By Lauren Sharkey Fact checked by Paula Field Perceived stress may detrimentally impact oral health which, in turn, may lead to cognitive decline among specific elderly communities, according to two new studies. Oral health can be a surprisingly good indicator of a person’s well-being. Not only can oral diseases reduce a person’s quality of life, but they can also increase...
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Treatment for chronic neuropathic pain gets to the brain via a novel route, without surgery
by Ellen Goldbaum, University at Buffalo University at Buffalo researchers who previously discovered how chronic neuropathic pain arises in the brain have now developed a treatment to block it. The research conducted by scientists in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB was published online July 31 in the journal Brain, Behavior, and...
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Research suggests new approach for treating inflammation
by Emil Venere, Purdue University Medications that mitigate inflammation caused by a variety of diseases including rheumatic arthritis may also compromise a person’s immune system, but a new approach points to a possible solution to this problem. Researchers have discovered a mechanism that might alleviate inflammation by suppressing the migration of a type of white...
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Malaria could be felled by an Antarctic sea sponge
The frigid waters of the Antarctic may yield a treatment for a deadly disease that affects populations in some of the hottest places on earth. Current medications for that scourge — malaria — are becoming less effective as drug resistance spreads. But researchers report in ACS’ Journal of Natural Products that a peptide they isolated from an Antarctic sponge shows promise as a lead...
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Discovery concerning the nervous system overturns a previous theory
It appears that when our nervous system is developing, only the most viable neurons survive, while immature neurons are weeded out and die. This is shown in a ground-breaking discovery by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The results indicate that the long-standing neurotrophic theory, which states that chance determines which cells will form the...
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Scientists discover the structure of cancer molecule
By Maria Cohut Fact checked by Jasmin Collier Alternative splicing is a complex but insufficiently understood process. It is crucial to the production of proteins necessary to cell health. Researchers now believe that cancer cells also use this process to their own advantage. Proteins are large molecules that are absolutely crucial to the health of every single...
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Needle-free flu vaccine patch effective in early study
by University of Rochester Medical Center A new needle-free flu vaccine patch revved up the immune system much like a traditional flu shot without any negative side effects, according to a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Though the research is in the early stages (the patch hasn’t been tested in humans), it’s...
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Lack of sleep affects fat metabolism
by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology We’re all a little short on sleep during the work week. A new study adds to the mounting evidence about just how harmful lack of sleep can be. In the Journal of Lipid Research, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report that just a few days of sleep...
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Common cold stopped by experimental approach
By James Gallagher | Health and science correspondent, BBC News Scientists think they have found a way to stop the common cold and closely related viruses which can cause paralysis. Instead of trying to attack them directly, the researchers targeted an essential protein inside our cells which the viruses need to replicate. The approach gave “complete protection” in experiments on...
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Synthetic cells capture and reveal hidden messages of the immune system
by University of Oxford When immune cells detect harmful pathogens or cancer, they mobilise and coordinate a competent defence response. To do this effectively immune cells must communicate in a way that is tailored to the pathogenic insult. Consequently, the body’s response to various health challenges depends on successful coordination among the cells of the immune...