The solution, Gupta found, is to tweak pay incentives. By rewarding doctors for prioritized follow-ups, healthcare systems can make them easier to get — and improve the systems’ own bottom lines.

“They’re able to ensure continuity of care, as opposed to letting the patient call two or three weeks later,” Gupta says. “If patients try to book an appointment with the same doctor, and they can’t, they might go to a different clinic or health system.”

In the first detailed chromosome map of the aardwolf, Texas A&M University researchers have discovered that, despite millions of years of separate evolution, the chromosomes of aardwolves, other hyenas and even domestic cats have remained remarkably similar.

The aardwolf, a termite‑eating mammal native to Africa, is the least‑studied member of the hyena family. Until now, the only chromosome information on the aardwolf was its chromosome count — 40 — which was discovered in the 1960s.

The study, published in the Journal of Heredity, was led by Dr. Terje Raudsepp, a professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, in collaboration with Twin Pine Conservation Institute (TPCI).

The new study provides the first detailed look at the species’ whole chromosomes, or karyotype, and contributes to broader efforts to build chromosome‑level references for mammals. So far, only about 1,200 of roughly 6,000 mammal species have detailed chromosome maps.

A longitudinal study from Lund University in Sweden shows that mental health problems have increased sharply among lower secondary school students, becoming three times more common among girls over a period of 17 years.

This study assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Chinese patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) and explored key factors associated with HRQoL. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2023 through the China Rare Disease Alliance Cloud Service Platform, in which patients with MPS II and their family members completed an online questionnaire collecting information on Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Version 4.0 scores, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical features. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics and HRQoL levels, and multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing HRQoL. Data were obtained from 129 individuals across 22 regions in China, the majority of whom were boys (98%), with a mean age of 8.7 years. Initial symptoms appeared at approximately 2.5 years of age, yet diagnosis was often delayed by more than one year, and over half of the children (57%) had previously received an incorrect diagnosis. On average, nearly ten body systems were affected. Overall HRQoL was low, with a mean score of 30.08 (standard deviation (SD) = 19.51). Domain-specific scores were 30.98 for daily activities, 43.18 for emotional well-being, 24.73 for social functioning, and 20.89 for school participation, indicating substantial difficulties in performing routine tasks. Multiple linear regression (adjusted R² = 0.381) showed that HRQoL significantly declined with increasing age (β = −2.000, P = 0.003) and the presence of neurological or cognitive impairments (β = −12.798, P < 0.001), whereas school attendance was a strong positive predictor of higher HRQoL (β = 16.330, P < 0.001). Overall, Chinese patients with MPS II demonstrated markedly reduced HRQoL, particularly in cognitive and daily functioning domains, underscoring the need for improved clinical management and supportive strategies to enhance their well-being.