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Swimming in treated pools safe for children with tympanostomy tubes

A new study published in Otolaryngology−Head and Neck Surgery, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology−Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), finds that children with tympanostomy tubes who swim in treated pools are not at increased risk of ear drainage, while those exposed to untreated or natural bodies of water face significantly higher odds of developing recurrent otorrhea.

30 Mar 2026

Digoxin found safe to use in young patients with rheumatic heart disease

Patients with rheumatic heart disease who took the heart failure drug digoxin were 18% less likely to die or experience new-onset or worsening heart failure during a two-year follow-up compared with those who received a placebo, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

30 Mar 2026

Nicotine e-cigarettes outperform other methods for quitting smoking

A new analysis of existing studies co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health researcher finds that nicotine e-cigarettes consistently help adults quit smoking, a conclusion that emerges with striking agreement across nearly a decade of studies.

26 Mar 2026

New shoe lacing system for comfort and stability during long runs

This study highlights the advantages of a wrapping closure lacing system, improving comfort and stability in running while preserving natural biomechanics.

19 Mar 2026

Swedish study reveals COVID-19 may increase glandular fever risk

Even individuals who did not become seriously ill with COVID-19 may have developed a weakened immune system that could lead to serious illnesses in the future.

17 Mar 2026

More kids are in ERs for tooth pain. Trump cuts and RFK Jr.’s anti-fluoride fight aren’t helping.

Eight-year-old Jonah woke up one May morning with a swollen face and a toothache. He refused the pain medication that his mom, Geneva Reynolds, tried to give him. He didn't sleep or eat and cried constantly.

10 Mar 2026

Tracking physiological stress during prolonged virtual soccer

Extended esports play can lead to mental fatigue, resulting in slower and less precise decision-making (diminished executive control) and a variety of physiological responses indicative of impaired sensorimotor or cognitive function.

5 Mar 2026

Environmental swabs reveal hidden avian viral diversity

Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School have found that viruses circulating in live poultry markets can be detected more effectively by sampling the surrounding environment than by testing individual birds. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that environmental sampling can uncover a broader range of poultry viruses-including highly pathogenic avian influenza strains that traditional surveillance may miss.

5 Mar 2026

Mandated cCMV screening improves early identification of infant hearing loss

A new retrospective cohort study examining the impact of Minnesota's first-in-the-nation mandated universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) shows that universal screening significantly decreased the age at first audiology visit and increased identification of mild hearing loss in infants.

2 Mar 2026

Rare airway condition: Sarah Carroll's journey to breathing freely

"It was just really hard to breathe," says Sarah Carroll, recalling the earliest symptoms of idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS). "It felt like there was something in my throat that was stopping me from breathing."

2 Mar 2026

Untreated sleep apnea may cost the UK and US billions annually

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea may be costing the UK and US economies billions of pounds/dollars in lost productivity every year, with a considerable proportion of working age adults experiencing symptoms indicative of the breathing disorder, suggests an analysis published online in the journal Thorax.

24 Feb 2026

Mizzou tackles rising alpha-gal syndrome cases with research and outreach

The University of Missouri is on the front lines of helping patients with alpha-gal syndrome - a potentially life-threatening red-meat allergy caused by lone star tick bites.

24 Feb 2026

Changes in lymphatic vessels can help identify aggressive oral cancer at an early stage

Oral cancers are the most common malignant tumors in the head and neck region, causing more than 188,000 deaths worldwide each year.

18 Feb 2026

Study reveals poxvirus's unique DNA clamp for gene activation

A research team at the University of Würzburg has deciphered another aspect of poxviral gene activation.

18 Feb 2026

Musicians experience higher rates of tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis than non-musicians

A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), reveals that musicians face substantially higher rates of tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis compared to non-musicians.

17 Feb 2026

Nasal COVID vaccine boost increases IgA responses linked to variant neutralisation

Intranasal boosting after prior intramuscular COVID vaccination induced strong mucosal IgA responses in a small human cohort. These antibodies showed markedly enhanced neutralising activity against Omicron variants and evidence of immune memory reprogramming toward mucosal protection.

15 Feb 2026

Mindfulness enables unsedated endoscopy with higher patient satisfaction

A new study has shown that mindfulness helps patients to relax during an endoscopy, allowing doctors to carry out detailed examinations without the need for sedation or general anesthesia.

10 Feb 2026

Clinical trial aims to improve survival for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer

A newly approved National Cancer Institute-funded clinical trial aims to improve survival for head and neck cancer patients whose disease returns after radiation therapy – a setback that affects up to 40% of patients and is often associated with poor outcomes.

27 Jan 2026

Wearable AI device turns silent throat signals into fluent speech for stroke patients

AI technology in a wearable choker helps stroke survivors overcome communication barriers by transforming throat vibrations into clear, context-aware speech.

21 Jan 2026

Wearable device enables natural speech in stroke patients with dysarthria

Researchers have developed a wearable, comfortable and washable device called Revoice that could help people regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently following a stroke, without the need for invasive brain implants.

19 Jan 2026