BioMedWire Stocks Archives - Page 30 of 72

FridayDec 01, 2023 11:55 am

Study Shows Autistic People Have Lower Life Expectancy Than General Population

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental and neurological disorder that affects how an individual interacts with others, as well as learns, behaves and communicates. While some individuals on the spectrum can learn to be independent, others require long-term support and care. Additionally, individuals on the autism spectrum are more likely to have mental-health conditions, with data showing that suicide rates are higher in this particular group. New research has found that individuals with autism who also have learning disabilities have heightened chances of dying prematurely in comparison to the general public. The researchers’ objective was to look into whether autism…

ThursdayNov 30, 2023 12:19 pm

Hidden Belly Fat Could Be a Precursor of Alzheimer’s Onset Years Later

Alzheimer’s is a progressive illness that often begins with mild loss of memory and confusion. This type of dementia involves parts of the brain that control memory, thought and language. Patients in very severe decline often have difficulty carrying out daily activities, which may include holding a conversation or responding to the environment. As of 2020, estimates showed that about 5.8 million individuals in America were living with Alzheimer’s disease. Projections show that one in every five women and one in every ten men will develop this condition in their lifetime. While the exact cause of the disease isn’t known,…

WednesdayNov 29, 2023 2:31 pm

Study Suggests Parkinson’s Could Be Linked to Onset of Stroke, Heart Disease

A study recently published in the “Scientific Reports” journal has found a potential link between Parkinson’s, strokes and the onset of heart disease. Researchers behind the study used a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to find links associations between cardiocerebrovascular illnesses and Parkinson’s disease (PD). While some past studies have surmised that cardiocerebrovascular conditions and PD are related, those studies are relatively controversial. The research team sought to investigate the potential effect of PD on cardiocerebrovascular disorders via the Mendelian randomization method. It leveraged data from 482,730 Europeans in the International PD Genomics Consortium’s publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) in…

TuesdayNov 28, 2023 12:31 pm

Autoimmunity Patients Face Cost, Diagnosis, Care Challenges

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system becomes dysfunctional and begins attacking healthy tissue and organs. More than 20 million Americans suffer from a myriad of autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, that can significantly impact their quality of life. Many autoimmune patients often have to deal with years of misdiagnosis and untreated symptoms before they finally receive a proper diagnosis. Since a majority of autoimmune diseases have no cure, patients such as Beth VanOrden from Athens, Texas, have to take various medications to manage symptoms for the rest of their lives. VanOrden suffers from Hashimoto’s…

MondayNov 27, 2023 2:22 pm

Study Says Patients on Gene Therapy Need Long-Term Monitoring

Sickle cell disease is a genetic illness that modifies the shape of red blood cells into a crescent or sickle shape, causing serious health issues and heightening the risk of patients developing blood cancer. A recently conducted study has found promising results concerning gene therapy’s potential in curing genetic illnesses. These findings providing new insights into what happens in the human body following treatment. For their study, the researchers examined samples obtained from sickle cell disease patients who underwent gene therapy as part of a trial conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital. They then observed the genetic changes in each patient’s…

WednesdayNov 22, 2023 1:57 pm

Amazon Gives Prime Members Round-the-Clock Virtual Healthcare Access at Reduced Cost

Amazon, which was founded in 1994, has grown from an online bookstore that competed with Barnes & Noble and local booksellers to a conglomerate involved a range of industries. The company recently recorded a new milestone, launching virtual healthcare through its One Medical service. This healthcare program can be accessed by members of Amazon Prime, either annually at $99 or monthly at $9. This is quite a steal, especially when compared to rates of nonmembers, which stand at $198 annually and $18 monthly. The One Medical service has different offerings, including its Treat Me Now feature, which offers guidance on…

TuesdayNov 21, 2023 2:16 pm

Study Finds DNA Loops in Brain Tumors in Kids Amplify Relapse Risk

Medulloblastoma is a rare type of brain tumor that is primarily found in children. It is estimated that about 350 cases of this illness are diagnosed annually. This cancer often resists treatment, which involves a combination of radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. This, combined with the disease’s various subtypes, has made it harder for scientists to develop new therapies. Now, new research has discovered that medulloblastoma patients with tumors that contain circular extrachromosomal DNA have a heightened risk of relapse and mortality. For their research, the scientists compiled a database of patients with medulloblastoma using data from patients diagnosed at Rady’s…

MondayNov 20, 2023 3:24 pm

Study Shows Patients Afflicted by Inflammatory Arthritis Face Numerous Mental Challenges at Work

A new study has found that individuals with inflammatory arthritis are plagued with psychological challenges that make it hard for them to maintain employment. The study, conducted by the Hospital for Special Surgery, was recently presented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2023. One of the researchers involved in the study, Joan Westreich, stated that research had indicated that individuals suffering from inflammatory arthritis had a heightened risk for work disability, which could greatly impact their lives. Westreich also that within a decade of diagnosis, about 40% of those living with this condition wouldn’t be able to work. While…

FridayNov 17, 2023 11:25 am

Study Examines Role of African Sleeping Sickness in Body Wasting

African trypanosomiasis is a progressive illness that affects both humans and animals. The illness is caused by a parasite known as Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei). In the course of infection, T. brucei colonizes adipose tissue and rapidly grows in the host. This, researchers theorize, may cause weight loss because it primarily affects the biggest visceral adipose tissue depot, the gonadal AT. The infection works by offsetting the balance between anabolism and catabolism, which takes place in the adipocytes’ lipid droplets. An increase in lipid catabolism then causes degradation of triacylglycerol, which is hydrolyzed by lipase, monoacylglycerol lipase and adipose triglyceride…

ThursdayNov 16, 2023 2:10 pm

Study Links Cat Parasite to Accelerated Frailty in Aging People

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a single-cell parasite that can cause severe physical and mental conditions. This parasite is known to trigger risky behavior in hosts. The most common way for an individual to be exposed to this parasite is when disposing of cat litter. This is because while the parasite does affect rodents and birds, it thrives in cats. In felines, it can multiply in the cat’s intestines, with its eggs being excreted for easier and faster transmission. While the parasite can stay alive in the host for a long time, most healthy individuals rarely present with symptoms because…