more than a billion dollars on teeth whitening products each year. Although these products can make smiles brighter, new research shows that they might also be causing tooth damage. In three new studies, researchers found that hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient in over-the-counter whitening strips, can damage the protein-rich dentin tissue found beneath...
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Novel 5-minute workout improves blood pressure, may boost brain function
by Lisa Marshall, University of Colorado at Boulder Could working out five minutes a day, without lifting a single weight or jogging a single step, reduce your heart attack risk, help you think more clearly and boost your sports performance? Preliminary results from a clinical trial of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST), presented this week at the Experimental...