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New research presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12–15 May), and published in the International Journal of Obesity, could help explain why type 2 diabetes is more common in men than in women. “Previous studies have shown that men develop type 2 diabetes (TD2) at a younger age and at a lower weight than women and, overall, men appear to be at higher risk of the condition,” says lead researcher Dr. Daniel P Andersson, at the Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. Read More
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New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2024) in Venice, Italy (12–15 May) suggests that it is possible to predict if someone is going to gain weight based on the size of their fat cells. Individuals with large fat cells tend to lose weight over time, while those with small fat cells gain weight, the Swedish study found. The size and number of fat cells are known to determine fat mass—how much body fat someone has. But their impact on long-term changes in body weight are Read More
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Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels Measuring the total mass of fat in the arms could potentially predict which women and men over 50 are at risk of spinal fracture, according to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, held 11–14 May, in Stockholm. The findings may help identify high-risk individuals with a more simple and inexpensive method and influence the design of their exercise plans. Osteoporosis is a common disease among older people, but is also among the most undiagnosed and untreated medical conditions in the world. Many Read More
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New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12–15 May) has found that poor muscle health is associated with a higher risk of an early death in people living with obesity. Individuals with adverse muscle composition were up to three times more likely to die during the course of the study than those with healthy muscles, a Swedish study of people in the UK concluded. “We found that just by looking at muscle composition we can predict which individuals with obesity are most likely Read More
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Fezolinetant reduces the frequency and severity of hot flushes during menopause for 24 weeks, without serious side effects, according to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, held 11–14 May, in Stockholm. These findings provide further evidence of the benefits of using this non-hormonal preventative drug in women experiencing hot flushes during menopause. Hot flushes and night sweats, also known as vasomotor symptoms (VMS), affect up to 80% of women going through menopause and can severely impact daily life, exercise and sleep. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the Read More
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Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol during the third trimester of pregnancy may impede intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in boys aged 7 years old, according to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, held 11–14 May, in Stockholm. Surprisingly, cortisol levels in the blood are not associated with IQ scores in girls, but higher urine cortisone levels improved their scores. The findings highlight the important role cortisol plays in fetal development in boys and girls independently. Prenatal exposure to cortisol—a steroid hormone that helps the body respond Read More
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Male rats exposed to moderate and repeated stress during adolescence may have reduced fertility, according to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, held 11-14 May, in Stockholm. This study sheds light on the harmful effects that early-life stress has on health and could help to uncover future prevention strategies for children and adolescents. While hormone levels fluctuate pathologically—especially during life stages such as puberty—stress can cause too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. This hormonal imbalance negatively impacts puberty and the reproduction system, Read More
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Medical diagrams are posted in a hallway of one of the wings of a hospital in Mississippi on Feb. 29, 2024. An analysis released Thursday, May 9, 2024, by the Association of American Medical Colleges found that fewer U.S. medical school graduates are applying to residency programs, but the drop is more striking in states that ban abortion compared with other states. Credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File Fewer U.S. medical school graduates are applying to residency programs, but the drop is more striking in states that ban abortion compared Read More
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Last-ditch talks aimed at striking a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics went into the final hours on Friday with the chances of finalizing a deal looking increasingly unlikely. Shaken by the failures exposed by COVID-19—which killed millions, shredded economies and crippled health systems—countries have spent two years drafting an international accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Despite a common desire for binding commitments aimed at preventing another such disaster, big differences quickly emerged between country blocs on how to go about it. The World Health Organization’s 194 Read More
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According to the data of the Kobe University research team, the HIV substrain dominant in Southeast Asia was brought to Thailand around 1977, from where it started to spread through this part of the world. The virus was brought to Indonesia at least three different times, sometimes via different countries such as Vietnam and Laos. And while it was mostly Thai substrains that spread to other parts of the world, it was an Indonesian substrain that moved on to Iran. Credit: S.Q. Khairunisa et al. The HIV variant dominant in Read More
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Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have shed new light on the changes in metabolism that occur between birth and the presentation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in childhood. The researchers discovered that a small number of biochemical pathways are responsible for the majority of these changes, which could help inform new early detection and prevention strategies for autism. “At birth, the physical appearance and behavior of a child who will develop autism over the next few years are indistinguishable from that of a Read More
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The Sanofi-Novavax vaccine deal is worth up to $1.2 billion. French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi and struggling US rival Novavax announced Friday an alliance to sell a COVID vaccine and develop another that combines with a flu shot. Under a licensing deal worth up to $1.2 billion, the companies will co-commercialize Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, except in some countries including India, Japan and South Korea, where the US firm already has partnership agreements. Novavax will receive an upfront payment of $500 million and up to $700 million if it reachers certain Read More
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Auditory and visual flicker induce a steady-state evoked potential in human sensory regions. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47263-y Biomedical engineer Annabelle Singer has spent the past decade developing a noninvasive therapy for Alzheimer’s disease that uses flickering lights and rhythmic tones to modulate brain waves. Now she has discovered that the technique, known as flicker, also could benefit patients with a host of other neurological disorders, from epilepsy to multiple sclerosis. Previously, Singer and her collaborators demonstrated that the lights and sounds, delivered to patients through goggles and headphones, Read More
