Doctors safely edit genes to fight cancer
The first attempt in the United States to use a gene editing tool called CRISPR against cancer seems safe in the three patients who have had it so far, but it’s too soon to know if it will improve survival, doctors reported in November. The doctors were able to take immune system cells from the patients’ blood and alter them genetically to help them recognize and fight cancer, with... READ MORE
There are ways to minimize NSAIDS risks
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, are one of the most common medications used to treat pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin and other NSAIDs are effective across a variety of common conditions, from acute musculoskeletal pain to chronic arthritis. They work by blocking specific proteins, called COX enzymes. This results in the... READ MORE
Maximize your body’s benefit from protein
You don’t need be a bodybuilder to pay close attention to your protein intake. This macronutrient is required for the structure, function and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs, including muscle and bone. These days, there’s been increased interest in how dietary protein affects things such as feeling full and weight loss. Increasingly, a lot of emphasis has been placed... READ MORE
Your role in next year’s national census
They say that the only constants are change and taxes. I would add another item to this list: the census. Since our country’s founding, the census has been taken every 10 years with the intention of counting all individuals living in the United States and logging their demographic information. You’re probably more than familiar with how the census works — or, should I say,... READ MORE
Devices, services to manage medications
Dear Savvy Senior: What tips or tools can you recommend that can help seniors and their caregivers keep up with medications? My 82-year-old mother, who lives alone, is supposed to take several different medications at various times of the day, but often forgets. —Working Daughter Dear Working: Anybody who juggles multiple medications can relate to the problem of forgetting to... READ MORE
Volunteers needed for inflammation study
If you have diabetes or had a heart attack, a stent placement procedure or a stroke, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) need your help. They hope to better understand how inflammation — the immune system’s response to injury or infection — affects the body. “There is emerging evidence that inflammation is a significant risk factor for developing high blood... READ MORE
Study questions value of stents, bypass
People with severe but stable heart disease from clogged arteries may have less chest pain if they get a procedure to improve blood flow, rather than just giving medicines a chance to help. But it won’t cut their risk of having a heart attack or dying over the following few years, a big federally funded study found. The results challenge medical dogma and call into question some of... READ MORE
Is there an anti-Alzheimer’s supplement?
Over the past few months, there has been an aggressive advertising campaign on television and in the print media to promote a product that goes by the name Prevagen. In the advertisements and commercials, Prevagen is touted as a breakthrough product that can improve memory and other cognitive functions for those who are experiencing the effects of aging. Though not overt, there is... READ MORE
Enjoy (indoor) grilled fish all winter long
Many people refer to the Labor Day weekend, now months past, as the unofficial end of summer grilling season. But those of us who love to grill know that you can’t stop just because you’ve turned the calendar page. There are diehards, of course, who brave the elements to continue grilling outdoors. I’ve even known of people who protect their food and themselves with an umbrella in... READ MORE
High-tech rivals may replace stethoscope
Two centuries after its invention, the stethoscope — the very symbol of the medical profession — is facing an uncertain prognosis. It is threatened by hand-held devices that are also pressed against the chest but rely on ultrasound technology, artificial intelligence and smartphone apps instead of doctors’ ears to help detect leaks, murmurs, abnormal rhythms and other problems in... READ MORE
