Author Archives: Rocio Gallegos, MD

COVID-19 Can Cause the Body to Attack Itself

Muscle soreness and achy joints are common symptoms among COVID-19 patients. But for some people, symptoms are more severe, long lasting and even bizarre, including rheumatoid arthritis flares, autoimmune myositis or “COVID toes.” A new Northwestern Medicine study has, for the first time, confirmed and illustrated the causes of these symptoms through radiological imaging. “We’ve […]

Air Pollution from Oil and Gas Production Contributes to Thousands of Early Deaths and Childhood Asthma Cases

Despite global efforts to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, oil and gas (O&G) production is nearing record levels in the United States, posing concern among health experts about what this O&G growth means for air quality and human health.  A new study found that air pollution from the oil and gas sector in […]

Study Links Nutrients, Brain Structure, and Cognition to Healthy Aging

In a new study, scientists explored the links between three measures known to independently predict healthy aging: nutrient intake, brain structure and cognitive function. The study found that blood markers of two saturated fatty acids, along with certain omega-6, -7 and -9 fatty acids, correlated with better scores on tests of memory and with larger […]

Men and Women Process Pain Signals Differently

Although it has long been known that women and men experience pain differently, most pain research uses male rodents. The new study is unique because it used female and male spinal cord tissue from both rats and humans. By examining the spinal cord tissue in the laboratory, the researchers were able to show that a […]

Antidepressant Agent KNT-127 Reduces Stress as Well as Depression

Depression due to psychological stress affects millions of people worldwide. However, most of the existing antidepressant drugs are slow, prone to development of resistance, and have severe side effects, demanding the need for more effective treatment options. Delta opioid receptors (DOPs) are known to play a key role in the development of depression and similar […]

Obesity Turning Arthritic Joint Cells into Pro-Inflammatory Conditions

In a new study researchers from the University of Birmingham have found that specific cells in the joint lining tissue (synovium) of patients with osteoarthritis are being changed due to factors associated with obesity. The newly published study  observed that in cells taken from biopsies of arthritic joints, obesity changes the environment within the joint […]

New Technology to Select Healthier Sperm for IVF Success

Approximately one in six people worldwide is affected by infertility, according to the World Health Organization. With a 78% failure rate, each IVF cycle can be an emotional rollercoaster that often ends in heartbreak. “While much work has been done around selecting eggs and embryos to boost the success rates of IVF, sperm selection, an […]

New Form of Omega-3 Could Prevent Visual Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease

The DHA found in fish oil capsules and other supplements is typically in a form called triacylglycerol DHA. Although TAG-DHA has benefits in other parts of the body, it does not reach the eyes because it cannot travel from the bloodstream into the retina. For the study, researchers created a new lysophospholipid form of DHA, […]

New Light on How IBD Can Develop

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, describes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two chronic diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines. IBD is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues. The intestinal epithelium, made up of a layer of cells that lines the intestine, plays an important role in IBD because […]

Slowing Down in Your Old Age May Be a Dementia Warning Sign

It’s generally accepted that we will lose muscle strength and slow down as we age, making it more difficult to perform simple tasks such as getting up, walking and sitting down. But new Edith Cowan University  research indicates this could also be a signal for another sinister health concern of aging: late-life dementia. To investigate […]