Day: October 20, 2025

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Tweeting at Night Linked with Worse Mental Wellbeing, New Study Finds

On By ModernMedia

Posting on X (previously known as Twitter) throughout the night is associated with worse mental wellbeing, according to a new study from the University of Bristol published in Scientific Reports.

Tweeting throughout the night explained almost 2% of variation in participants’ mental wellbeing, which is comparable to activities like binge drinking and smoking marijuana (as measured in previous studies).

Researchers suggested that actively using Twitter during the night could both disrupt and delay sleep, which could reduce the quality and quantity of sleep, harming mental wellbeing. Nighttime tweeting showed a weaker relationship with depressive and anxiety symptoms (compared to mental wellbeing), although this became stronger after results were split by age and sex.

Seventy-four per cent of UK adults keep their phone in their bedroom at night, while twenty-six per cent say they would check their phone if they wake up in the night, according to a 2022 YouGov survey.

Regulation and guidance for nighttime social media use

The study’s findings support calls for more regulation and guidance for nighttime use of social media. For example, TikTok, the online video-sharing app, introduced the tool “Wind Down” in March this year which shows meditation videos at night to encourage younger users to stop scrolling.

Researchers say top-down approaches to change the user architecture of apps, like TikTok’s wind-down mode, as well as education campaigns to raise awareness within vulnerable groups, could help improve the safety of social media use.

Daniel Joinson, Doctoral Researcher and lead author of the paper, said: “Whilst social media is often treated like a monolith, its impact on mental health will depend on the exact behaviours the user performs and the experiences they have on these platforms. Our paper highlights the potential harm of a very specific behaviour: nighttime content posting.

“Research like ours could help inform interventions or legislation that aim to deter harmful social media use, whilst enabling beneficial behaviours or experiences. This is made possible by having access to actual social media data, which is essential if we are to build a deeper understanding of the relationship between social media and mental health.”

Novel data collection approaches

The research drew on longitudinal data from 310 adults (aged between 18-60+) in the Children of the 90s study who consented and were eligible to share their Twitter data, with 18,288 tweets included in the data. Participants’ mental health was measured at multiple timepoints using standard questionnaires, including the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Importantly, instead of classifying people as simply depressed or not, mental health was measured on a scale, giving a more detailed picture. Participants’ tweets from within two weeks of these questionnaires were included in the analysis, but all others were not.

Uniquely, the study used data directly from Twitter (with the consent of the participant). This enabled the researchers to collect precise measurements of the time of day participants posted on Twitter.

However, the authors noted that the study participants were all adults, almost entirely white, and were more likely to be female. This data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, a unique time for social media usage and mental health patterns.

The research team are now looking to understand more about how the patterns of emotion expression and social interactions relate to mental health and wellbeing.

Source: University of Bristol

Categories : IT in Healthcare Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags : Leave a comment

Virtual Antenatal Care Linked to Poorer Pregnancy Outcomes

On By ModernMedia
Source: Pixabay CC0

Women who receive more virtual antenatal care during their second or third trimesters could experience poorer pregnancy outcomes, including higher risks of preterm birth, Caesarean sections and neonatal intensive care unit admissions, a new study suggests.

Increased virtual antenatal care in later pregnancy was also found to be associated with lower rates of early skin-to-skin contact with the newborn and fewer instances of breastfeeding as the first feed.

Led by King’s College London and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study looked at associations between virtual antenatal care and pregnancy outcomes in more than 34 000 pregnancies from a diverse, South London population, from periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Women were split into four groups, according to the proportion of virtual antenatal care appointments received during their pregnancy – low and stable virtual antenatal care throughout pregnancy, high first trimester virtual antenatal care, high second trimester virtual antenatal care, and high third trimester virtual antenatal care.

Pregnancy and birth outcome data were obtained from hospital records via the Early Life Cross-Linkage in Research, Born in South London (eLIXIR-BiSL) platform, funded by the UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC).

