A new MUSC study published in JAMA Pediatrics reveals a striking reversal in youth vaping trends: Girls are now vaping at higher rates than boys. Among teens ages 15 to 17, regular vaping among girls rose from 4.9% in 2021 to 7.8% in 2024, compared with 4.6% of boys. Although cigarette smoking among adolescents has fallen to historic lows, researchers warn that nicotine addiction remains a serious concern. “We have to sound the alarm bells for girls,” said Benjamin Toll, Ph.D., of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. “But we also need to make sure that we’re addressing the boys, too.” The findings highlight the need for targeted prevention and treatment efforts to address changing patterns of youth nicotine use.

A protein called Miro1 found at elevated levels in the skeletal muscle of people with Type 2 diabetes may contribute to insulin resistance, potentially making it a target for future treatments that help the body regulate blood sugar, according to a study published in Nature Communications. Researchers found that removing Miro1 restored the muscles’ response to insulin in preclinical models, while exercise reduced the protein’s levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.