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• Most young people eager for COVID-19 vaccine, poll shows
• The Brazil variant: what we know
• More COVID state shutdowns unlikely, despite CDC suggestion
• Study: Black people may respond differently to common multiple sclerosis therapy than white people
• Your neighborhood may affect your brain health
• EU to get 50 million Pfizer doses early as Denmark scraps AZ
• Researchers map brain regions responsible for intoxicating effects of alcohol
• How to gain a sense of well-being, free and online
• New discovery could lead to therapies for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Mediterranean diet with lean beef may lower risk factors for heart disease
• Tiny wireless implant detects oxygen deep within the body
• Lower COVID-19 rates seen in US states with higher adherence to mask wearing
• Triple combination therapy shows promise against a rare, deadly asbestos cancer
• Researchers identify cellular interactions responsible for metastasis in breast cancer
• COVID-19 in combination with hemorrhagic stroke doubles death risk
• Women describe specific techniques to increase their own pleasure
• Swiss ease COVID restrictions despite 'fragile' situation
• Production of Russia's Sputnik vaccine to begin in Serbia: makers
• US health experts meet on paused J&J COVID vaccine
• New research provides insight into COVID-19 vaccine reluctancy among social media users
• In pig brain development, nature beats nurture
• Protein found to control drivers of normal growth and cancer
• How transcription factors work together in cancer formation
• One good way to help beat COVID-19: Exercise
• Telling sunbathers what they don't want to hear: Tanning is bad
• Significant spread of all coronavirus variants tracked in Houston area
• ER visits for suicidal behavior declined during the first 8 months of pandemic, study shows
• Diabetes drug shows potential in fighting cancer
• USPSTF finds evidence insufficient for vitamin D screening
• Racial/ethnic disparities vary in COVID-19 hospitalization

Most young people eager for COVID-19 vaccine, poll shows Posted: 14 Apr 2021 01:12 PM PDT As older teens and young adults become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination across the country, and younger teens await their turn, new survey data suggest a strong readiness that has grown since fall.

The Brazil variant: what we know Posted: 14 Apr 2021 01:10 PM PDT The "Brazil variant"—a more contagious mutation of the coronavirus that emerged in the Amazon late last year—is fueling fears the pandemic could flare anew, leading several countries to suspend flights from Brazil.

More COVID state shutdowns unlikely, despite CDC suggestion Posted: 14 Apr 2021 01:02 PM PDT When one of the nation's top health officials this week suggested states dealing with a spring spike of coronavirus cases should "shut things down," the remark landed with a thud.

Study: Black people may respond differently to common multiple sclerosis therapy than white people Posted: 14 Apr 2021 01:00 PM PDT A preliminary study suggests that Black people who have autoimmune neurologic diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), may respond differently than white people to a common therapy meant to modulate the immune system. The research, released today, April 14, 2021, will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 73rd Annual Meeting being held virtually April 17 to 22, 2021.

Your neighborhood may affect your brain health Posted: 14 Apr 2021 01:00 PM PDT Middle-age and older people living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods—areas with higher poverty levels and fewer educational and employment opportunities—had more brain shrinkage on brain scans and showed faster decline on cognitive tests than people living in neighborhoods with fewer disadvantages, according to a study published in the April 14, 2021, online issue of Neurology. Researchers say such brain aging may be a sign of the earliest stages of dementia.

EU to get 50 million Pfizer doses early as Denmark scraps AZ Posted: 14 Apr 2021 12:58 PM PDT The EU said Wednesday that it is expecting 50 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses earlier than expected, as rival drugmaker AstraZeneca faced a fresh setback after Denmark banned its use over blood clot links.

Researchers map brain regions responsible for intoxicating effects of alcohol Posted: 14 Apr 2021 12:49 PM PDT The slurred speech, poor coordination, and sedative effects of drinking too much alcohol may actually be caused by the breakdown of alcohol products produced in the brain, not in the liver as scientists currently think. That is the finding of a new study led by researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It was published recently in the journal Nature Metabolism and provides new insights into how alcohol may affect the brain and the potential for new treatments to treat alcohol misuse.

How to gain a sense of well-being, free and online Posted: 14 Apr 2021 12:48 PM PDT In 2018, when Professor Laurie Santos introduced her course "Psychology and the Good Life," a class on the science of happiness, it became the most popular in the history of Yale, attracting more than 1,200 undergraduate enrollees that first semester. An online course based on those teachings became a global phenomenon. By latest count, 3.38 million people have enrolled to take the free Coursera.org course, called "The Science of Well Being."

New discovery could lead to therapies for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:22 AM PDT A new study, led by the University of California, Irvine (UCI), reveals how chronic inflammation promotes muscle fibrosis, which could inform the development of new therapies for patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a fatal muscle disease.

Mediterranean diet with lean beef may lower risk factors for heart disease Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:21 AM PDT Eating red meat may have a bad reputation for being bad for the heart, but new research found that lean beef may have a place in healthy diets, after all.

Tiny wireless implant detects oxygen deep within the body Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:20 AM PDT Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have created a tiny wireless implant that can provide real-time measurements of tissue oxygen levels deep underneath the skin. The device, which is smaller than the average ladybug and powered by ultrasound waves, could help doctors monitor the health of transplanted organs or tissue and provide an early warning of potential transplant failure.

