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Despite being at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, young adults who had childhood cancer are less likely to be adequately treated for risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and abnormal lipid levels, US research shows. An estimated half million childhood cancer survivors live in the United States. Previous studies show they face up to [...]

Several years ago, a promising therapeutic using stem cell factor (SCF) emerged that could potentially treat a variety of ailments, such as ischemia, heart attack, stroke and radiation exposure. However, during clinical trials, numerous patients suffered severe allergic reactions and development of SCF-based therapeutics stopped. Now a research team led by engineers at The University [...]

A University of Houston biomedical engineer is expanding his study of electrodes to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Mario Romero-Ortega, Cullen Endowed Professor of biomedical engineering, previously reported that deep peroneal nerve stimulation (DPNS) elicits an acute reduction in blood pressure on rats. His current study, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, advances that work, [...]

Many ethnic minority patients in England with the most common form of atrial fibrillation (AF) are not being prescribed the blood thinners they need to lower their risk stroke, according to data scientists. The University of Manchester study compared recommended treatment (oral anticoagulation such as warfarin), less effective treatment (aspirin), and no treatment. Compared to [...]

About three grammes of omega-3 fatty acids each day, in food or supplement form, may be the optimal amount needed to help lower blood pressure, research shows. High blood pressure is a contributing factor in around half of all strokes, making it the biggest single risk factor. The analysis of dozens of studies was published on [...]

A multi-centre study has found that RAAS inhibitors, a class of blood pressure-lowering medicine, may be better than others at reducing the risk of brain aneurysm rupture. Data from more than 3,000 people with high blood pressure and brain aneurysms was examined and researchers found that the use of RAAS inhibitors reduced the risk of an aneurysm [...]

Investigators have mapped molecular activity in the brain and spinal cord that is responsible for regulating the body's response to central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The Cedars-Sinai research focused on cellular changes in astrocytes, a specialised support cell type in the brain and spinal cord. These cellular changes, known collectively as 'reactivity', play a critical role in [...]

Platinum Portrayals, from Headway Leicester, showcases the creativity of survivors

For more than 20 years, scientists have known that people with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol or obesity have a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The conditions can all affect the brain, damaging blood vessels and leading to strokes. But the connection between vascular disease in the brain and Alzheimer’s has remained unexplained despite the [...]

A new study has shown gut bacteria can reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure drugs. The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences research was published this month in the journal Hypertension. It offers the first clues to what has been an elusive mystery - why do some people not respond well [...]