A Covid infection, particularly in women, may lead to blood vessels aging around five years, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Blood vessels gradually become stiffer with age, but the new study suggests that Covid could accelerate this process. Researchers say this is important since people with stiffer blood vessels face […]
2025
Ancient practice of blowing through a conch shell could help to treat dangerous snoring condition
People who practised blowing through a conch shell regularly for six months experienced a reduction in their symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a small randomised controlled trial published in ERJ Open Research [1]. OSA is a common sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during the night due to a blocked airway. It […]
Treatment for sleep apnoea is good for the heart in some patients but bad for others
A treatment commonly used for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), lowers the risk of serious cardiovascular events in some patients but not others, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. People with OSA often snore loudly, their breathing starts and stops during the night, and they may wake up several times. Not only […]
Common pregnancy complications may be a signal of future stroke risk
Women who experience complications during pregnancy face a higher risk of stroke in the following decades according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study, which included data on more than two million women over more than 40 years, found an increased risk for women who had diabetes or high blood pressure […]
Royal visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Sophie, Lady Frederick Windsor calls for more donations to buy vital ultrasound vein finders London, UK: Lady Frederick Windsor, also known as the actress Sophie Winkleman, visited Evelina London Children’s Hospital on Wednesday to see the ultrasound vein finder that The Children’s Surgery Foundation donated to the paediatric surgical ward. The mother of two children, […]
Women who work nightshifts are more likely to have asthma
Women who work night shifts are more likely to suffer with moderate or severe asthma compared to women who work in the daytime, according to a study published in ERJ Open Research [1]. The research, which included more than 270,000 people, found no such link between asthma and working nightshifts in men. The study was […]
Scientists find unusual build-up of soot-like particles in lung cells of COPD patients
— As a result, cells grow abnormally large and cause inflammation — Cells taken from the lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a larger accumulation of soot-like carbon deposits compared to cells taken from people who smoke but do not have COPD, according to a study published in ERJ Open Research […]
Integrating pharmacogenomic-guided prescribing into routine clinical practice: promising results from the NHS PROGRESS study
Milan, Italy: Pharmacogenomics studies how individuals respond to drugs based on their genetic code. Using that knowledge to guide prescribing in routine care could lead to better outcomes for patients and save money for health systems. Generating pharmacogenomic data in the laboratory is relatively straightforward, but a major challenge is making that information available to […]
Genetic investigations reveal reason for severe neuropathy after infection
Milan, Italy: Neuropathy, a disorder in which damage to nerves can impair sensation and movement, has many causes, including infection1. Now, researchers from the UK have identified distinct genetic changes in a newly-discovered neuropathy and believe that their work will provide insights into the causal mechanism and why some previously healthy people develop neuropathies after […]
New blood test enables the rapid diagnosis of thousands of rare genetic diseases
Milan, Italy: A new, rapid testing method will greatly help the diagnosis of rare diseases in babies and children, according to research to be presented to the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. While rare genetic diseases are uncommon, as their name suggests, there are more than 7,000 types of disease caused […]