Gene therapy might give long-term protection from severe allergies like asthma by simply turning them off, suggests new research published in JCI Insight. Severe allergies might be turned off with a single intervention, suggests new immunology research conducted by scientists from The University of Queensland (UQ). The team’s main aim is to develop a gene
Category: Health
Vaginal Bacteria Might Help or Inhibit HIV Prevention
While some vaginal microbes might be assisting in the process of preventing HIV infection, other bacteria might be making drugs less effective by breaking them down, suggest two new studies published in the journal Science. An antiretroviral vaginal gel used for the prevention of HIV infection has been found to be three times more effective
Turning Bacteria into Factories Producing Cancer Drugs
Bacterial cells have been turned into little factories that produce cancer drugs. The new findings documenting the technique used to transform bacteria into drug-making machines are published in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering. A team of researchers from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability of Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) has modified bacterial species E. coli to produce
Probiotics Relieve Depression Symptoms
Probiotic consumption might relieve both depression symptoms, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), suggests a new study published in the medical journal Gastroenterology. Probiotics are living bacteria and yeasts that are deemed salubrious upon consumption. The new research, conducted by a team from the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, suggests that they might protect from
One Alcoholic Drink Daily Increases Breast Cancer Risk
Just one glass of alcoholic drink per day increases breast cancer risk, says a new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. A single glass of wine consumed daily (or any other alcoholic drink) is enough to increase the risk for breast cancer. Vigorous exercise, on the other hand, decreases it, according to
Dieting Doesn’t Work Because Your Brain Limits Fat Burning
Your brain doesn’t let you burn fat when you’re dieting because it is protecting you from a scarcity of food by preventing you from getting rid of those calories! Or so suggests a new study published in eLife. Losing weight is no easy task, and many will attest to the fact that dieting will, sometimes,
Air Pollution From Vehicles Damages DNA in Children
Breathing in polluted air from vehicles results in DNA damage in children and teenagers, suggests a new study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The adverse effects of air pollution can reach into the DNA, says new research conducted by scientists from the US. It appears that high levels of air pollutants
Healthy-Heart Muffins Lower Blood Cholesterol
A muffin a day might just do the job of keeping the doctor away, suggests a new study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ). Science and baking have come together to help us stay healthy while we quench our cravings for delicious food! The special cake, called a healthy-heart
Yogurt for Stronger Bones!
Yogurt is good for your bones—its consumption has been linked with higher bone density, and a lower risk of osteoporosis in the elderly. The new findings are published in the journal Osteoporosis International. Increased yogurt consumption leads to healthier bones in older men and women, suggests the new study which was conducted by researchers from Ireland’s
Cure for HIV: HIV DNA Removed Successfully From Infected Cells
HIV can be stopped, suggests a new study published in the journal Molecular Therapy. The replication of the deadly virus can be shut down, and it can even be removed from the genetic material of infected cells by a simple gene editing strategy. HIV infection remains without a known cure. Once infected, a person is to
Sunscreen Use Linked With Vitamin D Deficiency
A culprit of vitamin D deficiency might be sunscreen which results in an insufficient exposure to the sun; chronic disease might also be an underlying cause, suggests a new study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. No sun on skin, no vitamin D! Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin, a process
Alcohol Consumption Linked With High Breast Cancer Risk in Black Women
The link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk in black women has been confirmed in a new study published in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Alcohol consumption has been linked with breast cancer in previous studies focusing on white women. The new study shows that this is not restricted to the latter: