Author: healthadmin
The explosion in our use of semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) after its FDA approval for chronic weight management in 2021 was accompanied by another trend that caught the attention of researchers. That’s a dramatic increase in the number of calls to poison control centers across the United States. Jordan Miller, then an undergraduate at the University of Texas at San Antonio, wanted to know whether the spike in poison control cases was directly related to the FDA’s expanded approval of semaglutide, or whether the timing was simply coincidental. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), originally introduced as a treatment for type…
Forus, a health tech startup that uses artificial intelligence to automate prescription workflows, is partnering with the American College of Gastroenterology to improve access to medicines for patients with gastrointestinal conditions. Forus, formerly known as Tandem, has built an artificial intelligence-powered network that connects physicians, pharmacies, payers, and biopharmaceuticals to automate the prescription-to-patient path. Forus’ technology handles the tedious back-end administrative tasks that often create friction points and make it difficult for patients to get the medications they need. The company automates prior authorizations, appeals, financial assistance, and pharmacy routing between various parties. It is free for both doctors and…
A specific extract from the roots of the American ginseng plant protects brain connections and improves memory in older rats. Researchers have found that this botanical supplement strengthens the brain’s natural cellular waste disposal system, helping neurons survive the physical stress of aging. The study was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. As organisms age, cells gradually lose the ability to repair damaged or misfolded proteins. This biological decline is particularly problematic in the brain, where cells must last a lifetime. Neurons rely heavily on microscopic waste management systems to maintain structural integrity and process information without interruption. Consistent removal of…
Trees won’t continue to grow as long as they continue photosynthesizing, according to new research published in . scientific progress. Researchers found that oak trees continue to absorb carbon dioxide even after they have finished their annual growth, suggesting that forests may store less carbon in wood than many climate models currently show. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that high rates of photosynthesis naturally promote tree growth. If trees continue to capture carbon without converting much of it into new wood, less carbon may remain locked up in the long term. Trees continue to absorb carbon even when they…
Artificial intelligence has real thermal problems. Cooling next-generation computer chips for AI will require millions of gallons of water or large amounts of electricity. Both aroused fierce public opposition. The industry’s thermal tradeoffs threaten to deepen its unpopularity in communities where concerns about the economic and environmental burden of data centers are growing. When businesses choose to conserve water when cooling their facilities, electricity demand spikes. Reducing electricity increases water usage. One option would increase carbon emissions and strain the power grid. The other depletes natural resources. “There are no easy answers. There are a lot of tradeoffs to this,”…
The Australian study suggests that maternal diet may subtly shape the immune profile of breast milk, but only one inflammatory marker showed a significant association with dietary inflammatory status. Study: Evaluation of maternal dietary inflammatory status and inflammatory markers in breast milk. Image credit: Baba.Images/Shutterstock.com The foods that breastfeeding mothers eat can have a subtle influence on the immune composition of their breast milk, according to a new Australian study that looked at inflammatory markers in breast milk. This study Pro Swan. Can a mother’s diet influence breast milk inflammation? Human milk is a complex bioactive fluid containing several important…
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have uncovered how humans develop sharp central vision before birth, identifying carefully timed interactions between vitamin A-derived molecules and thyroid hormones in the retina. The discovery challenges decades-old explanations of how important light-sensing cells are formed and could guide future treatments for macular degeneration, glaucoma and other vision-damaging diseases. The study, which was based on retinal tissue grown in the lab, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Lab-grown retina reveals how clear vision is formed “This is an important step toward understanding the inner workings of the central retina, a critical part of the…
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified which opioids are most likely to be associated with respiratory depression in a major new study. Fentanyl, opioid combination therapy, oxycodone, and morphine are associated with a higher risk compared to codeine in patients treated for non-cancer pain. This research was funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Advanced Fellowship and supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Center (BRC) and the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Their findings were published in BMC Medicine on August 7, 2026. It was announced amid concerns that the use of…
highlights Matt Wilsey has spent 10 years and $70 million developing a treatment for his daughter Grace, who faces a deadly, ultra-rare disease. His company is currently treating 10 patients, including Grace, in clinical trials, but lacks funding and doesn’t yet have what the FDA needs for approval. He is putting pressure on officials anyway, setting up a crucial test case for regulators and those developing treatments for patients facing deadly rare diseases. SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Wilsey adjusted the plastic tube coming out of his 15-year-old daughter’s stomach and again tried not to think about it for the next…
Almost 150 years after gallium was first discovered and added to the periodic table, scientists at the University of Auckland have revealed previously unknown details about the metal’s atomic structure and behavior. Gallium was discovered in 1875 by French chemist Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudrin. It is best known for its unusually low melting point, so much so that a spoonful of gallium will dissolve in hot tea. This metal also plays an important role in semiconductors and many modern electronic technologies. A newly reported discovery focuses on how gallium behaves at the atomic level, revealing properties that challenge decades of…