US heart death declines slow, but decades of disparities remain

Cardiovascular disease deaths in the U.S. continued to decline, but progress has slowed and disparities in CVD-related mortality persist, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Total CVD mortality from 2000 to 2019 remained highest among the Black population in the U.S., followed by Indigenous, white, Hispanic and Asian individuals, researchers reported.
“For clinical practice, these findings point to the value of integrating local epidemiology into risk assessment, outreach and care delivery,” George A. Mensah, MD, FACC, director of the Center for

Most viral Korean ‘glass skin’ videos on TikTok include misleading claims

Most popular Korean “glass skin” content on TikTok includes misleading claims, lacks safety disclosures and scores poorly for reliability, according to data presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology Congress.
Of the videos evaluated, researchers found that 94.7% included at least one misleading claim, with most videos produced by non-physician influencers.
Korean skin care routines promoting glass skin — a complexion that appears dewy or translucent — have grown in popularity across social media platforms including TikTok. The lack of dermatologic oversight of these videos

Identifying high-impact research gaps often starts at bedside

NEW YORK — Mentorship, sponsorship, and community can play an important role in helping early career investigators develop their scientific identity and research career, according to a 2026 Women in Nephrology Leadership Conference speaker.
When Connie M. Rhee, MD, MSc, chief of nephrology at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, started conducting research on the interaction between endocrine and metabolic disorders in kidney disease, including how thyroid disorders impact kidney health, her research mentors and sponsors helped her recognize how this area could develop into a broader

Maternal depression raises neurodevelopmental risks regardless of treatment exposure

Children of mothers with maternal depression had a higher risk for neurodevelopmental outcomes regardless of whether they were prenatally exposed to antidepressants, data show.
The possible risks and benefits of prenatal antidepressant use, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), were discussed during an FDA panel hearing in July 2025.
Experts told Healio that the risks from untreated maternal depression “far outweigh” the risks from SSRIs. Additionally, data published earlier this year indicate that discontinuing antidepressants during pregnancy increased the risk for

Military blast exposure associated with range of conditions

Self-reported exposure to high-level blasts in the military was associated with several chronic health conditions, including seizures, neuropathy and a range of cardiovascular conditions, according to research published in Neurology.
Although past research has explored the associations between blast exposure and traumatic brain injuries, psychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunction, little research has explored non-mental health consequences and chronic disease burden, said Sarah L. Martindale, PhD, research health scientist with the Salisbury VA Health Care System of the U.S. Department of

Low-energy diet plus exercise may reverse early-onset diabetes

More than half of adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes and obesity achieved diabetes remission at 24 weeks with a low-energy diet and supervised physical activity, according to findings from the RESET for Remission trial.
In a randomized, open-label efficacy trial, adults with type 2 diabetes who participated in a lifestyle intervention were more likely to achieve diabetes remission with an HbA1c of less than 6.5% than the control group. Additionally, the intervention group experienced decreases in fat mass and multiple adipose measures at 24 weeks. The findings were presented at the

Panel examines myopia control spectacle lenses, pediatric imaging

The myopia epidemic continues to pose a significant international challenge, but the eye care community has made strides in reducing its progression in pediatric patients.
In September 2025, the FDA granted market authorization to Essilor Stellest spectacle lenses (EssilorLuxottica), the first eyeglasses capable of slowing pediatric progression. With the glasses now available in the U.S., Healio | OSN Pediatrics/Strabismus Board Members, led by Section Editor Robert S. Gold, MD, sat down to discuss how patients and their families have responded to the lenses in the real world: Has the price of

Patient’s attitude with AI chatbots impacts OSA recommendations

In 35.7% of cases where a patient minimized their obstructive sleep apnea symptoms to an AI chatbot, the AI dropped a recommendation for specialist referral, according to study findings.
These data were presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.
“Clinicians should be aware that patients may have been falsely reassured by conversations with a chatbot, particularly when they seem reluctant to investigate their symptoms,” Deeban Ratneswaran, PhD, research fellow at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and visiting academic at King’s College London, told Healio. “It

What healthcare professionals should know about fall allergies

Each season brings new allergens of which healthcare professionals need to be aware, and during fall, respiratory viral infections can complicate diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.
Notable fall respiratory viral infections include rhinovirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. For the 2026-2027 respiratory diseases season, four medical societies have published vaccine recommendations for the latter three, filling a void in guidance at the federal level.
Healio spoke with Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C, senior manager of global medical and scientific affairs for

Weight loss helps explain colorectal cancer obesity paradox

Pre-diagnostic weight loss could explain the “obesity paradox” — where patients who have overweight or obesity have improved survival — observed in colorectal cancer.
A study of more than 5,500 individuals with colorectal cancer from Germany showed patients who had overweight did have improved survival, but weight loss prior to diagnosis attenuated that OS advantage.
Furthermore, individuals who lost at least 10% of their weight before being diagnosed had a 55% higher risk for death.
“This study provides no evidence that being overweight is actually beneficial for colorectal cancer survival, and