by Public Library of Science While genes linked to severe COVID-19 were associated with established risk factors and adverse outcomes, including deep vein thrombosis, a significant subset of these genes had opposite associations with reduced risk of immune-mediated disorders such as psoriasis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Credit: Anurag Verma, Katherine Liao, and Scott Damrauer (CC-BY...
by Ekaterina Pesheva, Harvard Medical School Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Healthy sleep is a basic physiologic need. In its absence, a myriad of processes in the body can go terribly awry. Chronic sleep problems have been linked to mental health disorders, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, among other conditions. Yet, consistently achieving the...
Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. Apr 28 2022 A new study projects that a U.S. ban on menthol cigarettes, proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will lead more than 1.3 million smokers to quit. Among them, Black smokers will see the greatest impact. Researchers from the University of Waterloo led the study, in...
COVID-19 may be primarily a respiratory illness, but its reach extends beyond the lungs. Since the pandemic’s onset, neurologists have realized that the pervasive disease can impact even our most precious organ—the brain. The neurologic and psychiatric complications of COVID-19 are incredibly diverse and sometimes persist long after patients recover from their initial infections. Studying...
A group of rare diseases called ciliopathies — polycystic kidney disease notable among them — emerge from defects in cilia. These are the tiny hairlike structures on the surface of almost every cell type. The specific molecular-level disruptions in cilia that trigger these diseases are poorly understood. In a novel experiment, scientists “knocked out,” or deleted, the cilia...
Chemists integrated computer functions into rolling DNA-based motors, opening a new realm of possibilities for miniature molecular robots. Nature Nanotechnology published the development of the first DNA-based motors that combine computational power with the ability to burn fuel and move in an intentional direction. “One of our big innovations, beyond getting the DNA motors to perform...
Written by Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP | Reviewed by Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS Updated on April 21, 2022 Key takeaways: Stopping some medications abruptly — like beta blockers, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants — can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from certain medications can cause serious side effects. The risk is typically greater if you’ve been...
Written by Michael Dreis, MD | Reviewed by Katie E. Golden, MDPublished on March 3, 2022 Key takeaways: Back pain can often feel severe and debilitating, but the cause usually isn’t a serious or permanent condition. The main causes of back pain are sprains, strains, and muscle spasms. More serious causes of back pain include...
TUFTS UNIVERSITY IMAGE: RESEARCHERS AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY HAVE DISCOVERED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF ASTROCYTES IN THE BRAIN. CREDIT: ILLUSTRATOR: SIENA FRIED FOR TUFTS UNIVERSITY Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have discovered a previously unknown function performed by a type of cell that comprises nearly half of all cells in the brain. The scientists say this discovery...
APRIL 28TH, 2022 CONN HASTINGS EXCLUSIVE, NEUROLOGY, REHAB Cionic, a medtech company based in San Francisco, created the Neural Sleeve, a wearable that is designed to enhance movement for those with mobility issues. The company describes its device as a bionic garment, and it has recently been cleared by the FDA for use in those with...
