The skin microbiome plays an important role in health and disease. Researchers have now substantiated that certain skin bacteria can protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation specifically by metabolizing cis-urocanic acid using an enzyme called urocanase. This enables the skin's ability to fine-tune how it responds to UV radiation The findings of the study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, published by Elsevier, provide a striking case study that demonstrates the ability of the skin microbiome to remodel host immune functions.

Research carried out at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy based on a survey of 1,218 pharmacy care patients in the United States shows more than half were satisfied with care they’ve received in pharmacies. But, according to the researchers, “gaps remain — especially in how pharmacy staff address drug therapy in relation to patients' race, ethnicity and disabilities.”

New Haven, Conn. — Most vaccines — and boosters — are injected directly into muscle tissue, usually in the upper arm, to kickstart the body’s immune system in the fight against disease. But for respiratory diseases like COVID-19, it can be important to have protection right where the virus enters: the respiratory tract. 

In a new study, Yale researchers found that nasal vaccine boosters can trigger strong immune defenses in the respiratory tract, even without the help of immune-boosting ingredients known as adjuvants. The findings, researchers suggest, may offer critical insights into developing safer, more effective nasal vaccines in the future.   

About The Study: In this study, associations of structural and social determinants of health with mortality persisted with adjustment for percentage African genetic ancestry. The findings support the hypothesis that structural and social determinants of health should be the primary factors to consider for eliminating health disparities.

About The Study: In this cross-sectional study examining clinical notes of more than 18,000 patients admitted for labor and birth, there were notable disparities in how stigmatizing and positive language was documented across racial and ethnic groups. This underscores the necessity for improving documentation and communication practices to reduce the use of stigmatizing language.

ACMG Responds to NASEM Report on Newborn Screening, Urges Action Amid Federal Changes
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) commends the National Academies’ recent report on newborn screening (NBS), which outlines nine essential recommendations to strengthen and sustain this critical public health program. However, ACMG expresses concern that recent federal actions—including the termination of the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC) and proposed funding cuts—threaten the national coordination necessary for continued success. ACMG calls on Congress to reauthorize the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act and commit to modernizing and safeguarding the NBS system. In parallel, ACMG has convened a RUSP Continuation Task Force to develop interim solutions that uphold rigorous evidence-based review and preserve collaborative progress in the absence of ACHDNC.