For women with advanced breast cancer who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, an experimental drug could improve survival, a new study suggests. The BRCA mutations are linked with a greater risk for aggressive breast and ovarian cancer. The drug, talazoparib, works by blocking an enzyme called poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), thus preventing… read on >
Women whose mothers lived a long and healthy life have a good chance of doing the same, a new study suggests. A long-term study of about 22,000 postmenopausal women in the United States found that those whose mothers had lived to age 90 were 25 percent more likely to reach that milestone without suffering serious… read on >
Women who were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke as children might be at slightly increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study hints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. Researchers believe that a mix of genes and certain environmental factors conspire to cause… read on >
Trying to restore blood flow may be better than amputation for patients with a serious leg circulation problem called critical limb ischemia, a new study contends. Critical limb ischemia is the most severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and can lead to ulcers, gangrene and amputation, the researchers said. “Many patients who are diagnosed… read on >
Staying hydrated is a mantra not only when exercising, but throughout the day for optimal health. Yet it’s possible to get too much of a good thing. In recent years, a number of athletes have died from a condition called exercise-associated hyponatremia, or EAH, which results from overwhelming the kidneys with excess fluid and upsetting… read on >
Everything you eat goes through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables will help keep your gut in good condition, the U.S. National Institutes of Health says. As many as 70 million Americans are affected by digestive diseases, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),… read on >
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among people 50 and older, the U.S. National Eye Institute says. AMD damages the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina that’s needed for sharp, central vision (seeing objects that are straight head). It can interfere with daily activities such as… read on >
Cellphone users blundering into signs, lampposts, other people and traffic have become a recurring sidewalk sight in many places. And now, new video analysis reveals the extent to which cellphones interfere with a person’s ability to hoof it from here to there. Cellphone use drastically alters a pedestrian’s balance, coordination and movement, said senior researcher… read on >
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018E-cigarettes have been touted as a safer alternative to smoking, but the vapor they create might harm lung tissue much like regular cigarettes do, British researchers report. With or without nicotine, e-cigarette vapor increases inflammation and disables cells that protect lung tissue, human tissue tests reveal. Harming these cells makes them vulnerable… read on >
The total solar eclipse of August 2017 was one of the most watched scientific events ever for millions of Americans, researchers report. And it led a record number of them to seek more information on eclipses, survey results show. Based on responses from thousands of Americans, the University of Michigan researchers concluded that 88 percent… read on >
