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U.S. Healthcare Records Fail to Adequately Track Menopause, Hindering Research and Personalized Care

U.S. Healthcare Records Fail to Adequately Track Menopause, Hindering Research and Personalized Care

A recent study published in the journal Menopause reveals a significant gap in how menopause is recorded in U.S. electronic medical records (EMRs). Researchers examined the EMRs of nearly 240,000 women participating in the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program. Despite over half of these women reporting they were experiencing menopause, only 12% of their medical records included any mention of it. This discrepancy highlights a major oversight in clinical data capture regarding women's health. The study also found that crucial details such as the age of menopause onset and specific symptoms like hot flashes or sleep disturbances were largely absent from these records. This lack of comprehensive data makes it challenging to understand the diverse experiences of women during menopause and its long-term health implications.

Insomnia Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia, Stroke, and Mental Health Issues in Comprehensive Study

Insomnia Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia, Stroke, and Mental Health Issues in Comprehensive Study

A new study, published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, indicates a significant link between insomnia and an increased risk of several major health issues, including stroke, dementia, and various mental health conditions. Researchers from Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland analyzed approximately 20 comprehensive review studies, encompassing millions of participants across multiple countries. The findings revealed that individuals with insomnia had a 26% higher risk of stroke and were more likely to experience depression and attempted suicide compared to those without the sleep disorder. Additionally, the study found that people with insomnia had nearly 30% higher odds of being hospitalized for any reason. Insomnia, defined as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep, is the most common sleep disorder in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While the study establishes strong associations, researchers caution that it does not def...

Kennesaw State Researcher Receives NIH Grant to Develop AI Tools for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Kennesaw State Researcher Receives NIH Grant to Develop AI Tools for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Shumit Saha, a researcher at Kennesaw State University, has been awarded a $235,520 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant will fund his work in developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to analyze snoring patterns. The primary goals of Saha's project are to identify the precise location of upper airway collapse during sleep and to predict a patient's potential response to hypoglossal nerve stimulation, a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, leading to fatigue and serious health problems if left untreated. Current methods for identifying the collapse location often involve invasive procedures, such as inserting a camera during sedation. Saha's research aims to provide a less invasive and more efficient diagnostic approach, ultimately reducing the trial-and-error process in selecting appropriate treatments for patients.

Penn State Recruits Postdoctoral Scholar for Intermittent Hypoxia Research in Sleep-Vascular Program

Penn State Recruits Postdoctoral Scholar for Intermittent Hypoxia Research in Sleep-Vascular Program

Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is actively recruiting a Postdoctoral Scholar in Medicine. This position is part of the newly established Sleep-Vascular Program, led by Dr. Rami Khayat. The primary focus of this translational project is to investigate the effects of intermittent hypoxia on sympathetic and endothelial function in both human subjects and tissue models. The scholar will be responsible for leading this research, which includes participating in cardiovascular physiology studies and overseeing ex-vivo and in-vitro experiments using human tissue and cultured endothelial cells. The research team employs a variety of advanced techniques, such as quantitative RNA measurements, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, HPLC, enzymatic assays, chemiluminescence, skin biopsy, endothelial reactivity testing, echocardiography, microneurography, and microdialysis. The program also incorporates NIH-funded work involving mathematical modeling and machine ...

Ascension CEO Eduardo Conrado Discusses Future of Care Delivery with U.S. News World Report

Ascension CEO Eduardo Conrado Discusses Future of Care Delivery with U.S. News World Report

Eduardo Conrado, President and CEO of Ascension, recently engaged in a discussion with U.S. News & World Report regarding the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery. Conrado detailed Ascension's strategy to transform its care model to better serve patients and communities amidst ongoing changes in the healthcare sector. The discussion highlighted Ascension's efforts to establish a balanced portfolio across various care settings. This includes maintaining hospitals as essential hubs for complex medical care while simultaneously expanding access to affordable post-acute care services within the communities it serves. Conrado also emphasized the organization's commitment to making healthcare more accessible and easier to navigate for patients, focusing on seamless transitions between care settings and ensuring patients remain well-informed throughout their healthcare journey. This initiative is part of Ascension's broader mission to put its values into action, as further detailed in its 2026 Ministry in Ac...

Mayo Clinic Researchers Report Early Success in Genetic ALS Therapy for Single Patient

Mayo Clinic Researchers Report Early Success in Genetic ALS Therapy for Single Patient

Mayo Clinic researchers have reported encouraging early results from an experimental therapy designed for a single patient with a rare genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, published in Med, highlights the potential of precision medicine to target the genetic causes of diseases, especially for rare conditions with limited treatment options. The patient's ALS was linked to a mutation in the CHCHD10 gene, which makes the protein harmful to nerve cells and is associated with abnormal changes in TDP-43, a protein connected to ALS. Researchers collaborated with the n-Lorem Foundation to develop an experimental antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy. This ASO is designed to bind to RNA and reduce the production of the harmful protein. The patient received six doses of the experimental ASO through spinal cord injections, which were well-tolerated. Early indicators show a significant reduction in neurofilament light, a biomarker for nerve-cell injury, and stable or modestly improved meas...

