Using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan, Marta Cerruti, an Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of Materials Engineering, and her team analyzed damaged heart valves from patients who had undergone transplants. Their findings, recently published in Acta Biomaterialia, show considerable differences in the mineral deposits found in aortic valves of men...
Month: <span>May 2020</span>
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Coronavirus: Why the world will look to India for a vaccine
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last fortnight that India and the US were working together to develop vaccines against the coronavirus. Mr Pompeo’s remark didn’t entirely come as a surprise. The two countries have run an internationally recognised joint vaccine development programme for more than three decades. They have worked on stopping dengue,...
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New approach to treating arthritis and other inflammatory diseases
by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Researchers from Peter Mac have discovered an innovative way to dampen severe inflammation in mice, uncovering a potential new therapeutic approach for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis and liver disease, as well as some cancers. The research, co-led by Prof Mark Dawson’s laboratory, in collaboration with scientists...
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Metal in urine provides potential noninvasive test for pancreatic cancer
by Earth Institute, Columbia University New research has revealed that the signature of metal ions present in urine samples is an accurate indicator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest types of cancer. The discovery could signal the possibility of a new and completely noninvasive test for pancreatic cancer, of which PDAC is...
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Scientists identify a potential treatment candidate for early type 2 diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the main vascular complications of type 2 diabetes, and the most common cause of visual deterioration in adults. A new study in The American Journal of Pathology reports on the efficacy of a possible treatment candidate that showed anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects on the retina and optic nerve head in...
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Continuous dosing improves progression-free survival for melanoma patients with common mutations
by SWOG A first-of-its-kind randomized clinical trial offers strong and perhaps surprising evidence that a combination of two targeted melanoma drugs when given continuously keeps patients’ cancer from growing or spreading longer when compared with intermittent treatment, according to study results to be presented at the 2020 virtual annual meeting of the American Association for...
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Scientists trace path from PTSD to heart disease
Bethesda, MD – People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face a higher risk of heart disease at an earlier age than people without PTSD. A new study helps explain why. The research was scheduled to be presented at the American Physiological Society annual meeting in San Diego this month. Though the meeting, to be held...
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Earbud-like nerve stimulator shows promise for relieving indigestion
Bethesda, MD – People who suffer frequent indigestion may find relief with a small device that hooks onto the ear known as a transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulator, or taVNS. People who used taVNS showed significant improvements in their stomach’s ability to accommodate and process a meal, according to a new study. The research was...
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CBD shows promise for fighting aggressive brain cancer
Bethesda, MD – Findings from a new study examining human and canine brain cancer cells suggest that cannabidiol could be a useful therapy for a difficult-to-treat brain cancer. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from marijuana. The study looked at glioblastoma, an often-deadly form of brain cancer that grows and spreads very...
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Light helps arthritis treatments target joints
CREDIT: VICTORIA WICKENHEISSER Bethesda, MD – Although today’s rheumatoid arthritis treatments can reduce symptoms, they often come with serious side effects. Results from a new mouse study suggest that a new light-activated drug delivery method helps confine treatments to the joints, which could reduce whole-body side effects. In the U.S., 1.3 million people are currently...