Health & Medicine
Optimal lipid metabolism with disease-preventing functional foods
Dietary lipids (fats) from plant and animal sources are important components of the human diet as they provide essential nutrients for growth and development. However, overconsumption of lipid-rich foods can lead to hyperlipidaemia – a key risk factor for metabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Modulating lipid digestion and absorption through the design of food structures, matrices and […]
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Is monoclonal antibody therapy effective and achievable in hospitals with limited resources?
Monoclonal antibody therapy (MAT) is a way of treating COVID-19 for people who have tested positive, have mild to moderate symptoms, and are at high risk of developing more serious symptoms and complications. Although there are already studies showing promising results, the number of patients in the US, especially ethnic minorities, who have so far received MAT is small. Dr […]
Take a breath: Is it time to re-think how we diagnose COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant health, social, and economic impacts. However, the diagnosis criteria for the condition remains broadly general and relies on the use of lung function tests, such as spirometry, which can be inaccurate in some cases. Professors Marie Breyer and Emiel Wouters, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, Austria, explain that a new taxonomy is […]
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Heart health, fat consumption and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to deaths globally. One of the most prominent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). Special focus has been placed on looking at the effects of fat consumption on LDL particle size in healthy individuals as a way to increase awareness among people in terms of diet and lifestyle. Dr […]
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A blow to the head impairs the autoregulation of brain blood flow: Neural consequences
Billions of cells make up the human brain. To keep this super-computer functioning, a carefully autoregulated blood supply provides oxygen and nutrients and removes waste products from the brain cells. In addition, cerebral circulation is involved in the regulation of the pressure inside the cranium. But what happens if this autoregulatory process is disrupted? Building on years of research into […]
One cell’s death is a microbe’s DINNR: How intestinal bacteria use our dying cells as fuel
Until now, a great deal has remained unknown about the relationship between programmed cell death and bacterial infections. However, recent work by Dr CJ Anderson and Professor Kodi Ravichandran from VIB-UGent, Belgium, has shed new light on this topic and introduced a new layer to the complex host–pathogen interaction. The team has shown that dying mammalian cells produce and shed […]
Advancing imaging biomarker development and translation through the National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA)
It is estimated that someone is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes in the UK. Clinical imaging offers a minimally invasive way of diagnosing and managing a variety of cancers. The National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA) consortium now provides researchers with the infrastructure to conduct high-quality, multi-centre clinical research in the quest to develop standardised imaging biomarkers and accelerate […]
To edit or not to edit: Changes in microRNAs are associated with asthma severity
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. While many people respond to inhaled medications, this treatment is not effective for everyone. Understanding more about the molecular pathways that promote severe asthma may provide opportunity for new therapeutic approaches. Dr Kevin M Magnaye, while a graduate student with Professor Carole Ober at the University of Chicago, explored changes in […]
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Communication technologies for supporting better healthcare
Clear and effective communication is of paramount importance in healthcare, both for patients and healthcare staff. Dr Anne Moorhead, senior lecturer in health communication at Ulster University, investigates how technologies, including social media, health apps, and telehealth services, play a role in enhancing communication within healthcare. With the recent accelerated shift to remote consulting and use of telehealth following the […]
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Tomato seed saponins promise to cure dermatitis
Dr Hiroshi Shimoda from Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Co Ltd and Professor Toshio Morikawa of Kindai University conducted a study on the chemical composition and bioactive properties of tomato seeds. The researchers found steroidal saponins called lycoperosides, previously associated with skin-health promotion, to be the major seed components, more abundant in seeds than in tomato fruits. The researchers further […]
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