News for Healthier Living

The Lancet Publishes Landmark Trial of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Therapy

An investigational cell therapy preserved heart and muscle function in boys and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, according to Phase III clinical trial results from Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators and colleagues published in The Lancet.

July 29, 2026

July 30 2026

• Scientists Defend Fauci's Pandemic Work As Senate Hearing Turns Bitter
• Vaping Is Likely Reshaping The Future Of Cancer In The US, Study Argues
• Study Questions Effectiveness of Antihistamines in Easing Eczema
• Sugar Consumption Early In Life Linked To Increased Dementia Risk, World War II-Era Data Show
• Work Stress Harming Middle-Age Sleep, Study Says
• International Respiratory Societies Call for Equitable Access to Lung Cancer Screening
• Cell Phone Ownership Linked To Lower Reading Skills In Elementary Students
• Demystifying the Brain's Defence Against Dementia
• Hospice's Bad Reputation Amid Fraud Crisis Will Hurt Patients, Industry Experts Warn
• Sungkyunkwan University Team First to Show That Immune-Cell Timing Determines Glioblastoma Treatment Response
• New Research Aims to Help More Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Patients Live Free From Lifelong Treatment
• Boosting Potassium Should be Part of Efforts to Reduce Sodium Intake
• Researchers Uncover the Signals That Tell a Human Kidney How to Grow

July 29 2026

• The Medical Minute: Back-to-sports season: Injury prevention tips for young athletes
• Beyond Arthritis: Three Causes of Hip Pain that Can Lead to Joint Replacement
• One Immune System, Two Species
• View of Alzheimer's Disease Peptide Could Inform New Drugs
• FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers find factors that cause respiratory impacts after flooding
• The Lancet Publishes Landmark Trial of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Therapy
• Research Published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health Reveals Body Composition Predicts GLP-1 Weight Loss Outcomes
• Mayo Clinic Research Advances Understanding of Senescent 'Zombie' Cells, Healthy Aging
• Scientists identify new mitochondrial pathway linked to harmful inflammation in aging
• Mercy Surgeon Explains How PRP Blood Treatment Is Used to Treat Shoulder Injuries
• Common Antihistamines Provide Little Meaningful Benefit for Eczema, Major McMaster Study Finds
• In U.S. Veterans, Rates of ALS Associated with Military Branch and Rank
• Limiting Sugar Early in Life Associated with Lower Risk of Dementia Later
• Red Cross Declares Rare National Blood Supply Crisis Amid Summer Shortfall
• More Women Drinking During Pregnancy
• Large-Scale Study Points to Potential -- and Challenges -- of Using Machine Learning as Diagnostic Aid
• Not Just Pregnancy Fatigue: Could It Be Sleep Apnea?
• Finding Order in the Inner Chaos of Our Cells
• Donor Cord Blood Composition May Influence CAR NK Cell Therapy Outcomes
• RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Researchers Find AI Tool Helps Detect Patient Deterioration Earlier, Reducing Hospital Deaths
• Talking To Your Baby? Eye Contact Is Key To Language Development, Experiment Shows
• DoorDash, GrubHub Delivering Junk Food To 1 In 4 Teens During School Hours
• Cyclospora Boosts Fears That Deadlier Foodborne Outbreaks Are Ahead
• The Annual Toy Story Created by the New Jersey Police Honor Legion and Hackensack Meridian Health
• Optikos Achieves Zero-Finding ISO 13485 Recertification, Underscoring Commitment to Quality in Life Sciences Innovation
• SKKU Research Team Develops High-Capacity Battery Material to Drastically Increase EV Range

