News

China's Space Station Achieves Early Results in Space MedicineBeijing, 23 Sep (ONA) --- China's space station has achieved initial results in space medicine that will contribute to upcoming manned lunar landings and other deep space missions. The announcement was made at the Second Frontier Forum of Space Medicine, which kicked off in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and will continue for two days. Space medicine plays an important role in promoting public health, providing theoretical support and a technical platform for research into cardiovascular and ...

Metal Exposure Linked to Higher Heart Disease Risk: StudyWashington, 22 Sep (ONA)--- A study from Columbia University reveals that environmental metal exposure significantly contributes to coronary artery calcium (CAC) buildup, comparable to traditional risk factors like smoking and diabetes.The decade-long study, involving over 6,000 participants, found that elevated levels of metals such as cadmium, tungsten, and uranium in urine were linked to increased arterial plaque, a precursor to atherosclerosis.This research suggests new strategies for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease ...

Half a Million Mpox Vaccine Doses for Africa Ordered by Gavi AllianceGeneva, 18 Sep (ONA) --- The global vaccine group Gavi has ordered 500,000 Mpox vaccine doses from the German-Danish company Bavarian Nordic. The UN Children's Fund is to deliver these to affected countries in Africa later this year (2024), Gavi announced today. The vaccine alliance, financed by governments, foundations and private individuals, fights for a fairer distribution of vaccines. Gavi stands for Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. The mpox virus is spreading again this year ...

Al Nahda Hospital Conducts 10 Advanced Surgeries to Ease Suffering of Many Patients Muscat, September 18 (ONA) --- A specialized medical team at Al Nahda Hospital (from the departments of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Oral, Maxillofacial and Facial Surgery) has successfully performed 10 advanced surgeries for a number of patients who suffered various health complications. The surgeries included the removal of cancerous and benign head and neck tumours using free flaps. They took about 14 to 18 hours of operating. Dr. Rashid Mohammed Al Alawi, Director General of Khoula ...

New Study Finds Pets Aren’t a Cure for Mental Health London, 12 Sep (ONA)--- A recent study by Aarhus University and King’s College London challenges the widespread belief that pets significantly improve mental health. The research, published in Mental Health & Prevention, tracked over 6,000 UK participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Contrary to popular assumptions, the study found that pet ownership did not improve mental health outcomes, with pet owners even reporting slightly worse mental health compared ...

New Study Shows Dip Boosts Caloric IntakeWashington, 11 Sep (ONA)--- A new study from Penn State's Sensory Evaluation Center reveals that pairing a salty snack, like chips, with a dip significantly increases caloric intake.The research, published in Food Quality and Preference, shows that when participants ate chips with ranch dip, their caloric intake surged by 77% compared to eating chips alone.Surprisingly, participants consumed the same amount of chips, regardless of the presence of dip, resulting in a much higher overall energy intake.John Hayes, professor of food science and director of ...

Light Pollution Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk: Study Washington, 11 Sep (ONA) --- Scientists have identified light pollution as a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, particularly among those under 65, according to a new study published in Frontiers. The research highlights a link between exposure to outdoor artificial light at night and an increase in Alzheimer’s prevalence. Dr. Robin Voigt-Zuwala from Rush University Medical Center noted that light pollution, a modifiable environmental factor, could play a critical role in Alzheimer’s ...

Epilepsy Drug Could Reduce Sleep Apnoea Symptoms: StudyVienna, 10 Sep (ONA) --- A new study suggests that an epilepsy drug could help alleviate symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea, a common condition affecting about 5% of people.Presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna, the research indicates that the drug sulthiame may significantly reduce breathing interruptions and improve oxygen levels during sleep.Obstructive sleep apnoea, which causes frequent interruptions in breathing during sleep, is often treated with mechanical devices like CPAP ...

New Firmoss Species Discovered in SW China with Potentials to Treat AlzheimerBeijing, 10 Sep (ONA) --- Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have discovered a new firmoss species in southwest China, an extract of which has been proved to be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The new species, which is later named Huperzia crassifolia, was discovered during a medical plant inventory research in southwest China's Guizhou Province, according to a CAS press release. An XTBG associate researcher, a member of the research team, Liu ...

Hopefulness Outperforms Mindfulness for Stress Resilience: StudyWashington, 8 Sep (ONA) --- New research from North Carolina State University revealed that cultivating hopefulness may be more beneficial than mindfulness during periods of extreme stress.The study, led by Kristin Scott and published in Stress and Health, examined how hope versus mindfulness impacted work-related resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.The study involved 247 participants and utilized a multiwave statistical model to assess the effects of hope and mindfulness on work engagement and ...

