Booster doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine set recipients up to effectively withstand the ravages of both the Delta and Omicron variants, a group of new studies suggest. Boosted folks are 90% less likely to die from a Delta infection than people relying solely on the initial two-dose vaccination, Israeli data show. That protection will be… read on > read on >
People who get cochlear implants to treat severe hearing loss may develop new bone growth in the ear — and it may lessen any hearing they have left, a new study hints. The researchers found that among 100-plus adults with cochlear implants, two-thirds showed evidence of new bone formation near the implant within four years.… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down New York City in March 2020, Jose Montanez, like millions of others in the service industry, lost his source of income. A hair stylist who also ran karaoke drag shows, he made his money closely interacting with people. Even his… read on > read on >
First, the COVID-19 pandemic brought panic, with successive waves of infection and death, including the emergence this year of the Delta variant. Then vaccines offered the promise of a recovery, with a speed — and on a scale — never before seen. But now, the Omicron variant is sending Americans on another emotional roller-coaster ride… read on > read on >
Pfizer/BioNTech said Wednesday that while two doses of their coronavirus vaccine may not offer good protection against the Omicron variant, adding a booster shot does the trick. According to a statement from the companies, blood tests from people who had only two doses of the vaccine showed a 25-fold reduction in antibody levels generated against… read on > read on >
For people suffering from clots in their legs, a new study finds that one of two commonly used blood thinners is safer and more effective than the other. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can cause clots to form in the deep veins in the legs, and if one breaks loose it can travel to the lungs and… read on > read on >
Kids can be cruel, and bullies often zero in on kids they view as weak or different, including those with asthma. One in 10 children with asthma say they have been bullied or teased as a result of their condition, but tight asthma control seems to keep bullying at bay, a new study suggests. “Children… read on > read on >
Right now, the devastating concussion-linked brain condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can only be diagnosed after death via autopsy. But new research could help change that, allowing doctors to someday spot the illness earlier. According to the new study, MRI may be able to detect CTE while people are still alive. “While this… read on > read on >
The pandemic has intensified mental health struggles that were already widespread among American teens, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned Tuesday. The pandemic and other major issues faced by their generation are causing “devastating” mental health effects in young people, he warned in a new report. Emergency room visits for suicide attempts by adolescent… read on > read on >
Can the time of day you get your COVID-19 vaccine affect how many antibodies you’ll make? A new study suggests that it can. Researchers found higher antibody levels in health care workers who received their vaccines in the afternoon, and they suggest that response to the vaccine may be affected by circadian rhythms. “Our observational… read on > read on >
