news 2023

Following a program of physical exercise combined with cognitive training can greatly help older people with mild cognitive impairment, a national study finds. Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly can be slowed or even reversed if they follow a combined program of physical exercise and cognitive training, according to the results of a clinical study of 175 seniors diagnosed with the disorder.

Major work led by Dr. André Veillette's team in collaboration with a group of researchers managed to identify a previously unknown way which prevents phagocytosis. Major work led by Dr. André Veillette's team at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), in collaboration with a group of researchers, and just published in Nature Immunology , managed to identify a previously unknown way which prevents phagocytosis, which is a process that promotes the immune system's response to cancer.

Science, Health & Technology Erik Rolfsen Researchers from the University of B.C. and the BC Provincial Toxicology Centre (BCPTC) have developed a more efficient way to find out which new 'designer drugs' are circulating in the community. In a study published today in Analytical Chemistry , they showed how high-resolution mass spectrometry can be used to analyze urine samples at scale and uncover molecules from emerging designer drugs that have been missed by conventional testing.

Science, Health & Technology Brett Goldhawk A special kind of genetic test that helps determine the best antidepressant for patients with moderate-to-severe depression could generate substantive health system savings and greatly improve patient outcomes, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.

A research team from Université Laval demonstrates how this drug acts on adipose tissue The ways of science are sometimes impenetrable, they say. Bimatoprost, a drug used to relieve ocular hypertension and give fuller eyelashes, is now helping to open up new horizons in the understanding and treatment of obesity.

A study at the UdeM-affiliated Montreal Clinical Research Insitute paves the way for more early diagnostic and therapeutic options to detect and treat these two major metabolic diseases. Canadian scientists have found a new link between two major metabolic diseases: diabetes and steatotic liver disease, commonly known as fatty liver disease.

Researchers combining bioprinting with synthetic chips to understand tumours in 3D An international team of interdisciplinary researchers has successfully created a method for better 3D modelling of complex cancers. The University of Waterloo-based team combined cutting-edge bioprinting techniques with synthetic structures or microfluidic chips.

Atrial fibrillation detected after stroke seems more benign than pre-stroke irregular heartbeats, finds Western study Worldwide, millions of stroke survivors undergo prolonged cardiac monitoring, leading to the discovery of atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeats, in up to 1.5 million of these patients each year.

Waterloo Pharmacy researchers find an opportunity to improve vaccination uptake HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is also the leading cause of cervical cancer. Over 1,400 Canadian women are affected yearly, with almost 400 deaths, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.

This figure represents around 9% of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease in Canada each year. Reducing our salt intake to the level recommended by public health authorities could prevent up to 5,300 deaths per year in Canada. This is the conclusion reached by a research team at the end of a study evaluating the impact of different scenarios for reducing sodium consumption on the health of the Canadian population.

Science, Health & Technology Brett Goldhawk As we head into fall, cases of COVID-19 are once again rising across Canada, fuelled by new variants that are offshoots of the original Omicron variant. At the same time, Canada is rolling out an updated suite of vaccines that are more tailored to currently circulating strains of the virus.

Science, Health & Technology Brett Goldhawk Treatment with modern antidepressants may help prevent patients with bipolar disorder from relapsing into a depressive episode, according to an international clinical trial led by researchers at the University of British Columbia. The findings, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine , challenge current clinical practice guidelines and could change how bipolar depression is managed globally.

Waterloo Pharmacy researchers address significant gap in maternal medication research. It's the start of World Breastfeeding Week, and University of Waterloo Pharmacy researchers have developed a novel metric for an underserved research area to aid healthcare providers in advising on maternal medication use for breastfeeding mothers or nursing persons.

Researchers have developed a novel synthetic protein to treat macular degeneration and other incurable eye diseases that lead to blindness in millions of people. It is the first drug of its kind and is currently in human trials. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects more than 200 million people worldwide.

Science, Health & Technology Kevin Hollett Medications for alcohol use disorder are underutilized in British Columbia, despite their safety and effectiveness, according to a new study published today in the journal Addiction . The study found that between 2015 and 2019 fewer than five per cent of British Columbians who met the criteria for moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) received medications for the minimum recommended time of three months.

Western researchers discover molecule with promise to enhance vaccine efficacy Findings have significant implications for strengthening the global response to current and future viral threats Taking a significant leap in the field of vaccine development, Western researchers have discovered a potential 'super molecule' that can bolster the effectiveness of several vaccines against viral diseases, including influenza, COVID-19 and smallpox.

Two projects will analyze characteristics of lipid nanoparticles as well as naturally occurring particles known as Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) McGill University today announced it has signed agreements with ModernaTX, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, to support two innovative research projects in the area of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

If you believe a medical treatment was developed specifically for you, it may be more effective, especially if you want to be seen as unique, according to new research from McGill University. In two studies, researchers in the Department of Psychology found that participants who thought a medical device that was really a placebo was personalized to their genetic makeup and physiology reported feeling less pain when using it, compared to those who believed it was a standard treatment.

Chemotherapy is a life-saving treatment for many cancer patients. Unfortunately, many cancer drugs also cause cancer cells to mutate, which over time leads them to become more aggressive and harder to treat. SFU Molecular Biology and Biochemistry researcher Mani Larijani is exploring an unconventional approach to address this issue and improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients.

Western researchers find unique blood plasma protein patterns in patients with prolonged fatigue, brain fog Using advanced research techniques, including a form of artificial intelligence, a team of researchers has discovered unique patterns of blood plasma proteins in patients with suspected long COVID that could improve patient outcomes.