News

New Brain Implants Transform Communication for Paralyzed IndividualsCalifornia, US, 20 Sep (ONA) --- Recent advancements in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, highlighted in two Nature papers, a newfound hope for individuals living with paralysis to regain natural communication abilities.Neurosurgeon Edward Chang and his team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have developed a neuroprosthesis that not only deciphers brain signals into speech but also replicates corresponding facial movements.This ground-breaking achievement enabled a severely ...

Proper Hypertension Treatment Could Prevent Millions of Deaths: WHO Report Washington, 19 Sep (ONA) --- A New report by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the critical importance of addressing hypertension, or high blood pressure, as a leading global risk factor for death and disability.The report reveals that hypertension affects one in three adults worldwide and is linked to severe health issues such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney damage.Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, emphasized that hypertension can be effectively ...

Poor Snacking Undermines Healthy Eating for 25%: Study London, 18 Sep (ONA) --- A new study in the European Journal of Nutrition tracked the snacking habits of 854 people who mostly eat healthy meals. It found that a quarter of them either eat too much or choose low quality snacks, negating their healthy eating choices. "We observed that snack quality matters and is associated with favourable lipemic and insulinemic responses, as well as decreased hunger," say the study's authors. The study also concluded that unhealthy snacks are linked to "higher body ...

German Scientists Develop Co-crystal to Enhance Aspirin's SpeedBerlin, 14 Sep (ONA) --- A team from Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, has created a co-crystal that enhances the water-solubility of aspirin's active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).This breakthrough improves the drug's effectiveness for pain relief and preventing blood clots.When administered promptly to patients with suspected heart attacks, ASA lowers mortality by 25%.The co-crystal dissolves in water, releasing ASA rapidly into the bloodstream. ---Ends/Thuraiya/AG ...

Turmeric May Help Treat Indigestion: Study London, 13 Sep (ONA) --- In a new study published in the BMJ medical journal, researchers have uncovered that turmeric may be a potential remedy for indigestion. The study, which compared the effects of the common drug omeprazole with turmeric, known for its curcumin content, and a combination of both, yielded intriguing results. Over 150 participants suffering from dyspepsia, characterized by symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, nausea, and early fullness, underwent treatment with either omeprazole, turmeric, or the combined ...

Machine Learning Enhances Therapeutic Antibodies: StudyWashington, 12 Sep (ONA) --- Scientists at the University of Michigan have unlocked a new frontier in drug development with the application of machine learning to fine-tune therapeutic antibodies, which have immense potential in treating conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and cancer.Antibodies can be powerful disease fighters, but they often bind to unintended molecules, reducing their efficacy. The University of Michigan's machine learning models can pinpoint these problematic areas in antibodies. What sets them apart ...

Diverse Gut Bacteria May Reduce Childhood Asthma Risk: StudyCanberra, 11 Sep (ONA) --- A recent study suggests that infants and young children with a diverse gut bacteria community are less likely to develop wheezing and allergy-related asthma.The study analyzed 323 children's gut bacteria at various stages and asked parents about allergy-related wheezing and asthma in their children.Microbiota, acquired from mothers at birth, were found to reduce the risk of food allergies and childhood asthma by enhancing the immune system's function."A mature gut microbiota at age one correlated ...

New Method Tested for Lung Disease Predictions Milan, Italy, 10 Sep (ONA) --- The color of phlegm in bronchiectasis patients could indicate the degree of inflammation in their lungs, a new study suggests.According to recent research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy, the colour of phlegm from people suffering from the lung condition bronchiectasis may indicate the degree of inflammation in their lungs and predict their future results.The study of nearly 20,000 patients from 31 countries is the first time that the colour of phlegm ...

Researchers Reveal Six Essential Foods to Combat Cardiovascular Disease RiskOttawa, 30 Aug (ONA) --- A study spearheaded by McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences researchers at the Population Research Health Institute (PHRI) has found that not eating enough of six key foods in combination is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults.Consuming fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and whole-fat dairy products is key to lowering the risk of CVD, including heart attacks and strokes. The study also found that a healthy diet can be achieved in ...

Intermittent Fasting Shows Potential in Slowing Down Alzheimer's ProgressionCalifornia, 29 Aug (ONA) --- Scientists may have uncovered a breakthrough strategy to aid in the slowing down of Alzheimer's progression in humans, as per the findings of one latest study.Researchers from the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) conducted a study using a mouse model of Alzheimer's.With the study, the researchers managed to regularise the circadian clocks of the mice effectively through an intermittent fasting regimen.It is worth ...

