Tag: prevention

Many women needlessly take cholesterol-lowering drugs

More than half of middle-aged women who take cholesterol-lowering medicines called 'statins' have neither cardiovascular disease or diabetes, shows new research.

Diabetics greatly benefit from short bursts of high intensity exercise

A group of diabetics lost 18 per cent belly fat and improved their sugar regulation, after just 8-weeks of short but high intensity exercise sessions. No drug has the same effect.

Pollen may increase suicide rates

Scientists have established a correlation between pollen count in the air and suicide rates in Denmark.

Hard squeeze of the arm may help stroke victims

New study suggests that patients with acute ischemic stroke might benefit from the hard squeeze of the arm from a blood pressure cuff. Why this helps is anyone’s guess.

HIV epidemic in Greenland mapped in great detail

HIV has been introduced in Greenland at least 25 times, according to new study, which reveals how an HIV epidemic breaks out and spreads in a society. The findings may help prevent future epidemics.

Screening does not prevent aggressive breast cancer

Breast screening does not detect the types of breast cancer that women actually die from sufficiently early, new research reveals. Screening may even lead to overtreatment, which increases the risk of other cancers, argues researcher.

Intensive schizophrenia treatment shows great promise

A new study has looked into the effect of intensive treatment programmes for young people with schizophrenia. The results show that we should stick with the intensive treatment.

Mega magnet to boost brain scans

A new magnet with a magnetic field 140,000 times that of the Earth’s is currently being installed in a Danish hospital. It will be used to scan brain activity and will give scientists new insight into diseases such as schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, MS and epilepsy.

How dietary fibres fight obesity and diabetes

Scientists have found an explanation to why dietary fibres keep us healthy. The discovery may lead to new treatments of metabolic diseases.

MMR vaccine also effective against diarrhoea and otitis

If more children in high-income countries were vaccinated against measles early enough, it would dramatically reduce the number of child hospitalisations due to common infectious diseases.

HPV vaccine effective for Danish women

The HPV vaccine against cervical cancer was introduced in Denmark in 2006. New research shows that it is already working as it should and has significantly reduced the risk of cervical precursor lesions.

Vitamin D-fortified food helps us through dark winters

Milk and bread fortified with vitamin D increases vitamin D levels in an average Danish family. This may help the ten percent of Danes who suffer from vitamin D deficiency in winter, say researchers.

Schizophrenics more likely to get autoimmune diseases

Schizophrenic people have a greater risk of developing diseases such as psoriasis, diabetes and MS than the general population. Infections appear to play a central role in the explanation, new study suggests.

Junk RNA key to maintaining muscle quality?

miRNA, which was once regarded as useless DNA, turns out to be crucial for muscle cell development. Scientists unveil altered expression levels of muscle-specific miRNAs and speculate that this alteration could be one of the underlying mechanisms behind age-related loss of muscle function, revealing possible new perspectives for treatment.

A new angle on cognitive failures

The ability to pay attention to our surroundings is associated with the levels of the GABA neurotransmitter in the visual parts of the brain, new study reveals.

Adults tested for ADHD symptoms in huge study

In the largest ever study of ADHD symptoms in adults, 85,000 blood donors will help scientists figure out if the disorder is hereditary.

Bedroom air filtration improves elderly health

Tiny particles can affect the heart and lungs of elderly people. A new project shows that installing an air particle filter in the bedroom can improve health in polluted homes.

Can we avoid animal testing entirely?

Scientists are working flat out to find alternatives to animal testing. QSAR computer models are looking promising.

Secret mission of microscopic drones revealed

Vaccinations of cattle and sheep against insect-borne diseases cost society millions each year. Danish researcher sheds new light on how the little bloodsucking creatures spread disease.

Colon cancer screenings turn away from faeces

Scientists seek to provide better colon cancer screenings by analysing blood samples instead of faeces.

Head injury can cause mental illness

If you suffer a head trauma, your risk of developing certain mental disorders increases significantly – in some cases by more than 400 percent, new study reveals.

Study explains why H1N1 flu can cause narcolepsy

New study explains why many people were affected by narcolepsy during the swine flu epidemic in 2009. The discovery may lead to improved diagnoses and better treatment.

Prostate cancer risk starts in childhood

Is it possible to predict whether a child will develop cancer in adulthood? It sounds unlikely, but a new study indicates that tall boys have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer when they grow up.

