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A new study suggests taking a simple at-home screening test could make a meaningful difference in colorectal cancer survival

• People who participated in colorectal cancer screening had a 43% lower risk of dying from the disease.

• Researchers followed more than 376,000 people in Sweden for up to 14 years.

• The findings highlight the potential lifesaving benefits of actually completing a screening test when one is offered.

Colorectal cancer screening may be more powerful than some people realize. New research from researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Ume University in Sweden suggests that people who participate in screening could have a substantially lower risk of dying from colorectal cancer.

The study looked at Swedens StockholmGotland screening program, where adults ages 60 to 74 are offered screening every two years. The process is relatively simple: People receive a kit at home, collect a stool sample, and send it in to be checked for small amounts of blood that aren't visible to the naked eye. If blood is detected, additional testing, usually a colonoscopy, is offered.

A previous evaluation of the programme showed that those who received an invitation to screening had a 14 per cent lower risk of dying from the disease, researcher Johannes Blom said in a news release. We have now been able to show that the mortality is significantly lower than that among those who actually take part in the screening.

How researchers studied screening

Researchers examined people who were invited to participate in the StockholmGotland screening program between 2008 and 2012. They compared this group with a control group made up of people who were either invited to screening later or weren't invited during the study period.

Because not everyone who receives an invitation actually completes the test, the researchers used statistical methods to account for factors that could affect the comparison. This included accounting for people in the control group who were eventually offered screening and people who received an invitation but chose not to participate.

The study ultimately included 376,511 people, and researchers tracked participants for as long as 14 years. During that time, 1,668 colorectal cancer deaths were recorded.

The results could encourage more people to get screened

The researchers found that simply being invited to screening was associated with a 26% lower risk of dying from colorectal cancer. But the difference was even larger among people who actually participated: Their risk of dying from the disease was 43% lower.

That distinction is important because roughly one-third of people offered screening in the program did not submit a sample.

Although screening is offered free of charge and the test is simple to carry out, around a third of people do not submit a sample, Blom said. Our study highlights the importance of taking part in colorectal cancer screening, and shows that it can actually save lives.

The researchers note that their findings rely on statistical adjustments, so some uncertainty remains. Still, the results suggest that participating in colorectal cancer screening could make a meaningful difference in the risk of dying from the disease.

For consumers, the takeaway is fairly straightforward: If you're offered a colorectal cancer screening test, completing it may be an important step toward detecting potential problems and reducing the risk of dying from colorectal cancer.

Trauma experts want every new vehicle to include the technology

• Automatic crash notification systems can alert emergency responders even when people in a vehicle cant call for help.

• Advanced systems can send crash details that may help EMS estimate how serious injuries could be.

• Trauma experts want the technology to become a standard, no-cost feature in all new vehicles.

When a serious car crash happens, every minute can matter. But people involved in a collision may be unconscious, disoriented, or otherwise unable to call 911 themselves. Thats where automatic crash notification, or ACN, systems could play an important role.

ACN technology can automatically alert emergency responders after a serious crash and provide information such as the vehicles location and the timing of the collision. Some systems can also establish two-way communication between the vehicle and an emergency operator.

Now, members of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma are calling for ACN as well as more advanced automatic crash notification, or AACN, technology to become standard, no-cost safety features in all new vehicles. Their paper was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Seat belts and air bags are standard because they are safety features, not luxury services. Automatic crash notification should be treated the same way, lead author Theresa L. Chin, M.D., MPH, FACS, said in a news release.

In a serious crash, the system can tell EMS where the crash happened and provide early signs of the severity of the crash and potential for significant injury. That can help the right resources start moving sooner, especially in rural communities where help may be farther away.

Researchers reviewed whats already known

Rather than conducting a new experiment with drivers or crash victims, the authors reviewed existing research on how ACN and AACN systems may affect patient outcomes. They also examined the challenges involved in putting these technologies into wider use.

The authors looked at how crash notifications could help emergency medical services respond more quickly and how additional vehicle information could help responders prepare before they reach the scene. AACN systems can transmit details such as changes in speed, rollover events, air bag deployment, and whether restraints were in use. That information can help responders estimate the likelihood of serious injuries.

The paper also considered issues surrounding how crash information gets from vehicles to 911 centers and emergency responders, as well as the need for more consistent standards across automakers.

What automatic alerts could mean for drivers

The authors argue that faster notification could help emergency responders determine what resources are needed, including advanced life support, air medical transportation, extrication equipment, or transportation directly to a trauma center. That could be particularly useful in rural areas, where emergency help may have farther to travel.

The paper also points to previous National Highway Traffic Safety Administration modeling that estimated AACN technology could potentially save 360 to 721 lives each year.

For consumers, one of the biggest takeaways is that the authors don't think access to this technology should depend on whether someone pays for a connected-car subscription. They note that some manufacturers currently tie crash notification to paid services, meaning the feature may stop working when a trial or subscription ends.

The trauma experts are calling for automatic crash notification to be treated more like a seat belt or air bag: a built-in safety feature that's available when it's needed, without an additional fee.

A small study found that limiting eating hours may improve blood sugar without raising certain serious risks

• A six-month study looked at time-restricted eating in adults with Type 1 diabetes and obesity.

• Participants who ate only between noon and 8 p.m. saw a greater reduction in HbA1c than those following a daily calorie restriction.

