A simple blood test for Alzheimer’s would be a great advance for individuals with—and at risk for—the disease, families, doctors and researchers. At the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2020, scientists reported results of multiple studies on advances in blood “tests” for abnormal versions of the tau protein, one of which may be able to […]
It may seem like a lifetime ago, but it was only in late January 2020 that Singapore confirmed its first case of the then-novel coronavirus causing COVID-19. Amid the frenzied atmosphere of the Chinese New Year holidays, few would have suspected that the strange pneumonia would snowball into the global pandemic that it is today. […]
Cancer diagnosis requires a lengthy process of multiple analyses of tissue biopsies, impeding the quick and early detection of cancers. In a new study, researchers from Osaka University developed a novel imaging system that uses near-infrared light to be less invasive and more time efficient than the conventional approach. Histopathological analysis, or the investigation of […]
For families with members who struggle with various mental illnesses, there’s so much that our peers who aren’t in that boat struggle to fully understand. Particularly in the cases of often misunderstood and mis-represented mental illnesses — like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder — it can be complicated (on top of trying to […]
The COVID-19 crisis has had a grave impact on jobs, wellbeing, mental health and the economy worldwide. But it has also prompted public expressions of hope—people have come together to sing on balconies and clap in the streets. Communities have been joining forces, with a surge in people donating to local food banks and looking […]
A new study looks at differences between the brains of Japanese classical musicians, Western classical musicians, and nonmusicians. Researchers investigated specific kinds of neural behavior in participants as they were exposed to unfamiliar rhythms and nonrhythmic patterns. Trained musicians showed greater powers of rhythmic prediction compared to nonmusicians, with more subtle differences between those trained […]
Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are parasites that can be transmitted to humans via insect bites and animal scratches, resulting in an infection known as bartonellosis. Cat-scratch disease and trench fever are forms of bartonellosis caused by different Bartonella species infecting humans. Bartonella bacteria can cause lesions to pop up in the skin and internal […]
Pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathogen-associated molecular patterns such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are known to activate NF-kB. NF-kB is a master regulator of inflammation and induces pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokiens are indispensable for host defense against pathogens, dysregulated production can lead to septic shock. Septic shock is the most common cause of death in intensive […]
An analysis of a series of maternal deaths in Maputo’s central hospital, in Mozambique, reveals a major diagnostic error in almost 40% of the deaths. The results, published in Lancet Global Health, show there has been scarce improvement over the last ten years. The study was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), […]
Many of us (unfortunately) have experienced and fought to cure a hell of a hangover before (lots of water, rest and maybe a bit of hair of the dog!). After a long night of drinking, we wake up feeling sluggish, dizzy and nauseated and have a sensitivity to light or sound. But it’s not just […]
