Allergy News

1. Scientists discover a common sugar may help cancer cells break free and spread

   Scientists have uncovered a surprising way that fructose, a sugar commonly found in sweetened foods and drinks, may help aggressive ovarian cancer spread. Researchers discovered that cancer cells surviving chemotherapy release fructose that weakens the bonds holding neighboring tumor cells together, making it easier for cancer to spread. High dietary fructose levels and cholesterol-lowering statins also produced concerning effects in preclinical experiments.

2. Energy drinks linked to 11 times more reports of cardiac arrest

   A new study found that energy drinks and stimulant supplements were linked to disproportionately frequent reports of serious heart problems, including 11 times more reports of cardiac arrest and 4.5 times more reports of heart attacks. Young adults accounted for nearly half of the cardiovascular reports involving these products, raising concerns about their potential risks despite the study being unable to prove causation.

3. Even occasional marijuana use linked to 40% higher odds of stroke

   New research involving more than 440,000 Americans links cannabis use to increased cardiovascular risk, with occasional users showing 40% higher odds of reporting a history of stroke. The findings suggest that even infrequent marijuana use may warrant concern, although researchers have not established that cannabis directly causes strokes or heart disease.

4. Why heart attacks can still happen even when bad cholesterol is low

   Even when bad cholesterol is brought down to healthy levels, some people remain at risk of heart attacks, and scientists may have discovered why. Researchers identified two types of fat-carrying particles that appear to promote inflammation and damage blood vessels through mechanisms beyond cholesterol buildup.

5. Cancer-fighting chewing gum slashes HPV levels by up to 93%

   A surprising new weapon against microbes linked to head and neck cancer could be as simple as chewing gum. Scientists developed a bioengineered gum that reduced HPV levels by up to 93% in oral samples from cancer patients and nearly eliminated two harmful bacterial species after a single dose of its extract. Even more promising, the treatment spared beneficial bacteria in the mouth.

6. Stronger flu shot linked to nearly 55% lower Alzheimer's risk

   A surprising new study suggests that a stronger flu shot could offer older adults significantly greater protection against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at UTHealth Houston analyzed nearly 200,000 adults ages 65 and older and found that those who received a high-dose influenza vaccine had a nearly 55% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's, compared with a 40% reduction previously associated with the standard-dose vaccine.

7. Major trial challenges how doctors decide who really needs statins

   A study of nearly 5,800 adults found that heart scans measuring calcium buildup in the arteries led to the same observed rate of major cardiovascular events as traditional risk assessments, despite recommending statins to far fewer patients. Surprisingly, patients advised to take statins based on their scans were nearly three times as likely to stick with their medication, raising intriguing questions about how doctors should identify and treat heart disease risk.

8. Scientists wipe out deadly brain tumors in every mouse tested with new cancer therapy

   Scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a powerful new cancer therapy that remains inactive until it reaches the brain, where it switches on to attack deadly tumors. The engineered immune cells, called B-SYNC CAR-T cells, completely eliminated diffuse midline glioma (DMG), an aggressive childhood brain cancer that is almost always fatal within a year, in two mouse models.