Fewer than 30,000 new coronavirus cases are now being reported daily in the United States, with deaths as low as they have been since last June. Infection and death rates are dropping dramatically as nearly 50 percent of Americans have now received at least one vaccine shot, The New York Times reported. “I think by… read on > read on >
Americans with drinking problems are rarely referred for treatment, even though most say a doctor has asked about their alcohol use, a new study finds. The study is not the first to uncover low rates of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) — the medical term for drinking that interferes with a person’s life and… read on > read on >
Leslie Maier lost her son, Chris, to meningococcal meningitis more than 15 years ago, but by telling his story she hopes to educate other parents about this rare but potentially deadly illness that a vaccine can prevent. Soon after Chris passed away in 2005, Maier joined the board of the National Meningitis Foundation. Now she… read on > read on >
The robot hand extends toward a small cube, guided by signals from electrodes implanted in the brain of partially paralyzed patient Nathan Copeland. In surprisingly smooth fashion, Copeland’s mind directs the robot hand to pick up the cube and move it to another part of the table. The process works so well — at speeds… read on > read on >
People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) had milder symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown, possibly due to reduced stress levels and more control over their diet, Argentine researchers report. “We think the results have something to do with people staying at home,” said study author Dr. Juan Pablo Stefanolo. “They were not exposed to outside stress,… read on > read on >
Studies that can’t be verified and may be untrue are much more likely to be cited in the media because they tend to be more interesting, researchers report. They looked at studies in top psychology, economic and nature/science journals and found that only 39% of 100 psychology papers were successfully replicated. The replication rates were… read on > read on >
New insight into why you don’t remember your earliest years of life is provided in a new study. “A fundamental mystery about human nature is that we remember almost nothing from birth through early childhood, yet we learn so much critical information during that time — our first language, how to walk, objects and foods,… read on > read on >
So-called yo-yo dieting may increase a woman’s risk of insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep problems, a new study suggests. Yo-yo dieting — formally called weight cycling — is defined as losing and regaining 10 pounds or more when not pregnant. The study included more than 500 women in every stage of adult life, including… read on > read on >
Hoarseness is common and there are many causes, an expert says. “About one-third of us will develop some sort of voice problem in our lifetime,” said speech language pathologist Carrie Ruggiero, who sees patients at Penn State Health Lime Spring Outpatient Center in Lancaster. Those at most risk for hoarseness include folks who use their… read on > read on >
A rash of gasoline-related poisoning calls has led U.S. poison experts to warn against gas siphoning. Gasoline hoarding and siphoning in some East Coast states has led to a significant increase in gasoline-related emergencies, the Association of Poison Control Centers said. Recent concerns about limited gasoline supplies due to the shutdown of a major pipeline… read on > read on >
