Ropinirole is a medication already approved as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are now saying the drug may be an effective treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Japanese scientists reached that conclusion after conducting a clinical trial involving 20 people being treated for ALS. Ropinirole, a drug used…
Technology advance lays groundwork for OCT eye imaging at home
Researchers have shown that a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diode, which is commonly used in telecommunications and lidar applications, could offer a less expensive light source for swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). This advance could lead to ophthalmologic OCT systems that are practical for use outside the ophthalmology…
Many people living in the Diabetes Belt are plagued with medical debt
Delores Lowery remembers vividly the day in 2016 when she was working in a weaving plant near her home in Bennettsville, South Carolina, and the world around her seemed to go dim. She turned to her co-workers. “And I asked, I said, ‘Why y’all got it so dark in here?’…
New genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease unique to Ashkenazi Jews identified
Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world, affects individuals of all races and ethnicities; however, most genetic research for AD has been performed on individuals of European ancestry (EA) with a limited number of large-scale genetic studies in other populations. For many centuries, Ashkenazi Jews lived…
Can consuming grapes daily increase certain gut bacteria?
Researchers found that when healthy adults ate the equivalent of three servings of grapes daily for two weeks, the diversity of bacteria in the gut was not affected, but some types of gut bacteria increased while others decreased. In some people, changes in the gut microbiome as well as associated…
Treatment of asymptomatic elevated blood pressure linked to cardiac and kidney injury
Blood pressure is closely monitored in hospitalized patients. Severely high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or damage blood vessels and organs including the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. However, most hospitalized patients experience transiently elevated blood pressure without signs of organ damage, also referred to as…
Systematic approach needed to identify mental health issues in patients with inflammatory arthritis
Anxiety and depression are the mental health issues most commonly associated with inflammatory arthritis, and it is well-established that there is a link between mental health issues and poor health outcomes. The EULAR recommendations emphasize the need to assess mental health regularly; however, little is known about the association between…
Parkinsons disease drug ropinirole safely slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, finds clinical trial
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal motor neuron disease that causes people to gradually lose control of their muscles. There is no cure, and current treatments focus on reducing symptoms and providing supportive care. Reporting June 1 in the journal Cell Stem Cell,…
Study suggests licorice-derived liquiritigenin has breast cancer prevention potential for high-risk postmenopausal women
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers evaluated the potential of three licorice (Glycyrrhiza) species, i.e., G. glabra (GG), G. uralensis (GU), and G. infata (GI), and hops (Humulus lupulus), and their main bioactive polyphenols, to prevent breast malignancy. Study: Breast cancer prevention with liquiritigenin from licorice through…
Dietician reveals which milk is really best for health
From cow’s and oat to soya and almond – dietician reveals which milk is really best for health Cow’s milk and soya contain the most protein, registered dietitian says But cow’s milk has the most calories compared to plant-based alternatives Shoppers are spoiled for choice when choosing which milk to…