Author Archives : Emily Lunardo

West Nile virus (WNV) infection is particularly dangerous for the elderly, raising the numbers of severe cases and even death. The researchers analyzed and compared immune responses to WNV infection in four-month-old and 18-month-old (senior) mice. The researchers found that the senior mice were three times more likely to die after WNV infection, compared to ...click here to read more

Researchers are investigating a possible local transmission of Zika virus in Florida. If confirmed, this would be the first locally transmitted case of Zika virus in the U.S. Earlier speculations suggested that if Zika-infected mosquitoes were to enter the U.S., Florida – along with Louisiana and some other southern states – would be the first ...click here to read more

A new study has found that people can be sensitive to gluten even without having celiac disease. Gluten induces certain changes in their bodies different from the ones characteristic of celiac disease, although there may be some symptom overlap. Senior researcher Armin Alaedini said, “We don’t know what is triggering this response, but this study ...click here to read more

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with early menopause, according to research. The association between CFS and menopause may help explained why CFS is far more common among women than men. Furthermore, being aware of the association may prompt healthcare workers to monitor women who may be at risk for CFS. The study is based ...click here to read more

Arthralgia and arthritis are two conditions that lead to joint pain. Arthralgia actually stems from the Greek term meaning joint pain. The main difference between arthralgia and arthritis is the presence of inflammation. Although both may share many symptoms, if there’s no inflammation, that means you have arthralgia. If inflammation is present along with joint pain, ...click here to read more

Lack of physical activity has been found to rank second after smoking as a predictor of early death, according to new findings. In the study analyzing nearly 800 men beginning at midlife, the Swedish researchers found that an increase in physical fitness led to a 21 percent increase in longevity over the course of a ...click here to read more

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment with steroid therapy (glucocorticoid) raises the risk of diabetes, which increases with higher dosages and longer duration. Glucocorticoid, or steroid, therapy is prescribed to nearly half of rheumatoid arthritis patients, but it is a known risk factor for the development of diabetes. The researchers looked at the medical records of over 20,000 ...click here to read more

Hives – also known as urticaria – is an outbreak of swollen, pale, or red bumps on the skin. Common causes of hives include allergies, stress, or a reaction to other environmental or occupational factors. Aside from raised bumps on the skin, hives can be irritating and cause itchiness, burning, or stinging, which can occur ...click here to read more