Analyses of the data revealed that, compared with those who received a low and stable proportion of virtual antenatal care throughout their pregnancy:

  • Women who received a high proportion of virtual antenatal care in their second trimester experienced more premature births (before 37 weeks), labour inductions, breech presentation, and bleeding after birth; and
  • Women who received a high proportion of virtual antenatal care in their third trimester had more premature births (before 37 weeks), elective or emergency Caesarean sections, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions; as well as lower rates of third- or fourth-degree vaginal tears, early skin-to-skin contact with the newborn and fewer instances of breastfeeding as the first feed.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of virtual antenatal care increased, to limit face-to-face contact and prevent spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While research has looked at the experiences of women and healthcare providers receiving and delivering virtual care, fewer studies have focused on the impact of virtual antenatal care on pregnancy outcomes.

Our work adds an important perspective to the growing evidence base on virtual antenatal care, suggesting that the timing of its use during pregnancy may influence pregnancy outcomes.

Dr Katie Dalrymple, Lecturer at King’s and first author of the study

The findings build on an earlier study by the team, which found that virtual maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to higher NHS costs – with each 1% increase in virtual antenatal care associated with a £7 increase in maternity costs to the NHS.

In addition to the cost implications of virtual care, the findings from the new study suggest that virtual antenatal care could come with increased risks to mother and baby. The authors conclude that careful consideration may be needed to minimise these risks before using virtual antenatal care in future health system shocks or to replace face-to-face care.

Our study findings suggest the need for careful integration of virtual care in maternity services, to minimise potential risks.

Professor Laura Magee, Professor of Women’s Health at King’s and co-senior author of the paper

Source: King’s College London

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First Drug Treatment for Sleep Apnoea Succeeds in Clinical Trial

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Mert Kahveci on Unsplash

The drug sulthiame reduces the number of breathing pauses and improves sleep quality in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, according to a European clinical study in which the University of Gothenburg played a significant role. The findings offer hope for a drug-based treatment for people who cannot tolerate CPAP breathing masks.

The study, published in The Lancet, included 298 patients with moderate to severe sleep apnoea. One quarter received a placebo, while the remaining participants were given sulthiame in different doses. The double-blind clinical trial was conducted in four European countries.

A possible breakthrough

The study found that patients receiving the higher doses of the drug had up to 47% fewer breathing interruptions and better oxygenation compared with those given placebo. Sulthiame works by stabilizing the body’s breathing control and increasing respiratory drive, thereby reducing the risk of the upper airway collapsing during sleep. Most side effects were mild and transient.

Jan Hedner, senior professor of pulmonary medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, has played a leading role in the study. 

“We have been working on this treatment strategy for a long time, and the results show that sleep apnoea can indeed be influenced pharmacologically. It feels like a breakthrough, and we now look forward to larger and longer studies to determine whether the effect is sustained over time and whether the treatment is safe for broader patient groups,” says Jan Hedner.

Many struggle with CPAP

Sleep apnoea occurs when the upper airways collapse during sleep, causing repeated breathing pauses, oxygen deprivation, and disrupted sleep. Over time, untreated sleep apnoea increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Although the condition is common, there is still no drug that treats the underlying cause. The standard treatment – continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – is highly effective but difficult for many to tolerate. Up to half of all patients discontinue CPAP within a year, as the mask can feel uncomfortable or disturb sleep.

Sulthiame is an existing medication previously approved for treating a form of childhood epilepsy, and is now being evaluated for sleep apnoea.

Source: University of Gothenburg

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New Research Shows that Cancer Can Damage the Myelin Sheath

On By ModernMedia
Myelin sheath damage. Credit: Scientific Animations CC4.0

A new study, published in Nature, underscores the importance of investigating interactions between cancer and the nervous system – a field known as cancer neuroscience. The results suggest that targeting the signalling pathways involved can reverse this inflammation and improve treatment responses.

“These findings uncover novel mechanisms by which the immune system and nerves within the tumour microenvironment interact, revealing actionable targets that could transform the way we approach resistance to immunotherapy in patients with cancer,” said co-corresponding author Moran Amit, MD, PhD, professor of Head and Neck Surgery. “This marks a significant advance in our understanding of tumour-neuro-immune dynamics, highlighting the importance of investigating the interplay of cancer and neuroscience in meaningful ways that can directly impact clinical practice.”

Tumours can sometimes infiltrate the space around nerves and nervous system fibres that are in close proximity, a process known as perineural invasion, which leads to poor prognosis and treatment escalation in various cancer types. Yet little is known about how this invasion affects or interacts with the immune system.

