Katherine Goodlow, a 20-year-old member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, has experienced multiple deaths of friends and family members at young ages. Native Americans have a lower life expectancy compared to white Americans, with social and economic factors playing a significant role. Programs aimed at improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities, such as Family…
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry compared individuals with schizophrenia from the UK Biobank with those recruited from clinical settings. The UK Biobank participants showed less severe disease genotypes, higher education levels, and employment rates compared to clinically recruited participants. The study found that volunteer-based biobanks provide insights into less severe forms of illnesses like…
New results from the New Nets Project show that second-generation bed nets are more effective in reducing mosquito exposure and preventing malaria compared to traditional nets. These nets have helped prevent up to 13 million additional cases of malaria, saving close to 25,000 lives. While the new nets are more expensive, the cost is offset…
Jazz Sethi from India discusses the tangible consequences of stigma on people living with diabetes. In India, type 1 diabetes is viewed as a stain on society, leading to discrimination and misinformation. The stigma surrounding type 1 diabetes is rooted in cultural beliefs, superstitions, and societal pressure, impacting clinical outcomes and mental wellbeing. Stigma also…
Polypharmacy, or the use of five or more medications, is common among older adults and can lead to adverse drug interactions. Deprescribing unnecessary drugs can help, but the decision process is complex. Researchers tested ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, as a tool to manage polypharmacy and deprescription, finding it promising. ChatGPT recommended deprescribing for patients without…
Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is a leading cause of death worldwide, with plasma metabolites playing a key role in physiological pathways. A study using bidirectional Mendelian randomization was conducted to understand the relationship between plasma metabolites and heart attack risk. Researchers analyzed data from 461,823 individuals of European descent, identifying 198 unique plasma metabolites…
After 15 years of smoking, Adrian Diaz Bulibasa decided to quit to improve his future child’s health. While quitting was hard due to his love for smoking and habits developed around it, he realized most of his urges were due to triggers related to certain situations, emotions, and routines. By identifying and managing these triggers,…
The FDA has approved a new biosimilar, ustekinumab-aekn (Selarsdi), for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults and children aged 6 and older. This is the second ustekinumab biosimilar approved in the US and was developed by Alvotech in partnership with Teva Pharmaceuticals. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-12 and…
Stress during adolescence may increase the risk of postpartum depression later in life, according to a recent study. Postpartum depression is a complex condition affecting 1 in 10 women after delivery, caused by various factors. The study, conducted on mice, found that social stress during adolescence led to prolonged high levels of the hormone cortisol…
A study suggests that time-restricted fasting can lead to weight loss and improve cardiometabolic function. The research found that this type of fasting may help in achieving better overall health outcomes. Time-restricted fasting involves limiting the time window in which one consumes food, typically within 8-12 hours each day. This approach could be effective in…
