Intranasal Flu Vaccine Spurs Strong Immune Response
An experimental single-dose, intranasal influenza vaccine was safe and produced a durable immune response when tested in a phase 1 study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Computerized Screener Helps Detect Youth Suicide Risk
Researchers have developed a computerized adaptive screener to identify youth at risk for attempting suicide. In a new study, the computerized adaptive screen for suicidal youth (CASSY) correctly identified 82.4 percent of youth who went on to attempt suicide in the 3 months after screening.
New Class of Biologic Found Effective in Treating COPD
NIH researchers found that inhaling unfragmented hyaluronan improves lung function in patients suffering from severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Meth Overdose Deaths Rise Sharply Nationwide
Methamphetamine overdose deaths surged in an 8-year period in the U.S., according to a new NIDA study published in JAMA Psychiatry. The analysis revealed rapid rises across all racial and ethnic groups, but American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest death rates overall.
NIH Scientists Identify Nutrient that Helps Prevent Infection
Scientists studying the body’s natural defenses against bacterial infection have identified a nutrient—taurine—that helps the gut recall prior infections and kill invading bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn). The finding, published in Cell by investigators from five NIH institutes, could aid efforts seeking alternatives to antibiotics.
Full-Dose Blood Thinners Improve Outcomes in Hospitalized Covid Patients
In large clinical trials, full-dose anticoagulation (blood thinner) treatments given to moderately ill patients hospitalized for Covid-19 reduced the need for vital organ support, such as ventilation. A trend in reduced mortality was also observed and is under further study. With large numbers of Covid-19 patients requiring hospitalization, these outcomes could also help reduce the overload on intensive care units around the world.
NIH Researchers Discover Brain Area Crucial for Recognizing Visual Events
NIH researchers report that a brain region in the superior temporal sulcus (fSTS) is crucial for processing and making decisions about visual information. The findings could provide clues to treating visual conditions from stroke.
Pregnant Women in Third Trimester Unlikely to Pass Covid-19 to Newborns
Pregnant women who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, during the third trimester are unlikely to pass the infection to their newborns, suggests an NIH-funded study.
Study Links Metabolic Syndrome to Higher Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Psoriasis
Psoriasis has long been known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attack and stroke. Now, researchers have identified a key culprit: the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn).
Study Finds Surge of Teen Vaping Levels Off, But Remains High
Findings released in December from the most recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among U.S. teens indicate that levels of nicotine and marijuana vaping did not increase from 2019 to early 2020, although they remain high.