Health

Somali women describe a complex and shifting tradition of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Somalia, according to a study published in PLOS Global Public Health by Zamzam I.A. Ali from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK and the Mayo Clinic, US, and colleagues.

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior evaluated the feasibility of Nutri, a user-centered digital platform designed to support personalized, evidence-based diet goal setting during routine primary care visits for patients with type 2 diabetes. Findings show that primary care providers (PCPs) who used the system consistently, found it usable and satisfactory, and that patients were able to engage with the intervention effectively.

In a routine blood test that turned extraordinary, French scientists have identified the world’s newest and rarest blood group. The sole known carrier is a woman from Guadeloupe whose blood is so unique that doctors couldn’t find a single compatible donor.

When Israelis think about health, they may picture hospitals, doctors, or the rising cost of prescription drugs. But a new integrative study by Jordan Hannink Attal (Hebrew University and the University of Melbourne) and Prof. Yehuda Neumark (Hebrew University) suggests the most important factor may be much closer to home—literally.

Ebenezer Scrooge tried to wave away the ghost of Jacob Marley by blaming the apparition on “an undigested bit of beef … a crumb of cheese.” Charles Dickens might have been writing fiction, but the idea that late-night dairy can warp dreams has now gained scientific support.

Fireworks are the pinnacle of many Fourth of July celebrations, and while they can be festive and fun, they can also land you in the emergency room if you don’t take proper precautions, experts warn.

A recent study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reveals that physical activity and sedentary behavior vary significantly by sex and educational level, but less so by the presence of chronic disease. The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, provides important insights into how different populations engage in physical activity and sedentary behavior.

A new peer‐reviewed article by academics at the University of Bath warns that unless governments take urgent steps to address conflicts of interest with harmful industries—including tobacco, alcohol, ultra‐processed food, gambling and fossil fuels—efforts to prevent disease and protect public health will fail.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My back’s been bothering me, and everyone seems to have ideas what’s causing the pain. Can you help?

The first time Barney Casserly used ketamine at a UK music festival he thought he had found “nirvana”. Five years later he died in agony, leaving behind devastated parents and friends.