People with pockets of fat hidden inside their muscles are at a higher risk of dying or being hospitalised from a heart attack or heart failure, regardless of their body mass index, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. This ‘intermuscular’ fat is highly prized in beef steaks for cooking. However, little […]
Morning coffee may protect the heart better than all-day coffee drinking
People who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a lower overall mortality risk compared to all-day coffee drinkers, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The research was led by Dr Lu Qi HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and Professor at the Celia Scott […]
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 […]