New publication unravels the impact of the widespread use of insecticides for malaria control

Several diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, or even parasites. Sometimes, these microorganisms cannot infect humans (or other animals) by themselves, so they rely on other organisms—called vectors—to carry them around and transmit the disease from one host to another. A well-known group of vectors is arthropods. Arthropods have a hard exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and […]

Are problems with sex inevitable as men age? Ask Dr Martin Scurr

Are problems with sex inevitable as men age? Ask the GP DR MARTIN SCURR For the past 15 years or so, I’ve not been able to get the erections I used to. Is this simply an age thing? I am 68, but lean and very fit. I exercise regularly (sit ups, weights, etc), play a […]

Vertigo improves with endolymphatic sac surgery, cochlear implant in Meniere disease

For patients with Meniere disease (MD), vertigo control is improved with endolymphatic sac surgery alone (ESSalone), cochlear implantation alone (CIalone), and ESS with CI (ESS+CI), with the highest rate for CIalone, according to a study published online July 20 in the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. Jennifer L. Spiegel, M.D., from University Hospital in Munich, Germany, […]

'My son's cancer was caused by stomach-eating bug'

My son died of stomach cancer – I think he got it from a bug all travellers should know about Zak Wilcox died at the age of 40 three months after a stomach cancer diagnosis His mother believes cancer was caused by infection from a stomach-eating bug The bacteria Helicobacter pylori is known to increase the […]

PPIs May Curb Benefits of Palbociclib in Breast Cancer

TOPLINE: Taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) with the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor palbociclib could diminish the full therapeutic benefit of palbociclib in women with breast cancer and lead to worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival, new data suggest. METHODOLOGY: The study retrospectively identified 1310 women with advanced breast cancer receiving palbociclib using […]

Unraveling Alzheimers catalysts as weavers of amyloid β fibrils

Researchers from the National Institutes of Natural Sciences and Nagoya City University have achieved a significant breakthrough by elucidating the structure of amyloid β (Aβ) bound to glycolipids on the surface of nerve cells. This finding shed light on the critical role of abnormal Aβ fibril formation, a major contributor to Alzheimer’s disease, and holds […]

Breastfeeding rates in Wales increased during the pandemic, study reveals

Reviewers’ Notes A Swansea University-led study revealed breastfeeding rates in Wales increased during the pandemic. The research, which included all women in Wales who gave birth between 2018 and 2021, found that breastfeeding rates at six months were higher during Covid compared to the pre-pandemic period – with rates increasing from 16.6 per cent before […]

Is COVID-19 vaccination linked to psoriasis emergence or flare-ups?

In a recent review published in Biomedicines, a group of authors explored the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and psoriasis onset or exacerbation, utilizing data from 49 studies, while emphasizing the importance of vaccination and the need for further research. Study: New Onset and Exacerbation of Psoriasis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Review of the […]

The safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for treating severe COVID-19

In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers discuss the results of a multicentric, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine the safety and efficacy of normoxic-allogenic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.  Study: Effectiveness and safety of normoxic allogenic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells administered as adjunctive treatment […]