Mediterranean diet combined with calorie reduction and exercise may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes

A Mediterranean-style diet, in combination with reduced caloric intake, moderate physical activity, and professional support for weight loss, may cut the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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Mediterranean diet combined with calorie reduction and exercise may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes

A Mediterranean-style diet, in combination with reduced caloric intake, moderate physical activity, and professional support for weight loss, may cut the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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High concentration THC associated with schizophrenia, psychosis and other unfavorable mental health outcomes

A systematic review analyzed the associations of high-concentration delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis products with mental health outcomes. The review found that high-concentration THC products are associated with unfavorable mental health outcomes, particularly for psychosis or schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder (CUD).

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High concentration THC associated with schizophrenia, psychosis and other unfavorable mental health outcomes

A systematic review analyzed the associations of high-concentration delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis products with mental health outcomes. The review found that high-concentration THC products are associated with unfavorable mental health outcomes, particularly for psychosis or schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder (CUD).

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Generative AI uncovers undetected bird flu exposure risks in Maryland emergency departments

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have developed a new and highly effective application of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to quickly scan notes in electronic medical records and identify high-risk patients who may have been infected with H5N1 avian influenza or “bird flu,” according to new findings published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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Generative AI uncovers undetected bird flu exposure risks in Maryland emergency departments

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have developed a new and highly effective application of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to quickly scan notes in electronic medical records and identify high-risk patients who may have been infected with H5N1 avian influenza or “bird flu,” according to new findings published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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Cell-mapping tool provides insightful multi-layered view of cancer behavior

Researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a new computational tool called Vesalius, which could help clinicians understand the complex relationships between cancer cells and their surrounding cells, leading to potential discoveries regarding the development of hard-to-treat cancers.

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Catheter Ablation Beats Drug Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Lower Risk Factors: CABANA Subanalysis

China: A new secondary analysis of the Catheter Ablation vs Anti-Arrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CABANA) trial suggests that the benefit of catheter ablation over drug therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) largely depends on the patient’s burden of non-modifiable recurrence risk factors (NMRRFs).

The study, led by Zhen Wang and colleagues from the Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, was published in JAMA Network Open.
Although catheter ablation is widely used to manage AF, large-scale evidence comparing its impact on outcomes across different recurrence risk profiles has been limited. To address this, researchers examined whether the number of NMRRFs—factors that cannot be altered—modifies the relative benefit of ablation compared with anti-arrhythmic drug therapy.
The analysis included 2,185 patients from the original CABANA trial who had complete NMRRF data. These patients were classified into two groups: those with fewer than three NMRRFs and those with three or more. The NMRRFs assessed were AF duration over one year, persistent or long-standing persistent AF, age over 65, and female sex.
The key findings of the study were as follows:
  • The study analyzed 2,185 participants with a median age of 67 years, of whom 62.8% were male.
  • A total of 1,100 patients were assigned to catheter ablation, while 1,085 received drug therapy.
  • Nearly 67.2% of patients had fewer than three nonmodifiable recurrence risk factors (NMRRFs).
  • In patients with fewer than three NMRRFs, catheter ablation significantly reduced the primary composite endpoint of death, disabling stroke, serious bleeding, or cardiac arrest (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.59).
  • No significant benefit in the primary composite outcome was observed in patients with three or more NMRRFs (AHR, 1.55).
  • Across all groups, catheter ablation did not lower all-cause mortality, but consistently reduced atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and improved quality of life during follow-up.
  • AF recurrence rates were substantially lower with ablation (<3 NMRRFs: AHR, 0.46; ≥3 NMRRFs: AHR, 0.58).
  • Symptom burden decreased in both subgroups, indicating quality-of-life improvement with ablation.
“These findings indicate that catheter ablation could substantially improve cardiovascular outcomes in AF patients with fewer than three non-modifiable recurrence risk factors,” the authors noted. The study supports a tailored approach to AF management, focusing ablation efforts on patients most likely to benefit.
However, researchers acknowledged limitations, including its post hoc design, lack of stratified randomization, and potential selection bias due to incomplete NMRRF data. Additionally, the underrepresentation of certain subgroups, such as those with advanced heart failure, limits generalizability.
“For patients with AF and fewer than three NMRRFs, catheter ablation appears to confer significant prognostic benefits compared with drug therapy. In those with higher risk profiles, ablation remains useful for symptom control and recurrence reduction, highlighting the need for personalized treatment strategies,” the authors concluded.
Reference:
Wang Z, Wu Y, Jiang C, et al. Catheter Ablation vs Drug Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Nonmodifiable Recurrence Risk Factors: A Secondary Analysis of the CABANA Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(8):e2528124. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.28124

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Plant-based diets can reduce the risk of multimorbidity, finds study

In a large-scale multinational study involving over 400,000 women and men aged 37 to 70 years from six European countries, researchers from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (France) and the Kyung Hee University (Republic of Korea), investigated dietary habits and disease trajectories. The comprehensive data analysis shows that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases. The study has been published in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

