Nirsevimab substantially reduced hospitalizations of babies from late September to late December 2023 in Galicia, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. This monoclonal antibody is administered to babies to prevent lower respiratory tract illness caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In Galicia, over 9 out of 10 babies received nirsevimab, which, according to the research, reduced the risk of hospitalizations for RSV-related respiratory illness by over 80%.

The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has announced that the anti-obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) will be available, with a doctor’s prescription, starting from May. It is the same active ingredient as Ozempic, but for patients without diabetes.

Teenagers who are frequent users of electronic cigarettes have more uranium and lead in their urine than occasional users, according to a study. Those who use sweet flavored products also have higher uranium levels in their urine than those who use mint flavors. The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, analyses data from a representative sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in the United States, which includes 200 exclusive users of these e-cigarettes. 

A study has analyzed how 69 of the tree species present in Europe - such as oaks, ashes or willows - will behave over this century under different climate change scenarios. In the best-case scenario, the number of species able to survive per square kilometer will be reduced by a third, according to their calculations. For the authors, who publish their results in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, this could have strong negative repercussions on timber production, carbon storage and biodiversity conservation.

Two-thirds of biological conservation actions improve biodiversity or slow its decline, a meta-analysis claims. The study highlights the effectiveness of interventions focused on invasive species control, habitat loss reduction and restoration, and protected areas. The article, published in the journal Science, brings together the findings of 186 previous studies.   

Vitamin D enhances the response to cancer immunotherapy in mice via the gut microbiome, according to a study published in Science. The role of vitamin D in cancer immune modulation had already been studied in previous studies. Now, the authors suggest that this nutrient acts on intestinal epithelial cells, altering the composition of the microbiome and favoring a species of bacteria called Bacteroides fragilis, which regulates immunity against cancer.   

Two independent research teams have managed to regenerate brain circuits in mice using neurons cultivated from rat stem cells. Today, both studies were published in the journal Cell. The research, in which chimeras of different species were generated, delve into how brain tissue forms and present new opportunities for restoring lost brain function due to diseases and aging.

People taking heartburn medications suffer more migraines and severe headaches, says a study published in Neurology: Clinical Practice. According to the authors, these observations are consistent with other studies that link migraine and headaches to the use of proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole), and the new study adds a correlation with the use of other types of antacids. The analysis is based on data from more than 11,800 adults between 1999 and 2004 in the United States. 

Following the agreement reached a few months ago between the European Parliament and Council, in today’s plenary session the European Parliament has approved a provisional political agreement with EU countries that includes new requirements to improve air quality by 2030. The agreement sets stricter targets and limits for several pollutants that have a serious impact on health, including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and SO2 (sulfur dioxide). Before being published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the law now must be adopted by the Council. EU countries will have two years to implement the new standards

A US study has found that patients treated by female physicians have lower rates of mortality and hospital readmission than those treated by male physicians. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and involving more than 700,000 patients over the age of 65, found that the effects were even greater when female patients were treated by female physicians.