A “stealthier” version of the Omicron variant that has been spotted in the United States and dozens of other countries is being closely monitored by health officials and scientists. The variant, called BA.2, has genetic traits that make it somewhat more difficult to detect, and some experts fear it may also be more contagious than… read on > read on >
Red wine may be a guilty pleasure, but new research shows it might also be a powerful weapon against the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. Why? The antioxidants in red wine, and fruit such as berries for that matter, might slow progression of the movement disorder, a new study suggests. According to researchers, people with Parkinson’s… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Taking vitamin D supplements may help stave off psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, a new study suggests. Previous research has hinted at this connection, but the new study is the first randomized controlled trial to look at what happens when people are given vitamin D… read on > read on >
Finding the right medication for rheumatoid arthritis isn’t easy, and a newer pill against the disease carries higher risks of heart attack, stroke and cancer than older RA drugs, a new clinical trial confirms. The study was mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after earlier safety signals about the drug, called tofacitinib (Xeljanz).… read on > read on >
Moderna Inc. announced Wednesday that it has launched a trial that will study the power of a redesigned booster shot — one that hones in on the highly contagious Omicron variant. The news comes just one day after Pfizer announced that it has started testing its own Omicron-specific shot. In announcing its trial, Moderna also… read on > read on >
They’ve gotten some media headlines recently, but potential menstrual changes associated with getting a COVID vaccine are typically minor and temporary, two new international studies confirm. That’s great news for women, said an expert in fertility and reproductive health. “The studies coming from the UK, US and Norway provide us with significance reassurance that the… read on > read on >
COVID-19 is changing medicine in yet another way: A new study finds that patients with COVID-related lung damage now account for nearly one in 10 lung transplants in the United States. The researchers analyzed data on more than 3,000 lung transplants nationwide between Aug. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. They found that 7% of… read on > read on >
It’s frightening to see your child have a fever-related (febrile) seizure, but researchers are learning more about who’s more susceptible. An international study has identified seven new genes associated with febrile seizures, or febrile convulsions, in young children. Febrile seizures are defined as seizures in children younger than age 5 who have a fever above… read on > read on >
A one-two punch from science has clearly tagged the mononucleosis virus, Epstein-Barr, as a major cause of multiple sclerosis. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appears to trigger multiple sclerosis (MS) by tricking the immune systems of some into attacking their body’s own nerve cells, a new study indicates. “We demonstrated that a specific protein in EBV… read on > read on >
Allopurinol, a frequently used gout medication, does not appear to drive up the risk for dying among gout patients who also struggle with chronic kidney disease, new research shows. The finding is based on an analysis of two decades worth of British health records. And it may put to rest recent concerns regarding a well-known… read on > read on >
