(HealthDay)—Young pregnant women who are obese may face a higher risk of changes in heart structure and function, a small new study suggests. The changes seen might lead to a pregnancy complication known as preeclampsia, according to the researchers. This disorder is a dangerous form of high blood pressure that can develop during the second […]
Microfluidic system incorporates neuroinflammation into ‘Alzheimer’s in a dish’ model
Building on their development of the first culture system to replicate fully the pathology behind Alzheimer’s disease, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has now produced a system that includes neuroinflammation, the key biological response that leads to the death of brain cells. The investigators describe their system, which incorporates the glial cells that […]
A new climate model can predict dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean region
Changes in climate, such as rain and drought, can affect the risk of mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. An international team comprising the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has developed a new tool to predict the impact of droughts and extreme rainfall on the risk of dengue outbreaks. In recent years, the […]
A better way to predict heart attacks and strokes in space
Researchers may have developed a more reliable way to predict the risk of heart attack and stroke in astronauts – and the technique may eventually help gauge the same danger for regular folks on Earth, too. NASA astronauts currently undergo a special screening method that scans coronary arteries for a buildup of calcified plaque. This […]
Fat production and burning are synchronized in livers of mice with obesity
Mice fed a fattening diet develop new liver circadian rhythms that impact the way fat is accumulated and simultaneously burned, according to a new study published in Cell by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The team found that as liver fat production increases, surprisingly, so does the body’s […]
Fitness trackers prove helpful in monitoring cancer patients
Fitness trackers can be valuable tools for assessing the quality of life and daily functioning of cancer patients during treatment, a new study has found. The trackers, also known as wearable activity monitors, include commercial devices worn on the wrist that log a wearer’s step counts, stairs climbed, calories, heart rate and sleep. “One of […]
Calories in vodka: Nutrition facts
However, this does not necessarily mean that vodka is a good choice for a person looking to lose weight. In this article, we compare the nutritional profiles of vodka and other types of alcohol. We also describe how drinking alcohol can interfere with weight loss. How many calories does vodka have? A 1.5-ounce serving of […]
4 in 5 adolescent girls have a mental health disorder following sexual assault
Eighty percent of young women were found to have a mental health disorder and 55 percent had two or more mental health disorders four to five months after sexual assault, according to a study led by UCL and The Havens, London’s specialist sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) hosted by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. […]
New research underscores the importance of language development in low-income, high-risk children
Language sets the stage for how children grow, develop, and learn. University of Miami Assistant Professor of Psychology Lynn Perry, whose research focuses on language and cognitive development in children, says a child’s early years of language development are critical for the fundamentals of school readiness, such as literacy skills and social and emotional growth. […]
Scientists reverse aging-associated skin wrinkles and hair loss in a mouse model
Wrinkled skin and hair loss are hallmarks of aging. What if they could be reversed? Keshav Singh, Ph.D., and colleagues have done just that, in a mouse model developed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. When a mutation leading to mitochondrial dysfunction is induced, the mouse develops wrinkled skin and extensive, visible hair loss […]