People recovering from wounds or severe burns might one day be treated with fully functional “bioprinted” skin created in a lab, a new study suggests. Researchers say they “printed” skin samples containing all six major human cell types found in skin. The result was multi-layered, full-thickness skin containing all three layers present in normal human… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
‘Boarding’ Patients for Days, Weeks in Crowded ERs Is Common Now
When Hannah, a California marketing professional, showed up at her local emergency room in March 2023 for a pregnancy-related complication, she wasn’t prepared for what happened next. “I arrived at 2 p.m. and finally saw the obstetrics team at midnight,” she recalled. After an exam, doctors scheduled her for a procedure on the following day,… read on > read on >
Seniors With ADHD Face Higher Car Crash Risk
While studies of ADHD and driving usually target teens, a new one focused on seniors found they have a significantly higher risk of car crashes. Older adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were also more likely to slam on the brakes and get traffic tickets, the study found. “Little is known about ADHD in seniors,” said… read on > read on >
Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Union Workers Go on Strike
Health care workers who serve millions of Americans began a three-day strike on Wednesday after contract negotiations over staffing levels stalled. More than 75,000 members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions began walking off their jobs as early as 6 a.m. in Virginia and Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reported. The union, whose contract… read on > read on >
Shorter Course of Radiation May Be Safe for Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction
Breast cancer patients who undergo a mastectomy can probably benefit from a shorter course of more intense radiation therapy, a new study indicates. Hypofractionated radiation therapy — which provides a higher dose each session over three weeks — provides the same protection against breast cancer recurrence and post-surgical complications as a standard course of lower-dose… read on > read on >
Stem Cell Therapy Could Be Breakthrough Against Type 1 Diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes lack functional islet cells in their pancreas to produce the hormone insulin and must take daily insulin via injections or a continuous pump to compensate. But if new research pans out, some folks with type 1 diabetes may no longer need to take insulin. The study of six people with… read on > read on >
CPAP Helps Cut Heart Risks — But You Have to Actually Use It
For sufferers of sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines may guard against having a second heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular crisis, but they have to use it consistently, a new study finds. CPAP works by keeping your airways open during sleep, but because it requires wearing a mask, many people find it… read on > read on >
Antiviral Meds Could Help Ease or Prevent Type 1 Diabetes in Kids, Study Finds
Recent research has suggested that viruses could play a role in the loss of pancreatic beta cells, which triggers type 1 diabetes. Now, a new trial finds antiviral medications, when given soon after a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, might help preserve those vital beta cells. Antiviral drugs could be “used alone, or… read on > read on >
Largest-Ever Study of Suicide Genetics Gives Clues to Who’s at Risk
New research has discovered 12 gene variants that may be tied to an increased risk of attempting suicide. These genes also may have links with physical and mental health woes, including chronic pain, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), lung conditions and heart disease. The researchers hope this finding, published online Oct. 1 in the American Journal of… read on > read on >
Tea Drinkers May Gain Better Blood Sugar Control
Drinking dark tea daily may help balance blood sugar levels and stave off type 2 diabetes, the form of the disease most closely tied to obesity. This is the main message from a new study that looked at tea-drinking habits and diabetes risk among people in China. Folks who drank dark tea every day had… read on > read on >