Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with changes to the structure of the brain that are also seen in the early stages of dementia, according to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal. OSA, where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep stopping breathing, is known to reduce levels of oxygen […]
Fatigue is a common but underestimated symptom of endometriosis
Fatigue is a common but underestimated symptom of endometriosis, according to findings from an international study of over 1100 women, published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. The study found that the prevalence of fatigue was more than doubled in women diagnosed with endometriosis compared to those who were […]
New technique provides accurate dating of ancient skeletons
Milan, Italy: Interest in the origins of human populations and their migration routes has increased greatly in recent years. A critical aspect of tracing migration events is dating them. However, the radiocarbon techniques*, that are commonly used to date and analyse DNA from ancient skeletons can be inaccurate and not always possible to apply. Inspired […]
Genomic testing for the causes of stillbirth, fœtal congenital abnormalities and neonatal death can provide hard-to-get answers and should be considered for routine use
Milan, Italy: Pregnancy loss and the death of a new-born baby are devastating events, and as of today around 25% of these perinatal deaths are unexplained despite autopsy. Discovering the cause of such a loss is of great importance for the bereaved parents, both in providing an explanation and in helping them to understand the […]
Individual access to genomic disease risk factors has a beneficial impact on lifestyles
Milan, Italy: Giving personal genomic information to individuals can have a major, long-term effect on their lifestyle, researchers have found. The Finnish GeneRISK study, providing information on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on their genome and traditional risk factors to 7,328 people inspired changes for the better in areas such as weight loss […]
Whole Genome Sequencing helps diagnosis and reduces healthcare costs for neonates in intensive care
Milan, Italy: Children who are born severely ill or who develop serious illness in the first few weeks of life are often difficult to diagnose, with considerable implications for their short and longer-term care. Whole genome sequencing* carried out quickly has the potential to provide an early diagnosis, and thus improve the clinical care of […]
Rapid bedside genetic testing can prevent antibiotic-related hearing loss in new-borns treated for sepsis
Milan, Italy: More than a million neonatal deaths worldwide each year are estimated to be due to sepsis [1]. In the UK there are approximately 90,000 admissions to neonatal intensive care units per year. Nearly all these patients receive antibiotic therapy during their hospital stay, but babies with a specific genetic change can suffer irreversible […]
Risk of dementia is increased in 50-year-olds with blood pressure below the current threshold for hypertension
New findings from the long-running Whitehall II study of over 10,000 civil servants has found 50-year-olds who had blood pressure that was higher than normal but still below the threshold commonly used when deciding to treat the condition, were at increased risk of developing dementia in later life. This increased risk was seen even when […]
Ban e-cigarette flavourings and misleading adverts to protect youth, says international respiratory group
In a statement published in the European Respiratory Journal, a coalition of respiratory doctors and scientists from six continents have warned of the dangers posed to children and adolescents by electronic cigarettes. They say there is mounting evidence that e-cigarettes damage health and are highly addictive, yet manufacturers are marketing them as “healthier” cigarettes and […]
Man against machine: artificial intelligence is better than dermatologists at diagnosing skin cancer
Researchers have shown for the first time that a form of artificial intelligence or machine learning known as a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) is better than experienced dermatologists at detecting skin cancer. In a study published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1], researchers in Germany, the USA and France trained […]