Addiction is not simply a chronic brain disease and considering it as such can limit treatment options and increase stigma, an extensive research review suggests. After decades of research, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology Reinout W. Wiers suggests that while in some extreme cases addition can be considered a chronic brain disease, in most cases it should be considered as biased choice. According to in-depth research examined in new book A New Approach to Addiction and Choice, portraying addiction as a chronic brain disease reduces confidence in the possibility of lasting change, in both the addict themselves and the therapist. What does science say? The ...

Chicago (June 30, 2024) — In a new study, older adults who reported consuming higher amounts of ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA classification system, were about 10% more likely to die over a median follow-up of 23 years compared with those who consumed less processed food. The findings are based on a large study that has tracked over half a million U.S. adults for nearly three decades. According to the results, higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with modest increases in death from any cause and from deaths related specifically to heart ...

Chicago (June 30, 2024) — A new study demonstrates that eating primarily minimally processed foods, as they are defined by the NOVA classification system, does not automatically make for a healthy diet, suggesting that the types of foods we eat may matter more than the level of processing used to make them. Comparing two menus reflecting a typical Western diet — one emphasizing minimally processed foods and the other emphasizing ultra-processed foods, as categorized by the NOVA classification system — the researchers found that ...

Chicago (June 30, 2024) — Eating patterns that align with the Mediterranean diet or the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet could help lower cardiovascular disease risk in adults with type 1 diabetes, according to results from a six-year study. The DASH and Mediterranean diets are both considered heart-healthy and emphasize plant-based foods, healthy fats, lean proteins and low intake of processed foods and sugars. “Type 1 diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which raises the ...

Chicago (June 30, 2024) — New study findings suggest that baby-led weaning — a popular method for introducing solid foods to infants — furnishes ample calories for growth and development. The findings provide evidence-based support for baby-led weaning, which has not been heavily studied. Baby-led weaning emphasizes allowing infants to hand feed themselves whole, non-pureed foods when introducing solids to infants versus the more traditional approach of spoon-feeding infants pureed solids. Proponents say that it encourages healthy eating habits ...

The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis is a promising candidate for Mars colonization thanks to its extreme ability to tolerate harsh conditions lethal to most life forms. The moss is well known for its ability to tolerate drought conditions, but researchers report June 30 in the journal The Innovation that it can also survive freezing temperatures as low as −196°C, high levels of gamma radiation, and simulated Martian conditions involving these three stressors combined. In all cases, prior dehydration seemed to help the plants cope. “Our study shows that the environmental resilience ...

Over the past decade, 342 cardiology clinics have been acquired by private equity firms, with over 94% of those occurring between 2021 and 2023, according to a study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology, and presented at the AcademyHealth 2024 Annual Research Meeting in Baltimore. As this practice grows, the study highlights the critical need to monitor the effects of private equity acquisitions on quality of care and outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease, as well as procedural utilization. Private equity in health ...

Chicago (June 30, 2024) — A new study found that eating a snack of baby carrots just three times a week significantly increased skin carotenoids in young adults. Levels of these phytonutrients were boosted even more when this healthy snack was combined with a multivitamin containing the carotenoid beta carotene. Carotenoids, which are responsible for the bright red, orange and yellow colors of many fruits and vegetables, can be measured in the skin to gauge fruit and vegetable consumption since diet is the only source of these pigments. Higher levels of skin carotenoids are associated with increased antioxidant protection and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart ...

About The Study: Health care affordability improved for low-income adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a narrowing of income-based disparities, while prescription medication affordability improved for all income groups. These findings suggest that the recent unwinding of COVID-19 pandemic–related safety-net policies may worsen health care affordability and widen existing income-based inequities.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Rishi K. Wadhera, M.D., M.P.P., M.Phil., email rwadhera@bidmc.harvard.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our ...

About The Study: Single-payer financing based on the current federal income tax schedule and a payroll tax could substantially increase progressivity of household payments by income. Rate setting led to slight increases in payments by higher-income households, who financed higher payment rates in Medicare and Medicaid. Spending growth targets reduced payments slightly for all households.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Jodi L. Liu, Ph.D., email jodiliu@rand.org. To access the embargoed ...

About The Study: The first 2 years of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices model were not associated with increased use of home dialysis or kidney transplant, nor changes in racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in these outcomes in this cross-sectional study.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Amal N. Trivedi, M.D., M.P.H., email amal_trivedi@brown.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.2055) Editor’s Note: Please see the article ...

Ephemeral streams, or those streams that flow only briefly after precipitation events, are a substantial pathway for water transfer with significant implications for water quality, a first-of-its kind study has found.  These streams — which transport water pollutants, sediments, and nutrients from land surfaces to rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and ultimately the oceans — influence a substantial amount of water output of the nation’s rivers, the researchers found. Following a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision, however, they are no longer regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA).  “Our findings show that ephemeral streams ...

Chicago (June 29, 2024) — Findings from a new mouse study suggest that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, can lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. The research could pave the way to the development of safe and inexpensive natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes in people. The researchers found that after just one week, obese mice with diabetes that were given oral elenolic acid weighed significantly less and showed better blood sugar (glucose) regulation than before treatment and compared to control obese mice not ...

