40% of people in Australia who access pain relief during labor use epidurals. That amounts to around 92,000 epidurals a year. They’re also used for pain relief outside obstetrics. However, Australia is feeling the effects of a global supply shortage of particular brands of epidural kits. While this shortage was expected to be resolved at […]
Lifestyle
New therapeutic approach could prevent injury to fragile transplanted lungs
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a potential therapeutic target in the donor lung that can prevent primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in lung transplant recipients, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). GR Scott Budinger, MD, chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care in the Department of Medicine and the Ernest S. Bazley […]
Ditching the toothbrush for whiter teeth, fewer cavities
The first thing people notice when they meet you is your smile. To be more confident when giving wide-mouthed, eye-crinkling smiles, people want healthy, pearly white teeth. But toothpastes only remove surface stains, and whitening treatments can harm enamel, leading to cavities and discoloration. Now, researchers in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces report a new […]
Uncovering the links between diet, gut health and immunity
A preclinical study from the University of Sydney has found a high-protein diet can change the microbiota of the gut, triggering an immune response. Researchers say the study takes us a step closer to understanding the way diet impacts gut health and immunity. “The focus of our work is on how the gut microbiota—the trillions […]
Preeclampsia linked to increased markers of brain cell damage, inflammation
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and kidney damage. Mayo Clinic researchers found that women with a history of severe preeclampsia have more markers linked to brain cell damage and inflammation, compared to women who had uncomplicated pregnancies. The findings are being presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference […]
Ecological principles at play in gut microbiome
The dense, diverse collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that begin colonizing the human gastrointestinal tract from birth—collectively called the gut microbiome—is known to influence digestion and immune responses. Accumulating evidence hints that the microbiome can sway other systems, too, from the cardiovascular to the nervous. Researchers are now investigating how to introduce, establish and […]
Does fraud victimization affect a person’s long-term blood pressure?
New research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that experiencing financial exploitation, fraudulent schemes, and scams may raise a person’s blood pressure. The study found that fraud victimization was linked with elevated blood pressure in men, but not in women. The study included 1,200 older adults from the Rush Memory and […]