Author: healthtost

Countable Labs, the creator of Countable PCR, a breakthrough single-molecule PCR technology that is redefining the way science measures biology, announced a collaboration agreement with Promega, a leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to the life sciences industry. The deal brings together Promega Maxwell’s capabilities® Nucleic acid extraction system and quantitative PCR instruments for complete, unbiased DNA and RNA extraction and quantification, combining products and expertise to offer customers a complete, practical and easy-to-use solution for DNA and RNA quantification. The combined workflow leverages Promega Maxwell® System, a reliable, fast and simple automated bench-top nucleic acid extraction instrument…

I get emails every day from people who are changing their lives for the better by following the guidelines I outline in Mark’s Daily Apple. Many are looking for more than what Primal Blueprint has to offer. That is, they want a comprehensive analysis of the elements that make up the Blueprint — a Primal primer, if you will.In this extended article, you will find the basic building blocks needed to discover the Primal side of your life.What does this mean?It means learning and understanding what it means to be human.It means you use this knowledge to help you make…

With the arrival of good weather, something almost ritualistic happens: we leave our coats, and dresses, shorts and skirts reappear… along with the shame of cellulite. This “orange peel skin” is present in 80% to 98% of women starting at puberty (regardless of size, age or lifestyle) while it only occurs in about 10% of men. Understanding how cellulite works will allow you to decide what to do with your body without guilt or pressure, based on information rather than judgment. This article explains why it occurs, what factors make it worse, and what habits actually help improve its appearance…

Ashlie Holladay shares the incredible journey that led to the birth of her triplets after months of infertility, surgery to remove a blocked fallopian tube, and the surprise of a spontaneous pregnancy. What began as heartbreaking news at a fertility clinic became a story of hope, healing and three tiny miracles.Ashlie discusses her Tri-Tri (trichorionic trimester) triplet pregnancy, working closely with her maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and how she unexpectedly became a candidate for a vaginal triplet birth. She also shares her induction with Pitocin, getting an epidural, giving birth to two sets of babies, and the trip to the NICU…

There is a period of time in which adequate physical activity can help mediate some of the damage caused by eating an unhealthy meal. I have discussed related studies before demonstration A single meal high in saturated fat can damage artery function in men, as measured in the arm, but what’s more concerning is blood flow to the heart wall. Researchers randomized men to eat either a high-fat meal that was more than 60% fat, half saturated, with more cholesterol than an egg, or a low-fat meal that was mostly carbohydrates, less than 10% fat, and had 50 times less…

In people with severely damaged immune systems, JC can cause an untreatable, usually fatal brain disease. Now, an international research team examining the viral capsid has identified binding sites for neutralizing antibodies. these sites could be used to stop JC polyomavirus infection. Led by Professor Thilo Stehle of the Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Tübingen, the study also involved researchers from Brown University in the United States and Universitätsspital Zürich. These new insights into the interactions between JC polyomaviruses and the human immune system lay the foundation for the development of treatments and vaccines. The study has…

It’s July Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. At 36, Chajuana Mayes had reached her limit. She had moved to a new state with her daughters and new husband and was struggling to balance the expectations of mother and wife while holding down two jobs and taking care of the home. She also dealt with guilt – she had taken her daughters away from their fathers and worried about how they would cope. Mayes said she began binge eating and drinking to manage the stress, leading to excessive weight gain, other physical health problems and exhaustion.”Every day I…

There is no shortage of debate about what may contribute to autism. Vaccines have been repeatedly studied and ruled out as a cause, while researchers continue to look at other possible effects, including acetaminophen use during pregnancy and exposure to chemicals found in plastics. Now, a major new study adds another question to the debate: Could some commonly prescribed drugs affect fetal brain development when taken during pregnancy? The researchers looked at health records from more than six million children and their mothers, focusing on drugs that may interfere with the body’s cholesterol-making pathway – a process that plays an…

If your energy depends on coffee, it may be time to look deeperMany people start their day with a cup of coffee and don’t think twice about it. In fact, for many of us, caffeine is more of a necessity than a choice. If you’re reaching for a second or third cup before noon or relying on caffeinated beverages to get you through the afternoon, your body may be trying to tell you something.While caffeine can temporarily increase alertness and reduce feelings of fatigue, it does not create energy. It simply stimulates the nervous system and blocks adenosine, a chemical…

Daily smartphone voice recordings revealed subtle changes from the very first day of an asthma or COPD flare, highlighting a promising new approach to remote monitoring that could one day enable early intervention and improve patient care. Study: Voice as a biomarker for the early detection of exacerbations in asthma and COPD: the TACTICAS study. Image credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic and painful, often disabling conditions, with frequent exacerbations. Early detection of exacerbations can allow early treatment, potentially improving outcomes. A recent study published in the journal ERJ Open Research found that voice changes…