Pharmaceutical companies that make the 10 prescription drugs chosen to be the first for price negotiations for Medicare patients have agreed to talks with the government. The Biden administration announced Tuesday that the drugmakers, including Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson, will take part in price negotiations despite ongoing lawsuits over this same… read on > read on >
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Tea Drinkers May Gain Better Blood Sugar Control
Drinking dark tea daily may help balance blood sugar levels and stave off type 2 diabetes, the form of the disease most closely tied to obesity. This is the main message from a new study that looked at tea-drinking habits and diabetes risk among people in China. Folks who drank dark tea every day had… read on > read on >
AI Gets High Marks From Doctors in Answering Medical Questions
The ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) program could grow into a source of accurate and comprehensive medical information, but it’s not quite ready for prime time yet, a new study reports. ChatGPT’s responses to more than 280 medical questions across diverse specialties averaged between mostly to almost completely correct, according to a report published online Oct.… read on > read on >
Spending on Kids’ Mental Health Keeps Rising
In yet another reminder of the psychic toll the pandemic has taken on young people, new research shows spending on mental health services for U.S. children and adolescents has risen sharply since 2020. It climbed 26% for youths aged 19 and younger between March 2020 and August 2022, the RAND Corp. study found. Among a… read on > read on >
Seniors, Here Are the Meds That Can Harm Your Driving Skills
Some common medications — including antidepressants, sleep aids and painkillers — may dull the driving skills of seniors, a new study finds. Many different medication classes have been linked to the risk of driving impairment, as anyone who has ever read the label warning “do not operate heavy machinery” might have guessed. But the new… read on > read on >
Loneliness Could Raise Risk for Parkinson’s, Study Finds
Loneliness can leave many feeling desolate, but new research now suggests it may also leave people vulnerable to Parkinson’s disease. Among more than 490,000 people listed in the UK Biobank who were followed for up to 15 years, loneliness appeared to increase the chances of a Parkinson’s diagnosis by 37%. “The association between loneliness and… read on > read on >
Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Union Workers Could Strike on Wednesday
Health care workers who serve millions of Americans could strike Wednesday if Kaiser Permanente and union workers don’t reach an agreement. More than 75,000 members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are poised to strike, CNBC reported. The union, whose contract expired Saturday, represents medical assistants, surgical and lab technicians and pharmacists, among other… read on > read on >
Surgeons Seeing More ‘Mutilating’ Hand Injuries With New Utility Terrain Vehicles
A popular type of off-road vehicle known as a “side-by-side” has been linked to high rates of severe hand injuries, according to a new study. Side-by-sides are utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) designed to carry more than one passenger and heavy loads. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are usually made for one driver going off-road. “Our study finds… read on > read on >
Women Give High Marks to Breast Reconstruction Using Patient’s Own Tissue
TUESDAY, Oct. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Women who have breast reconstruction using their own tissue instead of implants ma be more satisfied with the results, new research shows. “The findings were unexpected, since autologous breast reconstruction is a more complex procedure, with a higher rate of severe complications,” said lead author Nadia Sadok, of… read on > read on >
PFAS Chemicals Tied to Later Puberty in Girls
TUESDAY, Oct. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Exposure to ubiquitous chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, may delay puberty in girls, new research indicates. The study is the first to consider the role hormones play in the delay, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati. Delayed puberty can lead to negative… read on > read on >