A recent study examined the effects of common artificial sweeteners on two bacteria found in the human gut. The addition of the equivalent of two cans of diet soda significantly increased the pathogenicity (ability to cause disease) of the bacteria on human gut cells.1 The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, focused…
Category Archives: Children
Does a high dose of vitamin D reduce the number of days spent in hospital by patients with moderate to severe COVID-19? As previous studies have indicated, vitamin D can improve an individual’s immune response and insufficiencies of the vitamin could be a potential risk factor for respiratory tract infections. High serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin…
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.1 AMD is a condition wherein the macula (central area of the retina) deteriorates with age.2 Oxidative damage to the retina is one of the causes of AMD, as the retina is subjected to oxidative stress throughout life due to constant exposure…
Arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by joint pain, swelling, reduced joint movement and stiffness. It is considered the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million adults.1 Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis aims for reducing symptoms during the early stages of the disease as well as preventing further progression of…
Grapes are one of the oldest foods known to man. They were cultivated for wine from as early as 5980 BC. They were used in ancient Egypt as a treatment for a multitude of diseases, from cholera to smallpox. Grapes were used by ancient Greeks and Romans for eating and for wine production. Grapes were…
The keto diet (high fat, low carbohydrate) is popular among both men and women. Keto diets are attractive because they can result in significant and fast weight loss, but there are some health concerns associated with this, the most important being the lack of good sugars in the diet. The body requires sugar from glucose…
A new study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting patient enrollment in cancer clinical trials. Clinical trials are an integral part of health research, and they have led to the development of treatments for many diseases. The purpose of clinical trials is to test the effectiveness and safety of potential treatments on people. In…
Chinese researchers report on the first human trial of a candidate vaccine for COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine urgently required for long-term pandemic solution SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, has spread rapidly around the world since the first infections were reported at the end of 2019. The WHO situation report at the beginning of May…
In the 21st century, global health has seen a drastic shift in the incidence of diseases affecting the human population. In early 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the top 10 global causes of death to be primarily communicable, or infectious, diseases. However, this changed in 2016 when over 71% of global deaths occurred…
A new study examines how American middle and high schools are limiting students’ phone usage and looks into the potential benefits of limiting screens at school. As smartphones become more common, the number of children and teenagers using smartphones continues to increase. Smartphones can be beneficial for youths in some ways, as they can help…