Alzheimer’s disease (AD) almost certainly begins to develop before cognitive decline in an individual becomes apparent, which is why an increasing amount of research focuses on trying to prevent onset of the disease. By testing the effectiveness of therapies in people who are either symptom-free or have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) –… Read more »
Neglected tropical diseases, increasingly under the spotlight of the media, affect up to two billion individuals across the globe with developing world areas such as sub-Saharan Africa particularly at risk. Whilst funding for tackling these diseases has increased exponentially, there is still a need for further investment to ensure that sustained progress is made in… Read more »
The first Joint Colloquium of the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations, held last week in Keystone, Colorado, gave members of these two scientific communities the opportunity to identify new ways of working together. The collaborations differ in their scientific focus – Cochrane concentrate on health while Campbell are interested in social care – but both set out to prepare, maintain… Read more »
Angiogenesis is a key process involved in the progression of many pathological diseases, such as cancer and vascular disease. There is increasing interest in this field of research as understanding the role of angiogenesis in disease may lead to new treatments. A recent article series titled ‘Angiogenesis and nonmedical interventions’, published in Journal of Angiogenesis… Read more »
Becoming ever more firmly embedded in the social psyche, conditions such as antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, dissocial personality disorder and sociopathy have generally been associated with recidivism and dangerousness whilst also used as a criterion to exclude patients from treatment services. Although currently framed in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of… Read more »
The peer-review process, its merits and pitfalls are perennially popular topics among researchers, especially now when there are more papers and funding applications than ever before. Managing the process is becoming increasingly unwieldy for all concerned – the applicants, peer reviewers and the funding bodies. Many problems with the grant-review process are reported anecdotally but… Read more »
The Internet is a conduit leading to an ever more inter-connected world, enabling millions of users instant access to vast repositories of information, enhancing opportunities for social networking and commercial ventures alike. However, the proliferation of internet use may be viewed as a double-edged sword, with the rise in internet access being linked to a… Read more »
Improved healthcare and nutrition are leading to ever longer lifespans, and most people at some point will have personal experience with being in the situation of trying to decide what is best for their ill loved one, or helping them decide what plans they want to make about their end of life care. Such experiences… Read more »
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a major cause of disability and reduction in quality of life. The disease is characterised by progressive degradation of articular cartilage, mainly in the knee, hips and hands, leading to loss of joint mobility and function accompanied by chronic pain. Despite many recent developments in… Read more »
What’s in a name? This famous Shakespeare quote would have us believe that names can be irrelevant, and in some contexts they can be. However, let’s face it, scientists like to name things, and they can’t always agree on what any particular thing should be called. In addition, names are often given based on certain… Read more »