South Carolina Advocates Urge Congress for Increased Cancer Research Funding

South Carolina Advocates Urge Congress for Increased Cancer Research Funding

Over 750 cancer patients, survivors, and their families from across the United States, including two South Carolina residents, traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for increased federal funding for cancer research and prevention. Representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Shelby Duckett of Summerville and Lee Moultrie of North Charleston met with state representatives. They are specifically requesting Congress to allocate $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with an additional $230 million designated for early detection and prevention programs for breast and cervical cancers through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Duckett highlighted that institutions in South Carolina, such as MUSC, which is the state's highest NIH institute, would directly benefit from these federal allocations, leading to job creation and increased research opportunities in the region. Moultrie, an 11-year cancer survivor, emphasized the importance of removing financial ba...

U.S. Research Funding Cuts Impact South African Science and Research System

U.S. Research Funding Cuts Impact South African Science and Research System

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande announced that the withdrawal of United States research funding has cost South Africa’s science and research system approximately R2.5 billion. This significant reduction in funding has placed 1,930 research posts and 108 student degrees at risk, according to estimates from the South African Medical Research Council. Affected institutions include prominent universities such as the University of Cape Town, Wits University, and the University of Pretoria, as well as CAPRISA. A notable casualty of these cuts was an HIV vaccine trial, which lost a newly awarded five-year grant valued at $45 million. The U.S. government's decision to withdraw funding impacted various health research and clinical trial programs, particularly those focused on HIV and tuberculosis. Minister Nzimande noted that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has indicated that some funding might be reinstated if it is determined not to fall under the definition of foreign aid.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center Rallies on Capitol Hill Against Proposed NIH Funding Cuts

Columbia University Irving Medical Center Rallies on Capitol Hill Against Proposed NIH Funding Cuts

The Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) recently organized a rally on Capitol Hill to advocate for sustained and increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This comes in response to the President’s budget request for the 2027 federal fiscal year, which proposes a 12% cut to NIH funding. A contingent of 15 students, faculty, and staff from various schools within Columbia, including VP&S, School of Nursing, Teachers College, and School of Social Work, met with staff from the New York and New Jersey Congressional delegations. Ross Frommer, vice president of government affairs at CUIMC, emphasized the importance of educating policymakers about the role of NIH-funded research in medical innovation. This year's rally, held on September 17, brought together over 300 participants from more than 40 states, marking it as the second-largest rally since the event's inception in 2013, which was also initiated in response to threatened NIH budget cuts. Last year, a proposed 40% NIH budg...

Westchester County Journal News

New York ranks among best states to have a baby, but costs remain a challenge

New York ranks among best states to have a baby, but costs remain a challenge

A new analysis ranked New York No. 16 in the nation for having a baby, citing strong family-friendly measures but some of the country's highest childbirth and infant care costs.

Senate Passes Bipartisan ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act, Awaiting President's Signature

Senate Passes Bipartisan ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act, Awaiting President's Signature

The U.S. Senate has passed the Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act (ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act) of 2026 with bipartisan support. This legislation, spearheaded in the House by Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Ken Calvert (CA-41), and in the Senate by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Chris Coons (D-DE), aims to renew and expand programs established by the original 2021 ACT for ALS. The reauthorization will continue to advance scientific understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and facilitate access to promising new treatments for individuals living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The bill also codifies the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) interpretation of Expanded Access Program eligibility guidelines and mandates the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a new 5-year Action Plan specifically for rare neurodegenerative diseases. The legislation has garnered endorsements from several key organizations, including I AM ALS, the Muscular Dys...

McNair Medical Institute Funds Cutting-Edge Medical Research and Physician-Scientists in Houston

McNair Medical Institute Funds Cutting-Edge Medical Research and Physician-Scientists in Houston

The McNair Medical Institute, a subsidiary of the McNair Foundation, is actively investing in medical research and the development of physician-scientists in Houston. The institute partners with prominent medical institutions in the city, including Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Rice University, and UTHealth. Through these partnerships, the McNair Medical Institute recruits and supports 'McNair Scholars,' who are awarded flexible funding to conduct cutting-edge research. Additionally, the institute supports aspiring physician-scientists within the Medical Scientist Training Program at Baylor College of Medicine, providing funding and the 'McNair Scholar' title to incentivize top medical students to pursue both a medical degree and a Ph.D. in medical science. This initiative aims to cultivate a pipeline of biomedical leaders for the future.