A brain protein that could put the brakes on Alzheimer's

Biologists blazing new approaches to studying Alzheimer's have made a major finding on combating inflammation linked to the disease. The researchers' discovery about the role of a protein called TOM-1 heralds a shift toward examining the molecular underpinnings of Alzheimer's processes.

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Genetic markers linked to the start of symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Researchers have identified a group of genetic variants related to the starting point of Parkinson's disease. These results, published in the journal Movement Disorders, will enable delimiting the research on new therapeutic targets, and could have implications in the diagnosis of the disease.

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'Relaxed' enzymes may be at the root of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Treatments have been hard to pinpoint for a rare neurological disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth, in part because so many variations of the condition exist. So far, mutations on more than 90 genes have been positively linked to the disorder; a patient needs just one of those mutations for the disease to emerge. Scientists just moved a step closer to finding a possible root cause.

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African child deaths could be prevented by improving environmental quality and reducing population

Children under 5 years of age in Africa are much more likely to die as a direct result of poor health linked to air pollution, unsafe water, lack of sanitation, increased family size, and environmental degradation, according to the first continent-wide investigation of its kind. An international team of researchers have analysed data to break down the correlation between increased child mortality, environmental degradation,and population density of all countries across the African continent.

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Immune therapy eliminates tumor cells in early triple negative breast cancer

Immune therapy added to chemotherapy improves pathological complete response in patients with early triple negative breast cancer, according to new results from the KEYNOTE-522 trial. Interim results from the study, which is the first phase III trial of immunotherapy in early breast cancer, also indicated an improvement in event-free survival.

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Three-in-one inhaler therapy can improve lung function and reduce asthma attacks

Patients with severe asthma which is not controlled with standard treatment — leaving them at risk of severe asthma attacks — could benefit from using a single inhaler combining three, instead of 2 therapies, according to two phase 3 randomized controlled trials with over 2,500 patients across 17 countries.

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