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Global distribution and potential introduction events of M1UK and intermediate populations. A Phylogenetic tree of 2364 M1UK and intermediate strains collected globally March 2005 to July 2023. B Simplified transmission tree by PastML showing the ancestral epidemic location of M1UK and intermediate lineages. C Estimated effective population size (Ne) of M1UK in the UK through time. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47929-7 Strep A (Group A Streptococcus) is a common type of bacteria that typically causes throat infections and scarlet fever. While most infections are mild, in rare cases Strep Read More
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A new way to detect bioluminescence in the brain uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The technique, developed at MIT, could enable researchers to explore the inner workings of the brain in more detail than previously possible. Pictured are blood vessels that now appear bright red after transduction with a gene that gives them photosensitivity. Credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scientists often label cells with proteins that glow, allowing them to track the growth of a tumor, or measure changes in gene expression that occur as cells differentiate. While this technique Read More
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Researchers took computed tomography (CT) images of mice with a wireless, battery-free device implanted under the skin of their abdomen, which could measure body temperature and heart and respiratory rates during behavioral tests. Credit: Wei Ouyang, Northwestern University Much of what we know about neurological and psychiatric disorders in humans can be traced back to foundational studies of how animals, such as mice, learn and adapt to various situations. Studying behavioral responses has been enlightening, yet this only tells part of the story. Behaviors are often accompanied by physiological changes—such Read More
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Credit: S?n B?m from Pexels The largest-ever trial of a psychological intervention for patients with motor neuron disease (MND), conducted by researchers at the University of Sheffield and UCL, found that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) improves overall quality of life, when integrated alongside existing care. MND is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease with no cure. It affects motor neurons, which are found in the brain and spinal cord, that help tell your muscles what to do. MND causes these messages to stop reaching the muscles, causing them to weaken, stiffen Read More
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The Round lab has found that microbes that live in the gut influence health and social behavior. Credit: Charlie Ehlert, University of Utah Health Sciences For people with autism, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain often go along with the social struggles and repetitive behaviors that define the condition. This has prompted many to wonder whether gastrointestinal (GI) problems arise due to autism’s behavioral or sensory features, or whether they might instead contribute to them. Now, scientists at University of Utah Health have added to mounting evidence showing that microbes that Read More
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Physics of neutron capture enhanced particle therapy. As ions in the beam traverse tissues proximal to the target, some undergo nuclear interactions with target matter, creating a variety of nuclear fragmentation products, including neutrons, which disperse in the body and thermalize. Credit: International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.02.052 ANSTO researchers have made significant progress on a new approach to cancer treatment Neutron Capture Enhanced Particle Therapy (NCEPT), which has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with deeply situated, diffuse tumors. The results of their study published in Read More
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Common conditions such as indigestion and heartburn as well as peptic ulcers, autoimmune gastritis and stomach and esophageal cancers have one thing in common—they involve disruptions of the normal activity of parietal cells (PCs) in the stomach, the only cells in the body that produce acid. Despite their medical importance, little is known about the molecular and genetic pathways that direct the generation and maturation of PCs from stem cells. Looking to gain new insights into the generation of PCs, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions identified Read More
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Abstract representation of the brain converting sound stimuli into movements. Credit: Hedi Young You hear a phone ring or a dog bark. Is it yours or someone else’s? You hear footsteps in the night—is it your child, or an intruder? Friend or foe? The decision you make will determine what action you take next. Researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation have shed light on what might be going on in our brains during moments like these, and take us a step closer to unraveling the mystery of how the brain translates Read More
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by Yousuf Mohammed, Khanh Phan and Vania Rodrigues Leite E. Silva, The Conversation You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your skin loses its elasticity as you age, they can set in. Here’s what you can do to minimize the chance of them forming in the first place. How side-sleeping affects your face Your skin wrinkles for a number of reasons, including aging, sun damage, smoking, Read More
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You’ve just been given a prescription for a new drug from your doctor. Your doctor told you why she was prescribing the medication, gave you its name and some information about common side-effects. Your pharmacist is also available to help you use the medication properly, but you want more details and general information. You’d also like to know things such as how quickly the drug was approved by Health Canada, whether there have been any recent safety warnings about the drug, how the drug compares to other medications for the Read More
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The last thing anyone wants is for sex to be a headache. For some people, though, an increase in sexual excitement can be a real pain in the neck. Primary headache associated with sexual activity (PHASA) describes at least two bouts of pain in the head or neck brought on by sexual activity. The headache can escalate gradually during sexual activity or it can be an intense headache just before or during orgasm. PHASA can be intense for between a minute to 24 hours or mild for up to three Read More
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Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, both could be treated on a voluntary basis, taking into account their individual needs, preferences and capacity to consent. If not, you might imagine they should be equally likely to receive treatment against their will (known colloquially as being “sectioned” or “scheduled”). However, our research published in British Journal of Psychiatry Open suggests this is not the case. In the largest study globally of its kind, we Read More
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As a new virus takes center stage at the heart of a global outbreak, it’s easy to get flashbacks of March 2020. Now more than four years after the world was rocked by a pandemic, H5N1, or avian or bird flu, has exploded in bird and livestock populations, and at least one human case has been confirmed by health officials. This isn’t the first time. There have been major outbreaks around the world in the recent past, including four from 2014 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control Read More
