Dr Ryner Lai (MBBS) is a medical graduate from Queen Mary, University of London. He is a medical writer who is passionate about the power of medical research to transform the lives of patients.
Researchers discovered that multiple sclerosis (MS) prodromal symptoms may yield important indications on the course of the disease and the eventual level of disability, and published their findings in Medical Hypotheses. MS often presents in early childhood. The type and severity of symptoms are thought to be dependent on the site and size of the…
Ghanaian researchers have discovered that malaria can induce vaso-occlusive crises in patients with sickle cell disease, requiring them to receive prompt treatment to prevent further clinical deterioration, according to a study published in PLoS One. Sickle cell disease is a particularly pressing problem in Ghana, affecting about 5000 newborns per year. From 2013 to 2014,…
Researchers discovered that therapies targeting the signaling of bile acids represent a promising and effective strategy to treat complex liver disorders, as published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. The incidence of liver disease has risen sharply over the last few years. Liver disease encompasses a wide range of diagnoses, from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to hepatitis…
Researchers have discovered that SMYD2, an oncogene, aggravates and accelerates gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and published their findings in Cell Death Discovery. Around 1 in 5 patients with GISTs present with metastasis at diagnosis, usually to the liver or throughout the serosa of the abdomen. Studies show that patients with GISTs typically demonstrate high resistance…
Researchers have discovered that plasma-derived factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (FVIII/VWF) complex demonstrates greater protection against the formation of inhibitors than isolated FVIII in patients with hemophilia, as published in Haemophilia. One of the most severe complications of FVIII replacement therapy is the formation of neutralizing autoantibodies. Studies show that around 1 in 4 patients with…
Researchers discovered that patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) tend to have multiple comorbidities, which is associated with poorer survival, even in patients receiving antifibrotic therapy, as published in Respiratory Research. Patients with IPF often struggle with a high disease burden and experience pulmonary and extrapulmonary comorbidities. These commodities can be caused by risk factors…