Tue.Jan 28, 2025

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Why scientists' fears about bird flu are intensifying

NPR Health

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is spreading among livestock and other mammals in the United States, raising concerns that another pandemic may be looming. Last month, California declared a state of emergency due to rising cases in dairy cattle, and there have been over 65 human cases in the U.S. during this outbreak. While cases have been largely mild and risk to the public is still considered low, scientists warn it could evolve and become more dangerous.

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Power also comes from the bottom up

Your Local Epidemiologist

Today felt like waiting for a nuclear bomb to go off in public service. The new administration released a memo to freeze $3 trillion in federal grants, pausing activities to ensure alignment with Presidential priorities. The order went into effect at 5 p.m. ET, but a D.C. judge blocked it thereafter. While the White House tried to clarify that this freeze won’t impact all grants—excluding some individual programs like student loans—its ambiguity, murky terms, and far-reaching i

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Caroline Kennedy calls her cousin, RFK, Jr., a "predator" ahead of his confirmation hearings

NPR Health

In a letter, Kennedy said RFK Jr. was "unqualified" to be the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary just hours before he was scheduled to appear for confirmation hearings.

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Explaining persistent hydrogen in Mars' atmosphere

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

The fact that the cold, dry Mars of today had flowing rivers and lakes several billion years ago has puzzled scientists for decades. Now, researchers think they have a good explanation for a warmer, wetter ancient Mars. Building on prior theories describing the Mars of yore as a hot again, cold again place, a team has determined the chemical mechanisms by which ancient Mars was able to sustain enough warmth in its early days to host water, and possibly life.

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7 things about RFK Jr. you should know ahead of his Senate hearings

NPR Health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has built his fortune and reputation on disparaging the government scientists and institutions he's now in line to lead as HHS secretary.

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A mite-y use of electricity

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

Mites who hitchhike on the beaks of hummingbirds use a surprising method to help them on their journey: electricity. These hummingbird flower mites feed on nectar and live within specific flowers for their species. When it is time to seek out a new flower, they hitch a ride via hummingbirds, but for years researchers have not been sure exactly how these tiny, crawling arachnids quickly disembark at the right flower.

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Ocean-surface warming four times faster now than late-1980s

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

The study helps explain why 2023 and early 2024 saw unprecedented ocean temperatures.

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Study uncovers distinct blood protein signature in children with Long COVID

News Medical Health Sciences

Distinct protein profiles linked to inflammation and angiogenesis found in children with Long COVID, paving the way for improved diagnostics and therapies.

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As number of births fall sharply in T.N., concerns rise about elderly population

The Hindu

The number of live births fell by 6.

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How can RFK Jr. reform food? Here's the power he'd have if confirmed as HHS secretary

NPR Health

The HHS Secretary nominee has said he'd like to end subsidies for junk food and sugary drinks via federal programs such as SNAP, which, at $100 billion a year, is the U.S.'s top anti-hunger program.

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First mouse with two male parents to reach adulthood

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

A team of stem cell scientists have successfully used embryonic stem cell engineering to create a bi-paternal mouse -- a mouse with two male parents -- that lived until adulthood. Their results describe how targeting a particular set of genes involved in reproduction allowed the researchers to overcome previously insurmountable challenges in unisexual reproduction in mammals.

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Exercise improves brain insulin sensitivity and lowers dementia risk in older adults with prediabetes

News Medical Health Sciences

Researchers explore the impact of exercise on the short-term regulation of insulin pathways in brain circuits.

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A question of hygiene: On the Guillain-Barré Syndrome outbreak in Pune

The Hindu

The current Guillain-Barr Syndrome outbreak in Pune shows that pathogens manage to breach all safety nets that humans have built for themselves

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Moderate exercise keeps appetite at bay

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

A recent study has revealed that moderate-intensity exercise can significantly influence appetite-related hormones and perceptions in males with obesity.

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First henipavirus identified in North America

News Medical Health Sciences

Researchers at The University of Queensland have identified the first henipavirus in North America.

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Follow the water: Searching for a lunar oasis

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

As humankind imagines living off-planet -- on the moon, Mars and beyond -- the question of how to sustain life revolves around the physical necessities of oxygen, food and water. We know there is water on the moon, but how do we find it? Researchers may help bring science fiction to reality by providing a divining rod to guide future space missions.

