Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Fox News:
High-Salt Diet May Trigger Immune System To Age Blood Vessels, Study Finds
Eating too much salt has long been linked to high blood pressure, but new research suggests it could trick the immune system into prematurely aging the blood vessels. A preclinical study recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has identified a biological chain reaction that links a salty diet to cardiovascular decay. (Quill, 4/21)
CIDRAP:
Researchers Detail Rare Case Of Adrenal Crisis Triggered By Flu-Related Encephalopathy In Teen
A case report today in Pediatrics describes a previously healthy 17-year-old girl with significant encephalopathy later diagnosed as having primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI; Addison disease) as a complication of influenza infection. PAI, which can be caused by an autoimmune process, is suspected in pediatric patients displaying poor growth, poor weight gain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and skin hyperpigmentation. Ill or stressed patients with untreated or undertreated adrenal insufficiency are at risk for adrenal crisis, which can lead to hypotensive shock, lethargy, confusion, coma, and death. (Van Beusekom, 4/22)