Study tests new gum to curb gingivitis
We’ve all heard the advertisements: Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum. What about gum with a natural antimicrobial ingredient? A company based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, wants to find out if its experimental chewing gum can reduce the symptoms of gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums. “We are looking for individuals who have a certain degree of inflammation... READ MORE
Study: can exercise improve memory?
If you want to exercise more and help science establish a link between better memory and exercise, there’s a study for you at the University of Maryland College Park. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the randomized clinical trial is enrolling 152 participants age 60 to 80 who are physically inactive — that is, people who exercise fewer than three days a week. The... READ MORE
Headaches or jaw pain? Study may help
If you’ve had pain in your jaw or frequent headaches in the past three months, consider helping yourself as well as science with a visit to the University of Maryland Baltimore. Researchers from the school’s Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science will do a full rundown to see if you have a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), a complex chronic pain... READ MORE
Can a vegan diet relieve arthritis pain?
If your joints ache due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chances are you’ve tried every medication and trick in the book. But have you considered changing what you eat? RA is a progressive disease that currently has no cure. Along with diabetes, heart disease and other major diseases, it has been linked to chronic inflammation. RA is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune... READ MORE
Study seeks the right balance for patients
Falls are the most common danger for older adults. One in four people over age 65 falls each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some will be treated for their injuries, but some — 27,000 per year — will die. Can certain exercises prevent falls for older adults with metabolic syndrome? A study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine and... READ MORE
Pneumonia vaccine study may save lives
We’ve all heard tragic stories about the loss of loved ones to pneumonia or complications of pneumonia. It’s especially deadly for older adults. “We are not yet winning the battle against pneumonia,” according to the American Thoracic Society, which notes that pneumonia was one of the most expensive conditions in inpatient hospitalizations, costing nearly $9.5 billion in... READ MORE
Psoriatic arthritis patients sought for study
Johns Hopkins University is currently recruiting approximately 200 patients for an observational study of how well treatment goals are met in psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs in one in three people who have already been diagnosed with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells, causing cells to... READ MORE
Didn’t get a flu shot yet? Join this study
Last winter, the flu killed 80,000 Americans, the highest death toll in more than 40 years. Many had not been vaccinated, and those that were, particularly older adults, may not have gained enough protection. Now, researches at six locations around the U.S., including Rockville, Md., are looking at a possible new way to boost the flu vaccine’s effectiveness by using stem cells. Stem ... READ MORE
Hopkins study focuses on ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, progressive disease that affects nearly 1 million Americans. Up to one-third of patients with UC will require hospitalization for severe symptoms such as pain and bloody stools, often within the first year after diagnosis. While new therapies have revolutionized the medical care available to patients, offering a greater possibility of achieving... READ MORE
Drug study will try to halt memory loss
With 5.7 million Americans already living with Alzheimer’s disease — a number that is expected to more than double in 30 years — researchers are racing to find the culprits that lead to the memory loss and confusion Alzheimer’s disease can cause. One suspect is a type of protein in the brain called beta-amyloid. Researchers believe fragments of this protein can accumulate and... READ MORE