The study, co-led by Amit, Neil Gross, MD, professor of Head and Neck Surgery, and Jing Wang, PhD, professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, examined the role of perineural invasion and cancer-associated nerve injury in relation to the development of immunotherapy resistance commonly seen in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and stomach cancer.

Collaborating with the immunotherapy platform, part of the James P. Allison Institute, the team analysed trial samples using advanced genetic, bioinformatic and spatial techniques. The researchers revealed that cancer cells break down the protective myelin sheaths that cover nerve fibres, and that the injured nerves promote their own healing and regeneration through an inflammatory response.

Unfortunately, this inflammatory response gets caught in a chronic feedback loop as tumors continue to grow, repeatedly damaging nerves which then recruit and exhaust the immune system, ushering in an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that leads to treatment resistance. The study showed that targeting the cancer-induced nerve injury pathway at different points can reverse this resistance and improve treatment response.

Importantly, the authors point out that this reduced neuronal health is directly associated with perineural invasion and cancer-induced nerve injury, rather than a general cancer-induced effect, highlighting the importance of studying cancer-nerve interactions that can potentially contribute to cancer progression.

As part of MD Anderson’s Cancer Neuroscience Program, researchers are investigating scientific themes – such as neurobiology, tumours of the brain and spine, neurotoxicities and neurobehavioural health – to understand how the nervous system and cancer interact and how this affects patients throughout their cancer journey.

Source: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Categories : HIVTags : Leave a comment

HIV Prevention Jab Rollout a Great Step Forward, but Ongoing Safe Sex Practices Are Crucial

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Sergey Mikheev on Unsplash

Avian Bell, CEO of Quantumed South Africa, has welcomed the announcement that South Africa will begin rolling out the long-acting HIV prevention jab by March 2026. The injectable, which offers six months of protection per dose, is a major step forward in the country’s efforts to curb new HIV infections.

“This is a landmark moment for South Africa’s public healthcare landscape,” says Bell. “We are thrilled that the jab will soon be available to those who need it most. It represents a powerful tool that will help reduce the burden of HIV, especially among adolescent girls, young women, sex workers, and other high-risk communities.”

The jab, which has shown promising results in clinical trials, is expected to be a game-changer in HIV prevention. Its long-acting nature means fewer doses and improved adherence, which has historically been a challenge with daily oral PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). Quantumed applauds the Department of Health’s commitment to making this innovation accessible to the public.

However, Bell cautions that while the jab is a significant advancement, it must not lead to a false sense of security. “The jab is designed to prevent HIV, but it does not offer protection against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HPV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, or chlamydia, nor does it prevent unintended pregnancies,” he explains. “We must continue to promote safe sex practices, regular STI screenings, and comprehensive sexual health education.”

Quantumed urges the public and healthcare providers to view the jab as part of a broader strategy, not a standalone solution. “We cannot afford to let our guard down,” Bell adds. “Complacency could reverse the gains we’ve made in STI prevention and reproductive health. We must continue to educate communities about the importance of condoms, routine testing, and open conversations about sexual health.”

In addition to the vaccine rollout, South Africa recently secured a $115 million emergency funding package from the United States under the PEPFAR Bridge Plan. This funding is intended to support critical HIV/AIDS services and ensure continuity of care for millions of South Africans.

“This emergency aid is a vital lifeline,” says Bell. “It will help stabilise programmes that have been under immense pressure and allow healthcare providers to continue delivering essential services, from testing and treatment to counselling and community outreach.”

However, Bell also acknowledges the broader context of this funding. Earlier in 2025, significant cuts to US aid disrupted HIV-related initiatives across South Africa. These cuts led to the closure of clinics, the suspension of research trials, and the loss of thousands of healthcare jobs. Vulnerable communities were left without access to life-saving services, and the ripple effects are still being felt.

“We must recognise that while the emergency funds are welcome, they do not undo the damage caused by earlier funding cuts,” Bell says. “We need long-term, sustainable investment in HIV prevention and treatment, not short-term fixes. The fight against HIV/AIDS is ongoing, and it requires consistent support from both local and international partners.”

Quantumed calls on government, civil society, and global stakeholders to remain steadfast in their commitment to ending HIV/AIDS. “We’ve come a long way, but the journey is far from over,” Bell concludes. “Let’s celebrate the progress, but let’s also stay focused. Innovation must be matched with education, access, and accountability. Together, we can build a future where HIV is no longer a threat — but that future depends on our actions today.”