August 18, 2023
Hoosiers—for far too long—have trailed the pack when it comes to healthy living. Only seven states rank lower than Indiana in overall health, according to U.S. News & World Report. Equally alarming, the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ State of Mental Health ranks Indiana No. 42. The tough combination of poor physical and mental health must come to an end. We have the people, the infrastructure and now the resources to change course. Nothing should be more important to Indiana leaders than the health of Hoosiers. Healthy people and employees can lead to a healthier economy. They also can make Indiana a better place to live.
New opportunities for a healthier Indiana are in front of us
August 11, 2023
Receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine or booster during pregnancy can benefit pregnant people and their newborn infants, according to findings recently published in Vaccine. The paper describes results from the Multisite Observational Maternal and Infant Study for COVID-19 (MOMI-VAX), which was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
COVID-19 vaccination and boosting during pregnancy benefits pregnant people and newborns
August 11, 2023
The pull these days to be connected to technology is strong. It’s so strong most people use technology almost around the clock – at least while they’re not sleeping. And even then, for many, a smart phone is right beside the bed, either used as an intentional alarm clock or sometimes pinging us awake unexpectedly.
Purdue News: Power of technology enhances life, takes toll on well-being
August 9, 2023
A collaborative study provides compelling evidence that combining an investigational oral drug with standard-of-care medications reverts hormone resistance and increases Rx effectiveness in experimental models of estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) and triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), respectively.
August 9, 2023
Breastfeeding has long been used as a method to help keep newborns healthy and protected against a variety of diseases. But certain sugars naturally found in breastmilk could also help prevent infections before a baby arrives. Researchers have found that these sugars can stop a common prenatal infection in human tissues and pregnant mice. This could someday help people avoid preterm births or complications without the need for additional antibiotics.
Sugars in breastmilk could help treat infections, prevent preterm births
August 9, 2023
Wearable technology presents immense opportunities to improve the way we live our lives, but a group of international researchers say the rapidly developing field also brings big challenges.
Wearables will transform health, but change brings challenges say researchers
August 9, 2023
From influencing how our body stores fat to how our brain regulates appetite, hundreds of genes, along with environmental factors, collectively determine our weight and body size. Now, researchers add several genes, which appear to affect obesity risk in certain sexes and ages, to that list. The study may shed light on new biological pathways that underlie obesity and highlight how sex and age contribute to health and disease.
August 9, 2023
The camera pans slowly across a close-up of crispy, golden McDonald’s fries, standing tall like ears of corn. “We used to think this was the best thing a plant could grow into,” a deep voice proclaims during the commercial. “And then we made this.” Into view emerges a glistening cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. “Introducing the new McPlant,” the narrator continues, “made with the first plant-based patty worthy of being called a McDonald’s burger.” The ad, from early 2022, seemed like a sign that plant burgers had made it big. Six years after they arrived on the market, America’s biggest restaurant chain had endorsed them. The news garnered cautious praise from some environmental advocates: Not only could meatless meat patties reduce animal cruelty, but they also promised to ease climate change. They looked, tasted, and bled like beef but had none of the drawbacks — no cows that burp methane, no butchered animals, and barely any cholesterol.
Purdue News: Plant-based meat was supposed to change the world—what happened?
August 8, 2023
Approximately 65% of adults in the United States consume sugar sweetened beverages daily. Chronic liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and can result in liver cancer and liver disease-related mortality. Researchers looked at the association between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and incidence of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality.
August 7, 2023
Social media can help women in Egypt identify more resources to help stop domestic violence, according to a study led by MIT researchers.
