Health News: 11 November 2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services distributed the final 200 of 1,000 additional residency positions created by Congress in 2021. A total of 99 hospitals in 31 states received new slots, with 42% allocated to primary care and psychiatry programs. Medical groups, including the Association of American Medical Colleges, called for more permanent federally funded positions to address persistent physician workforce shortages.

A phase IIa trial reported at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting found that a cell-based therapy called OSCA improved symptoms and showed signs of reversing joint damage in patients with knee osteoarthritis. MRI findings at six months indicated cartilage regeneration and resolving marrow abnormalities.

The therapy, which combines cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells and cartilage acellular matrix, reduced pain levels by half and could become the first disease-modifying therapy for the condition if results are replicated.

Survodutide, an investigational glucagon and GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, met its primary cardiovascular safety endpoint in a randomized trial of more than 5,500 patients. The drug demonstrated noninferiority to placebo for major adverse cardiovascular events, with a 3.7% event rate compared to 4.1% for placebo.

The study, presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting, also noted improvements in blood pressure, weight, and lipid levels, though experts noted the design only excludes harm rather than proving benefit.

The Vanderbilt Liver Transplant team performed three liver transplants in 12 hours, a feat that highlights the capabilities of the nation's busiest transplant center. The team, which can staff two operating rooms simultaneously, responded to a late-night call for two additional donor livers after another center declined them.

A multidisciplinary team, including organ procurement coordinators and nurses, worked to retrieve the organs and complete the surgeries within a tight timeframe.

A team at Children's Hospital Los Angeles reported that thalamic responsive neurostimulation reduced seizures by an average of 80% to 85% in 10 children with generalized epilepsy or Lennox Gastaut syndrome. The implanted device targets and modulates seizure networks without removing brain tissue, offering a critical option for children who have not responded to other therapies.

Outcomes can continue to improve over time, with some patients experiencing greater than 90% seizure reduction.

A UCL study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that 69% of people classified as obese by BMI did not meet the criteria for clinical obesity under a newer Lancet Commission definition. The new framework considers excess body fat alongside tissue or organ functional impairment. Researchers suggest this approach could help clinicians target care more effectively and save the NHS time and money.

A digital parenting program called ParentApp reduced rates of sexual violence among adolescent girls in Tanzania by 67% in a trial involving nearly 2,400 families. The app, which provides offline guidance in Kiswahili, also lowered rates of sexual exploitation by 54%. Researchers say the low-cost intervention offers a scalable model for preventing violence against children in low-resource settings.

The Senate health committee has scheduled a vote for November 18 on the nomination of Heidi Overton to serve as Food and Drug Administration commissioner. Committee Chair Bill Cassidy remains undecided, and the nomination faces potential opposition from Republicans on the panel. If it passes, the nomination will go to the full Senate, where Republicans are seeking to confirm nominees before Democrats take power in January.

A study led by the University of Georgia found that ICU patients who did not receive care from a pharmacist for even one day were 20% more likely to die. The research, which analyzed data from more than 28,000 patients, also found that higher pharmacist workloads were associated with increased mortality. The findings highlight the critical role of daily medication management in preventing adverse drug events in intensive care units.

A study of nearly 100,000 participants in the NIH All of Us program found that every individual carried at least one genetic variant that affects how their body processes medications. One in four participants had been prescribed a medication known to be impacted by their specific variants.

The findings suggest that genetic testing and electronic health record alerts could help clinicians adjust dosages or choose alternative drugs to improve treatment outcomes.

A large head-to-head trial reported at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting found that bimekizumab was more effective than risankizumab in relieving psoriatic arthritis symptoms. At 16 weeks, 49.1% of patients on bimekizumab achieved a 50% decrease in symptom severity, compared with 38% on risankizumab.

However, safety data favored risankizumab, as fungal infections were more common with bimekizumab, and the trial was sponsored by bimekizumab's manufacturer.

Researchers at Hoag Family Cancer Institute identified elevated blood levels of an RNA molecule called Tu-Stroma in women with serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, a precursor to ovarian cancer. The test detected the precancerous condition in 92.3% of affected women and correctly identified 98.2% of healthy women. The discovery could help guide decisions about preventive surgery for women at high risk.

The United States could lose its measles elimination status this week when a Pan American Health Organization panel reviews the country's outbreak data. The US is reporting more than 5,400 cases in its worst measles outbreak since 1991, with at least eight deaths this year and active outbreaks in nearly every state. A formal loss would join Canada and some European and Asian countries that had eliminated measles before it returned.

