Among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury 42 percent reported adverse consequences related to needing wheelchair repair, according to a team of experts in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. The research team, comprised of investigators from the Spinal Cord Injury Model System, determined that this ongoing problem requires action such as higher standards of wheelchair performance, […]
Lifestyle
Research pinpoints role of dopamine in songbird’s brain plasticity
Neuroscientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have demonstrated in new research that dopamine plays a key role in how songbirds learn complex new sounds. Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the finding that dopamine drives plasticity in the auditory pallium of zebra finches lays new groundwork for advancing the understanding of the functions of […]
New online calculator can help predict death and end-of-life care needs for older adults
Although most Canadians die from predictable causes and have health needs that can be met at home, only 20% of people receive a physician home visit in their last year of life. To help understand the changing care needs of older adults as they age and when they might be nearing the end of their […]
Lower exposure to UVB light may increase colorectal cancer risk
Inadequate exposure to UVB light from the sun may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, particularly in older age groups, according to a study using data on 186 countries, published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. Researchers at the University of California San Diego, USA investigated possible associations between global […]
Could genetics hold the key to preventing SIDS?
A state-of-the-art genetic biobank could hold the key to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), potentially saving the lives of hundreds of babies who die from the devastating condition each year. Developed by the University of South Australia, the biobank comprises DNA from 25 babies who have died from SIDS in South Australia. It’s the […]
Breakthrough in tissue engineering as ‘shape memory’ supports tissue growth
Research published today has demonstrated the viability of 3D-printed tissue scaffolds that harmlessly degrade while promoting tissue regeneration following implantation. The scaffolds showed highly promising tissue-healing performance, including the ability to support cell migration, the ‘ingrowth’ of tissues, and revascularisation (blood vessel growth). Professor Andrew Dove, from the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemistry, led […]
People living with obesity struggling with their weight in silence
People living with obesity in the UK take an average of nine years to speak to a doctor about their weight struggles—according to new research involving the University of East Anglia. A new study published in the journal BMJ Open shows that only around half (47 percent) of people living with obesity have discussed their […]