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Miguel Divo, a lung specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, sits in an exam room across from Joel Rubinstein, who has asthma. Rubinstein, a retired psychiatrist, is about to get a checkup and hear a surprising pitch—for the planet, as well as his health. Divo explains that boot-shaped inhalers, which represent nearly 90% of the U.S. market for asthma medication, save lives but also contribute to climate change. Each puff from an inhaler releases a hydrofluorocarbon gas that is 1,430 to 3,000 times as powerful as the most Read More
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by F. Willis Johnson, The Fulcrum Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental well-being for everyone, but it’s especially critical for those who have borne the brunt of its impacts. Celebrated in May, it’s a time to reflect on practices, challenge stigmas and work towards a society where seeking help is seen as a strength rather than a weakness or shame. But mental health challenges don’t affect everyone equally. The past four years have laid bare the deep-seated inequities in our systems, with BIPOC+ communities and children disproportionately Read More
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Steve Murray, 68, has spent a lot of time out in the sun, at work and at play. Murray worked construction for several decades, and as a child spent summers on the beach in Ocean City, N.J., and enjoyed winter visits to sunny Florida. He’s also repeatedly battled skin cancer and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, for decades, starting in the 1990s. “Back when I was a kid, nobody worried about putting on sunscreen or wearing a hat,” Murray, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area, said in Read More
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When cancer strikes, you could easily go into debt, even with health insurance in place, according to a new survey from the American Cancer Society. The survey, based on responses from nearly 1,300 cancer patients and survivors from March 18 through April 14, found that 47% had medical debt. Half of those respondents said that debt exceeded $5,000. Two-thirds had struggled with debt for more than a year, and a third had dealt with it for more than three years. Almost all—98%—said they had health insurance when their debts began Read More
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Happily jumping around lawn sprinklers or playing with garden hoses on a hot summer day: An idyllic childhood scene. Not so for a bunch of kids in Utah, who all got serious E. coli illnesses from the contaminated water they were exposed to. In total, 13 kids averaging just 4 years of age were infected during late July of last year in an unidentified Utah city, according to a report led by BreAnne Osborn of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The findings were reported May 9 in Read More
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About 1 in 8 U.S. adults (12%) have tried a weight-loss drug like Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound or Mounjaro, a new KFF Health Tracking Poll says. About 6% are taking one right now, the poll found. Most patients say they use the drugs (61%) to treat a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, which can make it easier to obtain a prescription, the report says, and more than 2 in 5 using the drugs are diabetics (43%). This makes sense, given that the class of medications—GLP-1 agonists—was first developed as Read More
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For patients with breast cancer, there are racial and ethnic differences in treatment declination, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Network Open. Jincong Q. Freeman, M.P.H., from the University of Chicago, and colleagues examined trends and racial and ethnic disparities in treatment declination and overall survival using data from patients with breast cancer from 2004 to 2020. Four treatment modalities were assessed: chemotherapy, hormone therapy (HT), radiotherapy, and surgery. Data were included from 2,837,446 patients. The researchers found that 9.6, 6.1, 5.0, and 0.6 percent of Read More
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Gestational diabetes is associated with an increased risk for subsequent diabetes, with higher risk for gestational diabetes in second pregnancy and in both first and second pregnancies, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Network Open. Joseph Mussa, from McGill University in Montreal, and colleagues compared the hazards of incident diabetes among those with gestational diabetes in the first, second, and both pregnancies compared to women without gestational diabetes in a retrospective cohort study. Data were included from 431,980 women with two singleton deliveries; 2.5, 3.7, and Read More
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Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172410 New work has disclosed significant findings on the survival of the Legionella pneumophila bacterium in hospital water systems. Recently published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, the study suggests adjustments to control policies to effectively combat legionellosis. The study examined 80 isolates of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6 from two independent hot water systems in a hospital, highlighting the genotypic variability and thermotolerance of the strains. By using flow cytometry to assess membrane integrity after exposing the bacteria to temperatures Read More
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Historical disparities in initiation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for atrial fibrillation have lessened for Black and Hispanic patients, according to a study published online May 6 in JAMA Network Open. Kamika R. Reynolds, Ph.D., from the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and colleagues investigated disparities in the initiation of DOACs compared to warfarin by race, ethnicity, and social vulnerability. The analysis included a 50 percent sample of Medicare fee-for-service data (2010 through 2019) to identify 950,698 anticoagulation Read More
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Among neonates undergoing urgent endotracheal intubation, successful intubation on the first attempt occurs in more neonates undergoing video laryngoscopy than direct laryngoscopy, according to a study published online May 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, held from May 2 to 6 in Toronto. Lucy E. Geraghty, from University College Dublin, and colleagues randomly assigned neonates of any gestational age who were undergoing intubation in the delivery room or neonatal intensive care unit to the video-laryngoscopy group or Read More
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Lumpectomy and mastectomy are two surgical options for treating breast cancer. Credit: Mayo Clinic Globally, 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, according to the World Health Organization. Advances in treating breast cancer are improving care and quality of life. Treating breast cancer may include personalized therapies or surgery. “There are only two surgical options: lumpectomy and mastectomy. But there are 100 reasons why women choose one thing or another,” says Dr. Sarah McLaughlin, a Mayo Clinic breast surgical oncologist. “Some of that can be cancer-based, some Read More
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A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Yale University incorporated generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create a foundational model for brain activity. The Brain Language Model (BrainLM) was developed to model the brain in silico and to determine how brain activities are related to human behavior and brain diseases. The research was published as a conference paper at ICLR 2024. “For a long time we’ve known that brain activity is related to a person’s behavior and to a lot of illnesses like seizures or Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Read More
