Author: healthadmin

White Americans who feel they are on the political losing side are more likely to oppose economic redistribution programs. This effect emerges only when people directly compare their political status to that of racial minorities. The results of this study were published in the academic journal Research and Politics. Economic redistribution involves transferring wealth and income within a society, usually through taxes and social welfare programs. In many developed countries, high levels of income inequality typically increase public demand for these programs. The United States is a notable exception to this trend. Although the country is characterized by large economic…

The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was only confirmed to be ongoing over the weekend, is already the fourth largest on record. The deadly virus is widespread in conflict zones, and the recent experience with Ebola shows it will be difficult to contain. There is no vaccine that targets the virus strain, Bundibugyo, which is prevalent there. However, there is a small amount of scientific evidence to suggest that the existing licensed Ebola vaccine, Merck’s Ervevo, may provide some protection against the Zaire Ebola virus, a different strain of Ebola, even though it is…

Novartis’ cross-border partnerships are at odds. A Swiss pharmaceutical company has unilaterally terminated its factory lease agreement with Chinese CDMO Porton Pharma Solutions following regulatory issues. Porton clarified the controversy in a May 13 release (in Chinese, PDF). Porton said Novartis reserves the right to sue for 54.7 million euros (about $63.7 million) in potential damages and service fees, along with the eviction notice, effective immediately. (Porton is not to be confused with Porton Biopharma, which was spun out from Public Health England). Porton said he disagreed with Novartis’ position and that communications and negotiations with the Swiss drugmaker were…

Engaging in stimulating hobbies in midlife tends to protect brain health more than just minimizing medical risks, providing evidence of strong protection against cognitive decline. Activities such as playing the piano, traveling abroad and socializing with friends are powerful ways to reduce the risk of memory loss, according to new research from Trinity College, Dublin. The study was published in the journal Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: diagnosis, evaluation, and disease monitoring. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory, thinking, and the ability to perform simple tasks. This is the most common cause of dementia and is…

Even as the specter of new drug prices looms over President Donald Trump’s Most Favored Nation policy, drug companies continue to fight Medicare price negotiations under the Biden-era Inflation Control Act, with limited success. Hail Mary efforts by a small number of companies to have their criticisms of the law heard in the U.S. high court have failed, as the industry has suffered a series of defeats challenging the IRA. The Supreme Court declined to hear lawsuits challenging the Biden-era program from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim, according to a summary (PDF) of…

For decades, ultrasound has been associated with diagnosis. That is, the monitor that shows your first images of your regular scans, organs, tissues, or baby in your hospital room. But researchers are now looking at ultrasound from a completely different perspective. A new discovery by scientists at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) suggests that ultrasound can not only help doctors see inside the body, but also that low-frequency ultrasound can directly influence blood flow, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures and medications in the future and opening new possibilities to support the treatment of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and…

The drug tezepelumab has been shown to significantly reduce exacerbations in patients with severe asthma in clinical trials. Now, new research presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows it is safe and effective in real patients as well. “Tezepelumab in real-world US patients with severe asthma across phenotypes and underrepresented populations: the Phase 4 PASSAGE study” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Online on May 18th. PASSAGE found that tezepelumab was associated with better outcomes in smokers, patients with coexisting asthma and COPD, adolescents, and black/African American patients, all groups typically excluded or underrepresented in clinical trials.…

Cancer patients who interact with an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar doctor before meeting a real consultant feel more knowledgeable and less stressed. According to a study presented at the European Society of Radiation Therapy Oncology Congress (ESTRO 2026). The study was presented by Dr. Adam Leben, chief of radiation oncology at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Christiana Care Research Institute in Newark, Delaware, USA. “We know that patient understanding of cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, is essential to ensuring informed consent. It also improves patient satisfaction and makes them more likely to continue and complete treatment,” he said.…

“Why do patients with dementia and cognitive decline continue to be stuck in past memories?” Researchers at KAIST have become the first in the world to identify the existence of a “neural switch” in the brain that selectively recalls the most recent memories. This study reveals the principle by which the brain selects necessary information between past and new memories, and offers new possibilities for future treatments for memory decline and cognitive inflexibility. On May 17, KAIST announced that a research team led by Professor Han Jin-hee of the Department of Biological Sciences has discovered, for the first time in…

First, it was named after two men. The name was then given based on a false premise. More than a century later, one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women around the world has a science-backed name. A global consortium of medical professionals, patients and advocates has announced that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) should henceforth be known as polyendocrine-metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The changes, which have been 14 years in the making, were unveiled this week at the European Society of Endocrinology congress. Experts in gynecology and endocrinology, as well as experts in adolescent medicine (PMOS is diagnosed in…