Public Health News and Research

RSS

Substances linked to bladder cancer found in the urine of e-cigarette users

An analysis of evidence from multiple scientific studies found six substances that have a strong link to bladder cancer in the urine of people who had used electronic cigarettes and sometimes other tobacco products, researchers from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and NYU Langone Health reported.

19 Mar 2020

Was the novel coronavirus really sneaky in its spread to the U.S.? Experts say no

Unveiling a series of policies meant to mitigate the threat of COVID-19, President Donald Trump also sought to respond to criticism that his administration has been slow to deal with what is now a worldwide pandemic.

19 Mar 2020

Mental stress may be a stronger predictor of repeat heart attack

We all have stress in our lives--whether it's due to financial woes, work pressures, relationship issues, illness or even natural disasters or health crises like the emerging coronavirus.

19 Mar 2020

Hypertension-related deaths increase in the U.S across all age groups

While it typically has no symptoms, high blood pressure--or hypertension--has serious health consequences.

19 Mar 2020

Homeless heart attack patients receive less treatment and are more likely to be readmitted

Homelessness has become a social crisis and public health problem around the world, affecting people of all ages. Most homeless people are at a disadvantage with few resources, and may or may not have adequate health insurance.

19 Mar 2020

Funeral homes, families ponder deaths in the age of COVID-19

As COVID-19 cases spread across the nation, disrupting daily routines for the living, growing numbers of U.S. businesses and families are changing how they deal with the dead.

19 Mar 2020

MAFLD: New terminology can help improve treatment for patients with fatty liver disease

An international consensus panel led by researchers from The Westmead Institute for Medical Researchhas highlighted the need to redefine Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and to name it Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Researchers highlighted that the new terminology will better reflect its causes, and improve public health initiatives.

18 Mar 2020

Key COVID-19 information for gastroenterologists and patients with digestive conditions

A paper published today in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology by clinicians at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai outlines key information gastroenterologists and patients with chronic digestive conditions need to know about COVID-19, or coronavirus.

18 Mar 2020

Obese children more prone to anxiety, depression and shortening of life

Two studies published in the journals PLOS Medicine and BMC Medicine in March 2020 show that obesity in childhood is linked to a higher risk of future anxiety, depression, and death in early adult life compared to children in the general population. This could shape efforts to detect specific risk factors that predispose children to obesity and thus prevent it.

18 Mar 2020

A view from the front lines of California’s COVID-19 battle

On Tuesday, Dr. Jeanne Noble devoted time between patient visits to hanging clear 2-gallon plastic bags at each of her colleagues' workstations.

18 Mar 2020

Drug from scorpion venom could offer hope for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

A research team led by Children's National Hospital faculty was able to "rescue" a pre-clinical model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in juvenile models, reversing motor skill deficits with the help of a novel drug derived from scorpion venom.

18 Mar 2020

UK puts emergency laws in place for coronavirus

The United Kingdom has announced emergency laws to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), giving the government more powers to protect public health, strengthen social care, support the public, and boost the NHS capacity.

18 Mar 2020

Researchers study how changing seasons will affect coronavirus spread

One of the biggest unknowns about the coronavirus is how changing seasons will affect its spread. Physicists from the University of Utah have received the university's first COVID-19-related grant to tackle the question.

18 Mar 2020

Take a deep breath: Making risk-based decisions in the coronavirus era

Just last week, it seemed OK to have lunch out or maybe meet up with friends for a game of pickup soccer.

18 Mar 2020

New AI system can predict air pollution levels hours in advance

An unusual concept for us here in the UK, but it is a genuine concern for communities all over the world with air pollution killing an estimated seven million people every year.

18 Mar 2020

UCLA researcher awarded NIH grant to study pain-relieving effects of cannabis chemicals

Ziva Cooper, research director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, has been awarded a $3.9 million grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the NIH to study whether cannabis chemicals called terpenes can reduce the amount of opioid medication a person needs to reduce pain.

18 Mar 2020

E-cigarette use increases while new studies reveal heart health risks

A new study adds to mounting evidence that the use of electronic cigarettes, or vaping, has increased in recent years among U.S. adults, with nearly 1 in 20 reporting current use of e-cigarettes, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology.

18 Mar 2020

Strict measures to halt coronavirus spread will reduce deaths

Amid the coronavirus global pandemic, it is still unclear which government measures are useful in curbing the spread of the virus. Some countries had imposed lockdowns and community quarantines, while others took time to restrict population movement before they closed schools and nonessential businesses. Others are still allowing regular routines despite an increasing number of infections.

18 Mar 2020

Lessons learned from three Singapore COVID-19 clusters

A study published in the journal The Lancet in March 2020 reports on three clusters of COVID-19 that happened in Singapore in February 2020. The first was because of a tour group, the second a company conference, and the third a church gathering.

17 Mar 2020

Who should stay at home due to coronavirus?

COVID-19 is a spreading viral illness, mostly mild but fatal in the sick and elderly. At present, it has affected almost 200,000 people, with nearly 8,000 deaths worldwide. Governments around the world are formulating and executing new guidelines to control the spread of the virus. In the latest guidelines, pregnant women join the list of individuals who must stay away from all social contact for 12 weeks to limit the spread of the virus and deaths due to the illness.

17 Mar 2020