Medical Research News

RSS

Combination of obesity and vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of diabetes

The combination of obesity and vitamin D deficiency may put people at even greater risk of insulin resistance than either factor alone, according to new research from the Drexel University School of Public Health recently published early online in the journal Diabetes Care.

18 Jul 2012

Study suggests link between binge drinking and risk of dementia in older adults

Researchers from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, will present the findings of a new study suggesting a link between binge drinking in older adults and the risk of developing dementia.

18 Jul 2012

Heart-protective protein finally found

It is a cellular component so scarce, some scientists even doubted its existence, and many others gave up searching for its molecular structure. Now a team led by researchers at Johns Hopkins has defined the protein structural composition of mitoKATP, a potassium channel in the mitochondria of the heart and other organs that is known to protect against tissue damage due to a heart attack or stroke.

18 Jul 2012

How does exercise improve heart function in diabetics?

A detailed study of heart muscle function in mice has uncovered evidence to explain why exercise is beneficial for heart function in type 2 diabetes.

18 Jul 2012

Hepatitis C treatment may be helped by vitamin B12 supplements

Adding vitamin B12 to standard hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment significantly boosts the body’s ability to keep the virus at bay, indicates a pilot study published online in the journal Gut.

18 Jul 2012

Weighing up the gains for smokers who quit

People seem to gain more weight after giving up smoking than has previously been estimated, report researchers.

17 Jul 2012

Elderly may be undertreated for cardiac disease

Not enough elderly people are being prescribed statins, argue researchers in the BMJ.

17 Jul 2012

Ticagrelor ‘now on equal footing’ with other antiplatelets

The platelet aggregation inhibitor ticagrelor is now considered of equal effectiveness to clopidogrel and prasugrel for patients who have experienced a heart attack or have unstable angina, a report states.

17 Jul 2012

Substance use linked to poor memory, reasoning in BD

The presence of comorbid substance use disorder is associated with significantly poorer visual memory and conceptual reasoning skills in patients with bipolar disorder, US study results show.

17 Jul 2012

Patient autonomy crucial to achieving health goals

Supporting patient autonomy in healthcare leads to positive health outcomes, suggesting that self-determination theories should become the foundation for developing interventions in healthcare promotion, say UK researchers.

17 Jul 2012

Limewater combination therapy can reduce root canal endotoxins

Treating root canals with a combination of chlorhexidine gel and calcium hydroxide results in significant reduction of endotoxins and neutralization of cytotoxic effects compared with the gel plus polymyxin B or saline, report Brazilian researchers.

17 Jul 2012

Hypomagnesemia signals nonrecovery of renal function in AKI

Researchers have identified hypomagnesemia as a risk factor for nonrecovery of renal function among critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

17 Jul 2012

Arrhythmia finding could enhance COPD management

Arrhythmias could precede exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, raising the possibility of a new target for management and treatment, say researchers.

17 Jul 2012

Mu-opioid receptors put brakes on appetite

Activation of mu-opioid receptors in the nerves of the portal vein walls triggers a gut–brain neural circuit that leads to feelings of satiety, researchers report in Cell.

17 Jul 2012

Computerized mobilization eases chronic neck pain

Computerized mobilization of the cervical spine appears to be a viable treatment option for patients with chronic neck pain, a proof-of-concept trial shows.

17 Jul 2012

Specific therapy may cut pneumonia mortality in HIV babies

The high mortality rate associated with acute severe pneumonia-related respiratory failure in infants exposed to or infected with HIV can be reduced to 30% if a treatment plan involving antibiotics, ventilation, and fluid restriction is used, researchers report.

17 Jul 2012