Researchers know generally that infections can take a toll on people who have other health problems. But SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may pose particular danger to the heart because of how the virus gets into cells, researchers speculate.Considering the involvement of ACE2, COVID-19 may damage the heart directly, researchers write in a commentary in Nature
A new systematic review and meta-analysis showed a small but significant reduction in subjective pain scores for cannabinoid treatment compared to placebo in patients experiencing acute pain. No increase in serious adverse events suggested the safety of using cannabinoids to treat acute pain, according to the study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. The researchers included
A medication commonly used to treat non-small cell lung cancer that has spread, or metastasized, may have benefits for patients with metastatic brain cancers, suggests a new review and analysis led by researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital of Unity Health Toronto and Harvard Medical School. Published today in JAMA Network Open, the research hones in on
As the world prioritizes social distancing to stop or slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), a new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University demonstrates that mother-infant touch and contact are essential for optimal neurodevelopmental regulation in early infancy. Kangaroo Care, a skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest method of caring for a baby, especially one who is
A new machine learning algorithm can predict which tumors were lower-grade gliomas or glioblastoma brain cancer with a high degree of accuracy. An estimated 18,000 people in the United States will die of brain and spinal cord tumors in 2020. To help doctors differentiate between the severity of cancers in the brain, an international team
Nutritional supplementation of omega-3s has been proposed to modulate the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in sepsis. We searched for RCTs on omega-3 supplementation in adult critically ill patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock. We analysed the included studies for mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation.
Omega-3s as antimicrobial agents has not been widely appreciated, perhaps due to a lack of understanding of antimicrobial mechanisms, toxicity, and route of administration. Therefore, this review focuses on the efficacy, mechanism, and toxicity of omega-3 fatty acids as alternative therapeutic agents for treating and preventing diseases associated with pathogenic microorganisms. The efficacy of omega-3s
As we race to develop effective treatments and a vaccine against COVID-19, people are looking to reduce their risk of getting sick. One thing that might help is as obvious as the sun in the sky and as close as your medicine cabinet – Vitamin D. Higher COVID-19 mortality rates among older people and those with chronic conditions suggest that a
Calorie restricted diets reduce inflammation, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and extend lifespan, a new study reports. If you want to reduce levels of inflammation throughout your body, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and live longer–eat less food. While the benefits of caloric restriction have long been known, the new results show how
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, mediate brain homeostasis by controlling neuronal proliferation/differentiation and synaptic activity. In response to external signals from neuropathological conditions, homeostatic (M0) microglia can adopt one of two activation states: the classical (M1) activation state, which secretes mediators of the proinflammatory response, and the alternative (M2) activation
While the guidelines in the document are directed toward clinical caregivers, they also contain valuable knowledge for pregnant women and their loved ones. Copel says that although information on the virus is still highly limited, enough is already known—especially from experience in Asia—about how it can adversely affect pregnant women. “High fevers early in pregnancy
Stress, loneliness, and sleep loss can weaken the immune system, leaving people more susceptible to COVID-19. The best way to mitigate the negative health effects of stress and social isolation during the pandemic is to stay connected with others, particularly via video calls. Fagundes said this can be explained by the way positive emotions buffer
Researchers from King’s College London have investigated the impact of short-term use of two important psychoactive constituents in cannabis on healthy volunteers: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).By analysing the results from 15 studies involving a total of 331 participants, the research showed that a single dose of THC could induce psychiatric symptoms in people with
Unfortunately, the tricyclic antidepressants also have a downside: significantly more and more serious side effects. So serious that many people stop taking the drug and thus receive no treatment for their depression. Now, researchers from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Lundbeck A/S and the National
Troops may someday deploy wearing small devices to help determine their risk of developing a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A blast sensor called the BlackBox Biometrics Blast Gauge, placed on a service member’s chest, shoulder and helmet, can document the pounds per square inch (PSI) of force they are exposed to over time, a Defense Department official said
A growing number of studies are pointing to a link between exposure to air pollution and mental health disorders across age groups. Research to-date has mainly focused on air pollution effects among adults, and now two new studies conducted by scientists from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati have found a similar connection among
Researchers at the Institute for Mental Health, at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, in Helsinki, found a clear relationship between sleep problems in infancy such as frequent night wakings, short sleep duration or difficulty in falling asleep and particular emotional and behavioural problems at 24 months
Scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) Munich and Denali Therapeutics (South San Francisco, CA, USA) have developed an approach to stimulate immune cells of the brain in such a way that they might possibly provide better protection against Alzheimer’s disease. Their report has been published in the journal “EMBO
Using marijuana while pregnant is among the most debated topics in the cannabis space right now. Some studies found babies exposed to marijuana in their mother’s womb were later undersized and could result in premature births. Others question the efficacy of such research. We don’t know if the damage caused is because of the THC cannabinoid, or if inhaling smoke
Unlike TBI, mTBI can be difficult to diagnose as there often is no observable head injury, even with imaging. Chronic mTBI, where post concussive symptoms persist years after a mTBI event, is very common in veterans who have undergone one or more mTBI event. Researchers at Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle, led by
