chronic

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday raised concerns that data on Merck's chronic cough…

Short-lived, acute pain is a normal response to an injury and will steadily diminish as inflammation subsides. For some, however, this kind of pain develops into a chronic condition that persists for more than six months. Scientists have had little understanding of the underlying mechanisms that enable this progression.Now, researchers from the Center for Translational Immunology at the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht have identified the process that underpins this transition from acute to persistent inflammation,…

On 10 January 1999, the first episode of a drama about a New Jersey gangster with panic attacks debuted on the US cable channel HBO. The Sopranos ran for six seasons, the final episode being broadcast on 10 June 2007. Across eight years and 86 episodes it came to represent a golden age of TV, when moral complexity, deep characterisation and unprecedented authenticity were common features of a bold new form of televisual storytelling.It’s this “peak era” that Peter Biskind, the cultural critic and film historian, both…

The National Institute of Health estimates that 100 million Americans, or around a third of the US population, live with a chronic pain condition. While the economic burden, more than US$500 billion annually, is well documented, increasingly studied is its wide-ranging impact on mental health and the growth in opioid addiction.As such, scientists are eager to develop effective non-opioid, gene-based ways to disrupt the pain signaling experienced in chronic conditions, in the hope that it can vastly improve one's quality…

The cover art illustrates ultrasound-mediated drug delivery into a biofilm-infected wound. Credit: Ella MarushchenkoScientists have developed a new strategy to improve the delivery of drugs to chronic wound infections.Chronic wounds, which are persistent open sores or damaged tissues that do not heal correctly, pose a significant challenge to treat because of bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, or S. aureus. This situation is further complicated when these bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, such as…

Research has revealed that the Indian Hedgehog (IHH) protein, produced by specific cells in aged and damaged kidneys, drives scarring in kidneys and hearts, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). By blocking IHH or its activating protein TNF, fibrosis in kidney and heart tissues in mice models was reduced, offering potential new treatment pathways for CKD.A new understanding of a protein linked to kidney and heart damage might pave the way for novel treatment strategies for chronic kidney disease, according to recent…

AFib History gives long-term visibility into the amount of time your heart shows signs of AFib, also known as AFib burden, so you can share this information with your physician for richer conversations. Apple Watch users in India can now keep a track of Atrial fibrillation (AFib) history. The feature was already available for international markets but as per IANS, Indian Apple Watch users can also now access the feature. For those who do not know, AFib is a chronic heart condition of irregular rhythm where…

An older cat.Image: Lubo Ivanko (Shutterstock)Is your precious cat unable to move as gracefully as it once did? Then scientists in California might want to hear from you. They’re looking to interview owners of cats with chronic mobility problems or arthritis in hopes of finding the best way to address their particular health needs.Finding Uhura’s Confidence in Strange New Worlds | io9 InterviewThe study is being conducted by scientists from the Animal Welfare Epidemiology Lab at the University of California, Davis. In…

A recent study suggests that traumatic brain injury (TBI) should be considered a chronic condition, as its effects may continue to progress or regress for years after the initial injury. The research, involving people with varying severity of TBI, revealed that a significant proportion demonstrated changes (both improvements and declines) in cognitive abilities and daily functioning up to seven years post-injury, highlighting the need for ongoing care tailored to these evolving needs.Research reveals that function may…

Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney have discovered a link between stress and excessive eating, particularly of high-calorie comfort food, leading to weight gain. The study reveals that stress suppresses the brain’s natural response to satiety, specifically in the lateral habenula area of the brain, leading to continuous reward signals that promote the consumption of highly palatable food. Furthermore, they identified the molecule NPY, naturally produced by the brain in response to stress,…