HMN 2024 – Fatigue plays a crucial role in safeguarding against overexertion by inducing feelings of tiredness and causing temporary reductions in physical and mental performance. However, according to a recent study in Computers in Human Behavior, esports (electronic sports) players, who are primarily engaged in cognitive tasks rather than physical activities, experience cognitive fatigue and judgment impairment […]
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Category Archives: health
Research finds pretzel size affects intake by governing how quickly a person eats and how big their bites are
HMN 2024 – Researchers found that pretzel size affects the consumer’s eating rate, with smaller sizes leading to a slower eating speed and smaller bites. Credit: Madeline Harper/Penn State, All Rights Reserved The size of an individual snack piece not only influences how fast a person eats it, but also how much of it they eat, according to […]
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Have you ever suffered intimate partner abuse? We asked girls in Malawi and 40% said yes
HMN 2024 – Intimate partner violence starts early. Around one in four girls aged between 15 and 19 worldwide have already been subjected to physical or sexual violence. Girls who experience abuse in their childhood face increased and disproportionate levels of intimate partner violence later in life. Pregnant and parenting girls are even more exposed to intimate partner […]
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Medicare pays for message-based e-visits. Are older adults using them?
HMN 2024 – Credit: Emily Smith, University of Michigan In the early days of the pandemic, Medicare announced it would start paying doctors and other health care providers for the time it took to handle their patients’ digital messages—or at least, the ones that required at least five minutes of medical decision-making. Those “e-visits,” using messages typed into […]
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Scientists explain how the COVID States Project analyzed the pandemic with objectivity
HMN 2024 – The results and influence of the COVID States Project have far exceeded its original expectations. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University David Lazer ran into a fellow Northeastern University professor Alessandro Vespignani. It was February 2020. One month before the COVID-19 shutdowns. “I said, ‘Tell me: How bad is it going to be?’” says Lazer, University Distinguished […]
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Bispecific immune checkpoint inhibitor improves survival in gastric cancer patients regardless of PD-L1 status
HMN 2024 – Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels The PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody cadonilimab plus chemotherapy improved progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with untreated, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, including those with PD-L1-low tumors, compared with chemotherapy alone, according to results from the phase III COMPASSION-15 trial presented at the American […]
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Difficulties of setting efficacy endpoints in early-stage clinical trials of brain tumor drugs
HMN 2024 – Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels Clinical trials for cancer drugs have three stages, Phase I–III, before marketing, each with different evaluation items. However, there is no consensus on the appropriateness of evaluation criteria for early-stage clinical trials of brain tumor drugs compared with drugs that treat other solid tumors because brain tumors require unique biomarkers […]
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7 ways to use them more safely
HMN 2024 – Imagine your teen has just had surgery. After a few days in hospital, it is time to go home, but their pain is still quite significant. The medical team suggests using acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) first, but knowing that it might not be enough, they prescribe oxycodone as well. You accept the prescription because […]
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SGLT-2 inhibitors show mixed results after heart attack
HMN 2024 – While the composite of death and heart failure hospitalizations was not significantly reduced, empagliflozin may help reduce heart failure risks after a heart attack Use of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor empagliflozin following a heart attack did not show a significant benefit in reducing overall heart failure hospitalizations or death from any cause, according to […]
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CPAP alternative comparable for reducing blood pressure
HMN 2024 – 3D Model of the heart by Dr. Matthew Bramlet. Credit: NIH People with hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were no less likely to see their blood pressure drop over six months if they used a mandibular advancement device (MAD), which is inserted onto the teeth similar to a bite guard. compared to a continuous positive […]
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Coronary sinus reducer relieves angina, but how it works remains unclear
HMN 2024 – Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya from Pexels People with chronic chest pain who received a coronary sinus reducer (CSR)—a stent thought to increase the amount of oxygen-rich blood flowing to the heart muscle—experienced significant reductions in the daily number of chest pain episodes but did not show evidence of increased overall blood flow to the heart compared […]
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Therapy involving diabetes drug empagliflozin shows promise in delaying hospitalizations for heart failure
HMN 2024 – About 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a heart attack every year, and about 30% of them will go on to develop heart failure. There are limited treatments to prevent or slow that development. A large international study led by Duke researchers investigated whether the diabetes drug empagliflozin (marketed under the brand name Jardiance) might […]
