Health and Medicine
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Dr. Jacob Bueno de Mesquita | Curbing the Spread of Infectious Diseases with Germicidal Ultraviolet Technology
Viruses responsible for COVID-19, the flu and other respiratory illnesses are exhaled by infected individuals, even when they don’t have symptoms. It is common for those infected to have no idea they are breathing out infectious particles. Some people, so-called ‘superspreaders’, tend to exhale more infectious particles than most other people, elevating the amount of airborne virus within a room and the risk of spreading infection. Airborne infectious particles pose risks in many indoor spaces – schools, public transit, workplaces, healthcare settings, gyms and restaurants. They linger in the air and are inhaled by others, leading to new infections and further transmission. How can we break this chain of transmission?
Dr Sean Smith | Fighting ALS at the Genetic Level: Real World Results for Tofersen
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or ALS), also known as Motor Neuron Disease, is a devastating condition that gradually reduces a patient’s ability to move, speak, and ultimately breathe. Among the various forms of ALS, about 2% of cases are linked to a mutation in a gene called SOD1. For years, there has been no effective treatment for these patients. A new investigation conducted by Dr. Sean Smith and his colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis offers new hope for ALS patients.
Dr Kristina Landscheidt | Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: New Hope for Healing Acute and Chronic Wounds
Chronic wounds are a major medical challenge. They are very slow to heal and prone to infection, causing significant discomfort and complications for patients. Dr Kristina Landscheidt and Professor Ole Goertz at Martin‐Luther Hospital, Berlin, have been investigating an innovative treatment that could offer improved patient outcomes: extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Their team’s recent study provides evidence that this treatment can significantly speed up the healing process for acute and chronic wounds.
Dr Michael Dillon | A Gamified Approach to Teaching at Plymouth University
In universities everywhere, there’s growing recognition that the traditional lecture model is no longer enough. As disciplines become more complex and interconnected, students need more than information – they need ways to engage actively with what they’re learning. This means moving beyond passive listening and note-taking, towards approaches that foster critical thinking and collaboration. At the University of Plymouth, a new teaching innovation is showing how gamified learning can encourage deeper understanding and student engagement.
Dr. Robert Arnold | A Diagnostic Breakthrough for Aerodigestive Disorders in Rural Communities
When people experience problems with swallowing, voice, breathing, or persistent coughing, the cause often lies within the aerodigestive tract – the complex system that spans the mouth, nose, throat, windpipe, and esophagus. Diagnosing these issues can be especially difficult in rural areas, where access to specialists and diagnostic tools is limited. Patients may face long delays, repeated referrals, and missed or incorrect diagnoses – resulting in avoidable suffering and even death. To address this gap, Dr. Robert Arnold of Southeastern Biocommunication Associates first developed the Comprehensive-Swallow Voice Assessment (or CSA).
Professor Francis Worden | Breaking New Ground in Thyroid Cancer Treatment: The Promise of Lenvatinib
Differentiated thyroid cancers are highly treatable with surgery and radioactive iodine therapy. But for some, the disease becomes more aggressive and is no longer amenable to this treatment, and such patients are deemed to have iodine-refractory cancers. In 2015, the FDA approved lenvatinib, a drug shown in trials to extend progression-free survival (or PFS) by five times that of placebo. PFS indicates the duration of time patients live with their cancer without disease progression. Lenvatinib targets several enzymes called tyrosine kinases, which cancer cells use for growth and to spread. By shutting down multiple pathways at once, the drug offers a powerful therapeutic mechanism.
Professor Basil Okeahialam | The Silent Shift: Why Menopause Matters for Women’s Heart Health
When people think of menopause, hot flashes and mood swings often come to mind. But behind the visible symptoms, something much more serious may be happening – something silent, hidden, and potentially deadly. According to Professor Basil Okeahialam of the Jos University teaching Hospital in Nigeria, the transition into menopause could be a critical tipping point for women’s heart health. In a recent study involving women from rural communities, Okeahialam and his colleagues explored how menopause affects blood pressure and other markers of cardiovascular disease.
What is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity?
Electronic appliances produce electromagnetic fields – or EMFs. These devices include mobile phones and masts, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth speakers and smart meters, as well as power lines and even electric motors. Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity – or EHS – is a physical reaction that people can have to these EMFs. The scientific consensus international report published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences confirms the view that EHS is a real, measurable neurological disorder, supported by biological mechanisms and markers.
Professor Mark D. Hayward | How Education Shapes Dementia Risk
Dementia – a syndrome characterized by declining cognitive function that interferes with daily living – represents one of the most significant health challenges facing aging populations worldwide. While sometimes viewed as an inevitable consequence of aging, research increasingly shows that dementia risk can be modified through life experiences. For instance, higher levels of education are associated with lower risk of dementia, but the exact relationship between years of schooling and cognitive health remains an important area of investigation. Professor Mark Hayward at the University of Texas at Austin and his colleagues, Hyungmin Cha and Mateo Farina, recently explored how education affects dementia risk and onset timing, as well as prevalence trends across different population groups.
Preventing Damage to Human Organs and Biological Samples During Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation is a technique allowing organs, whole organisms, tissues and cells to be preserved below 0°C for extended periods. Currently, organs are stored above 0°C, which limits their storage time to a few hours. Hence, it is difficult to successfully preserve organs for patients who need life-saving transplants. By bringing organs to temperatures below 0°C, their metabolism can be further lowered, and preservation times can be considerably lengthened. However, water contained in and around cells can form ice crystals, which damage cellular structures. This effect has severely limited the use of cryopreservation for organs and other biological samples. Scientists have recently developed innovative ways to prevent ice-crystal formation during cryopreservation.
Dr Tara Rosewall | Exploring the Impact of Cannabis on Prostate Cancer Risk
Cannabis is becoming increasingly common in many countries, with more people using it both recreationally and medicinally. This increased usage has given rise to many questions about the long-term effects of cannabis on health – particularly when it comes to cancer. Some studies suggest that cannabis use may be linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, while others show that cannabis compounds may have anti-cancer properties. One area that remains under-researched is the potential link between cannabis use and prostate cancer – one of the most common cancers affecting men. A recent study by Dr Tara Rosewall and her colleagues at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto explored whether a person’s lifetime cannabis use is associated with an increased or decreased risk of developing prostate cancer.
How Nurses Can Lead the IV to Oral Antibiotic Switch Campaign
Switching patients from IV antibiotics to oral antibiotics is a critical step in patient care that can improve outcomes, reduce risks, and free up valuable nursing time. Nurses are the healthcare professionals who spend the most time with patients, so they are ideally positioned to identify when this switch is appropriate and to prompt clinicians to consider it. However, many nurses feel uncertain about how to initiate this process. This video aims to empower nurses with the knowledge and confidence needed to support IV to oral switches – or IVOS.
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