Consultant doctors in England have called off a two-day strike planned for 25 November to enter formal talks with the government over pay and working conditions. The British Medical Association said the pause follows months of meetings, while the government said a larger pay rise this year is not on the table. The strike would have left consultants staffing emergency care only, affecting routine and elective NHS services.

Britain has ordered poultry and captive birds in England and Scotland to be kept indoors for a second year because of a highly pathogenic bird flu strain. Keepers of 50 or more birds must follow enhanced biosecurity and report suspected disease to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Officials said the human risk remains very low, though the strain has killed 11 people globally between January and August 2025.

Updated Scandinavian guidelines for assessing adults with head injuries emphasize a more individualized approach to head CT scans and hospital observation. The recommendations, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, suggest that antithrombotic therapy should be considered alongside other risk factors rather than automatically triggering imaging. Blood biomarkers may also be used to rule out the need for CT scans in selected patients.

A study published in Nature found that a new diagnostic framework for obesity outperforms body mass index in identifying differences in health and mortality risk. The approach combines BMI with waist measurements and organ function tests to distinguish clinical from preclinical obesity. Researchers say the method could prevent misdiagnosis in millions of people worldwide.

Researchers at the Gladstone Institute have created the first atlas of proteins that are transported across the blood-brain barrier into the brain. The study, published in Cell, identified 92 proteins that cross the barrier in mice, challenging the view of the barrier as a simple physical boundary.

The findings suggest the barrier acts as an intelligent interface that delivers specific proteins to brain cells, potentially offering new strategies for treating neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial found that omega-3 capsules improved certain blood-pressure readings and inflammatory markers in adults treated for hypertension and dyslipidemia. Published in Nutrients, the study assigned 100 adults to omega-3 or placebo capsules alongside usual therapy. The exploratory results suggest possible benefits beyond standard treatment.

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific found that 15% of children aged 3 to 14 experience at least one Strep A sore throat each year. The research, which followed 503 children in Melbourne and Perth, provides data to help plan future vaccine trials and determine sample sizes. Strep A affects about 750 million people globally and can cause serious complications such as rheumatic heart disease.

Federal officials granted blanket waivers to every member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential panel that evaluates preventive medical services, allowing them to serve despite financial stakes. The waivers show Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health department is willing to overlook conflicts, including private practices, stock holdings and jobs at public research universities.

PHI Health, an air ambulance firm, sued Joe Hancock and 31 other companies, claiming Hancock owed almost $27,000 in medical helicopter bills for a retired employee's heart-attack flight. The case illustrates providers moving beyond insurers to sue employers over out-of-network charges that insurers have not fully or promptly paid. Business Group on Health called the suits an escalation that could raise costs for workers' health coverage.

Baroness Louise Casey, head of England's social care commission, said successive governments have been asleep at the wheel over adult social care. She said services for older people and disabled adults developed in an uncontrolled way, creating a postcode lottery and leaving self-funders paying on average 40% more than councils. Her commission found England lacks a clear system of stewardship for social care, unlike France and Germany.

Research published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that rates of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma have risen steadily across generations in Australia and Europe, with increases generally greater among women than men. The study links the trend to cumulative lifetime exposure to ultraviolet radiation and calls for greater attention to prevention and monitoring of this common but underresearched cancer.

Children living more than 60 miles from a hospital had higher odds of complications, longer hospital stays, and higher charges after common inpatient surgeries. The study, which analyzed data from 71,451 children across 12 states, found that these patients were also younger, more likely to live in rural areas, and more likely to have been transferred for care.

Researchers noted that while travel itself may not cause worse outcomes, the burden of distance affects access to specialized pediatric surgical services.

Biomedical engineers at Florida International University developed PPRIM, a portable imaging device that detects early signs of preterm labor risk in about five seconds. The system uses polarized light to image collagen fiber arrangement in the cervix, flagging risk up to three months earlier than current screening methods.

A pilot study published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics supported disorganized tissue structure as an early warning sign.

Five-year survival for children and teenagers with cancer in the U.S. rose to 88% by 2017, up from 60% in 1975, according to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. However, Black children had worse survival rates across most cancer types, and progress was slower for certain leukemias and sarcomas. The findings highlight the need for continued efforts to address disparities in pediatric oncology.

A study in The Lancet Regional Health Europe found that people with type 2 diabetes who stopped GLP-1 medicines had about twice the combined risk of non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke or death as those who continued. The risk was higher among people with obesity. The observational analysis of more than 80,000 patients in Italy could not prove causation.

A report commissioned by Luton Borough Council found that women in the town experience the onset of poor health at an average age of 55.8, compared with 60.9 nationally. More than 70% of women aged 45 to 64 had an at-risk body mass index, and breast screening uptake was below the national level. Councillors agreed to support actions to improve women's health and well-being.

