Brain Dysfunction, Immune Abnormalities Seen in Post-Infectious Chronic Fatigue
Fatigue in post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may stem from dysfunction of integrative brain regions that drive the motor cortex, a deep phenotyping study suggested. In an exploratory analysis of 17 ME/CFS patients and 21 healthy controls, those with ME/CFS had lower activity in the temporal-parietal junction on functional MRI (fMRI) than did controls, […]
Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Tied to Less Alzheimer’s Risk
Erectile dysfunction drugs were associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, electronic health record (EHR) data from 270,000 men in the U.K. suggested. Over a median follow-up of about 5 years, men who started taking phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors were less likely to have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis than nonusers (adjusted HR 0.82, 95% CI […]
Vascular Conditions Offer No Clarity on Pollution-Dementia Link
Investigators appeared to rule out vascular dysfunction mediating the previously reported link between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and dementia. Contrasting with prior studies, their nationally representative U.S. cohort study found no significant association between greater long-term exposure to PM2.5 and a higher dementia risk 10 years later (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.98-1.11). Sensitivity analysis suggested […]
Earlier Detection of Cardiac Dysfunction Possible for Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Subclinical diastolic dysfunction may be detected among adult survivors of childhood cancer before left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) becomes abnormally low, according to longitudinal echocardiographic data. Among participants in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE) diagnosed with cancer at a median age of 8 years, the proportion of diastolic dysfunction was approximately 15% when […]
Erectile Dysfunction Drugs May Have Major Cardiovascular Benefits
CHICAGO — The two most popular medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) may confer substantial cardiovascular benefits for men with ED and concurrent heart disease, according to an analysis of a health research database. Both sildenafil and tadalafil significantly reduced the likelihood of progression to heart failure, myocardial infarction (MI), and death after 5 years as […]
Heterogeneous development of beta-cell populations in diabetes-resistant and -susceptible mice
Progressive dysfunction and failure of insulin-releasing β-cells is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D). DZD researchers have now shown that diabetes resistant and -susceptible mice respond differently to a carbohydrate-rich diet. The gene expression of the beta cells of the diabetes-resistant mice changed in such a way that a protective beta cell cluster developed. […]
Smell, Taste Dysfunction May Persist in 27 Million COVID Cases
Long-lasting smell or taste dysfunction may affect about 27 million people globally who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection, a meta-analysis with parametric cure modeling showed. An estimated 5.6% and 4.4% of COVID-19 patients may develop persistent self-reported smell and taste dysfunction, respectively, representing 15 million and 12 million cases worldwide as of July 2022, reported Song […]
Modeling a devastating childhood disease on a chip: Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) Chip reveals effects of nutrition and genetics on disease in children
Millions of children in low- and middle-income nations suffer from environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old. EED is a devastating condition that is associated with malnutrition, stunted growth, and poor cognitive development, permanently impacting patients’ quality […]
ED Meds Linked to Higher Risk of Ocular Adverse Events
Regular users of common medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) are at a higher risk for ocular adverse events, according to a large cohort study. Among over 200,000 men using phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is), the adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) for the composite endpoint of serous retinal detachment (SRD), retinal vascular occlusion (RVO), and ischemic […]