UC Irvine study reveals health impacts of repeated wildfires and smoke exposure

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 28, 2024 — University of California, Irvine public health researchers have published a study in the journal Environmental Research Health highlighting the compounded effects of frequent wildfires and smoke exposure on physical and mental health, local economies and community resilience in Southern California.

Sewage secrets: economic factors shaping our microbiome exposed

A global study has uncovered a strong link between the microbes found in sewage and a country’s economic conditions. By analyzing samples from 60 countries, researchers found that the diversity of human-related microbes varies widely, influenced by factors such as export levels and social security. This study demonstrates how sewage can be a valuable tool for monitoring public health and assessing the impact of economic conditions on microbial communities worldwide.

National Academy of Medicine Selects FAU for Substance Use, Opioid Crises Collaborative

FAU joins the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Combating Opioid Crises. This pilot project, involving more 80 organizations, aims to enhance coordination and address addiction challenges through collaboration among public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Link found between sociocultural institutions in ethnic enclaves and resident health

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 8, 2024 — The number of sociocultural institutions within ethnic enclaves may play a significant role in positively influencing the health of immigrant Asian American and Hispanic populations, according to recent research led by the University of California, Irvine. For the study, published online in the journal Social Science and Medicine, researchers created and validated two novel measures – Asian- and Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions – to identify the different mechanisms that link majority minority neighborhoods to health outcomes.

AI-Enabled Ultrasound Revolutionizes Gestational Age Estimation in Low-Resource Settings

A study led by Jeffrey S. A. Stringer, MD, FACOG, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine, has shown that an AI-enabled, low-cost handheld ultrasound device can estimate gestational age as accurately as expert sonographers, potentially revolutionizing pregnancy care in low-resource settings where healthcare personnel have little ultrasound training.

UAlbany Study: Joint Effects of Thunderstorms and Power Outages Increase Respiratory-Related Emergency Department Visits

A new study led by UAlbany researchers is among the first to examine the joint effects of thunderstorms and power outages on respiratory-related emergency department visits in New York State.

Daily Use of E-Cigarettes Linked to Higher Cigarette Quit Rates, Roswell Park Research Shows

Adults who used e-cigarettes daily and also smoked combustible cigarettes were more likely to quit smoking than those who smoked but used e-cigarettes less frequently, new research from Roswell Park shows. The findings suggest that daily e-cigarette use may help some people to quit using combustible cigarettes.

Education level, social media skills linked to cancer fatalism

More educated people who are skilled at finding reliable information through social media don’t always see cancer as fatal while those with less schooling and social media awareness hold more fatalistic beliefs about the disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.

Roche showcases solutions for laboratories of the future at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine 2024 Clinical Lab Expo

● Roche will unveil the next generation of core lab and molecular systems, including a total solution for clinical mass spectrometry.
● Attendees can experience firsthand how fully integrated systems and data solutions can streamline lab operations, optimize resources and expedite care.

Socioeconomic status affects survival of children with cancer

Socioeconomic factors can influence the diagnosis and treatment of children in Texas with malignant solid tumors, increasing the risk of the cancer’s spread and lowering the five-year survival rate, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The study, published in Journal of the American College of Surgeons, identifies vulnerable populations in an effort to improve outreach and distribution of resources for better health outcomes for pediatric patients.

New Cedars-Sinai Study Investigates Shifting Trends in GLP-1RA Prescription

Investigators at Cedars-Sinai and other institutions conducted a nationwide, population-based study to identify trends in the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)—prescription medications sold under popular drug names like Ozempic and Wegovy—in the United States.

Shape the Future of Global Health: Register Now for APRU’s 2024 Conference in Bangkok!

The School of Global Health at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), cordially invite all to the “17th APRU Global Health Conference 2024.” The event will take place from November 4-6, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Bhumisiri Building, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Most Salmonella illnesses from chicken caused by few products with high levels of virulent strains

Raw poultry is one of the main causes of Salmonella poisoning, which affects thousands of people in the U.S. every year. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows that few products with high levels of very virulent Salmonella strains are responsible for most of the illnesses from raw chicken parts.

The Detection of a Massive Harmful Algal Bloom in the Arctic Prompts Real-Time Advisories to Western Alaskan Communities

In summer of 2022, a research cruise detected a massive harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the Bering Strait region of western Alaska. This expedition provided a dramatic example of science utilizing new technology to track a neurotoxic HAB, and effectively communicate information that protects remote coastal communities in real-time.

Digital Self-Harm Surges Among U.S. Teens from 2016 to 2021

Digital self-harm, where individuals anonymously post or share hurtful content about themselves online, has increased more than 88% since 2016. Between 2019 and 2021, about 9 to 12% of 13 to 17 year olds in the U.S. engaged in digital self-harm. The study also explored whether teens who experienced cyberbullying were more likely to engage in digital self-harm.

Survey finds many have misconceptions about sexually transmitted infection risk

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in the U.S., including an 80% increase in syphilis over a five-year period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new national survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds many Americans have misconceptions on how STIs are spread and who should be treated.

Infectious Disease Doctor: Flying This Summer? Here’s What You Should Know Before Boarding.

The TSA just reported an all-time high for the number of airline travelers screened, and major U.S. airlines expect to transport 271 million passengers this summer, a 6.3 percent increase from last year. Now, board-certified infectious disease physician Carl Abraham, M.D., assistant…

USU’s National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health Selects University of Hawaii to Establish Independent Red Hill Exposure Registry

The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), a component of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), has selected the University of Hawaii (UH) to create and operate an independent registry of individuals who were exposed to, or at risk of exposure to, the Red Hill fuel release in November 2021.

Chulalongkorn Unveils “Microalbuminuria Rapid Test”: Easy, Accurate, Ready for Commercial Use

Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, attended the launching of the innovative Microalbuminuria Rapid Test developed by a team of experts and researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. The test, which is convenient and easy to use and offers high accuracy, allows users to self-screen for kidney damage, giving it commercial potential in order to enhance Thailand’s healthcare system. It is expected for distribution in mid-2024.

U.S. Drug-related Infant Deaths More than Doubled from 2018 to 2022

Drug-involved infant deaths more than doubled (120% increase) from 2018 to 2022, with the greatest proportion of deaths in 2021 (25.8%). The most prevalent underlying causes of death included assault (homicide) by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (35.6%).