The study used data from two large European cohort studies, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study and UK Biobank. Based on data from six European countries (Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark), the researchers provide further evidence that plant-based dietary habits can influence the development of multimorbidity. Results from the UK Biobank, for example, showed that adults with a higher adherence to a plant-based diet had a 32% lower risk of multimorbidity compared to those with a lower adherence. “You don’t have to cut out animal products entirely, “said study lead and nutritional epidemiologist Reynalda Córdova. “Shifting towards a more plant-based diet can already have a positive impact.” The study also examined differences in the risk of multimorbidity between middle-aged and older adults. Higher adherence to a plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of cancer and cardiometabolic multimorbidity in both adults younger than 60 years and in those aged 60 years or older. Multimorbidity describes the occurrence of two or more chronic diseases in one person and is a growing health problem worldwide, particularly among adults 60 years and older.

Lower risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease

The results: A stronger adherence to a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of cancer, cardiometabolic disease (diabetes and cardiovascular diseases), and multimorbidity, both in adults under 60 and those over 60. “Our study highlights that a healthy, plant-based diet not only influences individual chronic diseases but can also reduce the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases at the same time, in both middle-aged and older people,” Córdova summarized.

“The results show how important a predominantly plant-based diet is for our health and thus reinforce the new Austrian dietary recommendations, which emphasize plant-based food with a low proportion of animal-based foods. A co-benefit of a plant-based diet are lower greenhouse gas emissions and land use,” adds Karl-Heinz Wagner form the University of Vienna, co-author of the study and president of the Austrian Society for Nutrition.

Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes have a positive effect

A healthy plant-based dietary pattern included for example, a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and vegan sausages or burgers and a lower intake of meat and meat products. The findings suggest that a diet consisting mainly of healthy plant foods and small amounts of animal-based foods can contribute to maintaining health into older age.

The authors conclude that dietary guidelines, public health measures, and interventions should consider that a diet primarily composed of plant-based foods with small amounts of animal-based products may help prevent multimorbidity related to cancer and cardiometabolic diseases.

Reference:

Córdova, Reynalda et al., Plant-based dietary patterns and age-specific risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases: a prospective analysis, The Lancet Healthy Longevity, DOI:10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100742 

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Handheld Ultrasound Proves Effective for VExUS Assessment in Critically Ill Patients: Study

China: Researchers have found in a recent study that portable handheld ultrasound devices can provide reliable VExUS (Venous Excess Ultrasound) assessments in critically ill patients while significantly reducing examination time compared to conventional ultrasound. The findings, published in the Journal of Critical Care, suggest that this approach can enhance efficiency in intensive care units (ICUs) without compromising diagnostic accuracy.

Pathologic venous congestion is a major contributor to poor outcomes in critical care; however, it often goes undetected due to the invasiveness of traditional monitoring methods such as right heart catheterization. The VExUS score offers a noninvasive alternative but requires operator expertise, which has limited its widespread adoption. Hui Wang, MD, and colleagues from the Department of Intensive Care Unit at China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, developed a structured VExUS training program for residents using handheld point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) devices and evaluated its effectiveness in a clinical setting.
The study enrolled 80 ICU patients, where two trained residents independently performed sequential VExUS scans using both handheld and conventional ultrasound systems. Two blinded ICU mentors reviewed the images to determine gold-standard VExUS scores and assess image quality. The analysis focused on inter-rater reliability, reproducibility, and time efficiency.
Key Findings:
  • Results showed excellent agreement between handheld and conventional ultrasound for most VExUS parameters.
  • Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter demonstrated minimal measurement bias (0.037 cm) with a strong correlation (ICC = 0.98).
  • Hepatic vein assessments displayed near-perfect concordance (ICC > 0.96).
  • Overall, VExUS grading reliability was high for both devices (handheld κ = 0.879, ICC = 0.912; conventional κ = 0.851, ICC = 0.865).
  • Handheld ultrasound significantly reduced procedural time, with a median of five minutes compared to eight minutes for conventional ultrasound (37.5% faster).
  • Image acquisition success rates were above 91% for all vessels, reaching 100% for hepatic veins and IVC.
  • Renal vein evaluation had lower inter-rater agreement with handheld devices (κ = 0.55) versus conventional ultrasound (κ = 0.653), highlighting an area for improvement.
The researchers emphasized that their structured three-tiered training program—including theoretical instruction, simulator practice, and supervised clinical scanning—was key to achieving consistent proficiency among residents. They also noted that adopting handheld VExUS assessments could lead to substantial time savings in high-volume ICUs and enable earlier detection of venous congestion compared to traditional biomarkers such as NT-proBNP.
“Handheld VExUS achieves reliable core parameter assessment with 37.5% faster scanning,” Wang and colleagues wrote, suggesting that this approach can be a practical and efficient tool for routine congestion monitoring in critical care settings.
Reference:
Zhai, S., Shang, L., Ren, D., Chen, Y., & Wang, H. (2026). Portable handheld ultrasound for VExUS assessment in critical care: Reliability and time efficiency in resident-led examinations. Journal of Critical Care, 91, 155224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2025.155224

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