Research on the US population and its health. Covers cancer-trial sponsorship, myopia control, statistical literacy, and substance-use trends.
A recent study examines the one-year experience of cancer clinical trial enrollment after the COVID-19 outbreak in the US. Researchers found that participation rates declined significantly during this period.
A survey of US and NYC parents found that only 49% planned to vaccinate their youngest child, with vaccine hesitancy linked to education level and income. The study highlights the need for targeted information campaigns to improve vaccination uptake among young children.
A WVU-led team, supported by a $4.78 million NIH grant, has increased COVID-19 testing in rural West Virginia through mobile vans and community partnerships. The project has served 38 counties and administered over 2,265 tests, with a focus on communities of color.
Removing invasive barred owls from western US coastlines had a significant positive effect on the survival of northern spotted owls, arresting population declines. The treatment also allowed spotted owls to disperse into previously occupied territories.
A new study by researchers at Florida State University and the University of Cincinnati found significant disparities among individuals placed in extended solitary confinement compared to the rest of the prison population. The study identified notable differences in mental health, education, language, race/ethnicity, and age.
Research reveals South Asians have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease compared to Europeans. Despite being under-represented in clinical estimators, South Asians experience a more than two-fold increased risk.
A new UK study finds racial minority students are significantly underrepresented in geology, physical geography, and environmental science. This systemic exclusion risks alienating large sections of the global population from addressing climate change.
A prospective cohort study found that treatment at an infusion center is associated with substantially better outcomes than treatment in the emergency department for patients with sickle cell disease. Patients treated in ICs received parenteral pain medication faster and were more likely to have their pain reassessed within 30 minutes.
A study analyzing age-at-death records of 33,715 Indigenous people in central California between 3050 BCE and 1870 CE found that Spanish settlers contributed to severe demographic collapse. The research suggests extreme social disruption caused by the presence of Europeans led to increased mortality rates among both males and females.
UofL researchers advocate for greater diversity in immunogenomics studies to better understand disease susceptibility and develop tailored treatments. The team aims to include a broader range of populations in their research to improve patient care and address health disparities.
Life expectancy in the US decreased by nearly two years between 2018 and 2020, widening the gap with other high-income countries, especially among Hispanic and Black Americans. The largest declines were observed in these groups, with life expectancy falling by 15-18 times more than in peer countries.
Researchers analyzed obituary data to examine excess deaths among the Amish population in 2020, finding a spike in November that mirrored general COVID-19 infection waves. The study suggests that face-to-face interactions and distrust in preventative medicine contributed to these 'excess deaths', which may or may not be directly relate...
A new analysis reveals that households with recent birthdays are 30% more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis in counties with high infection rates. The study suggests that social gatherings like birthday parties may have contributed to infections during the pandemic.
Researchers at UMSOM aim to expand genetic databases to include under-represented minority populations, improving polygenic risk score accuracy for clinical use. The goal is to identify best practices for translating scores into clinical practice across diverse populations.
A study by the University of Kansas found that women leaving jail have high rates of vaccine hesitancy, with only 20% willing to receive a vaccine. An online app developed by researchers aims to boost health literacy and address misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines.
A new study challenges the notion that widespread Indigenous population decline led to significant forest regrowth in tropical regions. Instead, it found that dense and highland forests were less likely to show signs of afforestation following Spanish contact.
A new study by Iowa State University scientists has developed an integrated framework to explain the complex interactions between a plant's genotype and environment. The framework uses advanced data analytics to predict crop performance and could lead to more accurate breeding of high-yielding crops.
Researchers tracked mobile phone data from millions of users in US metropolitan areas, finding that lower-income neighborhoods had significantly less time at home during the lockdown. Education level also played a role, with higher-income neighborhoods and those with more college degrees spending more time at home.
A study by North Carolina State University researchers found that US counties with more socially vulnerable populations have a higher density of natural gas pipelines, putting them at risk for water and air pollution, public health and safety issues. The analysis used a social vulnerability index to assess 3,142 US counties and found a...
A new study from Columbia University found that young adults with schizophrenia have the highest suicide risk and those aged 65 and older have the lowest. People with schizophrenia overall have a 4.5-fold increased risk of dying from suicide.
