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New urine-based test looks at 18 genes and was specifically developed to pick out those cancers that need immediate treatment over the slow-growing type. Researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center have developed a new urine-based test that addresses a major problem in prostate cancer: how to separate the slow-growing form of the disease unlikely to cause harm from more aggressive cancer that needs immediate treatment. The test, called MyProstateScore2.0, or MPS2, looks at 18 different genes linked to high-grade prostate cancer. In multiple tests using urine and tissue samples from men with prostate cancer, it successfully identified...

Examining long-term outcomes for people with atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder, a new study found that 55% survived to 10 years. The researchers say AF needs to be treated as a chronic illness with serious long-term consequences. AF, or AFib, and its close medical cousin, atrial flutter, are associated with complications such as stroke, heart failure, and heart attack. While there’s an understandable focus on treating these conditions to prevent acute complications, less research has looked at what’s happening in the long term. Now, a study led by researchers from the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Faculty...

Around 29 million people in the US take a daily dose of aspirin as a preventative measure for cardiovascular disease. And while an age-related increased risk of bleeding has seen it fall out of favor with medical authorities, it's now shaping up as something that might be even more beneficial in triggering the immune system to help take down certain cancers. There's been a growing body of research showing that regular, long-term low-dose aspirin use was associated with better outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC). But scientists haven't been entirely sure just why the common over-the-counter medicine was having a distinctive...

Kombucha tea is a fermented, sweetened black tea drink that could help with fat loss according to expertsResearchers have claimed that one particular type of tea can help you lose weight without 'trying'. Kombucha tea can mimic the effects of fasting in the body, according to the new study. This means people may be able to lose fat without changing their diet. Researchers have discovered that the microbes in the fermented drink make changes to fat metabolism in the intestines that are similar to the effects of fasting. But what exactly is Kombucha? It is a sweetened, fermented tea that...

The findings were presented Monday at an American Heart Association meeting in Chicago and focused on a popular version of intermittent fasting that involves eating all your meals in just eight hours or less...commonly known as "time-restricted" eating...People who adhered to the eight-hour eating plan had a 91 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease compared to people...who eat their food across 12 to 16 hours each day.

Can Viagra prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s disease? Older men’s ship may be coming in. New research from the Cleveland Clinic suggests the erectile-dysfunction drug could ward off cognitive decline, illustrating how artificial intelligence can help scientists repurpose old medications for new diseases. The study, published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, builds on earlier research by the Cleveland Clinic that identified sildenafil, the generic name for Viagra, as a promising Alzheimer’s treatment. Researchers first identified genes associated with the disease’s pathology, amyloid plaque and tau tangles in the brain. They then mapped out the molecular interplay among more...

— Americans consume too much vitamin B3, researchers suggestNiacin metabolism was associated with incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and may be linked to the pathogenesis of heart disease via inflammatory pathways, researchers said. In a metabolomics study of stable cardiovascular patients, two terminal metabolites of niacin -- N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY) and N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4PY) -- were associated with an up to twofold increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of traditional risk factors, reported Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD, of Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues. Moreover, both metabolites have genetic links to vascular inflammation, they noted in Nature Medicineopens in a new tab...

Tomatoes could help fight off bacterial infections in your gut, a new study has found. One of the world's most widely consumed vegetables (or perhaps fruit?), they are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and other compounds – two of which scientists at Cornell University in the US have identified for their potent bacteria-killing properties in a series of cell experiments. The research team, led by Cornell microbiologist Jeongmin Song, was interested in Salmonella, a genus of enteric bacteria that invade the intestine, often causing food poisoning. Specifically, the team focused on one typhoidal serotype of Salmonella, Salmonella enterica Typhi, which lives...

Dutch health technology company Philips will not sell new devices to treat sleep apnea in the U.S. in the coming years as it works to comply with a settlement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday. The agreement followed the recall of millions of breathing devices and ventilators used to treat sleep apnea in 2021 because of concerns that foam used to reduce noise from the devices could degrade and become toxic, carrying potential cancer risks. Philips said it had reached what is known as a consent decree that spells out the improvements it needs to make...

A common microbe found in sewage, marine sediment, soil, and the GI tracts of pets and farm animals may play a defining role in multiple sclerosis, according to a new study. The findings, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest that a toxin produced by certain C. perfringens bacteria may be the long sought-after trigger that degrades the blood-brain barrier and kicks off the relentless inflammation and brain cell degradation characteristic of MS. “If this is the environmental trigger for MS, we can now start talking about a vaccine, monoclonal antibodies, or some other therapy,” says Rashid Rumah, co-author...

