U.S. regulators will no longer approve COVID booster shots for healthy adults and children without new studies, adding a costly requirement for drugmakers, though they will still be available for millions of high-risk Americans.
Texas measles outbreak grows slightly, topping 720 cases
The Texas measles outbreak has grown by only four cases since last week, marking another period of progress as health officials work to slow the spread of the virus.
Genomic testing aids precision therapy and tissue of origin identification for cancers whose primary site is unknown
A new study highlights the potential of whole genome and transcriptome sequencing (WGTS) to improve precision treatment and identify the tissue of origin for cancers whose primary site is unknown, also called cancers of unknown primary (CUP).
CRISPR study reveals mitochondrial dysfunction as early marker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Using the gene scissors CRISPR and stem cells, researchers at Stockholm University and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King’s College London have managed to identify a common denominator for different gene mutations that all cause the neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research shows that ALS-linked dysfunction occurs in the energy factories of nerve cells, the mitochondria, before the cells show other signs of disease, which was not previously known. The study was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
Gut microbes may help protect patients from chemotherapy side effects
Chemotherapy doesn’t just kill cancer cells. It also affects the microbes in the digestive tract. Researchers at UC San Francisco have discovered that some gut bacteria can reduce the side effects of these potent treatments, and that one family of cancer drugs may actually boost these protective bacteria.
Women whose sisters had postpartum psychosis are over 10 times as likely to experience it themselves
Mount Sinai researchers have found for the first time that a woman is more than 10 times more likely to develop postpartum psychosis if her sister had experienced the condition, compared to a woman with a sister who did not.
Fluoride bans in public water systems threaten oral health of rural and low-income kids, pediatrician warns
Florida recently became the second state to sign into law a ban on fluoride in public water systems, joining a wave of local and statewide efforts to restrict community fluoridation. The policy takes effect in July 2025. Meanwhile, FDA announced last week plans to remove ingestible fluoride supplements for children from the market.
How mindfulness therapy could help those left behind by depression treatment
For some people, depression is like an unwanted guest who moves in and refuses to leave. Even with therapy and medication, the heavy fog of low mood, exhaustion and hopelessness never fully lifts for long. For around 30% of people with depression, this is a daily reality.
Is this bad for my health? Kenyan study tests three types of warning labels on food
Diet-related health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, are on the rise in Kenya, putting immense strain on already over-stretched public health systems. These conditions are often driven by high intake of sugars, salts and unhealthy fats. So it’s more critical than ever for consumers to understand what’s in the foods they’re buying.
Molecules in blood and urine could reveal how much ultra-processed food you eat
Sets of metabolites found in blood and urine reliably correspond with how much energy from ultra-processed food a person consumes, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine by Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute, U.S., and colleagues.