Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Cardiovascular disease in China

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) cases increased by 14.7% in China between 1990 and 2016, with nearly 94 million cases reported in 2016. The overall death rate from CVD dropped by 29% during the same period, indicating a decrease in CVD burden.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateMar 13, 2019

Geographic distribution of opioid-related deaths

The study analyzed data on over 351,000 opioid-related deaths from 1999 to 2016, revealing a significant increase in mortality rates in the eastern United States. Synthetic opioids were found to be driving these increases, prompting policymakers to reconsider their strategies for reducing opioid-related deaths.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 22, 2019

Women more likely to take Bible literally, but that may be tied to intimacy, not gender

A recent study from Baylor University found that women are more likely to believe the Bible is literally true than men. However, this may be because they report higher levels of closeness to God, which increases with prayer and Bible study. The study suggests that intimacy with God plays a key role in literalism, rather than gender.

SourceBaylor University·JournalJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion·DateFeb 19, 2019

Blocking hormone uptake burns more fat

A new study reveals that blocking the uptake of a hormone called norepinephrine in fat cells increases metabolism and burns stored fat. The discovery highlights the importance of beige fat tissue, which plays a key role in thermogenesis and regulating body temperature.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 17, 2019

Pharmacists could dramatically reduce ER visits

A study found that nearly one-third of non-urgent ED visits in Ontario can be managed by pharmacists with an expanded scope of practice, reducing crowdedness and free up resources for more acute cases. The most frequent ED cases that could be managed include skin-related concerns and other minor conditions.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalResearch in Social and Administrative Pharmacy·DateJan 10, 2019

Mothers use sex pheromones to veil eggs, preventing cannibalism

Researchers found that fruit fly mothers incorporate sex pheromones into the eggshell's wax layer to mask its identity from larvae, preventing cannibalism. This nontoxic chemical deception strategy has implications for our understanding of animal behavior and defense mechanisms in diverse species.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 10, 2019