Chicago (June 29, 2024) — People with higher intakes of calcium and zinc in the three months before they conceived were significantly less likely to suffer hypertensive disorders during their pregnancy compared with those who had lower intakes of these essential minerals, according to new research. The results highlight the importance of focusing on nutrition before conceiving — not only during pregnancy — in order to promote healthy pregnancies. “Our findings underscore the significance of preconception dietary intake of calcium and zinc in potentially reducing the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy,” said ...

About The Study: The results of this survey study indicated that 6 months into unwinding, 1 in 8 Medicaid beneficiaries reported exiting the program, with wide state variation. Roughly half who lost Medicaid coverage became uninsured. Among those moving to new coverage, many experienced coverage gaps. Adults exiting Medicaid reported more challenges accessing care than respondents who remained enrolled.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Adrianna McIntyre, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., email amcintyre@hsph.harvard.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.2193) Editor’s ...

Embargoed for release: Saturday, June 29, 2:15 PM ET Key points: In a survey of low-income adults across Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas, one in eight respondents who were enrolled in Medicaid at some point since March 2020—when COVID-19-era coverage protections began—reported no longer having Medicaid coverage by late 2023, months after protections expired and “Medicaid unwinding” began. Nearly half of those who were disenrolled from Medicaid reported being uninsured in late 2023, and those who lost Medicaid ...

Chicago (June 29, 2024) — A study performed in mice has uncovered a potential new tool to combat the escalating issue of childhood obesity. The research suggests that a simple dietary change, in the form of a fish oil supplement taken by fathers, might help address this pressing health concern. The number of young people ages 5 to 19 who are obese has risen from 31 million in 1990 to 160 million in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. This extra weight can increase the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and may also lead to poor self-esteem ...

New York, NY – June 28, 2024—Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. and Kirin Holdings Company, Limited are thrilled to announce their sponsored satellite program at the American Society for Nutrition's (ASN) Annual Conference, NUTRITION 2024. This groundbreaking session will spotlight the neuroprotective effects of citicoline, revealing its potential to enhance cognitive function and combat brain aging. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of how citicoline works at a cellular level, positively impacting brain health. This program will use advanced scientific techniques to examine its effects on neurons, astrocytes, ...

UCSF-led study alerts transwomen and physicians to interpret standard screening guidelines with caution.   Transgender women on hormone therapy tend to skew artificially low on prostate cancer screening tests, which may give false reassurance and delay diagnosis and treatment, reports a new study led by UC San Francisco.     The researchers found that transwomen scored 50 times lower than typical PSA tests (prostate-specific antigen), the gold standard tool to detect prostate cancer. This could mean that current “normal” thresholds are too high for transgender women, and their cancer might not be found until a later ...

The official opening ceremony of FAPESP Week China was held on Friday (June 28) in the city of Dongguan, Guangdong Province. Organized in partnership with the China-Lac Technology Transfer Center (CLTTC), the event brought together political, diplomatic and academic leaders from both countries and also marked the start of the Conference on Technology Exchange and Development of China-Latin America Cooperation. “On behalf of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, I welcome the guests and congratulate the organizers. All friends who share the same mission are not separated by geographical ...

A loss of salt and body fluid can stimulate kidney regeneration and repair in mice, according to a NIH-funded study led by USC Stem Cell scientist Janos Peti-Peterdi and published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. This innate regenerative response relies on a small population of kidney cells in a region known as the macula densa (MD), which senses salt and exerts control over filtration, hormone secretion, and other key functions of this vital organ. “Our personal and professional mission is to find a cure for kidney disease, a growing global epidemic affecting one out of seven adults, which translates ...

A team of researchers from Ochsner Health recently published an insightful article in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology exploring the application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to improve the accuracy and efficiency of nasal endoscopy. The study, authored by resident physician Dr. Vinayak Ganeshan under the guidance of senior otolaryngologist Dr. Edward D. McCoul, addresses the challenges posed by the intricate nasal cavity anatomy in rhinology diagnostics. Nasal endoscopy (NE) is an essential diagnostic tool in rhinology, but its effectiveness can be hampered by the complex ...

Scientists and kiaʻi loko (fishpond practitioners) have a new tool to aid their efforts to restore and ensure the resilience of Native Hawaiian fishponds. Researchers from the University of Hawai‘i (UH) and fishpond stewards in Hilo, Hawai‘i recently published a study in the Journal of Remote Sensing highlighting the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to support integrated coastal zone management, including at cultural heritage sites.     “We discovered that drones are effective and cost-efficient ...

For hundreds of years, the clarity and magnification of microscopes were ultimately limited by the physical properties of their optical lenses. Microscope makers pushed those boundaries by making increasingly complicated and expensive stacks of lens elements. Still, scientists had to decide between high resolution and a small field of view on the one hand or low resolution and a large field of view on the other.     In 2013, a team of Caltech engineers introduced a microscopy technique called FPM (for ...

A Plano high school student conducting research in a University of Texas at Arlington chemistry professor’s lab earned multiple awards at the annual Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition for students in grades 9-12. Chloe Lee, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Plano East Senior High School, conducted research in the lab of Junha Jeon, associate professor of chemistry and ...