Medicine News - SciTechDaily

Reevaluating Drug Safety: Real-World Data Challenges Old Methods

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 22:49:07 +0000

A University of Pennsylvania study suggests that real-world data, rather than case reports, should be used to assess medication-related liver toxicity more accurately, potentially leading to better patient monitoring and safety. A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania indicates that the existing method for evaluating medication-related liver damage [...]

A Natural Solution: Ethiopian Plants Show Anticancer Potential

Georgia State University — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 10:06:24 +0000

Researchers from Georgia State University and its Perimeter College are actively gathering and analyzing samples of indigenous plants from Ethiopia to explore their disease-fighting capabilities. Research centered on gathering and studying plants indigenous to Ethiopia is yielding promising results in combating cancer, particularly cervical cancer. A new partnership has enabled a team from Georgia State [...]

The Venom Cure: Ancient Predator Offers New Hope for Kidney Patients

American Chemical Society — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 23:16:25 +0000

Although a venomous, 8-inch centipede might seem like a creature from a horror story, it could hold the key to treating kidney disease. A study published in the Journal of Natural Products reveals that this centipede, traditionally used in Chinese medicine, contains alkaloids that can reduce inflammation and renal fibrosis, major contributors to kidney disease. [...]

Scientists Unveil Promising New Treatment for a Common Hereditary Nerve Disease

Tokyo Medical and Dental University — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:28:03 +0000

Scientists at Tokyo Medical and Dental University have created a new genome-editing method that lowers the levels of proteins causing illness and associated problems in cells from a patient with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 1A. In the past hundred years, scientific breakthroughs have greatly transformed our world. The field of genetics, in particular, has opened doors [...]

Scientists Discover Surprising Trick That Could Expand the Possibilities of Botox

Jan Berndorff, Paul Scherrer Institute — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:33:24 +0000

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have made a breakthrough in enhancing the medical applications of botulinum toxin A1, commonly known as Botox. By creating antibody-like proteins, they have accelerated the enzyme’s impact on nerve signal transmission. This advancement implies that Botox could potentially offer quicker pain relief than previously possible. Their findings were recently [...]

Artificial Intelligence Paves Way for Synthesizing New Medicines

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 06:04:15 +0000

Researchers have created an artificial intelligence system capable of predicting where a drug molecule can be chemically altered. A collaborative team from LMU, ETH Zurich, and Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) in Basel has employed artificial intelligence (AI) to devise a novel technique for predicting the optimal method for synthesizing drug molecules. “This [...]

GraphNovo: Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment With Machine Learning

University of Waterloo — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 06:54:58 +0000

The breakthrough in AI could result in the development of highly personalized medicine for treating serious diseases. Machine learning technology is aiding scientists in examining the composition of unknown cells, potentially leading to personalized medicine for cancer and other serious diseases. Researchers at the University of Waterloo developed GraphNovo, a new program that provides a [...]

Willow Bark Extract: A Revolutionary Antiviral From Nature

Frontiers — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:29:40 +0000

Willow bark, already the origin of aspirin, could now be the key to a vital new antiviral medication. From seasonal colds to stomach bugs, it’s clear that viral infections are unwelcome and epidemics can have catastrophic impacts. To address future outbreaks, the development of safe and sustainable antiviral treatments is crucial. In Finland, researchers have [...]

The Future of Medicine: Artificial Life Forms

University of Southern Denmark — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 22:59:31 +0000

Creating artificial life is a recurring theme in both science and popular literature, where it conjures images of creeping slime creatures with malevolent intentions or super-cute designer pets. At the same time, the question arises: What role should artificial life play in our environment here on Earth, where all life forms are created by nature [...]

The Psychedelic Paradigm Shift: Revolutionary Treatment or a Slippery Slope for Mental Health?

Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:01:08 +0000

Psychedelics occupy a critical junction in the realm of mental health, presenting innovative pathways for treating a variety of mental disorders, including hard-to-treat depression and PTSD. However, their ability to alter mental states also brings unique ethical and clinical dilemmas. In a newly published article in Nature Medicine, leading psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists highlight the [...]

The Future of Medicine? ChatGPT Shows “Impressive” Accuracy in Clinical Decision Making

Mass General Brigham — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 05:52:29 +0000

Researchers from Mass General Brigham determined that ChatGPT achieved an accuracy rate of almost 72% across all medical specialties and phases of clinical care, and 77 percent accuracy in making final diagnoses. Researchers from Mass General Brigham have conducted a study which reveals that ChatGPT demonstrated an accuracy rate of approximately 72% in overall clinical [...]

New Study: Widely Used Blood Pressure Medications Fail To Protect Against Delirium

Regenstrief Institute — Thu, 11 May 2023 00:05:52 +0000

Drug classes commonly used to regulate blood pressure are not effective in preventing delirium acquired in the ICU. According to a recent study conducted by a team of researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the universities of South Carolina and Indiana, the most widely used blood pressure medications, when taken for a minimum of six [...]

