Reading Time: 3 minutes Researchers have observed increases in early-onset colorectal cancer. In a recent study, they determine its relation to obesity. Obesity is characterized by being overweight and specifically, having a BMI of 30 or greater. According to Obesity Canada, obesity is a chronic illness that resembles diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes) and high
Month: March 2019
For the last two years, Scott Gottlieb missed a lot of time with his wife and three daughters — back-to-school nights, school plays and parent-teacher conferences. He loved his job running the Food and Drug Administration, but hated leaving his wife Allyson, nine-year-old twins and five-year-old in Connecticut every Sunday to head to Washington, DC.
Reading Time: 2 minutes In a recent study published in the journal Menopause, researchers examined whether personality traits are associated with the risk of diabetes in postmenopausal women. Diabetes affects more than 30 million Americans to this date. The risk of diabetes increases with age, and type 2 diabetes is the most common type. Adults
A recent study in mice showed that reheated cooking oil might trigger cell changes that can promote late-stage breast cancer growth. A new study looks at the effect of reused cooking oil on breast cancer metastasis. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tested “thermally abused frying oil,” which is cooking oil that has
Reading Time: 3 minutes Scientists presented a new study to depict the effect of blood sugar levels of people with type 1 diabetes in the development of fractures. Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide. Type 1 diabetes or juvenile diabetes can occur in younger ages due to the pancreas not producing any insulin. This leads
Reading Time: 2 minutes Australian researchers examined data to see if a dietary intervention was an effective tool to battle against symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is a well-known fact that poor dietary habits can have negative effects on mental health. Yet researchers from different health institutes across Australia wanted to properly assess the
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition of the large intestine, which people also call the colon. It is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system works against its own cells and tissues. It may result in swelling, inflammation, and small sores on the lining of the colon. Symptoms can include: loose or urgent bowel
A New York county’s ban on unvaccinated minors in public is working, an official told CNBC on Friday. Rockland County Executive Ed Day said more than 500 immunizations have been administered since he announced the ban on Tuesday. “We’ve gotten their attention,” he said in an interview with “The Exchange.” And that was the point.
Dark spots on the skin, or hyperpigmentation, occur when some areas of the skin produce more melanin than usual. Melanin gives the eyes, skin, and hair their color. Dark spots on the skin are not a cause for concern and do not need treatment, though people may choose to remove them for cosmetic reasons. Depending
Reading Time: 2 minutes In a new paper, Tozawa and colleagues describe the success of using fat-derived stem cells for the production of blood platelets. Blood platelets are vital for wound healing. When you are injured, platelets clump together to form clots, which stop the bleeding. Many patients need blood platelet transfusions when their own
Activist investor Starboard Value has ended its fight against Bristol-Myers Squibb’s buyout of biotechnology company Celgene after two prominent proxy advisors announced their support for the deal earlier on Friday. The withdrawal comes hours after both Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis recommended Bristol-Myers shareholders vote in favor of its bid. “Despite the substantial swell
Reading Time: 2 minutes A recent study in Journal of Cell Biology revealed a new molecular node that could be pharmacologically targeted to treat BRCA-1 deficient ovarian cancers. Environmental stresses can introduce breaks within our genomic DNA. Such errors are highly deleterious to the cells. Therefore our cells deploy multiple genome repair mechanisms in order
Practicing meditation or mindfulness techniques is, at least anecdotally, supposed to smooth your way to a happier, more healthful life. But what does science say about these practices? What does research say about the effects of meditation and mindfulness? We investigate. Meditation “keeps our minds and hearts calm, peaceful, and loving, i.e., in the right
Dementia — an umbrella term for various neurodegenerative conditions involving memory loss and other forms of cognitive impairment — is hard to treat because its causes remain unknown. Researchers, however, are making painstaking progress. A new approach to dementia research may bring us closer to a treatment, but unexpected challenges could halt this progress. Dr.
Reading Time: 2 minutes A recent study looked into older patients’ experiences with delirium after surgery, and whether surgical anesthesia administration monitored by brain activity caused this complication. Older patients appear to be more susceptible to delirium as they recover from surgery. Delirium is a state of altered consciousness. As well as having negative effects
There is no doubt that smoking damages health and increases the risk of many diseases and premature death. However, a study that followed hundreds of older adults for more than 10 years found no link between tobacco smoking and raised dementia risk. A new study suggests there is no causal link between smoking and the
MedMen is the best-known cannabis retailer in the United States. Yet, in what could be a warning for the American marijuana industry, it is racing to raise cash to cover its mounting losses. Financial statements released in February showed that MedMen risked running out of money within months unless it raised more money. Last week,
A substance present in the popular coralberry plant may halt the development of eye cancer. The scientists previously thought that these findings were impossible. Coralberries could eventually help stop the spread of eye cancer. Survival rates for eye cancer are generally high, according to the American Cancer Society. However, when it becomes metastatic — that
Reading Time: 2 minutes Researchers from Purdue University in the United States developed a series of new compounds to treat acute myeloid leukemia and tested them in a preclinical study. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, over 1,300 Canadians were diagnosed with this aggressive leukemia in 2013, with nearly a thousand Canadians died from it.
The blood-brain barrier is a protective layer that surrounds the brain. Its main function is to prevent potentially harmful agents from leaking into this organ. However, it can also stop certain therapeutic drugs from reaching their target. Using ultrasound in new ways could open the door to better treatments for conditions that affect the brain.
Clover Health, an Alphabet-backed health insurer, has long emphasized its commitment to technology to help predict when its members are likely to get sick so the company can intervene before that happens. But as Clover grows to serve more people, the company is realizing it needs a different kind of expertise, and is focused on
Reading Time: 2 minutes A recent study examined the effects of genes, specifically polygenic in nature, on the development of depression, as well as its severity and age of onset. Depression, one of the most common mental health disorders in the world, is believed to develop as a result of both genetic and environmental factors.
A randomized controlled study finds that a diet low in carbs can relieve pain for people who have knee osteoarthritis. Seniors with knee osteoarthritis may benefit from switching to a low-carb diet. Osteoarthritis is the most widespread form of arthritis among older adults in the United States. Knee osteoarthritis, in particular, affects about 10 percent
Reading Time: 3 minutes A study published in Science Translational Medicine examined the clinical efficacy and safety of a new diabetes drug. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels. Normally, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows your body to effectively process sugars into energy. In
New research has identified mutations in the DNA code that may affect energy metabolism. It also found a link to major depressive disorder. Could mutations in mitochondria cause depression? The World Health Organization (WHO) describe depression as “the leading cause of disability worldwide.” It affects more than 300 million people around the world. Experts believe
A person can experience visual hallucinations for many reasons, including consuming hallucinogenic substances or as a symptom of schizophrenia. But what are the brain mechanisms that explain hallucinations? New research aims to reveal more about how hallucinations manifest in the brain. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines hallucinations as “perception-like experiences
Getting enough sleep is vital for both physical and emotional well-being. Sleep deprivation can lead to many short- and long-term health effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. However, approximately 35 percent of
Wall Street needs to see more mergers and acquisitions come through before the “coming onslaught” of initial public offerings jams up investing capital, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Tuesday. Major U.S. indexes traded strong out the gate Tuesday, but gave up most of their gains before the close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added more than