Public Health News and Research

RSS

No evidence Trump’s drug program for terminal patients saved ‘thousands’ of lives

Former President Donald Trump has boasted in recent months about "Right To Try," a law he signed in 2018. It's aimed at boosting terminally ill patients' access to potentially lifesaving medications not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

5 Nov 2024

Global warming nears 1.5°C threshold, escalating health risks worldwide

Record temperatures and pollution are escalating health risks worldwide. This report highlights the urgent need for integrated climate and health strategies.

5 Nov 2024

Study finds regular physical activity slows biological aging in type 2 diabetes patients

Regular physical activity is crucial for slowing biological aging in type 2 diabetes, with specific thresholds identified for optimal health benefits.

5 Nov 2024

Study links stable sleep patterns to successful aging

Stable sleep patterns boost successful aging, while inconsistent or short sleep reduces healthy aging outcomes among older Chinese adults, a new study finds.

5 Nov 2024

Study: Medicaid waivers have limited impact on opioid overdose crisis

For generations, the federal government has largely refrained from paying for mental health and substance use treatment in large residential facilities.

4 Nov 2024

UT Dallas researchers awarded $3.7 million NIH grant for brain aging study

Two researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) have received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand their study of brain structure, function and cognition across time through the use of powerful high-resolution imaging.

4 Nov 2024

$2.5 million grant supports lung cancer screening for marginalized communities

A multidisciplinary team of experts in lung cancer screening and implementation science from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, an independent charitable organization, to spearhead a new initiative aimed at reducing disparities in lung cancer screening across Los Angeles County.

4 Nov 2024

Exposure to flame retardants during pregnancy may affect childhood obesity risk

Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) - chemicals found in everyday products that use plastics and flame retardants - during pregnancy may have varying effects on the risks of childhood obesity, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

4 Nov 2024

Iron and vitamin D reduce depression risk, while selenium and magnesium raise it

Researchers explore the causality between micronutrient intake and depression using Mendelian randomization.

4 Nov 2024

Canada’s proactive policies reduce drug shortages far more effectively than the U.S.

Drug-related supply chain issues in Canada were 40% less likely to result in significant drug shortages than in the United States.

4 Nov 2024

Exercise temporarily improves muscle insulin resistance linked to genetic risk for type 2 diabetes

The study uncovers how acute exercise alleviates insulin resistance in TBC1D4 variant carriers, underscoring the need for personalized diabetes interventions.

4 Nov 2024

New overtime limits for physicians aimed at improving sleep and mental health

Physicians are a vital component of the healthcare landscape and along with other medical professionals, they ensure timely diagnosis, treatment, and management of complex illnesses.

4 Nov 2024

Study links childhood overweight to socioeconomic disadvantage

More children have overweight in regions with high rates of single parenthood, low education levels, low income and high child poverty.

4 Nov 2024

Lead exposure still poses health risks for millions worldwide, study finds

Addressing lead poisoning is vital for public health, as it contributes to cognitive decline and cardiovascular issues, especially in vulnerable populations.

4 Nov 2024

Weight stigma hinders effective treatment for women with PCOS

Lifestyle management in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) needs to reduce weight stigma, because for some people living with it, overly focusing on weight loss can negatively impact their mental health and wellbeing, a Monash University-led systematic review has found.

4 Nov 2024

New Johns Hopkins study shows digital tools help prevent obesity in high-risk young children

A study co-led by a Johns Hopkins Children's Center clinician-researcher shows that adding text messaging and other electronic feedback to traditional in-clinic health counseling for parents about feeding habits, playtime and exercise prevents very young children from developing obesity and potentially lifelong obesity-related problems.

3 Nov 2024

Study ties PM2.5 from agriculture to memory issues in children

A new USC study involving 8,500 children from across the country reveals that a form of air pollution, largely the product of agricultural emissions, is linked to poor learning and memory performance in 9- and 10-year-olds.

3 Nov 2024

New pathway discovery explains MRSA's high-level antibiotic resistance

Researchers have discovered a new cell division pathway in MRSA that enables high-level resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, marking a critical insight into the persistence of these 'superbugs'.

3 Nov 2024

Study highlights health benefits of insulating homes against winter cold

During winter, cold indoor temperatures can increase blood pressure, leading to hypertension and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

1 Nov 2024

New imaging method could transform gene expression research

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A new method, developed by University of Michigan researchers, creates images that are worth many gigabytes of data, which could revolutionize the way biologists study gene expression. Seq-Scope, developed by Jun Hee Lee, Ph.D., Hyun Min Kang, Ph.D., and their colleagues, was first described in Cell in 2021 as the first method to analyze gene expression at sub micrometer-scale spatial resolution.

1 Nov 2024