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Down syndrome case challenges Alzheimer’s assumptions with unexpected cognitive stability

Studies reveal that people with Down syndrome (DS) have over a 90% lifetime risk of developing dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as they age. Research from the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering aims could uncover why some people with DS develop dementia while others do not— providing insight that could ultimately benefit the entire DS community.
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Scientists solve mystery of how the drug retinoic acid works to treat neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor that occurs in children. When high-risk, the disease has a poor prognosis. Decades ago, adding the drug retinoic acid to neuroblastoma treatment increased survival by 10–15%. However, this effect was only evident in post-chemotherapy consolidation after bulky primary tumors had largely been eliminated. Why retinoic acid is effective in this setting but not against primary tumors, has been speculated about for nearly 50 years.
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War-related post-traumatic stress disorder: Researchers urge preventing effects of traumatic experiences

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects approximately 10% of road accident participants and as many as half of people who have experienced war, and victims of rape or violence. PTSD negatively affects the quality of life; it is also associated with greater costs of health care. That is why it is so important to prevent the effects of traumatic experiences, and if PTSD or other mental problems do occur—treat victims using evidence-based methods, argue scientists from SWPS University and the University of Warsaw.
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Nurse practitioners key to increasing health care access in less advantaged areas, study shows

Primary care practices that employ nurse practitioners (NPs) are more likely to serve socioeconomically disadvantaged communities than practices with no NPs on staff, Columbia University School of Nursing researchers report in JAMA Network Open. Assistant Professor Monica O’Reilly-Jacob, Ph.D., led the study, published online February 28, 2025.
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Genetic testing offers hope for targeted childhood cancer therapies

New research has looked into a comprehensive and structured approach to genetic testing, matching children and young people with cancer to targeted treatments. The study aimed to advance precision medicine in the UK to help young cancer patients receive more targeted cancer treatments, an important step towards increasing survival rates and reducing the side-effects of treatment.
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Advances in corneal healing research drive new treatments for rare eye diseases

Rare eye diseases are the leading cause of untreatable blindness in Europe and affect people of all ages. The RESTORE VISION scientific team has identified seven rare ocular conditions that impact the cornea and the rest of the ocular surface. “With a comprehensive approach, we aim to restore the normal function of the immune, vascular, and nervous systems of the ocular surface by studying existing drugs while also developing new, accessible treatments,” says Juana Gallar, a professor at UMH who leads the project and the Ocular Neurobiology Laboratory at the IN.
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