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LDCT screening significantly reduces lung cancer mortality in non-smokers

New evidence from a Chinese cohort presented today at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2026 shows that onetime lowdose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can significantly reduce lung cancer mortality in a non-risk based population, including individuals with no smoking history.

27 Mar 2026

Machine learning model can predict 28-day mortality in sepsis patients

Sepsis is one of the most common and lethal syndromes encountered in intensive care units (ICUs), and acute respiratory failure (ARF) represents one of its most critical complications.

27 Mar 2026

Hospital delirium associated with increased likelihood of future dementia

Older adults who develop delirium during a hospital admission face a substantially higher risk of dementia in later years, even if they had no prior health conditions, according to a major new population study.

27 Mar 2026

Global maternal deaths decline but progress slows worldwide

Global maternal deaths have declined over the past three decades, yet progress has slowed in recent years and remains uneven across countries, according to new Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 research published today in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health.

26 Mar 2026

Heart failure and atrial fibrillation share underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms

New research published in Nature Cardiovascular Research reveals that heart failure and atrial fibrillation share underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms, suggesting that the two cardiovascular conditions may be less distinct than previously thought.

26 Mar 2026

Access to trauma centers improves survival after gunshot injuries

For decades, Chicago's South Side neighborhoods have experienced high rates of firearm violence, making speedy access to expert trauma care a matter of life and death.

26 Mar 2026

Heavily processed foods may raise heart disease risk beyond poor nutrition alone

A 2026 review in Cardiology in Review reports that higher intake of ultra-processed foods is consistently associated with greater risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality across cohort studies and meta-analyses. The paper also highlights plausible mechanisms involving gut dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and NF-κB-driven inflammation, with additives such as emulsifiers, preservatives, dyes, and sweeteners discussed as potential contributors.

26 Mar 2026

50 years of data reveal higher death risks in London transport workers

A 50-year retrospective cohort study of 117,166 Transport for London workers found that bus and London Underground job categories had higher all-cause, respiratory, cardiovascular, and lung cancer mortality than office workers. The authors caution that broad job categories, missing cause-of-death data, and unmeasured confounding mean the findings show association, not proof of specific occupational causes.

26 Mar 2026

Healthy thymus gland linked to longer life and immune stability

The thymus is a small organ located in the upper chest that plays a central role in the immune system: it produces T cells - specialized immune cells that recognize and fight pathogens.

26 Mar 2026

Mentally active sitting linked to reduced risk of dementia

New research distinguishing between passive and mentally active sitting in association with dementia has found that adults who engaged in extended durations of mentally passive sedentary behaviors had a higher risk of dementia.

26 Mar 2026

CDC tracks SARS-CoV-2 BA.3.2 global rise and finds early signals in U.S. wastewater

CDC surveillance shows that the highly divergent SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2 spread to at least 23 countries and was detected in U.S. travelers, patients, airplane wastewater, and wastewater samples across multiple states. The report highlights wastewater and traveler-based genomic surveillance as early warning tools while noting that BA.3.2 has immune-evasion potential but has not rapidly displaced other circulating lineages.

25 Mar 2026

Chlorhexidine reduces umbilical cord infections in newborns

A new Cochrane review finds that chlorhexidine likely cuts umbilical cord infection rates by about 29% in low- and middle-income countries, and may reduce newborn deaths.

25 Mar 2026

Lower hemoglobin levels within the normal range linked to better metabolic health

Finnish researchers found that hemoglobin levels that are within the normal range but at the lower end may be beneficial for health, particularly for glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health.

25 Mar 2026

COVID-19 virus evolved quickly but within strict genetic limits

A new paper in Genome Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that while the COVID-19 virus has developed rapidly since 2019, it has done so within limited genetic channels.

25 Mar 2026

Placental abruption linked to higher heart risk in children

The risk of developing early cardiovascular disease or dying from cardiovascular disease by the age of 28 was about 4.6 times higher among people born to mothers who had a placental abruption during their pregnancy.

25 Mar 2026

Systematic review identifies stress-induced biological triggers in oncology

Stress is a constant companion in the oncologist's office. It appears at the time of diagnosis, increases with each stage of treatment, and often does not resolve even after therapy formally ends. It accompanies therapeutic decisions, waiting for test results, fear of recurrence, and changes in daily functioning. Studies show that chronic stress can trigger biological processes that promote disease progression and weaken the body's defenses.

25 Mar 2026

Nepal and Afghanistan show how abrupt aid cuts can unravel essential care

Abrupt cuts to external health aid can destabilize multiple essential services simultaneously in fragile, donor-dependent settings, as illustrated by Nepal and Afghanistan. The paper argues that donor withdrawal is not just a resilience test, but also an ethical and governance issue that should be managed through “transition discipline.”

24 Mar 2026

Moderate coffee intake may lower heart failure risk

A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of seven prospective cohorts found that drinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day was associated with a modestly lower risk of incident heart failure. The lowest estimated risk appeared at 1 to 2 cups daily, although the evidence for a true non-linear J-shaped pattern was suggestive rather than definitive.

24 Mar 2026

Continuous wearable monitoring improves postoperative oxygen levels and patient safety

Patients continuously monitored after surgery experienced significantly less time with dangerously low oxygen levels compared to those monitored using routine spot checks, a new study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine found.

24 Mar 2026

Transportation noise linked to higher risk of major cardiac events

Living in areas with consistently higher levels of noise from transportation was associated with a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiac events compared with living in quieter areas, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

24 Mar 2026