Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified biomarkers in the blood associated with symptoms of long COVID, particularly severe respiratory disorders. The discovery can pave the way for future diagnosis and treatment. The results are published in the top-ranking scientific journal Nature Immunology.

A recent study by USC researchers reveals that nicotine pouch usage among U.S. high school students nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, with 5.4% of teens reporting use in 2024 compared to 3.0% in 2023. This rise, particularly among male, non-Hispanic white, and rural teens, highlights a growing public health concern, prompting calls from organizations like the American Heart Association for increased regulation. Experts emphasize the need for targeted prevention strategies as the long-term health effects of these products remain largely unknown.

About The Study: Exposure to high levels of smoke pollution was associated with an increase in hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in this cohort study. These findings underscore the need for interventions to mitigate the health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Rod Bremner at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health in Toronto, has made a significant breakthrough in understanding cancer susceptibility. Their study, published in the latest issue of Nature, reveals that the total cell cycle length (Tc) is a critical predictor of susceptibility to cancer caused by oncogenic mutations.