A new mechanism for activating the immune system against cancer cells allows immune cells to detect and destroy cancer cells better than before, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature. The study was led by Prof. Nick Haining, of Harvard Medical School, and co-authored by Prof. Erez Levanon, doctoral student Ilana […]
Kidney patients are the most complex patients
A study published in JAMA Network Open shows nephrologists treat the most complex patients. As ERA-EDTA president Professor Carmine Zoccali explains, kidney patients are highly vulnerable and need special care, but nephrology is a neglected discipline in many European healthcare systems. According to the ERA-EDTA, it is time for better financial funding of nephrology as […]
The secret behind chicken soup’s medical magic
(HealthDay)—Many people rely on chicken noodle soup to soothe a cold, but few know exactly why the warm broth brings relief. But one dietitian can explain its magic. “Studies have shown that a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup may help clear nasal congestion and ease cold symptoms,” said Sandy Allonen, a clinical dietitian at […]
Paramedics can safely evaluate psychiatric patients’ medical condition in the field
Emergency medical personnel in Alameda County, California, use a screening process for determining whether to “medically clear” patients experiencing psychiatric emergencies before transporting them. They identify patients who are at low risk for medical emergencies and take them directly to a special Psychiatric Emergency Service facility specifically designed for people experiencing psychiatric crises. The protocol […]
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Had Cancer Surgery & Is Currently 'Resting Comfortably' Like the Queen She Is
It has been a rough few months (well, technically, two years) for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Not only has she been one of the most prominent voices of reason and resistance during the Trump administration, but she was also hospitalized in November 2018 for a few broken ribs. If that weren’t enough, we just […]
Home alone: How to keep your kids safe when you’re at work during the holidays
Many working parents battle with school holidays, especially the long period between Christmas and the start of the new school year. Most people receive four weeks’ leave a year, but school holidays take up about 12 weeks of the year. The maths clearly doesn’t add up. Even if both parents take their leave at different […]
How US children and teens die: Study reveals the widespread and persistent role of firearms
America lost 20,360 children and teens in 2016—60 percent of them to preventable injuries, a new study shows. More than 4,000 of them died in motor vehicle crashes, though prevention efforts and better trauma care have cut the death rate of young people from such crashes in half in less than two decades. Meanwhile, firearms—the […]
Take it outside! The benefits of exercising outdoors
(HealthDay)—If you’ve ever come home from a brisk walk feeling reinvigorated, you’re not alone. Research shows that this is just one of many benefits of exercising outdoors. Working out in a natural environment can also be more physically challenging, making your body work harder and bringing greater fitness results. This happens when, for instance, you’re […]
Two ways cancer resists treatment are actually connected, with one activating the other
Drugs that target BRAF and MEK in cancer have shown promise in treating a subset of melanoma that carries a mutation in the BRAF gene, but drug resistance usually emerges, reversing the benefit of these drugs and limiting the survival of patients. Research has shown tumors have two common ways of resisting this approach. Until […]
Gut microbiome regulates the intestinal immune system, researchers find
Scientist have long known that bacteria in the intestines, also known as the microbiome, perform a variety of useful functions for their hosts, such as breaking down dietary fiber in the digestive process and making vitamins K and B7. Yet a new study unveils another useful role the microbiome plays. A team of researchers from […]