Link between COVID-19 and Parkinson’s disease risk grows with new findings

Animal research found a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection increased susceptibility to a chemical used to model Parkinson's disease neurodegeneration

A few years after the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic doctors around the world began to notice an increase in new Parkinson’s disease cases. This link between viral infection and increased Parkinson’s risk has been an ongoing mystery to scientists for well over a century. And the association isn’t just limited to the H1N1 influenza virus behind the 1918 pandemic. A variety of other viral infections have been linked to increased Parkinson’s risk, from Japanese encephalitis to HIV.

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Antibiotic overuse linked to immune defects and bowel disease

Two new studies have highlighted the importance of judicious antibiotic use. One study found antibiotics can increase a person’s risk of fungal infections by causing defects to immune system activity in the gut, while another study suggests heavy antib… Continue reading Antibiotic overuse linked to immune defects and bowel disease

Enzyme “sugar tag” blocks excess cell death behind chronic inflammation

Uncontrolled inflammation in the human body can drive a variety of serious health conditions, including cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, so discoveries around how it works can benefit the field of medicine in wide-ranging ways. A new example of this il… Continue reading Enzyme “sugar tag” blocks excess cell death behind chronic inflammation

Surprise findings suggest anti-inflammatories increase chronic pain risk

A new study led by researchers at McGill University challenges current notions of how acute pain is treated. The findings suggest treating some forms of acute pain with anti-inflammatory drugs may actually increase the risk of that pain developing into… Continue reading Surprise findings suggest anti-inflammatories increase chronic pain risk

Inflammation mediator shows promise as new multiple sclerosis therapy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that currently has no cure, but scientists may have uncovered a new therapy involving a lipid that regulates inflammation. Tests in mice showed that administering the lipid reduced symptoms and slowed d… Continue reading Inflammation mediator shows promise as new multiple sclerosis therapy

Stanford study links marijuana use to increased heart attack risk

A robust new study led by researchers from Stanford University has found a strong association between increased risk of heart attack and regular marijuana use. The study indicates THC can trigger inflammation in blood vessel cells and the researchers c… Continue reading Stanford study links marijuana use to increased heart attack risk

Alpaca nanobodies target and dissolve root cause of chronic inflammation

Alpaca immune systems have some properties that may be very useful to medical science

By tapping into the unique immune system of alpacas, scientists have developed a promising technique for tempering chronic inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis. The breakthrough hinges on what are known as nanobodies, which when taken from the woolly mammals were shown to neutralize the alarm system for the immune system and, in doing so, treat excessive inflammation in unhealthy mice.

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SARS-CoV-2 viral fragments found in feces 7 months after mild COVID-19

A new study from researchers at Stanford University has found some COVID-19 patients can shed fragments of the virus in their feces up to seven months past their initial infection. The researchers hypothesize the persistence of viral material in the gu… Continue reading SARS-CoV-2 viral fragments found in feces 7 months after mild COVID-19

Chronic e-cigarette use triggers brain, heart & colon inflammation in mice

New research from a team at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has investigated the effects of chronic pod-based e-cigarette use on inflammation in the brain, heart, lungs and colon. The extensive mouse studies found a variety of… Continue reading Chronic e-cigarette use triggers brain, heart & colon inflammation in mice

New study shows COVID-19 can cause brain inflammation and small bleeds

A new study published in Nature Communications has offered the most comprehensive investigation to date into the effects of COVID-19 on the brain using nonhuman primates. The study found SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of disease severity, can lead to… Continue reading New study shows COVID-19 can cause brain inflammation and small bleeds