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Record heat in 2023 linked to over 47,000 deaths in Europe, study finds

More than 47,000 people died in Europe as a result of high temperatures in 2023, the warmest year on record globally and the second warmest in Europe.

12 Aug 2024

Survey: Most people unaware of cooling center locations despite increasing heat wave frequency

With NASA data showing that July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record and indications that July may have been the hottest month, an Annenberg Public Policy Center survey conducted in mid-July found that most people know three of the symptoms of a heat-related illness but do not know the location of their nearest cooling center.

9 Aug 2024

Many children with recurrent wheezing have "silent" lung infections, research reveals

Nearly a quarter of children with recurrent wheezing have "silent" lung infections that would be better treated with antiviral medications than commonly prescribed steroids that can carry lifelong side effects, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.

8 Aug 2024

METRNL protein identified as key player in cancer progression

A protein called Meteorin-like (METRNL) in the tumor microenvironment saps energy from T cells, thereby severely limiting their ability to fight cancer, according to new research directed by investigators at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Finding ways to block the effects of METRNL signaling on tumor-infiltrating T cells may allow these immune cells to regain the energy necessary to eliminate tumors.

7 Aug 2024

Expansion of the Mexico-US border wall crossing associated with rising toll of serious injuries

The expansion of the Mexico-US border wall crossing has been accompanied by a rising toll of serious injuries, with poor discharge care and a lack of appropriate interpreting facilities adding up to a "humanitarian and health crisis," suggest researchers in the open access journal Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.

6 Aug 2024

Study exposes hidden dangers of indoor fireplaces on air quality in South African homes

A study reveals high particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in South African homes using indoor fireplaces, with exposure linked to colder outdoor temperatures.

4 Aug 2024

Patients fear judgment for sharing health misconceptions, study finds

When an individual visits their doctor, they aren't supposed to keep secrets. Unless patients are forthcoming about their symptoms, behaviors, and health-related beliefs, it's hard for healthcare professionals to effectively diagnose and treat illnesses - or to advise and educate patients about how to take better care of themselves in the future.

4 Aug 2024

Understanding brain coupling in conversations through linguistic context

When two people interact, their brain activity becomes synchronized, but it was unclear until now to what extent this "brain-to-brain coupling" is due to linguistic information or other factors, such as body language or tone of voice.

2 Aug 2024

Study links e-cigarette use to increased respiratory symptoms

The association between electronic cigarette (EC) use and respiratory health in adults.

2 Aug 2024

Indoor fireplaces linked to harmful airborne particles and health risks

During the cold winter months, it is nice to light an indoor fireplace for extra warmth or to have the occasional ‘braai’. The downside is that you may be inhaling tiny solid or liquid substances that could be harmful to your health.

1 Aug 2024

Scientists capture NMDAR protein's 'twist' motion, key to brain signaling

Proteins are constantly performing a kind of dance. They move and contort their bodies to fulfill specific functions inside our bodies. The NMDAR protein executes an especially hard dance routine in our brains. One wrong step can lead to a range of neurological disorders. NMDAR binds to the neurotransmitter, glutamate, and another compound, glycine. These bindings control NMDAR's dance steps. When their routine is over, the NMDAR opens. This open ion channel generates electrical signals critical for cognitive functions like memory.

1 Aug 2024

Wearing surgical face masks in public spaces reduces the risk of self-reported respiratory symptoms

A team of Norwegian researchers conducted a pragmatic randomized trial to examine whether wearing surgical face masks while in public spaces resulted in a lower incidence of self-reported respiratory infection symptoms than not wearing a face mask.

29 Jul 2024

Study: Iron infusions superior to blood transfusions for surgical patients with anemia

In a rigorous medical records study covering tens of thousands of patients, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conclude that some patients with preoperative anemia have better outcomes if they get iron infusions before surgery rather than standard red blood cell transfusions.

25 Jul 2024

E-Cigarettes and Ethanol: A Forensic Perspective on Vaping

In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2024 in San Diego, we spoke to Professor Michelle Peace about the challenges and implications of detecting ethanol in e-cigarettes for drug testing and forensic toxicology.

From Pittcon 23 Jul 2024

Studies aim to identify adolescent girls who are at risk of developing migraine headaches

A migraine is not just a bad headache. It is a much-dreaded part of a neurologic disorder that has an array of possible symptoms, including pulsating cranial pain, waves of queasiness, bouts of vomiting, and hypersensitivity to light and sound.

22 Jul 2024

Extreme weather associated with higher rates of missed primary care appointments

Temperature extremes, becoming increasingly frequent due to growing global climate change, are associated with higher rates of missed primary care appointments, according to a recently published study from Drexel University researchers in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

18 Jul 2024

New drugs show promise in shrinking breast cancer brain metastases

Researchers from Drexel's College of Medicine have identified new drugs that show early success in shrinking breast cancer tumors that have metastasized in the brain.

18 Jul 2024

Chronic Urticaria: Addressing unmet needs, emerging therapies, and advances in personalized treatment approaches

Emerging personalized treatment approaches for chronic urticari.

16 Jul 2024

Over-the-counter nasal sprays cut respiratory infections by 20%, study finds

Widely available over-the counter nasal sprays could keep upper respiratory tract infections - like colds, chest infections, flu, sore throat, and sinus infections - at bay, and prevent full-blown symptoms from developing, one of the largest trials to date to test their effectiveness finds.

12 Jul 2024

New study reveals the genetic cause of Parkinson's disease

According to Science Alert, neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins University have recently discovered a new treatment for Parkinson's disease using an FDA-approved cancer drug.

11 Jul 2024