Rett syndrome is a rare, progressive neurodevelopmental disorder that typically affects girls, causing severe intellectual disability, loss of motor skills, and autism-like symptoms, and there is currently no cure. Rett syndrome is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the X chromosome gene MECP2. Females typically have two copies of MECP2—one on each X chromosome—and in […]
What the experts say Who’s at risk? Anyone who has already had a heart attack Individuals with a history of heart disease Those with high blood pressure or cholesterol levels Smokers Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle How you can stay safe If you are inactive and have a history of heart trouble, talk to your […]
Mammals convert the energy stored in adipose (fat) tissue into heat via a process known as thermogenesis. This process is regulated by a family of signaling proteins called sirtuins. A recent study by researchers from Kumamoto University reveals the mechanism through which the protein sirtuin 7 suppresses thermogenesis in mice. These findings may pave the […]
Higher levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) from seafood (oily fish) were associated with a modestly lower incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a slower decline in renal function, in a new analysis. However, higher levels of plant-derived n-3 PUFAs (alpha-linolenic acid [ALA]) were not associated with any change in kidney function. […]
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound effects, both globally and on a highly personal level. Now, researchers from Japan have developed an accurate way of assessing the effects of the pandemic on our emotional health and wellbeing. In a study published in December in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public […]
How do you do CPR? Here’s the ultimate, expert-devised guide after ex-TOWIE star Mark Wright breaks down recalling his attempt to save a dying stranger Life-saving CPR can keep cardiac arrest victims alive until paramedics arrive Mark Wright revealed he rushed to perform CPR on a stranger during a holiday The Government confirmed a defibrillator […]
Adverse menstruation-related symptoms are common during menstrual cycles, which occur about once a month in healthy women. Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are especially prevalent and problematic, causing cramps, body pain, and numerous other disruptive physical and emotional symptoms. Now, a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in Japan has found commonalities in risk […]
Giving colon cancer patients chemotherapy before surgery cuts their risk of the disease coming back, according to the results of a Cancer Research UK clinical trial. The FOxTROT trial showed that giving colon cancer patients chemotherapy before rather than after surgery reduced by 28% the chance of cancer returning within 2 years. In total, 1,053 […]
A man—for the sake of this exercise, let’s call him “Paul”—has a heart attack and his brain is starved of oxygen. After several resuscitations and a week in a coma, he finally opens his eyes. However, he doesn’t always appear to be present. Doctors say he is still unconscious, in an “unresponsive state”—the patient’s eyes […]
Though Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 55 million people worldwide, there’s still no cure for the condition—and treatment options are limited. While recent advancements in the field have led to the development of two medications which may delay the progression of the disease, their benefits are debated. Not to mention that in most clinical trials […]
