Researchers created airflow videos showing how exhalation valves on masks defeat the purpose of slowing COVID-19 spread. The videos, published in Physics of Fluids, demonstrate that air can leave masks unfiltered through valves, reducing mask effectiveness.
A Washington State University study found that workers experiencing job and financial insecurity are less likely to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. Economic concerns, particularly low unemployment benefits, were associated with a decline in compliance with these guidelines.
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin found that construction workers are five times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than workers in other occupations. The researchers suggest that encouraging basic precautions, such as mask-wearing and physical distancing on work sites, can help mitigate risk.
Researchers studying vaping and secondary exposure to e-cigarettes warn that adolescent use is at epidemic proportions. The study aims to uncover health effects of e-cigarettes on younger patients and explore the risks of secondary exposure.
A review of 77 studies worldwide confirms people with mild symptoms may be infectious for up to 10 days, while those severely ill may remain contagious for 20 days. The CDC's guidance is in line with these findings.
New research found that IVF success rates are higher at clinics sharing more data than required, leading to healthier babies. Clinics with high transparency had greater success rates in achieving pregnancy and birth.
The WVU School of Public Health is conducting a seven-week mask observation study with the CDC to estimate correct mask-wearing rates. The study found that 85.1% of observed individuals wore masks and 84% of those who did wore them correctly, but still a quarter didn't wear masks properly.
A new study by Brown University researcher Dr. David Dosa found that the actual death toll among Florida nursing home residents after Hurricane Irma was more than double the CDC's reported number, with 262 additional deaths in 30 days and 433 more deaths at 90 days
Researchers found that universal COVID-19 testing of children undergoing anesthesia procedures saved PPE, reducing standard PPE use by 70%. The study also highlighted the importance of accurate testing to prevent exposure to healthcare workers.
A new white paper from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America provides targeted screening and decolonization strategies to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections in critically ill infants. The guidance balances infection prevention with the need for skin-to-skin contact with parents and siblings.
Researchers from Stanford University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health propose a new method to accurately estimate COVID-19 mortality rates by measuring direct, indirect, and excess deaths. This approach could provide a more accurate picture of the pandemic's impact on human life.
AUC Riverside researchers find ephrin-B1 regulates E/I balance in hippocampus, leading to seizures and social abnormalities. The study provides new insights into mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental disorders.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that COVID-19 prevention messages are less effective when attributed to President Donald Trump. Researchers found that even participants who trust Trump did not find his messages more effective compared to other sources.
A CDC study of over 80,000 adult patients hospitalized with flu found that sudden, serious heart complications occurred in 12% of patients, or 1 in 8. The study underscores the importance of getting a flu shot early to prevent these complications. Researchers recommend that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every flu season.
A UC Davis Health study found that nonfatal firearm injuries in California decreased by 38% over an 11-year period, primarily due to a drop in firearm assaults. However, the lethality of those and other firearm injuries increased, with a higher proportion of self-inflicted injuries being deadlier.
Adding corticosteroids to standard intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for high-risk Kawasaki disease patients can boost initial response and prevent complications. The combination approach reduced the need for a second course of therapy by 35% and the risk of coronary artery abnormalities by 47%.
Kurt Beschorner's $1.8M NIOSH grant focuses on measuring friction as a pathway for slip and fall risk in ladder accidents. The research will establish safety guidelines to reduce severe injuries and fatalities in the workplace and at home.
A new analysis of data from the ALLSTAR study published in the European Heart Journal shows that cell infusions, also known as cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), can benefit patients with heart disease by reducing the volume of blood the heart holds and a blood protein that measures heart failure severity. The findings contradict previ...
A recent CDC report examines COVID-19 mortality rates across different racial and ethnic groups. The study found significant disparities in mortality rates among various populations, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address these inequities.
A new study shows that community-based genetic screening can identify individuals at increased risk for three common inherited conditions, including Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Lynch Syndrome, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. The study found that up to 90% of carriers were not previously identified in a clinical setting.
A recent study suggests that home-made cloth face masks with at least two layers are more effective in reducing the dispersal of viral droplets from the nose and mouth associated with COVID-19. The researchers found that a double layer covering was better than a single layer in reducing droplet spread from coughing and sneezing.
