In a groundbreaking development, US surgeons recently made history by successfully transplanting a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a human recipient. This procedure marks a significant advancement in the field of xenotransplantation, where organs are transplanted from one species to another. Advocates of this technology see it as a potential solution to the global
Health
Recent research has shed light on the underlying mechanisms of our impulse to eat, even when not hungry, and how it might be linked to a specific region of the brain rather than typical hunger signals from the stomach. This discovery has significant implications, particularly in the context of developing effective treatments for eating disorders.
The newly developed cancer vaccine for dogs has displayed promising results in clinical trials which have been ongoing since 2016. There is now optimism that the benefits seen in the dogs treated with this vaccine can potentially be translated into cancer treatments for humans. Over 300 dogs have been treated with the vaccine so far,
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that remains a mystery in terms of its origin and effective treatment options. The gradual loss of nerve cells that control muscle movements leads to rapid progression and ultimately, a terminal outcome for patients. However, a recent study has shed
Recent research has shown that the size of the human brain may be gradually increasing over time, which could potentially reduce the risk of dementia in younger generations. A study conducted on more than 3,000 Americans aged between 55 and 65 revealed that individuals born in the 1970s have a 6.6 percent greater overall brain
Excitement is growing as the date of April’s solar eclipse approaches. With the last total solar eclipse visible in parts of the US occurring back in 2017, this upcoming event is highly anticipated. Weather permitting, Mexico’s Pacific coast will be the first to experience the path of totality, where the Moon covers the Sun completely.
Once a common childhood illness, chickenpox has become increasingly rare in the United States thanks to a successful vaccination campaign that started in 1995. The number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in individuals under the age of 20 has decreased by more than 97 percent since the introduction of the vaccine. While this decline in
Pregnancy is a transformative experience for women, both physically and emotionally. Research led by Yale University has shed light on the significant impact of pregnancy on cellular aging. This study delves into how the process of gestation and postpartum recovery can influence the biological age of mothers. By analyzing blood samples from women at different
Nasal rinsing or irrigation has gained popularity as a method to manage hayfever and other nasal irritants. The process involves introducing a solution into the nasal passages to cleanse out microbes, mucus, dust, and allergens. While this technique can provide relief for allergy sufferers, it is not without its risks. One of the primary concerns
In Denmark, researchers are delving into the realm of artificial intelligence to predict the various stages of an individual’s life. The initiative, known as life2vec, aims to leverage data from millions of people to uncover patterns and relationships that conventional methodologies may overlook. The goal is to not only anticipate health outcomes but also social
Recently, researchers in the US have conducted a study that could potentially recommend an FDA-approved pharmaceutical used to treat erectile dysfunction, sildenafil, as a therapy for decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This study involved analyzing medical insurance data alongside a laboratory investigation on the genetic and neurological effects of sildenafil, which is commonly sold
The ability to recognize faces is a fundamental aspect of human interaction, but for individuals with prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), this simple task becomes a distorted nightmare. PMO is a rare neurological condition that causes faces to appear grotesque and monstrous to the affected individual. Unlike the typical facial recognition mechanisms in the brain, PMO distorts familiar
A recent study conducted by researchers from King’s College London and Brighton and Sussex Medical School revealed an intriguing link between double-jointedness (GJH) and the risk of developing long COVID. The study, which surveyed 3,064 individuals who had previously contracted COVID-19, found that those with GJH had a 30 percent higher likelihood of experiencing ongoing
Hot tubs may seem like the perfect place to unwind and relax, but the warm water can actually harbor dangerous bacteria that pose serious health risks. One such risk is the possibility of contracting hot-tub lung, a respiratory condition caused by mycobacteria. These microbes can lead to inflammation in the lungs, resulting in symptoms like
In a groundbreaking study conducted by the US National Institutes of Health, researchers delved into the world of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME/CFS. This study, which took eight years to complete, focused on 17 individuals who developed ME/CFS after an infection, and compared them to 21 healthy controls. The
