Category: Features
Indian herb-in-capsule shows anti-diabetic properties in mice
Plant-based medicines, including medicinal teas, have newfound popularity thanks to organic lifestyle changes. Although these “natural” sources can be used to aid chronic illnesses, the therapies/treatment must be first tested for their efficacy, dose-related toxicity, active compound delivery, as well as interactions with other drugs. In this vein, specially encapsulated Indian herbal extracts have been […]
Finns similar DNA provides hints to major disease risks
The predisposition of certain individuals in Finland to diseases may be insightful to genetic research. A recent study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine, US, identified 26 potentially harmful DNA variations in about 20,000 Finnish participants – such variations might alter a person’s lifetime risk of developing obesity, diabetes or high cholesterol levels, whether […]
Medical Fair Thailand: start-ups to capture billion dollar medical and healthcare sector
With the medical device market in ASEAN predicted to be worth US$8.5 billion by 2021, Thai entrepreneurs want to cut themselves a big slice of the pie. The Start-Up Park at MEDICAL FAIR THAILAND 2019, the country’s biggest and established international medical trade exhibition, is designed to help them do just that. The Start-Up Park […]
Red wine compound helps relieve depression, scientists find
Depression and anxiety may have an opponent in resveratrol – a plant-derived compound in red wine – has been found have a more potent antidepressant effect than most drugs on the market. Researchers from US’s University of Buffalo (UB) and China’s Xuzhou Medical University (XZMU) experimented on mice to determine depression-/anxiety-like behaviour and ways to […]
Chronic disease plagues China’s booming evolution
China’s resurgence of chronic illnesses, including heart disease and lung cancer, are now leading causes for premature death in the country, according to a recent study by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). The advent of non-communicable diseases reflects a decline in maternal and child mortality over some three decades due to rapid economic and […]
Short-term bursts of exercise may enhance learning
Regular exercise is known to be good for overall health and has now been found to particularly improve brain function.Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in the US found that brief bouts of exercise primes the brain for learning by promoting synaptic connections. Previous research has shown that sustained exercise promotes general brain […]
Evolutionary mechanism may be driving weight gain
New research by the American Heart Association has revealed a protein within fat tissues in the human body that may be influencing obesity. The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) molecule has evolved as a protective mechanism -active in metabolically stressful situations, such as in instances of starvation, injury or exposure to extreme conditions- to […]
Verbal abuse rampant for home healthcare aides
Caregivers/healthcare aides are a godsend for those who need them at home, but a recent US study suggests that these aides are likely to face verbal or even physical abuse from their clients, with mounting frequency. Such abuse was observed in some 950 home aides by a team from the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in […]
Study finds bathing 90 mins before bed helps with sleep
Catching good shut-eye can be problematic, so it is welcome news that US researchers may have found a way to improve sleep quality. Bathing 1-2 hours before bedtime in warm water can significantly improve chances of sleep, according to researchers at Austin, Texas. Biomedical engineers from the University of Texas (UT) reviewed more than 5,300 […]
