Guardian Health
Iran war pushing up till price of some drugs by up to 30%, pharmacies warn
The cost of common medicines including paracetamol, aspirin, and hay fever treatments has surged by up to 30% at pharmacies across England since February, with the Iran war disrupting global pharmaceutical supply chains. The National Pharmacy Association reports that some strengths of aspirin and co-codamol are now running out entirely. The shortages and price hikes are hitting everyday consumers at the counter, with no clear timeline for stabilization.
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Autoantibody map uncovers body-wide immune attacks across Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and MS
A sweeping analysis of nearly 600 blood samples has revealed that Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis trigger autoimmune attacks far beyond the brain, implicating targets across multiple organ systems. Researchers at the University of São Paulo mapped autoantibody patterns that expose a systemic dimension to neurodegeneration long underestimated by the field. The findings suggest that treating these diseases may require a whole-body approach rather than one focused solely on the central nervous system.
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This routine heart scan sees the danger coming long before symptoms strike
Researchers at Kumamoto University have found that combining two markers from a standard cardiac CT scan can predict a patient's risk of heart failure and death before any symptoms emerge. The discovery transforms an already common diagnostic tool into a powerful forecasting instrument, requiring no additional procedures or equipment. For health systems focused on prevention, the implications are significant — earlier identification means earlier intervention.
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Overlooked brain damage sets off a chain reaction that could change how neurodegeneration is fought
White matter damage in the brain may be a hidden driver of neurodegenerative disease, according to new Cambridge research published in Nature. The findings challenge the long-held assumption that conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's originate primarily from changes to gray matter. The discovery opens a significant new front in the fight against neurodegeneration, potentially reshaping both diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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Catching cancer's earliest moments: How mutated cells transform their local environment so a tumor can develop
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have discovered that mutated lung cells actively manipulate their surrounding healthy tissue to create conditions favorable for tumor growth. Rather than acting alone, these rogue cells recruit support from neighboring normal cells, effectively building an infrastructure for cancer before a tumor fully forms. The findings offer a potential new window for early detection and intervention by targeting this environmental transformation before cancer takes hold.
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