A new study found the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Mexican Americans has doubled in recent years, while stabilizing for other racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Researchers also developed a gene therapy that can alleviate obstructive sleep apnea by stimulating the nerve that contracts muscles in the tongue.
Researchers found that over 20% of US homes lack sufficient space and plumbing facilities to isolate or quarantine COVID-19 patients. The study suggests that offering hotel stays with medical supervision at no cost could decrease transmission in minority communities.
A study by Physicians for a National Health Program found that nearly 25% of US dwellings are unsuitable for isolation or quarantine due to lack of space and plumbing facilities. This is particularly concerning among minority and low-income households, which have faced high rates of COVID-19 illness and death.
A new UCSF study reveals that young adults with smoking habits are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19. The study found that medical vulnerability was 33% for males and 30% for females, with smoking surpassing other less common risks.
The grant will support masters and doctoral-level training programs in critical fields like industrial hygiene and occupational ergonomics. It aims to improve worker health, safety, and well-being in the American workforce.
A study analyzed 664 news articles about suicide posted on a social network between 2018 and 2019. The findings suggest that adherence to suicide reporting guidelines may benefit individual health as well as reader engagement, with US-based publications being less likely to adhere to the guidelines.
University of Massachusetts Amherst biostatistician Nicholas Reich has received significant grants from the CDC and NIH to enhance his groundbreaking pandemic forecasting work. The new funding will support the expansion of the COVID-19 Forecast Hub, which provides weekly projections for COVID-19 deaths in the US and by state.
A new study found COVID-19 has a disproportionate impact on minority and non-English speaking communities, with increased risk of diagnosis and death in rural and urban counties. The study highlights the need for standardized collection of sociodemographic characteristics and targeted interventions to address these disparities.
A new survey of US tick-management programs reveals a public health gap in surveillance and control efforts. The study found that less than half of programs engage in active tick surveillance and only 12% conduct or support tick-control efforts.
A Washington State University study found that words matter in vaccination messages, with normative and injunctive messages increasing interest and vaccine intention. Negatively worded messages can decrease interest, highlighting the importance of using effective promotional messaging to improve vaccine uptake.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (Ciheb) received $4 million from the CDC to support COVID-19 response activities in four countries. In Nigeria, a population-based study will estimate COVID-19 prevalence and inform local response efforts.
A 12-week study involving 1,600 emergency department personnel will assess the effectiveness of practices and personal protective equipment in preventing COVID-19 acquisition. The study aims to identify key strategies for reducing transmission risk among frontline health care workers.
A new study suggests that interventions targeting biological, social, environmental and mental health obstacles are most effective in helping individuals overcome non-medical drug use. For alcohol addiction, simple interventions focusing on alcohol use yield the best results.
A medical mystery was solved when a severely ill patient was tested and diagnosed with COVID-19, leading to changes in CDC guidelines. The case highlights the importance of testing and demonstrates that even without clear risk factors or exposure, patients can still be infected.
A new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence reveals that experiencing opioid withdrawal increases the likelihood of needle sharing and non-fatal overdose among individuals who inject drugs. The research also highlights the urgent need for medication-assisted treatment to address this public health issue.
A study found that the number of US adults at high risk for vision loss increased significantly between 2002 and 2017. The estimated number rose to over 93 million in 2017, with a majority having diabetes or eye problems, highlighting the need for improved awareness of eye care.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimates the median disease incubation period for COVID-19 at 5.1 days, affirming earlier estimates and supporting the CDC's current 14-day quarantine period. This estimate suggests that about 97.5% of people develop symptoms within 11.5 days of exposure.
Researchers estimate the median incubation period of COVID-19 to be 5.1 days, with 97.5% of cases developing symptoms within 11.5 days of infection. This supports current CDC recommendations for active monitoring and quarantine.
A new model developed by Columbia University researchers identifies areas in the US where Lyme disease cases are likely to go unreported. The model, based on 17 years of data, helps predict the trajectory of Lyme disease spread, allowing authorities to alert physicians and the public to early treatment opportunities.