July 28 2026

• Researchers Find New Jerseyans Want Regulations Around AI and Mental Health
• Jump Tests Can Help Predict Athlete Injury Risk
• Breaking Down Barriers to Cardiac Regeneration
• American Society for Nutrition Announces Locations for NUTRITION 2027 and NUTRITION 2028
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles Study Finds GLP-1 Medications May Improve Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents
• Seoul National University Hospital Named a Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence
• Indiana University physicists part of team installing upgrades to CERN's Large Hadron Collider
• Becker's Hospital Review Names Four RWJBarnabas Health Executives as Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know
• Quick Action Saves Dancer After Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Training the Next Generation of Anesthesiologists
• Amplified Sciences Unveils New Diagnostic Data in Dual Presentations at ADLM 2026 Anaheim
• Experimental Immunotherapy May Help Patients with High-Risk Bladder Cancer Avoid Bladder Removal Surgery
• Fifth Death Reported In NYC Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
• Many Young Adults Aren't Ready To Manage Their Own Healthcare, Poll Finds
• Breaking Research at ADLM 2026 Could Significantly Improve Pediatric Testing in Vietnam
• New Blood Test for Tuberculosis Could Reduce the Spread of This Top Global Infectious-Disease Killer
• Common Diabetes Test Could Miss the Condition in People with Sickle Cell Trait
• Can A Daily Multivitamin Help You Stay Active As You Age?
• Building Your Immunity: Tissue-Resident Immune Cells Defend Human Lungs From Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal Infections
• Remdesivir for COVID-19 Linked to Better Outcomes for Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients
• Cancer Care Costs High and Vary Substantially by Cancer Type and Stage; Highest Costs at the End of Life and for Patients With Advanced Disease at Diagnosis, Study Reveals
• Shimadzu Highlights LC-MS/MS Platforms at the ADLM Clinical Expo in Anaheim
• Family-Based Childhood Obesity Program Helps Kids Cut Weight, Become Healthier
• Prebiotic Soda Health Claims Questioned In New Nutrition Study
• Breakfast Can Help Teens Make Better Food Choices Throughout Their Day, Study Says
• For Long-term Health, Diet Quality Matters More than Food Processing Level
• To Afford Aging In Place, Older Adults Turn To 'Golden Girls' Housing
• The ABCs of Back-to-School Allergy Management
• Genetic Reanalysis Redraws China's Cyclospora Risk Map
• FSU Researchers Uncover New Mechanism Behind DNA Repair
• A New Light on the Microbiome and Its Metabolites
• A Lipid Regulator of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Influences Heart and Lung Development
• How to Protect Yourself from West Nile Virus and EEE

July 27 2026

• New Study Reveals How Blood Cancers Outsmart BTK-Targeted Therapies
• Lancet Report Recommends Paradigm Shift in Care for Older Adults with HIV
• University Launches School-Based Dental Initiative to Tackle Cavities in Underserved Communities
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles Studies New Gene-Editing Approach for Sickle Cell Disease
• Scientists Turn COVID-19 Immune Memory into a Powerful New Ally Against Cancer
• Building Better Workplaces for an Aging Workforce
• OnsiteGene Delivers Lab-Grade Sample-to-Answer PCR in About 12 Minutes with the Xlyser(tm) + XDive(r) Workflow
• The Electricity Infrastructure Operations Center Marks 20 Years of Advancing Grid Innovation
• Map of Tonsil's Genetic 'Spaghetti' Yields Insights into Immunity
• Different GLP-1 Therapies Could Be Tailored to Patients' Individual Metabolic Needs
• Vanderbilt Health-Led Registry Identifies Gaps, Aims to Improve Outcomes for Aortic Stenosis Patients
• Two Decades of Medicare Payment Cuts Associated with Growing Barriers to Patient Care
• Critical Care Doctor Says Patients' Reliance on Chatbots Reflects Deeper Problems in Health Care
• Sweat-Powered Fingertip Patch Accurately Monitors Parkinson's Medication
• Our Genes May Shape What We Eat and Our Metabolic Health
• Is Your Diet Driving Up Your Cholesterol? That May Depend on Your Genes
• FDA Panel Backs Two Peptides For Compounding, Rejects One
• How Accurate Are Photo-Based Calorie Apps? 4 Are Put To The Test
• Traditional Food Program Reduces Heart Failure Hospital Visits in Navajo Nation
• Proven Childhood Obesity Treatment Also Works at Pediatrician's Office
• A Daily Multivitamin May Help Older Adults Maintain Functional Health
• New Global CARE-AI Framework Sets Standard for Responsible AI in Health Education and Care
• Weed-Killing Chemical Linked To Premature Births In Humans, Study Says
• 1 in 4 Teens Report Using Mobile Food Delivery at School
• Nutritional Composition of Milk Varies by Production Method and Season
• Popular School Cafeteria Meals Need An Update To Meet Healthy Food Standards, Researchers Say
• Family, Work, and Mental Health Among Leading Factors Impacting Sleep in Adults
• Ovarian Syndrome Quadruples Heart Disease Risk In Women, Major Study Concludes
• 'Yo-yo' Weight Loss Linked To Decline In Muscle Mass
• 'The Child Is Terrified': Doctors On Front Lines Of Measles Comeback Speak Out
• Houston Methodist Researchers Develop Biodegradable Implant That Delivers Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy While Protecting Healthy Tissue
• Rutgers Researchers Lead Study Tracking Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias in South Asian Americans
• Gerresheimer Significantly Accelerates Mold Development in Medical Technology with "Digital Mold"
• Vitestro Publishes Landmark Peer-Reviewed Multicenter Clinical Study of Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy in Clinical Chemistry
• Bioactive Nanomaterials Help the Immune System Find Hidden Tumors
• National Poll: Many Young Adults May Not Be Ready to Manage Their Own Healthcare

