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Chest CT scan best for coronavirus diagnosis

A new study published in the journal Radiology in February 2020 reports that performing a CT (computed tomography) scan of the chest increases the diagnostic rate and outperforms the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests currently utilized. The researchers recommend using chest CT to screen symptomatic patients for COVID-19 infections rather than the less sensitive RT-PCR.

27 Feb 2020

Boosting immune cells to treat eczema

A new drug regimen is reported to have marked benefits in treating the troublesome and distressing skin condition called eczema. The study, published in February 2020 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, shows that boosting the levels of a type of immune cell called natural killer cells can be a more effective way to treat eczema in a mouse study.

27 Feb 2020

Human stem cells cure diabetes in mice

Diabetes is characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar and is tied to various health complications. The condition is a global health issue with the number of people with diabetes increasing from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.

27 Feb 2020

NTHU research team develops new treatment for cancer

A research team led by Dr. Yunching Chen and Tsai-Te Lu of National Tsing Hua University have recently developed a new treatment for cancer, in which blood vessels within malignant tumors are normalized by injecting a specially developed nanodelivery system for nitric oxide (NanoNO), which also facilitates the delivery of cancer drugs and immunocytes into the tumor.

27 Feb 2020

Anthony Nolan’s Scientific Director honored with prestigious lifetime achievement award

Blood cancer charity, Anthony Nolan, is pleased to announce that their Scientific Director Professor Alejandro Madrigal, has been conferred with Honorary Membership of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and to the EBMT.

27 Feb 2020

Brain imaging may help predict when liquid biopsy will benefit individual glioblastoma patients

Tracking brain cancer with a blood test instead of a surgical biopsy may greatly improve quality of life for glioblastoma (GBM) patients and provide critical information for their care, but it is not feasible in all cases.

27 Feb 2020

A retrospective review of 5,000 non-surgical rhinoplasties performed to date

As patients continue to seek non-invasive treatments across the cosmetic spectrum, "liquid rhinoplasty" is emerging as the non-surgical alternative to the traditional nose job.

27 Feb 2020

New minuscule warehouse logistics robots for biotechnology applications

UCLA engineers have developed minuscule warehouse logistics robots that could help expedite and automate medical diagnostic technologies and other applications that move and manipulate tiny drops of fluid.

26 Feb 2020

Novel wireless sweat sensor can accurately detect stress levels

If someone asked you right now how stressed you are, what would you say? A little? A lot? You do not know?

26 Feb 2020

Menopause age not associated with heart disease finds study

There has been conflicting evidence regarding early menopause and an increased risk for heart disease among women. This connection has been attributed to the lowering of female hormone estrogen levels in the blood.

26 Feb 2020

Astrocytes play role in regulating blood flow to the brain

Only about ten years ago theories began to appear that astrocytes, along with neurons, are actively involved in processing information and in supporting the activity of the brain.

26 Feb 2020

First patient in U.S. treated for atrial fibrillation using new type of ablation technology

Cardiologists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are the first in the United States to test a new type of ablation technology for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat.

26 Feb 2020

Inadequate precleaning can jeopardize sterilization of surgical tools

Vaporized hydrogen peroxide failed to completely sterilize surgical tools 76 percent of the time when the tools were soiled with salts or blood and not cleaned prior to sterilization, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

26 Feb 2020

Patients older than 75 years also benefit from kidney transplantation

People in the industrialized counties are getting older and are very often in good health as a result of good nutrition, a healthier lifestyle and a higher level of education. More people nowadays know how to keep fit and prevent diseases.

26 Feb 2020

Biomarkers in blood samples can predict clinical response to immunotherapy in metastatic NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer patients with higher measures of tumor mutations that show up in a blood test generally have a better clinical response to PD-1-based immunotherapy treatments than patients with a lower measure of mutations.

26 Feb 2020

High intake of sugary drinks may influence risk for dyslipidemia

Middle-aged and older adults who drank sugary beverages daily were at greater risk of developing abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to those who rarely drank those beverages, according to a new epidemiological study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

26 Feb 2020

Women firefighters exposed to higher levels of toxic PFAS chemicals

San Francisco's women firefighters are exposed to higher levels of certain toxic PFAS chemicals than women working in downtown San Francisco offices, shows a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, San Francisco, and Silent Spring Institute.

26 Feb 2020

Extreme endurance exercise can increase risk of cardiovascular events

For most people, the benefits of aerobic exercise far outweigh the risks, however, extreme endurance exercise - such as participation in marathons and triathlons for people who aren't accustomed to high-intensity exercise - can raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder) or heart attacks, according to a new Scientific Statement "Exercise-Related Acute Cardiovascular Events and Potential Deleterious Adaptations Following Long-Term Exercise Training: Placing the Risks Into Perspective-An Update from the American Heart Association," published today in the Association's premier journal Circulation.

26 Feb 2020

Sugary drinks have a negative impact on blood cholesterol, which increases heart disease risk

Drinking 12 ounces of sugary drinks more than once per day is linked to lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), ("good" cholesterol), and higher levels of triglycerides, in middle-aged and older adults, both of which have been shown to increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

26 Feb 2020

Trusting injection drug users with IV antibiotics at home: It can work

Two mornings a week, Arthur Jackson clears space on half of his cream-colored sofa. He sets out a few rolls of tape and some gauze, then waits for a knock on his front door.

26 Feb 2020