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Study: 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion aided families during pandemic hardship

As a proposal to reinstate expanded Child Tax Credits (CTC) in the United States awaits a vote in the Senate, a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers reveals that the now-expired 2021 CTC expansion benefitted families experiencing financial setbacks due to health or employment challenges spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

20 Feb 2024

Red light therapy lowers blood sugar and mitigates glucose spikes

The researchers found that 670 nanometers (nm) of red light stimulated energy production within mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses within cells, leading to increased consumption of glucose. In particular, it led to a 27.7% reduction in blood glucose levels following glucose intake, and it reduced maximum glucose spiking by 7.5%.

20 Feb 2024

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher risk of sarcopenia

Study finds a direct correlation between ultra-processed food consumption and increased risk of low muscle mass in adults, suggesting dietary changes could combat sarcopenia.

20 Feb 2024

Aging alters fibroblasts to promote pancreatic cancer growth

Older people may be at greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer and have poorer prognoses because of age-related changes in cells in the pancreas called fibroblasts, according to research led by investigators from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

20 Feb 2024

Study evaluates colorectal cancer screening programs in Latin America

Little is known about colorectal cancer screening strategies throughout the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the U.S. and Canada.

20 Feb 2024

Ultra-processed foods: A growing threat to public health

From fizzy drinks to cereals and packaged snacks to processed meat, ultra-processed foods are packed with additives.

20 Feb 2024

Study reveals racial disparities in access to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder

Buprenorphine, a life-saving medication for opioid use disorder, is far less accessible in geographic areas of the United States with racially and ethnically diverse populations than in predominantly white areas, according to a new study of pre-pandemic data led by health policy scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health published today in Journal of Addiction Medicine.

20 Feb 2024

Women reap greater health benefits from exercise than men

Women who exercise regularly have a significantly lower risk of an early death or fatal cardiovascular event than men who exercise regularly, even when women put in less effort, according to a National Institutes of Health-supported study.

19 Feb 2024

Mapping the genomic landscape of Type 2 diabetes

In the largest genome-wide association study to date on Type 2 diabetes, a team of international researchers, co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst genetic epidemiologist, has located 1,289 genetic markers associated with Type 2 diabetes (145 of which are newly identified) and generated risk scores for diabetes complications.

19 Feb 2024

COVID-19 linked to higher fatigue rates, says study

A study by the CDC and Washington University found COVID-19 significantly increases the risk of developing fatigue and chronic fatigue, with higher incidence rates compared to non-COVID-19 controls.

19 Feb 2024

A high-protein diet and elevation in the amino acid leucine may contribute to buildup of plaque in arteries

Researchers conducted clinical studies on murine animals and humans to evaluate the impact of high protein intake on the amino acid-mammalian target of the rapamycin complex 1 autophagy signaling pathway.

19 Feb 2024

Survey of US adults reveals common cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients, linked to impaired daily functioning and depression

Scientists examined how prevalent self-reported cognitive symptoms were in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition as compared to individuals who had prior severe SARS-CoV-2 infections but had not developed post-COVID-19 condition.

19 Feb 2024

Associations between food additive emulsifiers and cancer risk

Researchers assessed associations between food emulsifier intake and cancer risk among NutriNet-Santé study participants.

19 Feb 2024

Long COVID prevalence varies widely across US states, CDC study finds

The CDC's nationwide study reveals varying long COVID prevalence across the USA, from 1.9% in the Virgin Islands to 10.6% in West Virginia, underscoring the need for targeted public health strategies.

18 Feb 2024

Pilates lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients, study finds

Pilates training programs are deemed safe and effective for managing blood pressure in hypertensive patients, offering a viable rehabilitation option alongside traditional treatments.

18 Feb 2024

Virginia Tech receives grant for improving rural wastewater pathogen detection

Testing wastewater to assess the spread of the COVID-19 virus became common and well-publicized during the pandemic, but it has been focused mostly on urban areas.

16 Feb 2024

Urgent call for increased measles vaccination in the EU/EEA

Measles cases are expected to continue increasing in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) in the coming months due to sub-optimal vaccination coverage for measles-containing vaccines (MCV) in a number of EU/EEA countries, the high probability of importation from areas experiencing high circulation and the fact that the coming months represent the seasonal peak of the virus.

16 Feb 2024