Exploring the cancer-fighting promise and limitations of hydroxychloroquine

Design of multiplexed stochastic HCQ-evolution study and quality control. Credit: Cell Cycle (2024). DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2024.2402191 As the hunt for effective cancer therapies intensifies, some scientists are turning back to look…

Varying dialysate calcium dosage not tied to differences in all-cause, cardiovascular mortality

There are no significant differences in all-cause or cardiovascular mortality with the prescription of dialysate calcium 1.50 versus 1.25 mmol/L for patients undergoing hemodialysis, according to a study published online…

Promising Alzheimer’s drug candidate prevents buildup of tau proteins in lab and fruit fly studies

The brain of a 7-day-old fruit fly with Tau expressed in a neuronal circuit used by the fly in olfactory memory. The green outlines the neurons, which are starting to…

Study shows psilocybin gives comparable long-term antidepressant effects to standard antidepressants

Credit: CC0 Public Domain A direct comparison between the experimental psychedelic drug psilocybin and a standard SSRI antidepressant shows similar improvement of depressive symptoms, but that psilocybin offers additional longer-term…

New migraine drugs no better than cheap painkillers: big study

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New, more expensive migraine drugs are no more effective against the throbbing headaches than traditional painkillers, and even performed worse than an older range of treatments…

Study reveals secrets behind Lycium barbarum’s cold and heat resistance efficacy

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides enhance thermogenesis and energy metabolism by regulating gut microbiota, thereby improving tolerance to cold stress. Credit: Chen Chang’s group Lycium barbarum is a traditional and valuable medicinal…

Studies indicate no major concerns about risks to offspring for would-be dads taking epilepsy meds

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Would-be dads taking drugs to stop their epilepsy seizures—and valproate in particular—should be largely reassured that the available evidence on the developmental risks to their offspring…

Need medicine in hospital? Study finds how often IT flaws lead to the wrong drug or dose

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Every time you are prescribed medicine in hospital, a computer will prompt your doctor about the appropriateness of the medicine and its dose. Every time health…

Antidepressants prescribed for pain in older adults despite weak evidence of effectiveness

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain University of Sydney research has found people over 65 are being prescribed antidepressants as pain treatment based on international guidelines that use limited evidence. The paper…

Off-label drugs prescribed for breathlessness may do more harm than good, warn scientists

Credit: Puwadon Sang-ngern from Pexels A new study from King’s College London shows that off-label prescriptions of a common antidepressant doesn’t help breathlessness in patients with respiratory disease—and may cause…