Brain Cells Reveal New Alzheimer’s InsightsNew York, 8 Sep (ONA) --- A groundbreaking study analyzing 1.6 million brain cells has uncovered early cellular changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, offering new insights into potential intervention strategies.The study was published in Nature and funded by several prominent institutions, including the NIH and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.The research, led by Columbia neurologist Philip De Jager, Vilas Menon, and Naomi Habib, utilized advanced molecular technologies and machine-learning techniques to differentiate between ...

South Korean Health Authorities Say New COVID-19 Wave Could Peak in End-AugustSeoul, 13 Aug (ONA) --- An ongoing wave of COVID-19 is forecast to reach a peak around the end of August after the summer vacation season, the South Korean health authorities said today, vowing to strengthen responses to curb its spread. "The uptrend could peak around the end of August, as contacts among people will grow after the summer vacation and such changes could affect the infection trend," Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) official Hong Jeong-il said, YONHAP news agency ...

First Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor Studies Completed Successfully in Oman Muscat, 12 Aug (ONA) —— The University Medical City, represented by Radiology and Nuclear Medicine department at Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center (SQCCCRC), has announced the successful completion of the first Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT studies, marking a significant milestone as the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman. The technique is based on injecting the patient with the radiopharmaceutical FAPI intravenously, which targets ...

Scientists Develop 'Smart Insulin' to Treat Type 1 DiabetesWashington, 12 Aug (ONA) --- Scientists from the United States, Australia and China have developed a 'Smart Insulin' treatment that responds to changing blood sugar levels in real-time, which could revolutionize treatment for millions of people with type 1 diabetes around the world. "Even with the currently available modern insulins, people living with type 1 diabetes have to put lots of effort into managing their diabetes every day to find a good balance between acceptable glycaemic control on the one hand and ...

Royal Hospital Sets New Milestone in Treating Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome Muscat, 11 Aug (ONA) --- A specialized medical team at the Royal Hospital conducted a complex surgical operation to treat "median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)" using a surgical endoscope. The team met with success in addressing such a rare condition that often poses major challenges, both in diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Mohammed Said Al Abri, Consultant, Obesity and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery at the Royal Hospital, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the patient was suffering from severe, ...

Heat-related Illnesses Kill 11, Cause 1,500 Cases Amid Heatwave in S. KoreaSeoul, 5 Aug (ONA) --- South Korea's interior ministry announced 11 deaths and a surge in the number of patients with heat-related illnesses to 1,546 cases. Three women were reported dead on Saturday after losing consciousness amid the ongoing scorching heat across the country, according to Yonhap news agency, bringing the total number of heat-related deaths to 11 between 20 May and 3 August 2024. An intense heat wave has been gripping the nation since last week following the end of the rainy ...

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Rids Patient of Fasciola HepaticaMuscat, 4 Aug (ONA) --- A specialized medical team at the Royal Hospital successfully performed the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (of its kind in Oman) for a patient who was infected with a liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. The diagnosis of such rare cases requires exceptional skills and treatment.Dr. Al Warith Ahmed Al Hashemi, Consultant Liver and Pancreas Transplants and Surgery at the Royal Hospital, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that diagnosing Fasciola hepatica is a real medical challenge due to the similarity of ...

Blood Test Diagnoses Alzheimer’s with 90% Accuracy: Study Washington, 28 Jul (ONA) --- A study published in JAMA today revealed that a blood test was about 90% accurate in identifying Alzheimer's in patients with memory issues, outperforming cognitive tests and CT scans interpreted by doctors, which were only 73% and 61% accurate, respectively.The research, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, suggests that routine blood tests for cognitive impairment could become common in primary care.However, experts stress that blood tests should be part of a ...

Study Discerns Alzheimer’s Vulnerability, Resilience FactorsWashington, 25 Jul (ONA) --- A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study published in Nature reveals new insights into the vulnerability of specific cells and circuits in Alzheimer’s disease, as well as factors that may help some individuals remain cognitively resilient despite disease pathology.Researchers compared gene expression across multiple brain regions in people with and without Alzheimer's, analyzing over 1.3 million cells from 70 cell types in six brain regions from 48 tissue donors.Key findings showed ...

Cameroon Launches Vaccination Drive to Curb Outbreak of Yellow FeverYaoundé, 25 Jul (ONA) --- Cameroon began immunizing children and adults against yellow fever as part of preventive response intervention after confirmation of cases.The vaccination campaign, which will run until July 30, is carried out in all the nine health districts of Douala, said Cameroon's Minister of Public Health Manaouda Malachie. "The campaign comes at a time marked by an upsurge in confirmed cases and deaths of yellow fever since 2023 in the country,” he added.The campaign targets children and adults aged ...

