Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known to be associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but how and why they are connected remains unknown. Researchers from Mass General Brigham discovered that HBV does not cause liver inflammation or cancer on its own, but worsens liver inflammation and may make patients more susceptible to early cancer development caused by environmental carcinogens. Limiting carcinogen exposure or reducing inflammation could mitigate this risk. The results are published in Nature Communications. “Our…
New survey shows only 1% of men consider bone health a top concern; what they don’t know can hurt them COLUMBUS, Ohio – Weak bones can have deadly consequences. Women often get bone density tests to screen for osteoporosis, yet many men don’t even realize they are at risk until they suffer a major fracture. June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, with a focus on raising awareness about osteoporosis in men. A new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University…
Study links coffee consumption to lower risk of all-cause mortality; benefits diminished with additives While you’re probably not pouring your morning cup for the long-term health benefits, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risk of mortality. In a new observational study, researchers from the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University found the association between coffee consumption and mortality risk changes with the amount of sweeteners and saturated fat added to…
Huntington’s disease has long defied attempts to rescue suffering neurons. A new study in Cell Reports shows that transplanting healthy human glial progenitor cells into the brains of adult animal models of the disease not only slowed motor and cognitive decline but also extended lifespan. These findings shift our understanding of Huntington’s pathology and open a potential path to cell-based therapies in adults already showing symptoms. “Glia are essential caretakers of neurons,” said Steve Goldman, MD, PhD, co-director of the…
A study involving over 700 pregnant women analyzes for the first time how air pollution may affect fetal brain development Fetuses more exposed to certain air pollutants show changes in the size of specific brain structures, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This is the main finding of a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with the BCNatal center (Hospital Sant Joan…
A new method improving the accuracy of interpreting blood pressure measurements taken at the ankle could be crucial for people who cannot have their arm blood pressure measured. New research from the University of Exeter Medical School, published in BMJ Open and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), analysed data from over 33,000 people to create a personalised predictive model for more accurately estimating arm blood pressure from ankle readings – when compared to previously…
Leg amputation caused by arterial disease four times higher in disadvantaged areas Leg amputation rates caused by arterial disease are four times as high in the most disadvantaged areas in England. The new study, from the University of Sheffield, also found patients living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are more likely to die following leg amputation compared with those living in the least disadvantaged areas. Whilst socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with a higher risk of amputation, this new study…
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A daily dose of almonds improved key health markers for people with metabolic syndrome in a study led by scientists at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU College of Health. The findings, published in Nutrition Research, showed that eating 2 ounces of almonds – about 45 nuts – daily led to signs of better cardiometabolic and gut health. The research is important because almost 40% of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have…
Among the billions of neurons in the brain, fewer than 500 are responsible for suppressing binge drinking, according to new research by Gilles E. Martin, PhD, associate professor of neurobiology. Published in Nature Neuroscience, these findings provide insights into binge drinking behavior and alcohol dependency that may lead to new therapeutic targets. “It’s really hard to comprehend how only a few neurons can have such a profound effect on behavior,” said Dr Martin, a member of the Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research…
In a major clinical study, the tool boosted productivity by up to 40% without compromising accuracy CHICAGO — A first-of-its-kind generative AI system, developed in-house at Northwestern Medicine, is revolutionizing radiology — boosting productivity, identifying life-threatening conditions in milliseconds and offering a breakthrough solution to the global radiologist shortage, a large new study finds. The findings will be published on Thursday (June 5) in JAMA Network Open. “This is, to my knowledge, the first use of AI that demonstrably improves…
By reprogramming the behavior of brain cells, new gene therapy could stop Alzheimer’s at the source Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease that could help protect the brain from damage and preserve cognitive function. Unlike existing treatments for Alzheimer’s that target unhealthy protein deposits in the brain, the new approach could help address the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease by influencing the behavior of brain cells themselves. Alzheimer’s…
New tool provides a path for a scalable, cost-effective way to assess functional decline and could help end the argument over whether aging should be categorized as a disease A team of international researchers has developed a new biological age “clock” that estimates how well someone is aging, not just how “old” they or their various organs might be. The IC Clock, which is described in a study in Nature Aging, measures intrinsic capacity (IC), the sum of six key…
A new study in Genome Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that the African Swine Fever virus, currently circulating in Europe, is not the result of a recent introduction. Instead, the virus has been present in the region since 2007. Its current dramatic spread appears to be driven largely by people within Europe traveling longer distances. African Swine Fever virus is a highly virulent DNA virus that causes a severe hemorrhagic disease of the same name affecting both…
Consensus on how mindset and surroundings shape therapy outcomes is an important step toward regulatory approval for use of drugs like MDMA and psilocybin in treatment of debilitating mental health conditions As psychedelics gain traction as potential treatments for mental health disorders, an international study led by researchers at McGill University, Imperial College London, and the University of Exeter stands to improve the rigour and reliability of clinical research. Up to now, psychedelic clinical trials have had what has been widely acknowledged…
Older people who use marijuana today have higher income, education levels Marijuana use among older adults in the US has reached a new high, with 7 percent of adults aged 65 and over who report using it in the past month, according to an analysis led by researchers with the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at the NYU School of Global Public Health. Their findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, also show that the profile of those…
Surprisingly, there was no association between biological circadian timing and impulsivity DARIEN, IL – A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting found that adolescents who prefer to sleep and wake up later (“night owls”) reported greater impulsivity than those who prefer to sleep and wake up earlier (“morning larks”). Results show that adolescents with self-reported evening preference, or “night owl” tendencies, reported greater negative urgency and lack of perseverance, which are two aspects of impulsivity….
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