Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

The Netherlands could have approximately 20% fewer new cases of diabetes, coronary heart disease, and strokes by 2050, if all Dutch citizens were to consume two pieces of fruit daily and refrain from eating processed meat such as sausages and hamburgers. This is the conclusion of research conducted by Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The researchers published their findings in eClinicalMedicine.

Professor Kenji Osafune (Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation) and his team of researchers have devised an effective means to grow iPS cell-derived kidney progenitor cells, paving the way for renal regenerative therapies to become a reality. The findings are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Giardiasis, caused by the protozoan Giardia intestinalis, is the leading cause of intestinal parasitic infections in humans and pets, in particular dogs. Some of the main symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and weight loss. Additionally, it can lead to post-infectious complications such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue.

A new study published in JCI Insight suggests that interleukin-7 (IL-7), a key immune-boosting cytokine, may help critically ill COVID-19 patients by reducing life-threatening secondary infections. Led by Richard S. Hotchkiss, MD, professor of anesthesiology, medicine, surgery, and developmental biology at WashU Medicine, the study highlights IL-7’s ability to enhance immune recovery without triggering harmful inflammation.

Pregnancy may offer some protection from developing long COVID, found a new study led by Weill Cornell Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, University of Utah Health and Louisiana Public Health Institute. Previous research has mostly focused on non-pregnant adults affected by long COVID— a condition lasting for months after a person recovers from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Mpox has the potential to become a significant global health threat if taken too lightly, according to scientists at the University of Surrey.

Most comatose patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest who died after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) were considered by experts to have recovery potential of at least 1%, according to a study published online March 25 in JAMA Network Open.

Research from Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago strongly suggests that Kawasaki disease is caused by a single respiratory virus that is yet to be identified. Findings contradict the theory that many different pathogens or toxins could cause this disease that can lead to serious cardiac complications in young children.

For women with early-stage breast cancer, breast-conserving therapy (BCT)—including radiation therapy (RT)—leads to progressive reduction in breast size over time, reports a study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

In an analysis of soil samples from twelve parks in Dublin, Ireland, park entrances were more heavily contaminated with infective roundworm eggs than any other tested park location.