Browsing: Health

A new study has identified a potential link between the artificial sweetener sucralose and reduced effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy treatments in patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. The research, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh in collaboration with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, found that patients consuming higher levels of sucralose responded less effectively to immune checkpoint inhibitors and had poorer overall survival rates than those who consumed little or none. The findings, published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, highlight how dietary choices may influence the outcome of cancer treatment. The…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is calling for tighter federal control over 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent psychoactive compound derived from the kratom plant, citing its high potential for abuse and opioid-like effects. The agency has formally recommended classifying 7-OH as a Schedule I controlled substance, aligning it with drugs such as heroin and cocaine under the Controlled Substances Act. The move follows a surge in the popularity of 7-OH products sold in vape shops, gas stations, and online retailers. While kratom in its natural form has long been used as a stimulant or pain reliever, 7-OH appears in…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive recommendation for the authorization of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable medication for HIV prevention. Marketed in Europe under the name Yeytuo by Gilead Sciences, the drug is now positioned for formal approval by the European Commission, which would allow its use across all 27 European Union member states, along with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Lenacapavir is a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication that has demonstrated near-total effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission. In two large Phase 3 clinical trials, PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2, the drug was found to be 100 percent effective among women in sub-Saharan Africa and 99.9 percent…

A newly published study led by researchers at Mount Sinai has identified a significant association between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The findings, released in the peer-reviewed journal eBioMedicine, contribute to growing scientific concern over the long-term health impacts of these persistent environmental chemicals. PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are synthetic compounds widely used in the production of nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant textiles, and various industrial applications. PFAS chemicals are commonly found in household items like cookware and textiles Known for their resistance to degradation, PFAS…

Health authorities in Western Australia are responding to a suspected measles outbreak linked to a remote mining site and a member of Qantas Airways flight staff. The outbreak is believed to have originated in the town of Newman, a remote mining community in the Pilbara region, where BHP operates a significant mining operation. According to reports, the initial case was identified in a miner who had been working at the BHP Newman site in early July. Following this case, BHP confirmed it is monitoring a second employee who has tested positive for measles, with several other workers placed in isolation as a precaution…

Australian regulators are reviewing a proposal to approve the cultivation and sale of a genetically modified purple tomato, potentially expanding the nation’s limited list of approved genetically modified (GM) crops. If successful, the tomato could be commercially available by next year, with initial production planned in greenhouses in south-east Queensland. Developed by UK-based scientists and commercialized by U.S. firm Norfolk Healthy Produce, the purple tomato has been engineered to contain genes from the snapdragon flower. These genes enable the tomato to produce anthocyanins, naturally occurring antioxidants also found in blueberries, blackberries, and eggplant skins. The resulting pigmentation gives the tomato its distinct purple hue.…

New triple therapy combining inavolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant delays breast cancer progression, extends survival, and postpones chemotherapy for patients

Russian researchers developed a respirator filter 15 times lighter for safer industrial protection against sulphur dioxide gas.

WHO warns cholera is spreading fast in 2025, with over 100,000 cases and 1,300 deaths already reported globally.

Northwestern scientists create the world’s tiniest dissolvable pacemaker, ideal for infants needing short-term heart support.