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Study links socioeconomic stressors to worse pregnancy outcomes for black women

Stresses experienced by black women, such as socioeconomic inequalities, may alter key processes in the body that predispose them to worse pregnancy outcomes than white women, a study by the University of Cambridge has found.

28 Apr 2026

Obesity may leave immune cells stuck in inflammatory mode after weight loss

A new EMBO Reports study suggests that obesity can leave a lasting epigenetic imprint on CD4 T cells, delaying the restoration of adaptive immune balance after weight loss. Using mouse models and human cohorts, researchers linked this immune “memory” to DNA methylation changes, saturated fatty acids, autophagy, and immune senescence.

28 Apr 2026

GLP-1 drugs promise wider health benefits, but experts urge caution on use

GLP-1 receptor agonists are reshaping care for type 2 diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, and obstructive sleep apnea, with evidence for glycemic, weight-loss, cardiovascular, and renal benefits. The review urges nurse practitioners to balance expanding clinical promise with careful prescribing, patient education, monitoring, access advocacy, and vigilance for gastrointestinal, endocrine, pregnancy-related, and rare serious risks.

27 Apr 2026

Breastfeeding’s link to teen cognition emerges after researchers account for family background

A national study of 5,436 Chinese youths found that longer breastfeeding was not linked to cognition before adjustment, but was associated with modestly better math and word-recognition scores after socioeconomic factors were considered. The findings suggest that family socioeconomic patterns can mask breastfeeding-cognition associations, especially in settings where longer breastfeeding is more common among lower-SES households.

27 Apr 2026

Twice-yearly blood pressure treatment could reshape hypertension care, but doctors warn against a “fire-and-forget” approach

Long-acting RNA interference therapy for hypertension could shift blood pressure control from daily pill-taking to scheduled, system-led protection. But the authors warn that this “vaccine-like” model must preserve lifestyle support, monitoring, and follow-up to avoid clinical disengagement.

27 Apr 2026

GLP-1 weight loss is driven mainly by fat loss, not muscle loss

GLP-1-based therapies helped adults with overweight or obesity lose weight mainly by reducing fat mass and visceral adipose tissue, while lean body mass losses were generally modest. The findings suggest these treatments can support higher-quality weight loss when paired with individualized care, nutrition, and resistance training.

27 Apr 2026

Uterine fibroids may be less common in Latina women than previously estimated

Uterine fibroids may be less common in Latina women than earlier estimates suggested, according to new research.

27 Apr 2026

Estrogen loss after menopause impacts heart health through gene regulation

Virginia Tech scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute say the increased risk of cardiovascular disease after menopause may stem not only from declining hormone levels, but also from how those changes influence gene activity.

27 Apr 2026

New blood filtering treatment safely extends pregnancy in severe preeclampsia

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators have developed and successfully tested a new treatment for pregnant women with severe early preeclampsia, a leading cause of premature birth as well as maternal and fetal death.

27 Apr 2026

Can doula care improve pregnancy outcomes?

The role of doulas in maternal care is evolving, with studies suggesting improved health outcomes, yet further research is needed for comprehensive insights.

27 Apr 2026

Vitamin E intake linked to a key fertility hormone in women trying to conceive

A cross-sectional study of 97 women with infertility found that higher vitamin E intake was associated with lower prolactin levels and smaller hip circumference. Riboflavin and calcium intake were linked to higher muscle mass percentage, but the findings are association-based and need confirmation in longitudinal studies.

26 Apr 2026

Blue Zones longevity claims may rest on flawed records, essay argues

Essay challenges the scientific validity of the Blue Zones concept and Ancel Keys’ Lipid Hypothesis, arguing that both rest on biased data, weak records, and methodological flaws. The authors say some longevity claims may reflect clerical errors, poverty, and unreliable vital records rather than uniquely healthy lifestyles.

26 Apr 2026

Scientists will probe whether processing itself makes ultra-processed foods harmful

A randomized controlled trial protocol will test whether the cardiometabolic risks linked to ultra-processed foods stem from industrial processing, poor nutrient composition, or both. Using four controlled diets, researchers will separate the effects of UPF content from saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium on LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and blood pressure.

26 Apr 2026

Traditional plant extract may treat bone and mood disorders in postmenopausal women

Postmenopausal women are at higher risk for both osteoporosis and depression, yet no single treatment effectively addresses both conditions because their shared biological basis remains poorly understood.

25 Apr 2026

Yōni.Fit expands use for menstrual discharge management

Watkins-Conti Products, Inc. ("Watkins-Conti"), a company that develops innovative solutions for women's pelvic health, today announced the Company has added a second indication for its flagship product, the Yōni.Fit Bladder Support ("Yōni.Fit").

24 Apr 2026

Lower grip strength in early pregnancy linked to risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. In addition, HDP can lead to fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and various long-term adverse health outcomes.

24 Apr 2026

People judge weight loss more harshly when GLP-1 drugs are involved, study finds

In four pre-registered studies across Belgium, the US, and the UK, people judged anti-obesity medication users as putting in less effort and, in turn, viewed them as less moral, competent, warm, and deserving than non-users. The findings suggest that effort moralization may help drive stigma around GLP-1-based weight-loss treatment, even when medication is used alongside diet and exercise.

23 Apr 2026

Cell squeezing technology offers new breast cancer risk assessment

Researchers at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization, and the University of California, Berkeley, have created a novel microfluidic platform that can assess women's breast cancer risk at the cellular level.

23 Apr 2026

People who eat together report better wellbeing in global study

A global Scientific Reports study found that people who share more meals with others tend to report better wellbeing, with links to life evaluation and emotional states that are comparable in explanatory power to some major socioeconomic indicators. In US data, dining alone has risen sharply since 2003, and adults who ate all meals alone reported lower life ratings and less favorable daily emotions.

23 Apr 2026

Study highlights gaps in opioid use disorder care during pregnancy

Opioid use disorder during pregnancy remains a critical yet under-addressed public health issue in the U.S., according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

23 Apr 2026