The COVID-19 outbreak underscores the need for robust research to understand emerging pathogens and develop effective treatments. Researchers are working on various vaccine candidates and therapeutics, including an NIAID-sponsored trial of remdesivir.
The NIH has begun a randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of remdesivir in hospitalized adults with COVID-19. The study aims to assess whether remdesivir can improve clinical outcomes for patients with severe respiratory illness.
A recent CDC study shows that DEET and other EPA-approved repellents are highly effective against the invasive Asian longhorned tick. The study confirms that these personal protective measures can help prevent bites from both native and invasive tick species.
Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry discovered that excessive fluoride causes dental fluorosis by altering calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in tooth enamel cells. This understanding provides a promising mechanistic view of how fluorosis arises.
A study by Northwestern Medicine and CDC found that unmarried mothers with paternal involvement are more likely to breastfeed and engage in protective health behaviors. This is compared to married mothers who also experience benefits from their partner's presence, suggesting a positive impact of fatherhood on maternal health.
A new study found that over half of US opioid prescriptions for dental procedures exceeded the recommended 3-day supply, with nearly 1/3 of patients receiving more powerful opioids than needed. The study suggests that improving guidelines and education for dentists can help reduce overprescription.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has secured renewed funding for the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN), a flagship program for preventing and controlling chronic diseases. Researchers from eight institutions will collaborate to produce research on implementing evidence-based approaches to reduce canc...
Research from Boston Children's Hospital shows a strong association between poverty levels and suicide rates among children and teens. The study found that counties with higher poverty rates had nearly 37% higher suicide rates compared to those with lower poverty rates.
A new study shows that a Zika vaccine doesn't have to offer perfect protection to be valuable, with potential cost savings in certain situations.
A study of over 4 million Medicaid claims records found that less than a third of adolescents and young adults who survived nonfatal opioid overdoses received timely follow-up addiction treatment. Only 1 in 54 youths received standard-of-care counseling and medications recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Research published in Injury Prevention found that US states with comprehensive regulations for open water swim sites have significantly lower drowning death rates. States with stricter regulations tend to have lower drowning rates, particularly among high-risk groups such as people of non-white ethnicity and children/teens.
A new study by UCSF and CDC estimates that millions of young women in the US are undergoing medically unnecessary pelvic exams and Pap tests. The exams can lead to false positives, over-treatment, anxiety, and unnecessary cost.
Researchers analyzed online forum data from 2008-2015 to find health problems associated with e-cigarettes existed before the 2019 VAPI outbreak. The study suggests many more users may have serious symptoms, and cases similar to those in the current epidemic have likely existed previously.
A new study strengthens the link between vitamin E acetate and EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), finding it in BAL fluid from 48 of 51 EVALI patients but not healthy individuals. The CDC analyzed samples from 16 states and compared them to 99 healthy individuals.
A new study reveals that one dose of the HPV vaccine may prevent infection from the potential cancer-causing virus, with implications for reducing global cancer burden. The current two- or three-dose series may be replaced by a single dose regimen if ongoing clinical trials provide sustained benefits.
This observational study found that the age-sex-adjusted proportion of US adults with diabetes was 12.1% for non-Hispanic whites, 20.4% for non-Hispanic blacks, 22.1% for Hispanics, and 19.1% for non-Hispanic Asians. Notably, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian subpopulations showed significant differences in undiagnosed diabetes rates.
The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network has published a supplemental issue of Preventive Medicine highlighting disparities in cancer prevention and control. The research findings report on factors contributing to rural disparities and strategies to improve equity in cancer screening rates.
A study led by the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix found that elevated levels of IL-36y are associated with bacterial vaginosis. The researchers also discovered that infection with BV-associated bacteria induces IL-36y in a species-specific manner.
The University of Illinois at Chicago will establish a Policy, Practice and Prevention Research Center (P3RC) to study various public health issues, including obesity and diabetes among Chicago schoolchildren. The center will also support researchers and community leaders in advocating for change and leveraging research data.
A panel of medical professionals will discuss the public health impact of e-cigarette use, with a focus on radiologic findings associated with vaping-related lung injury. The session aims to educate radiologists about this critical public health issue and provide guidance on identifying cases.