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BU professor to examine the role of postpartum hypertension on recurrent HDP risk

Samantha Parker Kelleher, along with researchers at BU School of Public Health and Boston Medical Center, will examine the role of high blood pressure during the postpartum period on the risk of developing recurrent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.

11 Jun 2026

One drink a day may be the new upper limit for safer alcohol guidance

A US cause-specific modeling study found no net protective health effect from low-level alcohol consumption, with lifetime alcohol-attributable mortality risk rising above 1 in 1,000 at just over 6.5 drinks per week for males and 7.0 drinks per week for females.

11 Jun 2026

Western diet weakens the gut’s nervous system through iron-dependent damage

A JCI study found that exposure to a Western diet in mice and to palmitic acid in murine and ex vivo human enteric nervous system models triggered ferroptosis, characterized by iron loading, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial stress, and enteric neuronal loss. Boosting Nrf2 signaling protected enteric neurons and prevented Western diet-induced delayed colonic transit in mice, pointing to a potential pathway linking dietary fat exposure to gut motility dysfunction.

10 Jun 2026

Remote work is reshaping social life and mental health in America

Zang and O’Brien’s Science Perspective highlights evidence that the post-pandemic rise in remote work has increased time spent alone and contributed to higher psychological distress among US workers. Drawing on findings from Emanuel et al., the article argues that workplaces provide an overlooked form of social infrastructure, making hybrid scheduling and institutional support important for preserving flexibility without deepening isolation.

10 Jun 2026

More movement and less sitting benefit pregnant women

Women who engage in light physical activity and lessen their sedentary time may significantly reduce the risk of key health problems during pregnancy, according to a new University of Iowa-led study.

10 Jun 2026

Remote work explains part of the post-pandemic rise in mental distress

Researchers found that workers in remote jobs spent more time alone after the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced greater psychological distress than those in non-remote jobs. The effects were strongest among people living alone, suggesting that reduced everyday social contact may be an important cost of remote work.

10 Jun 2026

Women without health insurance are far less likely to take folic acid supplement

A study reveals healthcare access, particularly insurance coverage, significantly impacts folic acid supplement use among U.S. women of reproductive age.

10 Jun 2026

Mycoplasma genitalium unlikely to drive recurrent preterm deliveries

A new study from UTHealth Houston found that the common sexually transmitted infection, Mycoplasma genitalium, also known as MGen, does not appear to increase the risk of recurrent preterm birth.

9 Jun 2026

Injectable semaglutide may improve fertility outcomes in PMOS

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz have published a proof-of-concept study in Fertility and Sterility demonstrating that injectable semaglutide may offer meaningful reproductive benefits for women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

9 Jun 2026

Radiology AI systems flag breast cancer signs six years before diagnosis

Three commercially available radiology AI systems have shown the potential to flag early signs of breast cancer up to 6 years before a diagnosis, according to a study published in Radiology, the flagship journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

9 Jun 2026

Fluctuating hormones during menopause reshape brain activity patterns

Research at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont reveals how menopause, once a taboo topic, affects brain function, reinforcing the idea that the menopause transition is not only a reproductive milestone, but also a critical neurological phase.

9 Jun 2026

New pilot program tests HPV self-collection for cervical cancer

UT Health San Antonio has been selected as a recipient of the American Cancer Society's Self-Collected Human Papillomavirus Readiness Pilot (SHaRP) grant, a national initiative designed to help health care organizations prepare for and implement HPV self-collection as part of routine cervical cancer screening.

9 Jun 2026

Fruit and vegetables sell better when supermarkets place them near the entrance

A 36-store WRAPPED study in England found that placing an expanded fresh fruit and vegetable section near discount supermarket entrances improved fresh produce sales and may modestly support healthier household purchasing and women’s diet quality.

8 Jun 2026

GLP-1 users say the drugs quiet food noise but do not replace lifestyle change

A qualitative study of 30 US adults found that GLP-1 receptor agonists often reduced “food noise,” psychological hunger, and appetite, helping patients feel more able to make deliberate lifestyle changes.

8 Jun 2026

Study links menstrual cycle timing to COVID vaccine side effects

A study of 1,474 Clue app users found that women vaccinated against COVID-19 during the follicular phase had higher odds of self-reported side effects than those vaccinated during the luteal phase.

8 Jun 2026

Frailty flags poorer blood pressure control in older women

In 1,038 older adults with hypertension attending outpatient clinics in Vietnam, frailty was more common in women than men, while overall rates of suboptimal blood pressure were similar by sex. Frailty was associated with about twice the odds of suboptimal blood pressure in women, but not in men, highlighting the need to study sex-specific and frailty-informed hypertension care.

8 Jun 2026

Brain-targeted estrogen reduces breast cancer treatment side effects

Most breast cancers are worsened by estrogens. To combat the recurrence of these cancers, clinicians treat patients with inhibitors for estrogen production, like letrozole. But many patients do not adhere to this treatment due to negative side effects.

8 Jun 2026

Healthcare and insurance access influence folic acid use among women

Access to healthcare and insurance coverage strongly influence whether women take recommended amounts of folic acid to help prevent serious birth defects, according to University of California, Irvine researchers using the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program data.

8 Jun 2026

Study evaluates how facial aging features influence age perception in women

This study enrolled 308 Chinese women aged 15–65 years to explore the relationship between chronological age, perceived age, and facial aging manifestations.

5 Jun 2026

Maternal vaccination provides protection against RSV-associated hospitalization in early infancy

A study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC published today in JAMA Network Open, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Medical Association, found that vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during pregnancy reduced the risk of hospitalization in young infants by nearly 70%.

5 Jun 2026