North Carolina confirms its first measles case

Programs delivering fluoride varnish in schools significantly reduce cavities in children. That is a key finding of our recently published study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

When pain strikes from multiple sources—such as a paper cut followed by contact with hot water—the experience can feel disproportionately intense. But is this agony merely additive, or does the brain integrate these signals in a way that amplifies suffering?

Mitochondria have primarily been known as the energy-producing components of cells. But scientists are increasingly discovering that these small organelles do much more than just power cells. They are also involved in immune functions such as controlling inflammation, regulating cell death and responding to infections.

Washington State University and Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an electrochemical catheter hub that could someday help prevent deadly central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) that annually kill thousands of people around the world.

Salivary gland toxicity from radiopharmaceutical therapy—particularly from alpha-emitting therapies like 225Ac-PSMA—is a critical dose-limiting side effect, often leading to debilitating dry mouth. Prior attempts to alleviate dry mouth using cold packs, single anticholinergics, or external cooling have shown minimal protective benefit.

There's nothing better than an ice cold drink on a hot day but imagine this—you're enjoying a refreshing iced tea, and suddenly, your heart starts racing erratically. You might think—"maybe its the caffeine"—until it happens again, this time with a lemonade. It may sound strange, but for some people, cold drinks may be to blame for sudden episodes of atrial fibrillation (Afib), a common heart rhythm disorder.

If spending time around dogs or cats makes your eyes water, your nose run, your skin itch or your breathing difficult, you're not alone.

A University of Alberta research team has identified a DNA structure that activates the immune system in cancer cells that are usually resistant to immunotherapy, offering hope of new, more effective treatments for colorectal and other cancers.

A crucial link between the brain's cleaning system and deterioration of neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by University of Queensland researchers.

Cardiologists use echocardiography to diagnose a range of functional or structural abnormalities of the heart. Using more than 100 videos and images that capture different parts of the heart, echocardiographers make dozens of measurements, such as the heart's size and shape, ventricle thickness, and the movement and function of each heart chamber, to assess patient heart health.

The first human case of West Nile virus in Illinois has been confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has declined to recommend two new Alzheimer's drugs for routine NHS use in England. While disappointing for some families affected by dementia, this decision reflects a cautious and evidence-based approach that protects patients and public funds.

Every decision begins invisibly. Long before someone acts, the brain is already hard at work gathering evidence, weighing options, and gradually committing to a choice. But even when faced with the same evidence, people can arrive at different outcomes, especially when the decision is difficult. Two different drivers in rush hour traffic, for example, see the same congested road, yet one might speed up to merge while another cautiously brakes.

A new analysis by researchers from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute examines the first Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) add-on code targeting a single physician specialty: infectious disease (ID). The measure is a significant departure from the agency's past strategies, with the potential to combat the growing shortage of ID physicians and broader implications for physician reimbursement and health care delivery, according to the authors.

A new multi-state study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) VISION Network—including Regenstrief Institute—has provided the most comprehensive assessment to date of the effectiveness of 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines among adults in the U.S. during the XBB and JN.1 omicron subvariant waves.

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan studied what happens when macrophages—a type of immune cell—encounter dying cancer cells in tumors and discovered a mechanism that accelerates tumor growth. When cancer cells begin to die within tumors, they expose signals on their surface that indicate they are dying.

Dementia affects over 57 million people worldwide—and this number is only projected to grow. By 2030, 78 million people are estimated to have dementia. By 2050, it's projected that number will reach 139 million people.

Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy, specifically to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), may increase the risk of childhood overweight or obesity. This is the conclusion of a large, pan-European meta-analysis study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and published in Environment International.