Study:  Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the murine central nervous system drives viral diversification. Image Credit: Stock_Good / Shutterstock.com Multiple sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infections have been associated with neurological complications that are potentially attributed to direct infection of the central nervous system (CNS). A recent Nature Microbiology…

Study: Can AI chatbots accurately answer patient questions regarding vasectomies? Image Credit: Fabian Montano Hernandez / Shutterstock ChatGPT provided the most accurate and concise answers to frequently asked vasectomy questions compared to Gemini (formerly Bard) and Copilot (formerly Bing), making it a reliable patient resource. In a recent study published in the journal IJIR: Your…

Study: Relevance of Mediterranean diet as a nutritional strategy in diminishing COVID-19 risk: A systematic review. Image Credit: Brian A Jackson / Shutterstock Systematic review found that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19, but its impact on symptoms and severity remains unclear. A recent systematic review published…

The FDA has approved an updated covid shot for everyone 6 months old and up, which renews a now-annual quandary for Americans: Get the shot now, with the latest covid outbreak sweeping the country, or hold it in reserve for the winter wave? The new vaccine should provide some protection to everyone. But many healthy…

In a recent study published in the journal JAMA, researchers attempted to characterize childhood long COVID by investigating its most common disease symptoms in children (6-11 yrs; n = 898) and adolescents (12-17; n = 4,478). Study:  Characterizing Long COVID in Children and Adolescents . Image Credit: Deborah Lee Rossiter/Shutterstock.com Introduction They further…

In a recent prospective observational cohort study published in eClinicalMedicine, researchers evaluated a modified regimen of total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) in high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients in Sweden. They found that the modified TNT regime achieved similar complete response (CR) rates and lower neurotoxicity compared to the RAPIDO trial, despite treating older patients…

In a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry, a team of scientists from the United Kingdom (U.K.) investigated whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was associated with mental health illnesses and whether the association was modified based on COVID-19 vaccination status among the general population, as well as among patients who were hospitalized due to the…

Study:  Emergency Allotments in SNAP and Food Hardship Among Households With Children . Image Credit: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com Question:  Were emergency allotments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) associated with a change in the risk of food hardship among households with children? In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers…

In a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers discuss the results of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) comparing the therapeutic efficacy of risakizumab and ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Study:  Risankizumab versus Ustekinumab for Moderate-to-Severe Crohn’s Disease. Image Credit: vitstudio / Shutterstock.com …

In a recent study published in Nature Human Behavior, researchers investigate the impact of video gaming on psychological health in Japan during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Study:  Causal effect of video gaming on mental well-being in Japan 2020–2022 . Image Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com Public health concerns about gaming The…