An electronic nose that detects chemicals in the breath of lung cancer patients can identify with 85% accuracy those who will or will not respond to immunotherapy, according to new research published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. The results of the first study to investigate this show that the eNose is […]
Cardiovascular disease patients benefit more from exercise than healthy people
A study of nearly half a million people has found for the first time that those with heart or blood vessel problems benefit more from having a physically active lifestyle than do healthy people without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased physical activity reduced the risk of dying during a six-year follow-up period for people with and […]
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease for healthy 75-year-olds who stop taking statins
Statins are known to reduce the risk of further problems in patients of any age who have already suffered heart problems or stroke. However, until now it has not been clear how effective their use is in preventing such events occurring in healthy people aged 75 and over, with no previous history of cardiovascular disease. […]
Pear-shaped is better for postmenopausal women, even if they are normal weight
Postmenopausal women who are “apple” shaped rather than “pear” shaped are at greater risk of heart and blood vessel problems, even if they have a normal, healthy body mass index (BMI) according to new research. In fact, the study, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1], found that storing a greater proportion of […]
Atrial fibrillation linked to increased risk of dementia, even in stroke-free patients
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to an increased risk of dementia, even in people who have not suffered a stroke, according to the largest study to investigate the association in an elderly population. In addition, the study, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1], found that AF patients who took oral anticoagulants to […]
First large-scale genetic study of the causes of excess liver iron may lead to better treatment
Gothenburg, Sweden: High levels of iron in the liver are linked to a number of serious health conditions including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular as well as liver disease. But measuring liver iron is difficult and until recently could only be done through an invasive biopsy. Now researchers from University of Exeter, UK, […]
New study aims to show how to identify risk of recurrence of developmental disorder in future pregnancies
Gothenburg, Sweden: Having a child with a developmental disorder can cause parents to worry about the outcome of further pregnancies. In cases where the genetic mutation causing the disorder is not present in either parent it is assumed to be a one-off event with a very small chance of recurrence. But in some families, the […]
Discovery of new mutations may lead to better treatment for children with developmental disorders
Gothenburg, Sweden: Developmental disorders are neurologically-based conditions that affect the acquisition of specific skills such as attention, memory, language and social interaction. Although they have a genetic cause, this is often difficult to detect through standard genetic analysis of the parents. The mutation found in the affected child is therefore termed a ‘de novo’ mutation […]
Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis for foetal sickle cell disease moves a step closer
Gothenburg, Sweden: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a form of anaemia that is inherited when both parents are carriers of a mutation in the haemoglobin gene. Currently, it can only be diagnosed in pregnancy by carrying out an invasive test that has a small risk of miscarriage and is therefore sometimes declined by parents. Now, […]
Discovery of new genetic causes of male infertility will lead to better diagnosis and treatment
Gothenburg, Sweden: Infertility – the failure to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse – affects one in every six couples worldwide, and the man is implicated in about half of these cases. Despite the known importance of genetic factors in the event of the man producing no sperm, only about 25% of these cases […]