Tag Archives: disease & illness

Americans who live in the southeastern U.S. and Appalachia are among those more likely to develop diabetes

A group of researchers from the Imperial College of London have identified a protein that acts as a “master switch” for inflammation in the body. The protein functions as a regulator in determining whether specific types of white blood cells will heighten or reduce inflammation. The new finding could play a key role in the development of new treatments for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and may even put scientists on the path to a cure for such debilitating illnesses.

Obesity means big business, and I don’t mean just the amount of food it takes to support the overeaters of the world. I am talking about the increase in the cost of medical insurance; the doctor, hospital and prescription bills it generates; the increase in disability payments to workers no longer able to be part of the work force. And then there is the diet and fitness industry, which can suck you dry on the promise of weight loss

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Library of Medicine (NLM), has developed Clinical Trials.gov , which offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions. This database currently contains almost 100,000 trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, and private industry

There are many benefits to keeping your cholesterol in check, but a new reason has surfaced: reducing the chance of Alzheimer’s in old age. In a new study out of Columbia University, researchers found that there is a correlation between the level of HDL cholesterol and the probability of Alzheimer’s, with up to a 60% reduction in risk if the HDL is high enough. read more