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UQ-developed oral vaccine marks a leap forward in the battle against hookworm infections

There's been a significant breakthrough in the development of a vaccine to prevent hookworm infection – a parasite which causes serious disease in tens of millions of people globally.

26 Oct 2021

SARS-CoV-2 delta variant generates infections more quickly than previous strains

Researchers in the UK have conducted a study suggesting that the B.1.617.2 (delta) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – is transmitted more quickly than previously circulating variants.

25 Oct 2021

COVID lockdowns affect preschoolers' eating, activity and sleep routines, parents say

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought in its wake a slew of restrictions on leaving the house, social interactions and educational or business opportunities. For very young children growing up under these conditions, the change is marked. A new study from the UK reports the effect of these changes in the typical pattern of life on preschool children.

24 Oct 2021

New mobile app facilitates continuous monitoring of the quality of life of cancer patients

A team from the Universitat Politècnica de València has developed a new mobile application that facilitates the continuous monitoring of the quality of life of cancer patients.

21 Oct 2021

Playing elite rugby may affect cognitive function in older age, study shows

Retired male elite rugby union players aged 50+ who suffered three or more rugby-related concussions during their career have no worse average cognitive function than those who had experienced no, one or two concussions, according to a new study in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

21 Oct 2021

New shorter treatment regimen found to be safer, more effective at treating drug-resistant TB

A new all-oral six-month treatment regimen is safer and more effective at treating rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) than the current accepted standard of care, according to results announced at the 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health.

20 Oct 2021

Implementation of WHO's recommended public health policies has been slow globally, says study

Karolinska Institute Implementation of WHO's recommended public health policies on alcohol, unhealthy foods and tobacco has been slow globally, according to a study led by researchers at Karolinska Institute and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, published in the journal The Lancet Global Health.

20 Oct 2021

Hygienists brace for pitched battles with dentists in fights over practice laws

This year, the Illinois legislature was considering measures to expand oral health treatment in a state where millions of people live in dental care deserts.

19 Oct 2021

Children with disabilities face special back-to-school challenges

Christopher Manzo, a boy with curly brown hair and bright-blue-and-yellow glasses, has lived a third of his five years at home because of the pandemic.

19 Oct 2021

Laser treatment shows potential to transform glaucoma management in Africa

Laser treatment has the potential to transform the management of glaucoma in Africa, and to prevent more people from going irreversibly blind, particularly in regions with high disease prevalence and incidence, suggests new research published in Lancet Global Health.

15 Oct 2021

Climate change action could significantly benefit human health in the future

Measures to tackle climate change could significantly benefit human health in the next few years, as well as in the long-term, says a new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society.

15 Oct 2021

New method to diagnose anosmia

In a recent study, researchers discuss a new method of tracking the Nav1.7 channel to reduce the reliance on more invasive diagnostic measures.

13 Oct 2021

WHO's recommendation for malaria vaccine offers a glimmer of hope for Sub-Saharan Africa

The World Health Organization's recommendation of broad deployment of the first malaria vaccine among children in Sub-Saharan Africa has been widely celebrated, but scientists warn it could face hurdles in its acquisition and distribution by endemic countries.

12 Oct 2021

Forgiveness messaging improves community acceptance of demobilized Boko Haram fighters

Demobilized Boko Haram militants facing reintegration might be helped by supportive messaging from religious leaders, according to a study released today.

11 Oct 2021

Keeping up Covid-levels of hygiene could help combat deadly antimicrobial resistance

Keeping up Covid-levels of hygiene awareness long-term could help tackle the spread of deadly antimicrobial resistance, according to new research from the University of West London (UWL) and Royal Holloway University of London.

8 Oct 2021

Antibiotics alone cannot prevent stunted growth in children, study finds

Antibiotics alone likely cannot overcome the complex factors that cause stunted growth and perpetuate the cycle of poverty in the developing world, new research suggests.

8 Oct 2021

Oral health linked to COVID-19 severity in patients with cardiac diseases

The correlation between poor oral health and COVID-19 severity, as well as the correlation between oral health and delayed recovery, demonstrates a potential need to consider oral health an additional risk factor for cardiac patients who may contract COVID-19.

7 Oct 2021

Review underscores the need to increase support for older subsidized housing residents with dementia

A recent scoping review, published online in the Journal of Aging and Environment, found that older adults with dementia or cognitive impairment who live in subsidized housing face complex challenges that, left unaddressed, threaten to exacerbate their health and ability to age in place.

6 Oct 2021

COVID-19 survivors under 40 more likely to recover from smell and taste loss, study finds

Sense of smell or taste returns within six months for 4 out of every 5 COVID-19 survivors who have lost these senses, and those under 40 are more likely to recover these senses than older adults, an ongoing Virginia Commonwealth University study found.

5 Oct 2021

Solitary confinement condemns many prisoners to long-term health issues

Sometimes, Pamela Winn isn't sure how to connect with people, even those she loves, like her 9-month-old granddaughter. When the baby is in her arms, "I sit there quietly, and I don't know what to say. What to do," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "My socializing skills are just not there anymore."