by Dan Baumgardt, The Conversation Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainDry scalp? Blocked ears? Crusted eyes? Our bodies produce many different unusual, sometimes repellent secretions, and their function doesn’t always seem entirely clear. But each has their own important role, which often goes unappreciated. Flaky or dry scalp is an extremely common condition, but in severe cases it...
Year: <span>2024</span>
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Can Ozempic treat depression? Early signs point to yes
by Lisa Jarvis, Bloomberg Opinion Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainAdd depression to the growing list of chronic diseases that obesity medicines might alleviate. Signs of improved mental health are showing up in the health records of people who take the broader class of medicines known as GLP-1s, which include Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly &...
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Study discovers molecular mechanism that could explain why eating too much protein is bad for your arteries
by University of Pittsburgh Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers discovered a molecular mechanism by which excessive dietary protein could increase atherosclerosis risk. The findings were published in Nature Metabolism. The study, which combined small human trials with experiments in mice and cells in a Petri dish, showed that consuming over 22%...
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Frozen shoulder research may hold the key to understanding fibrosis resolution
by NDORMS, University of Oxford Tissue sections show frozen shoulder patient tissues exhibit an increased number of cells and blood vessels relative to non-diseased comparator shoulder capsule. Credit: Prof. Stephanie DakinResearchers have identified how cells work to resolve frozen shoulder, opening up potential new targets for treatment and reducing the need for surgery. Frozen shoulder is...
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Genetic risk prediction for ten chronic diseases moves closer to the clinic
by Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Credit: CC0 Public DomainBy analyzing millions of small genetic differences across a person’s genome, researchers can calculate a polygenic risk score to estimate someone’s lifetime odds of developing a certain disease. Over the past decade, scientists have developed these risk scores for dozens of diseases, including heart disease, kidney...
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Study discovers link between high levels of niacin and heart disease
by Cleveland Clinic Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainCleveland Clinic researchers have identified a new pathway that contributes to cardiovascular disease associated with high levels of niacin, a common B vitamin previously recommended to lower cholesterol. The team, led by Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., discovered a link between 4PY, a breakdown product from excess niacin, and heart disease....
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For Washington patients with serious mental illness, this little-known right may get stronger
by Hannah Furfaro, The Seattle Times Credit: CC0 Public DomainAndrea Boyd’s son has been in crisis often enough to know the urgency of getting treatment when he needs it. In his 20s, without proper care and medication, he drifted onto the streets for nearly a decade. He also knows the specific kind of care he...
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Seniors, FDA has 5 medication tips to keep you safe
by Dennis Thompson When settling into your senior years, you need to be especially careful when taking medicines, herbal remedies and supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. That’s because older adults are likely to use more prescription and over-the-counter medications, which increases the risk of harmful side effects and drug interactions, the FDA...
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Exercising With Osteoarthritis: Five Things to Know
Lucy Hicks It’s no secret that regular exercise is important. But for patients with painful joints, it can be the last thing they want to do. Exercise is one of the cornerstones of managing arthritis, yet nearly one third of patients with arthritis are inactive. Guidelines recommend that clinicians encourage their patients to engage in...
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Immune Response May Cause Virus-Induced Neurologic Damage
Gwendolyn Rak Neurologic damage following acute viral infections may be attributed to an excessive immune response to the infection, according to a new study.Many viral infections that don’t directly infect the central nervous system (CNS) have been associated with severe neurologic disease. For these viruses, including newer viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and Zika, the mechanism...