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Cass Smith-Collins jumped through hoops to get the surgery that would match his chest to his gender. Living in Las Vegas and then 50, he finally felt safe enough to come out as a transgender man. He had his wife’s support and a doctor’s letter showing he had a long history of gender dysphoria, the psychological distress felt when one’s sex assigned at birth and gender identity don’t match. Although in-network providers were available, Smith-Collins selected Florida-based surgeon Charles Garramone, who markets himself as an early developer of female-to-male top Read More
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Delineating pure, linear mixed, and nonlinear mixed selectivity using a context-dependent task. Credit: Neuron (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.04.017 Every day our brains strive to optimize a tradeoff: With lots of things happening around us even as we also harbor many internal drives and memories, somehow our thoughts must be flexible yet focused enough to guide everything we have to do. In a new paper in Neuron, a team of neuroscientists describes how the brain achieves the cognitive capacity to incorporate all the information that’s relevant without becoming overwhelmed by what’s not. Read More
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Herpes simplex virus. Credit: CDC Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how herpes viruses hijack cellular transport processes to infiltrate the nervous system, as described in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It’s estimated that 3.7 billion people globally are infected by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the main cause of oral herpes, according to the World Health Organization. The National Institutes of Health estimates that nearly half of all Americans carry the virus, which hides out in the nervous system and can never Read More
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Research suggests that picking up a racquet might be among the best decisions a person can make for their health. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University Racket sports such as pickleball—often referred to as America’s fastest-growing sport—are clearly having a moment. New pickleball partnerships, leagues and playing courts are springing up everywhere. And on top of that, research suggests that picking up a racket might be among the best decisions a person can make for their health. One study involving roughly 80,000 people showed that racket sports were correlated with a reduction Read More
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Left hemisphere of J. Pi?sudski’s brain, lateral view. Credit: public domain Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign says a parasitic worm the presidential candidate contracted years ago while traveling outside of the United States ate a portion of his brain, then died. How do parasites, such as tapeworms, get into the brain in the first place? Scientists say they can—but that they “eat” human tissue is something of a misnomer. Lori Ferrins, a research associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern University, studies neglected parasitic diseases. She says it’s Read More
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Panera Bread announced May 8 that it’s phasing out its highly caffeinated “Charged Lemonade” drinks that have been blamed for the deaths of at least two people. In a statement, Panera did not reference lawsuits filed by the families of Sarah Katz and Dennis Brown. The company said the decision was part of a “menu transformation,” which would focus on “low sugar and low-caffeine options.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the average adult can safely consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day—the equivalent of four or five cups Read More
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Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that accounts for 75% of all skin-cancer-related deaths, is often detected later in people with darker skin complexions—and the consequences can be devastating, a Mayo Clinic study reveals. While melanoma may be found less frequently in people with darker complexions than fair ones, this potentially serious form of cancer can strike anyone. The study, which consisted of 492,597 patients with melanoma, suggests that added vigilance in early screening is particularly needed for Black men, whose cancers are often found at later stages, leading Read More
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Credit: Lisa Fotios from Pexels In mid-2015 and early 2016 in Finland, a group of scientists became interested in inspecting doormats. The pursuit, while seemingly unusual, had a serious aim: to determine whether a higher mix of microbes typically found in rural environments might protect against the development of type 1 diabetes, an immune-system disorder. The study is part of a research project examining links between immune-system illnesses and external environmental factors. These factors, grouped as the “exposome,” include microbes as well as air quality, chemicals, diet and urbanization. The Read More
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Researchers at National Jewish Health have shown that underlying mood and sleep disorders negatively impact asthma control. Data reveal a considerable interaction between insomnia, depression and obstructive sleep apnea in people with asthma. The study was published in the Journal of Asthma. “Asthma control, sleep quality and mood are all critical factors in affecting an individual’s overall quality of life, and our study suggests a strong relationship among all three areas,” said Michael Wechsler, MD, pulmonologist, Professor of Medicine, Director of The Cohen Family Asthma Institute at National Jewish Health Read More
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Are gift cards and cash one way to help ease the drug overdose crisis? The number of overdose deaths in the United States has doubled since 2015, exceeding 106,000 deaths in 2023. Although the overdose crisis is commonly referred to as the “opioid” overdose crisis, by 2021 approximately 50% of overdose-death toxicology reports showed evidence of recent use of cocaine or methamphetamine. This emergence of stimulants is often referred to as the “fourth wave” of the overdose crisis. Although research has been underway for more than three decades to develop Read More
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Development of a murine model of intergenerational undernutrition. A Schematic of experimental design (created with Biorender.com). Both HD and SD pups in the PW model are maintained on the M8 diet from 4–8 weeks of age. HD and SD pups in the IG model are likewise weaned onto the M8 diet at 3 weeks of age. B Absolute weight of animals at the time of euthanasia. C Tail length. D Femur length. E Measurement of IGF-1 in liver tissue of IG and PW mice. (F) Representative histological images of H&E stained ileal tissue from IG mice. G Quantification Read More
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Credit: Cancer Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.12.015 A study appearing in Cancer Cell uncovers the evolutionary dynamics of glioblastoma recurrence through proteogenomic analysis, offering potential therapeutic avenues. The research team, led by Professor Jason K. Sa from Korea University College of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Informatics and Professor Jong Bae Park from the National Cancer Center, has elucidated the evolutionary process of glioblastoma recurrence through integrative proteogenomic analysis. They have provided new treatment opportunities based on their findings. Glioblastoma is known for its complex genetic alterations and cellular capability to interact Read More
