Madrid, Spain: Professional drivers working in congested cities are exposed to black carbon levels that are on average a third higher than would be experienced at a busy roadside, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] The research also found that taxi drivers experience the highest exposures to black carbon, […]
2019
Air pollution linked to increased risk of infant deaths and reduced lung function in children
Madrid, Spain: Air pollution is linked to an increased risk of death in babies according to a study of nearly eight million live births, to be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress on Sunday 29 September. [1] Although it is known already that air pollution is associated with infant deaths, it is not […]
Electronic nose can sniff out which lung cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy
An electronic nose that detects chemicals in the breath of lung cancer patients can identify with 85% accuracy those who will or will not respond to immunotherapy, according to new research published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. The results of the first study to investigate this show that the eNose is […]
Cardiovascular disease patients benefit more from exercise than healthy people
A study of nearly half a million people has found for the first time that those with heart or blood vessel problems benefit more from having a physically active lifestyle than do healthy people without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased physical activity reduced the risk of dying during a six-year follow-up period for people with and […]
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease for healthy 75-year-olds who stop taking statins
Statins are known to reduce the risk of further problems in patients of any age who have already suffered heart problems or stroke. However, until now it has not been clear how effective their use is in preventing such events occurring in healthy people aged 75 and over, with no previous history of cardiovascular disease. […]
Pear-shaped is better for postmenopausal women, even if they are normal weight
Postmenopausal women who are “apple” shaped rather than “pear” shaped are at greater risk of heart and blood vessel problems, even if they have a normal, healthy body mass index (BMI) according to new research. In fact, the study, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1], found that storing a greater proportion of […]
Atrial fibrillation linked to increased risk of dementia, even in stroke-free patients
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to an increased risk of dementia, even in people who have not suffered a stroke, according to the largest study to investigate the association in an elderly population. In addition, the study, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1], found that AF patients who took oral anticoagulants to […]
First large-scale genetic study of the causes of excess liver iron may lead to better treatment
Gothenburg, Sweden: High levels of iron in the liver are linked to a number of serious health conditions including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular as well as liver disease. But measuring liver iron is difficult and until recently could only be done through an invasive biopsy. Now researchers from University of Exeter, UK, […]
New study aims to show how to identify risk of recurrence of developmental disorder in future pregnancies
Gothenburg, Sweden: Having a child with a developmental disorder can cause parents to worry about the outcome of further pregnancies. In cases where the genetic mutation causing the disorder is not present in either parent it is assumed to be a one-off event with a very small chance of recurrence. But in some families, the […]
Discovery of new mutations may lead to better treatment for children with developmental disorders
Gothenburg, Sweden: Developmental disorders are neurologically-based conditions that affect the acquisition of specific skills such as attention, memory, language and social interaction. Although they have a genetic cause, this is often difficult to detect through standard genetic analysis of the parents. The mutation found in the affected child is therefore termed a ‘de novo’ mutation […]