Medical Xpress

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have developed a method for predicting the likelihood of low birth weights in West Africa, based on climate and socioeconomic data. Their model, when incorporated into an early warning system for child health in the region, could give decision-makers and aid organizations the time necessary to prevent malnutrition and its downstream effects.

Research consistently shows that autistic people face higher risks of mental health difficulties and are more likely to think about or attempt suicide than the general population.

As a general practitioner, I know that chest pain is one symptom that makes people worry. The immediate concern is that it's a sign there's something seriously wrong—such as a problem with their heart or lungs.

Long COVID is a phenomenon in which serious health effects linger well after a patient tests negative for coronavirus infection. Patients describe persistent "brain fog," fatigue, dizziness, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath and chest pain, among symptoms that affect nearly every organ system in the body and last a year or more after the infection has passed.

A family of mutations seen in about 20% of human cancers drives malignancy by changing the accessibility of genes to a particular regulatory protein, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The findings suggest new therapeutic strategies for a variety of cancer types.

The heart is the hardest-working muscle in the body, beating constantly no matter what the body's energy reserves look like. Maintaining energy flow to the heart is a complex process that can break down during common but severe cardiovascular disease conditions like heart failure. Researchers previously knew that heart muscle seems to do an unusual metabolic trick to always get enough energy: using two carbohydrate energy sources, glucose and lactate, at the same time. In most human tissues, usi

A national survey study conducted by the University of Cincinnati found that nicotine pouch use increased sharply in the United States between 2021 and 2024 among adult tobacco users.

A person's capacity to regulate their emotions apparently cannot be determined by the activity of the prefrontal brain regions typically associated with this process. This is shown by an international fMRI analysis conducted by Dr. Maurizio Sicorello of the Central Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) and Prof. Dr. Carmen Morawetz of the University of Innsbruck, using data from 2,175 people across 40 studies. The study, published in Nature, challenges widespread assumptions about the neural basis

In three studies published in Nature today, Australian researchers have made advances in our understanding of how genetic differences between people influence disease. The team from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, in collaboration with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, UNSW and other partners, linked genetic risk regions for 16 diseases to possible causes in specific immune cells, identifying nearly 1,500 genes that may contribute to a range of diseases. These discoveries are

During fetal development, the human brain generates an excess of neurons, most of which are eliminated shortly before and after birth. New research from Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital suggests that this is a critical quality-control mechanism.

A new Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in Neuroepidemiology looks closely at a striking contradiction in global stroke prevention: even as age-standardized stroke rates have fallen substantially over the past three decades, the number of people suffering and dying from stroke continues to rise.

Having obesity in your 20s and 30s could raise your risk for early-onset cancer.

One in three individuals with major depressive disorder does not get relief from standard daily antidepressant medications. The up-and-coming psychedelic therapeutics like psilocybin or LSD do show promise of quick relief, even for difficult-to-treat depression. The psychedelic effects, however, are often strong and linger for a long time, requiring patients to remain under medical supervision in a clinic for four to 12 hours.

Managing type 2 diabetes requires more than occasional visits to the doctor's office. Much of the work happens between appointments, making communication and support from others an important part of managing the condition.

Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), a behavioral therapy used alongside medication treatment, may help people with opioid use disorder respond differently to drug-related cues and natural rewards, according to a randomized clinical trial led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The findings offer insight into how MORE may reduce opioid craving and support recovery.

Being a good listener can sometimes involve more than just listening. It can also mean knowing when and how to say just the right thing—a conversational skill that's invaluable to a crisis counselor.

A new study led by Boston University researchers estimates that nearly 75% of all NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) neuropathology. CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that has been diagnosed in individuals with substantial exposure to repetitive head impacts. It can only be definitively diagnosed after death.

A good night's sleep can feel elusive for many of us, courtesy of a racing mind, a mile-long to-do list and stress getting in the way. What's a tired person to do?

A combination cancer therapy that relies on the reactivation of a tumor suppressor protein to kill leukemic and other blood cancer cells has shown promise in a small pilot trial.

New research led by experts at the University of Nottingham has revealed how collagen in the tumor environment can alter bowel cancer cell behavior and influence inflammatory responses to chemotherapy, highlighting potential new avenues for future research into cancer treatment. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, highlight the importance of the environment surrounding cancer cells in shaping how they behave and respond to treatment.