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Geographic map of the trapping sites of wild rats harboring Rocahepevirus ratti genotype C1 (HEV-C1) in the Republic of Korea (ROK), between 2011 and 2021. The geographic map shows rodent trapping sites where wild Rattus norvegicus. Credit: Journal of Medical Virology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29401 A team of researchers from Korea University College of Medicine, including Professor Jin-Won Song from the Department of Microbiology, Professor Ji Hoon Kim from the Department of Internal Medicine, and Researcher Kyungmin Park, has identified hepatitis E virus (HEV) in urban Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Read More
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Credit: Marcus Aurelius from Pexels A UCLA-led study suggests that women who are 65 years old or older with high-risk breast cancer and are treated with chemotherapy are more likely to develop a substantial decline in physical function. The study, published in a special issue of the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, found that over 30% of older women who have early-stage breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy experienced a significant decline in their ability to perform daily tasks like walking or climbing stairs compared to those who didn’t have chemotherapy and Read More
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To see what young babies see and look at, Smith’s Lab put head-cameras on infants to wear in the home during daily life activities. Credit: Indiana University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences What do infants see? What do they look at? The answers to these questions are very different for the youngest babies than they are for older infants, children and adults. Characterized by a few high-contrast edges in simple patterns, these early scenes also contain the very materials needed to build a strong foundation for human vision. That Read More
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When it comes to improving the lives of children with genetic conditions, medical research often focuses solely on the children. But there is an equally important population in need of research that a faculty member at the University of Colorado Department of Medicine is highlighting—the caregivers. “We need to think very broadly about how to support not just the kids—yes, that matters—but also the people caring for those kids,” said Liza Creel, Ph.D., a health services researcher and associate professor in the Division of Health Care Policy and Research. “I Read More
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The reminders are everywhere. When a woman turns 40, doctors say she should begin receiving yearly mammograms to detect breast cancer. You see it on posters, ads and buttons. Doctors beat the drum forcefully and often because the stakes are high. While both women and men can develop breast cancer, the disease occurs far more often in women. Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society. About 42,250 women in the United States will die from it this year, and Read More
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Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In Europe, almost 3 in every 10 adults were diagnosed with a form of cancer in 2022. With the recent revelations that three members of the royal family have cancer, many people may be thinking about their own risk of developing cancer—and wondering if there’s anything they can do to prevent the disease. Cancer is a complex condition, with many factors that may increase a person’s risk. But research shows exercise may actually play an important role—with a growing body of Read More
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Counterfeit versions of Botox have been found in multiple states, including California, according to the California Department of Public Health. The health agency is warning consumers and medical providers to be wary of the counterfeit products, which have caused “hospitalizations and other serious reactions in people who received injections in non-medical, unlicensed settings.” “Counterfeit or incorrectly administered Botox, even in small amounts, can result in serious health problems and even death,” Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, department of public health director and state public health officer, said in a Wednesday news Read More
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Just a few days on a night shift schedule throws off protein rhythms related to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation, processes that can influence the development of chronic metabolic conditions. The finding, from a study led by scientists at Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, provides new clues as to why night shift workers are more prone to diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders. “There are processes tied to the master biological clock in our brain that are saying that day is day and night Read More
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Baby Opal and mother Jo. Credit: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust A baby girl born deaf can hear unaided for the first time, after receiving gene therapy when she was 11 months old at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Opal Sandy from Oxfordshire is the first patient treated in a global gene therapy trial, which shows “mind-blowing” results. She is the first British patient in the world and the youngest child to receive this type of treatment. Opal was born completely deaf because of a rare genetic condition, auditory neuropathy, Read More
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Too much time alone can take a toll on the mind—and for older adults, the consequences can be particularly severe. “Individuals who experience isolation have higher levels of negative cardiovascular outcomes, functional limitations, cognitive health, and a 30% increased mortality risk as indicated in certain studies,” says Thomas Cudjoe, MD, MPH, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Indeed, increased risk of mortality from social isolation has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. At the societal level, roughly 1 in 4 people over 65 are Read More
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When doctors began using the drug sotorasib in 2021 with high expectations for its innovative approach to attacking lung cancer, retired medical technician Don Crosslin was an early beneficiary. Crosslin started the drug that July. His tumors shrank, then stabilized. But while the drug has helped keep him alive, its side effects have gradually narrowed the confines of his life, said Crosslin, 76, who lives in Ocala, Florida: “My appetite has been minimal. I’m very weak. I walk my dogs and get around a bit, but I haven’t been able Read More
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3D electron microscope volumes showing the synaptic sites where neurotransmitters are released. Credit: Jan Funke / HHMI Janelia Research Campus Like many good ideas in science, it started with a walk in the woods. During a stroll through the Berlin Botanic Garden in 2019, HHMI Janelia Research Campus Group Leader Jan Funke and some of his scientific colleagues started chatting about a familiar topic: How to get more information out of insect connectomes. These wiring diagrams give researchers unprecedented information about brain cells and how they connect to each other, Read More
