EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 11-Jun-2026 11:15 ET (11-Jun-2026 15:15 GMT/UTC)

13-May-2026

The Chinese Children's Congenital Heart Disease Genome Research Project identifies novel pathogenic genes and elucidates genetic mechanisms

Science China Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The discovery of pathogenic genes based on large CHD cohort forms the foundation for improving early diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment of CHD. To this end, Academician Lin He launched the Chinese Children's CHD Genome Research Project. The research team conducted whole-genome sequencing on 354 core CHD families from China, integrated single-cell transcriptomic data and phenotypic analysis in model animals, and identified high-confidence CHD risk genes. This study has constructed the largest genetic etiology map of congenital heart disease in Asian populations.

Journal: Science Bulletin

13-May-2026

Combined short-term effects of air pollutants linked to 146,500 premature deaths per year in Europe

Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Fine particles (PM₂.₅) were associated with around 79,000 preventable deaths, followed by nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃) and coarser particles (PM₂.₅-₁₀, particles with a diameter between 2.5 and 10 micrometres). These are among the findings of a new study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center–Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), which provides the first Europe-wide estimate of short-term mortality associated with the combined effects of multiple pollutants across 31 European countries. The findings, published in Nature Health, support the development of impact-based early warning systems to help protect the population from the health effects of air pollution.

Journal: Nature Health

13-May-2026

Perimenopause may offer a “window of opportunity” for heart disease prevention in women

American Heart Association
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Perimenopausal women were two times more likely to have a low cardiovascular health score compared to women having regular menstrual cycles, according to an analysis of nationwide U.S. data published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

Journal: Journal of the American Heart Association

13-May-2026

MIT-MGH team finds a new approach to cancer vaccination that yields more powerful T cells

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

MIT engineers developed a new way to amplify the T cell response to mRNA vaccines, using an mRNA adjuvant. This approach could lead to much more powerful cancer vaccines and stronger protection against infectious diseases.

Journal: Nature Biotechnology
Funder: Sanofi, Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine, Koch Institute Support (core) Grant from the National Cancer Institute

13-May-2026

The goal of a Tobacco-Free Generation will not progress without stronger EU support

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent study shows that the rapid increase of new nicotine products and the influence of the tobacco industry are perceived to significantly hinder the European countries’ ability to achieve ambitious tobacco control goals. Without strong support at the EU level and rapid responses to changes in the market, the targets risk remaining unmet.

Journal: Tobacco Control
Funder: European Union’s Health Programme

13-May-2026

Preoperative VR exposure studied in surgical care at Semmelweis University’s Pediatric Center

Semmelweis University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Using virtual reality (VR) before surgery was associated with reduced pain in the early postoperative period among adolescents, according to new research from Semmelweis University. However, the study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, found that VR did not reduce preoperative anxiety, though it may help ease postoperative discomfort.

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Surgery

13-May-2026

Ultrasound has potential to alter how the brain responds to pain

University of Plymouth
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Experts from the University of Plymouth’s Brain Research and Imaging Centre and the University of Exeter Medical School believe the results of a new study lay important groundwork for exploring the therapeutic use of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) in people experiencing chronic pain through conditions including fibromyalgia, back pain and arthritis, or while they are recovering after cancer treatment.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: UK Research and Innovation

13-May-2026

Flu signals in wastewater offer an early warning for community outbreaks

The University of Osaka
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from The University of Osaka and collaborators developed a wastewater-based method to estimate influenza incidence by measuring viral RNA concentrations in wastewater. The approach can separately estimate influenza A and B trends and may detect epidemic changes about one week earlier than conventional patient report data. The study highlights wastewater surveillance as a promising complement to existing public health systems for earlier healthcare preparedness.

Journal: Water and Environment Journal
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Nippon Foundation

13-May-2026

Tiny molecules unlock big gains in soil health

Maximum Academic Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Converting crop straw into stable soil organic matter (SOM) is essential for sustainable farming and climate resilience—but it's notoriously inefficient in saline-alkaline soils.

Journal: Pedosphere