Medical News

RSS

First cell-based gene therapy approved by the FDA for treating multiple myeloma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel), a cell-based gene therapy to treat adult patients with multiple myeloma who have not responded to, or whose disease has returned after, at least four prior lines (different types) of therapy.

29 Mar 2021

New smartphone application screens for carpal tunnel syndrome

A Japanese research group combined motion analysis that uses smartphone application and machine learning that uses an anomaly detection method, thereby developing a technique to easily screen for carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is common amongst middle-aged women.

29 Mar 2021

Linear epitope mapping of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

The spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been the primary target of many drug discovery efforts and is similarly utilized in each of the approved COVID-19 vaccines to elicit the generation of anti-spike protein antibodies, thereby granting immunity.

28 Mar 2021

Boerhavia diffusa possess potential therapeutic properties against COVID-19

Several companies and research groups have been searching for suitably docking ligands that inhibit the function of this protein. In a research paper recently published to the Springer journal VirusDisease by Surya & Praveen (March 6th, 2021) in silico docking simulations towards 3CLpro have been performed, focusing in particular on natural products obtained from the plant Boerhavia diffusa.

28 Mar 2021

Combined clinical and genomic data better predicts COVID-19 severity

The current COVID-19 outbreak is one of the worst pandemics in history and has claimed millions of lives across the globe, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and created unprecedented socio-economic ramifications.

28 Mar 2021

Antibody agents effective at neutralizing European, South African, and United States SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers in the United States have demonstrated the effectiveness of three antibody agents at neutralizing recently emerged variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

28 Mar 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 genome variants identified in US mink

Researchers in Canada have discovered two novel variants in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gene sequences collected from mink in the United States.

28 Mar 2021

Research finds polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 can adopt an alternative structure

New research by German scientists has uncovered another form of coronavirus polymerase. The current polymerase thought to be used for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) for replication and transcription. It contains a monomeric enzyme with the catalytic subunit nsp12, two copies of subunit nsp8, and one copy of subunit nsp7.

28 Mar 2021

mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibodies protect against new NYC-B.1.526 variant

A new fast-spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant called B.1.526 recently emerged in New York City and caused concerns for its potential to resist the immune system.

28 Mar 2021

Selecting SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors in human airway epithelial cells

In a recent article currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers from Belgium and the U.S. demonstrated a robust replication model for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) isolates in primary human epithelial cells at the air-liquid interface and appraised the antiviral effect of selected viral replication inhibitors.

28 Mar 2021

Normal-tension glaucoma linked to increased risk of cognitive impairment

A type of glaucoma called normal-tension glaucoma is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and possibly dementia, finds research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

27 Mar 2021

Physical inactivity associated with the burden of global non-communicable diseases and deaths

The health implications of physical inactivity are truly a global issue with physical inactivity responsible for up to 8% of non-communicable diseases and deaths across the world, finds research published online in British Journal of Sports Medicine.

27 Mar 2021

Covid-19 lockdown restrictions may have led to reduction in asthma exacerbations

Fewer patients with severe attacks were seen by their GP or admitted to hospital during the covid-19 pandemic, and fewer were admitted to hospital for pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung diseases, show findings from three papers published online in the journal Thorax.

27 Mar 2021

Mimicking stress signals can protect the brain and retina from aging

How do different parts of the body communicate? Scientists at St. Jude are studying how signals sent from skeletal muscle affect the brain.

27 Mar 2021

Researchers identify new targets for minimizing tooth sensitivity to cold

Researchers report in Science Advances that they have uncovered a new function for odontoblasts, the cells that form dentin, the shell beneath the tooth's enamel that encases the soft dental pulp containing nerves and blood vessels.

27 Mar 2021

UVA scientists identify a potential way to prevent heart attacks and strokes

Scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have identified a potential way to head off heart attacks and strokes by strengthening the fibrous caps overlying atherosclerotic plaques that naturally accumulate inside our arteries.

27 Mar 2021

Researchers identify new drug candidates for treating patients with severe COVID-19

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have identified the most toxic proteins made by SARS-COV-2--the virus that causes COVID-19 - and then used an FDA-approved cancer drug to blunt the viral protein's detrimental effects.

27 Mar 2021

FDA acknowledged receipt of ORNL’s cancer-fighting Ac-225 isotope

A rare isotope in high demand for treating cancer is now more available to pharmaceutical companies developing and testing new drugs.

27 Mar 2021

Video gamers can significantly improve their esport skills by training for just 10 minutes a day

Researchers at Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and University of Limerick (UL), have found video gamers can significantly improve their esport skills by training for just 10 minutes a day.

27 Mar 2021

Adults carrying MRSA bacteria are twice as likely to die within the next decade

A University of Florida study of middle-aged and older adults finds those who unknowingly carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, on their skin are twice as likely to die within the next decade as people who do not have the bacteria.

27 Mar 2021