Health & Medicine

Professor Maciej Banach. Image Credit: Prof. Maciej Banach
Health & Medicine

Combining Cholesterol Drugs Could Save Thousands of Lives

Largest study to date suggests patients at high risk of heart attacks and strokes should be treated immediately with a combination of a statin and ezetimibe The largest analysis to examine the best way to lower levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol in patients with blocked arteries shows that they should immediately be given a combination of a statin and another drug called ezetimibe, rather than statins alone. This could prevent thousands of deaths a year from heart attacks, strokes and other…

(A) A comprehensive analysis of caffeine binding to one of the spike proteins; (B, C) Caffeine interacts with critical amino acids in the SARS-CoV-2 S protein’s receptor-binding domain (RBD), specifically CYS432, CYS379, TYR365, and PRO384; (D) The bioavailability radar of caffeine shows its drug-likeness properties. Image Credit: Md. Altaf-Ul-Amin from Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Health & Medicine

Computational Drug Discovery: Natural Products Against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers from Japan leverage computational methods to identify potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, revealing promising natural compounds for guiding antiviral drug development Ikoma, Japan—The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for effective therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2. Although vaccines helped control the spread of the virus, the emergence of new variants continues to challenge global health efforts. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting viral proteins could serve as an effective alternative for controlling the spread of COVID-19 at both individual and community levels….

Randall J. Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology at WashU Medicine, is the study director of an international clinical trial that finds an anti-amyloid drug can delay the onset of cognitive decline if given many years before symptoms of Alzheimer's disease arise. The participants in the study had inherited genetic variants that lead to early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and among those who received the drug the longest – an average of eight years – the treatment lowered the risk of developing symptoms from essentially 100% to about 50%, according to a preliminary analysis of the data. Image Credit: Matt Miller
Health & Medicine

Anti-Amyloid Drug Shows Promise in Preventing Alzheimer’s

Clinical trial of people destined to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease shows eliminating amyloid from brain may prevent symptoms, supports need for confirmatory studies An experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s-related dementia in people destined to develop the disease in their 30s, 40s or 50s, according to the results of a study led by the Knight Family Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network-Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), which is based at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings suggest…

Cropped view of doctor in white coat holding wooden board with lettering Alzheimer disease. Image by LightFieldStudios, Envato
Health & Medicine

Alzheimer’s Drug Efficacy: Gender Disparities in Latest Study

Since becoming only the second Alzheimer’s-modifying drug to gain American Federal Drug Administration approval in 2023, sales of lecanemab, known by its brand name Leqembi, have risen steadily, reaching $87-million USD in the last quarter of 2024. In its Phase 3 clinical trial, lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by 27 per cent overall, yet one subset of data suggested little to no benefit in females, though the cause of the difference was not clear. An FDA committee voted unanimously that the…

Flu shot vaccination concept, influenza vaccine vial sitting on doctors desk. Image by rohaneh, Envato
Health & Medicine

Older Adults Show Higher Resistance to Bird Flu, Study Finds

Previous exposures to older flu strains prime the immune system to produce antibodies against H5N1, and children would likely benefit the most from H5N1 vaccinations Prior exposures to specific types of seasonal influenza viruses promote cross-reactive immunity against the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Older adults who were exposed to seasonal flu viruses that circulated prior to 1968 were found to be more likely to have…

Lutz Tautz, PhD, is a research associate professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and senior and corresponding author of the study. Image Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys
Health & Medicine

New Drug Building Blocks for Innovative Sepsis Treatments

New study tested tiny fragments of future drugs and may lead to new therapies to treat this deadly disease The immune system typically can ramp up the body’s defenses to clear out an invading threat without issue. Glitches can happen, however, with sepsis occurring when the mustered army of cells also attacks the body’s own tissues and organs as if they were enemy combatants. Sepsis is dangerous, particularly when it isn’t treated early, and it can lead to the even…

Cirrhosis, Liver cancer, fatty liver, Asian doctor with liver human anatomy model. Image by chormail, Envato
Health & Medicine

Innovative Treatments for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a growing global health concern, affecting millions worldwide. This complex liver disorder ranges from simple steatosis to more severe forms, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. The latest insights into transcription factors provide a deeper understanding of the disease’s progression and potential therapeutic interventions. Transcription factors are critical proteins that regulate gene expression, playing a pivotal role in controlling key processes such as…

Smoking causes lung cancer and diseases. Image Credit by ADDICTIVE_STOCK, Envato
Health & Medicine

Understanding LUAD vs. LUSC in Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) representing the most prevalent subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite their classification under the same umbrella, these two forms of lung cancer exhibit distinct genetic landscapes, therapeutic targets, and treatment responses. Recent advancements in next-generation gene sequencing have identified key driver genes that differentiate LUAD and LUSC, influencing their respective clinical management approaches. LUAD is frequently associated…

Artistic representation of hydrogels in a mobius-ring formed through self-healing. Image Credit: Margot Lepetit / Aalto University
Health & Medicine