July 26 2026

• 80% of Toddler Foods on Grocery Shelves Are Ultra-Processed
• Time-Restricted Eating May Help Retain Cognitive Function in Older Adults
• Could Sparkling Water Be a Better Choice for Your Teeth?

July 25 2026

• Photo-Based Calorie-Tracking Apps May Underestimate Energy in Meals
• Prebiotic Sodas Typically Contain as Much Sugar as Fiber
• Plant-Forward Planetary Health Diet Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk
• Study Finds Teens Who Start the Day with Breakfast Eat Better Overall
• FDA-Issued Sodium Targets Yield No Apparent Impact

July 24 2026

• How Rutgers Is Helping to Tackle the Rising Crisis of Public Housing Residents Facing Dementia Alone
• Texas A&M Study Highlights Pictor PictVet(r) as a Promising New Tool for Non-Invasive Beef Cattle Health Monitoring
• Study Reveals Stress a Significant Factor in Women Experiencing Long COVID
• Finding What It Takes to Make a White Blood Cell Could Lead to New Cancer Treatment
• Bugs as Drugs: Engineered Gut Bacteria Show Promise Against Pancreatic Cancer
• New Treatment Approach Improves Survival and Reduces Recurrence Risk for Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
• JMIR News: Health Tech Industry Trends and Innovations
• FDA Advisers Dismiss Safety Warnings, Back Four Peptide Treatments
• Frequent Marijuana Use Linked To Higher Stress Hormone Levels
• Cleveland Clinic Researchers Find Link Between Gut Bacteria Byproduct and Irregular Heart Rhythm
• Money Problems Might Make Your Brain Old Before Its Time, Study Suggests
• Back Pain? Try Swimming, Study Says
• Ozempic Cuts Down Calorie Intake For At Least A Year, Even If Hunger Returns, Trial Finds
• Black MS Patients Dying Younger Than White Ones, Study Finds
• Public Health Improvements Stall Amid Trump's DEI Crackdown
• SKKU Develops Technology for Mass-Producing Eco-Friendly Hydrogen Peroxide Without Electricity, Dramatically Cutting Energy Costs
• Increased Social Media Use Linked to Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation Among Young Adults, UTHealth Houston Researchers Find

