(Wednesday, 21 May 2025, Helsinki, Finland) New research presented today at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2025 revealed that the use of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) is associated with a threefold increase in the risk of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) in young women.¹ The findings add to a growing body of evidence linking hormonal contraception to vascular risk in women of reproductive age.

A team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine has identified flavonoids, natural compounds found in plants, that are toxic to bladder cancer cells cultured in the lab. The researchers report that Cell Painting technology enables them not only to identify compounds with potential anti-cancer properties but also uncover insights into their mechanism of action.

Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) during adolescence play an important role in the association between air pollution exposure and insulin resistance, according to a new study led by USC investigators. The study,  published in JAMA Network Open, found that children who were exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution—specifically nitrogen oxides—tended to have a higher BMI by age 13, and experienced rapid weight gain from adolescence to young adulthood. This, in turn, was linked to higher levels of insulin resistance in their mid-20s. Researchers estimated that 42% of the relationship between early pollution exposure and insulin resistance can be explained by accelerated BMI growth trajectories—which describes how an individual’s BMI changes over time—and further contributes to insulin resistance, a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The study included data from Meta-Air2, an ongoing substudy of the Southern California’s Children’s Health Study (CHS) and featured 282 participants enrolled in kindergarten or first grade in 2003, who were actively followed up until 2014. The study’s researchers initiated a follow-up study in 2023 where participants, now young adults, provided blood samples for metabolic biomarker testing.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decline in U.S. vaccine uptake, while widespread misinformation and distrust make it challenging to craft effective public health responses. In a new paper, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers discuss three case studies exemplifying different vaccine attitudes and behaviors. Their findings underscore the need for flexible approaches to reach diverse audiences with disease prevention strategies.