Author Interviews
18 Apr Compression Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: What the Evidence Shows
[caption id="attachment_73342" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by Terry Shultz P.T. on Unsplash[/caption]
Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis affects roughly 13.8 percent of adults over 40, making it one of the most common causes of chronic joint pain worldwide. As clinicians increasingly prioritize conservative management over early pharmacological intervention, non-pharmacological strategies have gained renewed attention. Among these, compression bracing has emerged as a subject of growing research interest, with recent meta-analyses suggesting measurable benefits for pain, stiffness, and physical function.
A body of evidence now supports the idea that compression knee support shown to improve joint proprioception through stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors surrounding the joint capsule. This mechanism, first described in biomechanical research published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine (PubMed 15388537), offers a physiological rationale for what many patients report anecdotally: that wearing a compression sleeve makes the knee feel more stable during movement. For clinicians weighing treatment options, the question is no longer whether bracing has a role in osteoarthritis care, but which type of brace matches a given patient's needs.
17 Apr Healthcare Interoperability After Go Live
Why interface monitoring, alerting, and production visibility now define reliable healthcare interoperability after launch. ...
14 Apr SIR and NEJM: Endovascular Stenting Improves Outcomes in Post-Thrombotic Syndrome: C-TRACT Trial
A landmark randomized trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that endovascular stent placement significantly improves quality of life in patients with post-thrombotic syndrome — offering new hope for hundreds of thousands of DVT sufferers....
14 Apr Johns Hopkins Study Finds Cannabis Use May Pose Greater Mental Health Risks in Adolescents than Adults
Our findings suggest that cannabis prevention efforts should prioritize youth and adolescents, education campaigns should emphasize age-related risks, and policy discussions may consider limits on product potency and improved labeling....
13 Apr The Effect of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on the Human GutMicrobiome
Irritable bowel syndrome affects an estimated 11% of the world's population, causing cramping, bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. Various studies into the effects of HMOs on IBS have shown that HMO intervention may improve IBS symptoms....
12 Apr What Biotech Can Learn from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, According to Leen Kawas
Posted at 17:53h
in Author Interviews
Perhaps the most practical piece of advice to immigrant entrepreneurs — and to any founder navigating unfamiliar terrain — concerns how to interpret failure. One of the best pieces of advice if you are able to survive the lows, you are going to be very successful....
08 Apr Finding a Shoulder Specialist in Frisco
Shoulder pain or limited mobility can affect every aspect of your life — from playing sports to performing simple daily activities. When it comes to shoulder care in Frisco, Dr. Paul Ghattas is aCh orthopaedic specialist known for combining advanced medical expertise with compassionate, patient-focused treatment. Recognised for his skill in shoulder arthroscopy and minimally invasive procedures, Dr. Ghattas helps patients regain strength, restore mobility, and live pain-free.
Patients seeking the a shoulder surgeon in Frisco choose Dr. Ghattas for his precise care, innovative techniques, and consistent outcomes. Whether you are dealing with arthritis, sports injuries, or complex shoulder conditions, he provides solutions tailored to your individual needs.
08 Apr How Urgent Care Centers Help You Get Fast Treatment
Posted at 17:22h
in Author Interviews
Get quick medical care for minor illnesses and injuries. Learn how urgent care centers provide fast diagnosis, treatment, and convenient healthcare services....
24 Mar Karolinska Institutet Study Finds APOE Genotype Influences Link Between Red Meat Consumption and Cognitive Decline
Posted at 23:42h
in Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Genetic Research, JAMA, Karolinski Institute
[caption id="attachment_72900" align="alignleft" width="200"] Jakob Norgren, Ph.D.[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jakob Norgren | PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) | Karolinska Institutet
Division of Clinical Geriatrics | Center for Alzheimer Research
Huddinge, Sweden
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: This study tested the hypothesis that people with APOE 3/4 and 4/4 would have a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia with higher meat intake, based on the fact that APOE4 is the evolutionarily oldest variant of the APOE gene and may have arisen during a period when our evolutionary ancestors ate a more animal-based diet.
