The number of genes known to be associated with autism now stands at 102, researchers report. They also said that they’ve made significant progress in distinguishing between genes associated with autism and those associated with intellectual disability and developmental delay, conditions that often overlap with autism. The analysis of more than 37,000 genetic samples collected… read on >
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018American women are having fewer children, and they’re having them later in life, a new government report shows. “Overall, we saw continuing decreasing trends in total fertility,” said report author Danielle Ely, a health statistician at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease… read on >
Adding to growing alarm about America’s opioid crisis, cases of a potentially deadly heart infection have jumped 10-fold among North Carolina’s injection drug users, new research shows. The infection is endocarditis, which strikes one or more of the heart’s four valves. Usually a byproduct of aging, it can also develop when bacteria is introduced into… read on >
Many homeowners enjoy relaxing by a hot fire at the end of a cold day. But a crackling fire can lead to a disaster, especially if there are small kids at home and some basic safety rules aren’t followed, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Here are the academy’s suggestions for safer use of your… read on >
Plantar warts stem from a common virus and are formed on the bottoms of your feet. You increase your risk of infection by walking in bare feet in public showers or locker rooms, the American Orthopaedic Food & Ankle Society says. Plantar warts may be painful, but they’re easily treated or may go away on… read on >
Developing lean muscle mass is important for everyone — it can keep you active and independent throughout your life. But to maximize the benefits of strength training, make sure you’re not making these common mistakes. Mistake number 1: Letting momentum drive your workout. If you power through repetitions at a rapid clip, chances are that… read on >
“Eyeballing” emergency room patients may be better than a formal medical assessment in identifying those most in need of urgent care, a new study suggests. Nearly 6,400 patients seeking ER care were assessed over three months. Nurses used an established triage protocol to determine which patients were the sickest, while medical students and phlebotomists (blood… read on >
Young football players who suffer repeated head blows — but not concussions — may not sustain brain damage, a new study suggests. For the study, researchers followed 112 football players, aged 9 to 18, during the 2016 season. “We expected repetitive impacts to correlate with worsening neurocognitive [brain] function, but we found that sub-concussive head… read on >
Stimulating a specific set of nerves that are nestled along the spine may deliver relief to those who suffer from chronic back pain and cut the need for opioid painkillers, new research suggests. The therapy, which targets the root ganglion nerves, is more effective than other spine stimulation procedures because it places tiny leads precisely… read on >
The gluten-free diet craze is both reassuring and upsetting to people with celiac disease who are allergic to the nutrient, a small study suggests. People with celiac disease say they’re happy to have more food choices at stores and restaurants. But some with celiac sense a growing stigma as other people voluntarily go gluten-free. And… read on >
