THURSDAY, March 25, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — On nearly every corner, and along the roads in between, the familiar signs comfort and tempt us: burgers and fried chicken, ice cream and doughnuts, sweets and treats galore. Welcome to the food swamp, where Americans get bogged down in a morass of cheap, convenient, alluring… read on > read on >
In some good news to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, new research shows that pregnant women and new breastfeeding moms have a strong immune response to COVID-19 vaccines and can transfer that immunity to their infants. The study included 131 women of reproductive age (84 pregnant, 31 lactating and 16 not pregnant) who received one… read on > read on >
Following a sharp rebuke from an independent oversight board over potentially misleading information on the effectiveness of its coronavirus vaccine, AstraZeneca released new data late Wednesday that showed the vaccine is slightly less effective than the company claimed on Monday. The pharmaceutical giant stressed that its vaccine is still very powerful at preventing infection with… read on > read on >
A new medication may offer hope to children with achondroplasia, a rare bone growth disorder that causes very short stature coupled with disproportionate limb and trunk size. The experimental drug is called vosoritide. By tamping down overactive growth plate signaling that impedes bone growth, the drug seeks to offer affected children the possibility of greater… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, March 25, 2021It’s very rare, but it is possible to catch COVID-19 even if you’ve been vaccinated, a new study finds. Looking at vaccinated health care workers at two University of California campuses, researchers found a tiny number tested positive for the virus. This finding highlights the need to keep wearing a mask and… read on > read on >
Even small increases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution may cause an uptick in heart- and lung-related deaths, underscoring the need to tighten limits on this type of air pollution, Chinese researchers say. NO2 is produced by burning fuel for vehicles, power and industrial production. World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines recommend NO2 levels… read on > read on >
Regular aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which may help slow mental decline in older adults, a new, small study suggests. Researchers from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center looked at 70 men and women diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This means there are slight changes to the brain that affect memory,… read on > read on >
There’s a reason you may choose to talk in singsong tones and with exaggerated sounds when you’re talking to babies — they’re more likely to listen. New research shows that babies pay more attention to baby talk than to regular speech. The finding held in many languages, and even when the baby was bilingual. “Crucially… read on > read on >
Exercise, mental stimulation and massage are among the drug-free therapies that are as good or better than medication in treating depression in dementia patients, researchers say. They reviewed 256 studies that included a total of more than 28,000 people with dementia with or without major depression. Medications alone were no more effective than usual care… read on > read on >
Fewer children end up in ERs for asthma attacks if nearby coal-fired power plants are shut down, a new study finds. “When these power plants close, we see a reduction of somewhere between 12% and 18% in emergency department visits for asthma,” said senior researcher Emily Pakhtigian, an assistant professor of public policy at Pennsylvania… read on > read on >