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Lifestyle choices are driving America’s heart disease epidemic, AHA warns

News Medical Health Sciences

The AHA's 2025 report highlights alarming trends in cardiovascular disease, obesity, and lifestyle factors, emphasizing the urgent need for healthier behaviors to curb rising healthcare costs and mortality.

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Sharp look into Ockham's razor

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

A new article argues that by relying too much on parsimony in modeling, scientists make mistakes and miss opportunities.

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Study reveals stark educational disparities in US life expectancy over two decades

News Medical Health Sciences

A study reveals a widening life expectancy gap by education level in the US, emphasizing the need for equitable access to education as a health determinant.

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New clues to the mechanism behind food tolerance and allergies

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

Study reveals how immune cells in the gut distinguish between food and harmful pathogens, shedding light on the origins of both food allergies and intestinal diseases.

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Fewer anesthesiology residents applying to US pain medicine fellowships

News Medical Health Sciences

The study highlights a concerning 45% decline in pain medicine fellowship applications, pointing to workforce issues and gender disparities in anesthesiology.

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Innovative one-minute video game boasts 80% success rate in diagnosing autism

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

A new one-minute video game is able to accurately and efficiently identify children with autism from those who have ADHD or are neurotypical.

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How long does it take to form a healthy habit?

News Medical Health Sciences

The study highlights that forming health habits varies widely, with interventions and enjoyment playing vital roles in achieving long-term behavior change.

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A super-Earth laboratory for searching life elsewhere in the Universe

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

Thirty years after the discovery of the first exoplanet, we detected more than 7000 of them in our Galaxy. But there are still billions more to be discovered! At the same time, exoplanetologists have begun to take an interest in their characteristics, with the aim of finding life elsewhere in the Universe. This is the background to the discovery of super-Earth HD 20794 d by an international team.

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Why Type 2 diabetes patients need more than just blood sugar monitoring

The Medical News

Nearly half of Type 2 diabetes patients suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, with vitamin D and magnesium being the most common, highlighting a critical gap in diabetes care.

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Study explores the effects of recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function

News Medical Health Sciences

A new study published today in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks.

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How simple prompts can make partially automated cars safer

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

A new study finds that prompts do a good job of getting drivers to engage with their environment and take over control of the vehicle when necessary while using partially automated driving systems -- with one exception. If drivers are deeply distracted, these system-generated prompts have little or no effect.

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New brain biomarker identifies pain sensitivity and may predict chronic pain risk

News Medical Health Sciences

A novel biomarker signature combining PAF and CME predicts chronic pain risk, linking brain activity to individual pain sensitivity and treatment strategies.

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Coca-Cola retira bebidas en Europa por posible riesgo químico

Environmental Health News

Coca-Cola ha retirado algunos de sus refrescos en Europa tras detectar niveles ms altos de lo normal de un qumico llamado clorato en botellas y latas en una planta de produccin en Blgica.

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GLP-1RA initiation linked to new thyroid cancer diagnoses

News Medical Health Sciences

Researchers investigate the risk of incident thyroid cancer among patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.

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Entra en vigor en la UE la prohibición del bisfenol A (BPA) en los envases de alimentos

Environmental Health News

Este 20 de enero entr en vigor la normativa europea que prohbe el uso de bisfenol A en materiales en contacto con alimentos, con el objetivo de reducir la exposicin a este disruptor endocrino.

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Study shows long-term cannabis use disrupts critical brain processes

News Medical Health Sciences

Heavy lifetime cannabis use is associated with reduced brain activation in key cognitive regions, particularly during working memory tasks, while recent use may cause temporary cognitive impairments.

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How Does the Alcohol & Cancer Link Impact the Black Community?

Black Health Matters

When you think of cancer, alcohol might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, recent findings from former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy revealed a startling truth: alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following behind tobacco and obesity. This new advisory is more than just a scientific update; it’s a vital message for everyone, especially for the Black community, to recognize the often-overlooked dangers of alcohol and take steps

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New treatment identified for peripheral nerve sheath tumors

News Medical Health Sciences

A multicenter collaboration led by the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) - Institut Catal d'Oncologia (ICO) and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) identified a potential new treatment for an aggressive sarcoma arising in the nerves.

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