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Text message reminders fail to boost long-term medication adherence

A new study published today in JAMA reveals text message reminders for patients who delay refilling their medications didn't help improve how regularly they refilled medications over a year.

2 Dec 2024

Pregnancy strengthens immune defense against flu, study finds

McGill University scientists have discovered that pregnancy may trigger a natural immunity to boost protection against severe flu infection.

2 Dec 2024

University of Arizona receives $1.7 million for spina bifida research

Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson received $1.7 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve knowledge regarding the prevalence, mortality and health outcomes for people of all ages living with spina bifida.

2 Dec 2024

CMS introduces new payment model to improve kidney transplant outcomes

A new final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week for a mandatory alternative payment model called the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model aimed to improve the number of life-saving kidney transplants for patients whose kidneys have failed.

2 Dec 2024

Researchers expose practices of crisis pregnancy centers across the U.S.

A new study from scientists at the University of California San Diego introduces a powerful new approach to understanding the operation of crisis pregnancy centers, non-profit organizations dedicated to an anti-abortion agenda.

2 Dec 2024

Visceral fat found to contribute to Alzheimer's disease development

Researchers have linked a specific type of body fat to the abnormal proteins in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms of dementia appear, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

2 Dec 2024

Higher plant-based protein intake linked to lower heart disease risk

Eating a diet with a higher ratio of plant-based protein to animal-based protein may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

2 Dec 2024

Heart health benefits soar with regular sleep schedules, research finds

Irregular sleep patterns significantly increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with higher sleep regularity associated with reduced cardiovascular risks. This large UK Biobank study underscores the need to prioritize sleep regularity in public health and clinical guidelines.

1 Dec 2024

Star power eclipses science in obesity discussions on social media

Celebrity tweets about obesity and weight loss attract far more positive engagement than those from medical authorities, underscoring their potential as powerful health messengers.

1 Dec 2024

Reinstating masking curbs hospital viral outbreaks, study confirms

Researchers investigate how changes in hospital policies for SARS-CoV-2 testing and masking have influenced hospital-acquired respiratory viral infections.

1 Dec 2024

Study highlights the health risk of PM2.5 exposure for pregnant women

For pregnant women, exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) was associated with altered immune responses that can lead to adverse birth outcomes, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

29 Nov 2024

A roadmap for understanding antimalarial drug resistance

Researchers at University of California San Diego analyzed the genomes of hundreds of malaria parasites to determine which genetic variants are most likely to confer drug resistance.

28 Nov 2024

Preschool services key to bridging language gaps for allophone kids

Learning French while also developing language skills in one's mother tongue is no easy task. As a result, allophone children often face learning and communication difficulties in kindergarten, which can negatively impact their educational journey.

28 Nov 2024

Fossil fuel industry influences medical research, raising ethical concerns

An investigation published by The BMJ today reveals the extent of fossil fuel industry involvement in medical research, leading to fresh calls for academics and publishing companies to cut ties with companies.

28 Nov 2024

Survey: Seven out of ten European homes are now smoke-free

Seven out of ten homes in Europe are smoke-free, according to a major survey published today (Thursday) in ERJ Open Research.

27 Nov 2024

Mandatory calorie labels boost awareness but fail to reduce intake

Mandatory calorie labeling in England's out-of-home food sector did not significantly reduce calories purchased or consumed, but increased consumer awareness and label use.

27 Nov 2024

Childhood social disadvantage linked to increased MS severity

People who develop multiple sclerosis (MS) as children and grow up in less advantaged neighborhoods may have a larger volume of inflammation and brain tissue loss on imaging than those who grow up in more advantaged neighborhoods, according to a study published in the November 27, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

27 Nov 2024