A two-week course of high doses of CBD helps restore the function of two proteins key to reducing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and improves cognition in an experimental model of early onset familial Alzheimer’s, investigators report. The proteins TREM2 and IL-33 are important to the ability of the brain’s […]
The Bleeding Edge – A searing exposé of the medical device industry
This eye-opening look at the fast-growing medical device industry reveals how the rush to innovate can lead to devastating consequences for patients. The Bleeding Edge is a fiercely feminist, eye-opening exposé of medical devices’ devastating impact on women’s health from Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. At the heart of the film are the E-Sisters, […]
Screening truffles for radioactivity 30 years from Chernobyl
Some forest mushrooms, such as wild porcini, can accumulate dangerous levels of radioactivity from the soils they grow in. But until now it was unclear if the same was true for truffles, fungi that range among the most expensive foods in the world. Swiss and German researchers have analysed Burgundy truffles collected in central Europe […]
Sunlight plus lime juice makes drinking water safer
Looking for an inexpensive and effective way to quickly improve the quality of your drinking water? According to a team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, sunlight and a twist of lime might do the trick. Researchers found that adding lime juice to […]
Sticking to low-fat dairy may not be the only heart healthy option
New research amongst the world’s biggest consumers of dairy foods has shown that those with higher intakes of dairy fat — measured by levels of fatty acids in the blood — had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with low intakes. Higher intakes of dairy fat were not associated with an increased […]
Sunlight exposure guidelines may need to be revised
Previously published solar exposure guidelines for optimal vitamin D synthesis based on a study of skin samples may need to be revised, according to new research published today in PNAS. A study by researchers from King’s College London, with support from the NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ Biomedical Research Centre, has tested the optimum ultraviolet radiation […]
Crops near Chernobyl still contaminated
Crops grown near Chernobyl are still contaminated due to the 1986 nuclear accident, new research shows. Scientists analysed grains including wheat, rye, oats and barley and found concentrations of radioactive isotopes – strontium 90 and/or caesium 137 – above Ukraine’s official safe limits in almost half of samples. The researchers also examined wood samples and found […]
Massage stones help scientists uncover role of prefrontal cortex in sensory perception
An image of a beautiful beach conjures up certain sensations — one can imagine the warmth of the sun as it caresses the skin, and the sound of the water as waves break on the shore. But how is it that the human brain produces these impressions even when an individual isn’t actually standing on […]
Immune-boosting role of vitamins D, C, E, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids: Could they help against COVID-19?
The effects of vitamins C, D, E, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids on the immune system and the possible benefits to those suffering from COVID-19 are presented. These are particularly pertinent in the vulnerable elderly population, who represent a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality in these times. All of the nutrients mentioned have […]
PFAS exposure can affect women’s ability to breastfeed
Women with higher levels of PFAS in their system may be 20% more likely to stop breastfeeding early, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are humanmade chemicals used as oil and water repellents and coatings for common products including cookware, […]