EU-funded scientists have discovered that the presence of low levels of a type of antibody in the immune system increases the chance of having a stroke, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The finding, published in the journal Stroke, signals hope the development of a vaccine that can activate the body's natural defences against the condition.
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Older allergy drugs may be dangerous
The older generation of H1-antihistamines that are used as allergy medicines may be dangerous to people's health, says a new report published in the journal Allergy. Compiled by experts from the EU-funded Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the report questions whether H1 antihistamines should still be available over the counter.
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The Internet Has More Influence Over Consumer Health Actions than Traditional DTC Channels
The Internet has considerably more influence over consumer health decisions and actions than traditional channels like print, TV and radio, according to pharmaceutical and healthcare market research company Manhattan Research's latest report, "Health Influence Mapping: Benchmarking the Influence of Various Sources on Consumer Health Actions."
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Researchers find DNA-obesity link
Around 7 in every 1000 morbidly obese people are missing a section of their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that contains around 30 genes, say the results of an EU-funded project published in the journal Nature. The authors of the study, from Imperial College London (ICL) in the UK and 10 other European research centres, suggest that the missing DNA may have a dramatic effect on the weight of the affected people.
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European Physician Adoption of Advanced Mobile Activities is Increasing
As mobile devices become more advanced, European physicians are turning to them for a number of uses in their professional practice, according to a recent study by Manhattan Research. About half of online European physicians check email on their mobile devices while nearly four in ten search on a mobile web browser.
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Research team corrects mistake on protein linked with cancer
A previously held belief about the behaviour of a human protein that is linked to the formation of cancer is being challenged. The study in question, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, will lead to new research into ways to prevent the protein from 'turning on' genes that are involved in the process of abnormal cell production.
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European Physicians Want Information about Company's Patient Education Sites
About three-quarters of online European physicians want sales representatives to let them know about their company's patient education websites so they can recommend them to their patients, according to the Taking the Pulse® Europe v9.0 study from pharmaceutical and healthcare market research company Manhattan Research. The study looks at the online activities and behaviors of physicians in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
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