A common diabetes drug can be repurposed to help overweight and obese people with knee arthritis, a new study says. Metformin reduced knee arthritis pain during a six-month treatment period, potentially delaying the need for knee replacement surgery, researchers reported recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Metformin works in a number of…  read on >  read on >

A cancer patient’s bond with their partner can be a key factor in helping them ward off chemotherapy-related “brain fog,” a new study says Patients in a satisfying intimate relationship were more likely to resist chemo brain, the cognitive impairment that can occur during or after chemotherapy treatment, researchers report. Couples therapy aimed at enhancing…  read on >  read on >

Men are more likely than women to die from high blood pressure, diabetes and HIV/AIDS, after shrugging off medical care for the conditions, a new study says. These differences crop up even though men and women are as likely to develop either high blood pressure or diabetes, researchers reported May 1 in the journal PLOS…  read on >  read on >

Florida state lawmakers have approved a bill to ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, a move that public health experts say could harm dental health across the state. The bill now heads to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval. DeSantis has criticized fluoridation in the past, calling it “forced medication.” The aim…  read on >  read on >

A class of drugs used to treat epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety do not appear to increase a person’s risk of self-harm, a major new study says. Gabapentinoids – which include gabapentin and pregabalin – have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, researchers said in background notes. But researchers found…  read on >  read on >

Subtle facial gestures linked to the body’s fight-or-flight response could be used to help diagnose people with tinnitus, a new study says. Video recordings showed that people with tinnitus experienced facial twitches and pupil dilation in response to certain sounds, researchers reported April 30 in the journal Science Translational Medicine. This is the first time…  read on >  read on >

More children stopped using steroid inhalers to control their asthma after a manufacturer discontinued a popular inhaler, a new study says. In 2024, GlaxoSmithKline withdrew Flovent from the market. The inhaler was commonly prescribed to prevent asthma attacks in children. The pharma company continued to sell a chemically identical “authorized generic,” but some families reportedly…  read on >  read on >

Telemedicine isn’t only more convenient for patients, but could be helping save the planet, a new study says. Telemedicine use in 2023 reduced monthly carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of more than 130,000 exhaust-spewing gas-powered vehicles, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Managed Care. This suggests that telemedicine could have a modest…  read on >  read on >