Toxic “Forever Chemicals” in US Pesticides Raise Health ConcernsWashington, 24 Jul (ONA) --- Toxic "forever chemicals" are increasingly being used in U.S. pesticides, threatening human health as they contaminate waterways and are sprayed on staple foods, a study said.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, but environmental regulations against them have mainly paid attention to sources such as industrial facilities, landfills and consumer products like certain cookware and paints.New research published in the peer-reviewed ...

New Drug that Achieves Amazing Results in Treating Diabetes DevelopedWashington, 24 Jul (ONA) --- A team of American scientists has achieved great progress in treating diabetes, by developing a new drug that enhances insulin-producing cells by 700 percent. During a study conducted by scientists from Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and the Clinical Research Center, tests of the drug on mice with diabetes showed a significant increase in insulin-producing cells by 700 percent over the course of only three months, which effectively reversed the disease. Scientists ...

Smell of Human Stress Affects Dogs’ Emotions, Study FindsBristol, 22 Jul (ONA) --- The smell of human stress affects dogs’ emotions and could lead to them making more pessimistic choices, new research has suggested. University of Bristol-led researchers suggest the findings are important for dogs in kennels and when the animals are being trained for roles such as assistance dogs. A pessimistic response reflects a negative emotional state and could possibly be a way for the dog to conserve energy and avoid disappointment, the researchers suggest. The study found ...

Persistent Social Isolation, Loneliness May Accelerate Cognitive DeclineBeijing, 14 Jul (ONA) --- Chinese researchers have discovered that persistent social isolation or feelings of loneliness may accelerate cognitive decline and lead to higher cognitive impairment risk. Researchers from Southern Medical University and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention studied the associations of changes in social isolation, loneliness, or both, with cognitive function among older adults. Data from 7,299 older adults were analyzed, and four change patterns ...

Royal Hospital Conducts 8 Complex Operations Using Modern Technology Muscat, 8 Jul (ONA) --- A specialized medical team from the Royal Hospital’s National Centre for Cardiac Medicine and Surgery (NCCMS) performed eight complex operations using the Orbital Atherectomy technique for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman. Dr. Adel Ali Al Jabri, consultant in interventional cardiology and catheterization at the NCCMS, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that this service, first introduced in June 2022, showed encouraging results that prompted the medical team to continue using it to ...

Scientists Succeed in Creating New Algorithm to Predict Heart Rate RiskHelsinki, 3 Jul (ONA) --- Researchers from the University of Tampere in Finland have succeeded in creating a new algorithm to detect changes in heart rate, which in turn may play an important role in predicting the risk of cardiac death. According to the researchers, although millions of people around the world die due to sudden cardiac death, signs of heart disorders remain difficult to detect, which highlights the importance of the researchers' findings. The study conducted by the ...

FDA Approves Treatment for Alzheimer's DiseaseWashington, 3 Jul (ONA) --- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kisunla (donanemab-azbt) injection, produced by Eli Lilly, for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Kisunla is the third amyloid-targeting drug approved by the FDA since 2021, following two treatments Aduhelm and Leqembi. Kisunla slowed the cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment by 35 percent over 18 months. The drug removes beta-amyloid that accumulates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's ...

Meaningful Social Interactions Reduce Boost Well-Being: StudyWashington, 30 Jun (ONA)--- A recent study from Stanford University, published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, reveals that meaningful social interactions enhance emotional well-being and reduce loneliness.The research, led by Mahnaz Roshanaei, tracked university students over three years, focusing on their social interactions and well-being.Roshanaei highlights that substantive conversations significantly improve affective well-being, lower stress levels, and reduce loneliness.The study found that ...

Specialized Medical Team Conducts Oman’s First Lymph Node Removal SurgeryMuscat, 25 Jun (ONA) --- Acting in cooperation with the University Medical City, a specialized medical team at the Royal Hospital succeeded in performing the first laparoscopic operation of its kind in Oman to remove the sentinel lymph node. The 2-hour surgery was conducted for a female patient with high-risk of developing malignant tumour in the uterus.Dr. Thuraya Rashid Al Rawahi, Senior Consultant, Gynaecological Oncology Surgery, at the Royal Hospital, head of the medical team, told Oman News Agency ...

Royal Hospital Applies Modern Technology in Treating CholecystitisMuscat, 28 May (ONA) --- For the first time in the Sultanate of Oman, the Royal Hospital succeeded in using modern minimally invasive technologies for the treatment of a patient suffering from cholecystitis.The operation involved the insertion of a metal stent into the internal cavity to drain the gallbladder, without the need for using external tubes.Dr. Hisham Abdullah Al Dhahab, Senior Consultant of Gastroenterology and Advanced Interventional Endoscopy at the Royal Hospital, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that “the ...