Latest Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare News from Medical News Today

New Drug May Decrease Asthma Attacks By 87%

A novel, lab-made molecule was able to stick to certain inflammatory proteins and decrease and minimize acute breathing issues among people with moderate-to-severe asthma, according to new research by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine....

Antidepressant Escitalopram Helps Heart Problem Caused By Stress

Researchers at Duke Medicine have revealed that a commonly prescribed antidepressant - escitalopram (Lexapro) - could be used to treat a heart condition caused by stress among people suffering from stable coronary heart disease. The findings of the s...

Vitamin C Can Kill Drug-Resistant TB Bacteria

Vitamin C can kill drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in laboratory culture, according to a new, surprising discovery by experts at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The research, published in Nature Communications, in...

Radioactive Bacteria Dramatically Reduce Spread Of Pancreatic Cancer In Mice

Using bacteria to ferry radioisotopes commonly used in cancer therapy directly into pancreatic cancer cells in mice, researchers in the US were able dramatically to reduce the number of secondary tumors that arise when the cancer spreads to other pa...

Should We Sequence Everyone's Genome?

Should we all have our genomes sequenced? Two experts debate the issue on bmj.com today. Professor John Burn from the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Newcastle University says sequencing everyone's genome would give us unparalleled knowledge to prev...

Blood Thinners Cause 7 Percent Of Medication Errors

New research published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy has revealed that blood thinners account for around 7 percent of medication errors in hospitalized patients. Blood thinners reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by preventing the developm...

"Friendly Viruses" Shield Us From Infection

We have heard of friendly gut bacteria that help us digest food and are thought to be essential for gut development, but now, in a new breakthrough study, scientists in the US suggest we also carry friendly viruses that shield us from infection by d...

Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Suffers Days After Ischemic Stroke Leading To Serious Complications

While the effects of acute stroke have been widely studied, brain damage during the subacute phase of stroke has been a neglected area of research. Now, a new study by the University of South Florida reports that within a week of a stroke caused by a...

Physician/Drug Company Breakup Could Improve Health Care, Cut Costs

A new report* suggests that improved health care and significant reductions in drug costs might be attained by breaking up the age-old relationship between physicians and drug company representatives who promote the newest, more costly and often unne...

Blind People May Be Able To Locate Their 'Inner Bat'

New research from the University of Southampton has shown that blind and visually impaired people have the potential to use echolocation, similar to that used by bats and dolphins, to determine the location of an object. The study, which is published...

The Risk To Light-Skinned People Of Sun Exposure Highlighted By Study Of Young Israelis

A new study conducted using extensive medical records of over one million Israeli adolescents before military service shows clearly how exposure to the Israeli sun of young, light-skinned children increases substantially the risk of cutaneous melanom...

Identification Of Molecular Trigger For Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers have pinpointed a catalytic trigger for the onset of Alzheimer's disease - when the fundamental structure of a protein molecule changes to cause a chain reaction that leads to the death of neurons in the brain. For the first time, scienti...

Novel Medicine For The Treatment Of Chronic Wounds

Every 20 seconds, a limb is lost as a consequence of diabetic foot ulcer that does not heal. To date, medical solutions that can change this situation are very limited. In his doctoral thesis Yue Shen from the Industrial Doctoral School and the Depar...

Coronary Heart Disease Risk Revealed By Genetic Screening

The study comprised over 24,000 Finnish subjects and was led by Professor Samuli Ripatti. The results revealed that a panel of 28 genetic markers improved detection of individuals with high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) (10-year risk �2...

Good Long-Term Outcomes After Surgery In Most Infants With Posterior Fossa Subdural Hematoma

Posterior fossa subdural hematoma (PFSDH) is a serious and rare condition in newborns, generally occurring after difficult deliveries. But with appropriate treatment, there's an excellent chance of good long-term outcomes even in severe cases of PFSD...

Advance Made In Nanotech Gene Sequencing Technique

The allure of personalized medicine has made new, more efficient ways of sequencing genes a top research priority. One promising technique involves reading DNA bases using changes in electrical current as they are threaded through a nanoscopic hole....

The Importance Of Hospital Emergency Departments

Hospital emergency departments play a growing role in the U.S. health care system, accounting for a rising proportion of hospital admissions and serving increasingly as an advanced diagnostic center for primary care physicians, according to a new RAN...

Why Toothpaste Makes Orange Juice Bitter

What is it about toothpaste that transforms the sweet flavor of orange juice into something so bitter? For the solution to that mysterious sensory phenomenon - in colorful, animated detail - check the latest episode of the American Chemical Society's...

Parents Think 1 In 100 Teens Using "Study Drugs" But Actual Figure Is More Like 1 In 10

As high schoolers prepare for final exams, teens nationwide may be tempted to use a "study drug" ­- a prescription stimulant or amphetamine - to gain an academic edge. But a new University of Michigan poll shows only one in 100 parents of teens 13...

Patients With Low Back Pain Can Be Accurately Assessed Via Telerehabilitation

A new "telerehabilitation" approach lets physical therapists assess patients with low back pain (LBP) over the Internet, with good accuracy compared with face-to-face examinations, reports a study in the journal Spine. The journal is published by Lip...

Constipation And Other Bowel Problems Afflict 72 Percent Of Pregnant Women

Nearly 3 out of 4 pregnant women experience constipation, diarrhea or other bowel disorders during their pregnancies, a Loyola University Medical Center study has found. But such bowel disorders only minimally affect a pregnant woman's quality of lif...

Hope For Emphysema Patients Offered By Tiny, Implantable Coil

A small, easily implantable device called the Lung Volume Reduction Coil (LVRC) may play a key role in the treatment of two types of emphysema, according to a study conducted in Europe. Results of the study indicate the beneficial effects of the devi...

Increased Asthma Severity In Pregnant Women Exposed To Traffic Pollution

Air pollutants from traffic are associated with increased asthma severity levels in pregnant asthmatic women, according to a new study. "Air pollution is a known trigger for asthma symptoms," said lead author Janneane Gent, PhD, Research Scientist in...

Gender Differences In Access To Trauma Centers

Women are less likely than men to receive care in a trauma center after severe injury, according to a new study of almost 100,000 Canadian patients. "Gender-based disparities in access to healthcare services in general have been recognized for some t...

Both Air And Noise Pollution Increase Cardiovascular Risk

Both fine-particle air pollution and noise pollution may increase a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to German researchers who have conducted a large population study, in which both factors were considered simultaneously....