24 Mar Behind the Paywall: Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest in Leading Psychiatry Journals
[caption id="attachment_72893" align="alignleft" width="200"] Francis J. Gesel[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Francis J. Gesel
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Scranton, Pennsylvania
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Conflicts of interest (COIs) in psychiatric research represent a longstanding ethical challenge, given the close relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry. Journals require authors to disclose these relationships, while the U.S. Open Payments database, created under the Sunshine Act, provides a record of payments from manufacturers to physicians. However, whether physician-authors in psychiatry’s most influential journals consistently disclose these relationships had not been systematically assessed. We focused on the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) and JAMA Psychiatry (JAMA-PSY), two of the highest-impact journals in the field, to evaluate the prevalence and magnitude of undisclosed financial COIs.
24 Mar Dynamic changes and pronounced state-level differences in oxycodone in the USA: An observational study of ARCOS, Medicaid, and Medicare Drug databases
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72890" align="alignleft" width="195"] Dr. Jay Solgama[/caption]
Jay P. Solgama, MD
Department of Medical Education
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Scranton, PA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The United States (U.S.) continues to face a severe opioid crisis, with nearly 80,000 opioid-related deaths reported in 2023. Prescription opioids play a central role in this epidemic, with a large proportion of misuse involving commonly prescribed pain relievers such as oxycodone. Prior research has shown that oxycodone (brand names OxyContin, Roxicodone, OxyIR, RoxyBond, and Percocet) is one of the most widely consumed and misused opioids in the U.S., with notable geographic variation in its distribution across states [1–3].
Against this backdrop, the present study aimed to comprehensively characterize oxycodone distribution across the U.S. from 2000 to 2023. Using three complementary data sources—the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS), Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (M-SDUD), and the Medicare Part D Prescribers dataset (M-PDP)—we sought to evaluate national and state-level patterns, as well as identify strengths and weaknesses of each dataset [4,5]. The Medicaid program serves low-income and Medicare serves elderly patients.
23 Mar Canadian Black Adults Less Likely to Have Prescription Drug Coverage and More Likely to Skip Meds Due to Costs
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72842" align="alignleft" width="200"] Bukola Salami, Ph.D.[/caption]
Bukola Salami, RN, BScN, MN, PhD, FCAN, FAAN (She/Her)
Full Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Black and Racialized Peoples Health
Department of Community Health Sciences
Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Black people experience disproportionately poor health outcomes, with access to healthcare recognized as a key determinant of health. Although prior research has examined factors influencing healthcare access among Black populations, there is limited evidence on medication access and use. This gap is particularly important in the context of emerging Pharmacare policy in Canada. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of cost-related prescription nonadherence among Black adults in Canada and to examine racial disparities in comparison to White adults, while accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and insurance-related factors as potential mediators.
12 Mar Vanderbilt Physician Discusses Newly Recognized and Contagious Human Metapneumovirus
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72776" align="alignleft" width="148"] Dr. Schaffner[/caption]
Dr. William Schaffner M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Preventive Medicine, Health Policy
Division of Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Interview arranged with the assistance of the Infectious Disease Society of America.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the symptoms of HMPV? How is it transmitted? Are some individuals more susceptible to infection or more serious disease?
Response: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a seasonal respiratory virus that has a worldwide distribution, causing late winter/early spring outbreaks in temperate zones. It cocirculates with other seasonal respiratory viruses including influenza, COVID, and RSV. Virtually all children have experienced infection by age 5; persons experience HMPV reinfections throughout life. The virus is transmitted through close personal contact, most efficiently indoors. Infection with HMPV can produce a spectrum of clinical symptoms ranging from a common cold to acute respiratory distress. Persons at increased risk of severe disease include older persons and those with chronic medical conditions.
12 Mar WSU Study: Avoid Cannabis When Relying on Memory is Important
Editor’ note: Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider. Dosing of Cannabis products is variable, especially since they are not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use Cannabis products including edibles, drinks and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72752" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Cutttler, Ph.D.[/caption]
Carrie Cuttler, Ph.D.
The Health & Cognition (THC) Lab
Associate Professor
Director, Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program
Co-Director, Cannabis Research Center (CRC)
Department of Psychology
Washington State University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: One of the most well-documented effects of acute cannabis intoxication is impairment in memory. However, memory is not a single process. It is a complex system made up of multiple distinct subsystems that rely on different neural mechanisms and support different types of remembering.
Most prior research examining the acute effects of cannabis in humans has focused on a relatively narrow set of memory tests—primarily verbal memory tasks, which involve recalling lists of words, and working memory tasks, which require temporarily holding and manipulating information in consciousness.
