A biopsy is routinely performed in patients to determine cancer type and aggressiveness. Common biopsies are invasive and can’t be routinely used on the same patient. A new review published in Science Magazine outlines a new era of biopsies, known as a liquid biopsy, and analyses whether it is accurate as a detection method. A
Month: February 2018
A percentage of breast cancers are strongly associated with a BRCA mutation. Many women will undergo radical and invasive surgeries as a preventative measure. A research group in the UK analyzed if young breast cancer patients with a BRCA mutation can afford to postpone preventative surgeries. BRCA mutations are mutations in either breast cancer type
A new study looked at the combined effects of smoking tobacco and cannabis on the occurrence of psychotic experiences in a group of adolescents. The effects of cannabis have long been discussed in relation to psychosis, and in light of the upcoming cannabis legalization in Canada, this issue is more relevant than ever. Tobacco use
Recent research on how neurodegeneration occurs in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients indicates that the disease may actually spread like an infection. The thief of memory and cognition, Alzheimer’s, is a devastating disease which affects many people worldwide. It is characterized by the presence of two proteins, tau deposits, which form clumps inside neurons and
Researchers examined how a pattern of unhealthy behaviors can affect the body mass index of youth and thus their overweight and obesity status. Overweight and obesity are important public health problems that have been associated with other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. The prevalence of overweight and obesity haveincreased in recent
An ongoing study is evaluating the potential benefits of a high-dose omega-3 supplementation for prostate cancer patients before and after radical prostatectomy. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. In Canada, 1 out of 8 men is expected to develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives and 1 in
Researcher evaluated whether a supervised program to encourage exercise during pregnancy could confer positive health benefits after delivery. This Norwegian study conducted from September 2010 to March 2015 among pregnant women evaluated whether physical activity during pregnancy would impact the levels of diabetes and hypertension during and after pregnancy. The researchers investigated a supervised exercise
Researchers in the US investigated whether diet-induced inflammation plays a key role in the development of colorectal cancer. Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer afflicting humans. This cancer targets older men and other lifestyle risk factors include diet, obesity, smoking, and physical activity level. This disease is primarily diagnosed using endoscopic analysis,
Recent phase 3 clinical trials compared the efficacy and safety of a novel two-drug regimen, with the standard three-drug antiretroviral therapy for HIV. Antiretroviral therapy (ART), comprised of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and a third drug, is the first- and second-line treatment for patients with an HIV infection. The use of NRTIs is
A recent article published in JAMA Surgery examines the values and opinions of patients about their preferred methods of treating acute appendicitis. The appendix is a small organ connected to the large intestine that is widely believed to have no major function in our bodies. For reasons that are not clear, the lining of the appendix
Recent research from Ireland has investigated whether age-related hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Adults older than 65 years of age often experience a disabling hearing loss. There are cohort studies that have shown that age-related hearing loss (ARHL) precedes the onset of clinical dementia by 5 to 10 years,
A recent review in Nature has described how research in lung cancer over the last two decades has resulted in ground-breaking therapeutic advances. Lung cancer is a devastating disease causing almost 1.6 million deaths globally each year. There is variation in the way that lung cancer presents itself, both at a cellular level and at the molecular
In a recent review, researchers in Germany examined the associations between various dietary factors and biomarkers of childhood and adolescent obesity. Childhood and adolescent obesity is on the rise worldwide, although it is not clear why. Diet has consistently been shown to be an important factor in obesity, but most studies have not been able
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (USA) looked at the relationship between nitrate intake levels and the risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women. The pancreas is an important glandular organ that sits behind the lower end of the stomach. It produces digestive enzymes that break down food in the gut and the hormones insulin
Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) usage is associated with adverse complications in the older adult population. In a recent study, researchers determine the costs associated with PIMs and the difference between cases in residential care and traditional aged facilities. Polypharmacy is the concurrent use of numerous drugs to treat a single condition. Individuals prescribed more
Observational studies have allowed researchers to compare the effectiveness and safety of traditional treatment options for multiple sclerosis and rituximab. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic immunological disease affecting the central nervous system. Depending on the region of the brain affected by the disease, patients may experience a wide range of symptoms (i.e. vision problems, bladder
A study was conducted on 122 new mothers to evaluate the possible correlations between sleep patterns and postpartum depressive symptoms. Depression has the potential to creep up on new mothers and unfortunately affects both mother and child. It is reported that 13-19% of women experience postpartum depression with as many as 30% of women
Researchers investigated whether the frequent consumption of juice and carbonated beverages results in tooth erosion among preschool children. Tooth damage in children can be caused by dental or tooth erosion. Tooth erosion is the loss of tooth structures, like enamel and dentine, through a chemical process that does not involve bacteria. The damage may range
In a recent study, researchers developed a series of cell lines that may form the basis of a drug screen platform for breast cancer using organoids. Applying breast cancer therapies that are appropriate for a specific tumour’s composition, behaviour, and the specific mechanisms which allow it to grow, spread, and survive remains a challenge.
A recent study conducted in the UK and published in the British Journal of Nutrition investigates whether there is a link between consuming alcohol and obesity. The global increase in obesity is of great concern, mainly due to the many chronic health problems associated with this condition, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Alcohol
Researchers in the US used a statistical model to determine the impact of a food tax on unhealthy food and a subsidy on healthy food on cardiometabolic disease. The leading cause of disability and death in the US and around the world is cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is associated with economic costs that are projected
A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of introducing weight management programs to help treat and potentially make a clinical difference in patients with diabetes. Given that type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, a recent study published in Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism investigated whether the introduction of a weight management program has the potential to
Researchers investigated the association between different types of microbes normally found in the mouth and the risk of head and neck squamous cell cancer. The human body is colonized by trillions of microbes (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) living on and in the body. These microbes outnumber human cells by about ten to one. They are
Researchers conducted a review of 26 studies to determine the possible effects of metformin and ethnicity on the risk of prostate cancer. Data shows that type 2 diabetes carries an increased risk in the development of some cancers. Diabetes and cancer share some similarities in pathophysiology. Insulin resistance occurs when the body is unable to
Experts in Italy evaluated the available research to outline ten “golden rules” when using probiotics to improve health and treat medical conditions. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can improve health. There has been an explosion of interest in probiotics in the recent years, with several claims made about their benefits for digestive health, allergic disorders,
A recently published review article summarized research studies that highlight the impacts of health retreats, on their effects on health and well-being. Chronic diseases, which are caused by different lifestyle factors, are a serious global health concern and contribute to an estimated 60% of deaths all over the world according to the World Health Organization.
Multiple sclerosis is a serious neurological disease with severe symptoms affecting the quality of life. Researchers from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia review what’s known about whether curcumin benefits the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, known colloquially as MS, is a degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system. In MS, an abnormal immune response
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that typically affects adults over 65 years old. Researchers recently investigated if caffeine and caffeine metabolites can be used as biomarkers to effectively diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively leads to loss of bodily movement. Currently, it is estimated that 55,000 Canadians (0.2% of the Canadian population) are living with Parkinson’s disease, making