Author: healthadmin

The Global Virus Network (GVN) represents distinguished human and animal virologists from more than 90 centers of excellence and affiliates in more than 40 countries dedicated to advancing research, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness. is closely monitoring reports of a hantavirus cluster associated with a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in multiple severe cases and deaths. According to the World Health Organization’s Disease Outbreak News Report published on May 4, 2026, health authorities revealed that: There have been seven confirmed cases and suspected cases, including three deaths, and additional passengers and crew members are under observation. Preliminary epidemiological…

Until now, studying genetic processes inside cells required destroying cells, making it impossible to observe these processes over long periods of time. A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz University of Munich has developed a new method to repeatedly obtain up-to-date genetic information from living cells. In the future, this will allow better monitoring of the effects of therapeutic stem cells and intracellular drugs. Typically, cells need to be lysed for so-called transcriptome analysis (which reveals which genes are currently expressed), and repeated measurements on the same cells are not possible. A research team led by…

JMIR Publications today released a timely new feature in its News and Outlook section. This provides one of the first comprehensive overviews of the rapidly expanding consumer health AI landscape. The article “Big Tech and the Rise of Consumer Medical AI Assistants,” written by Tejas S. Asni, an MD candidate at Harvard Medical School, examines the capabilities and strategies of five of the world’s largest companies in their efforts toward personalized medical guidance: OpenAI, Google (Verily), Amazon, Microsoft, and Anthropic. As of early 2026, the transition from enterprise AI to consumer assistants will be complete. These platforms allow users to…

German researchers used deep learning models to analyze the composition of large muscles on MRI and found that the ratio of intermuscular fat to lean muscle mass was associated with high blood pressure, unhealthy lipids, and blood sugar levels. The research results were announced today. RadiologyJournal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 11,348 participants (56.9% male, median age 43 years) without pre-existing conditions underwent whole-body MRI at five imaging sites. The researchers used a segmentation algorithm they developed (a method used to divide data into meaningful parts or regions based on common characteristics)…

Biomaterials designed to travel through the bloodstream may provide a minimally invasive way to quell inflammation and help damaged tissue repair itself. In animal studies, the injectable substance reversed tissue damage caused by heart attacks in both rodents and large animals. Early proof-of-concept experiments also suggest that the same approach could one day help treat other inflammatory conditions, such as traumatic brain injury and pulmonary arterial hypertension. “This biomaterial allows us to treat damaged tissue from the inside out,” said Karen Christman, a professor of bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego, and principal investigator on the team that…

Light plays a central role in modern technology, powering everything from televisions and satellites to the fiber-optic cables that carry Internet data around the world. Now, physicists at Stanford University have developed a way to push light even further. They created a compact optical amplifier, about the size of a fingertip, that can enhance optical signals while maintaining full bandwidth using very little energy. Optical amplifiers are similar to audio amplifiers, except that they amplify light rather than sound. Traditional compact versions require significant power to operate, which limits their efficiency. The new device, published in the journal Nature, overcomes…

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs are currently a major part of the national conversation regarding weight loss. From celebrity stories to everyday discussions, drugs like Ozempic and Wegoby are often touted as breakthrough drugs that help people lose significant amounts of weight. But new research from Rice University suggests that the social experience of using these drugs is more complex. In some situations, those who use them may face even harsher judgment than those who don’t lose weight at all. The unexpected results come from a study led by Erin Standen, an assistant professor of psychological science at Rice University, published…

Marietta, Georgia-based Wellstar Health System has partnered with medical technology company Becton Dickinson & Company (BD) to integrate an artificial intelligence-powered medication management system. The partnership will give facilities within the Wellstar system access to the BD Pyxis Pro and BD Alaris platforms, two drug dispensing technologies. The companies said the collaboration “reflects a shared vision to enhance safety, efficiency and patient outcomes across the care continuum.” The BD Pyxis Pro tool allows users to view system-wide drug inventory, reduce waste and optimize labor efficiency, the companies said. Meanwhile, the BD Alaris tool allows clinicians to submit infusion orders directly…

A group of professional and amateur astronomers in Japan has discovered evidence that small, distant objects in the outer reaches of our solar system are surrounded by a thin atmosphere. The discovery is surprising because the object is too small to retain gas for long, and raises new questions about how and when its atmosphere formed. Future observations will be needed to better understand its composition and origin. Far beyond Neptune’s orbit, thousands of icy objects known as trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) orbit the sun. Pluto is the best-known example and one of the few known to have a thin atmosphere.…

Artificial intelligence could be used to generate deceptive videos that damage politicians’ reputations, even if viewers suspect the footage is fake. A new study published in Communication Research found that these manipulated clips reduced support for the targeted candidates. Standard fact-checking efforts reportedly cannot fully undo the reputational damage. Disinformation created using artificial intelligence is often seen as a major threat to global elections. Technology has made it possible for malicious attackers to seamlessly replace a person’s face or clone their voice. These creations are commonly referred to as deepfakes. Political operatives can use these tools to make it appear…