Public Health

Home HPV Self-Sampling Kits Show Promise for Closing Cervical Screening Gap in Disabled Women

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A new study from the University of Sheffield suggests that at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits could help address persistent gaps in cervical cancer screening among physically disabled women, a population that faces disproportionate barriers to traditional in-person screenings. The National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded study, published in the Journal of Medical Screening, … Read more

State-run insurance plans for foster kids leave some of them without doctors

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Ollie Super has moved in and out of cancer treatment since she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma as a toddler in foster care. Now 8, the second grader is dealing with it again. Her cancer came back late last year. Ollie’s parents, who adopted her in 2020, tried to sign her up for a clinical trial … Read more

Italy Reports First Human Case of H9N2 Bird Flu

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An infection in Italy marks the first European case of the H9N2 avian influenza strain, though experts indicate the current risk to the public remains low. Ed Hutchinson, University of Glasgow RT’s Three Key Takeaways: Public Health Monitoring: While the immediate risk to the public is considered very low, healthcare authorities emphasize the need for … Read more

High-dose flu vaccine linked to lower Alzheimer’s disease risk

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A UTHealth Houston physician’s visit to a local public health building sparked community awareness and inspired a new research idea. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease significantly decreases in older adults who receive a higher dose of the influenza vaccine compared to the standard dose, according to new research led by UTHealth Houston.  The findings were … Read more

Cholera-causing bacteria and viruses locked in evolutionary arms race

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Cholera-causing bacteria are locked in an evolutionary arms race with a viral nemesis, according to a new genomic study. Experts at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh), the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), and their collaborators, found that in the Ganges Delta, cholera bacteria rapidly … Read more

Pesticide exposure linked to higher cancer risk in new study

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A new scientific study, published in Nature Health, reveals a strong link between exposure to agricultural pesticides in the environment and the risk of developing cancer. By combining environmental data, a nationwide cancer registry, and biological analyses, researchers from the IRD, the Institut Pasteur, the University of Toulouse, and the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases … Read more

How could bisphenol A raise depression risk? Study identifies six key molecular targets

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Researchers combined genetic epidemiology, transcriptomics, molecular docking, and mouse experiments to show how a common endocrine-disrupting chemical may influence biological pathways tied to major depressive disorder. Study: Bisphenol a exposure and major depressive disorder: an integrative analysis combining network toxicology, molecular docking, genetic epidemiology, and transcriptomic validation. Image Credit: monticello / Shutterstock A new study … Read more

Lung cancer scans can reveal signs of other undiagnosed cancers

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When doctors review diagnostic medical scans for lung cancer, they sometimes spot abnormalities unrelated to the lungs. New research shows that some of those abnormalities could be signs of other undiagnosed cancers. The study, led by researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health, analyzed lung screening data from more than 26,000 people who took … Read more

Rapid antiviral treatment reduces nursing home hospitalizations during flu outbreaks

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In nursing homes, influenza spreads quickly. Even in facilities with separate wings, staff move throughout the home, caring for medically complex older adults who often share rooms. In this way, a single case of influenza can rapidly become a facility-wide outbreak. National guidelines recommend treating all eligible nursing home residents with antiviral medications at the … Read more