Researchers design an innovative strategy to fight obesity through gene therapy
A scientific team from the University of Barcelona and the CIBERobn has designed a strategy to fight obesity and diabetes in mice through ex vivo gene therapy which consists of implanting cells that have been manipulated and transformed in order to treat a disease. This is the first study to apply the ex vivo gene […]
Mucus Too Sticky? NAC Injections May Help
BARCELONA — Patients with heavy mucus secretions that they couldn’t readily expectorate obtained some relief with IV N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a researcher said here. After 7 days of treatment in a randomized trial conducted in China, mean sputum viscosity scores declined by 0.24 points more with NAC than placebo injections (P<0.001), and scores for expectoration difficulty […]
Routine Stress Testing Didn’t Offer Benefits to High-Risk Patients Post-PCI
BARCELONA – Routine functional testing after percutaneous cardiac interventions (PCI) did not boost clinical outcomes at 2 years in high-risk patients, according to the POST-PCI trial. The composite endpoint of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina was experienced by 5.5% of patients who got routine functional testing versus 6.6% in […]
High-Dose Flu Vaccine Promising for Mortality Benefits in Older Adults
BARCELONA – A Danish feasibility study that tested a high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine versus a standard dose hinted at morbidity and mortality benefits, researchers reported. In the DANFLU-1 study, there was a 48.9% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality and a 64% reduction in the incidence of hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia for high-dose […]
Finally, A Foundational Heart Failure Drug That Works Across the Spectrum of EF
BARCELONA — With a major win in DELIVER, dapagliflozin (Farxiga) closed the gap on the types of heart failure (HF) proven to be treated safely by SGLT2 inhibition. People with HF with preserved (HFpEF) and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) alike had a reduced risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and worsening HF over a median […]
ADVOR Backs Add-On Acetazolamide for Cutting Congestion in Decompensated HF
BARCELONA — The addition of IV acetazolamide to loop diuretic therapy led to a greater incidence of successful early decongestion in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF), according to the ADVOR trial. The primary outcome of successful decongestion within 3 days after randomization was 42.2% with acetazolamide versus 30.5% with placebo (P<0.001), reported Wilfried […]
After Cardiac Arrest, No ‘Best’ Blood Pressure, Oxygen Target
BARCELONA — Shifting blood pressure and oxygen targets failed to budge outcomes for comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the BOX trial showed. A higher mean arterial blood-pressure target of 77 mm Hg — hypothesized to potentially maintain better cerebral perfusion — had no impact on the proportion of patients who died or left the […]
Players needed to solve puzzles and help advance cancer research
Scientists in Barcelona have today launched GENIGMA, a videogame that enlists players to solve puzzles while generating real-world scientific data that can detect alterations in genomic sequences and ultimately advance breast cancer research. The game, out today on iOS and Android and available in English, Spanish, Catalan and Italian, is the result of a two-and-a-half-year […]