Two methods of prostate cancer biopsy demonstrated similar, minimal rates of infection in patients with prostate cancer, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal European Urology.
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More NewsFourth-year Feinberg students excitedly tore open envelopes to reveal their residency matches at this year’s Match Day celebration on March 15.
High school juniors from Our Lady of Tepeyac High School in Little Village had the chance to shadow and learn from Feinberg scientists as part of an event hosted by the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics’ (SQE) Inspire program on March 5.
A recent Northwestern Medicine study sheds light on the mechanisms of a specific protein that is necessary for the production of IgA antibodies in the gut in response to food allergens, according to findings published in the journal Mucosal Immunology.
Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified new genes implicated in the development of uterine fibroids, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
As GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like semaglutide have been shown to be effective at helping patients lose weight, scientists are now asking, whether they can treat other conditions where obesity is a risk factor. Most recently, initial studies have shown that they can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing overall body weight.
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More Media CoverageThis phenomenon is so universal that there’s a scientific name for it: “bedtime procrastination.” According to the researchers who coined it in a 2014 study, bedtime procrastination is “failing to go to bed at the intended time, while no external circumstances prevent a person from doing so.” We often delay sleep because we want to regain the control—and time—we lost during the day. But here’s the paradox: Instead of getting more control over our days, bedtime procrastinators end up sabotaging them. Using something that gives us a little hit of dopamine, like our phones, makes us (falsely) feel like we’re delaying the stress of the following day, says Sheehan Fisher, PhD, a perinatal clinical psychologist at Northwestern Medicine who works primarily with new parents. “One thing about sleep is that once you’re unconscious, you wake up to the next day,” he says.
We love counting steps. Maybe it’s because we like goals or else the constant reminder on our wrists of how far we’ve gone and need to go to hit a daily target. Or it could also be that study after study says walking is one of the most attainable ways to increase longevity. Finding hills to walk up is a good way to boost your fitness in a world where time is limited, said Sadiya Khan, MD, a cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine and a volunteer for the American Heart Association. Most studies, including the recent British one, show diminishing returns on step counts over about five miles. So instead of walking 12,000 or 15,000 steps to push your workout, walk uphill to keep your heart rate up. You can also walk uphill backward to make it even harder and target different muscles. The goal is to incorporate vigorous activity into your walking instead of staying at a moderate pace. Consider putting weight in your backpack to boost the intensity of your walk even more. Rucking, as it’s called, helps with strength training while increasing your heart rate, said Dr. Khan.
2 more measles cases confirmed in Chicago for total of 10; one new case is at migrant shelter
The Chicago Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced two new confirmed cases of measles – one of which was in the migrant shelter in Pilsen where most of the cases have originated. Over the past few days, the city said it has administered over 900 vaccinees – bringing the percentage of people immune to measles at the shelter up to 95 percent or more. Larry Kociolek, MD, of Lurie Children’s Hospital also said more unvaccinated people are likely to get sick before the outbreak is over. The incubation period for measles is part of the reason why, Kociolek explained. “It could be two to three weeks before I develop symptoms, and so it usually takes about two or three weeks to know if the measures that we’re taking today are effective,” he said. “So the virus is actually pretty stable, where it doesn’t develop an ability to evade the immune response,” Kociolek said, “and so the vaccine that we have currently, that we have used for decades, is expected to be quite effective against measles forever, really.”
After the age of 65, many people find themselves in a healthcare provider’s office more frequently for help with managing a chronic disease or just to “keep an eye on” their health. Since having access to quality healthcare in the United States is not a given, being proactive about your health if you’re able is generally a smart move. That said, there can be such a thing as too much of a good thing—even when it comes to medical care. Many older adults don’t realize that some routine screenings and treatments may not be necessary and can even be harmful for them. A recent study highlighted the need for safeguards to avoid overtreating older adult patients, which can include unnecessary tests and screenings, particularly for prostate cancer (PSA test), urinary tract infections (UTI), and diabetes. “This shows that alerts like the ones used in this study can help curtail overuse of tests and treatments,” study lead author Stephen Persell, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Verywell. “We are always getting continuing education as clinicians. This type of nudge can help remind us of things we’ve learned previously when it is directly relevant to a patient we are working with.”