Deaths from heart disease and stroke are declining overall in Europe, but at differing rates, according to research, published online in the European Heart Journal [1]. The research, which provides an update for 2014 on the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe, shows that death rates from CVD (diseases of the heart and blood […]
Aspirin: scientists believe cancer prevention benefits outweigh harms
New research from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) reveals taking aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of developing – and dying from – the major cancers of the digestive tract, i.e. bowel, stomach and oesophageal cancer. For the first time, scientists have reviewed all the available evidence from many studies and clinical trials assessing […]
Discovery of new genes involved in food preferences will revolutionise diets and improve health
Milan, Italy: New understanding of the genes involved in taste perception and food preferences could lead to personalised nutrition plans effective not just in weight loss but in avoiding diseases such as cancer, depression, and hypertension, Italian researchers told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG). Knowing why individuals prefer certain […]
Genetic researchers take a major step towards better diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis
Milan, Italy: A new target that may be critical for the treatment of osteoporosis, a disease which affects about 25% of post-menopausal women, has been discovered by a group of researchers in The Netherlands and in Germany. Professor Brunhilde Wirth, Head of the Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany, told the annual conference […]
New genetic sequencing methods mean quicker, cheaper, and equally accurate embryo screening
Milan, Italy: Results from the first study of the clinical application of next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) in screening embryos for genetic disease prior to implantation in patients undergoing in-vitro fertilisation treatments show that it is an effective reliable method of selecting the best embryos to transfer. The research was presented at the annual conference […]
Mothers of women with PCOS have increased risk of early death
Mothers of daughters with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly increased risk of death, particularly if they also have diabetes, when compared to the general population, according to new research. The Dutch study, published online in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, compared death rates of mothers and fathers […]
Death rates from pancreatic cancer are rising while rates for all other cancers, except female lung cancer, continue to fall in Europe
Pancreatic cancer is the only cancer for which deaths are predicted to increase in men and women rather than decrease in 2014 and beyond, according to a comprehensive study published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. The study by researchers in Italy and Switzerland shows that the proportion of deaths due to […]
Proposed amendments to EU Regulation on Medical Devices are counter to patients’ interests and unworkable, says ESHG
Recent amendments to the proposed Regulation on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDs) currently before the European Parliament will restrict the rights of patients and doctors to carry out essential genetic testing, says the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) today (Monday 7 April 2014). Furthermore, an independent legal opinion now shows that the European […]
Six months hormonal treatment in addition to radiotherapy improves survival for men with localised prostate cancer
Vienna, Austria: Men with prostate cancer that is small and confined to the prostate gland but that is at risk of growing and spreading, do better if they are treated with radiotherapy combined with androgen deprivation therapy, which lowers their levels of the male hormone, testosterone, according to new research. The findings, presented at the […]
Increased risk of developing lung cancer after radiotherapy for breast cancer
Vienna, Austria: Women who have radiotherapy for breast cancer have a small but significantly increased risk of subsequently developing a primary lung tumour, and now research has shown that this risk increases with the amount of radiation absorbed by the tissue. Dr Trine Grantzau (MD) told the 33rd conference of the European Society for Radiotherapy […]