• The approach did not appear to increase the risk of severe low or high blood sugar or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Intermittent fasting has become a popular eating strategy, but there are still plenty of questions about whether it is appropriate for people with Type 1 diabetes. A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago offers some early insight.

Researchers found that time-restricted eating a form of intermittent fasting that limits when someone eats rather than what they eat may help adults with Type 1 diabetes improve their blood sugar levels. The study is particularly notable because researchers say it is the first to examine this approach in people with Type 1 diabetes.

This is the first study to examine the effects of intermittent fasting on people with Type 1 diabetes, and the results are extremely promising, researcher Krista Varady, a leading expert on intermittent fasting who conducted some of the first human studies on the subject, said in a news release.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces little or no insulin. Because managing blood sugar can be complicated for people with the condition, researchers wanted to see whether a specific eating schedule could offer another tool for managing it.

What did the study involve?

The study included 32 adults with Type 1 diabetes who also had obesity. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups and followed for six months.

One group practiced time-restricted eating, eating only between noon and 8 p.m. Participants in this group did not have to count calories. Another group followed a traditional calorie-restriction approach, reducing their daily energy intake by 25%. The third group served as a control and did not make changes to their eating habits.

Researchers primarily wanted to determine whether the different approaches affected body weight. They also looked at measures of blood sugar and whether time-restricted eating created safety concerns for people with Type 1 diabetes.

Blood sugar improved, but weight loss wasn't significantly different

After six months, researchers did not find a significant difference in weight loss between the time-restricted eating group, the calorie-restriction group, and the control group. In other words, limiting eating to an eight-hour window did not prove to be a better weight-loss strategy in this study.

There was, however, a notable difference in HbA1c, a blood test that reflects average blood sugar levels over time. The time-restricted eating group experienced a reduction of about 0.5 percentage points compared with the calorie-restriction group.

Researchers also found no significant differences in total insulin use or average glucose levels among the groups.

Importantly, time-restricted eating did not increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, or severe hyperglycemia during the study. Still, this was a small, early study, and the researchers say larger studies are needed.

This is the first step to showing time-restricted eating could be a safe, potentially effective method for people with Type 1 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels, Varady said.

Of course, this is just the first step. Anyone making changes to their eating habits, especially those with diabetes, must work closely with their endocrinologist or healthcare provider to find a solution that works for them.

The new Instacart-powered service lets shoppers combine eligible prescriptions with groceries

• Kroger shoppers can now add eligible prescriptions to the same delivery order as their groceries, potentially including popular GLP-1 medications.

• The service reaches more than 2,200 Kroger pharmacy locations across nearly all of the company's grocery banners.

• Not every prescription qualifies, so GLP-1 users will need to check whether their medication and location are eligible for delivery.

Imagine ordering chicken, vegetables, and coffee from Kroger and having your GLP-1 prescription show up in the same delivery.

That's now possible for some shoppers.

Kroger has launched a new service that lets customers combine groceries and eligible prescriptions into a single delivery order through Instacart.

That could be particularly convenient for the millions of Americans taking GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound, which typically require regular refills.

Instead of making a separate trip to the pharmacy, eligible customers may be able to have their medication arrive alongside their weekly groceries.

Exactly how it works

When an eligible prescription is ready for pickup at a Kroger Pharmacy, Kroger will send the customer a notification.

Customers can then sign-in to the Kroger website or app and add groceries to their prescription delivery. Or you can add the prescription to a grocery order you've already started.

The medication is still filled and verified by Kroger pharmacy staff. Once the order is ready, an Instacart shopper picks up the groceries and packaged prescription and delivers everything to the customer's home.

Kroger says prescriptions are placed in tamper-resistant packaging.

Customers can also choose to have the prescription handed directly to them or left at their door.

Can you get Wegovy or Zepbound delivered?

Potentially, but don't assume your GLP-1 automatically qualifies.

Kroger says prescription delivery eligibility depends on factors including the medication, delivery location, and state and local regulations.

One potential wrinkle for GLP-1 users is temperature. Popular injectable GLP-1 drugs are normally refrigerated, although manufacturers allow them to remain at room temperature for limited periods.

That means someone taking Wegovy, Zepbound, or another GLP-1 should check their Kroger pharmacy account to see whether their specific prescription is eligible. You'll also need to be enrolled in Kroger's My Prescriptions service and Online Pay.

Why this could matter for GLP-1 users

GLP-1 drugs have become an increasingly routine part of life for Americans using them for obesity and diabetes. But getting them can still mean another pharmacy trip every time a prescription is filled.

Kroger's new system essentially turns that pharmacy run into part of your regular grocery order.

There's another interesting connection: GLP-1 medications can significantly change how much and what people eat.

Kroger has previously said it is watching how GLP-1 use changes customers' shopping habits, as people taking the drugs tend to purchase fewer calories and may shift toward foods higher in protein and other nutrients.

Now the retailer has an opportunity to put the medication and the groceries those customers buy into the same delivery.

What does delivery cost?

Kroger didn't announce a special delivery fee specifically for combining prescriptions and groceries.

But it's worth noting that Boost by Kroger Plus members can receive free delivery on eligible grocery and prescription orders, according to the company.

Other shoppers should check the delivery fees displayed when placing their order.

For GLP-1 users who already get their prescriptions filled at Kroger, the bigger appeal may simply be convenience. Your next refill could arrive with the very groceries you're buying to go along with it.