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Oral antiviral drug effective against COVID-19 in hamsters
An oral antiviral drug called MK-4482 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in hamsters. It is currently being tested in people.
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Targeted treatments for small-cell lung cancer
A rapid screening process identified a two-drug combination that shrank small-cell lung tumors, which are often fatal within weeks of recurrence.
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Lack of sleep in middle age may increase dementia risk
People who slept six hours or less per night in their 50s and 60s were more likely to develop dementia later in life.
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March 12, 2024 Edition
Talk therapy cuts risk of postpartum depression
An intervention given to pregnant women by non-specialist providers greatly reduced the chances of developing postpartum depression or anxiety.
How excess niacin may promote cardiovascular disease
Findings about a metabolite of niacin, or vitamin B3, raise concerns about the health effects of too much niacin and suggest new measures to help prevent or treat cardiovascular disease
Designing a new antibiotic to combat drug resistance
Researchers designed a synthetic drug that shuts down protein production in a range of different bacteria.
March 5, 2024 Edition
Identifying barriers to life-saving diarrhea care
A study in India found that children with diarrhea often aren’t given oral rehydration salts because providers assume that parents prefer other treatments.
Drug cuts risk of allergic reactions to peanuts and other foods
Researchers showed that a drug used to treat allergic asthma can reduce reactions to peanuts and other common foods in children with multiple food allergies.
Insight into mechanisms of ME/CFS
Researchers compared people with post-infectious ME/CFS to those without and found important differences in their brains and other body systems.
February 27, 2024 Edition
SARS-CoV-2 fragments may cause problems after infection
Researchers found that fragments of SARS-CoV-2 left behind after the immune system fights off infection may continue to trigger immune responses.
Blood test may predict psychosis risks
Scientists identified molecules in blood that may reflect a person’s risk for severe psychotic symptoms and future hospitalizations, and may point to personalized treatment options.
Gaps allow substances to move in and out of the brain
Gaps around blood vessels that cross the layers of tissues protecting the brain allow certain cells and molecules to move between the brain and the body.
February 13, 2024 Edition
Understanding sex differences in autoimmune disease
The activity of a type of RNA called Xist may help explain why autoimmune diseases are more common in women than men.
Obesity disrupts mitochondria, reduces fat-burning
Scientists identified a protein that triggers changes in mitochondria that lead to reduced fat-burning to promote weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet.
How the brain produces speech
Researchers identified how neurons in the human brain encode various elements of speech. The findings might be used to help develop treatments for speech and language disorders.
February 6, 2024 Edition
Comparing side effects after prostate cancer treatment
Men with cancer confined to the prostate experienced different long-term side effects depending on the type of treatment received.
Machine learning identifies federally protected waters
Researchers used machine learning to estimate which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act, which provides the basis for federal regulation of water quality, including water for drinking.
Preventing severe allergic reactions with nanoparticles
Researchers created nanoparticles that could deactivate immune cells and prevent severe allergic reactions in mice.
January 30, 2024 Edition
Research in Context
Diagnosing dementia
This special Research in Context feature explores approaches to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and the development of strategies to try to prevent their progression.
January 23, 2024 Edition
People taking semaglutide had lower risk of suicidal thoughts
Semaglutide was associated with a lower risk of suicidal thoughts than other anti-obesity and anti-diabetes drugs.
Infections and falls increased in private equity-owned hospitals
After hospitals were purchased by private equity firms, patients had a substantial increase in infections, falls, and other adverse events.
Plastic particles in bottled water
Researchers developed an imaging technique that detected thousands of tiny bits of plastic in common single-use bottles of water.
January 9, 2024 Edition
Anti-diabetes drugs may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer
People with diabetes who took drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists had a lower risk of colorectal cancer compared with those prescribed other diabetes drugs.
Cochlear nerve damage associated with tinnitus
People with chronic tinnitus were more likely to have signs of damage to their cochlear nerve than people without the condition.
Tracking organ aging and disease
Researchers found that proteins in the blood can be used to track the aging of individual organs, and that faster organ aging increased the risk of disease and death.
December 21, 2023 Edition
2023 NIH Research Highlights - Human Health Advances
NIH accomplishments in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment include an antibiotic to prevent sexually transmitted infections, an mRNA vaccine to treat pancreatic cancer, and an app for autism screening.
2023 NIH Research Highlights - Basic Research Insights
Noteworthy NIH advances in basic research include detailed cellular maps of human and nonhuman animal brains, a contraceptive that disables sperm, and a vaccine that could provide broad protection against microbes.
2023 NIH Research Highlights - Promising Medical Findings
NIH findings with potential for enhancing human health include insights into Long COVID and ME/CFS, and a promising blood test for early Alzheimer’s detection.