Common Cold Virus Related to Potentially Fatal Blood Clotting Disorder: StudyNorth Carolina, 15 Aug (ONA) --- A new study has found that the common respiratory virus, which causes mild cold-and flu-like symptoms, may be associated with blood clots and severe thrombocytopenia or a drop in the level of platelets.The researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, US noted that the finding will lead to earlier diagnosis, appropriate and optimised treatment, and better outcomes in patients who develop this life-threatening disorder.The study, published in the ...

Extreme Heat Taxes the Body: ResearchCalifornia, 7 Aug (ONA) --- Tens of thousands die from heat waves and even more suffer from heat illness or injury. Moreover, research shows that the human body can adapt to heat, but only to a certain point. “The body works quite hard to keep the core body temperature within a pretty narrow range,” says Kristie Ebi, who researches climate change and health at the University of Washington in Seattle. “If you can’t cool down that core body temperature, then your cells and your organs start being affected.” The research found ...

Vaccine Centre Launched in UK to Boost Pandemic Preparedness London, 7 Aug (ONA) ---- A vaccine research facility, where scientists will work to ensure future pandemics are stopped in their tracks and do not cause the same disruption to everyday life as Covid-19, has been unveiled by the UK government. The Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) is based at the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) science and defence technology campus Porton Down, near the southern English town of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Live viruses will be kept on-site in specialist ...

Brain Activity of Toddlers May Predict IQ at Later Stages: StudyWashington, 3 Jul (ONA) --- The way that a young child's brain hums along at rest could predict their active intelligence later in life.Researchers in the United States and Germany have followed up on a past study in Romania to show, for the first time, how a kid's upbringing might influence their brain power years down the road.Comparing the cognitive abilities of fostered and institutionalized children with those who grew up in home care, researchers found institutionalized children had relatively lower IQs at 18 years ...

Study Highlights Health Importance of Sleeping at Same Time DailyLondon, 2 Jul (ONA) --- Small differences in sleeping habits between work and rest days could lead to unhealthy changes to the bacteria in the guts, a study suggests.The study of nearly 1,000 adults by Kings College London scientists found that even a 90-minute difference in the midpoint of your night's sleep over the course of a normal week could influence the types of bacteria found in the human gut.Going to sleep and waking up at very different times during the week, compared to the weekend, is known as having social ...

New Treatment Brings Hope for Brain Fog, other Long COVID Symptoms Washington, 2 Aug (ONA) --- The National Institutes of Health of the United States (US) is beginning a handful of studies to test possible treatments for long COVID. It is an anxiously awaited step in US efforts against the mysterious condition that afflicts millions. The announcement from the NIH’s $1.15 billion RECOVER project comes amid frustration from patients who’ve struggled for months or even years with sometimes-disabling health problems — with no proven treatments and only a smattering of ...

Gulf Health Council Launches Guide on Antimicrobial Resistance Riyadh, 31 Jul (ONA)---The Gulf Health Council has launched a guideline to raise public awareness about antimicrobial resistance, explain how to properly handle antibiotics and how to limit their spread. The guide provides detailed description of the concept of “One Health”, which aims at striking a balance between the health of human beings, animals, plants and their common environment that makes them closely all associated to each other. The guide defines antimicrobials, the problem of ...

Blue Blood from Horseshoe Crabs Is Valuable for Medicine Portland, 31 Jul (ONA) --- A primordial sea animal that lives on the tidal mudflats of the East Coast of the United States and serves as a linchpin for the production of vital medicines stands to benefit from new protective standards. But conservationists who have been trying for years to save a declining bird species, the red knot, that depends on horseshoe crabs fear the protections still don’t go far enough. Drug and medical device makers are dependent on the valuable blue blood of the crabs; helmet-shaped ...

Snacks Can Be Good For Health: StudyWashington, 27 Jul (ONA) --- A new study shows that snacking can benefit health if the focus is on quality, not quantity.In a study presented at Nutrition 2023, researchers analysed snacking data of over 1,000 UK-based participants considering factors such as snacking quality, quantity, and timing as well as cardiometabolic markers.The study examined how snacking habits were linked to cardiometabolic health, according to Medical News Today.The researchers found that higher-quality snacking was linked to better blood lipid and insulin responses. ...

Wall Squats and Planks Best at Lowering Blood Pressure London, 26 Jul (ONA) --- Strength-training exercises such as wall squats or holding the plank position are among the best ways to lower blood pressure, a study suggests. Current guidance focusing mainly on walking, running and cycling should be updated, researchers from the United Kingdom (UK) say. Analysis, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, of trials involving 16,000 people found all exercise lowered high blood pressure, BBC news reported.. But wall squats and planking led to larger falls than ...

