When governments and institutions deploy epidemic forecast models when facing an outbreak, they sometimes fail to factor in human behavior and over-allocate precious resources as a result. Thanks to new research authored by a Texas A&M University engineering professor, that may no longer be the case. Dr. Ceyhun Eksin, lead author and assistant professor in […]
Low-cost retinal scanner could help prevent blindness worldwide
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a low-cost, portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner that promises to bring the vision-saving technology to underserved regions throughout the United States and abroad. Thanks to a redesigned, 3-D-printed spectrometer, the scanner is 15 times lighter and smaller than current commercial systems and is made from parts costing […]
Common medications ‘could increase dementia risk by almost half’
Common drugs used to treat depression, epilepsy and incontinence ‘could increase the risk of DEMENTIA by almost half because they damage crucial brain cells’ Anticholinergic medications were linked to an almost 50 per cent higher risk These also include drugs prescribed to Parkinson’s and mental health patients Researchers suggest they could cause the breakdown of […]
Rheumatoid arthritic pain could be caused by antibodies
Antibodies that exist in the joints before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain even in the absence of arthritis, researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden report. The researchers believe that the finding, which is published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, can represent a general mechanism in autoimmunity and that the results can […]
Eating a Lot of This One Food Could Be Aging You Prematurely
Indulging in a pint of ice cream while binge watching Netflix may satisfy your sweet tooth, but it can come at a cost. Simply put, sugar is bad news for your health, especially the processed kind. Added sugar can lead to weight gain, increased risk of heart disease and even speed up the aging process. […]
Could a protein in the blood be the key to eternal youth?
Could an injection of a ‘young blood’ protein be the ‘fountain of youth’? Study claims an enzyme from younger mice extended lifespan by 16% for older ones A protein in the blood called eNAMPT plays a role in how cells produce energy Its levels are high when we are young, but they decrease as we […]
What if you could spot skin cancer before it got too serious?
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. If you could visibly see signs of skin cancer on your body, would you be more likely to visit the doctor? A group of professors from BYU and the University of Utah asked that exact question as they looked for the most […]
Physics could answer questions about breast cancer spreading to bones
To fully understand why breast cancer spreads, or metastasizes, you must also consider the how. That’s what researchers in a biophysics and imaging laboratory in the School of Science at IUPUI did as they studied the mechanics of cell migration, which can possibly explain how cancer cells generate enough force to move from the primary […]
Naked mole rat genes could hold the secret to pain relief without opioids
Anyone with an annoying roommate story knows that a difficult living situation can change you in many ways. Now, imagine that instead of just eating all of your food from the refrigerator, that annoying roommate could actually cause genetic changes designed to make the “future you” more tolerant of their behavior. Does it sound too […]
How a zebrafish could help solve the mysteries of genetic brain disease
A close look at the rapidly developing zebrafish embryo is helping neuroscientists better understand the potential underpinnings of brain disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Researchers at The Ohio State University were interested in understanding changes in neurological development that arise from a genetic defect associated with neurological disease—specifically, the loss of a gene called Protocadherin-19, […]