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Report reveals rising rates of fatal opioid overdoses in Ontario shelters

Researchers from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) at St. Michael's Hospital and Public Health Ontario analyzed health data from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and ICES, and found that there were 210 accidental opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters between January 2018 to May 2022, with the number of deaths more than tripling during the study period (48 before the pandemic versus 162 during the pandemic).

18 Jun 2024

Older women are different than older men. Their health is woefully understudied.

Medical research has shortchanged women for decades. This is particularly true of older women, leaving physicians without critically important information about how to best manage their health.

18 Jun 2024

Open-access atlas unveils the molecular mechanisms of roundworm aging

A new aging atlas gives scientists an in-depth view of how individual cells and tissues in worms age and how different lifespan-extending strategies might stop the clock.

18 Jun 2024

New research explores maternal influence on brain biomarkers

A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham suggests that whether a person inherits risk of Alzheimer's disease from their mother or father influences risk of biological changes in the brain that lead to disease. By evaluating 4,400 cognitively unimpaired adults ages 65-85, the team found those with a history of Alzheimer's disease (AD) on either their mother's side or both parents' sides had increased amyloid in their brains. Their results are published in JAMA Neurology.

18 Jun 2024

Precise protein design offers hope for damaged hearts and kidneys

Using computer-designed proteins, researchers have now shown they are able to direct human stem cells to form new blood vessels in the lab. This milestone in regenerative medicine offers new hope for repairing damaged hearts, kidneys, and other organs.

18 Jun 2024

New research on long COVID prevalence and risk factors

Early in the pandemic, many people who had SARS-Cov-2 infection or COVID-19 began to report that they couldn't shake off their symptoms even after a month or more-;unusually long for a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract-;or developed new, persistent symptoms soon after the infection cleared.

18 Jun 2024

Nanobody technology revolutionizes food allergy detection methods

Recent advancements show nanobodies from camelid antibodies excel in food allergen detection with superior stability, specificity, and cost-effectiveness. This innovative approach aims to improve accuracy and efficiency, crucial for preventing severe allergic reactions. The study highlights nanobodies' potential in reliable immunoassays, addressing rising food allergies and enhancing safety measures. Food allergies pose significant health risks, affecting millions worldwide, with the prevalence rising over the past decades.

18 Jun 2024

New AI tool could revolutionize clinical trial efficiency and cost

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) can rapidly and accurately screen patients for clinical trial eligibility, according to a new study from Mass General Brigham researchers. Such technology could make it faster and cheaper to evaluate new treatments and, ultimately, help bring successful ones to patients.

17 Jun 2024

FQHC patients struggle with food, housing, and transportation insecurity

A first-of-its-kind study found high rates of food insecurity, housing insecurity, financial strain, and/or a lack of transportation among patients at federally qualified health centers, particularly patients who were low-income or from racial/ethnic minority populations.

17 Jun 2024

9/11 first responders face increased midlife dementia risk from severe dust exposure

Severe dust exposure among World Trade Center responders is linked to higher rates of dementia before age 65, highlighting long-term cognitive risks from 9/11.

17 Jun 2024

Diet quality in America shows modest improvement from 1999 to 2020

Poor diet continues to take a toll on American adults. It's a major risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, and more than one million Americans die every year from diet-related diseases, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

17 Jun 2024

Study offers insights into rising disposable vape use among UK youth

A new study has provided an in-depth look into the rising trend of disposable vape use among young people in the UK.

17 Jun 2024

Georgetown study reveals risks of oral nicotine pouches among youth

A rigorous, comprehensive synthesis of evidence from 62 studies related to the use of oral nicotine pouches by Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists and colleagues provides a much-needed assessment of how these products could lead to potential harmful consequences if used by young people.

17 Jun 2024

Survey highlights inadequate sexual health education for LGBTQ+ adolescents

Children across the United States who identify as LGBTQ+ say the sexual health education curricula they receive is leaving them without essential information to make informed decisions about their sexual health – which could force them to seek potentially dangerous advice elsewhere.

17 Jun 2024

Understanding the health risks of wildfire smoke

With wildfires becoming more frequent and extensive in Canada, it's important for people to understand the health risks of wildfire smoke.

17 Jun 2024

Study proposes new model for treating stress-related exhaustion

A new thesis at Uppsala University questions the traditional view of stress-induced exhaustion disorder. A new model is proposed in its place that puts more focus on meaningfulness rather than recovery.

17 Jun 2024

Majority of Americans retrospectively support key COVID-19 policies, poll reveals

A majority of Americans say that several key policies to stop the spread of COVID-19 were generally a good idea in hindsight, according to a new national poll by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation.

17 Jun 2024

American Heart Association launches initiative to tackle recurrent pericarditis

About 40,000 people in the United States experience recurrent pericarditis, or inflammation of the sac-like structure that protects the heart, which can cause chest pain and may lead to fluid buildup around the heart muscle.

17 Jun 2024

HEALing Communities Study: Data-driven intervention did not reduce opioid-related overdose death rates

A data-driven intervention that engaged communities to rapidly deploy evidence-based practices to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths – such as increasing naloxone distribution and enhancing access to medication for opioid use disorder – did not result in a statistically significant reduction in opioid-related overdose death rates during the evaluation period, according to results from the National Institutes of Health's HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Communities Study.

17 Jun 2024

Cross-border tumor boards enhance care for rare gynecological cancers across Europe

Cross-border tumor boards of cancer specialists from different European countries meeting virtually to review the management of individual patients with complex rare gynecological cancers from across Europe resulted in new treatment recommendations and increased access to clinical trials, according to results from a six-year study that will be presented at the ESMO Gynaecological Cancers Congress 2024.

17 Jun 2024