Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

UVA research reveals nervous system's role in C. difficile infections

The portion of our nervous systems responsible for the "fight or flight" response can shape the severity of potentially deadly C. difficile infections, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.

10 Oct 2024

Grant supports gene-editing research for rare metabolic diseases

A $14M grant will fund research on gene-editing therapies for rare metabolic diseases at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

10 Oct 2024

Three common cardiovascular diseases linked to cognitive impairment and dementia risk

Three common cardiovascular diseases in adults - heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease - are linked to cognitive impairment and increased risk of dementia, according to "Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health," a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published today in the Association's journal, Stroke.

10 Oct 2024

Pilot study shows impact of infection control staffing shortages on patient safety

Inadequate infection prevention and control staffing levels are associated with higher rates of healthcare-associated infections, according to a new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control.

10 Oct 2024

Could heparin offer new hope in the fight against dementia?

Heparin therapy delays Alzheimer's diagnosis by one to two years, offering potential insights into new protective treatments. Large-scale health records show a promising association between the anticoagulant and delayed dementia onset.

10 Oct 2024

COVID-19 testing and variants more prevalent in minority communities

More than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the world to come to a standstill, lessons in pandemic response are still being learned. What we know: the global pandemic disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups across the U.S., with Black and Hispanic individuals being three to four times more likely to die from COVID compared to white individuals.

10 Oct 2024

Breast cancer mortality plummets by 44%, but alarming racial gaps persist

The latest American Cancer Society report reveals a 44% decline in breast cancer mortality since 1989, but racial disparities remain, with underserved populations seeing little progress. Increased screening and access to treatment are critical for future reductions.

9 Oct 2024

Researchers discover potential therapeutic approach for triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains the most aggressive and deadly type of breast cancer, but new findings from cancer researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, are pointing the way toward therapeutic strategies that could be tested in clinical trials in the future.

9 Oct 2024

Groundbreaking study challenges treatment protocols for glioblastoma in older adults

A groundbreaking study led by Dr Monika E. Hegi, MD, PhD and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) headquarters team (Felix Oppong Msc, Dr Thierry Gorlia, PhD) reveals that older adults glioblastoma patients with truly unmethylated MGMT promoter do not benefit from temozolomide (TMZ) treatment, challenging current treatment protocols and paving the way for more personalised therapies.

9 Oct 2024

COVID-19 survivors at greater risk for heart attack, stroke and death

A history of COVID-19 can double the risk of heart attack, stroke or death according to new research led by Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California.

9 Oct 2024

Gene therapy offers hope for children with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy

Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) is a rare progressive, genetic brain disease that primarily presents in young boys, causing loss of neurological function and ultimately leading to early death.

9 Oct 2024

Smoking cessation programs could help combat opioid epidemic

Smoking is recognized as a leading cause of preventable disability and death. New research shows that as smokers increase their daily number of cigarettes, they report higher rates of chronic pain, more prescription opioid use, severe work limitations due to pain, and poor mental health.

9 Oct 2024

NYU Langone Health transforms pathology with digital imaging technology

NYU Langone Health has launched a digital pathology program, transforming disease diagnosis from microscopes to high-definition images, shareable in real time across the hospital network.

9 Oct 2024

Coffee consumption during pregnancy not linked to children's neurodevelopmental difficulties

A University of Queensland-led study has failed to find any strong links between drinking coffee during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental difficulties in children, but researchers are advising expectant mothers to continue following medical guidelines on caffeine consumption.

9 Oct 2024

New study links persistent SARS-CoV-2 proteins to long COVID symptoms

Brigham researchers found people with wide-ranging long COVID symptoms were twice as likely to have SARS-CoV-2 proteins in their blood, compared to those without long COVID symptoms.

9 Oct 2024

African nations must take ownership of HIV response to reduce disease burden

Africa must take ownership of its HIV response, write Izukanji Sikazwe and Magda Robalo, co-chairs of the African-led HIV Control Working Group.

9 Oct 2024

NCCN and LACOG collaborate to enhance cancer care in South America

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) - an alliance of leading cancer centers in the United States - announces a renewed collaboration with the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) to improve cancer outcomes in South America.

9 Oct 2024

Collaborative efforts essential for tackling dementia in Africa

Dementia is becoming a major public health issue in Africa as its population ages.

9 Oct 2024

Liver cancer patients gain clarity on surgery options through precision medicine tool

Duke-NUS alumnus Dr Marjorie Hoang (Class of 2023) and her mentor, Professor Pierce Chow, have brought clarity to the complex decision-making process patients diagnosed with intermediate-stage liver cancer and their doctors face by creating an algorithm that can accurately calculate the likely overall survival and recurrence-free survival following surgery.

9 Oct 2024

New study links brain activity with daily behavior and long-term mental health

In a rare, longitudinal study, researchers from Aalto University and the University of Oulu tracked one person's brain and behavioral activity for five months using brain scans and data from wearable devices and smartphones.

9 Oct 2024