Research found that human management of the Amazon rainforest peaked around 1200 AD, leading to a decline in some societies before European settlers arrived. Climate change is believed to be a contributing factor to this population drop-off.
A study by University of Houston researchers found that heart-focused anxiety is a significant predictor of depression and overall anxiety among Latinx young adults with previous trauma. This population often somaticizes mental health problems, making treatment more challenging.
A new study characterized heart disease and cerebrovascular deaths by race and ethnicity during the US COVID-19 pandemic, revealing that Black, Hispanic and Asian populations experienced significantly higher relative increases in heart disease deaths, with a 19% rise compared to non-Hispanic whites. The study suggests that disruptions ...
A new study shows that horse populations on North America and Eurasia remained connected through the Bering Land Bridge, interbreeding multiple times over hundreds of thousands of years. The findings demonstrate genetic continuity between the horses that died out in North America and those domesticated in Eurasia.
A USC study reveals that 1 in 3 neighborhoods in the largest US cities have limited pharmacy access, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino residents. This 'pharmacy desert' phenomenon may contribute to persistent racial and ethnic health disparities.
Researchers found that house mice on the east and west coasts developed similar traits, such as larger bodies and bigger nests, to cope with the cold. These genetic changes suggest distinct regional features like rainfall and soil color may have driven parallel evolution along the latitudinal gradient.
Research reveals that aphid endosymbionts, like Hamiltonella defensa, provide defense against parasitoid wasps but also come with a cost. The prevalence of these bacteria shifts rapidly in response to environmental temperature changes, highlighting the role of balancing selection in their evolution.
A UT Southwestern Medical Center review of Texas Cancer Registry data found that Black and Hispanic patients under 40 with cancer have lower survival rates compared to their white counterparts. The study also showed that poverty and lack of insurance coverage exacerbate these disparities.
A study of 30,000 adults living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean found significant increases in life expectancy since ART became widely available. The study reveals that life expectancy for people with HIV on ART is now close to that of the general population, mirroring trends seen in higher-income countries.
A recent study conducted at the University of Helsinki found that the risk of intellectual disability in younger siblings is low. The study utilized exome sequencing to determine the genetic background of developmental disorders and identified 9 new candidate genes, including 1 potentially novel gene enriched in the Finnish population.
Genetic ancestry data provides specific insights into disease risk and management, allowing for targeted interventions. The study found that 25% of BioMe participants had links to populations predisposed to certain genetic diseases.
A University of Michigan study found that female nurses are twice as likely to commit suicide as the general female population and 70% more likely than female physicians. The study highlights the need for high-quality wellness programs for nurses, who face extraordinary demands from COVID-19 and often struggle with work-life balance.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry estimated the risk of suicide among nurses and physicians compared to the general population. The study found that these professionals are at a significantly higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for a public goods approach to essential medical services, as widespread vaccine nationalism threatens global herd immunity and equitable access. The US government is urged to invest in multilateral partnerships and global allocation strategies to increase vaccine supply and manufacturing.
A new study found that Middle Eastern and North African individuals in Michigan are more likely to experience chronic illness, mental health issues, and poor overall health due to various barriers. The survey also highlighted the prevalence of food insecurity, transportation issues, and financial strain as major risk factors for poor h...
A VCU-led study found that regional surges contributed to higher excess death rates from COVID-19 and other causes, particularly affecting Black Americans. Excess deaths rose a staggering 22.9% nationally from March 2020 to January 2021.
A recent study found that Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans are severely underrepresented in the US health workforce, with representation ranging from 3.3% to 11.4%. The study highlights the need for increased diversity in the health professions to improve access and outcomes in underserved communities.
A study published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice finds that the number of preventive medicine physicians is not likely to match population needs in the US. The specialty is aging, with nearly half of physicians over 60 years old, and new trainees are scarce.
A study analyzing genomic data from South American populations reveals an extensive Australasian genetic signal, previously thought to be confined to Amazonian groups. The findings suggest at least two migratory waves accounted for the present-day genetic diversity of Central and South American populations.
