Direct primary care membership fees are rising as patients face a choice between paying out-of-pocket costs or losing the doctors who know their health histories, according to data from Health Affairs and the American Academy of Family Physicians. The growing trend allows physicians to bypass insurance billing for routine visits, but critics warn the model … Read more
Neurogenesis in the adult brain hippocampus stalls in patients with major depressive disorder, according to a study published by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. While previous medical models linked depression primarily to neurotransmitter deficiencies like serotonin, the new findings indicate that the condition stems from broader issues affecting neuronal adaptability … Read more
According to research published in EMBO Molecular Medicine by teams at Adelaide University and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, a molecular switch driven by low levels of the naturally occurring molecule miR-342 and high activity of the E2F pathway fosters metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. While this aggressive subtype accounts for 10 to 15 percent … Read more
Only 13 low- and middle-income countries currently provide the comprehensive support needed for smokers to quit, leaving approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide without access to effective care. According to research from the University of York, New York University, and Harvard University, this gap persists despite tobacco remaining the leading cause of preventable death, resulting in … Read more
The findings demonstrate that mature astrocytes control thalamic neural activity through GABA signaling pathways, offering potential implications for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders associated with memory problems. How Astrocytes Shape Memory Consolidation During Sleep Research has shown that a good night’s sleep has many benefits, including memory consolidation. Dr. Benjamin Deneen, corresponding author, professor … Read more
Researchers at the University of California Riverside found that nanomolar concentrations of vanillin cause stem cells to lose pluripotency and prematurely differentiate into endoderm tissue, a mechanism that may help explain clinical links between vaping, difficulty conceiving, and miscarriages. How Vanillin Targets Embryonic Stem Cells Laboratory tests conducted on human embryonic stem cells—which are similar … Read more
According to research published in the Chinese Medical Journal, a mitochondrial matrix protein known as RTN4IP1 drives the progression and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer by disrupting cellular energy metabolism. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for roughly 15% of all breast cases and lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, leaving patients with high risks of recurrence … Read more
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and St. James’s Hospital have demonstrated that dexamethasone, a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory steroid, reduces harmful inflammation triggered by Mycobacterium avium without weakening the ability of human immune cells to control the infection, according to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Understanding Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease and Treatment Challenges … Read more
Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) are developing inhaler technologies designed for young children and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who cannot generate the deep, strong breath required by standard medical devices, according to project leader. Traditional inhalers often leave substantial medication trapped inside the device or deposited in the patient’s mouth … Read more
According to researchers at McMaster University, the naturally occurring hormone GDF15 protects the liver from inflammation and slows the progression of scarring through a brain-to-liver signaling pathway independent of weight loss. Published in Cell Metabolism, the findings challenge longstanding assumptions about the hormone, which is best known for suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. Understanding … Read more