Author: healthadmin

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and can cause many types of cancer. Prophylactic HPV vaccination is highly effective and has been recommended in Switzerland for girls and young women aged 11 to 26 since 2007, and for boys and young men since 2015. Women up to the age of 45 can receive a booster vaccination.HPV vaccination is well documented among adolescents across Switzerland, with 71% of girls and 49% of boys vaccinated between 2020 and 2022. However, data on HPV vaccination among adults and the factors that influence their vaccination behavior are so far…

An international team led by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, McGill University, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has discovered what drives the growth of a deadly childhood brain tumor called posterior fossa type A (PFA) ependymomas. The researchers report in the journal nature Androgens, commonly known as male hormones, promote the growth of PFA ependymomas, but not other brain tumors. Importantly, blocking androgen signaling reduces tumor growth. This discovery opens up new therapeutic approaches to this currently untreatable childhood cancer. “The cause of PFA ependymoma growth has remained a mystery for quite some…

To better understand and potentially treat the many conditions that affect early cognition, neurodevelopment, and the brain later in life, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have been mapping the molecular structure of the human brain around the world. These models, supported in part by federal and international research grants, are helping researchers study the genetic connections and pathways involved in diseases ranging from autism spectrum disorders, which affect about 1 in 31 children, or 3%, in the United States, to Alzheimer’s disease, which is estimated to affect more than 7 million U.S. adults, including 1 in 9, or 11%, over…

As whole-person care accelerates across the U.S. health care system, clinicians face serious outcome gaps. Lifestyle and upstream health factors that lead to chronic disease remain largely unmeasured, undocumented, and uncompensated in health data systems. To fill this gap, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) launched the Lifestyle Medicine Whole Person Health Index (LMWPHI), a point-of-care assessment tool designed to support the delivery of whole-person care in daily clinical practice. LMWPHI is the operational center of high-quality, evidence-based, high-value care and is part of the national Epic Foundation system, with an updated version scheduled to be relaunched in May.…

After much of the United States experienced one of the coldest winters in recent memory, new research has uncovered serious dangers that are often overlooked. Colder seasons are associated with significantly higher rates of death from heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease compared to milder periods. Research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific meeting (ACC.26) also shows that hot weather increases cardiovascular mortality rates, although the increase is much smaller. Previous studies have linked extreme temperatures to increased cardiovascular mortality, but many of those studies focused on other countries or only parts of the United States.…

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, but only a minority of patients respond to monotherapy and immune-related adverse events remain a major concern. Therefore, the search for biomarkers that can more accurately predict efficacy before starting treatment is intensifying. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) has emerged as one of the leading candidates, as it reflects the number of tumor mutations that can generate neoantigens that can trigger antitumor immune responses. But that enthusiasm is tempered by practical issues. Different sample types, sequencing panels, thresholds, bioinformatics pipelines, and reporting styles can all yield different answers. Because of these challenges and the…

Mass spectrometry is a widely used technique that helps scientists determine what molecules are present in a sample and how much of each molecule is present. However, most current instruments examine molecules one at a time or in very small groups. This approach is time-consuming, expensive, and can miss rare but important molecules hidden among abundant molecules. More advanced versions of this technology could eventually allow researchers to capture the complete molecular makeup of a single cell, monitor thousands of chemical reactions simultaneously, and speed up processes such as drug discovery. A new study describes early steps toward that goal.…

Research published in scientific report We found that straight women reported feeling more jealousy when they imagined a more feminine-looking woman flirting with their romantic partner. Although this pattern was present among lesbian participants, the strength of the association was significantly weaker. Facial femininity is the degree to which a person’s facial features exhibit characteristics typically associated with female faces. These features include larger eyes, fuller lips, a smaller chin and chin, higher eyebrows, and smoother facial contours. Facial femininity is influenced by biological factors such as sex hormones, especially estrogen, during development. Researchers most often study facial femininity in…

Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Blue Sky. You can contact Helen on Signal at hbranswell.01.With no end in sight to the leadership impasse at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Trump administration confirmed Wednesday that it will not name a new director by a procedural deadline. In order to keep someone in the acting CDC director position, the administration had until Wednesday to bring forward a nominee for the position, but a series of interim people have been named to the position…

Global refugee crises often evoke varying levels of public sympathy, with some displaced groups receiving a warmer welcome than others. A recent psychological study found that while a general sense of empathy strongly drives public support for all refugees, the race of the displaced person can sway the opinions of white Americans who have low levels of empathy. This research Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. People fleeing conflict or persecution rely on host countries to provide safe harbor. Refugees differ from voluntary economic migrants in that they are forced from their homes to escape violence. Because their work is…