Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the US
Childhood vaccination rates against measles fell in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties with available data — including in states that are battling outbreaks this year.
A Johns Hopkins University study, published in JAMA this week , illustrates where more vulnerable communities are located. The results mirror trends established at state and national levels : Routine childhood vaccination rates are dropping.
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Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Matter Neuroscience announces collaboration with Stanford Medicine combining Matter protocol with real-time fMRI neurofeedback to support emotion-based interventions in depression
This collaboration sets out to explore whether using the Matter Neuroscience protocol combined with real-time neurofeedback can influence emotional brain networks relevant to depression. PALO ALTO, Calif., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Matter Neuroscience is pleased to announce a collaboration with Stanford Medicine's Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department. The controlled, multi-arm study will enroll at least 210 depressed patients with the objective to significantly reduce clinical endpoints using real-time 7T fMRI neurofeedback in combination with the Matter protocol selectively activating key brain areas hosting distinct positive emotions. The clinical endpoints are paralleled with several molecular, emotional and behavioral biomarkers. If successful, the findings can be integrated into a full-scale clinical trial with the potential to inform future non-pharmaceutical curative therapies for depression. Professor Nolan Williams, M.D. an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab will serve as the Principal Investigator on the study. 'This study allows us to investigate how targeted emotion training, guided by real-time fMRI, may influence mood-related brain circuits,' said Dr. Williams. 'What makes this particularly interesting is the opportunity to evaluate both the neural mechanisms involved in emotion regulation and the feasibility of translating this approach into a deliverable treatment in the clinic or home one day.' Matter CEO Axel Bouchon shares, 'After we have seen positive effects in emotional wellbeing of healthy individuals in our studies in the past 4-5 years, it is just one of the most exciting studies I have witnessed in my career. Ultimately, we try to use the latest advancements in MRI technology and the patients' good memories as a personalized medicine to reduce, maybe permanently cure, their depressive symptoms.' About Matter Matter Neuroscience was founded in 2019 by Axel Bouchon and Ben Goldhirsh. Matter's mission is to use neuroscience to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. Matter Neuroscience runs a consumer technology business ( ) and a medical business addressing healthy individuals and patients, respectively. Matter is led by CEO Axel Bouchon (Moderna, Bayer, ARCH Venture Partners.) Ben Goldhirsh (GOOD Worldwide and the Goldhirsh Foundation) serves as Matter's Chairman and Head of Product. Visit to learn more about Matter. Download the Matter app, named 'App of the Day' on Apple's App Store. Follow Matter on Instagram and Tiktok for education and inspiration for living a happier life. About the Matter Protocol Matter Neuroscience and its academic partners in Maastricht and Copenhagen have conducted several research studies successfully identifying a human map for distinct positive emotions in the brain. Using this map as a directional biomarker, a team led by Professor Rainer Goebel at the Maastricht Brain Imaging Center in the Netherlands developed a protocol that allows for training and intensifying distinct human emotions using real-time fMRI neurofeedback with autobiographical memories. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Matter Neuroscience
Medscape
37 minutes ago
- Medscape
Hyperinsulinemia Linked to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Hyperinsulinemia appears to have an early association with common causes of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), particularly in women with obesity, a preliminary study in Menopause found. Although preliminary, the study data suggested the opportunity for future research on potential relationships between cardiovascular disease risk factors and gynecologic disease. 'Many studies and organizational bodies have examined and asserted a relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and elevated insulin levels,' wrote investigators led by Andrea C. Salcedo, DO, MPH, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. They noted that AUB is the most common reason for benign gynecologic consultation in the United States. Andrea C. Salcedo, DO, MPH 'After over 15 years of clinical practice , I started realizing there were several patterns in women who presented with irregular or heavy periods. Many were self-referred or sent by their primary care providers to see me to evaluate for female hormone problems,' Salcedo told Medscape Medical News . 