With three people dead and 11 cases from the recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, UMD's internationally renowned expert on airborne viruses, Dr. Don Milton, joins public health colleagues in an opinion piece in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to shift its default response to emerging respiratory viruses.

13 May 2026

Air pollution linked to rising kidney disease hospitalization risks

A study supported by FAPESP and published in the journal Scientific Reports showed a strong correlation between the concentration of particulate matter in the air of São Paulo, Brazil – primarily emitted by vehicle fuel combustion – and kidney disease.

13 May 2026

Expert questions benefits of new UK drug approval pathway

A new UK drug approval pathway, designed to speed up the availability of new medicines, benefits industry over patients and the NHS, argues an expert in The BMJ today.

13 May 2026

Wastewater monitoring may predict influenza outbreaks one week earlier

Seasonal influenza can spread rapidly, and timely information on rising cases is essential for public health decisions and healthcare resource planning.

13 May 2026

Why experts say PCOS needs a new name

A Lancet Health Policy paper reports an international consensus process that selected polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) as the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The change aims to shift the focus away from ovarian cysts and better reflect the condition’s endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian features.

13 May 2026

Higher body mass index linked to financial problems, loneliness, and stress

New research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May) shows that higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with more financial problems, loneliness, and stress.

13 May 2026

Global hypertension burden rising sharply in lower-income countries

In theory, hypertension is a disease that is both easy to test for and readily treatable with existing medications and lifestyle interventions.

13 May 2026

Genetic schizophrenia risk linked to neurodevelopmental changes during early adolescence

Research has found that children with higher genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia show decreases in frontal cortical surface area during early adolescence, in contrast to the regional expansion observed in children with low genetic susceptibility.

13 May 2026

Study links obesity with fewer pleasant emotions during physical activity

A recent study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä investigated the emotions evoked by physical activity and what motivates people across different weight groups to exercise.

13 May 2026

Study explains how APOE2 gene protects the brain against Alzheimer's disease

People who carry the APOE2 version of the apolipoprotein E gene are more likely to live to advanced age and are partly protected against Alzheimer's disease, but scientists have struggled to explain why.

13 May 2026

Sports coaches can improve health for athletes with disabilities

Research highlights the role of sports coaches in enhancing health for athletes with disabilities, focusing on collaboration and effective health promotion.

13 May 2026

Osteoporosis may increase mortality risk in postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis, which is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women, has long been associated with an increased risk of fractures.

13 May 2026

AI models predict sudden cardiac arrest risk using health records

Researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) models that can scrutinize electronic health records (EHR) and electrocardiograms to identify individuals in the general population at elevated risk for sudden cardiac arrest - a condition that causes more than 400,000 U.S. deaths annually and has a survival rate of only 10%.

13 May 2026

Global effort redefines the most common hormonal disorder in women

A global effort led by Monash University has changed the name of a significant women's health condition that was misunderstood to be 'all about ovarian cysts'.

13 May 2026

Home-based assessments may detect early mobility risks

Predicting whether a healthy 45-year-old will struggle to climb stairs or walk a decade later has long been a challenge for geriatric medicine.

12 May 2026

Interactive AI model improves explainable lung cancer diagnosis from CT scans

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, making early and accurate diagnosis essential for improving patient outcomes.

12 May 2026

Why is the US falling behind other high-income nations on survival?

A JAMA Network Open study found that the US recorded 12.7 million excess deaths compared with 17 peer high-income countries between 1999 and 2022. Circulatory and metabolic diseases drove much of the burden, while drug poisonings, alcohol-related deaths, and suicide sharply widened the gap among younger Americans.

12 May 2026

How diabetes could drain $5 trillion from the global economy by 2050

A macroeconomic modelling study across 190 countries and territories estimates that diabetes could reduce global economic output by INT$5.177 trillion between 2021 and 2050. Most projected losses stem from diabetes-related disability and morbidity, with high-income countries facing the largest dollar losses and low- and middle-income countries carrying most of the disease burden.

12 May 2026

Bedfont® Scientific recognized for global growth with SEHTA Awards export shortlist

Bedfont® Scientific Limited, an innovative MedTech company that specialises in designing and manufacturing medical breath analysis devices, is thrilled to have been shortlisted in the Export Achievement category at the Science and Engineering Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA) Healthcare Business Awards 2026.

From Bedfont® Scientific Ltd 12 May 2026