Higher cardiac deaths found in combined day-night heat waves

Cardiac deaths increase significantly during compound heat waves—heat waves where temperatures are elevated both during the day and overnight—according to a new study in Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study also found that some types of heart disease are more sensitive to heat waves than others and that different types of heat waves may impact heart health in distinct, nonlinear ways.

Dopamine neurons that fuel overeating may weaken effectiveness of obesity medication

Delicious and extremely palatable food can increase the tendency of hedonic eating, where one consumes food for the sole purpose of deriving pleasure instead of the body’s energy needs. Hedonic eating often leads to eating beyond satiety (fullness), which is linked to obesity. Although food palatability is closely linked to hedonic eating, the neural mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unclear.

Study reveals stark racial disparities in IBD care across the United States

A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology reveals significant disparities in health care utilization among racial and ethnic groups with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the United States. The research, led by investigators from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, provides crucial insights into the challenges faced by underrepresented communities in accessing and utilizing IBD care.