Self-Healing Gel Mimics Human Skin, Transforming Innovation

The hydrogel has a unique structure, making it the first to combine strength and flexibility with self-healing capabilities. We all encounter gels in daily life – from the soft, sticky substances you put in your hair, to the jelly-like components in various foodstuffs. While human skin shares gel-like characteristics, it has unique qualities that are very hard to replicate. It combines high stiffness with flexibility, and it has remarkable self-healing capabilities, often healing completely within 24 hours after injury. Until…

Renato Aguilera, Ph.D., a professor of biological sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso, holds up a vial of pyronaridine, an anti-malarial drug that he recently patented for use in cancer treatments. As a longtime cancer researcher, Aguilera realized that the molecular structure of pyronaridine could be useful in fighting cancer cells. Image Credit: The University of Texas at El Paso.
Health & Medicine

Malaria Drug Repurposed for Cancer Treatment Breakthrough

UTEP researchers secure patent for pyronaridine, drug that shows promise for killing cancer cells Can a drug that’s used to treat malaria be repurposed to fight cancer? Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have secured a patent for the anti-malarial drug pyronaridine to do just that. Pyronaridine has been used to treat the mosquito-borne infectious disease for over 30 years. The discovery is the result of a serendipitous encounter at UTEP. Renato Aguilera, Ph.D., a UTEP professor…

Group of senior people bonding outdoors by oneinchpunchphotos
Health & Medicine

New Fat Tissue Discovery May Enhance Longevity and Fitness

Rutgers Health researchers have made discoveries about brown fat that may open a new path to helping people stay physically fit as they age. A team from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School found that mice lacking a specific gene developed an unusually potent form of brown fat tissue that expanded lifespan and increased exercise capacity by roughly 30%. The team is working on a drug that could mimic these effects in humans. “Exercise capacity diminishes as you get older, and…

Glucose meter for checking sugar level and heap of sweets containing a lot of sugar by ratmaner, Envato
Health & Medicine

Continuous Glucose Monitors: Potential Overestimation Risks

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are growing in popularity but new peer-reviewed research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, from the University of Bath, suggests they may not be as accurate as many believe. Originally designed to help people living with diabetes manage their blood sugar, these devices are now being used by the health-conscious to track how different foods affect their glucose levels. The study, from the University’s Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism and funded by innocent…

Commonly used prescription medications have a post-lanosterolbiosynthesis inhibiting effect. Pathogenic variants in the DHCR7 gene result in SLOS with a hallmark sterol inhibition signature.  This profile encompasses the accumulation of 7-DHC and 7-DHD and the reduction of desmosterol and cholesterol levels. Many commonly used prescription medications give rise to similar biochemical signatures and can be considered sterol biosynthesis inhibitors. The post-lanosterol pathway is greatly simplified for readability. Image Credit: Károly Mirnics
Health & Medicine

Medications May Disrupt Cholesterol and Impact Brain Development

Groundbreaking review uncovers how common medications disrupt critical cholesterol synthesis in developing brains, sparking urgent pregnancy safety concerns In a peer-reviewed Perspective (review) article, researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have uncovered concerning evidence that commonly prescribed medications may interfere with crucial brain development processes by disrupting sterol biosynthesis. Their findings, published today in Brain Medicine (Genomic Press, New York), suggest that this previously overlooked mechanism could have significant implications for medication safety during pregnancy and early development….

New Ebola Research Enhances Pandemic Preparedness
Health & Medicine

New Ebola Research Enhances Pandemic Preparedness

Promising antibody may prove useful against deadly outbreaks New research led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) reveals the workings of a human antibody called mAb 3A6, which may prove to be an important component for Ebola virus therapeutics. This antibody was isolated from blood samples from an Ebola survivor treated at Emory University Hospital during the 2014-2016 Ebola virus outbreak, an outbreak that began in West Africa and killed more than 11,300 people. In their new…

Developed in alignment with the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines, the toolkit synthesizes the latest scientific evidence and real-world strategies to support pediatric care in all potential healthcare settings across Louisiana. This free resource offers a quick reference for evaluating obesity, as well as actionable treatment approaches for children and adolescents dealing with overweight and obesity. Image Credit: Greaux Healthy
Health & Medicine

Empowering Healthcare Providers: New Strategies for Childhood Obesity

Greaux Healthy—a public service initiative powered by Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in partnership with the State of Louisiana—is proud to announce the release of the Childhood Obesity Prevention, Evaluation and Treatment Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to equip healthcare providers with practical, evidence-based guidance for preventing, evaluating, and treating childhood obesity and its related comorbidities. Developed in alignment with the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines, the toolkit synthesizes the latest scientific evidence and real-world strategies to…

Doctor physiotherapist treating lower back pain patient after while giving exercising treatment on by Ngampol7380, Envato
Health & Medicine

Spine Injections for Chronic Back Pain: Expert Insights

Commonly used injections offer little or no pain relief, says expert panel. Findings question whether it’s reasonable to continue to offer these procedures outside of clinical trials Spine injections should not be given to adults with chronic back pain because they provide little or no pain relief compared with sham injections, say a panel of international experts in The BMJ today. Their strong recommendations apply to procedures such as epidural steroid injections and nerve blocks for people living with chronic back pain…

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