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Black men found to have greater microvascular dysfunction than white men after prostate cancer diagnosis
HMN 2024 – Microvascular function is lower is Black men following a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer, compared to white men, according to researchers at the Medical College of Georgia. Researchers presented their work at the American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California, held April 4–7. It is widely documented that racial disparities exist in prostate cancer outcomes. […]
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Prebiotics could help space travelers stay healthy
HMN 2024 – Credit: American Physiological Society Space travel can be hard on the human body, but new research suggests that cultivating a healthy gut microbiome could help astronauts weather the stresses of altered gravity. Researchers presented their work at the American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California, held April 4–7. “Our work suggests that space travelers—or anyone […]
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Fetal personhood rulings could nullify a pregnant patient’s wishes for end-of-life care
HMN 2024 – The Alabama Supreme Court handed down an unprecedented decision in February 2024, holding that stored frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization, known as IVF, were “minor children” under a state wrongful death law. The impact on the medical community was immediate and acute. Fearing newfound civil or criminal legal liability if embryos were now […]
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ACE inhibitor not protective against heart damage from chemotherapy
HMN 2024 – Patients who took an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor while undergoing cancer treatment with high-dose anthracycline chemotherapy did not show any difference in troponin T levels, a biomarker associated with heart damage, at one month after their last chemotherapy dose compared with those who did not take an ACE inhibitor, according to a study presented at […]
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Ninerafaxstat well-tolerated and safe for nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
HMN 2024 – The investigational drug ninerafaxstat showed a good tolerability and safety profile, along with evidence of improvements in symptoms and exercise capacity among people with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), according to results of a 12-week phase 2 trial presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. Ninerafaxstat is designed to help the heart work […]
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Survey shows that medical technology can improve access, but may hurt employee retention
HMN 2024 – Artificial intelligence, telehealth video appointments, and other technological evolutions make health care access easier for some, but they also take the personal touch out of medicine and contribute to why professionals are leaving the industry. Those are among the findings of the 2023 CU Denver Business School’s Health Systems Climate Study, produced by the Health […]
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Study reveals how obesity could accelerate aging in the brain
HMN 2024 – A new study conducted in mice traces how obesity and a high-fat diet may accelerate aging in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The work is being presented this week at the American Physiology Summit, the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS), in Long Beach, California. The findings suggest […]
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Researchers develop new method for detecting heart failure with a smartphone
HMN 2024 – Credit: JACC: Heart Failure (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2024.01.022 A new technology using a smartphone to analyze heart movement and detect heart failure was created at the University of Turku and developed by the company CardioSignal. The study involved five organizations from Finland and the United States and is now published in JACC: Heart Failure. Heart failure […]
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A person in Texas caught bird flu after mixing with dairy cattle. Should we be worried?
HMN 2024 – The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert after the first case of H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu, seemingly spread from a cow to a human. A farm worker in Texas contracted the virus amid an outbreak in dairy cattle. This is the second human case in […]
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Cultivating spirituality can lower blood pressure
HMN 2024 – People with high blood pressure saw their systolic blood pressure drop by 7 mmHg, on average, and experienced improvements in other markers of blood vessel health after receiving daily smartphone messages designed to cultivate spirituality for 12 weeks, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. Almost half of U.S. […]
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The health connection between cardiac arrest survivors and their loved ones
HMN 2024 – Lynn and Kent Wiles agree that the day she died—then was revived—was miraculous. The couple’s experience then and in the years since also illustrates how recovery from a cardiac arrest can both unite and disrupt families who go through it together. Kent, 62, still has to pause when he retells what happened on July 31, […]
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War in Ukraine is increasing the prevalence of mental health conditions in children, new study finds
HMN 2024 – Kyiv, Ukraine. A new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 reveals a significant rise in mental health issues among children and adolescents displaced by the war in Ukraine. The research, conducted by the Institute of Forensic Psychiatry of MoH of Ukraine, highlights the devastating impact of prolonged exposure to violence and displacement […]
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Is xylitol for your teeth a sweet trend or a true cavity blocker?
