Mussel-inspired adhesive prevents organ rejection

A new technology has been developed to suppress immune rejection, the biggest challenge in organ transplantation, without causing systemic side effects. A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Ewha Womans University has developed the “Immune-Shield” technology, which directly sprays immunosuppressants onto the surface of organs using mussel-derived adhesive protein. These … Read more

High use of anticholinergic drugs linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk

People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain antidepressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in BMC Medicine. Anticholinergic drugs reduce the effect of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and are commonly prescribed to middle-aged and … Read more

Satellite livers could provide booster function for patients awaiting transplants

More than 10,000 Americans who suffer from chronic liver disease are on a waitlist for a liver transplant, but there are not enough donated organs for all of those patients. Additionally, many people with liver failure aren’t eligible for a transplant if they are not healthy enough to tolerate the surgery. To help those patients, … Read more

Substance use among healthcare workers linked to poorer patient care

Their job is to protect, promote, and restore human health and lives, but healthcare workers believe that their own use of alcohol and illegal drugs reduces the quality of care they provide to patients. A recent study suggests that more doctors and nurses struggle with substance use than we are aware of. There is a … Read more

How are GLP-1 drugs reshaping treatment for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease?

A sweeping Lancet review reveals how modern incretin-based drugs are reshaping treatment for obesity and diabetes, delivering powerful weight loss while simultaneously protecting the heart, kidneys, and metabolic health. Review: GLP-1 receptor agonists and next-generation incretin-based medications: metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal benefits. Image Credit: Gecko Studio / Shutterstock In a recent review published in The … Read more

Research suggests new therapeutic targets for broad-spectrum antiviral drugs

Coronaviruses not only use the machinery of the human cells they infect: they modify it to achieve optimal conditions to produce viral proteins and thus spread more quickly. This is the main conclusion of a study by Pompeu Fabra University published in Nature Communications. The study identifies enzymes that modify transfer RNAs (tRNAs) –small cellular … Read more

Blocking growth hormone receptor may improve treatment response in lung cancer

Researchers at Ohio University have discovered what may be a new way to fight lung cancer that is resistant to other treatments. The study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science and led by Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and distinguished professor John J. Kopchick, Ph.D., and his graduate student Arshad Ahmad at the Heritage College … Read more

Study reveals cellular and metabolic landscape of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

A recent integrative analysis of single-cell sequencing and single-cell spatial mapping of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer reveals novel mechanisms of the metabolic-immune interaction that drive the spread of breast cancer. The findings from the study in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, offer novel insights into the characteristics of the metastatic … Read more

Remote ischemic conditioning shields the heart from chemotherapy damage

Advances in cancer treatment mean that more people than ever are surviving the disease. However, some of the most effective anticancer drugs-a class of medicines called anthracyclines-can cause serious damage to the heart. In some patients, this cardiac damage appears months or even years after treatment and has a major impact on quality of life. … Read more

Common cardio drugs proven safe in myeloma patients

Commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications—such as statins, diuretics, and blood pressure drugs—appear to have little or no negative impact on survival among people living with multiple myeloma, according to new international research. The study, published in Scientific Reports, reflects a collaboration among scientists and oncologists in the United States, Australia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates … Read more