'The majority were not in perimenopause, but they had similar risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, hypertension, and migraine headaches.' Salcedo began to wonder whether healthcare providers are recognizing abnormal periods in reproductive age as a cardiovascular risk and using them to educate women on prevention rather than solely treating them medically or surgically. 'I believe that the theory of the uterus as an 'end organ' that receives inflammation in the same way as the heart and kidneys do in cardiovascular disease helps explain to the patient the reasons for heavy or irregular periods.' The study findings came as no surprise to her: 'They confirmed the patterns I was seeing clinically.' Hyperinsulinemia is associated with smooth blood vessel inflammation in the peripheral circulation. 'What is often under-recognized is that the uterus is made of these same blood vessels.' When the uterus is on the receiving end of inflammation, the blood vessels are damaged and do not function appropriately. The result can be uterine fibroids or heavy periods. The gynecologic expression of this inflammation can vary from person to person, she added. The Study This exploratory cross-sectional analysis of the association between hyperinsulinemia and biomarkers of metabolic syndrome in reproductive-aged women with AUB was designed to motivate future hypothesis-driven research. It was conducted from June 2019 to August 2023 at a single institution's outpatient gynecology clinics. A total of 205 premenopausal women aged 18-54 years were enrolled, including 116 with AUB and 89 control individuals with normal menstrual cycles. Approximately 40% in each group were identified as Hispanic. Participants underwent assessment for fasting insulin and additional markers of metabolic syndrome, including body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and waist-to-hip ratio. Among the findings: • Hyperinsulinemia, the main effect of interest, was a significant predictor of AUB, affecting 44.0% of the AUB group vs 33.7% of the control group, with an odds ratio of 3.0 (95% CI, 1.372-6.832; P = .0085). • Hypertension, LDL, HDL, smoking, migraines, and polyps or fibroids were all significantly associated with AUB and identified as confounders. Chronic hypertension was identified in 26% of the AUB group vs 12% of the control group. • Interestingly, including BMI in the model diminished the significance of hyperinsulinemia, suggesting overlapping or mediating pathways, the authors said. • Among metabolic markers, LDL levels were similar between groups, while HDL levels were lower in women with AUB (54.0 vs 60.0 mg/dL). • There was a nonsignificant intergroup difference in triglycerides (82.0 vs 73.5 mg/dL) and total cholesterol levels (169.0 vs 172.5 mg/dL). • Migraines were more prevalent in the AUB group (31.0% vs 11.2%), as were polyps or fibroids (45.7% vs 9.6%). Commenting on the study but not involved in it, Maureen Whelihan, MD, a gynecologist at the Center for Sexual Health and Education and Elite GYN Care of the Palm Beaches in Greenacres, Florida, called the study an interesting one, 'suggesting that before we see the effects of PCOS, a diagnosis of hyperinsulinemia can be made and managed and that hyperinsulinemia has a direct effect on microinflammatory injury to the uterus.' Maureen Whelihan, MD In her practice, women with insulin resistance and PCOS have major infertility issues. 'About 85% are obese and have lipid disorders. While this study indicates we can make a diagnosis earlier by evaluating fasting insulin, the question is, 'then what?'' she said. The ultimate remedy is diet and lifestyle modification. 'The minute patients understand they must eliminate starch and sugar to lower insulin levels and move their body a little, we lose them,' she said. 'They want a quick fix and nothing that requires them to make difficult decisions and drastic modifications. This is the hard part! We can teach them the pathophysiology all day, but they have to commit to a permanent change in the way they approach diet and exercise.' While the study findings are exploratory and preliminary, Salcedo said, they suggest that abnormal periods may have predictive value. 'In many cases, elevated fasting insulin levels, above 10 µU/mL, could be an early sign of cardiovascular and diabetes disease risk.' In this study, elevated insulin levels were associated with AUB, particularly among those with obesity. 'Therefore, when a patient sees her healthcare provider for irregular periods, it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss the known association of menstrual problems with [cardiovascular] risk factors.' Larger, longitudinal studies are needed, however, to confirm the causal mechanisms, Salcedo said.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Urbana High graduate, special education advocate looks ahead to Harvard University
