Author: healthadmin

The researchers added a stain to microplastic beads to observe the microbes that formed on their surfaces after incubation in Virginia’s York River. (Kelly Uhrig) Research published in journals in 2025 FEMS Microbiology Ecology found that certain microorganisms that colonize microplastics not only degrade the plastic, but also have the potential to remove nitrogen from Chesapeake Bay waters.”If we can figure out the bacteria, grow the bacteria, manipulate the bacteria… so that they can actually eat plastic effectively and break it down naturally, we’re hopeful that this will be a much better way to address the plastic problem in the…

Almost one-third of college students surveyed reported having sex while riding in or driving a moving vehicle. Couples often consider this action a fun adventure, despite the obvious dangers on the road. A new study published in the Journal of Sex Research finds that this behavior involves high rates of distracted driving, and there are significant differences in orgasm rates between men and women. For nearly a century, automobiles have provided couples with a private place to explore their sexuality away from family and roommates. Most of the academic literature on this topic focuses on the well-known parking behavior. The…

Seattle is best known for the seismic hazard posed by the massive Cascadia subduction zone just offshore. But researchers say another threat lies much closer to the city itself. New research published in GSA breaking news Researchers investigated the complex fault system that runs directly beneath Seattle and nearby areas, revealing that small faults in the region may be much more active than previously known. “My job as a paleoseismologist is to figure out when and how often these local faults rupture, which helps us roughly predict when the next potential rupture will occur,” says geologist Dr. Stephen Unster of…

You’re reading the web version of DC Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about health and medical politics and policy. Sign up here to get it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Would you rather get squeaky cheese curds from a MAHA senator or a fake subpoena and Tylenol from your smart-aleck Kennedy cousin? What I want is a hint about the next news. (email protected) Or Signal’s John_Wilkerson.07. Cassidy lost. Well, what is it? The loss of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the primary is a victory for MAHA, Chelsea Siluzzo reports, but it is just one of several shifts…

New research published in journal alcohol and alcoholism The findings suggest that moderate to heavy drinking tends to be associated with increased inflammation in the body, even in people who maintain a nutritious diet. This study provides evidence that eating well alone may not be enough to counteract the harmful physical effects of frequent alcohol consumption. Scientists Kailyn Roeder and Jimicae Beck-Courtney wanted to better understand how two common lifestyle factors, diet and alcohol intake, interact to influence chronic systemic inflammation. Jimikaye Beck Courtney is an assistant professor and A. Donald and Billy J. Stallings Research Fellow at the University…

As the U.S. population ages, scientists are looking for ways to help people stay healthy later in life. By 2050, nearly one in four Americans will be over the age of 65, with many expected to live into their 90s. Although modern medicine has dramatically extended lifespans, aging still poses serious physical challenges, including weakened immunity, chronic inflammation, bone loss, fatigue, and decreased physical strength. Researchers at the University at Buffalo think they may have found an important clue to slowing down some of the changes associated with aging. Scientists target ‘inflammation’ Aging is often accompanied by an ongoing low-level…

Two months after UCB revealed the success of Bimzerx in a head-to-head trial with AbbVie’s Skyridi in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the Belgian drugmaker has released detailed results. In a Phase 3B study of 553 patients, 49% of patients in the Bimzelx group experienced a reduction in disease activity at week 16, compared with 38% in the Skyrizi group. The results were deemed statistically significant, UCB said. The primary endpoint of disease activity was measured by ACR50, a composite efficacy measure specified by the American College of Rheumatology. ACR50 indicates a 50% or greater improvement from baseline in the…

Roche has entered into a voluntary licensing agreement to provide the popular anti-influenza virus drug Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) to generic drug manufacturers in 129 developing countries. MPP said in a May 18 release that the agreement with the Pharmaceutical Patent Pool will enable generic supply of baloxavir in 129 low- and middle-income countries and “support both seasonal influenza and broader pandemic preparedness and response efforts.” The agreement creates “additional supply channels for equitable access, which is particularly important during the pandemic when demand is at its highest,” UN aid agency MPP said in a statement. As part of the agreement…

With questions already swirling about the real affordability impact of the government’s drug purchasing portal TrumpRx, the White House is updating the platform to address key gaps in the drugs on its list, although many caveats remain. The expansion of TrumpRx.gov announced by President Donald Trump on Monday will add more than 600 generic drugs to the platform. The site allows patients to compare covered prices for specific drugs and also provides links to other direct-to-consumer purchasing platforms, such as online pharmacies and pharmacies operated by pharmaceutical companies. When the website launched near the beginning of this year, TrumpRx initially…

New research presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) suggests that losing significant weight while taking popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wigoby, Saxenda, and Munjaro may significantly reduce the risk of several obesity-related health problems. The study results also showed that people who gained weight after starting treatment generally had worse health outcomes. The study was led by Professor John Wilding and colleagues at the University of Liverpool, UK. Significant weight loss leads to improved health GLP-1-based drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), liraglutide (Saxenda), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are widely used to treat obesity and type 2…