Credit: DepositphotosAs a clinical microbiologist, I always assumed it was common knowledge that kissing a newborn on the head was a bad idea. However, Dr. Karan Raj, an NHS surgeon, recently posted a TikTok warning about the risks of kissing babies, which seemed to be news for many viewers, judging by the thousands of...
Credit: DepositphotosA research team from the University of Vienna, headed by medicinal chemist Markus Muttenthaler, has introduced a novel class of oral peptide therapeutic candidates to address chronic abdominal pain.This innovative approach provides a safe, non-opioid alternative for managing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which impact millions globally....
Illustrative example of damaged skin, in this case from sunburn. Credit: DepositphotosA rare and potentially life-threatening skin condition with devastating effects might finally have a cure.What begins as a mild rash can quickly escalate, with over 30 percent of the skin blistering and peeling away in sheets. The condition typically starts on the face...
Credit: PixabayThe blood pressure medication rilmenidine has shown potential to slow aging and extend lifespan in animal studies, raising the possibility of similar benefits for humans. If effective, it could promote longer, healthier lives without the challenges of extreme calorie restriction.Previous research revealed that rilmenidine mimics the effects of caloric restriction at a cellular...
Credit: PixabayMosquitoes, notorious for spreading diseases like malaria, have been repurposed by researchers as vaccine carriers. In groundbreaking human trials, these mosquito-borne vaccines showed up to 90% effectiveness, offering a surprising twist on these pests’ role in human health.Instead of viewing mosquitoes solely as disease vectors, scientists at the London School of Hygiene and...
Credit: PixabayA review published on Nov. 14 in JAMA Network Open suggests that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for treating chronic back and/or lower extremity pain leads to greater pain relief compared to conventional medical management (CMM).Frank J. P. M. Huygen, Ph.D., M.D., from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and his team conducted a...
Credit: PixabayOlder adults experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or reduced motivation for daily tasks may be at higher risk of developing motoric cognitive risk (MCR), a pre-dementia condition that can lead to dementia.Daytime Sleepiness Linked to Early Signs of MCRThese findings, from a new study by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in...
Credit: PixabayThat refreshing sensation you experience when breathing in fresh air in nature might involve more than just the absence of pollution.While we typically associate nutrients with our diet, a closer examination of scientific studies reveals compelling evidence that humans can also absorb certain nutrients directly from the air.In a recent perspective article in...
Credit: PixabayWhile kombucha might not suit everyone’s taste, it could offer some benefits similar to fasting, minus the challenge of actually fasting. Researchers have found that when the yeasts and bacteria from this fermented, slightly sweetened tea colonize the gut, they can influence fat metabolism without requiring any other dietary adjustments, leading to reduced...
An untreated loop of catheter tubing (left) alongside a clot-free coated loop Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu Research GroupWhen blood passes through medical devices like catheters or stents, there's a risk of clots forming, which can be harmful. A newly developed coating, inspired by biological processes, could prevent this without the need for blood-thinning drugs.How Blood Forms Clots...
