2024

Study using more reliable measure of wine consumption finds possible protective effect for low to moderate drinking in people at risk of cardiovascular disease

Drinking a small or moderate amount of wine may lower the risk of serious cardiovascular disease in people at a higher risk who are following a Mediterranean diet, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Previous studies on the effects of wine on cardiovascular health have produced inconsistent results. This may be […]

Infertility linked to onset of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease after childbirth

Women who experience infertility but do not use fertility treatments have a higher risk of developing a group of conditions called systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) in the nine years after a naturally conceived birth compared to women without fertility problems. The new research, published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive […]

People who use vapes as well as cigarettes are less likely to quit and often switch to just smoking

People who use both vapes and cigarettes are less likely to quit compared to people who only smoke or only vape, according to a study published in ERJ Open Research [1]. Instead, the research suggests that over time, most of these ‘dual users’ tend to revert to only smoking cigarettes. The researchers say their findings […]

Survey of 12 European countries reveals the best and worst for smoke-free homes

Seven out of ten homes in Europe are smoke-free, according to a major survey published in ERJ Open Research [1]. However, some countries have come further than others in protecting children and adults from second-hand tobacco smoke in the home. Greece came out bottom of the 12 countries in the survey, with smoking allowed in […]

AI analysis of urine can predict flare up of lung disease a week in advance

Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse patient urine samples and predict when symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will flare up according to a study published in ERJ Open Research [1]. The patients taking part in the study carried out a simple daily dipstick test on their urine and sent their results […]

Risk of internal bleeding doubles when people on anticoagulants take NSAID painkiller

People who take an anticoagulant medicine double their risk of an internal bleed if they take a type of painkiller called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Anticoagulants are usually prescribed to people who develop a blood clot in the […]

Scientists create cancer patients’ ‘digital twins’ to predict how well treatments may work

Barcelona, Spain: Researchers have shown that they can accurately re-create clinical trials of new treatments using ‘digital twins’ of real cancer patients. The technology, called FarrSight®-Twin, which is based on algorithms used by astrophysicists to discover black holes, will be presented at the 36th EORTC-NCI-AACR [1] Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Barcelona, […]

New ‘mini-protein’ carries radiation dose directly to tumours without harming healthy tissues

Barcelona, Spain: Researchers have shown for the first time that it is possible for a specially-designed ‘mini-protein’ to deliver a radiation dose directly to tumour cells expressing a protein on their cell surfaces called Nectin-4, which is often found in a number of different cancers. In a study presented at the 36th EORTC-NCI-AACR [1] Symposium […]

Researchers find key genetic mutations in bowel cancer cells that lead to resistance to WRN inhibitors

Barcelona, Spain: Researchers have discovered key mutations in certain cancer cells that make them resistant to WRN inhibitors, a new class of anti-cancer drugs. The yet-to-be-published findings are presented at the 36th EORTC-NCI-AACR [1] Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Barcelona, Spain. Werner helicase (WRN) inhibitors are already being evaluated in phase I […]

Patients with advanced bladder cancer with alterations in the FGFR3 gene respond well to investigational drug, TYRA-300

First results from SURF301 phase I clinical trial Barcelona, Spain: Patients with advanced bladder cancer that had spread to other parts of the body (metastasised) have responded well in a phase I clinical trial of an investigational drug, TYRA-300. The drug targets changes in the FGFR3 gene that drive tumour growth in about 10%-20% of […]