Tag Archives: play

Vitamin D appears to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates

Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience severe complications, including death After studying global data from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, researchers have discovered a strong correlation between severe vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates. Led by Northwestern University, the research team conducted a statistical analysis of data from hospitals and clinics… Read More »

Mysterious tuft cells found to play role in pancreatitis

Persistent inflammation of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis) is a known risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer, the third-deadliest cancer in the United States. Tuft cells — cells sensitive to chemical (chemosensory) changes typically found in the intestines and respiratory tract — had previously been discovered in the pancreas, but their function has largely remained a… Read More »

Infants' advances in speech processing play role in language-cognition link

A new Northwestern University study provides the first evidence that infants’ increasingly precise perceptual tuning to the sounds of their native language sets constraints on the range of human languages they will link to cognition. According to the researchers, this reveals that as early as 3 to 4 months, infants’ advances in speech processing play… Read More »

Google Is Quietly Infiltrating Medicine — But What Rules Will It Play By?

By MICHAEL L. MILLENSON  With nearly 80 percent of internet users searching online for health-related information, it’s no wonder the catchphrase “Dr. Google” has caught on, to the delight of many searchers and the dismay of many real doctors. What’s received little attention from physicians or the public is the company’s quiet metamorphosis into a powerhouse focused on the… Read More »