Rare diseases are sometimes the most difficult to treat because of a lack of research and fewer participants to study. An example would be those who have Pompe disease, a genetic condition when a body can’t make a protein that breaks down a complex sugar, called glycogen, for energy. Too much glycogen builds up and […]
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Regeneron COVID-19 antibody cocktail helps prevent symptomatic disease in study
U.S. is averaging about more than 66K new cases per day Infectious disease doctor Dr. Amesh Adalja on several states see spike in coronavirus cases. A monoclonal antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron and Roche dropped the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by up to 76% after three days for recently infected individuals not yet experiencing symptoms, […]
Mechanism of abnormal movements induced by drug treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Many people with Parkinson’s disease develop abnormal movements called L-DOPA induced dyskinesia, a major side effect of long-term medication. The mechanism underlying this side effect has been unknown. In this study, researchers have revealed relation between changes of neuronal activities and dyskinesia. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the common age-related neurological disorder affecting 7-10 million people […]
New maps link thousands of genetic variants to disease genes
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of genetic variants that are associated with a wide range of diseases. But these studies often fall short of establishing what a genetic variant does to bring about a particular trait or disease. “The challenge has been that many of these variants are difficult to interpret,” said Jesse […]
How brain cells repair their DNA reveals ‘hot spots’ of aging and disease
Neurons lack the ability to replicate their DNA, so they’re constantly working to repair damage to their genome. Now, a new study by Salk scientists finds that these repairs are not random, but instead focus on protecting certain genetic “hot spots” that appear to play a critical role in neural identity and function. The findings, […]
Possible trigger for Crohn’s disease identified
People living with the often-debilitating effects of Crohn’s disease may finally gain some relief, thanks to ground-breaking research led by McMaster University. McMaster investigator Brian Coombes said his team identified a strain of adherent-invasive E-coli (AIEC) that is strongly implicated in the condition and is often found in the intestines of people with Crohn’s disease. […]
Lyme disease has the potential to emerge in a wider range of habitats than previously thought
Lyme disease has the potential to emerge in a wider range of habitats than previously thought, suggests University of Liverpool and University of Glasgow research. A new study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases found that open, treeless habitats can support similar densities of infected ticks as woodland in the UK, challenging established knowledge of which […]
Six pregnancy complications are among red flags for heart disease later in life
Six pregnancy-related complications—high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, small-for-gestational-age delivery, pregnancy loss or placental abruption—increase a woman’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published today in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation. The statement calls for vigorous prevention of these risk […]
Covid vaccines block disease, but do they stop infection?
As reports this week from Scotland and Israel—where much or most of the population have gotten COVID jabs—confirm that vaccines largely prevent people from getting sick, another question is emerging: do they also block infection? A lot depends on the answer, experts say. If vaccines being rolled out worldwide ward off not only symptoms but […]
Study reveals how air pollution may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease
Tiny particles of air pollution—called fine particulate matter—can have a range of effects on health, and exposure to high levels is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. New research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) reveals that fine particulate matter has a detrimental impact on cardiovascular health by activating the production of […]