CAR-T therapy may be effective against some solid tumors, research suggests

The AP (3/31, Marchione) reports researchers found that CAR-T therapy “is showing early signs of promise against some solid tumors,” according to research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference. CAR-T therapy has been shown to be effective against certain blood cancers, but this latest research suggests it could also be effective against a wider range of cancers.

Most common triggers of atrial fibrillation are avoidable behaviors

Reuters (3/29, Mishra) reported, “The most common triggers of atrial fibrillation – an irregular heart rhythm that’s a leading cause of stroke – are avoidable behaviors like drinking alcohol or coffee,” research indicated. After surveying “1,295 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AFib,” investigators “found the most common behaviors that triggered episodes of the arrhythmia were alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption and exercise.” The findings were published online in the journal Heart Rhythm.

Survey suggests younger patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed at later stages

CNN (3/30, Howard) reports on a study to be presented at a cancer research meeting, based on surveys of 1,195 colorectal cancer patients and survivors age 20 to 49, finding that “the majority of survey respondents, 57%, were diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 49; a third were diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 39; about 10% were diagnosed before age 30.” It also found that while “most colorectal cancer patients older than 50 are diagnosed in the early stages of disease,” most of those surveyed (71%) “said they were diagnosed at the advanced stages of 3 and 4.”

People with certain factors for heart disease may also be more likely to develop dementia

Reuters (3/29, Rapaport) reported, “People who have risk factors for heart disease like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity may also be more likely to develop structural changes in the brain that can lead to dementia,” researchers concluded after having “examined data on 9,772 adults, ages 44 to 79, who all had at least one MRI brain scan and provided general health information and medical records for the analysis.” The findings were published online in the European Heart Journal.