There may be a link between hearing impairment and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s according to research led by Lancaster University.

This is one of the first studies to examine whether sensory impairments, such as hearing loss, might increase the risk for Parkinson’s or serve as an early warning sign.

Parkinson's UK reports that an estimated 153,000 people in the UK currently live with Parkinson's, which is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world.

Epigenetic modifiers, enzymes that catalyze covalent modifications on chromatin, play a pivotal role in establishing stable states for gene expression and cellular identity. Mutations in these modifiers have been linked to a variety of human diseases, including developmental disorders and cancers, highlighting the importance of understanding how these mutations impact the functions of epigenetic modifiers in development and disease. Recent findings suggest that some epigenetic modifiers may have noncatalytic functions, independent of their catalytic activities, which raises questions about the determinants of their dependency on catalytic activity and the implications for chromatin modifications. In this context, a comment by Chen et al. provides valuable insights into the catalytic and noncatalytic functions of the histone methyltransferase SETD2, a protein responsible for histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) and frequently mutated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Painful skin and trouble sleeping are among the problems reported when tapering cortisone cream for atopic eczema. This has been shown by a study headed by the University of Gothenburg. Many users consider the problems to be caused by cortisone dependence.

Welcoming a newborn is something many couples dream of doing, but it can get complicated when conceiving becomes a roadblock. Infertility affects one in six people, but obesity can also be a problem. When diet and exercise aren’t enough to lose weight, bariatric surgery can become an option. Yet a new national survey by Orlando Health finds that 56% of Americans do not know that bariatric surgery is an effective way to improve fertility. 

An Osaka Metropolitan University researcher conducted a survey on the use of private wells during the 2018 Western Japan floods in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, which was affected by water supply disruptions.