THE MEDICAL NEWS

Breathing in common disinfectant chemicals known as quaternary ammonium compounds, or QACs, may be far more harmful than swallowing them, according to a mouse study led by researchers at the University of California, Davis.

An irregular bedtime in midlife may signal an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study from the University of Oulu suggests that large swings in when people go to bed could double the risk of serious cardiac events—particularly among those who get less than eight hours of sleep.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as 18% of all childbearing-age women. The condition occurs when a woman's body produces too much of a group of hormones called androgens, chiefly testosterone. Menstrual irregularity, obesity and even infertility can result.

Family physicians who report feeling burned out are nearly 1.5 times more likely to change practices or stop practicing medicine entirely compared to their peers who don't report burnout, a study by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers found.

A new system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess cardiovascular risk based on images of the eye captured during eye exams demonstrated strong correlation with a standard cardiovascular risk assessment, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

Despite experiencing significant reductions in triglycerides, patients with triglycerides over 150 mg/dL and a high risk of atherosclerosis did not experience any significant change in the amount of non-calcified plaque in their coronary arteries after taking the triglyceride-lowering drug olezarsen, in a one-year sub-study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Sessi…

Black and Hispanic adults with high blood pressure (hypertension) who received a culturally tailored food-based intervention with dietitian coaching experienced a significant drop in blood pressure compared with those who received an equivalent amount of fresh produce without additional supports, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC…

A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Yale School of Public Health reveals that red blood cell exchange transfusion (ET) may provide critical benefits for patients hospitalized with severe babesiosis.

Patients with rheumatic heart disease who took the heart failure drug digoxin were 18% less likely to die or experience new-onset or worsening heart failure during a two-year follow-up compared with those who received a placebo, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

Among stable, relatively low-risk patients who had previously suffered a heart attack, discontinuing beta-blockers after at least one year was found to be non-inferior, or comparable, to continuing beta-blockers in terms of death, another heart attack or hospitalization for heart failure, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.