CANADA
Struggling to find a black doctor
A nationwide non-profit community network, Black physicians of Canada has launched a culturally sensitive new database designed to address the health inequality in marginalized communities.
Promising to make it much easier to find doctors who understand their cultural background and specific health needs, experts suggest this tool has the potential to make a huge difference in health outcomes, mortality rates and childbirth.
Source: Now Toronto
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AUSTRALIA
Switches found in DNA
The discovery of switches located in the junk section of our DNA rather than in our genes may be critical to understanding / treating Alzheimer disease claim researchers in New South Wales at UNSW. Latest work identifies 150 switches or signals called astrocytes that are stop supporting certain neurons. It is still unknown why they stop but, what we do know is their failure leads to neuron damage seen in Alzheimer disease.
Source: Science Alert
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UNITED STATES
Vision regeneration
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University are exploring what happens between connections of cells in the visual system and neurons in the brain of mice after an injury. Surviving cells increased branching to allow more brain connections and, not unexpectedly, male mice showed enhanced recuperative abilities while female mice experienced slower and incomplete repair by comparison—similar to the already known lingering symptoms from concussion or brain injury in females. Understanding the mechanism behind the branch sprouting could promote faster recovery and explain the slower female recovery.
Source: Johns Hopkins University
THE AMERICAS
A tested blueprint
In the America’s heart disease and strokes claim to more than 2 million lives a year. The just launched New Hearts Quality Framework is a practical guide which can immediately be used to enhance hypertension and cardiovascular risk management, prevent heart attacks and strokes and deliver better care through primary health care within communities. Designed to overcome barriers in community health clinics due to outdated equipment, limited availability of essential medicines, suboptimal treatments and unnecessary monthly visits to renew prescriptions.
Source: PAHO
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FRANCE
Excessive sleepiness and driving risk
Grenoble Alps University Hospital and the French Society for Sleep Research and Medicine have been exploring effectiveness of wake promoting drugs in patients adhering to CPAP treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers note a false sense of alertness and confidence linked to the use of wake promoting drugs and recommend frequent use of The Bordeaux Sleepiness scale to assess driver risk. The scale incorporates sex, self-perception of sleepiness to flag patients more likely to cause a road crash. In summary, CPAP and pharmacologic treatments can reduce crash risk but their effectiveness still depends on sleep hygiene and patient education—especially for professional drivers.
Source: Medscape
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UNITED KINGDOM / UNITED STATES
Ignored Period Pain
Roughly 91 percent of individuals of reproductive age have reported period pain but its long been understudied. And, Oxford University research shows period pain causes lower exam scores, altering cognitive function, more time out of school and a for those who have pain at age 15, a 76% chance of chronic pain by the time they reached their 20’s. Harvard’s Laura Payne’s research is currently in the middle of a study aimed at better understanding of why some women don’t respond well to pain relievers for menstrual pain and whether a more sensitive centralized nervous system could be playing a role. This could lead to better treatments for up to 20 of those who are disrupted. She’s also studying how to quickly establish causes of secondary dysmenorrhea.
Source: National Geographic
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CANADA
Ingesting microplastics
A new review found that people who drink bottled water ingest approximately 90,000 more microplastic particles that those who drink tap water. While long term effects remain poorly understood, microplastics are known to enter the bloodstream and vital organs leading to chronic inflammation, respiratory issues, hormonal disruption and various cancers. Researchers from Concordia University whose work was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials are calling for urgent regulatory measures and standardised global testing methods. The review also highlights the need to transition from single use plastics and better access to sustainable long term water drinking solutions.
Source: Independent
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UNITED STATES
A flu test you can chew
Flu detection could soon be as simple as chewing gum. Scientists have created a molecular sensor that releases a thyme-like flavor when it encounters influenza, offering a low-tech, taste-based alternative to nasal swabs. Unlike current tests that are slow, costly, or miss early infections, this method could catch the flu before symptoms appear.
Source: American Chemical Society
Image: iStock