July 23 2026

• Many U.S. Schools Unprepared To Help Concussed Students Return To The Classroom
• Study Demonstrates Recall-by-Genotype in a Healthcare System Biobank, Advancing Precision Psychiatry
• Moffitt Scientists Pioneer Next Generation Covalent Chemistry to Build Safer Precision Medicines
• Autoantibodies Could Play Key Role in Cancer Progression and Prevention
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: Is My Racing Heart an Arrhythmia?
• Gene Regulation Map Reveals Treatment Targets for Heart Failure
• AI Analyzes Surgical Technique to Improve Prostate Cancer Care
• Indiana University Student Researchers Pursue New Treatment for Often-Misdiagnosed Form of Hydrocephalus
• Hormone Therapy or Chemotherapy? A Test Developed by a UNC Researcher Can Tell You
• The Hunt for a Natural Molecule That Can Release Cellular Energy
• Nearly 1.6 Million Dozen Eggs Pulled From Shelves Over Salmonella Concerns
• Organized Sports Help Enhance Motor Skills In Children With Autism
• Only One in Five U.S. Young Adults With Advanced Cancer Receive Palliative Care as Part of Treatment, Study Shows
• What Causes Food Poisoning? Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Tips
• Wistar Scientists Identify New Mechanism Behind Chemotherapy Resistance in Ovarian Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer Isn't the Only Gastrointestinal Cancer Rising in Young Adults
• People Living Longer, But Spending More Years With Illness And Disability
• Exercise Underwhelms As A Hip Arthritis Treatment, Review Concludes
• Tongue Pacemaker Might Improve Sleep Apnea Patients' Health
• Poll: Costs Are Top Health Care Issue For Midterm Voters, But Fraud Tops GOP List
• Advances in Heart Surgery with Robotic-Assisted Mitral Valve Repair - Virtual Briefing
• VIDEO and TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE: Exploring the Next Frontier of AI -- Neuromorphic Embodied Intelligence
• Drug Reverses Autism-Like Brain Changes in Adult Mice Within Hours, Study Finds
• Novel Tools Give Researchers a Better View of Brain Wiring

July 22 2026

• Broken Jaw, Shattered Confidence: How to Help Young Men Avoid Risks of Looksmaxxing
• Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Highlights Need for Clear Public Health Communication and Global Disease Preparedness
• Premature Blood Stem Cell Aging in Sickle Cell Disease May Be Reversible
• The Medical Minute: After Miscarriage, Finding Answers and a Path Forward
• Drug-resistant gonorrhea: Why it matters and what comes next
• Guided by a Bold Discovery and the Ultimate Gift From Hospice Patients, UT Southwestern Is Rewriting the Cancer Story
• New Study: SuperAging Is Not Simply the Opposite of Alzheimer's Disease
• Focused Ultrasound May Enhance Chemotherapy, Survival Outcomes for Pancreatic Cancer, Study Finds
• Study Reveals Structure of Brain Protein and Identifies Potential Drug Target for Epilepsy Research
• Flies Use Directional Memory to Track a Scent
• Report: Nebraskans' support of legal cannabis is growing
• Perioperative Medicine Designated as a New Clinical Topic to Enhance Anesthesiology Board Certification Exams
• Suicidal Thoughts Among U.S. Veterans Increased Nearly 50% Over Five Years, National Study Finds
• Black People Die From MS at Younger Ages Than White People
• Plasma Exchange May Help Treat Rare Inflammatory Disorder
• Taylor Farms Faces Cyclospora Outbreak, Recalls And Political Questions
• Measles Cases Set 35-Year U.S. Record With Months To Go In 2026
• GLP-1 Use Surges Among Young People With Obesity
• TV Does Indeed Rot Your Brain, Study Says
• How Does ADHD Affect Athletes' Concussion Risk?
• 1 In 4 Americans Stuck In Jobs For Health Insurance, Survey Finds
• Tick-Borne Meat Allergy: Many Carry Alpha-Gal Antibodies Without Symptoms
• Agencies In New York And Beyond Pass The Buck On Opioid Cash Oversight
• Mount Sinai Study Detects Immune Changes Up to 10 Years Before Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Diagnosed
• New Therapeutic Target Expands Options for Multiple Myeloma

