New research has found that a natural chemical may alleviate symptoms of ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to findings published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. During a recent trial, rats were genetically altered to show signs of the digestive disease, and then injected with prostaglandin D2, the newly discovered compound.

Young adults who are considered obese may be more likely to suffer from psoriatic arthritis, according to a study published in Archives of Dermatology. Psoriatic arthritis is a joint condition that affects the fingers or toes and leads to stiffness and pain. Individuals who develop psoriasis, a skin-related disease, could have a higher risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.

Young people with high cholesterol may be more likely to develop coronary heart disease, according to findings published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. During a 20-year study conducted at the University of California in San Francisco, more than 3,200 individuals aged 18 to 30 had their cholesterol measured. The researchers also used commuted axial tomography (CT) scans to examine each participant’s coronary artery calcium, which is plaque that accumulates in the arteries.

Prostate cancer patients may have an increased risk of suffering from bone mineral content (BMC) loss compared to men who are cancer-free, according to findings published in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI). Individuals who develop lower levels of BMC can also have an increased risk of suffering from bone fractures and osteoporosis. A total of 519 participants with an average age of 56 were enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study in which researchers observed BMC over the course of 11 years.

The use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may prevent brain aneurysms in post-menopausal women, according to findings presented at the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery annual meeting. Previous trials have found that women who have already experienced menopause are among the most common high-risk populations.

Incorporating walking into one’s exercise regimen may help prevent cognitive degeneration, according to findings published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

Smoking cigarettes may be considered a cause of colon cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute. While smoking has been linked to the increased risk of being diagnosed with this disease, little is known about how it may cause colon cancer. After analyzing data collected during the Iowa Women’s Health Study, a team of researchers surveyed more than 98,000 women aged 55 to 69 about their smoking habits.

Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who display signs of depression may have a higher risk of developing heart problems, according to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. During a recent trial, researchers surveyed more than 2,000 men about their sexual health. While interviewing the participants, the investigators also monitored the men for depression-related symptoms.

Healthcare officials have announced that New Earth BioMed, a nonprofit organization, will launch a new research program specializing in studying cancer therapies derived from plants. Currently, an estimated 77 percent of U.S. cancer treatments and medications contain nutrient-based compounds or component derivatives.

A new study has found that the caffeine in coffee may help protect against developing diabetes, according to the findings that were published in this month’s American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Previous studies using animals have proven that consuming coffee could lower the risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Using two groups of mice, a team of researchers gave the animals either water or coffee.

Older women who are overweight may be more susceptible to suffering from memory problems, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

Alternative methods of treating vision diseases may reduce the risk of blindness in type 2 diabetes patients, according to findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Men who avoid treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) may be putting themselves at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in The Journal for Sexual Medicine.

A sinus-related health problem may be linked to the deaths of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest while sleeping, according to findings published in the journal, Circulation Research.

Patients who have a history of blood clots may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in Neuron. This is because researchers have discovered that blood clots that have formed abnormally may speed up the degeneration of cognitive function. In particular, studies have found cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)—a peptide in blood vessel walls located in the brain that causes unusual development of blood clots—may increase a patient’s chance of Alzheimer’s.