Lifeboat Foundation

A recent study reports something strange: When mice with Alzheimer’s disease inhale menthol, their cognitive abilities improve. It seems the chemical compound can stop some of the damage done to the brain that’s usually associated with the disease.

In particular, researchers noticed a reduction in the interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) protein, which helps to regulate the body’s inflammatory response – a response that can offer natural protection but one that leads to harm when it’s not controlled properly.

The team behind the study, which was published in April 2023, says it shows the potential for particular smells to be used as therapies for Alzheimer’s. If we can figure out which odors cause which brain and immune system responses, we can harness them to improve health.

This isn’t a new discovery but something we’ll have to deal with in some places. I’ve actually drank noxious tap water and got really sick.

Most Americans take it for granted that the water that comes out of their taps is clean and safe to drink.

But a new study published by a University of New Mexico scientist with colleagues from across the U.S. warns that water from many wells and community water systems contains unsafe levels of toxic contaminants, exposing millions to health risks, including cancer.

Continue reading “US drinking water often contains toxic contaminants, scientist warns” »

There are a lot of things to detest about poop. It’s poop, for one. It smells. It carries disease. It never stops being produced. But that aside, there’s a lot to like about poop.

It’s one of the world’s most plentiful sources of nutrients for fertilizers. Processed properly, poop can also be converted into electricity. It even be used as new artistic medium, though somebody’s already scooped up the prize for poop painting. As the world’s population grows, both the positive and the negative effects of poop on public health and the environment will only grow, so a burgeoning group of brave scientists are trying to figure out how to make the best of a crappy situation.

Cancer relies on metabolism pathways to grow, which has Rogel Cancer Center researchers looking at how to use food and diet to exploit cancer’s vulnerabilities as a foundation of new potential therapies.

Learn more about the cancer research being done at University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center: https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/research/programs.

Continue reading “Cancer, Metabolism, and Food: A New Way to Look at Potential Therapies” »

“We hope that the research can contribute to and complement the arsenal of techniques used to diagnose breast cancer and to generate a large amount of data associated with it that may be useful in trying to identify large-scale trends that could help diagnose breast cancer early,” George added.

The team next plans to combine CBE techniques learned from professionals with AI and fully equip IRIS with sensors to determine the effectiveness of the whole system in identifying potential cancer risks. The ultimate goal is to have the manipulator detect lumps more accurately and deeper than it is possible only by applying human touch.

This promising development could revolutionize how women monitor their breast health. With safe electronic CBEs located in easily accessible places like pharmacies and health centers, women could have access to accurate results and take a proactive approach to their health.

A distinguished group of panelists engaging in a vibrant discussion about mentoring, careers, and more.

Speakers: Dr. Vijay Vasudevan, Dr. Monika Mitra, Dr. Michael McKee.

Google Maps can now calculate rooftops’ solar potential, track air quality, and forecast pollen counts.

The platform recently launched a range of services like Solar API, which calculates weather patterns and pulls data from aerial imagery to help understand rooftops’ solar potential. The tool aims to help accelerate solar panel deployment by improving accuracy and reducing the number of site visits needed.

As seasonal allergies get worse every year, Pollen API shows updated information on the most common allergens in 65 countries by using a mix of machine learning and wind patterns. Similarly, Air Quality API provides detailed information on local air quality by utilizing data from multiple sources, like government monitoring stations, satellites, live traffic, and more, and can show areas affected by wildfires too.

Advances in imaging technologies are giving physicians unprecedented insights into disease states, but fragmented and siloed information technology systems make it difficult to provide the personalized, coordinated care that patients expect.

In the field of medical imaging, health care providers began replacing radiographic films with digital images stored in a picture and archiving communication system (PACS) in the 1980s. As this wave of digitization progressed, individual departments—ranging from cardiology to pathology to nuclear medicine, orthopedics, and beyond—began acquiring their own, distinct IT solutions.

View questions to ask your health care team, ways to manage your self-care, treatment and support resources, and hear from patients and caregivers with rare brain and spine tumors to guide you through your journey.