HMN 2024 – At first glance, a claim that a sweetener derived from the bark of birch trees can prevent cavity formation might seem far-fetched. It can’t be true, some might reason. Sugar causes cavities. Not only are they wrong: The sweet compound from birch trees called xylitol does ward off cavities. But they are wrong twice, as […]
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Could my glasses be making my eyesight worse?
HMN 2024 – So, you got your eyesight tested and found out you need your first pair of glasses. Or you found out you need a stronger pair than the ones you have. You put them on and everything looks crystal clear. But after a few weeks things look blurrier without them than they did before your eye […]
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Study shows one injection of novel drug cuts systolic blood pressure by up to 12 mmHg
HMN 2024 – A single subcutaneous injection of the investigational drug zilebesiran, when added to existing treatment with a standard antihypertensive medication, reduced systolic blood pressure by between 4 to 12 mmHg on average at three months in patients whose blood pressure had remained uncontrolled despite compliance with their medication regimen, according to a study presented April 7 […]
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App-based therapy can help men with frequent urges to urinate, finds research
HMN 2024 – Combining pelvic floor exercises with behavioral therapy could be more effective than current medical treatments at helping men with frequent urges to urinate, new research has found. The initial results from the Bladder Emptying Disorder Therapy (BEST) Trial are presented (Monday 8 April 2024) at the European Association of Urology Congress in Paris. They reveal […]
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Intravascular ultrasound outperforms angiography for peripheral artery disease treatment
HMN 2024 – One-year success rates from angioplasty procedures to open clogged arteries in the legs were significantly higher among patients whose procedures were guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) alongside angiography compared with those whose procedures were guided by angiography alone, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. The study, called IVUS-DCB, […]
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The five-step wellness model that really works—and the psychology behind it
HMN 2024 – The wellness movement appears to have the answers that our burnt-out minds need. However, psychological research and practice suggests that a superficial focus on candles, juice cleanses, and a “good vibes only” approach to life is unlikely to create meaningful changes to your well-being. It’s not a surprise that wellness culture has become so popular, […]
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Acetaminophen may be less heart-safe than previously thought
HMN 2024 – The common painkiller acetaminophen was found to alter proteins in the heart tissue when used regularly at moderate doses, according to a new study conducted in mice. Researchers presented their work at the American Physiology Summit, the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS), in Long Beach, California, held April 4–7. “We found […]
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FDA approves new antibiotic for three indications
HMN 2024 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the antibiotic Zevtera (ceftobiprole medocaril sodium for injection) for three different indications, including treatment of adults with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, and adult and pediatric patients (age 3 months and older) with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. The priority review […]
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Biomedical engineers use AI to build new tool for studying and diagnosing heart function
HMN 2024 – As seen through computer vision, BeatProfiler in action applied to cardiac tissue. Credit: Youngbin Kim/Columbia Engineering Understanding heart function and disease, as well as testing new drugs for heart conditions, has long been a complex and time-consuming task. A promising way to study disease and test new drugs is to use cellular and engineered tissue […]
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Accelerated aging may increase risk of early-onset cancers in younger generations
HMN 2024 – Accelerated aging was more common in recent birth cohorts and was associated with increased incidence of early-onset solid tumors, according to research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024, held April 5–10. “Multiple cancer types are becoming increasingly common among younger adults in the United States and globally,” said Ruiyi […]
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Global research team finds no clear link between maternal diabetes during pregnancy and ADHD in children
HMN 2024 – An international research team led by Professor Ian Wong Chi-kei, Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has just provided valuable evidence through a 20-year longitudinal study to address the longstanding debate concerning the potential impact of maternal diabetes on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder […]
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Biologic drug-device combination immunotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer patients
HMN 2024 – Prostate cancer cells. Credit: NIH Image Gallery SYNC-T, an investigational therapy that combines a device-induced vaccination at the tumor site with intratumoral infusion of a multitarget biologic drug led to numerous clinical responses in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), according to results reported at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting […]
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Will introducing independent doctors at games help the AFL tackle its concussion problem?
HMN 2024 – The Australian Football League (AFL) recently announced it is “considering appointing independent doctors at all AFL games to assist club medical staff in identifying and assessing players for potential head injuries.” The announcement came after recommendations of a coronial inquiry into the death of former AFL player Shane Tuck, who died by suicide in 2020. […]
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Is a sleep aid supplement safe?
