By Alice Klein A quarter of emergency caesareans are performed because of reduced blood flow to the fetusstaticnak1983/Getty Images Taking Viagra during the very first stages of labour halves the need for an emergency caesarean, a clinical trial has found. During labour, contractions reduce blood flow to the placenta, meaning some babies don’t get enough… Read More »
(Reuters) – Ardelyx Inc said on Tuesday its experimental drug succeeded in regulating elevated blood phosphate levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a late-stage study. The treatment, tenapanor, showed a greater difference in serum phosphorus levels compared to placebo, the company said. Elevated phosphorus levels are common in CKD patients, especially those… Read More »
Because even small amounts of fetal exposure to alcohol have been associated with a constellation of adverse effects, women who are pregnant are counselled to avoid all consumption of alcohol. Women who are pregnant or planning to conceive are highly motivated and often make fairly significant changes in their health behaviors; however, we have seen… Read More »
Is bark best for burns? Jim Brandenburg/ Minden Pictures/Getty By Alice Klein A naturally-occurring chemical in birch bark helps skin wounds mend faster with less scarring, a clinical trial has found. The bark of birch trees has long been known for its healing properties. This inspired German pharmaceutical company Birken AG – now owned by… Read More »
A recent study has put the Mediterranean diet to the test once more, attempting to unpick the molecular mechanisms that produce its benefits. More good news for advocates of the Mediterranean diet. Inspired by the traditional eating patterns of people from Greece, Italy, and Spain, the Mediterranean diet can seemingly do no wrong. In a… Read More »