Health & Medicine
Regulators of protein degradation as potential treatments for neurodegenerative disease
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are characterised by the accumulation of misfolded and damaged protein aggregates. Normally, proteins that are damaged or malfunctioning are destroyed by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). However, the UPS itself is impaired in several instances of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr David Smith and his team at the School of Medicine, University of West […]
Quality of life for family caregivers is impacted by satisfaction with care
Cancer has an emotional and physical impact on caregivers as well as patients. If relatives are not happy with the care they are able to provide for the patient, this can impair their quality of life. Dr Miki Morishita-Kawahara at the Tokyo Women’s Medical University aims to understand better the factors that influence the quality of life of family caregivers […]
Cell mechanics – from bench to bedside
All cells generate and respond to mechanical forces. The role of mechanical forces in cell biology has been understudied, but the forces are essential components of our physiology in health and disease. For example, they are involved in pathologies such as cardiac arrhythmias, muscular dystrophy and metastatic cancer. Dr Frederick Sachs from the University at Buffalo, New York, focuses on […]
X-ray histotomography: Characterising every cell of a whole organism
Histology is a powerful technique used to distinguish normal and abnormal cells and tissue. In practice, only a small sampling of thin, 2-dimensional slices is readily available for diagnosis. In contrast, micro-CT allows full-volume, 3-dimensional (3D) imaging of biological samples. By optimising micro-CT, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Keith Cheng from Pennsylvania State University created X-ray histotomography, a technique […]
Improving the iron delivery from staple food crops and food products
Dr Raymond Glahn, US Department of Agriculture and Cornell University, has pioneered several techniques to assess how much iron (Fe) is bioavailable from foods, meals and the overall diet. Such techniques are essential to identify and optimise dietary sources of Fe and alleviate iron deficiency, one of the leading global nutritional deficiencies. Staple food crops are a focus of this […]
Headaches and neck pain: The impact of cervical anatomy
Headaches can be caused by a dysfunction in the neck. There appears to be a relationship between the movement or position of the spine and the intensity of headaches. Dr Rob Sillevis, from Florida Gulf Coast University, explored the anatomical relationship between a variety of structures in the upper cervical spine and the spinal cord. His observations could help understand how […]
Talking about dying: How doctors and patients talk about life expectancy
When patients have life-limiting conditions, doctors need to talk with them about dying. These conversations can be difficult for doctors, patients, and patients’ family members. Professor Ruth Parry and Dr Marco Pino, from Loughborough University, analyse recordings of conversations during which patients request life expectancy estimates. They then use the findings from this research to develop training resources that can […]
Timely insulin therapy to treat type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a tricky condition to treat. While insulin can efficiently lower blood sugar levels and protect pancreatic ꞵ-cells, it can also cause harmful side effects such as hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Severe hypoglycaemia may trigger arrhythmias and cardiovascular events. Professor Markolf Hanefeld suggests that an individualised approach to start timely insulin therapy on the basis of risk/benefit balance is […]
How real-world experience shapes clinical practice: Following one antibiotic’s journey over time
While clinical trials are vital in getting drugs to market, these tightly-controlled studies are unable to address the diverse needs of many patients in the real world. Real-world experience research can bridge the gap between clinical trials and clinical practice. Recently, Dr Mark Redell of Melinta Therapeutics, USA, introduced a collection of research experiences on the real-world use of the […]
Reducing risks, improving outcomes: The benefits of Patient Blood Management
While blood transfusions are generally very safe and have saved millions of lives, they carry a small risk of serious side effects. These risks can be lessened through the use of Patient Blood Management (PBM), a series of interventions that seek to minimise blood loss, prevent anaemia and reduce the need for a transfusion before, during and after major surgery. […]