Author: Healthcare Propulsion Staff

The success of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic transformed vaccine science. Now, the same Nobel Prize winning technology is being adapted to fight cancer, with experimental mRNA vaccines already being tested against melanoma, small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer, and several other cancers. Researchers hope these vaccines could eventually provide powerful new ways to prevent and treat the disease. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has uncovered an unexpected feature of how these cancer vaccines work. In experiments with mice, scientists found that mRNA cancer vaccines remained highly effective even when…

Plans to stop vapes being marketed to children have been unveiled as part of a UK-wide consultation to introduce plain packaging, stop the use of enticing flavour descriptions and move vapes out of sight in shops.Health Secretary James Murray said it was clear too many young people were being lured into experimenting. Under the proposals, packging would need to be bland, with limits on what imagery and branding could be used. Names relating to confectionery, sweets, desserts and alcohol would be banned to make products less appealing to children.There is no legitimate reason for nicotine products to come in neon…

Frazier Healthcare Partners announced Tuesday it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) provider MatrixCare from health tech company ResMed. The healthcare private equity firm will buy MatrixCare for $490 million in an all-cash transaction, according to ResMed’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The deal includes MatrixCare and related software offerings sold under its brand, including Healthcare First and Citus. MatrixCare is a subsidiary of healthcare technology company ResMed and provides solutions to more than 15,000 providers in skilled nursing, senior living, long-term care, life planning communities, home health and hospice care.…

A mostly plant and fish based diet with low protein and carefully balanced levels of an amino acid found in foods like eggs, meat, and dairy helped mice stay healthier as they aged, according to new research from the University of Southern California. The diet increased healthspan, reduced body fat, and lowered frailty in older mice. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, were supported by an analysis of dietary and health data from more than 200,000 people conducted by researchers from USC, the University of Toronto, and Harvard University. People who followed more plant focused eating patterns also showed lower…

A new real-world comparison finds that bariatric surgery leads to dramatically more weight loss than popular injectable medications. After two years, people who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass lost about five times more weight than those using weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide or tirzepatide,* according to research presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. The study, conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health and NYC Health + Hospitals, showed that surgery patients lost an average of 58 pounds over two years. In contrast, patients who were prescribed a GLP-1…

The charity Twins Trust, which supported the study, said the new approach could make a real difference.”Any procedure that is non-invasive and can potentially identify TTTS earlier and improve outcomes for our families with this life-threatening condition could be a turning point,” said Helen Peck, head of healthcare engagement and research.Weeks after Brioney’s scan, it was clear the procedure had worked – the blood flow to the babies had been rebalanced, although there were other issues during the course of her pregnancy.Scans showed Margo, who did not have enough fluid around her, “was in a much better position”, Brioney said,…

A former Alignment Healthcare executive has filed a whistleblower suit against the insurer, alleging that its top brass juiced company profits to secure higher bonuses. Hakan Kardes served as Alignment’s chief data and transformation officer from 2019 to 2025 and alleges in the suit that he was forced out of the company after raising concerns about “accounting irregularities” with CEO John Kao. Kardes said he discovered that millions of dollars in operating expenses were misclassified as capital expenses, allowing the company to artificially boost its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA. Kardes said in the lawsuit that…

A research team at the University of California, Riverside has found that routine exposure to microplastics — tiny pieces released from packaging, fabrics, and common consumer plastics — may speed up the formation of atherosclerosis, the artery-narrowing condition associated with heart attacks and strokes. The effect appeared only in male mice, offering new insight into how microplastics may influence cardiovascular health in people. “Our findings fit into a broader pattern seen in cardiovascular research, where males and females often respond differently,” said lead researcher Changcheng Zhou, a professor of biomedical sciences in the UCR School of Medicine. “Although the precise…

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services want hospitals to take a voluntary step toward serving healthier food to their patients.  The “Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge” unveiled this week is the latest in Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s and other health officials’ emphasis on nutrition as a factor in chronic disease prevention and general long-term wellness.  Though voluntary, it follows concrete commitments the administration has scored from dozens of educational institutions to bring nutrition into the medical curriculum.  “Patients recovering from serious medical conditions deserve better than ultra-processed and deep-fried junk…

Children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD), more commonly known as eczema, could face fewer infections and allergic problems after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, according to new research presented at the 2025 American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando. “Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition driven by the immune system and often precedes the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis,” explained medical student Tristan Nguyen, BS, the lead author of the study. “Children with AD are also at higher risk for infections, including those affecting the skin and respiratory system.” Large Study Examines Vaccinated…