Thousands of clinical trial participants lost access to important medical studies this year after the Trump administration terminated hundreds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, according to new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study found that 383 clinical trials had their NIH funding cut this year between late February and August, affecting…  read on >  read on >

The brain is thought to be a sterile environment, free from germs. But unexpected deposits of bacteria have been found inside brain tumors, apparently affecting how the cancers grow and behave, a new study says.   “This work opens a new dimension in our understanding of brain tumor biology,” senior researcher Dr. Jennifer Wargo, a professor…  read on >  read on >

A Washington state resident has become the first person in the United States to test positive for a rare bird flu strain that has never before been found in humans. The older adult, who has underlying health problems, was hospitalized in early November after developing a high fever, confusion and trouble breathing. “This is a…  read on >  read on >

Alana “Lani” Silverberg was a real firecracker with a big personality at age 3 — until she started having seizures. The sweetheart swiftly turned quiet, cranky, sleepless and fatigued, worn down by her seizures. “It was every parent’s nightmare. Lani was having one large seizure a week. At one point, we didn’t know what else…  read on >  read on >

Younger adults who eat lots of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop polyps that can become colon cancer, a new study says. Women under 50 whose diets contained the largest amounts of ultra-processed foods had a 45% higher risk of developing pre-cancerous polyps in their colon, researchers reported Nov. 13 in JAMA Oncology. “Our…  read on >  read on >

Women undergoing a cesarean section delivery typically have the procedure while awake, with only a nerve blocker protecting them from the pain. For some, the pain can be overwhelming, even after the block, but this might be unnecessary, a new evidence review argues. General anesthesia appears to be safe for both mother and baby during…  read on >  read on >