Lower COVID-19 rates seen in US states with higher adherence to mask wearing Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:00 AM PDT A new state-by-state analysis shows a statistical association between high adherence to mask wearing and reduced rates of COVID-19 in the U.S. Charlie Fischer and colleagues at the Boston University School of Public Health in Massachusetts present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on April 14.

Triple combination therapy shows promise against a rare, deadly asbestos cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:00 AM PDT Combining immune-boosting drugs with radiation and surgery increased the survival and anticancer immune response in mouse models of mesothelioma in preclinical research by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre researchers.

Researchers identify cellular interactions responsible for metastasis in breast cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:00 AM PDT Researchers at HSE University have identified the genes that play a crucial role in breast cancer metastasis. The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

COVID-19 in combination with hemorrhagic stroke doubles death risk Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:00 AM PDT COVID-19 and hemorrhagic stroke are a deadly combination, increasing the risk of death up to 2.4 times among patients who have this pairing compared to those who only had hemorrhagic strokes, according to a nationwide study led by University of Utah Health scientists. Patients who survived had longer hospital stays, more medical complications, and less favorable outcomes than those who did not have both conditions.

Women describe specific techniques to increase their own pleasure Posted: 14 Apr 2021 11:00 AM PDT To provide women with specific language they can use to better understand, communicate and advocate for their sexual pleasure—and add to scientific understanding of an understudied topic—a nationally representative survey of US women names and describes techniques women use to increase their pleasure during vaginal penetration. The findings were presented in a study published April 14, 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Dr. Devon J. Hensel, Associate Professor of Research at Indiana University School of Medicine, and Dr. Christiana von Hippel, an OMGYES Research Scientist.

Swiss ease COVID restrictions despite 'fragile' situation Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:55 AM PDT Switzerland's government announced Wednesday it will significantly ease its COVID-19 restrictions despite acknowledging that the country's virus situation "remains fragile" and has even worsened recently.

Production of Russia's Sputnik vaccine to begin in Serbia: makers Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:53 AM PDT Moscow on Wednesday announced the start of production of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in Serbia, the first European country outside Russia and Belarus to begin manufacturing the jab.

US health experts meet on paused J&J COVID vaccine Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:53 AM PDT A group of medical experts convened by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was set to hold a meeting on the J&J COVID vaccine on Wednesday, and might recommend new restrictions on its use.

New research provides insight into COVID-19 vaccine reluctancy among social media users Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:49 AM PDT New research has found that the most reliable indicators of willingness to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are rejection of conspiracy suspicions about COVID-19 and a positive attitude towards vaccines in general. The study by King's College London and the University of Bristol is published in the leading peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine.

In pig brain development, nature beats nurture Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:27 AM PDT Before humans can benefit from new drug therapies and nutritional additives, scientists test their safety and efficacy in animals, typically mice and rats. But, as much as they've done for biomedical research, rodents aren't always the best research model for studies on neonatal brain development and nutrition. That's where pigs can play an important role.

Protein found to control drivers of normal growth and cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT Researchers have found a long-sought enzyme that prevents cancer by enabling the breakdown of proteins that drive cell growth, and that causes cancer when disabled.

How transcription factors work together in cancer formation Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:10 AM PDT A new study co-authored by University of Colorado Cancer Center researcher Srinivas Ramachandran, Ph.D., shows how DNA segments known as enhancers function in cells.

One good way to help beat COVID-19: Exercise Posted: 14 Apr 2021 10:00 AM PDT (HealthDay)—Exercise guards against a host of chronic diseases that can plague people as they age, but can it also protect against severe cases of COVID-19?

Telling sunbathers what they don't want to hear: Tanning is bad Posted: 14 Apr 2021 09:54 AM PDT Most young women already know that tanning is dangerous and sunbathe anyway, so a campaign informing them of the risk should take into account their potential resistance to the message, according to a new study.

Significant spread of all coronavirus variants tracked in Houston area Posted: 14 Apr 2021 09:53 AM PDT In late 2020, several concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged globally. They are believed to be more easily transmissible, and there is concern that some may reduce the effectiveness of antibody treatments and vaccines. An extensive genome sequencing program run by the Houston Methodist health system has identified all six of the currently identified SARS-CoV-2 variants in their patients. A new study appearing in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, finds that the variants are widely spread across the Houston metropolitan area.

ER visits for suicidal behavior declined during the first 8 months of pandemic, study shows Posted: 14 Apr 2021 09:53 AM PDT While people may expect suicide rates to rise during a worldwide crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a University of Michigan study suggests the onset of the pandemic and state of emergency executive orders likely did not increase suicide-related behavior in the early months of the outbreak.

Diabetes drug shows potential in fighting cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2021 09:52 AM PDT The anti-diabetic drug phenformin may prompt stronger cancer-fighting activities than its sister compound metformin, a finding that could have major implications for current and future clinical trials investigating both agents for their anti-cancer potential, according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). In a review article in Trends in Cancer, the team presented evidence that immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (which enable T cells to attack and kill cancer cells) in combination with phenformin may also be a promising way to repurpose this diabetic drug as an anti-cancer agent.

USPSTF finds evidence insufficient for vitamin D screening Posted: 14 Apr 2021 09:50 AM PDT (HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to ascertain the balance of benefits and harms of screening asymptomatic adults for vitamin D deficiency. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the April 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Racial/ethnic disparities vary in COVID-19 hospitalization Posted: 14 Apr 2021 09:40 AM PDT (HealthDay)—Geographic and temporal differences were identified in racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospitalization levels during 2020, according to research published in the April 12 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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