Category: Education
Alcohol consumption increases risks of atrial fibrillation, study finds
Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common and fatal heart condition, is most affected by alcohol consumption than any other triggers including caffeine and sleep deprivation. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), US, found “heightened risks of AF” in […]
Moles vs. melanoma formation depends on environmental cues
Moles and melanomas both form from the same cell called melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that give colour to the skin to protect it from the sun’s rays. It was thought that specific changes to the DNA sequence of melanocytes, called […]
US researchers single out plant molecule used by Native Americans to treat pain and diarrhea
Researchers from the University of California-Irvine (UCI) have rediscovered functional uses of plant extracts collected in Muir Woods National Monument, in coastal redwood forest land in California. Plants with a long history of use by Native Americans as topical analgesics, […]
Smoking and alcohol intake associated with age-related macular degeneration
A new study by researchers from University College London has shown both smoking and alcohol intake are associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of blindness – its prevalence is expected to increase with population aging, […]
Scientists use gold to weaken defenses of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Bacteria resistant to standard antibiotic treatments can be killed by drugs specially formulated with gold packaging, according to an international team of scientists from the University of Leeds, UK, and Chinese universities: the Southern University of Science and Technology in […]
Strenuous exercise shown to relieve chronic anxiety
Sufferers of chronic anxiety – symptoms of which are irresponsive to standard treatment – might find relief from their symptoms through physical activity, according to researchers at the Swedish University of Gothenburg. Described as “one of the largest” studies of […]
Depression tied to sustained sedentarism during pandemic, say researchers
People who maintain a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to have symptoms of depression, compared to those who engaged in a more dynamic lifestyle. Researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) who surveyed a sample of over 3,000 participants from the […]
Infection study shows steep decline in vaccine effectiveness over eight months
A study by the Public Health Institutes (PHI) has detected a sharp decline in the protection from infection conferred by three major COVID-19 vaccines among US veterans. At the same time, the vaccines’ protection from death remained strong across the […]
Oestrogen may have a protective effect on the female brain
A study of menopausal women suggests that greater cumulative exposure to oestrogen in life, for example from having a longer reproductive span or from having taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT), may potentially reduce the brain-shrinking effects of Alzheimer’s disease. “Our […]
US researchers optimise human mental function with targeted brain stimulation
Specific human brain functions linked to mental illness, including self-control and mental flexibility, can be enhanced using targeted electrical brain stimulation and artificial intelligence (AI). In studying patients with epilepsy at Massachusetts General Hospital, researchers from the University of Minnesota […]
