Reviewers’ Notes The coronavirus pandemic is no longer a national emergency, but the virus that causes COVID-19 isn't gone-;and neither is the risk of getting the disease. For parents, navigating when to get their child vaccinated and knowing how to best protect their child from COVID-19 can be complicated. We spoke to Michael Smit, MD, MSPH, Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical […]

High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips Cholesterol is not all bad. A small amount of the waxy substances helps to build the structure of cell membranes and make hormones. However, high levels of “bad” cholesterol can spell bad news for your arteries, hiking your risk of heart disease and stroke. Diet represents a double-edged sword in this process. While […]

In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers working at Ohio State University in the United States of America (USA) developed an intranasal subunit vaccine. Study: An intranasal vaccine comprising SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain protein entrapped in mannose-conjugated chitosan nanoparticle provides protection in hamsters. Image Credit: Skylines/Shutterstock.com Named the NARUVAX-C19/Nano, the vaccine is based on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of severe […]

Reviewers’ Notes A new study from researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) found monthly adult cancer diagnoses decreased by half in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The largest decrease was for stage I cancers, resulting in a higher proportion of late-stage diagnoses. The study is the most comprehensive research to date about the effects […]

Reviewers’ Notes In 2016, recognizing that lack of research in female animals was hampering the success of treatments for mood disorders, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) changed its policy for basic research to include sex as a biological variable for basic research, a move that triggered an explosion of research into sex differences. "Building a strong unbiased foundation of […]

A large natural experiment in Catalonia shows that moving to areas with higher levels of air pollution is associated with weight gain in young children. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by “la Caixa Foundation”, in collaboration with the IDIAP Jordi Gol, provides further evidence to support efforts to reduce air pollution. […]

The U.S Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends folic acid supplementation for people planning to or who could become pregnant. These recommendations form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Meera Viswanathan, Ph.D., from RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center, […]

TOPLINE: Longer leukocyte telomere length is associated with higher left ventricular mass (LVM) and larger global ventricular size, as well as better cardiac function and lower risk of heart failure (HF). METHODOLOGY: The length of telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that shorten with cell division, is usually measured in leukocytes. Evidence links shorter leukocyte telomere length […]

Drug deaths in the US involving both opioids and cocaine have increased dramatically in the past decade, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Drug-related deaths associated with stimulants, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine and methylphenidate, doubled between 2011 and 2021. And deaths associated with using both stimulants and opioids, such as heroin, […]

Reviewers’ Notes More than 4 out of 5 older women survivors of colorectal cancer may be experiencing a range of gastrointestinal symptoms many years after being diagnosed and treated, a new study suggests. Using data from the Women's Health Initiative, researchers found that 81% of colorectal cancer survivors reported persistent GI symptoms, with abdominal bloating and gas topping the list […]