A new study finds that racial diversity within a church is associated with higher average attendance over time, contradicting previous research. Methodist churches with more racial diversity had higher attendance, while those in white neighborhoods had lower attendance. The study's findings challenge the popular assumption of the Churc...
A national research project is launching a bundled approach to address socio-cultural health determinants and improve health outcomes for Black women with HIV. The initiative, led by UMass Lowell, will evaluate and disseminate evidence-informed and trauma-informed interventions across 12 sites.
Researchers found that more than 50% of children in high-risk populations are not receiving behavioral health services. The study highlights the need for better identification and access to intervention resources, particularly for young Black children.
A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that extreme climate events can increase Aedes aegypti populations in Kenya, but preventative measures may reduce dengue fever cases. The researchers monitored mosquito abundance and dengue infections in a cohort of children.
A study found that COVID-19 mobility data used to inform public health responses can disproportionately harm older and minority groups. The researchers assessed the validity of SafeGraph data, which contains information from approximately 47 million mobile devices in the US, but lacked demographic information such as age and race.
A recent study found that partisan politics, religious fundamentalism, and economic threat affect local decisions about the death penalty. The study also discovered that the size of African American populations was not directly associated with the decline in death penalty use since the 1990s.
A new Penn Medicine research reveals that a single head injury can lead to dementia later in life, with the risk further increasing with more head injuries. Women and white participants are at higher risk of dementia after head injury compared to men and black participants.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new imaging technology that can identify good and bad emitters among populations of carbon nanodots. The study found that approximately 20% of carbon nanodots are perfect emitters, while about 80% have a very short light emission state before expelling heat.
Exorbitant healthcare spending depletes population resources, harming vulnerable groups through increased insurance premiums and taxes. The authors propose reducing financial pollution by learning from environmental pollution policy approaches.
Researchers found COVID-19 cases and deaths significantly affected by local culture and demographics in global scale studies. The model identified population size, density, public transportation use, African American percentage, and Democrat election vote share as predictive factors for US counties.
A study found that individuals with intellectual disabilities are 2.5 times more likely to contract COVID-19, and 5.9 times more likely to die from the infection than the general population.
Researchers found that people with basic Information Technology (IT) skills are more likely to be employed and earn higher salaries. Basic IT skills include using email, copying files, and working with Excel spreadsheets.
A study found that eastern newt populations in the northeastern US, Appalachian Mountains, and southeastern Canada are most vulnerable to Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans infection due to temperature fluctuations. Climate change may exacerbate this risk.
The US and UK's large vaccine stockpiles are morally reprehensible, argue experts, as poor countries face years of vaccine scarcity. Rich nations should prioritize global access to COVID-19 vaccines to respect human rights and reduce the pandemic's spread.
Despite policies and interventions aimed at improving access to kidney transplantation, a new study found no overall improvement in rates of wait list placement and transplantation over two decades. The researchers also identified striking disparities in access to transplantation, highlighting the need for more effective strategies to ...
A new study suggests that monetary reparations for Black descendants of people enslaved in the US could have cut SARS-CoV-2 transmission and reduced COVID-19 rates. Reparations could have reduced transmission by as much as 68% among Black individuals and the overall population.
A machine-learning algorithm developed at UT Southwestern estimates that the number of COVID-19 cases in the US is nearly three times that of confirmed cases, with over 71 million people estimated to have contracted the virus. The algorithm provides daily updated estimates of total infections and the number of people currently infected...
A new study reveals that quantity of education does not necessarily translate to quality, and the global skills gap is widening due to inadequate measurement methods. The Skills in Literacy Adjusted Mean Years of Schooling (SLAMYS) indicator shows a significant gap between high- and low-performing countries.
A Wayne State University study will explore how family migration stress affects infant development and health. The research, led by Dr. Dalia Khalil, aims to identify effective early intervention strategies for immigrant families.
A new USC study found that at least half of recent deaths in ICE custody were preventable, with COVID-19, influenza, and suicide contributing to the high death rate. Researchers call for improved infection control measures, access to quality psychiatric care, and suicide prevention efforts.
A recent study found a sharp increase in methamphetamine overdose deaths across all racial and ethnic groups, but non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest death rates overall. The study highlights the need for culturally tailored prevention and treatment strategies to address this growing crisis.