Public Health
New Antiobesity Drugs Help People Shed Dozens of Pounds, but They Must Be Taken for a Lifetime
Injectable weight-loss medicines reduce appetite but raise questions of long-term safety and affordability
Stories by Claudia Wallis
Cancer
A Wave of New Cancer Treatments Challenges Community Oncologists to Keep Up
Partnerships with top research centers, along with advanced technology, may help local doctors offer patients the latest therapies
Policy
Abortion Pills Are Very Safe and Effective, yet Government Rules Still Hinder Access
If the U.S. Supreme Court fails to uphold abortion rights this spring, more restrictions are likely
Health Care
A Faster Way to Find Good Medical Treatments Is Gaining Ground
A type of clinical trial that tests many therapies at once is being used for COVID and Alzheimer’s
Mental Health
The Pandemic Has Created a ‘Zoom Boom’ in Remote Psychotherapy
Research suggests virtual sessions can be as effective as in-person meetings
Public Health
Why Racism, Not Race, Is a Risk Factor for Dying of COVID-19
Public health specialist and physician Camara Phyllis Jones talks about ways that jobs, communities and health care leave Black Americans more exposed and less protected
Inequality
Black Children, as Well as Other Minority Kids, Fare Worse Than White Children in Common Surgeries
The reasons for unequal patient outcomes may lie in implicit biases at the hospitals that treat them
Pharmaceuticals
Advil, Tylenol and Similar Painkillers Used to Replace Opioids Carry Risks
Over-the-counter analgesics can be quite effective, but high doses have downsides
Medicine
Deadly Falls among the Elderly Are on the Rise
They could be reduced with targeted exercise and some technological innovations
Vaccines
A Vaccine against Poison Ivy Misery Is in the Works as Scientists Also Explore New Treatment Paths
Standard remedies offer little relief for the itchy rash caused by the plant, but researchers have found promising clues in the immune system
Medicine
A Few Days on Antibiotics Are Often as Good as Weeks, Research Shows
Shorter courses cause fewer side effects and breed fewer antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”
Biotech
The Quest for Cancer-Detecting Blood Tests Speeds Up
Liquid biopsies show promise for early detection of deadly tumors
Public Health
Fixing Medical Devices That Are Biased against Race or Gender
Designers should show how well instruments perform across different populations
Public Health
COVID Has Pushed Medical Research into Remote Trials, Benefiting Patients and Scientists
Using home monitoring and other efficiencies instead of dragging people into hospitals could improve clinical trials after the pandemic
Public Health
Few Would Fear COVID Vaccines if Policy Makers Explained Their Risks Better
Clear messaging and transparency are vital, say some experts on risk assessment and decision-making
Public Health
At Last, Some Help for Meth Addiction
Studies show that a behavioral treatment works well and that two medications may also be useful
Medicine
COVID Showed How Trials for New Drugs Could Be Faster and Better
The pandemic has spotlighted ways to make clinical trials easier on patients and better for science, a heart drug researcher says
Public Health
Unraveling the Complex Link between COVID and Diabetes
Infection with the pandemic-causing virus seems to trigger diabetes in some patients. Here are five plausible explanations as to why
Medicine
7 Ways to Reduce Reluctance to Take COVID Vaccines
Trusted messengers and repeated reminders can overcome hesitancy, social science shows
Public Health
A COVID Look-alike That Strikes Young Adults
A dangerous lung illness stems from substandard vape liquids
