Author: healthadmin
Fast fashion provides an affordable way to cater to children who quickly outgrow clothes. However, new and early research suggests that some of these clothing may contain lead, a dangerous substance. After analyzing shirts from multiple retailers, undergraduate researchers found that all products tested exceeded U.S. federal safety standards for lead. Their findings also suggest that even brief chewing of these doughs (something young children often do) can expose children to dangerous levels. The results were presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring Meeting. Why researchers started studying lead in clothing Camila Devers, who led the project, became interested…
Men prescribed semaglutide for obesity saw a dramatic reduction in alcohol consumption over 10 months, adding new real-world evidence to the idea that GLP-1 drugs can help curb alcohol cravings and highlighting the need for better screening in primary care. Case study: The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in promoting meaningful improvement in alcohol use disorder. Image credit: Love Employee / Shutterstock In a recent study published in Primary Care and Community Health Journalresearchers detail a 10-month case report of a 34-year-old man with comorbid class 2 obesity and alcohol use disorder (AUD). This case study revealed that after…
Salt has been used as a seasoning and food preservative for thousands of years, but when consumed in excess, it can cause a variety of illnesses, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. Excessive salt intake is also known to accelerate cognitive decline. To avoid an increased chance of developing such diseases due to excessive salt intake, the WHO recommends that adults consume no more than 5 grams of salt per day. Salt added to food after cooking accounts for 6-20% of total salt intake. Behavior is known to vary by sociodemographic group, but given different cultural and…
A large-scale new genetic analysis reveals that the biological characteristics underlying autism risk are the same among people of different ancestral backgrounds. By testing the DNA of thousands of Latin Americans, researchers have shown that the rare genetic changes associated with autism occur in the exact same genes across different populations. The results were published in a magazine natural medicinepoints to a universal genetic basis for autism and emphasizes the need for more comprehensive medical testing. Over the past decade, researchers have identified dozens of genetic variations that increase the likelihood of developing autism. These mutations tend to appear in…
Fried foods are widely enjoyed, but their high fat content can lead to health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure. Creating a lower-fat version while offering the same taste and texture could help consumers make healthier choices without feeling like they’re missing out. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are studying how frying in the microwave can improve the way French fries are made. Their findings suggest that combining traditional frying with microwave heating may reduce oil absorption while maintaining the crispy texture people expect. This approach also reduces cooking time, making it attractive for large-scale…
New research published in npj mental health research reported that specific brain network signals may reliably predict whether patients with major depression will respond to antidepressant treatment. Major depressive disorder affects millions of people around the world, but doctors still don’t have the tools to determine which patients would benefit from antidepressants. Current treatments are largely trial and error, and it often takes several months to find out if a drug is working. Scientists have long suspected that the brain’s “default mode network” – the system active during introspection and rumination – plays a central role in depression. But until…
People diagnosed with autoimmune diseases experience mood and anxiety disorders at nearly twice the rate of the general population. Data from more than 1.5 million adults in the UK suggests that persistent physical inflammation is closely linked to this increased mental health risk. The study results were published in the journal BMJ Mental Health. Medical professionals classify depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder as affective disorders. These psychological conditions change a person’s mood, emotional state, and daily functioning. Autoimmune diseases have very different and visible symptoms that occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissue as if…
A Government Accountability Office audit of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s historic spending and the results of its models has reignited calls from lawmakers for increased oversight of its activities. The report, prompted by a 2024 request from House Budget Committee leaders and released last week, outlined 70 delivery and payment models developed and tested by CMMI between 2011 and 2024. As of January 2025, 24 of them are in active testing, and only four have been scaled up for national implementation, although GAO noted that some elements of these models have been incorporated into Medicare, and iterative…
For more than a year, the biopharmaceutical industry has had to quickly respond to various tariff threats from the Trump administration. Now, Thursday’s announcement from the White House brings the U.S. tariff situation into sharper focus. According to a White House fact sheet, the president imposed 100% tariffs on patented drugs and ingredients under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This obligation will begin within 120 days for large companies and 180 days for small pharmaceutical companies. According to the fact sheet, there are several ways for companies to reduce tariff rates. For example, existing trade agreements…
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed Thursday to include microplastics and pharmaceuticals for the first time on its list of contaminants in drinking water, a move that could ultimately lead to new restrictions on these substances for water utilities. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is responding to Americans concerned about plastics and pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. The gesture is also intended to be a victory for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA campaign, which has been pressuring Zeldin for months to further crack down on environmental pollutants. EPA’s Contaminant Candidate List identifies contaminants in drinking water that…