A mainstay of 18th-century medicine — the lowly leech — has made something of a comeback in the 21st century. That’s largely due to powerful blood thinners the parasitic worm secretes naturally. Now, genetic research could give a major boost to the medical use of leeches, scientists say. An international team sequenced the genome of… read on >
It often seems the older a person gets, the less they sleep, but new research suggests that inconsistent sleep patterns might predict a future diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers who studied 2,930 older men for more than a decade found that those with a particular sleep problem — called circadian rhythm disruptions — were three… read on >
Nearly half of U.S. states are seeing upticks in new coronavirus cases, leading some state officials to order the reimposition of mask wearing for citizens. In California on Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that people will be required to wear masks in any indoor space, while Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a similar order for… read on >
A person’s genes and blood type may help determine their odds for a nastier form of COVID-19, should they get infected with the new coronavirus, a new genetics study finds. Published online June 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the research helps confirm earlier, more anecdotal evidence that blood type was tied to… read on >
Stroke patients in rural areas of the United States are less likely to get cutting-edge treatments and more likely to die than those in cities. That’s the takeaway from a new analysis of nationwide data on more than 790,000 adults who were hospitalized with stroke between 2012 and 2017. Most were 64 or older. Compared… read on >
If you’re thinking about traveling this summer, you need to consider the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic, an expert says. Factors to think about include your age, your health and other people in your household. “The first question you should answer is whether you or a member of your household have a condition that… read on >
As many as 45% of people infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms, and they may play a major role in the spread of the virus, a new study says. The findings show the need for large-scale testing and contact tracing to combat the pandemic, according to the Scripps Research investigators. “The silent spread of the… read on >
“I live in Washington state,” said the caller, “but my husband is on a plane to New York City, and I just got a call from my doctor telling me that he’s positive for COVID! What should I do?” “I take care of my grandmother,” said another, “and she goes to this temple whose Rabbi… read on >
COVID-19 spreads easily among people who live together and other family members, even before an infected person shows any symptoms, new research shows. The study — published June 17 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal — also said that the new coronavirus spreads among household members more easily than severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or… read on >
A ruptured appendix is one medical emergency that a general surgeon colleague of Dr. Jacqueline Fincher hadn’t treated for more than 15 years in their small town of Thomson, Ga. That’s because the signs and symptoms of appendicitis are so well-known that nearly everyone gets to the hospital well before an inflamed appendix has a… read on >
