Author: healthadmin

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…

Following a new U.S. green light for some ovarian cancer patients, Corcept Therapeutics has redeemed its lead asset, Lilacolilant, after it stumbled at the end of the line in another indication late last year. The FDA has granted full clearance to Corcept’s class-first selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (SGRA) for the treatment of adults with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Patients had to have tried one to three previous systemic treatments, at least one of which had to include bevacizumab (Avastin). According to a March 25 press release, the FDA’s approval covers the regimen of Lilacorilant, sold as Lifiorli, alongside the chemotherapy drug…

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is slashing the price of its expected blockbuster drug, Tringolza (olesarsen), in preparation for expanding the drug’s reach with a planned label expansion. The drug was originally approved for the treatment of familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) in 2024 and launched at an annual list price of $595,000, the company said. Now, Ionis is gearing up to launch services for severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), announcing Wednesday that it is rolling out an updated wholesale purchasing cost (WAC) of $40,000 per year. The new price point “reflects the substantial value that Olersen can deliver to patients, providers and health systems while…

A new bill in California continues the state’s efforts to crack down on ultra-processed foods, proposing that manufacturers put a sticker on the front of their products to indicate that they are not ultra-processed. Rep. Jesse Gabriel said at a news conference Wednesday that he hopes the seal, which is voluntarily applied for by manufacturers, will help people make healthier choices at the grocery store and encourage companies to reformulate to meet eligibility requirements. “You don’t need a PhD in chemistry to understand what parents are feeding their children,” said Gabriel, who introduced the bill, AB 2224. Democratic politicians are…

The FDA has approved Denali Therapeutics’ enzyme replacement therapy for inherited lysosomal storage diseases, breaking a series of recent rejections of rare disease drugs by the agency. By approving Denali’s tibidenosp. alfa, now known as Avraya, the FDA has given the green light to the first treatment that can address the harmful cognitive symptoms of Hunter syndrome. “Abraya is the first product approved to address the neurological complications of Hunter syndrome,” Tracy Beth Hogue, MD, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), said in a March 25 release. “This accelerated approval was based on a…