Ultraprocessed foods linked to body fat gain in children
Children who ate more ultraprocessed foods showed stronger activity in a part of the brain involved in reward, and that brain response was linked to greater gains in body fat over the following year, a new study found. The study — published October 2026 in JAMA Network Open — followed 46 children ...
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No increased stroke risk found after COVID-19 and flu vaccinations
A large multisite study found that bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, flu vaccination, and same-day administration of both vaccines were not associated with an increased risk of first-ever ischemic ...
RSV vaccine protects older adults for at least 3 seasons
An RSV vaccine continued to protect adults aged 60 and older against RSV-related hospitalization and emergency department visits for at least 3 seasons after vaccination, according to a new study by ...
Five questions for Dr. Casey Luc
Casey Luc, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist with expertise in HIV epidemiology in underserved communities, is the fifth Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service officer to ...
Research: RSV infection can be deadlier than flu in adults
August 1, 2019In many ways, the initial symptoms of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are indistinguishable. But, research published in Clinical Infectious Diseases last month showed that RSV infection may be even more dangerous than the flu in older adults. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California study of hospitalized adults revealed that RSV infection, a highly contagious respiratory virus ...Read more...Mom’s diabetes could influence child’s risk of autism or ADHD
August 1, 2019Since publishing in JAMA about strong associations between a mother’s diabetes and autism in 2015, Anny Xiang, PhD, a researcher with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation, expanded that work to consider other neurological development disorders to find more nuances with the association, including one published just last month. A study published ...Read more...5 questions for Dr. Bobeck S. Modjtahedi
August 1, 2019Bobeck Modjtahedi, MD, is 1 of 4 physicians appointed to the 2018 Southern California Permanente Medical Group Clinician Investigator Program. The program gives clinician researchers protected time in their schedule to conduct innovative research and use what they learn to transform medical practice. His research involves creating models that can predict a patient’s risk of ...Read more...Use of cholesterol-lowering medications increasing
July 29, 2019According to a study published in the journal Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, use of cholesterol-lowering statins increased within Kaiser Permanente Southern California after new treatment guidelines called for broader use of the medication to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease. The study documented trends in the use of statin medications and statin dosages at Kaiser Permanente Southern ...Read more...Advancing Scientific Discoveries Through the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank
June 19, 2019Ed Ellison, MD, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Permanente Federation, LLC, highlights the value of the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank and the opportunity for Kaiser Permanente members, including employees and physicians, to contribute to important scientific discoveries that benefit all communities. To learn more visit: https://researchbank.kaiserpermanente.org/Read more...Kaiser Permanente improves emergency care for chest-pain patients
April 3, 2019Emergency physicians at Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Southern California reduced hospital admissions and cardiac stress testing by using new criteria to assess the level of risk patients with chest pain have for subsequent cardiac events. The emergency department assessment was implemented across Kaiser Permanente Southern California and has improved the quality and efficiency of care for ...Read more...Kaiser Permanente co-hosts embedded research conference
February 20, 2019Organizations like Kaiser Permanente can make continuous improvements in the quality, safety, and value of patient care and at the same time contribute to scientific knowledge nationally and internationally by embedding researchers in their health care systems. This week, leaders in the movement toward learning health care systems will meet in Pasadena, Calif. to create a ...Read more...Flu vaccine is safe for hospitalized patients
January 18, 2019Hospitalized patients who received the flu vaccine had no increased risk of outpatient visits or hospital readmission within seven days of discharge, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The study also showed that vaccinating hospital patients did not increase the risk of fever or rates of laboratory evaluations for infection. It ...Read more...How low is too low? Study highlights serious risks for intensive blood pressure control
December 14, 2018Kaiser Permanente research published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found if patients with hypertension taking prescribed medications experience unusually low blood pressures — systolic blood pressure under 110mmHg — they are twice as likely to experience a fall or faint as patients whose treated blood pressure remains 110mmHg and above. This research is ...Read more...5 questions for Dr. Jean Lawrence
December 14, 2018We asked these 5 questions of Jean M. Lawrence, ScD, MPH, MSSA, senior research scientist with the Department of Research & Evaluation in Southern California. Why did you choose to devote your career to researching ways women and children can live better, healthier lives? I’ve always been interested in women’s and children’s health and started my career working ...Read more...