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New compounds reduce inflammation without weakening immune defense

Scripps Research scientists have developed a new class of drug compounds that reduce harmful inflammation while leaving the body's ability to fight infections intact-a long-sought goal in treating autoimmune diseases.

6 Apr 2026

Flu vaccination may cut heart attack and stroke risk after infection

In Danish adults aged 40 years or older, laboratory-confirmed influenza was linked to a sharp short-term rise in first-time heart attack and stroke risk, especially in the first 7 days after infection. Prior same-season influenza vaccination was associated with about half the excess cardiovascular risk among infected individuals, suggesting possible protection even in breakthrough cases.

6 Apr 2026

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2 shows no signs of greater danger

The Global Virus Network (GVN), representing eminent human and animal virologists from more than 90 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in over 40 countries dedicated to advancing research, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness, is monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2, sometimes informally referred to in media reports as the "cicada" variant, and emphasizes that current evidence does not indicate cause for alarm or heightened public concern.

3 Apr 2026

Living near Salton Sea linked to reduced lung growth in children

Children who live within 11 kilometers of the Salton Sea, a drying body of water with a high concentration of salts and contaminants in Imperial Valley, California, have slower lung function growth between ages 10 and 12 than children who live farther away.

3 Apr 2026

Study shows how environmental factors accelerate biological age of the brain

The latest findings from the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at Trinity College Dublin identify important brain health implications for prevention, public health, and policy.

3 Apr 2026

Semaglutide for weight loss was linked to a sharp drop in alcohol use in this case report

A 2026 case report describes a 34-year-old man with obesity and alcohol use disorder whose semaglutide treatment for weight loss was associated with a marked drop in drinking over 10 months, with his AUDIT score falling from 27 to 7 and alcohol use dropping from about 15 drinks per week to half a beer per month. The authors frame this as a promising but preliminary finding that adds to growing evidence on GLP-1 drugs and alcohol use, while also stressing that this was a single case and that better AUD screening in family medicine remains important.

2 Apr 2026

Salt-adding behavior varies by gender and lifestyle factors

Salt has been used as seasoning and food preservative for thousands of years, but having too much of it can lead to various diseases, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disease.

2 Apr 2026

Many US jails lack nearby access to opioid treatment programs, study shows

A new study led by researchers at Brown University School of Public Health found that more than half of U.S. jails are located at least a 30-minute drive from the nearest opioid treatment program - a distance that may make it harder for incarcerated people to receive methadone, a key medication for opioid addiction.

2 Apr 2026

Study reveals dual trends in gallbladder cancer burden worldwide

Announcing a new article publication in BIO Integration. Gallbladder and biliary tract cancers (GBTCs) are highly lethal malignancies with a heterogeneous global burden.

2 Apr 2026

Moderate wine intake tied to slower biological aging in men

Researchers studying 22,495 adults in Southern Italy found that men with moderate wine intake in the traditional Mediterranean diet range showed slightly slower biomarker-based biological aging, with the lowest estimated aging signal at about 170 mL per day. The study also found that overall ethanol intake did not show the same moderate-level pattern, and higher total alcohol intake was linked to faster biological aging in dose-response analyses.

2 Apr 2026

Researchers find 25 ways to rate meals and diets for both health and environmental impact

This systematic review identified 25 food-based indices, termed NECIs, that combine nutritional value and environmental impact to classify or rank meals and diets. It found wide methodological variation across 27 approaches, suggesting a need for more harmonized tools to support healthier and more sustainable food choices.

2 Apr 2026