Far fewer studies have examined how cannabis affects other types of memory that are more relevant to everyday life. These include temporal order memory (remembering the order in which events occurred), prospective memory (remembering to perform tasks in the future), source memory (remembering where information came from), false memory (recalling information that was never presented), and episodic content memory (recalling personally experienced events).
To address this gap, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the acute effects of cannabis across multiple memory domains. In total, 120 participants were randomly assigned to vaporize either a placebo, a moderate dose of cannabis (20 mg THC), or a high dose of cannabis (40 mg THC).
06 Mar Hebrew University Study Finds MASLD, a Common Chronic Liver Disorder, May Benefit from Cannabis Derivatives
Editor’ note: Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider. Dosing of Cannabis products is variable, especially since they are not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use Cannabis products including edibles, drinks and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Prof. Joseph (Yossi) Tam, DMD, PhDSchool of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Harvey M. Krueger Family Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Jerusalem, Israel
With colleagues Dr. Liad Hinden, the PhD student Radka Kočvarová, and the Tam’s team at the
School of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you describe the condition of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)? What causes it? Whom does it affect?
Response: MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disorder worldwide. It develops when fat accumulates excessively in liver cells, commonly in people with obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Over time, this condition can progress to inflammation, fibrosis, or cirrhosis. Despite its growing prevalence, effective pharmacological therapies remain limited, leaving a substantial unmet clinical need.
02 Mar The Healthcare Heroes You Don’t See: A Day in the Life Inside a Busy Clinic
[caption id="attachment_72671" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Image source[/caption]
Most clinic appointments last less than half an hour. You check in, wait a few minutes, see the provider, and head home. It feels simple. But behind that short visit is a steady stream of work that starts before you arrive and continues after you leave. If you have ever wondered why staff seem rushed or why delays happen, the answer often lies in everything happening out of sight. A busy clinic depends on careful planning, fast decisions, and teamwork. From early morning prep to end-of-day charting, many people work together to keep care organized, safe, and personal. Here’s what a normal day really looks like inside a busy clinic.
The Front Desk Sets the Pace
The front desk controls the flow from the moment patients enter. Staff greet each person, confirm appointments, and update insurance or contact details. At the same time, phones ring with new bookings, refill requests, and billing questions. Front desk workers must stay focused while switching between tasks. If they catch an error early, such as outdated insurance, they prevent billing issues later. They also manage late arrivals and walk-ins without disrupting the schedule too much. Clear communication matters here. When staff explain wait times or paperwork clearly, patients feel less frustrated. A steady and organized front desk keeps the entire clinic running on time.
25 Feb NYMC Develops CRISPR Platform to Quickly Identify Candida auris, a Potentially Lethal Hospital Acquired Infection
[caption id="attachment_72626" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Candida auris CDC Image[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_72627" align="alignleft" width="200"] Vishnu Chaturvedi, Ph.D.[/caption]
Vishnu Chaturvedi, Ph.D.
Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology and of Medicine
New York Medical College
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The research was prompted by the rise of Candida auris (C. auris) as a critical fungal pathogen that has caused global outbreaks in healthcare facilities with high mortality rates. C. auris is particularly difficult to control because it can survive on physical surfaces for extended periods. Current diagnostic methods (such as culture-based approaches or mass spectrometry) are often costly, slow, and require complex equipment in centralized laboratories, which delays effective clinical responses. There is an urgent need for rapid tests that can both identify the fungus and measure its level of drug resistance.
22 Feb Kaiser Permanente Study Finds Higher Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Teens Who Reported Cannabis Use
Editor’ note: Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider. Dosing of Cannabis products is variable, especially since they are not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use Cannabis products including edibles, drinks and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72552" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Young-Wolff[/caption]
Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH
Licensed clinical psychologist and Research Scientist
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
School of Medicine
UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Cannabis is widely used by adolescents, and it’s often first used during the same developmental window when many psychiatric disorders begin to emerge. At the same time, cannabis has become more accessible and more socially accepted. While prior studies have linked adolescent cannabis use to mental health symptoms, fewer large studies have examined whether it’s associated with later clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders. We wanted to address that gap.