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by Gary Sacks, Kathryn Backholer, Kathryn Bradbury and Sally Mackay, The Conversation In recent years, there’s been increasing hype about the potential health risks associated with so-called “ultra-processed” foods. But new evidence published this week found not all “ultra-processed” foods are linked to poor health. That includes the mass-produced wholegrain bread you buy from the supermarket. While this newly published research and associated editorial are unlikely to end the wrangling about how best to define unhealthy foods and diets, it’s critical those debates don’t delay the implementation of policies that Read More
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In the United States fluconazole is commonly used to treat yeast infections and thrush, but in other parts of the world—particularly sub-Saharan Africa—it’s also the only drug available to combat life-threatening fungal infections associated with AIDS. Credit: U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Emily Finn For the roughly 150,000 AIDS patients who come down with a life-threatening infection called fungal meningitis each year, there aren’t many options. In many parts of the world, there’s only one treatment available: a drug called fluconazole that works for less than half of Read More
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First introduced five decades ago, MRI scanners are now a cornerstone of modern medicine, vital for diagnosing strokes, tumors, spinal conditions and more, without exposing patients to radiation. A magnetic resonance imaging device built with off-the-shelf parts and paired with AI matched the performance of high-end MRI machines, according to a study published Thursday that could pave the way for greater access to the life-saving tools. First introduced five decades ago, MRI scanners are now a cornerstone of modern medicine, vital for diagnosing a wide range of conditions — including strokes, Read More
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In the 2007 film “The Bucket List,” Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two main characters who respond to their terminal cancer diagnoses by rejecting experimental treatment. Instead, they go on a range of energetic, overseas escapades. Since then, the term “bucket list”—a list of experiences or achievements to complete before you “kick the bucket” or die—has become common. You can read articles listing the seven cities you must visit before you die or the 100 Australian bucket-list travel experiences. But there is a more serious side to the idea Read More
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Microbiota changes in esophageal cancer. The microbiota of the distal esophagus was influenced by acid reflux from the stomach. Acid reflux leads to inflammation and mucosal damage, resulting in the change of microbiome in the distal esophagus. This process allows the columnar epithelium to replace the original squamous epithelium of the esophagus, which can then progress to BE and EAC. The microbiota in the upper part of the esophagus is influenced by oral resident flora, in which P. gingivalis promotes the development of ESCC. BE, Barrett’s esophagus; EAC, esophageal adenocarcinoma; Read More
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The highest performing countries across public health outcomes share many drivers that contribute to their success. That’s the conclusion of a study published May 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Dr. Nadia Akseer, an Epidemiologist-Biostatistician at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-author of the study and colleagues in the Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) program. In recent years, the EGH program has begun to identify and study positive outliers when it comes to global health programs around the world, with an aim of Read More
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Six layers of excitatory neurons color-coded by depth. Credit: Google Research and Lichtman Lab A cubic millimeter of brain tissue may not sound like much. But considering that tiny square contains 57,000 cells, 230 millimeters of blood vessels, and 150 million synapses, all amounting to 1,400 terabytes of data, Harvard and Google researchers have just accomplished something enormous. A Harvard team led by Jeff Lichtman, the Jeremy R. Knowles Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and newly appointed dean of science, has co-created with Google researchers the largest synaptic-resolution, 3D Read More
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For patients with acute stroke and a large infarct, thrombectomy plus medical care results in better functional outcomes and lower mortality, according to a study published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Vincent Costalat, M.D., Ph.D., from the Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier in France, and colleagues assigned patients with proximal cerebral vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and a large infarct detected on magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography within 6.5 hours after symptom onset to undergo endovascular thrombectomy and receive medical care Read More
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Health care professionals attending certain smoke-producing endoscopic gastrointestinal procedures, including a procedure that uses electrical current to remove polyps, could be exposed to dangerous toxin levels equivalent to smoking a cigarette during each procedure and face “significant health risks” over their careers, according to a study scheduled for presentation at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024. “Surgeons in the operating room have regulations and guidelines to mitigate smoke exposure, but that does not exist for gastrointestinal endoscopy,” said Trent Walradt, MD, a research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and lead Read More
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Credit: RUN 4 FFWPU from Pexels Extreme exercise doesn’t seem to shorten the lifespan as is widely believed, suggest the findings of a study on the longevity of the first 200 athletes to run a mile in under 4 minutes, and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. They outlive the general population by several years, shows the study, which marks the 70th anniversary of the seminal achievement of Roger Bannister, who was the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes in May 1954. While regular Read More
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New research from the University of Toronto finds that adults reporting more depression symptoms in the past week are less likely to report physical activity in the same period, and this relationship generally goes both ways: being more active is also linked to better mental health. Published in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, the study contributes to better understanding how depression symptoms and physical activity are connected and mutually affect each other during adulthood. “It was surprising to find that present depression symptoms can negatively impact your physical Read More
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Manhattan (A) and QQ plot (B) from the EWAS of DNAm with the ADI. Adjusted for race, sex, educational attainment, age at death, APOE genotype, cell type, and post-mortem interval. Bonferroni-threshold: 0.05/789889 = 6.33e-8 (?=0.94). Credit: Aging (2024). DOI: 10.18632/aging.205764 A new research paper was published in Aging, titled, “The association between neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation in an autopsy cohort.” Previous research has found that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with poor health outcomes. Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may alter inflammation and immune response in the body, Read More
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Class 1 recall—its most urgent kind—for an IOS app linked to a specific kind of insulin pump used by people with diabetes. The recall notice, which the FDA says is a “correction” rather than a product removal, involves version 2.7 of the Apple iOS t:connect mobile app. It’s used in conjunction with t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology. The problem: The app can repeatedly crash and then restart. Over time, this drains the battery of the insulin pump, which must Read More
