Vaccines approved for use in the United States and Europe show protection against all of the more infectious coronavirus variants known to be circling the globe, the World Health Organization said Thursday. “All COVID-19 virus variants can be controlled in the same way, with public health and social measures,” European Regional Director Hans Kluge said… read on > read on >
Mom always said too much TV would rot your brain, and as with so many other things it appears she was right. Middle-aged folks who regularly turn to TV for entertainment appear to have a greater risk of decline in their reasoning and memory later in life, three new studies suggest. Researchers found that even… read on > read on >
A pill called upadacitinib, already approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis, might also ease another common immunological condition — eczema. In two phase 3 clinical trials, patients with moderate to severe eczema showed rapid and significant improvements after taking the drug, said researchers at Mount Sinai in New York City. The clinical trials were funded by… read on > read on >
If you are a heart patient, could climbing the stairs be a good workout alternative to the gym, particularly during a pandemic? It looks that way, two new studies show. Researchers noted that less than a quarter of heart patients stick to exercise regimens and that common reasons for not doing so include lack of… read on > read on >
During the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, heart disease and stroke deaths rose in the United States, but a new study shows the increases were much larger in minority groups. Researchers compared monthly cause-of-death data for March to April 2020 to the same period in 2019. They found that heart disease deaths rose about… read on > read on >
If you’re over 75, being screened for colon cancer could save your life, a new study says. This week, the influential U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended age to begin colon cancer screening from 50 to 45 for people without a family history of colon cancer, but did not change its advice to… read on > read on >
For patients with severe ankle arthritis, total ankle replacement provides better function over the long haul than the traditional surgical treatment, a new study finds. Researchers assessed outcomes in 517 patients with end-stage ankle arthritis — meaning they have a complete loss of cartilage resulting in “bone-on-bone” contact in the ankle joint. The result is… read on > read on >
A small but significant percentage of Americans take medications that can hamper their immune system and its response to COVID-19 vaccines, researchers say. Their analysis of data from more than 3 million adults under 65 with private insurance found that nearly 3% take immunosuppressive drugs. Those include chemotherapy medications and steroids such as prednisone. Two-thirds… read on > read on >
If you’ve ever wished you had an extra hand to accomplish a task, never fear, scientists are working on that. But a new study raises questions about how such technology could affect your brain. The findings come from ongoing research into a 3D-printed robotic thumb known as “Third Thumb.” It’s worn on a person’s dominant… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, May 20, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — The rate of deaths related to diabetes and high blood pressure among Black people over the past two decades improved in urban areas, according to a new study, but rural communities are lagging. Scientists have known for years that people in rural areas of the U.S.… read on > read on >