July 21 2026

• What Kazakhstan's New Health Data Reveals About the Global Fight Against Chronic Disease
• Study Finds Pregnancy Complications May Increase Risk for Artery Disease
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles Study Develops Model to Predict Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Risk in Children
• In Pilot Study, Researchers Find Estrogen-Like Contaminant in Every Pregnant Participant Tested
• Biological Sex Linked to Protein Changes in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Other Cancers
• The Lone Star Tick Is Bringing Another Infection Concern
• Canine Science is Biased Toward the Western World
• Electroacupuncture Helps Restore Early Blood Glucose Homeostasis
• Why the Heart's Metabolism Fascinates This Scientist
• Cannabis Drinks Sold Next To Soda Are Sending Kids To The ER, Doctors Say
• Coffee May Lower Your Heart Disease Risk, But How Much Is Safe?
• The Best Surgery For Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
• Gait Training Can Help Knee Arthritis
• More Than Half Of US Adults Should Be Offered Statins, Study Says
• Compounded Ozempic, Zepbound Still Widely Available Despite End Of Drug Shortages
• Doctors 'Cringe' At Possibility Of Documenting Which Medicaid Enrollees Are Too Sick to Work
• i-Lumen Scientific Announces First U.S. Patient Randomized in i-SIGHT2 Pivotal Study Evaluating Noninvasive Bioelectric Therapy for Intermediate to Advanced Dry AMD
• Study: Semaglutide Sustains Lower Calorie Intake for More Than a Year
• Personalized Gene Therapy Helps Teen with Rare Form of Severe Epilepsy Walk Independently
• Why Brains Lose Their Flexibility in Psychiatric Conditions

July 20 2026

• PMOS, Formerly PCOS, Raises Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Attacks, Strokes
• Female ER Physicians Order More Tests and Admit More Patients Than Male Physicians, UCLA Health Study Shows
• UIC Researchers Identify Druggable Target That Makes Metastatic Cancer Cells Easier to Kill
• Sharp Shots: New MRI-Linear Accelerator Improves Precision in Radiation Therapy
• Study Shows Role of MIND Diet Intervention on Cognition
• FDA: Iceberg Lettuce Recall Stands After False Positive For Cyclospora
• GLP-1 Use Rising Rapidly Among U.S. Adolescents, Young Adults
• Beyond BMI: Men and Postmenopausal Women Fare Differently After Bariatric Surgery
• YSM Joins International Team to Develop AI for Precision Medicine
• Novel Antifungal Drug Shows Promise in Some Patients with Valley Fever
• Timing of Shingles Vaccine and JAK Inhibitor Initiation Can Affect Early Outcomes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Longer Time in the U.S. Associated with Increased Obesity Risk for Hispanic and Asian Immigrants
• Why Do So Many Women Miss The Signs Of Perimenopause?
• Gut Bacteria May Hold Key To Preventing Severe Peanut Allergies
• Virtual Therapy Sessions Improve Lives Of Kids With Lupus
• Study Links GLP-1 Medications To Rare Vision Issue
• More Evidence Links Sleep Apnea To Dementia And Memory Loss
• Trump's CDC Nominee Praises Vaccines, Without Vowing Independence From RFK Jr.
• Two Hours of Sleep Restored: UK Researchers Make Alzheimer's Breakthrough
• Excessive Sweating May Start in Nervous System, New Study Finds
• NUTRITION 2026 Press Materials Available Now
• CT-Measured Fat and Muscle Changes Predict Severe Liver Complications in Chronic Hepatitis B-Related Cirrhosis
• Heart Failure 'Polypill' Improves Cardiac Function, Cuts Hospitalization Risk
• UC San Diego Study Finds An Exponential Increase in E-Bike Injuries in California
• Study Finds Bringing Clinical Trials Closer to Patients Expands Access to Research
• Snip Happens: More Aussie Men Choosing Vasectomies as Cost-of-Living Pressures Rise
• Researchers Analyzing Colon Cancer Screenings Find Hope for Higher Retest Rates
• When a Movie Saves a Life