After two years of advocating for students living with disabilities in Frederick County Public Schools, a new graduate of Urbana High School is on his way to Harvard University. Jake Kamnikar, 18, joined the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) during the 2023-24 school year. The committee, while technically a part of the Frederick County Board of Education, is a mandated committee by the Maryland State Department of Education. Committee members include faculty from the special education department at FCPS, community members, parents, other FCPS faculty members and students. Kamnikar was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy at 18 months old, which creates muscle tightness in his lower body as well as hand tremors. He said in an interview that his first year on the committee was 'super interesting,' and that he had never been a part of something like that before. Kamnikar added that while the committee has had student members in the past, 'the year I applied was the first time in a while that they had students back.' 'My cerebral palsy historically has been a hard thing for me to talk about,' he said. 'I wasn't really a big advocate in elementary and middle. Not many kids are. They're little. They're learning about themselves.' Kamnikar's mom, Buffy Kamnikar, said she served on SECAC as a parent when Jake was in kindergarten. 'It was an awesome experience for me as a parent, and they weren't offering a student role at that time,' she said. Buffy Kamnikar said she received an email about the committee accepting student members and showed it to her son. Jake Kamnikar said his mom, dad and family members pushed him to use his voice to advocate for others. 'I know a lot of families are confused or overwhelmed at times with the process of special education, and every kid is different. Their needs vary widely, and a lot of kids aren't able to advocate for themselves,' he said. 'So, if I can make that process easier for students and their families, that's why I wanted to do it.' Jake Kamnikar said his role in the committee was to see firsthand how school board policy affected students living with disabilities. 'My friends in special education programs — how are my general education peers interacting with those students?' he said. 'And what can we do to make improvements and make the school lives, the day-to-day lives, of our students easier?' Jake Kamnikar said elementary and middle school students have a hard time discussing what makes their educational experience difficult. He added that 'the desire is truly there' to help students, but case managers often have a heavy workload and another role within the school system, and sometimes struggle to dedicate enough individualized time working with special education students. 'If you can put a name and a friendly face to whoever you're talking to [about] your disability or your accommodation, that, I think, would go a long way,' he said. 'It would've gone a long way for me.' Jamie Shopland, the chair of SECAC, said Individualized Education Plans are meant to best support students individually, 'and it's different for everyone.' While on SECAC for his junior and senior year, Jake Kamnikar helped create the Student Voices Subcommittee and hosted a Q&A for students living with disabilities and their families. Buffy Kamnikar said the event was nice, and that parents asked questions about special education resources and experiences in the school system. She added that her son is 'probably the most dedicated, hardworking individual I've ever met in my life.' 'He always conducts himself in a way of, how can I be better so the other people around me can be better?' Buffy Kamnikar said. 'I couldn't be more proud.' Shopland said the student perspective on the committee is 'extremely important' to understand how the school board's policies affect students daily. 'If you can understand where people are coming from, then you can connect with them on a different level and in a different way, and be more inclusive and really understand what it means to belong,' she said. Jake Kamnikar said the committee is always looking to increase the number of student voices at the monthly meetings. He added that he had a great time at Urbana High School, and that his favorite topic was economics. Jake Kamnikar said he applied to four Ivy League universities — Yale, Brown, Cornell and Harvard. He said he opened the decision responses from the schools in front of his family, and that after getting rejected from Yale and Cornell and waitlisted at Brown, he opened the Harvard decision and 'couldn't believe what I was reading.' 'It said, 'Jake, we'd love to have you,'' he said. 'I was in shock. I wasn't overly loud or anything — I was just staring at the screen. Mom and Dad were screaming.' Jake Kamnikar said one piece of advice he has for students is to 'trust yourself.' 'The opinions of others are not end-all be-all,' he said. 'There's definitely opportunities for you to work on yourself and grow as a person, and the right people are going to notice you for that and not what they think defines you.'