HMN 2024 – Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the brain that’s linked to your body’s sleep and wake cycle. The natural release of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by daylight. It’s also available as a supplement that you can take as a pill or chewable gummy. As a supplement, […]
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UK work policies not fit for people living with long COVID, says study
HMN 2024 – New research has found current sickness absence and return to work policies in the workplace are unfit for purpose for those living with long COVID. In one of the first qualitative studies to investigate attempts to return to employment by people with long COVID, researchers from the University of Stirling and the Universities of Oxford […]
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Diabetes drug found to improve cardiovascular outcomes across a range of heart and kidney conditions
HMN 2024 – A new meta-analysis shows sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with either diabetes at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure, or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session & Expo and simultaneously published […]
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Promoting healthy movement behaviors in children under five in Europe
HMN 2024 – Practical steps needed to achieve impact of the WHO 2019 movement behavior guidelines for the under-5’s across Europe from 2024 to 2029. Credit: The Lancet Regional Health – Europe (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100869 The SUNRISE European Study Group, led by experts in physical activity and children’s health, is urgently appealing to countries across Europe to take specific […]
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Research finds preventive angioplasty does not improve prognosis
HMN 2024 – For heart attack patients, treating only the coronary artery that caused the infarction works just as well as preventive balloon dilation of the other coronary arteries, according to a new large study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and others. The results are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Heart attack is a common […]
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Everyday social interactions predict language development in infants
HMN 2024 – A parent interacting with a baby is a heart-warming and universal scene. The parent speaks in a high-pitched voice—known as “parentese”—as they respond positively to the baby’s babbling and gestures, commonly with eye contact and smiles. These connections don’t just make for a touching sight. New research from the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning […]
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Research confirms a simple method for reducing anger
HMN 2024 – Physically disposing of a piece of paper containing your angry thoughts in a shredder (left) effectively neutralizes the anger, whereas putting it in a plastic box (right) does not. Credit: Yuta Kanaya A research group in Japan has discovered that writing down one’s reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then […]
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Virtual reality sessions lessen cancer pain in clinical trial
HMN 2024 – A 10-minute virtual reality (VR) session significantly lessened pain in hospitalized patients with cancer in a recent clinical trial published in Cancer. Most people with cancer experience pain, and treatment usually involves medications including opioids. VR sessions that immerse the user in new environments have been shown to be a noninvasive and nonpharmacologic way to […]
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Exploring ethical and legal ramifications of growing brain organoids from human fetal brain tissue
HMN 2024 – Brain organoids, though often referred to as “mini brains,” are not truly human brains. But the concerns over these lab-grown brain tissues, especially when they are developed from human fetal tissues, can be very human indeed. Researchers from the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hiroshima University offer valuable insights into the complexities […]
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Researchers identify an economic solution to Canada’s opioid crisis
HMN 2024 – Nasal-administered naloxone is more cost-effective and could help reduce the number of opioid-related fatalities compared to the current publicly funded intermuscular version, a new study has found. The study, “An economic evaluation of community pharmacy dispensed naloxone in Canada,” was published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal. Since 2016, Canada’s opioid crisis has worsened, with over […]
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Understanding the link between family physician characteristics and COVID-19 vaccination gaps
HMN 2024 – New research examining the characteristics of physicians with the largest share of patients unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 may help increase vaccination rates going forward. The study, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), found that family physicians in Ontario with the largest percentage of unvaccinated patients generally served patients living in marginalized neighborhoods and had less […]
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Hepatitis viruses kill 3,500 people a day: WHO
HMN 2024 – More than 3,500 people die from hepatitis viruses every day and the global toll is rising, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday, calling for swift action to fight the second-largest infectious killer. New data from 187 countries showed that the number of deaths from viral hepatitis rose to 1.3 million in 2022 from 1.1 […]
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Rethinking how researchers understand brain activity
HMN 2024 – Understanding the link between brain activity and behavior is among the core interests of neuroscience. Having a better grasp of this relationship will both help scientists understand how the brain works on a basic level and uncover what specifically goes awry in cases of neurological and psychological disease. One way that researchers study this connection […]
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