There has been no known link between diabetes and vitamin A — until now. A new study suggests that the vitamin improves the insulin producing β-cell´s function. The researchers initially discovered that insulin-producing beta-cells contain a large quantity of a cell surface receptor for vitamin A. “There are no unnecessary surface receptors in human cells....
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Light-responsive ligands activate retinal neurons to repair vision loss in blind mice
Retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and other retinal diseases lead to the deterioration of photoreceptors, the light-sensing cells in the eye. Eventually, this deterioration progresses to vision loss. Although there are several therapies in development to reverse retinal disease-related blindness, each is associated with safety concerns related to long-term stability. In mouse models of retinal...
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Baldness: How close are we to a cure?
Baldness is an accepted part of the aging process for some, and a source of distress for others. Hair loss affects millions of men and women, yet despite decades of research, a cure is still not available. Just how close are we to finding a magic bullet for baldness? Medical News Today take a look at the...
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The doctor will (virtually) see you now
(HealthDay)—Telemedicine is playing an ever-expanding role in the U.S. health care landscape. Among the reasons: a growing national shortage of doctors, both primary care and, in certain areas, specialists. And one-quarter of the population lives in rural areas without easy access to care. So, telemedicine has stepped in to help fill the gap. In fact, more than 10 million...
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The radical breakthrough that can regenerate skin and hair: Pig tests pave the way for human trials to begin
The firm has successfully regenerated skin and hair in pigs with burns The patented technology uses a patient’s own healthy skin to treat burns It regrows functional, full-thickness skin within wound bed and scar tissue The firm, PolairtyTE, expects to begin a human trial later this year and the cell therapy could hit the market...
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Breakthrough cystic fibrosis drug that prevents ‘irreversible’ lung damage in children under 12 is hailed by experts
Orkambi helped to improve the diminishing lung function of child sufferers Charities claim the latest findings of the combination medication are exciting Cystic Fibrosis Trust said the drug has the power to ‘prevent irreversible damage’ A drug that targets the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis has been hailed as a ‘major step forward’ by experts....
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US Army invests $2million in research to test ‘game changer’ one-shot injection to beat PTSD
A ‘stellate ganglion block’ is an injection of anesthetic into a nerve cluster called the stellate ganglion, which connects the brain to the body This nerve cluster is key for controlling our response to perceived danger Scientists claim one shot to numb this cluster can ‘reset’ our nervous system The injection has been used successfully...
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For diabetics, nasal powder fixed severe low blood sugar
(HealthDay)—For many people with diabetes, low blood sugar levels are a serious health risk, but researchers report that a new nasal powder quickly reverses the effects of this dangerous condition. Better yet, it can be administered even when someone is unconscious, the researchers added. The nasal powder contains the hormone glucagon. This hormone tells the...
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Traditional Chinese medicine may benefit some heart disease patients
Traditional Chinese medicine might be effective as a complement or alternative to traditional Western medicine for primary and secondary prevention of heart disease, according to a state of the art review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death worldwide, and despite advances...
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Arthritis drug could cure severe heart condition
A drug currently being trialed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has the potential to be the first ever drug to prevent aortic valve stenosis, a common and deadly heart condition that is estimated to affect around 50 percent of elderly adults in the United States. Researchers may have discovered a drug that can prevent...