A team of scientists from the UNC School of Medicine and North Carolina State University (NCSU) has developed promising research towards a possible stem cell treatment for several lung conditions, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis — often-fatal conditions that affect tens of millions of Americans. In...
Author: RMG
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Automated measure of nighttime oxygen levels could speed diagnosis of sleep apnea
Simple, inexpensive test could help identify sleep apnea in children who snore. Computer analysis of oxygen levels in the blood during sleep could — by itself – provide an easy, relatively inexpensive and sufficiently reliable way to determine which children who snore habitually could benefit from a diagnosis and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. This approach...
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Fast, Noninvasive Technique For Probing Cells May Reveal Disease
The stiffness or elasticity of a cell can reveal much about whether the cell is healthy or diseased. Cancer cells, for instance, are known to be softer than normal, while asthma-affected cells can be rather stiff. Determining the mechanical properties of cells may thus help doctors diagnose and track the progression of certain diseases. Current...
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Blocking enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s may reverse memory loss
In the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, many of the genes required to form new memories are shut down by a genetic blockade, contributing to the cognitive decline seen in those patients. MIT researchers have now shown that they can reverse that memory loss in mice by interfering with the enzyme that forms the blockade. The enzyme, known...
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Hormone shows promise as cognition enhancer
In a study that augurs well for the therapeutic potential of klotho – a life-extending protein hormone that a minority of people naturally produce at high levels – scientists at UC San Francisco have found that administering a fragment of the klotho protein to young, aging or impaired mice rapidly improves their cognitive and physical...
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Neurable’s experimental gear controls VR with … your mind
I’ve used my eyes to interact with a virtual world before, but startup Neurable just enhanced that experience by reading my thoughts too. At Siggraph this week, the Boston-based startup is showing its modified HTC Vive which include EEG (Electroencephalography) sensors along the interior of the headstrap. This is combined with eye-tracking technology from German firm SMI, which may...
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A mathematical crystal ball gazes into future of prostate cancer treatment
The chemotherapy docetaxel is widely accepted as a standard therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. But 10-20 percent of patients will have adverse side effects that force discontinuation of treatment. These patients may have been better off with another treatment or alternative dosing of docetaxel in the first place, but who’s to know before trying...
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Artificial Intelligence is the Stethoscope of the 21st Century
It took some time for the medical community to accept the stethoscope. It will also take a while to recognize A.I. as a full-fledged health tool – despite its vast potential to revolutionize healthcare. Yet, it is so powerful that when it will finally take its rightful place in healthcare, it will displace the stethoscope as its symbol. Watson...
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Study shows mango consumption has positive impact on inflammatory bowel disease
Initial results of a study by researchers in the department of nutrition and food science at Texas A&M University in College Station show mango consumption has a positive impact on people with inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Susanne Talcott, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist, and others recently investigated the use of fresh mangoes as an adjuvant...
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Too much sugar may harm men’s mental health
The downfalls of high sugar consumption are not limited to poor dental health and weight gain; a new study finds that eating too much sugar may also increase men’s long-term risk of mental health disorders. Researchers found that men who consumed more than 67 grams of sugar daily from sweetened foods and beverages were much...