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breakthroughs from the lab

NEW INSIGHT INTO FATAL NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER

BY JULIA EVANGELOU STRAIT

Huntington’s disease, a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative condition, is caused by a genetic error present at birth, though its symptoms often don’t begin until middle adulthood. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been trying to understand how the aging process triggers the onset of symptoms, with the expectation that such knowledge could point to treatments that delay or prevent neurodegeneration.

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NASAL VACCINE FOR COVID-19 ON THE HORIZON

NASAL VACCINE FOR COVID-19 ON THE HORIZON

Current injectable vaccines help prevent severe illness and death but do little to prevent infections, especially as highly contagious newer variants continue to spread. The advantage of the nasal vaccine is that it delivers a boost to immunity in the nose and upper respiratory tract, right where the virus enters the body, thereby potentially preventing infections altogether.

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STUDY LOOKS AT DUAL NICOTINE USE

STUDY LOOKS AT DUAL NICOTINE USE

E-cigs were praised as a healthier alternative to cigarettes when they were first invented, but a study looking at dual nicotine use says otherwise.

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RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS AND COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS

RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS AND COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS

30% – 50% of older adults have mild sleep apnea: a condition that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. Some people may not have any signs or symptoms of impairment, resulting in increased risks when getting behind a steering wheel.

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RECURRENT UTIS AND THE GUT MICROBIOME

RECURRENT UTIS AND THE GUT MICROBIOME

Antibiotics do not prevent UTIs or future infections. Research shows that they actually can do the opposite by clearing healthy bacteria from the body, making it easier for E.coli to infect the bladder in a poorly diversified gut microbiome.

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COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS AND SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS AND SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

Solid organ transplant recipients are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. The immunosuppressive medications that prevent the body from rejecting the new organ can cause the patient to be high-risk for catching all types of infectious diseases.

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LAUGHING GAS RELIEVES TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPRESSION

LAUGHING GAS RELIEVES TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPRESSION

By Jim Dryden

In a phase 2 clinical trial, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine and the University of Chicago demonstrated that symptoms of depression can improve rapidly following a single, one-hour treatment with inhaled nitrous oxide.

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FOR MOMS, OXYGEN DURING CHILDBIRTH OFTEN IS UNNECESSARY

FOR MOMS, OXYGEN DURING CHILDBIRTH OFTEN IS UNNECESSARY

BY Kristina Sauerwein

Babies who suffer oxygen deficiencies during birth are at risk of brain damage that can lead to developmental delays, cerebral palsy and even death. To prevent this, most women in labor undergo continuous monitoring of the baby’s heart rate and receive supplemental oxygen if the heart rate is abnormal, with the thought that this common practice increases oxygen delivery to the baby. However, there is conflicting evidence about whether this long-recommended practice improves infant health.

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ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH: CLEARING AMYLOID PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN

ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH: CLEARING AMYLOID PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN

BY TAMARA BHANDARI

As people age, a normal brain protein known as amyloid beta often starts to collect into harmful amyloid plaques in the brain. Such plaques can be the first step on the path to Alzheimer’s dementia. When they form around blood vessels in the brain, a condition known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy, the plaques also raise the risk of strokes.

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ONCOLOGY UPDATE: USING LIQUID BIOPSY TO ASSESS CANCER CARE

ONCOLOGY UPDATE: USING LIQUID BIOPSY TO ASSESS CANCER CARE

BY Julia Evangelou Strait

Cancer is most often detected using traditional tissue biopsy: the removal of tissue by needle, endoscope or open surgery. The tissue sample is then examined for the presence of cancer cells. Though the standard of care, this kind of biopsy comes with some limitations. Because the procedure is invasive, it can be risky, and recovery can be uncomfortable. Additionally, such a procedure may not be safe for some people and may not be practical for those needing a series of biopsies to monitor the progress of cancer treatment.

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NEW FOCUS ON EMERGING DISEASES

NEW FOCUS ON EMERGING DISEASES

BY JULIA EVANGELOU STRAIT

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine are establishing an international collaboration that aims to help scientists prepare for the next pandemic and, perhaps, provide insight into the current one.

