Author: healthadmin

Scientists at the Vrije Universiteit Bruxelles (VUB) have taken a major step forward in pancreatic cancer research. By mapping the healthy pancreas in detail down to the cellular level, they discovered that certain rare cells within the healthy organ already had strong similarities to the most aggressive tumor cells. This fundamental discovery, published in the leading journal Gut, opens new doors to early detection and targeted treatment of the deadly disease. Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat cancers. Part of the reason is that the biological background of different types of…

More than a dozen wildfires broke out across Southern California last month, spewing smoke and particulate matter into the air. Los Angeles public health officials issued a multi-day air quality advisory for the county, warning of “possible direct smoke effects” and advising anyone who can see or smell smoke to “avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure and limit physical activity.” The red zone on the map included Los Angeles Stadium (also known as SoFi Stadium), one of the venues for soccer’s marquee World Cup event, which begins Thursday. Eight games will be held in Los Angeles from June 12th to July 10th,…

After the Associated Press stylebook’s surprising decision to move from “health care” to “healthcare” in April, it sparked a heated debate among readers as well as the STAT newsroom, which uses a slightly modified version of the Associated Press style. As STAT’s executive director of editorial operations and a longtime copy editor, I consulted with colleagues and enlisted the help of readers. The battle for a single space that has been raging for years may seem a bit ridiculous from the outside, but perhaps it is. However, this issue is probably of great importance and many people, including myself, have…

The largest study ever conducted on opioid analgesics found that these commonly prescribed drugs often provide only limited short-term relief for acute pain, and in some cases, no meaningful effect at all. Researchers at the University of Sydney led the study, which looked at the effectiveness and safety of opioid drugs such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone and tramadol. This analysis combined evidence from 59 systematic reviews covering over 50 acute pain conditions affecting both children and adults. Published in a magazine drugthis review provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of where opioids are helpful, where they are not helpful,…

The world’s biggest banks pledged $906 billion in loans to the fossil fuel industry last year, a new report reveals, an “incalculable” increase in investment to secure coal, oil and gas production for many more years as the world continues to heat up.The surge in new fossil fuel financing is an increase of $64 billion (about 8%) compared to 2024 and shows that the world’s 65 largest banks are making decisions that are at odds with international agreements to limit global temperature rise, according to a coalition of environmental groups behind the new analysis.JPMorgan Chase invested $58 billion in the…

Scientists have identified a previously unknown mechanism that may help cancer evade the immune system. The discovery focuses on SLAMF6, a molecule on the surface of immune cells that can prevent T cells from launching a powerful attack against tumors. In experiments using mice, the researchers also developed a way to block its activity. The findings come from a team led by Dr. Andre Veillette, a professor of medicine at the University of Montreal and director of the Molecular Tumor Research Unit at the Institut Clinical Research de Montréal (IRCM), which is affiliated with UdeM. Their research was published in…

Researchers in the Del Monte Laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have for the first time observed defects in protein repair systems associated with unique misfolded protein plaques previously observed in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). IDCM is a heart muscle condition that may go unnoticed until the patient has advanced heart failure. The laboratory’s latest discoveries are Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology The paper, an Editor’s Choice and Journal Cover selection, shows that there is a defect in the repair system for misfolded and damaged proteins. Through a comprehensive study of three major divisions…

New Australian research has revealed why we walk slower and get more tired as we age. As a result, the body is increasingly sacrificing efficiency to maintain an upright position. The study, led by Flinders University and the University of Canberra, reveals that as we age, our bodies adopt a “safety first” gait that prioritizes stability at the expense of speed and energy efficiency, helping to explain why older people tire more easily and are at increased risk of falls. Analyzing movement data from 107 healthy adults aged 26 to 86, researchers identified subtle but important changes in the way…

WASHINGTON — A report on the health effects of alcohol, commissioned by the federal government but unpublished under President Trump, was published Tuesday in the journal Science. The study found that even low levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of various illnesses and death. The Alcohol Consumption and Health Study began in 2023 and was conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as part of an update to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. However, the panel’s research quickly became embroiled in controversy, with some members of Congress and alcohol industry trade groups claiming that the…

One of the challenges facing public health officials in reducing diet-related illnesses is the relatively easy and inexpensive availability of sugar-sweetened beverages around the world. To address this burden, public health organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend that governments tax sugar-sweetened beverages. New research from the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University’s Gerald J. Friedman and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy shows that the policy is being adopted at an accelerating rate around the world, with 64 countries passing health-focused sugary beverage taxes between 1990 and 2024, affecting…