Processed diets, which are low in fiber, may initially reduce the incidence of foodborne infectious diseases such as E. coli infections, but might also increase the incidence of diseases characterized by low-grade chronic infection and inflammation such as diabetes, according to researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. This study used...
Month: <span>May 2021</span>
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Risk factors for multiple drug use
Many drug addicts take not only one substance but rather several. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Göttingen have investigated the role that genes and the environment play in the development of such multiple substance consumption or polytoxicomania. Their results show that, in addition to genetic factors, the accumulation of several...
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Too much salt suppresses phagocytes
MAX DELBRÜCK CENTER FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE IN THE HELMHOLTZ ASSOCIATION IMAGE: INCREASED SODIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN THE BLOOD CAUSE THE MITOCHONDRIA – THE POWER PLANTS OF THE CELLS – TO TEMPORARILY PRODUCE LESS ATP. CREDIT: FELIX PETERMANN, MDC For many of us, adding salt to a meal is a perfectly normal thing to do. We don’t...
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Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON A single dose of vaccine boosts protection against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variants, but only in those with previous COVID-19, a study has found. In those who have not previously been infected and have so far only received one dose of vaccine the immune response to variants of concern may be insufficient. The findings,...
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New cuff-based technology monitors endothelial function to aid prevention, treatment of heart disease
by Ruby Barcklay, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Credit: CC0 Public Domain Blood pressure monitors are a common at-home tool for monitoring heart health, but they don’t look at the health of the endothelium, the lining of the blood vessels. And endothelial function is a powerful predictor of heart attack and stroke. It has also been linked to COVID-19in...
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New test detects residual cancer DNA in the blood without relying on tumor data
by Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer cell during cell division. Credit: National Institutes of Health After patients with cancer undergo surgery to remove a tumor and sometimes additional chemotherapy, tools are used to identify patients at highest risk of recurrence. Non-invasive tools to detect microscopic disease are of especially high value. In a new study published in Clinical Cancer...
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COVID-19 SURVIVORS FACE HIGHER RISK OF DEATH AND SERIOUS ILLNESS
As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, it has become clear that many survivors—even those who had mild cases—continue to manage a variety of health problems long after the initial infection should have resolved. The researchers have catalogued the numerous diseases associated with COVID-19, providing a big-picture overview of the long-term complications of COVID-19 and revealing...
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Algorithm scours electronic health records to reveal hidden kidney disease
by Columbia University Irving Medical Center Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Diagnosing chronic kidney disease, which is often undetected until it causes irreversible damage, may soon become automated with a new algorithm that interprets data from electronic medical records. The algorithm, developed by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, automatically scours a patient’s electronic...
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Delayed antibiotic prescribing is safe and effective for most patients
by British Medical Journal Credit: CC0 Public Domain Delayed antibiotic prescribing is a safe and effective strategy for most patients with respiratory tract infections, finds an analysis of patient data published by The BMJ today. Delayed antibiotic prescribing—also known as ‘just in case prescribing’ – is where patients agree not to collect a prescription immediately and see if symptoms settle to...
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Nearly $500 million a year in Medicare costs goes to 7 services with no net health benefits
by Enrique Rivero, University of California, Los Angeles Credit: CC0 Public Domain A UCLA-led study shows that physicians frequently order preventive medical services for adult Medicare beneficiaries that are considered unnecessary and of “low value” by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force—at a cost of $478 million per year. The researchers analyzed national survey data over...