AI programs can exhibit racial bias when evaluating patients for mental health problems, a new study says. Psychiatric recommendations from four large language models (LLMs) changed when a patient’s record noted they were African American, researchers recently reported in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine. “Most of the LLMs exhibited some form of bias when dealing…  read on >  read on >

Two drugs used in lung cancer treatment appear to be tripping over each other, reducing patients’ chances for a cure, a new study says. Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed to alleviate cancer-related symptoms in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, researchers said. But these steroids appear to dampen the effectiveness of immunotherapy against lung cancer, researchers…  read on >  read on >

Electric cars are increasingly common due to their potential environmental benefits, but a new study suggests that high levels of pollutants may cluster around fast-charging stations. Levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air near 50 electric vehicle fast-charging stations across Los Angeles County were significantly higher than those measured at urban sites used…  read on >  read on >

Wildfire smoke might increase a person’s risk of developing heart failure, a new study suggests. People had a 1.4% higher risk of heart failure for every 1 microgram per cubic meter increase in their exposure to particle pollution from wildfires, researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. That might not sound…  read on >  read on >

Sleep apnea could be increasing the risks borne by U.S. soldiers serving on the front lines of combat, a new study says. Front-line soldiers are far more likely to suffer PTSD, anxiety, depression and injuries if they have sleep apnea, researchers reported recently in the journal Chest. “This study underscores the growing importance of early…  read on >  read on >