20 Feb Wrongful Death Claims: What the Law Can Do When Life Can’t Be Put Back
Posted at 20:39h
in Author Interviews
[caption id="attachment_72529" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA[/caption]
Section 1: The hardest part is that nothing feels real
Wrongful death is a legal phrase that sounds clinical, almost cold. But the event behind it is anything but. A loss like that rewrites a family’s days. Quiet rooms. Phones that stop ringing. The strange task of notifying people who don’t know yet. And then, somehow, paperwork arrives. Forms. Bills. Insurance letters. Employer questions. A calendar full of tasks that feel insulting in their normalcy. It’s common to feel two competing truths at once: grief that knocks the wind out, and an urgent need to protect the family’s future.Section 2: Accountability is the core idea
In legal terms, wrongful death generally involves a death caused by negligence, recklessness, or misconduct. The details vary case to case, but the question is consistent: was this preventable? That’s why people search for a wrongful death attorney when the loss creates financial instability or when answers feel incomplete. Not because the law can replace a person. It can’t. The point is to prevent the aftermath from crushing the surviving family financially, especially if the deceased person provided income, caregiving, guidance, or support. Grief also has ripple effects that don’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like numbness, irritability, insomnia, or risky coping habits. If it helps to see that acknowledged plainly, this article on how loss can feed destructive coping and what healing can look like speaks to how complicated grieving can become.
20 Feb Melanoma: NYU Study Outlines Mechanisms Tumors Use to Sustain Blood Supply and Escape Immune Detection
[caption id="attachment_72519" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Berico[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Pietro Berico, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral research fellow
Hernando Lab
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Langone Health
New York, NY 1001
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: “Cutaneous melanoma arises under chronic UV irradiation, which selects for aggressive malignant clones. Paradoxically, its high mutational burden also promotes neoantigen formation and robust immune activation. Consequently, melanoma must establish immune evasion mechanisms from the earliest stages of tumor development. The lack of specific genetic mutational patterns linked to immune escape points toward non-mutational mechanisms, such as epigenetic reprogramming.
18 Feb Sleep Apnea in Kids Associated with Increased Risk of COVID and Flu
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72499" align="alignleft" width="174"] Dr. Gileles-Hillel[/caption]
Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel MD
Founder and director of Gileles Lab
Hadassah Medical Center
Along with Dr. Joel Reiter MD from the Faculty of Medicine
Hebrew University and Senior Pediatric Pulmonologists at the Hadassah Medical Center
with Dr. David Gozal MD, MBA, PhD from Marshall University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) experience increased morbidity, including cognitive difficulties, daytime dysfunction, and poorer academic performance, as well as a higher risk of future cardiometabolic disease such as hypertension and obesity. In addition, pediatric OSA has been shown to impair immune responses and alter immunologic function, although the clinical consequences of these changes remain incompletely understood.
18 Feb Molecular Medical Billing Services: A Strategic Guide for Modern Diagnostic Practices
[caption id="attachment_72453" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Freepix image[/caption]
It's harder to pay for health care these days, especially specialized care like molecular testing. It is important for professionals to handle the problems that come up with genetic tests, pathology-based diagnostics, and precision medicine labs. This is the reason why genetic medical accounting is very important.
Molecular billing is different from general medical billing because it requires a deep understanding of complex testing methods, payer-specific requirements, changing coding standards, and strict rules for compliance. Working with a specialized billing team is not only helpful for labs and healthcare providers that offer molecular tests, it is also necessary for their businesses to stay in business.
This guide describes molecular medical billing services, why they are important, how they work, and how they help diagnostic organizations make more money in the long run.
17 Feb Common DME Billing Errors That Lead to Payment Delays
[caption id="attachment_72442" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by cottonbro studio[/caption]
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is equipment that is prescribed by a health care provider for long-term in-home use. Think hospital beds, walkers, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs etc.
If you run a DME operation, you’ve probably had this moment. You check the aging report expecting steady payments and instead, you see claims sitting there. Thirty days. Sixty days. Sometimes longer.
The equipment was delivered. The paperwork seemed complete. Yet the money hasn’t arrived.
Most of the time, the delay isn’t random. It’s tied to something small that slipped through the cracks.
Let’s talk about the mistakes that quietly slow everything down.
When the Paperwork Looks Fine But Isn’t
One of the most common issues is documentation that seems complete at first glance. The order is there. The notes are attached. Delivery confirmation exists. Everything appears to be in the file. But when the payer reviews it closely, something doesn’t fully support the claim. Maybe the physician note doesn’t clearly explain why the equipment is necessary. Maybe the diagnosis feels too general. Maybe the dates don’t line up exactly with policy requirements. Those little mismatches matter. Teams that provide DME billing services often spend extra time reviewing documentation before submission because once a claim is denied, fixing it takes far longer than preventing it.
