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Changing long-term opioid prescribing behavior
Notifying clinicians that one of their patients died of an overdose reduced the amount of opioids they prescribed for up to a year afterwards.
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Link between hydration and aging
Higher blood sodium in middle age was associated with increased mortality, chronic disease risk, and biological aging.
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Lab-grown eye cells form new neural connections
Eye cells that were grown from skin-derived stem cells could be collected from 3D cultures and coaxed to form new neural connections.
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March 14, 2023 Edition
Temperature-stable TB vaccine is safe and provokes immune response
An experimental tuberculosis vaccine that can be stored at room temperature was safe and provoked an immune response in a phase 1 clinical trial.
Erythritol and cardiovascular events
Higher blood levels of the artificial sweetener erythritol were associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
How psychedelic drugs may help with depression
Psychedelic drugs being tested as therapies for treatment-resistant depression activate receptors within brain cells that promote new brain cell connections.
March 7, 2023 Edition
Spinal cord stimulation improves arm, hand movements after stroke
A device that stimulates the spinal cord restored arm and hand movement in two stroke patients and allowed them to perform daily activities.
Identifying potential treatments for ALS
Researchers identified two different proteins that, when suppressed, reduced the neuronal damage caused by ALS.
Inhalable hydrogel protects lungs from SARS-CoV-2
An inhalable gel protected animal lungs from viral infections. With further development, it could provide protection against COVID-19 and other ailments.
February 28, 2023 Edition
Lowering the risk of mother's sepsis or death after childbirth
A single oral dose of a common antibiotic may have the potential to significantly reduce maternal infections and deaths in developing countries.
Male contraceptive disables sperm
A compound temporarily disabled mouse and human sperm. It also prevented pregnancies in mice.
Osteopontin may play key role in Alzheimer's disease
Osteopontin, a protein produced by certain immune cells, may aid the formation of the amyloid beta plaques that characterize Alzheimer's disease.
February 14, 2023 Edition
VEXAS syndrome more common than realized
A severe inflammatory disease called VEXAS is more prevalent and has a broader range of symptoms than expected.
Links found between viruses and neurodegenerative diseases
Researchers found associations between certain viral illnesses and the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Engineering skin grafts for complex body parts
Scientists successfully grew new skin in the shape of a human hand that was also stronger than standard engineered skin grafts.
February 7, 2023 Edition
Bivalent boosters provide better protection against severe COVID-19
Bivalent booster vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 were 37% more effective than older booster shots at reducing the risk of severe COVID-19.
Comparing heart failure drugs
A comparison of two diuretic drugs used to treat heart failure suggested either could be used to treat people hospitalized with heart failure.
Probiotic blocks staph bacteria from colonizing people
A probiotic reduced the amount of Staphylococcus aureus, or “staph,” bacteria in the human gut and nose without harming beneficial gut microbes.
January 10, 2023 Edition
Paxlovid reduces serious risks from Omicron variants
The antiviral treatment Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization or death from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in older adults by 44%.
Blood test for early Alzheimer's detection
Researchers developed a blood test that could detect Alzheimer's disease-promoting compounds in the blood long before symptoms emerged.
Gut microbes may affect motivation to exercise
Researchers found a pathway by which gut microbes affect levels of exercise in mice. The findings, if confirmed in humans, suggest strategies to help encourage people to exercise.
December 20, 2022 Edition
2022 Research Highlights - Human Health Advances
NIH accomplishments in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment include insights into Covid-19 vaccines, advances for type 1 diabetes, and a robotic exoskeleton that helps people walk.
2022 Research Highlights - Promising Medical Findings
NIH findings with potential for enhancing human health include a potential cause of multiple sclerosis, understanding the effects of sleep, and progress towards an HIV vaccine.
2022 Research Highlights - Basic Research Insights
Noteworthy NIH advances in basic research include progress in understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease, discoveries about how the microbiome affects human health, and learning how mosquitos find us.
December 13, 2022 Edition
Machine learning approach detects brain tumor boundaries
Data from thousands of patients with glioblastoma worldwide were used to develop an accurate model for detecting tumor boundaries.
Progress toward an eventual HIV vaccine
An experimental HIV vaccine elicited broadly neutralizing antibody precursors in people and may lead to an effective vaccine strategy for HIV.
Smart bandage improves wound healing in mice
A smart bandage used wireless power to protect and monitor wounds, provide feedback on tissue health, and encourage healing using electrical current.
December 6, 2022 Edition
Racial residential segregation and airborne toxic metals
Air pollution in racially segregated communities contained more toxic metals than in well-integrated communities.
Using mRNA technology for a universal flu vaccine
A vaccine using mRNA technology induced an immune response in mice and ferrets against a broad range of different influenza types.
Alzheimer's tied to cholesterol, abnormal nerve insulation
Researchers found evidence that the Alzheimer's-related gene APOE4 disrupts cholesterol management in the brain and weakens insulation around nerve fibers.