Efficacy News and Research

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Soap shortages undermine global hand hygiene efforts

A lack of soap is the most often reported barrier to effective hand hygiene-key to curbing the spread of infection-in shared community spaces, such as households, schools, and public places, finds a systematic review of the available research, published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.

17 Sep 2025

A new tool in the fight against obesity: Orforglipron's substantial weight loss results

New research presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, Austria (Sept 15-19) and simultaneously published in NEJM shows that daily treatment with the new once-daily GLP-1 agonist orforglipron results in substantial weight loss in people living with obesity that do not have type 2 diabetes.

17 Sep 2025

The mind-gut connection: How emotional eating affects GLP-1 drug success

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic can be a lifeline for people with diabetes - helping stabilize blood glucose and lose weight which contributes to diabetes complications. But not everyone benefits equally.

17 Sep 2025

Brain shunt surgery improves walking and quality of life in older adults with hydrocephalus

Implanting a brain shunt in older people diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is effective in improving their symptoms, a randomized, double-blinded, multi-center patient trial shows.

16 Sep 2025

Novel biotechnical vector integrates viral and synthetic features for targeted cancer therapy

Gene therapy offers the possibility of addressing cancer at its molecular roots by targeting disease-causing genes rather than relying solely on surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.

16 Sep 2025

Higher-dose semaglutide helps people lose nearly 19% of body weight

The STEP UP trial reveals semaglutide 7.2 mg significantly reduces weight compared to 2.4 mg, though it raises questions about gastrointestinal side effects.

16 Sep 2025

Survey shows high levels of mental health difficulties among young adults

The majority (64%) of young adults in Britain say they have experienced mental health difficulties, with a third (32%) expecting to need support in the coming year, according to polling commissioned from YouGov by UCL's Grand Challenge of Mental Health & Wellbeing.

16 Sep 2025

Philippines unveils new technologies to detect and manage African Swine Fever

Three new technologies to detect and manage African Swine Fever have been unveiled in the Philippines amid ongoing concerns about a vaccine imported from Vietnam.

15 Sep 2025

Specially formulated eye drops may offer a simple solution for presbyopia patients

Everybody develops presbyopia as they age – a difficulty in focusing on near objects and text – and often have to resort to reading glasses. However, the solution might be as simple as using special eye drops two or three times a day.

15 Sep 2025

How processed red meat might drive neurodegenerative diseases

The relationship between processed red meat and neurodegenerative diseases is complex, with potential risks and protective effects requiring more investigation.

15 Sep 2025

RSV vaccine slashes hospitalizations in older adults in real-world trial

A large, real-world randomized trial in Denmark found that the RSVpreF vaccine reduced RSV-related hospitalizations in adults aged 60 and over by over 80%. The vaccine also showed protection against broader respiratory illness with a favorable safety profile.

15 Sep 2025

Genetic study shows dual GIPR/GLP1R action curbs binge alcohol use

Researchers used drug-target Mendelian randomization to test whether genetically proxied activation of GLP1R and GIPR influences alcohol-related behaviors. They found that GIPR, especially when combined with GLP1R, was linked to lower binge and heavy drinking, healthier food preferences, improved liver markers, and reduced coronary artery disease risk.

15 Sep 2025

Ketogenic diets may lower migraine frequency and medication use

This narrative review argues that the migraine brain is hypometabolic, with converging evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired glucose handling, neuroinflammation, microbiome shifts, and obesity-related pathways. It proposes ketogenic diets as a plausible preventive strategy that may reduce monthly migraine days and medication use, while emphasizing the need for larger, rigorous randomized trials and careful clinical oversight.

14 Sep 2025

Rice University team develops tool to track protein aggregation hot spots

A novel strategy developed at Rice University allows scientists to zoom in on tiny segments of proteins inside living cells, revealing localized environmental changes that could indicate the earliest stages of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer.

13 Sep 2025

Research reveals undisclosed active ingredients in retail mushroom products

"Magic mushroom" edibles sold at smoke shops and convenience stores are likely to contain no psilocybin but instead a range of undisclosed active ingredients, a study led by an Oregon State University College of Pharmacy scientist shows.

13 Sep 2025

A universal solution emerges: Anti-linker antibodies simplify CAR-T detection and development

CAR-T cell therapy has demonstrated remarkable success in treating hematologic malignancies and is now expanding into solid tumors.

From Sino Biological Inc. 13 Sep 2025

Repurposed diabetes drugs boost CAR T therapy effectiveness in bladder cancer

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the second most common genitourinary cancer, leading to over 16,000 deaths a year in the United States. Despite recent advances, the 5-year survival rate for metastatic UC remains around five to ten percent.

12 Sep 2025

BU professor wins RF1 $3.2M grant for age-related neuropathology research

Tara Moore, PhD, professor of anatomy & neurobiology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has been awarded a five-year, RF1 $3.2M grant from the NIH's National Institute of Aging for her project "Extracellular vesicle treatment and age-related neuropathology in non-human primates."

11 Sep 2025

Fitness study shows exercise at work can cut chronic disease risks

Researchers evaluate the efficacy of this exercise-based workplace health promotion program at the University of L’Aqulia.

11 Sep 2025

Elinzanetant reduces hot flashes in menopause

The OASIS-3 trial demonstrates elinzanetant's effectiveness in alleviating menopausal symptoms, reducing hot flashes significantly over a year-long study.

11 Sep 2025