15 Feb APOLLO Trials Support Potential Role of Ultra-Low-Dose Triple Therapy as Initial Strategy for Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72419" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Prof. Moo-Yong Rhee[/caption]
Professor Moo-Yong Rhee MD, PhD.
Cardiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital
College of Medicine, Dongguk University
Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Major challenges in its initial treatment include therapeutic inertia, reliance on stepwise dose escalation of single agents, and reduced adherence due to dose-related adverse effects. These limitations often delay optimal blood pressure control.
To address these issues, the concept of low-dose combination therapy was proposed, based on the rationale that combining multiple agents at lower doses may enhance efficacy while minimizing side effects. Although several studies have supported this concept, systematic translational research and confirmatory clinical trials were needed before widespread clinical implementation.
The recently completed APOLLO-301 and APOLLO-302 trials were confirmatory, randomized, phase 3 studies designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single-pill ultra-low-dose triple combination therapy, conducted in accordance with regulatory standards. This formulation combined three antihypertensive agents (amlodipine (1.67 mg), losartan (16.67 mg), and chlorthalidone (4.17 mg)) each at approximately one-third of its standard dose. The triple combination was directly compared with standard-dose monotherapy (amlodipine 5 mg or losartan 50 mg).
After 8 weeks of treatment, the ultra-low-dose triple combination achieved blood pressure reductions comparable to those of amlodipine 5 mg and significantly greater than those of losartan 50 mg, while maintaining good tolerability. These findings support the potential role of ultra-low-dose triple therapy as an effective initial treatment strategy for patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
12 Feb IDSA Spokesperson Discusses Recent Outbreaks of Measles Infections
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_72376" align="alignleft" width="190"]
Dr. Schaffner[/caption]
William Schaffner, MD
Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy
Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN 37203
Dr. Schaffner discusses the recent increase in the incidence of measles infections.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The fundamental reason leading to the increase in measles cases in the US is that some parents are withholding their children from routine measles vaccination: Failure to vaccinate. As a result, there are neighborhoods, schools, and communities that now have vaccination rates substantially below the 92% to 95% needed to prevent outbreaks of infection. Measles is the most contagious virus we know, so it takes very high vaccination rates to prevent transmission and to avert outbreaks.
Vaccine hesitancy has many causes: Lack of knowledge of the severity of measles, concern over vaccine side-effects, low trust in public health, a desire to do things more “naturally” and it can also have political overtones, among others.
The measles vaccine is extraordinarily effective; the routine two-dose series confers 97% to 98% protection for life. The rare “breakthrough” infections that occur in vaccinated persons are generally milder, with fewer complications than in persons who are unvaccinated.
The US was certified as having eliminated measles in 2000 because of high vaccination rates across the country. Sadly, the US is likely to lose that designation because of sustained measles transmission, reverting us back to the bad old days. It is particularly sad for any of our children to have to endure measles and its consequences. All these cases could have been prevented by vaccination.
MedicalResearch.com: What roles do a decrease in US immunization rates and/or increased immigration from under-vaccinated area play in this increase?
Response: The substantial majority of unimmunized children in the US were born and raised in this country. They usually are members of middle- or upper-income families. The most frequent importers of measles into the US are our own unimmunized children who travel abroad, encounter measles virus and bring it back to their homes where the virus then spreads among the child’s schoolmates and playmates, creating an outbreak.
Dr. Schaffner[/caption]
William Schaffner, MD
Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy
Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN 37203
Dr. Schaffner discusses the recent increase in the incidence of measles infections.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The fundamental reason leading to the increase in measles cases in the US is that some parents are withholding their children from routine measles vaccination: Failure to vaccinate. As a result, there are neighborhoods, schools, and communities that now have vaccination rates substantially below the 92% to 95% needed to prevent outbreaks of infection. Measles is the most contagious virus we know, so it takes very high vaccination rates to prevent transmission and to avert outbreaks.
Vaccine hesitancy has many causes: Lack of knowledge of the severity of measles, concern over vaccine side-effects, low trust in public health, a desire to do things more “naturally” and it can also have political overtones, among others.
The measles vaccine is extraordinarily effective; the routine two-dose series confers 97% to 98% protection for life. The rare “breakthrough” infections that occur in vaccinated persons are generally milder, with fewer complications than in persons who are unvaccinated.
