While the U.S. has recently seen a welcome downturn in drug overdose deaths, a new study from Northwestern Medicine is the first to pinpoint when the tide began to turn—identifying August 2023 as the national inflection point in the crisis.
Broad-spectrum coronavirus drug developed through AI-enabled dynamic modeling
About 30% of all respiratory tract infections are caused by coronaviruses, leading to widespread illnesses and, in some cases, to epidemic and even pandemic outbreaks, as we experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the development of groundbreaking technology that enables the design of prophylactic vaccines, access to those vaccines is not equal across the globe, especially in low-resource countries, and also other hesitations prevent their adoption.
Lymph node on a chip: New immune system model may enhance precision medicine research
Scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have created an engineered model of the supportive tissue found within a lymph node to study human health.
Reducing oxygen for critically ill patients does not harm chances of survival, large study finds
Reducing supplementary oxygen given to intensive care patients does not deliver any clear and obvious health benefits or harm their chances of survival, according to new research.
The leading risk factor for cancer isn’t what you think
If you were to ask most people what causes cancer, the answer would probably be smoking, alcohol, the sun, hair dye or some other avoidable element. But the most important risk factor for cancer is something else: aging. That’s right, the factor most associated with cancer is unavoidable—and a condition that we will all experience.
The hidden heat crisis: Report finds urgent need for workplace protections indoors
Indoor heat exposure is a rising problem for service sector workers, according to a report authored by Hana Shepherd, an associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and a senior researcher with the Workplace Justice Lab@RU.
I’m a spine doctor. Here’s how I take care of my back
Back pain affects as many as 4 out of 5 Americans, and relief can be elusive. That’s because it may be caused by multiple overlapping factors that cannot always be visualized on a scan. On the flipside, the scan of a healthy individual may be riddled with spinal abnormalities, none of which require treatment.
College vaping rates linked to social discussions within close friend groups
College students are more likely to vape if their friends frequently talk about electronic cigarettes, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Arlington. The effect is particularly strong in tight-knit friend groups, where regular conversations about vaping are linked to more consistent use.
A mild spinal zap can cut brain-computer interface learning time in half
Through a device called a brain-computer interface (BCI) it’s possible to control a robotic arm or a wheelchair with thoughts alone. But for many users, learning to operate these systems is slow, difficult and, in some cases, unattainable.
Seismology technique helps solve ultrasound imaging problem
Scientists from Colorado State University and the University of São Paulo have overcome a challenge that has prevented medical ultrasound imaging from being used in intensive care and emergency room settings. This technological advancement could someday lead to improved critical care for patients.