A scientific statement published in Circulation reports that fewer than 5% of U.S. military veterans achieve optimal cardiovascular health based on the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 metrics. The report highlights unique health risks for veterans, including mental health and substance use, and identifies strategies to improve prevention and treatment outcomes.

The European Innovation Council is providing about €3.8 million to ADVANCE, an international project seeking an mRNA vaccine for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. The Spanish-Dutch-German consortium, including Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt, will search for tumor-specific peptides to train the immune system. The vaccine is intended for people who already have cancer rather than for prevention.

UCLA Health performed its first single-port robotic lobectomy, removing a cancer-affected lung lobe through one 4-centimeter incision below the rib cage. The technique avoids instruments passing between the ribs, where sensitive nerves can be irritated, and may reduce postoperative pain and pain medication. Surgeons can still assess surrounding lymph nodes for spread.

A Swedish thesis study of 1,245,211 surgical patients found that 2.82% continued collecting opioids in months four to six after surgery, about 7,000 people per year. Risk was higher for older patients, those with comorbidities, recent cancer, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, alcohol or drug problems and emergency surgery. Patients who collected opioids in the first week were more than twice as likely to still be using them months later.

UC San Francisco will follow up to 3,000 people worldwide who plan to take psychedelics outside research settings, including at home or organized retreats. CANOPY will track mood, well-being and other psychological outcomes, with some participants providing brain imaging and biological data. The project received up to $1.4 million from ARPA-H, part of $8.5 million for three UCSF psychedelic studies.

University Hospitals in Northeast Ohio is the only site in the state participating in the ELEVATE Phase 3 trial of a totally implantable cochlear implant. The investigational device places the microphone and battery under the skin, so users can hear without an external sound processor. Three patients have received the device, and participants with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss will be followed for one year.

A study by Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and colleagues found that some breast cancer chemotherapy may accelerate biological aging beyond chronological age and raise the risk of earlier death from other causes. Published November 10, 2026, in JAMA Open Network, the population-based simulation modeling study points to a need to explore interventions that could slow or reverse biological aging.

A forensic study of 2,414 urine samples found that GHB-pentose, a compound linked to gamma-hydroxybutyrate, was detectable beyond the usual detection window for GHB. The biomarker was present in all 21 GHB-positive samples from living people and in 14 samples where GHB levels were below the test threshold. In eight of those cases, details supported prior GHB use, including three suspected criminal offences.

A study in Nature Communications found that premenstrual dysphoric disorder does not follow a universal pattern and identified three subtypes with different symptom timing and severity. Researchers analyzed two months of diary reports from 90 women with PMDD and 40 healthy controls, tracking anxiety, depression, irritability and mood swings across the menstrual cycle.

The findings suggest more individualized monitoring and treatment may be possible.

A Perspective in Genomic Psychiatry proposes that many modestly expanded CAG repeat genes, missed by standard genome-wide studies, may contribute to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Researchers at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University in Pune identified 45 candidate genes, including repeats linked to neurodegenerative diseases. They argue these repeats could cumulatively cause psychosis without neuronal death.

Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that higher wildlife import volume was associated with higher odds of zoonotic emerging infectious disease occurrence. Zoonotic spillover can pose a global health threat. The study, published in One Health, analyzed 214 countries over 39 years and found an odds ratio of 1.23, meaning a one-unit increase in import volume was linked to about 23% higher odds.

The Healthy Aging and Senile Dementia program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has been renewed with $32 million over five years from the National Institute on Aging, part of NIH. The study, one of the longest-running longitudinal studies of Alzheimer's disease, has enrolled more than 1,877 people and will run through 2031, its 45th year, with a greater focus on prevention and wider participant enrollment.

Researchers in India scanned healthy adults before and after 45 days of a standardized yoga routine combining postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation. The open-label randomized controlled trial, published in Scientific Reports, used mood and memory tests with brain scans and reported improvements in cognitive functions and neural connectivity. The study aimed to clarify how the Common Yoga Protocol may affect mood and sleep.

A large analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found escitalopram performed best at preventing depression relapse among nearly 10,000 people taking different antidepressants for up to a year. Agomelatine and duloxetine ranked next, with fluoxetine just below them. Experts said the differences were modest and that patients should discuss treatment choices with doctors, since all the drugs can work and each has pros and cons.

A report by England's parliamentary and health service ombudsman, Paula Sussex, found disabled people can wait up to two years for wheelchairs due to delays by NHS bodies and private firms. Complaints rose from eight in 2020-21 to 110 in 2025-26, with four in five involving private firms that provide wheelchairs to at least half of children and adults who need one. Sussex said delays can cause pain, distress and limit independent lives.