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Timeline of human embryogenesis showing the developmental stages and the emergence of different features of life. Credit: 2024 Loseva and Gladyshev. A new review paper was published in advance by Aging, titled “The beginning of becoming a human.” According to birth certificates, the life of a child begins once their body comes out of the mother’s womb. In this new review, researchers Polina A. Loseva and Vadim N. Gladyshev from Harvard Medical School pose the controversial question: when does their organismal life begin? Science holds a palette of answers—depending on Read More
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Australian researchers have discovered how changes in antibody levels over time can predict which children are likely to outgrow their peanut allergy. The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne and published in Allergy, found two thirds of children with a peanut allergy remain allergic by the age of 10. But for those who did naturally outgrow their allergy, the majority achieved this by six years old. The study was the first to use antibodies as biomarkers to identify persistent or a resolved peanut allergy during the Read More
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Neighborhoods of high need are where investment in social care offers the best opportunities to improve health. Screening for social determinants of health is comparatively easy, but building the infrastructure to meet needs occurring outside the formal health care system is quite difficult. Few health systems have achieved more than even partial integration of social care into routine patient care. In a case study of pioneering social care provided by Eskenazi Health, a safety net health system located in Indianapolis, researchers from Eskenazi Health, Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School Read More
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Members of the Adair Lab at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Dr. Jen Adair, center in tan blazer, is working with patients to make gene therapy accessible to all. Credit: Robert Hood / Fred Hutch News Service Fred Hutch Cancer Center scientist Jennifer E. Adair, Ph.D., is on a mission to foster worldwide collaboration on potentially curative gene therapies. Holder of the Fleischauer Family Endowed Chair in Gene Therapy Translation, Adair just co-authored two articles published today in Science Translational Medicine as part of a special series on global access to Read More
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AI-generated PET results shown overlaid on CT. Credit: Oncotarget (2024). DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28583 A new research paper was published in Oncotarget, titled “Deep learning-based whole-body PSMA PET/CT attenuation correction utilizing Pix-2-Pix GAN.” Radiation dosage limits the sequential PET/CT studies oncology patients can undergo during their treatment follow-up course. In this new study, researchers from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute proposed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to produce attenuation-corrected PET (AC-PET) images from non-attenuation-corrected PET (NAC-PET) images to reduce need for low-dose CT scans. “AI-generated PET images have clinical Read More
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Every oncologist and cancer researcher is familiar with the hallmarks of cancer, a series of functional capabilities that human cells acquire as they transition from a normal state to a neoplastic state (a state of excessive and abnormal growth). These hallmarks have been used (and updated) during the last quarter of a century as a “conceptual scaffold” to help “rationalize the complex phenotypes of diverse human tumor types and variants in terms of a common set of underlying cellular parameters.” Now, Ken Lau, professor of cell and developmental biology, and Read More
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Estimated carbon footprint of different health-care facility types by Canadian province. Scope 1 and 2, excluding transportation. Estimate for Fraser Valley home care informed by estimates of energy consumption and bed data provided by Fraser Health Authority, with support from the Energy and Environmental Sustainability team. Credit: The Lancet Planetary Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00048-2 A study led by Canadian researchers sheds new light on how to approach decreasing the carbon footprint of our health care system by thinking critically about end-of-life care. The study, led by a team at McMaster Read More
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Patients with pulmonary fibrosis from the poorest areas had more severe symptoms by the time they saw a hospital doctor and had a poorer survival rate than those living in wealthier areas, according to the new research. The study, led by the University of East Anglia, also found people living furthest from a hospital pulmonary fibrosis center also had shorter life expectancy than those living closer. It is estimated that 32,500 people in the U.K. are living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic progressive scarring lung disease which makes Read More
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This “smart” contact lens could someday help measure eye pressure and send wireless signals to enable early detection of glaucoma. Credit: Adapted from ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02289 Most people with early-stage glaucoma don’t know they have it, even though early treatment is key to reducing vision loss. While detecting a subtle increase in eye pressure helps doctors to diagnose glaucoma, it’s challenging to monitor continuously, especially with the variety of temperatures eyes experience. Now, researchers in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces report a prototype “smart” contact Read More
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A new study has investigated how measures of thinking, memory, and Alzheimer’s disease risk group together in Veterans aged 65 and older without dementia. Results of the study showed multiple patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses and Alzheimer’s disease risk and may imply that older Veterans with certain cognitive difficulties could mistakenly receive a diagnosis of possible Alzheimer’s disease, when other factors such as PTSD may really be the root cause of the cognitive difficulties. The findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. “PTSD seems to keep emerging Read More
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New research by Western Sydney University has identified the need to translate psychosocial assessment tools, which measure social ability and well-being, used in aged care environments into multiple languages. This translation is crucial for the effective evaluation of social engagement and quality of life in older adults receiving aged care services. The research revealed that cultural appropriateness significantly impacted the delivery of questions within the assessment tools. This included difficulties such as the lack of terms for unique places of worship, outdated language such as references to reading newspapers, and Read More
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Researchers interviewed 586 people in Tijuana (202) and San Diego (384) between 2020 and 2021, including people experiencing homeless and living on streets like this one in San Diego. Credit: Alhelí Calderón Villarreal, M.D., M.P.H. A defining development of the 20th century that changed the course of public health was when governments around the world improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. However, a binational study led by University of California San Diego researchers has found that during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people experiencing homelessness and individuals Read More