July 17 2026

• Wistar Scientists Develop DNA-delivered Immunotherapy that Targets Ovarian Cancer More Effectively
• Research: Health Effects of Smoke from Wildfires
• UWM Neuroscience Professor Works to Combat Memory Loss and Dementia
• Lurie Children's Program Helps Pediatricians Gain Independent Expertise to Treat More Kids with Depression and Anxiety, Study Finds
• CDC Warns Of Parasite Outbreak Tied To Taco Bell Lettuce In 5 States
• The Best Vegetables For Your Heart May Depend On Your Sex
• Black Americans Born Abroad Have Lower Odds For Stroke, Study Finds
• A Hidden Influence On Teen Girls' Emotions: Testosterone
• One Type Of ADHD Med May Affect Kids' Weight
• Poll: Many Older Americans Unaware Of 988 Suicide Help Line
• A Sales Tax On Doctor Visits And Medicine? In Missouri, Some Worry
• JMIR News: Developments in E-Nose Diagnosis, Rare Disease Research, and AI Tools in Medical Education
• Less Nausea After Surgery: Olanzapine Tested in Clinical Trial
• Study Finds No Statistical Link Between Use of Semaglutide and Other GLP-1 Drugs and Risk of Degenerative Eye Disease in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

July 16 2026

• Early Inflammation Signal Drives Oral Cancer Development, Highlights Path for Immunoprevention
• UNC Study Finds Nearly One in Four Adults in High-Risk States Have Alpha-gal Antibodies Linked to Tick-Borne Meat Allergy
• Two Studies Advance Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prediction
• American Journal of Public Health Links Food Insecurity to Choice of Telehealth Abortion
• New Biosensor Tracks Down Missing Metabolite From Childhood Brain Disorder
• UT MD Anderson Shares Latest Research Breakthroughs
• Curious by Nature | Dr. Kouros Emami - Most People Don't Know Concussions Are Fully Treatable
• Dendrites May Be Key to Learning and Memory, Study Suggests
• UTHealth Houston Researchers Redefine How to Assess Reflux Disease
• With Machine Learning, LLNL Researchers Embrace the Atomic-Scale Complexity of Batteries
• GLP-1 Shows Promise for Patients with Advanced Fatty Liver Disease
• Analysis Shows U.S. Nonprofit Hospitals Embracing More High-Risk Investments
• Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Shows Downstream Health Benefits
• Network Model Reveals Synergistic Herbal Compounds for Asthma Treatment
• New Report Reveals Gaps in How Schools Address Student Brain Injuries
• FDA Clears First Cholesterol Pill To Rival Costly Injections
• VIDEO AVAILABLE - Science Communications Research to Practice Webinar: Knowing Your Audience
• One Of The Largest Epidural Studies Ever Delivers Reassuring News For Parents
• Researchers Identify Immune Cell That Builds Cancer-Fighting Hubs Inside Tumors
• Brain 'Microstimulation' Works Long-Term To Restore Sense Of Touch After Spinal Cord Injury
• Heatwaves During Pregnancy Could Affect Baby's Brain Development, Study Suggests
• Could A Vaccine Prevent Pancreatic Cancer In Those At High Risk?
• 'Night Owls' At Risk Of Wider Waistlines, Unhealthy Hearts
• Facing Funding Losses, States Call Out Big Businesses With Employees On Medicaid
• Claas Foundation, Unl Partner to Empower Ag Engineering Students
• Nebraska Researchers Link Gut Microbe to Cancer-Fighting Immune Response
• Saffron Compound Shows Promise Against Fatty Liver Disease
• Could a Chat With a Veterinarian Help Smokers Kick the Habit?
• AI Helps Nurses Stay One Step Ahead in Chronic Disease Care, New Review Finds
• Study Identifies Patients with Obesity Most Likely to Benefit From GLP-1-Based Treatment
• A Roadmap for Self-Powered Tactile Sensors in Robots and Wearables
• Science Communications Research to Practice Webinar: Knowing Your Audience
• New Developments in ALS and Alzheimer's Therapies
• Progress & Accountability in Modern Life Sciences in SLAS Technology Vol. 38
• Mount Sinai Study Links Early-Life Exposure to PFAS ("Forever Chemicals") With Childhood Intestinal Inflammation
• Natural Compound Acteoside Protects the Liver by Targeting CMPK2
• AI-Guided Strategy Uncovers New gp130 Inhibitor for Colorectal Cancer