Tool predicts which mini-strokes could lead to major strokes

A made-in-Ottawa tool can help emergency physicians predict which patients with mini-strokes are at greatest risk of having a major stroke within the week, according to a study published in The BMJ.

Prolonged high dose use of hormone drug linked to increased brain tumour risk in women

Prolonged high dose use of the hormone drug cyproterone acetate is associated with an increased risk of developing a brain tumour, finds a study of over 250,000 women in France published by The BMJ today.

High intake of refined grains linked to higher risk of heart disease and death

High intake of highly processed (refined) grains is associated with higher risk of heart disease and death than whole (unrefined) grains, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

Florida lawmakers challenge Silicon Valley over 'censorship'

Florida lawmakers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, intensified their battle with Facebook, Twitter and Silicon Valley when they announced new proposals Tuesday aimed at reigning in platforms they accuse of squelching the free speech of conservatives.

WHO team visits Chinese virus lab in Wuhan

World Health Organization inspectors on Wednesday visited a laboratory in China's Wuhan city at the heart of a controversial theory that it could have been the source of the coronavirus.

Russia's coronavirus vaccine approved for use in Mexico

Mexico approved the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V for use Tuesday, just hours after the publication of early results of an advanced study saying it is about 91% effective.

GSK, CureVac to develop vaccine against COVID variants

British pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline and German biotech firm CureVac on Wednesday announced plans to jointly develop a coronavirus vaccine with the potential to counter multi-variants of COVID-19.

People blame a vehicle's automated system more than its driver when accidents happen

Experts predict that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will eventually make our roads safer since the majority of accidents are caused by human error. However, it may be some time before people are ready to put their trust in a self-driving car.

Teaching pupils empathy measurably improves their creative abilities

Teaching children in a way that encourages them to empathise with others measurably improves their creativity, and could potentially lead to several other beneficial learning outcomes, new research suggests.

CO2 laser therapy helps improve sexual function in postmenopausal women with breast cancer

Postmenopausal women often complain of painful intercourse or a lack of desire caused by decreased estrogen levels, which affect vaginal elasticity and lubrication. Survivors of breast cancer typically experience worse symptoms as a result of cancer treatments, and concerns exist regarding hormone therapies. A new study suggests that fractional CO2 laser therapy may help. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Remyelinating drug could improve vision in patients with multiple sclerosis

A team led by a biomedical scientist at the University of California, Riverside, reports a drug—an estrogen receptor ligand called indazole chloride (IndCl)—has the potential to improve vision in patients with multiple sclerosis, or MS.

40% of countries show no progress in reducing cigarette smoking in adolescents over last 20 years

Despite an overall reduction in cigarette use over the last 20 years, nearly 1 in 5 boys (17.9%) and more than 1 in 10 girls (11.5%) around the world used tobacco at least once in the past month between 2010-2018, according to a new study published today in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal.

Some food contamination starts in the soil

When most people hear "food contamination," they think of bacteria present on unwashed fruits or vegetables, or undercooked meat. However, there are other ways for harmful contaminants to be present in food products.

Study suggests environmental factors had a role in the evolution of human tolerance

Environmental pressures may have led humans to become more tolerant and friendly towards each other as the need to share food and raw materials became mutually beneficial, a new study suggests.

'Zoombombing' research shows legitimate meeting attendees cause most attacks

Most zoombombing incidents are "inside jobs" according to a new study featuring researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Evidence for substance at liquid-gas boundary on exoplanet WASP-31b

One of the properties that make a planet suitable for life is the presence of a weather system. Exoplanets are too far away to directly observe this, but astronomers can search for substances in the atmosphere that make a weather system possible. Researchers from SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and the University of Groningen have now found evidence on exoplanet WASP-31b for chromium hydride, which at the corresponding temperature and pressure is on the boundary between liquid and gas. The study is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Alcohol, calories, and obesity: Could labelling make a difference?

Mandatory calorie labelling of alcoholic drinks could possibly address both alcohol consumption and obesity. An analysis published in Obesity Reviews summaries the results of studies that have examined consumer knowledge of the calorie content of alcoholic drinks, public support for labelling of calorie content on such drinks, and the effect of labelling on consumption.

Researchers assess cognitive impairment in patients with breast cancer

A recent analysis of published studies estimates that one-quarter of adults with breast cancer have cognitive impairment before starting therapy. The analysis, which is published in Psycho-Oncology, also found that many patients' cognitive function declines after receiving chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and/or hormone therapy for breast cancer.

The pandemic lockdown's psychological impact on pregnant women

During the lockdown in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, pregnant women had higher symptoms of depression and anxiety. The finding comes from a study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, which also revealed that women with higher body mass index and lower social support were most affected.

Sleep deprivation may exacerbate frailty's effects on mental health in older adults

Previous studies have linked sleep deprivation and frailty with depression. A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society that examined their combined effect suggests that short sleep intensifies the impacts of frailty on depressive symptoms.

Model predicts likelihood of persistent high-dose opioid use after knee surgery

A new study published in Arthritis Care & Research has identified 10 readily available clinical factors that may predict which patients will persistently use high doses of opioids in the year following knee replacement surgery.

More mammals are being struck by aircraft each year

Investigators have published a global review of mammal strikes with aircraft, noting that events have been increasing by up to 68% annually. More mammals were struck during the landing phase of an aircraft's rotation than any other phase, according to the article published in Mammal Review.