Monday, February 16, 2026

Does a past abortion or miscarriage affect a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer?

Wiley

A prior abortion or miscarriage was not linked with an increased risk of developing pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer in a study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

In the nationwide Finnish registry-based study, investigators analyzed data on 31,687 women with breast cancer diagnosed in 1972–2021 and 158,433 women without breast cancer.

The risk of breast cancer was the similar among women with a history of induced abortion and women with no history of abortion, both before and after 50 years of age. Risks were also similar among women with and without a past miscarriage.

In addition, breast cancer risks did not vary significantly by the number of abortions or miscarriages, nor by the time of first abortion or miscarriage.

“Miscarriage or induced abortion as potential risk factors for breast cancer has continued to raise concerns and has led to the spread of misinformation. In this study using high-quality Finnish registry data, we can reliably eliminate these concerns,” said corresponding author Oskari Heikinheimo, MD, PhD, of the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital. “Induced abortion or miscarriage are not risk factors for breast cancer, even if there are several of them. This information is important and reassuring for millions of women around the world.”

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aogs.70154

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
Published monthly, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica is an international women's health journal dedicated to providing the very latest information on the results of both clinical and research work from around the globe. The journal regularly publishes commentaries, reviews and original articles on a wide variety of topics, including obstetrics, gynecology, and female urology.

About Wiley     
Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Journal

Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica

DOI

10.1111/aogs.70154

Article Title

Induced abortion, miscarriage and the risk of breast cancer – a registry-based study from Finland

Article Publication Date

11-Feb-2026

How does universal, free prescription drug coverage affect older adults’ finances and behaviors?

Wiley

In 2016, Poland introduced a nationwide policy eliminating all out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs prescribed by healthcare professionals to individuals aged 75 and older. A new study published in Health Economics finds that the policy reduced average out-of-pocket medication spending by 23% and cut catastrophic drug expenses by 62%, indicating substantial financial protection during major health shocks.

The financial gains, however, were not evenly distributed. The evidence suggests that higher-income and urban households benefited more, pointing to the possibility that the policy may have unintentionally widened existing financial disparities among older adults.

The study also documents unintended behavioral responses. With lower medication costs and greater insurance against future health shocks, some older adults increased spending on goods such as unhealthy food, alcohol, and cigarettes.

“The program reduced financial stress for many older adults, which is good news. But when people feel more insured against health costs, they may change other spending habits in ways that can partially offset the policy’s overall impact,” said corresponding author Krzysztof Zaremba, PhD, of Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hec.70083

About the Journal
Health Economics is an international health policy journal publishing articles on all aspects of global health economics. We welcome theoretical contributions, empirical studies, and analyses of health policy from the economic perspective. With a wide scope, Health Economics welcomes contributions on the valuation, determinants and definition of health, health care supply and demand, planning and market mechanisms, treatment micro-economics, and health care system performance.

Journal

Health Economics

DOI

10.1002/hec.70083

Article Title

The Financial and Behavioral Effects of Free Prescription Drugs: Evidence from a Policy Discontinuity in Poland

Article Publication Date

11-Feb-2026

Canine obesity and its link to eye pressure

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

image:
*Phaco the Dog*
view more
Credit: Credit: Oren Pe’er

A new study found that overweight and obese dogs have significantly higher eye pressure than lean dogs, with pressure increasing by 1.9 mmHg for every one-unit rise in body condition score. The research suggests that excess body fat and related metabolic changes may interfere with fluid drainage in the eye, potentially serving as a modifiable risk factor for dogs predisposed to glaucoma. These findings emphasize that maintaining a healthy weight is a vital part of protecting a dog's long-term vision and ocular health.

A new study led by Dr. Oren Pe’er from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has found a clear link between a dog’s body weight and the pressure inside their eyes. While many owners are aware that excess body weight can contribute to systemic conditions such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, chronic low-grade inflammation, and orthopedic disease, this research suggests that obesity may also be an important risk factor for serious ocular conditions, including glaucoma.

The Weight-Eye Connection

The study looked at 40 healthy dogs, ranging from lean to obese. Researchers measured the dogs' body fat using several methods, including a 9-point body condition score and a canine version of the body mass index.

The results showed a significant difference in eye health based on weight:

Higher Pressure: Overweight and obese dogs had a much higher typical eye pressure of 20.3 points, while lean dogs were much lower at 13.7 points. While both groups were within a safe range, the heavier dogs were much closer to the upper limit (25 points) where health problems typically start.
A Steady Rise: For every one-point increase on the 9-point body condition scale, the pressure inside the eye rose nearly 2 points. As a dog moves from a healthy weight toward being overweight, their eyes are put under more and more strain.
For every 10% increase in a dog's body mass index, their eye pressure jumped by almost 3 points. Since eye pressure is measured on a very small scale, a jump this size is a significant shift that highlights how directly a dog's body condition can affect their ocular health.