Overweight children more likely to get liver cancer

Comprehensive new study finds a correlation between childhood body size during school ages and the risk of developing primary liver cancer as adults.

Positive publication bias in cancer screening trials

There are cases where major cancer screenings damage people’s health, but these cases are only rarely featured in the scientific evaluation of the screening programmes, according to a new literature review.

Computer model mimics mechanism behind pressure ulcers

OPINION: Danish scientists are trying to uncover why pressure ulcers occur. This is done with computer models and lab tests in which cells are exposed to mechanical stress.

Sudden cardiac death risk can now be measured

Scientists can now measure the risk that patients with a hereditary coronary disease have of suffering sudden cardiac death.

Jobs with heavy lifting lead to preterm births

Pregnant women significantly increase the risk of preterm birth if they lift heavy things on the job, a study of 62,000 women shows.

Old concrete can purify rainwater

Strange as it may sound, concrete from your old bathroom can help make our environment greener. This is because concrete has a great ability to bind phosphorus, say the scientists behind a new project.

New centre will improve treatment of traumatised refugees

OPINION: A new competence centre for transcultural psychiatry will integrate research with the treatment of traumatised refugees.

Adrenal tumours linked to high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be caused by adrenal tumors triggering hormone overload.

Arthritic kids feel pain even after successful treatment

Some children with arthritis experience pain on a daily basis even after successful treatment of the disease. Why is it that the pain doesn’t always go away when the disease does?

Exercise does not work wonders for everyone

Some people can lose weight and gain muscle without improving their ability to regulate blood sugar, new study reveals.

Soccer is as effective as blood pressure drugs

Regular soccer training improves cardiac function, increases exercise capacity and lowers blood pressure in men with type 2 diabetes, new study shows.

Food allergy may arise through our skin

People with dry and fragile skin often suffer from food allergies, new study suggests.

Nanoparticle may boost blood clot drugs

Danish chemists have set out to create a special nanoparticle that can detect and eliminate atherosclerosis before it turns into a blood clot.

Parkinson’s spreads faster than we thought

The brain of a Parkinson’s patient is damaged at an early stage, even when the symptoms are mild, new study finds.

Cause of depression still eludes us, says neuroscientist

Almost 500.000 Danes suffer from depression. We don't know why they are sick and we give them medicine to treat symptoms not causes, says neuroscientist.

Scientist: Antidepressants cause addiction

A Danish meta-analysis claims antidepressants lead to addiction but the study’s result is met with serious reservations.

Mysterious illness clogs up the vagina

Vaginismus is a rare and frustrating disorder that makes it almost impossible for women to engage in vaginal penetration. A new book may help those affected.

Reduce PFC exposure and rescue childhood vaccines

To ensure that childhood vaccines work, we need to reduce our exposure to harmful PFC substances. The maximum daily intake should even be reduced dramatically, new data shows.

Red clover eases menopausal discomfort

Women who take red clover extracts every day experience fewer hot flashes and hormonal fluctuations and less osteoporosis than those who receive no treatment.

Special genes suspected to cause lethal overdose in drug addicts

Forensic scientists investigate genes from dead and living drug addicts on suspicion of link between overdose risk and minor variations in the genes.

Slim and healthy people also get type 2 diabetes

Researchers have found a way of dividing type 2 diabetes patients into subgroups. Surprisingly, only one in four patients goes through what is considered the most common course of the disease.

Miscarriages increase risk of serious blood clots

Suffering a miscarriage or a stillbirth increases a woman’s risk of clogged arteries around her heart, brain or kidney, says new study. But there’s no cause for panic, says researcher.

Diet soda and no fish can harm mother and baby

Artificial sweeteners and a diet poor in fish may harm the pregnant woman and her baby.

Gene defect causes type 1 diabetes

A defect in a certain gene can cause diabetes. This discovery could lead to new and improved treatment for type 1 diabetes patients.

Sedatives turn fish into unsociable gluttons

Drug residues in the waterways can have unexpected consequences for our ecosystems, say Swedish researchers after exposing perch to anti-anxiety drugs.

Our intestinal bacteria have national characteristics

The bacteria in our intestines are different depending on which country we live in. By examining national differences, researchers can learn more about why bacterial interference in our intestinal flora appear to trigger type 2 diabetes in some people.