New Research Reveals Why You Shouldn’t Immediately Grab Medication When You Have a Fever

University of Alberta — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:38:42 +0000

Studies on fish suggest that delaying the use of medication may be beneficial for humans. According to new research from the University of Alberta, it may be better to allow a mild fever to run its natural course rather than immediately resorting to medication. The researchers discovered that allowing a moderate fever to go untreated [...]

How Bad Medical News Is Costing Patients Billions

American Marketing Association — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 14:55:48 +0000

A new study conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers explores the impact of receiving unfavorable medical results on individuals’ selection of generic versus brand-name drugs. The study, authored by Manuel Hermosilla and Andrew T. Ching, was recently published in the Journal of Marketing. During the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, Manuel Hermosilla received a call [...]

Scientists Discover a Simple Way To Improve Medication Efficacy: Listen to Your Favorite Song

Michigan State University — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 08:01:13 +0000

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that not only is listening to a favorite song a well-known mood enhancer, but musical interventions can also increase the efficacy of medication. “Music-listening interventions are like over-the-counter medications,” said Jason Kiernan, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing. “You don’t need a doctor to prescribe them.” [...]

1 in 3 Parents May Unnecessarily Give Children Fever-Reducing Medicine

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:39:52 +0000

A recent national poll suggests that some parents tend to resort to medication too quickly when their children experience a fever. During the winter season, many children are regularly exposed to circulating viruses at school or daycare. One of the first clear indications that a child has caught a virus is a warm forehead. However, [...]

Ancient Plant Family, New Medicine

Emilie Lorditch, Michigan State University — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 05:56:03 +0000

The mint family of herbs, encompassing sage, rosemary, basil, and even woody plants like teak, provides a stimulating burst to our sense of smell and taste. Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that the evolution of these plants have diversified their specialized natural characteristics through the evolution of their chemistry, opening up the possibility [...]

Triggering Bitter Taste Receptors Could Help Treat Asthma, COPD

American Chemical Society — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:09:45 +0000

Interestingly, bitter taste receptors are not just found in the mouth but also in other parts of the body, such as the airways. When activated, these receptors can open lung passages, making them a possible target for treating asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a recent study published in ACS’ Journal of Medicinal [...]

New Hope for Patients With a Rare Incurable Disease

ETH Zurich — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 06:26:25 +0000

Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) is a rare metabolic disorder that affects about one in 90,000 newborns. Both parents must carry the genetic predisposition for the disease to occur. The consequences are also severe: an enzyme these young patients need for energy metabolism is left defective. Due to the defective enzyme, a specific metabolite accumulates in the [...]

Researchers Unlock the Evolutionary Secrets of a Cancer-Fighting Chinese Medical Herb

John Innes Centre — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:58:41 +0000

UK and Chinese researchers have unlocked the evolutionary secrets behind the medicinal herb barbed skullcap’s ability to produce cancer-fighting compounds. The CEPMAS collaboration utilized DNA sequencing technology to piece together the genomic sequence of the skullcap plant (Scutellaria barbata), commonly known as banzhilian in China. This gave researchers the genetic information – a microevolutionary history [...]

The Benefits – and Serious Risks – of Alternative Heart Failure Treatments

American Heart Association — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 03:23:43 +0000

A recent scientific statement from the American Heart Association summarizes the current research on using complementary and alternative therapies for heart failure treatment. A new American Heart Association scientific statement recently published in the journal Circulation highlights the potential benefits and risks of using complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for managing symptoms of heart failure. [...]

How Tomatoes and Potatoes Could Be Used To Treat Cancer

Frontiers — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 03:15:45 +0000

Glycoalkaloids found in plants from the genus Solanum may be a key ingredient in future cancer drugs. Cancer is a disease that affects many people worldwide. In 2020, there were around 19 million new cases and 10 million deaths registered. While treatments for cancer continue to improve, they can also cause damage to healthy cells [...]

Diabetes Medications Linked to Multiple Sclerosis: New Study Uncovers Surprising Connection

University of Arizona Health Sciences — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 03:15:01 +0000

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation in Brain Science conducted a study to investigate whether taking medication for Type 2 diabetes increases the likelihood of developing multiple sclerosis. According to a study from the University of Arizona Health Sciences, people over the age of 45 with Type 2 diabetes who were treated with anti-hyperglycemic [...]

Reducing Aspirin’s Negative Effects: New Study Offers a Simple Solution

University of Nottingham — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 09:18:54 +0000

According to a new study published in The Lancet, a short course of antibiotics may help to reduce the risk of stomach bleeding associated with long-term use of aspirin. The .HEAT (Helicobacter pylori Eradication Aspirin) trial, was led by Professor Chris Hawkey from the University of Nottingham’s School of Medicine and Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, [...]