Texas Medical Center leaders Tuesday expressed support for the latest phase of Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening of the state’s economy, arguing that even if they disagree with some of the calls, it’s a reasonably cautious approach given the tightrope he needs to walk. The leaders, many of whom supported Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s more […] Read more
The UK government launched its first test of a coronavirus contact tracing app this week on a small island off the south coast of England. Using bluetooth technology, the app will alert users if they have been near someone who reports that they have symptoms of the virus or a positive test. The app, which […] Read more
A quick glance at the accounts of his 10,000-person packaging factory in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi tells Stuart Donegan that the “big wave is coming”. In addition to its Hanoi site, Donegan’s company, Sino Manufacturing, employs 1,500 at a plant in Ho Chi Minh City in the south of Vietnam, while three other factories […] Read more
China is refurbishing a Beijing hospital built during the 2002-03 Sars outbreak, according to mainland media, as it works to contain acoronavirus that has killed more than 100 people and infected more than 4,500. Xiaotangshan Hospital, on the northern outskirts of Beijing, was used in 2003 to quarantine and treat severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) […] Read more
There are differences in the way English and Italian speakers are affected by dementia-related language problems, a small study suggests. While English speakers had trouble pronouncing words, Italian speakers came out with shorter, simpler sentences. The findings could help ensure accurate diagnoses for people from different cultures, the researchers said. Diagnostic criteria are often based […] Read more
In this special feature, we collate some of the most intriguing hypertension studies from 2019. We particularly focus on nutrition, risk factors, and hypertension’s relationship with dementia. 2019 has been a fascinating year for hypertension research. Today, in the United States, around 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, which doctors also call hypertension. […] Read more
Research on the effects of probiotics is inconclusive, but it suggests that they may be beneficial in the following areas: Digestive health Numerous studies have found that probiotics may improve digestive health in some people. A 2017 Cochrane review found that taking probiotics while using antibiotics reduced the risk of antibiotic-related diarrhea by 60 percent. […] Read more
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found a new and unexpected way of preventing disease in a preclinical model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock.com The team discovered that treating susceptible mice with a synthetic version of a microRNA that increases during peak disease altered the microbiome in such a way […] Read more
Researchers are developing a blood test that could help detect breast cancer 5 years before any symptoms become apparent. This method would also be less uncomfortable and more cost effective than traditional mammograms. Can a new blood test improve breast cancer detection? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most common […] Read more
New research from Trinity College Dublin shows that vitamin D deficiency is an important determinant of poor skeletal muscle function in adults aged 60 years and over. Maintaining skeletal muscle function throughout life is a crucial component of successful ageing, in promoting independence, mobility, quality of life and reducing falls and frailty. While resistance exercise […] Read more
