Chikungunya: What UK travelers should know about this mosquito-borne virus
The UK’s Health Security Agency has advised overseas travelers to take precautions to avoid contracting the potentially severe mosquito-borne virus, Chikungunya.
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Studies show food additives could be harmful to the gut
Animal studies suggest that some food additives, such as artificial colorants and sweeteners, emulsifiers, and antimicrobial preservatives, could be harmful to gut health. A recent review published in The FASEB Journal summarizes the literature and finds that more clinical studies are needed to assess the potential impacts on humans, especially those with inflammatory bowel diseases. In the meantime, the authors suggest policy changes that could help people make more informed choices.
Nonviral gene therapy shows potential for age-related heart diseases
Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are using novel nonviral gene therapy technology to gain insight into how to treat age-related heart disease. Researchers found that adding more brown fat or increasing the level of a fat molecule, or lipokine, released by energy-burning brown fat helps preserve heart health.
Early warning system can predict dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean months in advance
In an advance for climate-informed disease early warning systems, a team of researchers, public health actors and meteorologists have developed a prediction model capable of forecasting dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean up to three months in advance.
Hight-salt diet sparks brain inflammation that could explain stubborn high blood pressure
A new study finds that a high-salt diet triggers brain inflammation that drives up blood pressure. The research, led by McGill University scientist Masha Prager-Khoutorsky in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team at McGill and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, suggests the brain may be a missing link in certain forms of high blood pressure—or hypertension—traditionally attributed to the kidneys.
First-trimester blood test significantly improves prediction of gestational diabetes, study finds
Researchers from the Global Center for Asian Women’s Health (GloW) and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have found that selected maternal biomarkers from first-trimester random blood samples can effectively predict a woman’s risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Does weightlifting improve bone density?
You may have heard high-impact activity—exercise such as running, jumping, football and basketball—is good at building bone density and strength. But what about when you’re standing still, lifting weights at the gym?
Radioactive ion beams successfully treat animal tumors in study
A research project has reached an important milestone: the first treatment of an animal tumor with radioactive ion beams has been demonstrated and published in Nature Physics.
Majority of chronic pain patients found to discontinue medical cannabis within one year
More than half of patients prescribed medical cannabis for chronic musculoskeletal pain stop using it within a year, according to new research from Philadelphia that raises fresh questions about the drug’s longevity and its role in long-term pain management—especially among older adults.
Imagination won’t take you everywhere—study reveals limitations of the mind’s eye
Our imagination might not be as powerful as we think when it comes to holding visual images, according to a first-of-its-kind study by psychologists at Nottingham Trent University (NTU).