A new wearable ultrasound patch has boosted REM sleep in a clinical study, offering a drug-free way to improve sleep quality. The device is worn on the forehead and sends low-intensity ultrasound pulses into the brain, which appear to activate sleep-related circuits. Participants who wore the patch during a full night of sleep spent measurably more time in REM sleep, the stage linked to dreaming and memory, and reported waking up feeling more rested. The patch is small, light and powered by a slim battery, and no side effects were reported. The study is small and needs confirmation in larger trials, but the research team plans to test the device in patients with insomnia and other sleep conditions. Sleep disorders affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
A massive egg recall is expanding across the southern and southwestern United States after a salmonella outbreak linked to a major producer, officials said Monday. The recall covers millions of eggs distributed to grocery stores and food service companies in multiple states. Health officials urged consumers to check cartons for the affected brand and lot numbers and to throw away or return any eggs on the recall list. State health departments have reported dozens of illnesses, and officials expect the count to rise as the investigation continues. Salmonella infections typically cause fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea, and can be severe for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA is working with the producer to trace the source of the contamination.
A drug already used to treat osteoporosis blocked spinal disc damage in a new study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh. The team found that a bisphosphonate prevented minerals from accumulating in the spine, interrupting the chain reaction that causes spinal discs to harden and deteriorate. Zebrafish with a faulty collagen-related gene developed mineral buildup and spinal fusion similar to human disc disease. Spinal fusion was also reduced when the fish ate less or were treated with drugs that suppressed fat metabolism. Because bisphosphonates are already approved and widely used, they could move into clinical testing for spinal conditions more quickly than new drugs. The findings, reported in early August, suggest several possible paths for future back pain treatments.
Reports of liver injuries to US poison centers have risen nearly 400% since 2000, and acetaminophen is a top driver, according to a new analysis. Researchers reviewed more than two decades of data from poison control centers across the country. The sharp increase points to wider use of the common painkiller, which appears in hundreds of over-the-counter and prescription products. Experts say many people accidentally take too much because they combine medicines without checking labels. The study's authors call for clearer dosing instructions and better public education about the risks.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first mRNA-based vaccine for influenza. The shot uses the same messenger RNA technology that proved itself during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike traditional flu vaccines, which are grown in eggs, mRNA vaccines are made quickly in the lab, which could allow manufacturers to match the vaccine more closely to the strains circulating each season. Experts say the approval marks a turning point for mRNA technology, which is also being tested against other viruses and even cancer. Clinical trials showed the vaccine produced a strong immune response against multiple flu strains. The approval comes as public health officials prepare for the fall flu season. Researchers say the new vaccine could make annual flu shots more effective and faster to produce in a pandemic.
Scientists have completed the first trial of a fecal transplant to treat food allergies in people, and early results are promising. The treatment, known as a fecal microbiota transplant, moves gut bacteria from a healthy donor into a patient's digestive system to change how the immune system reacts to food. In the small trial, some patients with severe allergies to foods like peanuts, eggs, or milk were able to tolerate small amounts of their trigger foods afterward. The findings, published in Nature, varied from patient to patient. Researchers caution that larger studies are needed to confirm the results and test long-term safety. Food allergies affect millions of people worldwide, and current treatments rely mostly on avoidance and emergency medicines.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna's mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based vaccine for seasonal influenza. The vaccine is cleared for adults 50 and older and targets influenza A subtypes and influenza B strains. The approval followed a unanimous recommendation from the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. Moderna expects the shot to be available at select retailers for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season. The decision marks the first U.S. approval of an mRNA flu vaccine and expands the use of the technology behind the COVID-19 shots. It also signals a shift in federal vaccine policy after months of delays.
A large clinical trial shows that tirzepatide, a drug already used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, cuts the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths. The study followed more than 13,000 adults with type 2 diabetes, many of whom had heart disease risk factors. Patients taking the drug had fewer heart attacks and strokes than those given a placebo, and the benefits appeared within months and grew over time. Researchers say weight loss explains part of the effect, but the drug also appears to act on the heart and blood vessels directly. Side effects were mostly mild and included nausea. Doctors say the results are likely to change how the drug is prescribed and could strengthen arguments for broader insurance coverage.
A specially engineered chewing gum reduced oral HPV by up to 93 percent in a new study, while nearly eliminating two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer. The gum preserved beneficial mouth bacteria, raising hopes for a safer and more affordable way to reduce cancer risk. HPV is a common virus that accounts for a large share of head and neck cancers. The study's authors say a daily gum could offer a low-cost prevention tool, especially in places where vaccines are hard to access. Clinical trials will be needed before the gum reaches the market.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Oveporexton, sold as Orzeyful, on August 5 for adults with narcolepsy type 1. It is the first orexin receptor agonist approved in the United States and the first medicine to treat the underlying cause of the disease rather than individual symptoms. Narcolepsy type 1 is caused by the loss of orexin, a brain chemical that regulates wakefulness. The approval rests on two global Phase 3 trials that showed improvements in daytime sleepiness, cataplexy and quality of life. The drug was developed by Takeda and received Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy designation.