New insight on the link between a gene called SORBS2 and congenital heart disease has been published today in eLife, with findings that may help explain the cause of the disease in some patients.
A million Europeans already have EU COVID certificate
More than one million Europeans have received the new EU COVID health certificate being rolled out to unlock travel within the bloc, the European Commission said on Tuesday.
Thousands of fake online pharmacies shut in global sting: Interpol
Authorities in 92 countries shut down 113,000 websites and online marketplaces selling counterfeit or illicit medicines and medical products last month, including vast quantities of fake COVID-19 tests and face masks, Interpol said Tuesday.
Susceptibility of COPD patients to heart rate difference associated with exposure to metals in PM2.5
Epidemiological and toxicological studies indicate that the adverse outcomes of PM2.5 exposure associated closely with the chemical composition in PM2.5. Metals in PM2.5 are highly concerned for their induced disruption of iron homeostasis in the lung and following oxidative stress, which is one of the key mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction of PM2.5 exposure. …
Scientists discover immune cell behavior that plays a key role in Alzheimer’s disease
A new study has pinpointed a small group of cells in the brain which could be crucial to understanding how Alzheimer’s disease begins and how to slow its progression. This discovery could help research into treatment for the disease by focusing on this key group of cells in the brain.
Some headlines say ‘skip your annual physical,’ but routine check-ups have many benefits
Some leaders in health care have called for an end to annual health check visits, saying they’re a waste of time for patients and overworked primary care physicians and don’t reduce the risk of death.
Human brain replays new memories at 20 times the speed during waking rest
Neural replay during waking rest may contribute to memory consolidation of action sequences in humans, according to a study published June 8 in the journal Cell Reports. Brain imaging results revealed fast, repeated reactivation of a neural network representing a behavioral sequence that people were learning—approximately 20 times the speed of the new memory—especially while …
A call for global oversight of unproven stem cell therapies
The promotion and marketing of unproven stem cell therapies is a global problem that needs a global solution, say experts in a perspective published June 8 in the journal Stem Cell Reports. The authors of the paper call for the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish an advisory committee on regenerative medicine to tackle this …
Gap between death rates in rural and urban areas tripled during past two decades
Death rates from chronic conditions like lung disease and cardiovascular disease and so-called “diseases of despair” such as opioid overdoses are known to be higher in rural areas than in large cities, with differing economic, social and political circumstances influencing people’s access to care. To examine disparities in mortality rates for all causes of death, …
Motor neurons derived from patients point to new possible drug target for ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe, fatal neurodegenerative disorder causing loss of motor neurons and voluntary muscle action. While mouse studies have identified potential treatments, these drugs have typically done very poorly in human trials. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, working in collaboration with Pfizer, now report a high-throughput target and drug discovery platform …