Eating breakfast after 9 a.m. increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 59% compared to people who eat breakfast before 8 a.m. This is the main conclusion of a study in which ISGlobal, an institution supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, took part and which followed more than 100,000 participants in a French cohort. The results show that we can reduce the risk of … [Read more...]
Researchers Design an Innovative Strategy to Fight Obesity Through Gene Therapy
A scientific team from the University of Barcelona and the CIBERobn has designed a strategy to fight obesity and diabetes in mice through ex vivo gene therapy which consists of implanting cells that have been manipulated and transformed in order to treat a disease. This is the first study to apply the ex vivo gene therapy technique to generate and implant cells that express the … [Read more...]
Hydrogel Injection may change the way the heart muscle heals after a heart attack
Researchers at CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices based at National University of Ireland Galway, and BIOFORGE Lab, at the University of Valladolid in Spain, have developed an injectable hydrogel that could help repair and prevent further damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack. The results of their research have just been published in the journal … [Read more...]
Intestinal diversity can prevent asthma
Children who develop asthma or allergies have an altered immune response to intestinal bacteria in the mucous membranes even when infants, according to a new study from Linköping University, Sweden, and Center for Advanced Research in Public Health, Spain. The results also suggests that the mother's immune defence plays a role in the development of asthma and allergies in … [Read more...]
Prenatal exposure to Acetaminophen may increase Autism chances
A new study has found that paracetamol (acetaminophen), which is used extensively during pregnancy, has a strong association with autism spectrum symptoms in boys and for both genders in relation to attention-related and hyperactivity symptoms. The findings were published this week in the International Journal of Epidemiology. This is the first study of its kind to … [Read more...]
Bacteria may protect you from breast cancer
Bacteria that have the potential to abet breast cancer are present in the breasts of cancer patients, while beneficial bacteria are more abundant in healthy breasts, where they may actually be protecting women from cancer, according to Gregor Reid, PhD, and his collaborators. These findings may lead ultimately to the use of probiotics to protect women against breast … [Read more...]
Plant-based or vegetable “milks” an alternative to yogurt: A Spanish Study
Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València have obtained new products fermented with probiotic bacteria from grains and nuts -- what is known as plant-based or vegetable "milks" -- which are an alternative to conventional yogurts. The products are specially designed for people with allergies to cow's milk, lactose or gluten intolerance, as well as children and … [Read more...]
Treatment for cirrhosis discovered: A Spanish Study
Scientists headed by Raúl Méndez, ICREA research professor at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), and Mercedes Fernández, at IDIBAPS in Barcelona, reveal that the inhibition of CPEB4 protein may prevent the development of the abnormal blood vessels associated with cirrhosis. Pathological angiogenesis is one of the most serious complications in patients … [Read more...]
Commercial coffees contain high levels of mycotoxins: A Spanish Study
An analysis of one hundred coffees sold in Spain has confirmed the presence of mycotoxins -toxic metabolites produced by fungi. In addition, five of the samples that were tested were found to contain ochratoxin A, the only legislated mycotoxin, in amounts that exceeded maximum permitted levels. While the authors point out that these results are not alarming, they do recommend … [Read more...]
New treatment for bladder cancer: A Spanish Study
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona researchers have found a mycobacterium that is more effective in treating superficial bladder cancer and does not cause infections, unlike those used up to now. Mycobacteria are the only bacteria used in cancer treatment. The administration of the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), is the current treatment for superficial bladder cancer. … [Read more...]
Defective telomeres are linked to diseases and cancer: A Spanish Study
Studying telomeres, the structures that protect the ends of chromosomes, has become a key issue in biology. In recent years, not only has their relation to ageing been confirmed; defective telomeres seem to be linked to more and more illnesses, including many types of cancer. The review published by Paula Martínez and María Blasco from the CNIO in Trends in Biochemical … [Read more...]
New molecules working against Alzheimer’s discovered: A Spanish Study
Researchers of the Unit of Medicine Design and Molecular Topology (Department of Physics Chemistry) of the University of Valencia (UV) have discovered eight new active molecules against Alzheimer by a novel mechanism of action, different to the currently used medicines. The work has just been published in PLoS One. One of the most relevant aspects of the work is that the new … [Read more...]
Effects of unstable shoes with curved soles on trunk muscles and lumbar lordosis: A Spanish Study
The study shows that the unstable shoes -- compared to normal shoes -- improve trunk muscle activity in order to maintain balance, which in turn favours spine stability and can help reduce low back pain. The research project, led by researchers at the University CEU Cardenal Herrera in cooperation with the University of Valencia, has been accepted for publication in the … [Read more...]
Too much folic acid while pregnant may put daughters at risk of diabetes and obesity: A Portuguese Study
Mothers that take excessive amounts of folic acid during pregnancy may predispose their daughters to diabetes and obesity later in life, according to a new study published today in the Journal of Endocrinology. With high dose supplements being widely available, the study calls for a need to establish a safe upper limit of folic acid intake for pregnant women. A Portuguese … [Read more...]
Hypoxic training not advised for amateur athletes: A Spanish Study
A study has established that hypoxic training not advised for amateur athletes. Physical performance after periods of hypoxic training -- in low-oxygen conditions -- has become a matter of growing controversy within the scientific community. An international study, with the help of Spanish researchers, compared professional and amateur athletes' knowledge and understanding of … [Read more...]
Highly educated women stop smoking if the cost goes up: A Spanish Study
A study has concluded that highly educated women stop smoking if the cost goes up. Cigarette prices and images on cigarette packets have an impact on women in terms of continuing to smoke or quitting. In fact, less educated women are more responsive to pictorial labels on cigarette packets, as revealed by a study that has analysed, for the first time, the generation differences … [Read more...]