Hearing Aids May Reduce Risk of Dementia by Half: Study Washington, 18 Jul (ONA) --- Hearing aids could cut risk by half for people facing a greater threat of cognitive decline, according to a new study.Cognitive decline is a reduction in abilities that can range from mild impairment to dementia, with dementia being considered a big problem across the globe.Over the past decade, research has established that hearing loss is one of the biggest risk factors for developing dementia, but it wasn’t clear whether intervening with hearing aids would reduce the risk, he added.In this ...

Coffee’s Boost of Energy, Wakefulness Could be Placebo Lausanne, 4 Jul (ONA) --- The act of drinking a cup of coffee might wake people up more than just plain caffeine, scientists said in a new study, but it isn't fully clear as to why. The study, published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, looked at whether coffee drinkers' alertness came from the caffeine itself or the experience of drinking the beverage. Scientists in Portugal recruited people who have at least one cup of coffee a day, asking them to not eat or drink anything caffeinated at least three hours before ...

Childhood Traumas Linked with Depression Outcomes Amsterdam, 2 Jul (ONA) --- Previous research has linked childhood trauma to mental health struggles later in life, but can it have implications for treatment? A study published in Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that adverse childhood experiences can lead to increased severity of symptoms and worse treatment outcomes for individuals with depression. Adverse childhood experiences can include various types of experiences, such as harassment, neglect, or witnessing violence. These experiences may involve the death of a close ...

Artificial Intelligence Can Have an Impact on Loneliness, Insomnia Washington, 18 Jun (ONA) --- As the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) systems continues to surge, there has been a simultaneous increase in health issues. With the rise in the usage of AI systems, health problems have also increased simultaneously. As per a study released by the American Psychological Association, employees who often engage with AI systems are more likely to suffer loneliness, which can contribute to sleeplessness. Researchers conducted four experiments in the US, ...

Royal Hospital Conducts Rare Operation to Eliminate Cancerous Tumor Muscat, 12 Jun (ONA) ---A specialized surgical team at the Royal Hospital succeeded in eliminating a patient’s cancerous right lung and part of the trachea. The surgery, the first one of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman, was among rare operations in the world. Dr. Aziza Nasser Al Rawahi, Consultant of Upper Gastrointestinal and Thoracic Surgeon at the Royal Hospital, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the removal of the lung was a major surgical task. She added that the trachea reconstruction surgery was also a ...

Brain-Dead Donor Lends Three Patients Hope to Be Treated for Chronic Organ Failure Muscat, 4 Jun (ONA) ---- A specialized medical team at the Royal Hospital succeeded in carrying out three organ transplants on three patients, using organs donated by a brain-dead donor. The patients were treated for chronic organ failure. The first operation was a liver transplant for an adult patient suffering from chronic liver failure. It was performed by an Omani surgical team specialized in liver transplants. It was conducted under the supervision of a liver transplant team from King Fahd ...

Cognitive Decline Accelerates After Heart Attack: Study Washington, 31 May (ONA) --- Having a heart attack accelerate risk of cognitive decline in late age, above and beyond what is considered appropriate for the aging mind, according to a recent study. In the study, researchers analyzed data from six major studies on heart disease and cognition. None of the 30,465 people chosen for those studies had dementia or experienced a heart attack or stroke before the study started, and all underwent at least one cognitive assessment.During the course of the research, however, over 1,000 of ...

Flavanols in Cocoa May Boost Memory: StudyWashington, 30 May (ONA) --- Having foods which are rich in antioxidant compound flavanol can improve age-related mental decline, a new study found.Green tea, apples, berries and cocoa are rich sources of flavanol and researchers have advised to consume these in sufficient quantities.The study is based on analysis of the data of 3,562 people aged 71. These participants were given fruit with high level of flavanol and it was found that they had better hippocampal memory function, which includes short-term memory-making, than those who ...

SQU Hospital Succeeds in Performing Mitral Valve Repair Using Advanced Technology Muscat, May 30 (ONA) --- A medical team from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) succeeded in performing mitral valve regurgitation operations using a modern technology. The operation deals with the use of a "mitral valve clip" system, which spares the patient open-heart surgery in high-risk cases. The operations were led by a qualified medical team comprising Dr. Fahad Al Kindi, Senior Consultant in the Department of Cardiac Catheterization, and Dr. Adel Al Kindi, Senior Consultant at the ...

Vegetarian or Vegan Diet May Lower Cholesterol: StudyCopenhagen, 25 May (ONA) --- According to a new study, there’s a distinct benefit for anyone diagnosed with high cholesterol to eat fruits and vegetables. Researchers looked at levels of LDL, or low-density lipoproteins — often called “bad” cholesterol because a buildup can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.In study particpants, LDL levels dropped 10% and total cholesterol declined 7% for people following a plant-based diet when compared with those who eat both meat and plants, the study found.The analysis was ...