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Can ‘toxic’ bilirubin treat a variety of illnesses?
Generations of medical and biology students have been instilled with a dim view of bilirubin. Spawned when the body trashes old red blood cells, the molecule is harmful refuse and a sign of illness. High blood levels cause jaundice, which turns the eyes and skin yellow and can signal liver trouble. Newborns can’t process the compound, and although high levels normally subside, a persistent surplus can cause brain damage. Yet later this year up to 40 healthy Australian volunteers may begin receiving infusions of the supposedly good-for-nothing molecule. They will be participating in a phase 1 safety trial, sponsored ...
Source: ScienceNOW - June 8, 2023 Category: Science Source Type: news

The Association Between Inflammatory Markers and Hypertension. A Call for Anti-Inflammatory Strategies?
Authors: García NH, Juncos LI Abstract The most important goal of antihypertensive therapy is to prevent the complications associated with hypertension (stroke, myocardial infarction, end-stage renal disease, etc). For this, secondary targets such as left ventricular hypertrophy, proteinuria, dementia, and other signs of hypertension-induced organ damage help the physician to assess risks and monitor treatment efficacy. New treatment targets may be arising, however. One such target may be endothelial dysfunction. In effect, endothelial dysfunction not only may precede the elevation of blood pressure, but may also ...
Source: The Scientific World Journal - June 7, 2018 Category: Science Tags: ScientificWorldJournal Source Type: research

Statin drugs reduce infection risk in stroke patients, report suggests
Statin drugs can dramatically lower the risk of infections in stroke patients, report researchers. Patients on statins upon admission to hospital, or early in their stay, had significantly lower risk for developing infections than those put on statins later in their hospitalization or not at all. These findings remained strong after being controlled for other possible influences like the severity of strokes, age and the presence of other conditions like diabetes.
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - June 16, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news

The Jekyll and Hyde of Statins
By Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, Medical Discovery News Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins are the most prescribed drug ever. About 30 percent of Americans are currently taking statins such as Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor. Overall, statins can be good thing, but as with all drugs, there are some negative effects. Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting a protein called HMG-CoA reductase. Since high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease, statins can reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Recent reports from the American Heart Assoc...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - February 3, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news

The Biggest Medical Stories You May Have Missed In 2015
SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue By Craig Bowron As we head into the New Year, let’s take a look back and see what lessons we should have learned from medical science in 2015. The New England Journal of Medicine’s publication Journal Watch provides physicians and other health care providers with expert analysis of the most recent medical research. Below is a brief synopsis of what the Journal Watch editors felt were the most important stories in general medicine for the year 2015. While you likely heard about a couple, others probably escaped your radar. Getting Aggressive with Strokes We’re familiar with the id...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - January 15, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news

How too much medicine can kill you | Aseem Malhotra
It’s patients who lose out if doctors and professional journals stop asking the right questionsDuring a recent clinic consultation, I saw Mary, in her early 60s, with type 2 diabetes. She was concerned that the muscle pains in her legs may have been a result of the cholesterol-lowering statin drug she was taking. “But I’m scared of stopping it.” She explained how a specialist nurse had told her a clot could break off from her aorta, travel to her brain and cause a massive stroke.I assured her that even in those with established heart disease, who stand to gain most from taking the drug, the risk of death from stopp...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - November 1, 2015 Category: Science Authors: Aseem Malhotra Tags: NHS Health Pharmaceuticals industry Drugs policy Politics Science Doctors Society Business UK news Source Type: news

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability among people with Type 2 diabetes. In fact, at least 65 percent of people with diabetes die from some form of heart disease or stroke. However, a new study suggests that the use of cholesterol-lowering statins may help prolong the lives of people with diabetic cardiovascular disease.
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - July 16, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news

Should I take statins?
Since 80% of cardiovascular disease is caused by lack of exercise, poor diet and smoking, it would be better to address these factors rather than pop a statinShould everyone over 50 be taking statins? asked an editorial in the Lancet last year. No, said an analysis article in last week's BMJ. Statins, in case you've escaped the hype, are drugs that block an enzyme in the liver that's needed to make cholesterol (we make it as well as eat it). Statins reduce levels of low density lipoproteins – the bad cholesterol that furs up arteries and can cause heart disease. But is there any benefit in taking a statin if yo...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - October 27, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Luisa Dillner Tags: The Guardian Medical research Health & wellbeing Human biology Drugs Features Life and style Science Source Type: news