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Having social support and strong social networks is vital to the health and well-being of older adults living with HIV, according to a Rutgers Health study. Published in AIDS Care and led by Kristen Krause, an instructor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, the study examined the social connections of older people living with HIV in Newark, N.J.—a region frequently overlooked in research focusing on this demographic. “This study helps us understand how support networks affect older adults living with HIV and how stigma and fragmented relationships can ultimately Read More
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Among New Yorkers with low incomes, the “Vision Zero” initiative to stem roadway crashes resulted in a marked, 30% reduction in traffic injuries of varying severity from early 2014—when the city government launched the program—until 2019, according to a new study conducted at New York University. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, revealed this trend of improved safety by comparing Medicaid-covered injury treatments during Vision Zero’s first five years with those of Medicaid enrollees in neighboring jurisdictions on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, where Read More
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Scatterplot of the 28-item and 5-item PES-NWI composite scores in the 2016 hospital sample. PES-NWI, Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index. Credit: Research in Nursing & Health (2024). DOI: 10.1002/nur.22388 New research from Penn Nursing’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR)—recently published in the journal Research in Nursing & Health—has successfully validated a new, streamlined version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), originally authored in 2002 by Eileen T. Lake, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Professor of Nursing, the Edith Clemmer Steinbright Professor Read More
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A team of neuroscientists have studied the impact of escalating environmental and social challenges on both our brains and the sustainability of the planet. The expert team is led by Dr. Agustin Ibáñez from the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) and a perspective paper from the group is published in the journal Neuron. The paper explores the ways in which the “brain economy” can contribute to the objectives of the One Health framework, a long-established United Nations priority that seeks to harmonize and improve the health of humans, animals, and Read More
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Neuralink, the brain implant company owned by Elon Musk, said that it had fixed an issue that saw its first patient’s ability to move a computer cursor greatly reduced. Musk’s neurotechnology company in January installed a brain implant in Noland Arbaugh, the company’s first human test subject, which the billionaire head of Tesla and X touted as a success. Arbaugh was left paralyzed from the shoulders down by a diving accident eight years ago. Shortly after the implant operation, he told of playing chess and the videogame “Civilization,” as well Read More
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Discrimination may speed up the biological processes of aging, according to a new study led by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health. The research links interpersonal discrimination to changes at the molecular level, revealing a potential root cause of disparities in aging-related illness and death. “Experiencing discrimination appears to hasten the process of aging, which may be contributing to disease and early mortality and fueling health disparities,” said Adolfo Cuevas, assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at NYU’s School of Global Public Health Read More
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Diagrammatic overview of themes and subthemes. Credit: BMJ Open (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082779 Young people who have undergone successful treatment for eye cancer are often subject to bullying and require psychological support, a new study has revealed. Researchers at the University of York say that more longer-term support is needed for those who have been treated for a rare childhood cancer, Retinoblastoma, which is diagnosed in 40–50 children in the U.K. a year. The condition, which is often diagnosed before the age of 5, is usually treatable but often leaves patients Read More
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A new study by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) has found that compared to non-volunteers, older adults who volunteer feel more supported by their social networks, which in turn leads to an improvement in their quality of life. This is even though social networks from which older adults receive actual help do not expand as a result of volunteering. Through a study of 2,887 Singaporeans aged 60 and above, the NTU Singapore and Duke-NUS researchers also found that those who volunteered regularly with a Read More
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Symptom burden is prevalent among young childhood cancer survivors, with caregiver anxiety and greater neighborhood deprivation associated with greater symptom burden, according to a study published online May 7 in JAMA Network Open. Madeline R. Horan, Ph.D., from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and colleagues examined the prevalence of symptom burden among young childhood cancer survivors in a cross-sectional analysis. The study included 302 dyads of children aged 8 to 18 years who survived at least five years beyond diagnosis and their primary caregivers. The researchers Read More
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Mothers’ childhood experiences of trauma can predict their children’s behavior problems, even when the mothers did not raise their children, who were placed for adoption as newborns, a new University of Oregon study shows. The research team, led by Leslie Leve, a professor in the UO College of Education and scientist with the Prevention Science Institute, found a link between birth mothers who had experienced stressful childhood events, such as abuse, neglect, violence or poverty, and their children’s behavior problems. This was true even though the children were raised by Read More
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Experts in mycobacterial diseases at National Jewish Health, in collaboration with local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating a potential outbreak of a highly drug-resistant mycobacterium (germ) after U.S. patients who traveled to Mexico for stem cell injections became sick. Genetically identical Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies massiliense infections following stem cell injections at various clinics in Mexico prompted this investigation. Early results of the study are published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, and additional cases are being evaluated. “As a world-renowned Read More
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Credit: Blood Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023021826 A new study, led by Jesmond Dalli, professor of molecular pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London, has found that people with a genetic mutation that leads to a reduction in a protein called LGR6, found on the surface of immune cells, have a decreased ability to clear viral infections. The research, published May 8 in Blood, suggests that new drugs that target these immune system mechanisms could improve the treatment of viral infections. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 6 (LGR6) manages specific molecules produced Read More