As health information and services become increasingly digital, it is more important than ever that people can find, understand, evaluate and use health information in everyday life. A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that a brief 12-item questionnaire, known as HLS-Q12, can be used to assess health literacy in Finnish adults and to support reliable comparisons across key population groups. This can help identify where communication and support are most needed.

Artificial sweeteners are a popular alternative to sugar, often included in low-sugar or no-sugar foods and beverages marketed at people looking to improve their health. But new research in mice suggests that these sweeteners could have unexpected health impacts which can be passed on to offspring and even to the second generation. The changes observed by the scientists, including gene expression, glucose tolerance, and the fecal microbiome, could potentially increase vulnerability to metabolic health conditions like diabetes — the very problem the sweeteners were trying to solve.

A computational study shows for the first time how different parts of the human airway experience levels of pressure and friction from breathing therapy devices. 

The study shows the potential to support the design of better devices and personalised treatment settings for patients with conditions such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and postoperative atelectasis.

Quitting tobacco could give a major economic uplift to the incomes of more than 20 million households in India, suggests an economic analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.  While the greatest impact would be felt in rural areas and among the poorest households, 7 million middle income families would also stand to benefit, the estimates suggest.