The US was certified as having eliminated measles in 2000 because of high vaccination rates across the country. Sadly, the US is likely to lose that designation because of sustained measles transmission, reverting us back to the bad old days. It is particularly sad for any of our children to have to endure measles and its consequences. All these cases could have been prevented by vaccination.
MedicalResearch.com: What roles do a decrease in US immunization rates and/or increased immigration from under-vaccinated area play in this increase?
Response: The substantial majority of unimmunized children in the US were born and raised in this country. They usually are members of middle- or upper-income families. The most frequent importers of measles into the US are our own unimmunized children who travel abroad, encounter measles virus and bring it back to their homes where the virus then spreads among the child’s schoolmates and playmates, creating an outbreak.
09 Feb Nipah Virus: UAB Infectious Disease Specialist Discusses OUTBREAK & GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERNS
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72322" align="alignleft" width="180"]
Dr. Freedman M.D.[/caption]
David O. Freedman, M.D.
Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases
Editor of the Textbook of Travel Medicine
World Health Organization—Member, Emergency Committee on Zika Virus
University of Alabama, Birmingham USA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this outbreak?
Response: India has reported 2 confirmed (PCR and ELISA) Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal State where the Kolkata megalopolis is located; the state borders Bangladesh. Symptom onset in both cases was late December 2025 in 2 health care workers. One patient has improved while the other remains in the ICU. All samples from 200 contact persons tested negative for NiV. No further confirmed cases have been detected in West Bengal
Bangladesh has reported 1 confirmed NiV case in Rajshahi Division which neighbors India. Symptom onset was January 21, 2026, and the patient expired on January 28. The patient reported no travel history but reported repeated consumption of raw date palm sap between 5 and 20 January. All 35 contact-persons are being monitored and have tested negative for NiV and no further cases have been detected to date.
06 Feb UCSD Discusses Importance of Studying Survival Epidemiology
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72295" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Cuomo[/caption]
Raphael E. Cuomo, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Associate Adjunct Professor, Anesthesiology
University of California, San Diego
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Epidemiology has mostly been built to explain who gets sick, but many of the decisions that matter most happen after diagnosis. Across multiple diseases, relationships that look consistent in prevention studies often do not hold once people already have the disease, and sometimes they even flip. Diagnosis can change patient biology, treatment context, and biases in the data, so we need clearer methods and language for postdiagnosis questions.
06 Feb UT Health San Antonio Study Finds Lows Dose THC Plus Celecoxib May Prevent or Delay Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease
Editor's note: Do Not Use these products alone or in combination without the specific guidance of your health are provider, due to risks of untoward side effects. THC/CBD and other cannabis products should not be used if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or nursing. Children should not be exposed to cannabis in any form. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72277" align="alignleft" width="200"] Prof. Chu Chen[/caption]
Chu Chen, PhD
Professor and Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Neural Physiology
Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology
Center for Biomedical Neuroscience
Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX 78229
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, yet no effective therapies currently exist to prevent, treat, or halt its progression. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years for both recreational and medicinal purposes; however, its therapeutic application has been limited by undesirable neurocognitive side effects, particularly impairments in learning and memory. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, has been shown to reduce amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology in animal models of AD, but at high doses (>5.0 mg/kg) it also disrupts synaptic function and impairs cognition.
Research from our laboratory and others has demonstrated that Δ9-THC-induced deficits in long-term synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory are associated with the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Notably, pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of COX-2 attenuates Δ9-THC-induced synaptic and cognitive impairments. Based on these findings, we proposed a combination (“cocktail”) therapy consisting of low-dose Δ9-THC and the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. This approach is designed to preserve the beneficial effects of Δ9-THC while minimizing its adverse neurocognitive effects and COX-2-mediated inflammatory responses.
05 Feb Male:Female Ratio of Autism May Be More Equal Than Recognized
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72249" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Fyfe[/caption]
Dr. Caroline Fyfe PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Life Long Health and Wellbeing Theme
University of Edinburgh
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Autism (ASD) has traditionally been seen as a condition that disproportionately affects males. This study quantifies the sex bias across birth cohorts, ages, and calendar time, using the Swedish national population registers to follow ~ 2.7 million individual born between 1985 and 2020 throughout their lives. Among children under ten years old the male-to-female diagnosis ratio remained relatively stable at about 3:1.
In contrast, a rapid increase in diagnoses of ASD among females during adolescence, produced a “female catch-up effect” that resulted in near parity of ASD prevalence between males and females by adulthood.