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DRUG COMPOUND BLOCKS NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS

DRUG COMPOUND BLOCKS NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS

BY JULIA EVANGELOU STRAIT

The spiral-shaped cochlea of the inner ear is responsible for detecting sound. Inner hair cells lining the cochlea transform the mechanical vibrations of sound waves into chemical signals. These chemicals—primarily one called glutamate—are then released from the hair cells and received by glutamate receptors on auditory nerve fibers. These fibers then send electrical impulses to the brain. There, the signals are interpreted as language, music or signs of danger, for example.

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CANCER CARE UPDATE: IMPROVING IMMUNOTHERAPY

CANCER CARE UPDATE: IMPROVING IMMUNOTHERAPY

BY JULIA EVANGELOU STRAIT

In recent years, cancer immunotherapy drugs have revolutionized the treatment of certain cancers, such as lymphoma, lung cancer and melanoma. This kind of treatment works by triggering the body’s immune system to attack tumors. Some people respond well to immunotherapy drugs, while others don’t respond at all. Cancer immunologists want to change that.

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ONCOLOGY REPORT: LOWERING THE RISKS OF TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS

ONCOLOGY REPORT: LOWERING THE RISKS OF TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS

BY JULIA EVANGELOU STRAIT

The current age of cancer care employs surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, in combination or alone, to eradicate tumors and offer the potential for remission. But the side effects of some of these therapies can introduce new complications requiring additional treatment. Oncologists and their patients work in tandem to fight the disease in ways that preserve life and protect health with as little risk as possible.

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POTENTIAL NEW THERAPY FOR CROHN’S, COLITIS IDENTIFIED

POTENTIAL NEW THERAPY FOR CROHN’S, COLITIS IDENTIFIED

BY TAMARA BHANDARI

More than 1 million people in the United States have inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. This condition, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, causes miserable episodes of abdominal pain, diarrhea and in severe cases, rectal bleeding, making life for those afflicted with the disease especially difficult.

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NEW ALZHEIMER’S BLOOD TEST MAY SPEED TREATMENT RESEARCH

NEW ALZHEIMER’S BLOOD TEST MAY SPEED TREATMENT RESEARCH

BY TAMARA BHANDARI

Up to two decades before people develop the characteristic memory loss and confusion of Alzheimer’s disease, damaging clumps of protein start to build up in their brains. And there is growing consensus among neurologists that Alzheimer’s treatment needs to begin as early as possible, ideally before any cognitive symptoms arise. By the time people become forgetful, their brains are so severely damaged no therapy is likely to fully heal them.

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ALZHEIMER’S REPORT: THE SEARCH FOR DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

ALZHEIMER’S REPORT: THE SEARCH FOR DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

BY JIM DRYDEN

Significant brain damage from Alzheimer’s disease can occur years before symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive decline appear. Scientists estimate that Alzheimer’s-related plaques can build up in the brain two decades before the onset of symptoms, so researchers have been looking for ways to detect the disease sooner. Currently, physicians use PET scans and lumbar punctures to help diagnose Alzheimer’s, but these tests are expensive and invasive.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH: OBESITY AND EARLY-ONSET COLORECTAL CANCER

WOMEN’S HEALTH: OBESITY AND EARLY-ONSET COLORECTAL CANCER

BY JULIA EVANGELOU STRAIT

In the United States, overall rates of new colorectal cancer cases and deaths from the disease have decreased steadily since 1980, largely owing to recommended colonoscopy screening starting at age 50. However, for reasons that remain unknown, new cases of, and deaths due to, both colon and rectal cancers have been increasing for younger adults ages 20 to 49.

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LABOR AND DELIVERY STRATEGIES

LABOR AND DELIVERY STRATEGIES

BY KRISTINA SAUERWEIN

Two new studies answer important questions about the process of giving birth. The findings may help pregnant women, working with their obstetricians, make choices that will benefit their health and that of their babies.

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