New study suggests vitamin D supplementation may lower ICU and intubation rates in COVID-19 patients, with greater benefits seen in older and severe cases. Study:  The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation Post COVID-19 Infection and Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis . Image Credit: yurok/Shutterstock.com The impact of vitamin D…

Natalie Holt sees reminders nearly everywhere of the serious toll a years-long syphilis outbreak has taken in South Dakota. Scrambling to tamp down the spread of the devastating disease, public health officials are blasting messages to South Dakotans on billboards and television, urging people to get tested. Holt works in Aberdeen, a city of about…

Over the last few years, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has undergone significant changes, evolving from the original wild-type strains to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Omicron has been particularly concerning due to its ability to evade immune protection from vaccines and monoclonal antibodies developed against earlier strains. A critical player in the virus's…

Kelly Engebretson was excited to get fitted for a prosthetic after having part of his leg amputated. But he wasn't sure how he'd get to the appointment. Nah Thu Thu Win's twin sons needed vaccinations before starting kindergarten. But she speaks little English, and the boys lacked health insurance. William Arce and Wanda Serrano were…

By actively monitoring and collaborating with stakeholders, Canada has managed to mitigate drug shortages more effectively than the U.S., underscoring the benefits of proactive health policy. Study:  Differences in Drug Shortages in the US and Canada . Image Credit: Shutterstock AI / Shutterstock.com A recent study published in the…

Preventing memory loss with smell training? Olfactory enrichment found effective in new study. Study:  Inflammation and olfactory loss are associated with at least 139 medical conditions . Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.com In a recent review article published in Frontiers in Molecular Science, researchers discussed the links between genetic, physical, and neurological conditions…

Voters in Missouri, Nebraska, and Alaska will soon decide whether workers in those states should be entitled to paid sick leave. If approved, the ballot measures would allow many workers to accrue paid time off, a benefit supporters say means workers — especially those with low-paying jobs — would no longer have to fear losing…

Researchers have conducted a study to explore family dinner frequency and quality and its impact on mental health in children and adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Study: How COVID-19 Expanded the Family Dinner Table: Greater Frequency Linked With Improved Quality and New Ways of Eating Together. Image Credit:…

New research highlights the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in lowering hospitalization rates and long COVID symptoms in non-hospitalized, high-risk COVID-19 patients. Study:  Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir reduces COVID-19 hospitalization and prevents long COVID in adult outpatients . Image Credit: Simplylove/Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in the Scientific Reports, a group of researchers…

Study of 172,136 children and young adults finds elevated BMI linked to increased PASC risk: 25.4% higher for obesity and 42.1% for severe obesity. Study: Body Mass Index and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Young Adults. Image Credit: Roman Chazov/Shutterstock.com In a cohort study published in JAMA Network…