New pill technology could replace injections for protein-based medications

People in America adopt hundreds of thousands of children every year, but not all of them receive health insurance once adopted into their second home. A study by the University of Maryland (UMD) School of Public Health, published in Health Affairs, reveals major differences in coverage depending on adoption type (domestic or international) and citizenship status of the adoptive parent.

Every year, nearly 2 million young Americans experience homelessness. As many as a quarter of them own pets, which can be both a crucial source of emotional support and a barrier to receiving services such as housing or medical care. Studies have shown that unhoused people with pets may be less likely to visit medical facilities. Some may choose veterinary care for their animals over obtaining health care for themselves.

When the COVID pandemic hit, many people turned to the eerily prescient film "Contagion" (2011) for answers—or at least for catharsis. Suddenly, its hypothetical plot felt all too real. Applauded for its scientific accuracy, the film offered more than suspense—it offered lessons.

Maternal and newborn deaths are rising globally, not just in low- and middle-income countries, but in wealthy nations too. Researchers have described the situation as a "global failure" and a "major scandal."

Opioids like morphine are widely used in medical practice due to their powerful pain-relieving effects, yet they carry the risk of serious adverse effects such as respiratory depression and drug dependence. For this reason, Japan has strict regulations in place to ensure that these medications are prescribed only by authorized physicians.

After a stable 15-year trend, local-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence increased steeply in adults aged 45 to 49 from 2019–2022, including a 50% relative increase between 2021 and 2022. This trend contrasts with consistent increases of distant-stage diagnoses in this age group and likely reflects the diagnosis of prevalent asymptomatic cancer through first-time screening due to recommendations for adults to begin screening at age 45 instead of age 50.

Yale School of Medicine (YSM) researchers have led the first-ever randomized controlled trial of a culinary medicine curriculum for medical trainees, which found that hands-on cooking is an effective approach to increasing nutrition knowledge for resident physicians.

Shigeko Kagawa, a 114-year-old retired physician from Nara Prefecture, has became Japan's oldest living person, following the death of 114-year-old Miyoko Hiroyasu, according to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

A new review article published in JAMA underscores the critical need for comprehensive long-term medical care for patients treated for firearm injuries, which has become an epidemic in the U.S., fueled by years of rising gun violence.

The retina places a large energy demand on the body, in part due to the activity of photoreceptors.

A team led by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists has identified a specific stage of neurodevelopment when differentiating neural cells produce fewer ribosomes, which are responsible for making proteins. This subsequent drop in protein production, they report in Nature Cell Biology, helps explain why mutations that further affect ribosome production can cause neurodevelopmental disorders.

A research team at the Medical Faculty Heidelberg at Heidelberg University has, for the first time, identified a potential therapeutic approach for the rare FOXP1 syndrome, a congenital developmental disorder in children. This rare disease is genetic and is associated with intellectual disability, speech development disorders, and autistic behaviors.

A comprehensive systematic review highlights a troubling intersection of mental and physical health disparities in Black women, revealing that depression and loneliness are significant—and often overlooked contributors to hypertension and poor cardiovascular outcomes.

When faced with difficult tasks, sometimes people hit a mental wall and make the decision to "sleep on it." Returning to the task after sleeping, they often perform better. Why? Rhythmic brain activity during sleep transforms task-related information into stronger, longer-term memory.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) limits jaw function and is so painful that it lessens the quality of life. Botulinum toxin—also known as botox—is emerging as an effective treatment option, but there are concerns about side effects, like muscle dysfunction.

Reaching the age of 100 does not necessarily mean a life fraught with illness. A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that centenarians not only live longer, they also stay healthier than other older people, with fewer diseases that develop more slowly.

Pain that persists one year after a heart attack can be linked to a significant risk of death at a level consistent with the effects of smoking and diabetes. This is shown in a new study involving close to 100,000 patients that was led by researchers from Dalarna University, Region Dalarna, Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University.

Popular freeze-dried fruit snacks sold at Sam's Club are being recalled because of possible Listeria contamination.