Why Does This Happen?

Scientists believe several factors might be at play. Physical changes like fat accumulation around the eye or increased venous pressure might make it harder for fluid to drain. Additionally, metabolic changes caused by obesity, such as higher levels of certain fats and hormones in the blood, could influence eye pressure.

In the study, overweight dogs had higher levels of triglycerides and leptin, which is a hormone related to body fat. Both of these were linked to higher eye pressure in the initial findings.

"Higher body condition in normal dogs is significantly associated with higher intraocular pressure," says lead researcher Dr. Oren Pe'er. "Obesity might be a modifiable risk factor in dogs predisposed to glaucoma."

What Can Owners Do?

While the eye pressure in both groups of dogs was still within the normal range of 10 to 25 mmHg, the difference of 6.6 mmHg between the lean and overweight dogs is notable. For breeds already at risk for glaucoma, this extra pressure could be a relevant factor in their long-term eye health.

The main takeaway for pet parents is that weight management is not only about mobility or general wellbeing. Maintaining a healthy body condition plays an important role in preserving normal ocular physiology and reducing the risk of eye disease, particularly in breeds that are already predisposed to ocular problems.

Phaco the Dog

Credit

Credit: Oren Pe’er

Journal

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

DOI

10.1093/jvimsj/aalaf086

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Relationship between body adiposity, metabolic status, and intraocular pressure in dogs

Article Publication Date

18-Feb-2026

‘Gaybourhoods’ boost LGB voter turnout

LGB people vote more when they live near other LGB people

University of Southampton

Living near other lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people makes LGB people significantly more likely to vote, according to new research published in the Journal of Politics.

When the share of LGB residents in a neighbourhood increases by just one percentage point, LGB residents become 1.56 percentage points more likely to vote compared to heterosexual neighbours, according to the study.

The research was conducted in Sweden, where voter turnout already exceeds 84 per cent, making small increases significant.

But the findings might interest political candidates ahead of the May local elections, especially in areas like Brighton, Manchester and London which have substantial LGBTQ+ communities.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK and Uppsala University in Sweden, tracked the real voting records of over 20,000 LGB individuals and nearly eight million heterosexual peers across four Swedish parliamentary elections spanning almost three decades (1994–2022). It totals over 17.6 million person-election observations.

“We’ve known for a while that LGB (and TQ+) people are more likely to vote than the rest of the population,” says Dr Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton.

“We knew less about why. This is the first study that asks if living around other people who share your LGBTQ+ identity can mobilise you to participate in elections.”

The findings suggest that minority groups living in the same neighbourhoods, like so-called ‘gay villages’, can act be a powerful driver of democratic engagement.

Sweden’s comprehensive population registers allowed the researchers to identify LGB individuals through records of same-sex partnerships and parenthood, creating an unprecedented dataset far larger than any survey-based study of LGB political behaviour.

For each individual, the team used precise location data to measure how many of their nearest one thousand neighbours were also LGB.

Researchers then tracked whether changes in this local LGB presence, driven by people moving in or out of neighbourhoods, were associated with changes in actual, verified voter turnout. This was compared with information from heterosexual individuals using equivalent datasets.

“Our design allows us to rule out the possibility that we’re simply picking up the effect of LGB people living in ‘nicer’ neighbourhoods,” explains Dr Michal Grahn, Associate Professor at Uppsala University. “The mobilisation effect is specifically about living near others from the same social group.”

Dr Turnbull-Dugarte added: “In an era when so much of our social and political life has moved online, this study is a reminder that geography still matters. Where you live, and who you live near, shapes whether you show up at the ballot box.

“For minority communities like the LGBTQ+ community, the ‘gaybourhood’ remains a vital space for political empowerment.”

The research project was funded by the Swedish Research Council.

The paper “Rallied by thy neighbor: how minority spatial concentration increases voter turnout” is published in the Journal of Politics and is available online.

Ends

Contact

Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton, press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.

Notes for editors

The paper “Rallied by thy neighbor: how minority spatial concentration increases voter turnout” is published in the Journal of Politics and is available here: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/740816
For interviews with Dr Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte, please contact Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton, press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.

Additional information

The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2025). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 24,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 300,000 alumni. www.southampton.ac.uk

www.southampton.ac.uk/news/contact-press-team.page

DOI

10.1086/740816

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Rallied by thy neighbor: how minority spatial concentration increases voter turnout

Article Publication Date

10-Feb-2026

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment

Monday, February 16, 2026

Does a past abortion or miscarriage affect a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer?

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

How does universal, free prescription drug coverage affect older adults’ finances and behaviors?

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Canine obesity and its link to eye pressure

Phaco the Dog

Credit

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

‘Gaybourhoods’ boost LGB voter turnout

DOI

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

About Me