UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON Decreased folate levels in the bloodstream have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, shedding light on why those patients are more susceptible to heart and vascular disease, according to research published today in JAMA Network Open by experts at...
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No benefit found in using broad-spectrum antibiotics as initial pneumonia treatment
by University of Utah Health Sciences Doctors who use drugs that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria as a first-line defense against pneumonia should probably reconsider this approach, according to a new study of more than 88,000 veterans hospitalized with the disease. The study, conducted by University of Utah Health and VA Salt Lake City Health Care System...
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Coronavirus Alert!
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE SUMMARY as of 2/26/2020 Information summarized from WHO, CDC, CNN CDC established a COVID-19 Incident Management System on January 7, 2020. On January 21, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better provide ongoing support to the COVID-19 response. Although WHO has declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” the...
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DNA “Scissors” Could Cut Out the Alzheimer’s Causing Gene in Mice
Scientists at Dongguk University successfully treated Alzheimer’s disease in mice using the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9. They used the tool to edit out the Alzheimer’s causing gene in the mice, thereby improving their memory and other cognitive functions. While this is only a first step and much research remains to be done, these promising results put...
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Pint-sized molecule could slip through the gaps to tackle Parkinson’s
The progression of Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a reduced ability of the brain to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for the messaging that controls body movement. For this reason, much research in the area concentrates on developing therapies that can arrest this slide, and scientists in Finland have now uncovered a promising path forward...
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New technology may significantly reduce diagnostic time of coronavirus
by Bar-Ilan University Diagnosing coronavirus takes approximately one hour using current methods. A new technology, based on a combination of optics and magnetic particles, can rapidly test 100 samples of patients potentially infected with the virus and reduce the diagnostic time to approximately 15 minutes. The time it currently takes to diagnose coronavirus poses one...
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A Common Cough Syrup Drug Just Passed Another Trial as Parkinson’s Treatment
PETER DOCKRILL A drug first discovered over 50 years ago and long used as a medicine for coughs and respiratory illnesses appears to show promise in treating a very different kind of sickness: Parkinson’s disease. Ambroxol, an active ingredient in cough mixtures since the 1970s, has been investigated in recent years for its apparent potential...
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Vitamin E effective, safe for fatty liver in HIV patients
Type of fatty liver disease that commonly affects patients with HIV can be safely treated with vitamin E, a McGill-led study has found. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is characterized by liver inflammation and cell damage. It is a potentially dangerous condition that can progress to...
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HYDROGEL ‘BIOFACTORIES’ COULD MAKE MEDS IN REMOTE PLACES
A new method for producing and preserving medicines and chemicals involves embedding portable “biofactories” in water-based gels known as hydrogels, researchers report. The approach could help people in remote villages or on military missions. In these circumstances, the absence of pharmacies, doctor’s offices, or even basic refrigeration makes it hard to access critical medicines and...
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OVERCHARGED CELL PROCESS CLEARS DANGEROUS ALS ‘JUNK’
A surprising discovery about the aggregates that build up in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, could pave the way for a new kind of intervention. ALS is the progressive degeneration of motor neurons that causes people to lose the ability to move and eventually speak, eat, and...