EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 6-Jun-2026 19:15 ET (6-Jun-2026 23:15 GMT/UTC)

1-May-2026

New laws cut cannabis arrests, but racial disparities persist

Weill Cornell Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

While recreational cannabis laws have significantly reduced arrests for cannabis possession and sales, racial disparities in arrests still exist, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medicine, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and The University of Texas at Austin. The authors suggest that recreational cannabis laws do not fully resolve underlying systemic inequities.

Journal: American Economic Journal Economic Policy

1-May-2026

Azide-to-diazo conversion offers safer route to versatile diazo compounds

Tokyo University of Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Diazoacetic acid esters are important intermediates in drug and agrochemical synthesis, but their preparation typically requires hazardous diazomethane. Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science developed a safer method using a Michael addition-mediated azide-to-diazo conversion. By pretreating 2-azidoacrylic acid esters with a bulky phosphine followed by nucleophile addition, they produced β-heteroatom-substituted diazo esters without toxic precursors. This simpler approach offers a practical and flexible route to access diverse organonitrogen compounds.

Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

1-May-2026

Mothers without specific fatty acid in the blood more often have children with asthma

University of Copenhagen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A small molecule in the blood of pregnant women is linked to children’s risk of developing childhood asthma and respiratory infections, a new study shows.

Journal: Cell Reports Medicine

30-Apr-2026

GLP-1 drugs have long-term benefit for heart health

Anglia Ruskin University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research has shown that GLP‑1 weight-loss drugs deliver protection against heart attacks, strokes and premature death over a sustained period of time.

Journal: Cardiovascular Diabetology – Endocrinology Reports

30-Apr-2026

Study finds four of the CDC’s seven measles elimination status indicators missed

Boston Children's Hospital
Peer-Reviewed Publication

After public health experts declared measles eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established seven indicators of measles elimination status to ensure that the country remained on track. Now, analyzing these same indicators, Boston Children’s Hospital researchers find that the U.S. missed four of the seven criteria, with the others at risk. These findings are published in The Lancet.

Journal: The Lancet

30-Apr-2026

The Lancet: GLP-1 reduces heavy drinking days in treatment seeking people with alcohol use disorder and obesity, finds small trial

The Lancet
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A trial of 108 adults with obesity seeking treatment for alcohol use finds a once-weekly semaglutide injection reduced heavy drinking days in the past 30 days by an average of roughly 12 days, 50% higher than the eight day reduction seen in the placebo group. The study is published in The Lancet.

Journal: The Lancet
Funder: The Research Foundation, Mental Health Services (Capital Region of Denmark), Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novavi Foundation, Hartmann Foundation, Augustinus Foundation

30-Apr-2026

Cervical cancer: A growing gap between high- and low-income countries

Université Laval
Peer-Reviewed Publication

While high-income countries like Canada could eliminate cervical cancer by 2048 through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening, the gap with lower-income countries is widening. A study published in The Lancet by a team from Université Laval and the CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center shows that these inequalities could skyrocket within a few decades if nothing changes in terms of prevention.

Journal: The Lancet

30-Apr-2026

Health care costs reach a breaking point

American Heart Association
Business Announcement

New American Heart Association Presidential Advisory outlines contributors to and consequences of the current health care affordability crisis, proposes five guiding principles for action by lawmakers and policymakers.

30-Apr-2026

Mount Sinai experts present on PCOS and disparities in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at 2026 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting

The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Women’s health physicians and researchers share new insights on OBGYN care

Journal: Obstetrics and Gynecology