All posts by : Felistas

Certain hormonal contraceptives are associated with a higher stroke and heart attack risk, finds a large study from Denmark in The BMJ that draws on prescription records to give more precise estimates for different products than previous studies.

A research team has revealed that cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, increases the synthesis of hyaluronan in vascular endothelial cells. Their study has also identified that this process is mediated by the induction of hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3) expression.

The reemergence of dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) in Brazil after 17 years could help worsen fresh outbreaks of the disease there, since the population is not immunized against this serotype, and serotypes 1 and 2 (DENV-1 and DENV-2) continue to circulate.

A comprehensive seven-year study across 20 Chinese provinces has revealed a concerning rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (E. coli), a major foodborne pathogen. Analyzing 9,068 isolates from sporadic human diarrhea cases, the research paints a troubling picture: the majority of isolates are resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, with many demonstrating multidrug resistance. These findings are critical for shaping clinical antibiotic treatment strategies and prioritizing efforts to curb the spread of resistance.

Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to an elevated risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a study conducted by researchers from Central South University and the Army Medical University in China, in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Published in Health Data Science, the study analyzed data from over 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank, shedding light on the far-reaching impacts of social factors on liver health.

At a time when costs are high and social safety nets appear further endangered, the experience of eviction, foreclosure, and housing loss creates a measurable and detrimental impact on families. New research, appearing in JAMA Network Open, now shows the true impact on children and their mental health.

Gene editing is already being used to treat a handful of rare genetic diseases; however, most therapies involve breaking or inactivating genes. Precisely fixing disease-causing mutations is far more difficult. This is especially true in the liver, an important organ that could be targeted to treat about 700 genetic disorders.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has developed a new systematic review to summarize for neurologists and other clinicians the evidence for epidural steroid injections and whether they reduce pain and disability for people with certain kinds of chronic back pain. The systematic review is published in Neurology. It updates a 2007 assessment by the AAN.

Researchers from Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) have developed a synthetic peptide based on the natural protein S100A1, a nearly universal “fuel” for weakened hearts.

Consuming foods with low water content, such as rice crackers and cookies, often leads to increased thirst. While thirst and hunger are subjective sensations produced by the brain, they are caused by various factors. For instance, eating cookies can dry out your mouth, prompting a desire for tea; salt intake can also make one thirsty.