A Canadian essential medicines list must be evidence-based

An essential medicines list in Canada should be evidence-based and independent of conflicting interests, found a study of decision-makers and policy-makers that is published in CMAJ ( Canadian Medical Association Journal ). http://www. cmaj. ca/ press-release-7-oct-19 Prescription drug coverage in…

In Russia, declines in alcohol consumption and mortality have gone hand in hand

PISCATAWAY, NJ – Since the early 2000s, Russia has seen significant declines in overall alcohol consumption, and a new review shows that there has been a parallel, steep decline in the country’s mortality rates as well. Much of this decline…

Drinking more sugary beverages of any type may increase type 2 diabetes risk

People who increase their consumption of sugary beverages–whether they contain added or naturally occurring sugar–may face moderately higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Drinking more sugar-sweetened beverages…

Experts call for coordinated action to avert a brain disease crisis

Experts are calling for a public health campaign aimed at promoting a ‘brain-healthy lifestyle’ to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The campaign should support existing health promotion work by emphasising…

New report: Men without work face a worrying well-being crisis

A new IZA World of Labor report published (2nd October) finds the number of prime-age males outside the labor force increasing worldwide. This development goes hand in hand with an increase in ill-being driven by high levels of stress, desperation…

Discovery of new source of cancer antigens may expand cancer vaccine capabilities

For more than a decade, scientist Stephen Albert Johnston and his team at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute have pooled their energies into an often scoffed-at, high-risk, high-reward goal in medicine: to develop a universal vaccine to prevent cancer. The…

Swimming toward an ‘internet of health’?

In recent years, the seemingly inevitable “internet of things” has attracted considerable attention: the idea that in the future, everything in the physical world — machines, objects, people — will be connected to the internet. Drawing on lessons learned from…

Asthma changes obesity rate in black female teens living in disadvantaged neighborhoods

New Orleans, LA – A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at LSU Health New Orleans Schools of Public Health and Medicine found that asthma may protect against obesity among African American female adolescents living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The findings are…

Touting flavor before nutrition encourages healthy eating

Most people want to eat healthier, but efforts to encourage healthy eating by providing nutrition information have not drastically changed habits. A new study suggests that labels emphasizing taste and positive experience could help. Evocative labels such as “twisted citrus…

Three UC San Diego Researchers Receive Top Honors with NIH Director’s Awards

Three University of California San Diego researchers have received prestigious awards through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program, including the Pioneer Award, the program’s top honor.

Intimate partner violence is linked to suboptimal breastfeeding practices in poorer countries

Mothers exposed to intimate partner violence in low- and middle-income countries are less likely to initiate breastfeeding early and breastfeed exclusively in the first six months, according to a study published October 1 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by…

Geriatrics experts on gender equity in health care: ‘When women rise, we all rise’

Putting power and potential behind gender equity in health care isn’t just common sense. It’s critical to the future of health, safety, and independence for us all as we age, so says the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) in a new…

Which comes first: Smartphone dependency or depression?

Young people who are hooked on their smartphones may be at an increased risk for depression and loneliness, according to a new study from the University of Arizona. A growing body of research has identified a link between smartphone dependency…