Major new studies from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health reveal that veterans of the Vietnam War continue to face significant psychological and physical health challenges decades after their combat experience. The research, one of the longest observational studies of Vietnam veterans to date, finds that PTSD and combat exposure are strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and chronic illnesses, as well as ongoing psychological distress, with effects persisting up to 50 years after their service.

University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have detected microplastics in human brains at much higher concentrations than in other organs – and the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased 50% over just the past eight years.

The incidence of advanced prostate cancer in California rose markedly in the decade since doctors stopped routinely screening all men for the disease, according to a new study by UC San Francisco.

About The Study: This cohort study of hospitalized adults identified inequities related to race and rurality in health care–associated infections (HAIs) and adverse outcomes from HAIs. These findings suggest that factors such as structural racism and disinvestment in rural communities may be associated with individual HAI risk and post-HAI outcomes. Future work to further understand the reasons underpinning these disparities and methods to address structural factors through policy and process changes are critical to eliminate health inequities. 

About The Study: The results of this cohort study revealing the robust and persistent association of headache diagnoses with attempted and completed suicide suggest that behavioral health evaluation and treatment may be important for these patients.

About The Study: This systematic review and network meta-analysis of 601 eligible trials found that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Analysis of age × treatment interactions suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors were more cardioprotective in older than in younger people despite smaller reductions in hemoglobin A1c; GLP-1 receptor agonists were more cardioprotective in younger people. 

Researchers have identified various distinctive immune cells in cow’s milk, creating potential avenues for enhancing animal health and milk production – as detailed in a study in Animal Nutriomics, published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Zhejiang University. 

Using single-cell RNA sequencing to study fresh milk samples, the researchers were able to explore the molecular identities of cow milk in greater detail, particularly immune cells, where they discovered that T cells and granulocytes were present as the main cell types in healthy Holstein cows. 

The study of immune cell subpopulations in cow’s milk offers greater insight into cows’ mammary gland immune function, which in turn influences cow health and milk quality.