Drugs

Scientists identify and map structural proteins in the pig ovary, bringing us closer to developing ‘bio-ink’ for 3-D printing an artificial ovary. The need for developing bio-prosthetic or artificial ovary Approximately one in six female cancer survivors suffer from early menopause due to the serious side-effects of chemotherapy. Clinically known as premature ovarian insufficiency, this

An Australian study investigated the link between premature menopause and the risk of women developing multiple health problems in later life. Menopause (when menstrual periods stop in older women) is a natural part of the aging process. It normally happens between the ages of 45 to 55 years, but if it occurs before the age

New study examines whether exposure to 9/11 rubble increases cancer risk. The attacks on the World Trade Centre towers on September 11th, 2001 remain the defining moment of the 21st century. While close to 3,000 people were killed directly by the attacks, the devastating effects may have extended far beyond that fateful date. A new

A recent study evaluated the effect of lactate on breast cancer cells and how this may contribute to cancer formation. Why does cancer need glucose? Cancer cells consume increased amounts of glucose, a simple sugar molecule. Cancer cells also produce an increased amount of lactate, a byproduct of glucose. Glucose plays a key role in

Diabetes is a serious global illness that is only getting worse.  Globally, the occurrence of diabetes among people over 18 years of age has grown from 4.7% in 1980, to 8.5% in 2014.  The World Health Organization has estimated that diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death worldwide. What is diabetes? Insulin is a hormone,

Study identifies stress marker associated with abuse and domestic violence during childhood. It has been well documented within the scientific literature that childhood and adolescent adverse experiences, stress, and violence are linked to increased risk of physical and mental health issues in adulthood. Many of these physical and mental health issues are inflammatory in origin.

A new study published in Science Advances discovers that blocking Flt1 and Nrp1 from interacting with vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in the skin epidermis prevents psoriasis development. Three percent of the world’s population is affected by psoriasis, a skin inflammatory disorder that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin.  It

US researchers investigated the trends in robotic surgery use for common surgical procedures. In robotic surgery, a surgeon performs a surgical procedure by remotely operating robotic surgical equipment from a computer consul, rather than operating directly on the patient. Robotic surgical equipment includes hi-tech camera systems that give the surgeon 3D visuals of the operation

New study reports the improved efficacy of the tuberculosis vaccine by changing the vaccination method. The World Health Organization reported that in 2018 a total of 1.5 million died from Tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, making it the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.  The WHO also lists multidrug-resistant TB as a health security

Researchers compare a transition clinic (or outpatient clinic) to direct handover care for young people with inflammatory bowel disease. Young people (aged 16-25) who are diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often suffer from abdominal pain and fatigue. They can also suffer from depression, fear, and stress. Young people with IBD tend to miss out

New study explores loopholes in the protection and safety of your genetic information. Although some areas of technology don’t appear to be evolving as rapidly as we might have expected, DNA sequencing is not among them. The Human Genome Project, which completed the first the full sequencing of the human genome took 13 years and

A recent Canadian study suggests that survivors of childhood cancer are more likely to develop a second cancer. Still considered rare, childhood cancer is the second-highest cause of death among Canadian children following injury-related death. On average, just over 900 children are diagnosed with cancer in Canada every year. Due to advances in diagnosis and

A new study explains why people may be allergic to some skincare products. Over the past two hundred years, industrialization has dramatically increased the number of chemicals humans are exposed to, whether intentional (e.g., from cosmetics, fragrances, consumer products, etc.) or not (e.g., from pollution). The incidence of allergic contact dermatitis – a skin rash

Experts highlight the particular health risks of cannabis edibles, which were recently legalized in Canada. Cannabis, produced from the leaves and flowers of cannabis plants, contains over 100 chemical compounds called “cannabinoids”. Two key active ingredients are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis has several effects on the brain and body. It produces an intoxicated

In a recent study, researchers attempted to determine how effective one cycle of chemotherapy is for testicular cancer compared to the standard two-cycle. The standard treatment for testicular cancer is adjuvant chemotherapy. The usual combination of medication used in chemotherapy usually results in a less than 5% recurrence of cancer. There is some research evidence

A recent Canadian study reveals shaky links between human genetics and disease risk prediction. Genome-wide association (GWA) studies are a relatively new approach to identify genes involved in human disease. GWA studies involve scanning the entire human genome for specific variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Highly significant SNPs will occur more frequently in people

New research illustrates the challenges that families of children with autism experience in society. Autism is often noticed within the first year of life, and while there is no actual cure, treatments such as behavioral therapy, educational therapy, and medications can help manage symptoms. Family often plays a role in the treatment of autism as

Researchers determined the level of concordance and discordance of autism symptoms in twins from the analysis of a group of identical twins. Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects an individual’s behaviour and communication. Exact causes for the disorder are unknown and no cure currently exists. However, research into possible risk factors for

A recent study investigated the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and stroke. Ambient air pollution, described as air pollution in the outdoor environment, is a major public health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution contributed to around 4.2 million deaths in a given year of which about

A study of women with or without pre-pregnancy obesity found that women’s pre-pregnancy obesity was associated with lower IQ in boys through childhood. Every woman who becomes pregnant wishes to do her best for her baby, but many risk factors, including genetic and environmental ones, can affect the outcomes for the baby. Previous studies have

Serological evidence points to human herpes virus subtype, HHV-6A, being a risk factor for multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the individual’s own body attacks the protective coating around neurons in the central nervous system. Neurons are important for the transmission of information through the body and if the protective coating

The gradual increase in prevalence of obesity over time is largely attributed to diet, specifically the Western diet that primarily consists of excess food intake, high in calories, fat, or sugar. In an article published by Nature Communications, researchers specifically looked at how a high-fat diet increases the risk of obesity development. When over a

Researchers find a link between school-based exposure to greenness and neuronal development in children, in relation to ADHD. A factor that has been associated with healthy development is exposure to nature. For instance, more and more research suggests that living in areas that have higher amounts of green space is associated with several health benefits.

Obese mice treated with watermelon supplements demonstrated lower blood sugar levels, reduced insulin concentration levels, and decreased inflammation. More than half of Americans are overweight, leading to negative health effects such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Although lifestyle changes are recommended, like exercise and eating healthy meals, many Americans find it difficult

Mother-infant interactions were examined to see if a mother’s positive and negative emotions have an effect on her and her child’s brain waves. Our social interactions can be influential to our wellbeing. Certain brain regions are highly associated with emotional processing. The fronto-limbic network is involved in emotional processing, while the basal ganglia are associated

New research determined the safety and efficacy of dupilumab for atopic dermatitis in adolescents with inadequately controlled eczema. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes red and itchy skin. Commonly seen in children, atopic dermatitis or eczema is a long-lasting condition that flares up periodically and may be accompanied by asthma or hay

Researchers recently studied whether people’s increasing body weight is associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions. Many scientists believe that increasing human development is linked to increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, are those that absorb and emit radiant energy, such as visible light and radio waves.

Endometrial cancer, a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus known as the endometrium, is the sixth most common cancer worldwide amongst women. The known risk factors for endometrial cancer include estrogen levels, obesity, diabetes, and postmenopausal status. Postmenopausal women with high body mass index (BMI) are considered to be at an