— Findings support guidance limiting such beverages in young children, researcher saysDaily consumption of 100% fruit juice was associated with a small increase in body mass index (BMI) in children, while an association between consumption and weight gain among adults appeared mixed, a systematic review and meta-analysis found. In prospective cohort studies involving kids, each 8-oz serving of 100% fruit juice was associated with a 0.03 increase in BMI (95% CI 0.01-0.05), a link that appeared to be driven by younger children, reported Vasanti Malik, MSc, ScD, of the University of Toronto, and colleagues. Cohort studies in adults found no...

Washington (AFP) – Bottled water is up to a hundred times worse than previously thought when it comes to the number of tiny plastic bits it contains, a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences said Monday. Using a recently invented technique, scientists counted on average 240,000 detectable fragments of plastic per liter of water in popular brands -- between 10-100 times higher than prior estimates -- raising potential health concerns that require further study. "If people are concerned about nanoplastics in bottled water, it's reasonable to consider alternatives like tap water," Beizhan Yan, an associate...

New research in the Journal of the American Heart Association from Columbia and partnering universities found an uncanny connection between couples and high blood pressure. “Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults, yet we were surprised to find that among many older couples, both husband and wife had high blood pressure in the U.S., England, China and India,” said senior study author Chihua Li. “For instance, in the U.S., among more than 35% of couples who were ages 50 or older, both had high blood pressure.” In total, about 38% of U.S. spouses...

A regularly prescribed class of heart medications might be capable of treating one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, a new study in mice suggests. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by abnormal RNA that affects the function of calcium channel receptors, which help convert impulses from nerve cells into chemical signals that guide muscle movement, the researchers explained. Given that, a type of heart drug called a calcium channel blocker might be able to eliminate the "noise" caused by this abnormal RNA, they reasoned. These drugs successfully eased DM1 symptoms in lab mice bred to have...

New Harvard research has found that not all trendy low-carb diets are equal when it comes to maintaining weight — some may even make you gain a few pounds. People who consume low-carb diets that emphasize plant-based proteins and healthy fats have a better chance of keeping excess weight gain at bay than those who eat low-carb diets comprised mostly of meat and unhealthy fats, according to results of a decades-long study published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open. “Our study goes beyond the simple question of, ‘To carb or not to carb?’ ” lead study author Binkai Liu, a research...

That morning cup of Joe may do more than perk you up for the day; it could protect against infection from different COVID variants. Your coffee habit may be doing double duty: jumpstarting your mornings and providing COVID-19 protection, according to a recent study. New research reveals that coffee, enjoyed worldwide for its signature fragrance and flavor, may fend off illness by preventing binding of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in cells. Coffee—Regardless of Brew—Lowers Risk Previous research shows that a diet rich in polyphenols, compounds in plants with antioxidant properties, may boost immune function and reduce the risk...

A new study on egg consumption in healthy young adults finds that whole eggs increase beneficial nutrients without negatively impacting heart disease or diabetes markers. The research also highlights gender-specific dietary responses and sets the stage for future studies on personalized nutrition. New research broadens the understanding of the nutritional impact of egg consumption in young, healthy adults. Are eggs good for you? Scientists have been studying this divisive question for years. Some have found that egg intake increases LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and inflammatory markers associated with heart disease and diabetes, while others have highlighted the benefits of egg...

The suspected health harms of artificial sweeteners are piling up – and now a new study has linked one kind of sugar substitute to higher risks of heart health problems. Physician-scientist Stanley Hazen and colleagues at the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute wanted to see if they could find any signs that could warn people they were at greater risk of heart attack and stroke. They found it in blood levels of organic compounds used as sweeteners, specifically erythritol; a sweetener commonly used in low sugar, sugar-free, and no-carb foods. Among a group of 1,157 patients undergoing tests at a...

New research by Singapore’s National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) also revealed that carrying one of two Asian gene variants increases your risk of Parkinson's disease. And up to 10 per cent of the Singapore population carry one of these gene variants.offee and tea drinkers, rejoice – especially those with a genetic predisposition to developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). New research by Singapore’s National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) has found that two cups of kopi (traditional local coffee made from robusta coffee beans) a day can reduce the risk of PD by four to eight times in people with Asian gene variants linked to...

Taking vitamin or mineral supplements could be feeding tumours and allowing them to grow, suggests new research. Common antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and selenium and zinc when taken additionally can all cause blood vessels in cancer to grow. The discovery has come as a surprise as antioxidants were believed to be protective. The researchers said that natural levels in food were fine but if people take supplements containing antioxidants as well then the extra amount can fuel tumour growth. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, was carried out by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. It...