Health & Medicine
What can peptide-coated nanoparticles tell us about the causes of dementia?
Kazushige Yokoyama, Professor of Chemistry at the State University of New York Geneseo College, investigates how peptides interact. Along with Akane Ichiki, an undergraduate student at the institution, his team have been investigating the peptides involved in fibrillogenesis, the process which occurs in the brain to form aggregates responsible for some of the symptoms involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s […]
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Innovation in oncology drug development: A focus on patient benefits
Innovation in oncology drug development is driving more efficient and effective development of new cancer treatments. This innovation is providing cancer patients unprecedented access to new therapies. Dr Brian Huber, Vice President of Therapeutic Areas, Drug Development and Consulting at ICON and Matthew Huber, a scientist in the emerging biotechnology sector focused on developing innovative oncology medicines, have conducted a […]
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Flexibility is key in treating children with type 1 diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce their own insulin, leading to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. To survive, they must receive insulin treatment. A recently developed, long-lasting insulin called degludec offers a unique level of flexibility. This means that it is particularly suitable for treating children and young people with type 1 diabetes. Dr Nandu Thalange, an expert in childhood diabetes […]
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Patient safety and opioid medications
Hospitalised patients often require appropriate pain relief as part of their treatment. Opioids are effective medications for pain management, but can cause excessive sedation and respiratory depression resulting in patient harm. Dr Carla Jungquist of the University at Buffalo, School of Nursing, and a panel of fellow experts reviewed evidence from the past decade to provide an important update on […]
Specialist services offer cost-effective treatment for anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder which appears to be increasing in children, although this could mean that services are getting better at identifying the condition. Sarah Byford, Professor of Health Economics at King’s College London, led a team that surveyed children and young people who were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in 2015. They discovered that specialist eating […]
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Heart valve disease: Improving patient care
The prevalence of heart valve disease is rising as life expectancy continues to increase. The management of heart valve disease is complex and several limitations in current clinic practice exist, such that better ways of organising care are needed. At Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, Consultant Cardiologists Prof John Chambers, Dr Ronak Rajani and Dr Julia Grapsa have pioneered a […]
Biosimilars: An effective treatment at a lower cost
While most medications are both safe and effective, unfortunately many are also expensive. Biosimilars – new versions of a drug that are similar to the original in every meaningful way – offer a potentially less expensive alternative to costly original biological drugs. Professor Tore K. Kvien of the University of Oslo, Norway, and his colleagues have demonstrated that one biosimilar, […]
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Placental immune editing switches (PIES) and cancer progression
Exceptional mechanisms have evolved over millions of years to allow the foetus to grow directly inside the mother’s womb. These mechanisms, named placental immune editing switches, are orchestrated by the placenta and are responsible for locally switching off the mother’s immune system to protect the foetus. However, Dr Miguel Hernández-Bronchud from Clínica Corachan in Barcelona, suggests that the existence of […]
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Novel imaging technique could lead to early diagnosis of lung cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most widespread forms of the disease. As with many other cancers, the best chance of survival comes with early diagnosis; unfortunately, at present this often doesn’t happen. In research that has the potential to improve the prognosis of lung cancer patients, Dr Claudio Scafoglio and colleagues at the University of California, Los […]
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Pain care: The role of social class on nurses’ patient management
Research on social disparities in pain care has so far mainly been focused on issues such as racism and sexism in the way healthcare professionals assess and manage patients’ pain. Professor Sónia Bernardes of Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal, is interested in how social class impacts nurses’ care and attitudes toward their patients. The research she and her associates conduct […]
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