Scientists from Newcastle University found a significant increase in extreme rainfall events in Scotland and Northern England over the past 40 years. The probability of such events increased by four times in Scotland and two times in Northern England, posing a major threat to flood risk management.
A new drug has been shown to improve blood flow in diseased arteries by reactivating a damaged enzyme, reducing the risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks. The discovery is a significant development for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and aims to challenge orthodox thinking on heart health.
A study published in Nature Medicine has found that certain non-biological drugs can dramatically reduce tissue inflammation by inducing apoptosis in inflammatory cells. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for patients with lung and joint diseases, including fibrosing alveolitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Scientists at EMBL have discovered that beta-catenin plays a central role in determining whether blood cells form or not, and that an overactive Wingless pathway can lead to leukemia and other diseases. The study provides new insights into the processes within cells that lead to cancer.
A study of over 68,000 patients in 44 countries found that Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners have the highest rates of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from these conditions. The analysis suggests that cardiovascular disease is no longer exclusive to Western, industrialized world.