Even before the pandemic, the demand for donor kidneys far exceeded supply. That shortfall only worsened when hospitals started refusing to use kidneys from COVID-positive donors. However, new research now suggests that kidneys from deceased COVID-19 patients have almost zero risk of viral transmission to the recipient: In the new study, out of 55 patients… read on > read on >
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer may feel like a death sentence because this fast-moving disease is often discovered at a later stage, when it’s harder to treat. Now, a new study offers hope for earlier diagnosis, finding an association between recent gallstone disease and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients diagnosed with PDAC were six times… read on > read on >
Here’s one way in which the pandemic did not exacerbate health care disparities: A new study shows that telemedicine has closed the gap in access to primary care between Black and non-Black Americans. The use of telemedicine boomed during the pandemic, so University of Pennsylvania researchers decided to examine how that affected Black patients’ historically… read on > read on >
An experimental gene therapy for spinal cord pain shows promise in mice, researchers say. About half of spinal cord injury patients have neuropathy, which is chronic or debilitating pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness caused by damaged or malfunctioning nerves. Treatment of neuropathy can be challenging. For example, medications often require complex, continuous delivery and… read on > read on >
The more antibiotics that seniors take, the greater their risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a new study suggests. The findings could help explain some of the increase in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (common types of IBD) among older adults, according to the study authors. “In older adults, we think that environmental factors are… read on > read on >
Nurses can be trained to detect postpartum depression in new mothers and could be crucial in spotting the condition early, researchers report. Postpartum depression affects about 15% of new moms and can cause persistent sadness, fatigue, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, and trouble sleeping or eating. Some women with the condition struggle to care for… read on > read on >
An international research effort has unveiled the most extensive reference map yet of individual cells within the human body, knowledge that could revolutionize the study of health and disease. The massive Human Cell Atlas contains detailed maps of more than one million individual cells across 33 organs and systems, researchers announced this week. “You can… read on > read on >
After 30 years, researchers believe they finally have definitive evidence of the primary cause of Gulf War syndrome: exposure to low levels of the nerve gas sarin. Gulf War syndrome is blamed for leaving a quarter million veterans of the 1991 conflict with a disabling array of long-term symptoms. They range from respiratory disorders, profound… read on > read on >
The first underwear meant to protect against sexually transmitted infections during oral sex was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. Lorals — which are available as bikinis or shorties — are made of vanilla-flavored latex about as thin as condom material and form a seal on the inside of the thigh… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, May 12, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — College athletes who contract COVID-19 and return to playing sports have a low risk of developing life-threatening heart problems, according to new research that suggests stringent cardiac testing isn’t necessary. The research, published Thursday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, followed up on a related… read on > read on >
