EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health - News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Jan-2026 04:11 ET (18-Jan-2026 09:11 GMT/UTC)

New study shows ongoing support helps people keep weight off after dieting

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Peer-Reviewed Publication

People who receive regular phone support after losing weight are more likely to keep the pounds off — but getting extra calls when at risk for regaining weight doesn’t provide additional benefit, according to a new study from Advocate Aurora Research Institute and Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Journal: JAMA Network Open
Funder: NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Koala stress linked to disease threat

University of Queensland
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Australian researchers have revealed a clear relationship between stress and increased disease risk in koalas in South East Queensland and on the New South Wales North Coast.

Journal: Journal of General Virology
Funder: New South Wales Government

“We need to prepare for a growing number of West Nile virus infections,” experts warn

Elsevier
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Growing numbers of West Nile virus infection cases, fueled by climate change, are sparking fears among citizens and healthcare providers in Europe. A Clinical Insight in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, published by Elsevier, aims to raise awareness and equip medical professionals with the knowledge needed to recognize and manage this emerging disease to avoid further spread and serious health consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals.

Journal: European Journal of Internal Medicine

Over 62,700 deaths associated with record-breaking heat during the summer of 2024 in Europe

Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The year 2024 broke several temperature records: it was the hottest ever recorded, and its summer was also the warmest to date. A study published in Nature Medicine has estimated that 62,775 heat-related deaths occurred in Europe between 1 June and 30 September of that year. These mortality figures are 23.6% higher than the approximately 50,800 estimated for the summer of 2023, and 8.1% lower than the nearly 67,900 estimated for the summer of 2022.

Journal: Nature Medicine

Alcohol consumption per capita and suicide

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, an increase in alcohol consumption per capita was associated with an increase in the suicide mortality rate at the population level and that the association was similar across sexes. As such, alcohol consumption per capita may be a useful target to consider within comprehensive national suicide prevention strategies.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Prevalence and trajectories of perinatal anxiety and depression in a large urban medical center

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: The findings of this study underscore the need for routine and consistent screening, monitoring, and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety. Women who received mental health services had faster reductions in depression over time, highlighting the potential impact for scalable and efficacious interventions during this critical period.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Stopping Postnatal Haemorrhages: The BAMBI Medical Device from the Politecnico di Milano

Politecnico di Milano
Business Announcement

A potentially life-saving device has been developed for new mothers in high-risk settings. This low-cost medical device to stop postpartum haemorrhages is the result of the BAMBI (Balloon Against Maternal BleedIng) project conducted by a multidisciplinary research team at the Politecnico di Milano. It is now ready for the final phase of testing, namely clinical trials on patients.

Journal: Scientific Reports