A newly developed “brush biopsy” allows dentists to screen for the most common form of mouth cancer, a new study reports. Dentists use a small brush to gently collect cells from potentially cancerous lesions inside the mouth, researchers write in the journal Cancer Medicine. The sample is then analyzed for genetics related to oral squamous…  read on >  read on >

Cases of salmonella linked to recalled charcuterie meats have doubled in just over two weeks, triggering an expansion of the recall, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday. “Since the last update on January 5, 2024, 23 more illnesses have been reported and an additional 8 states have reported cases, creating a…  read on >  read on >

People are more prone to coming down with a common gastrointestinal infection on hot, humid days, new research shows. The British study suggests that climate change and global warming could increase cases of diarrheal illness caused by campylobacter bacterial infections. “This information is invaluable, as illnesses such as campylobacteriosis not only cause discomfort to individuals,…  read on >  read on >

A daily multivitamin could help people keep their brains healthy as they age, a new trial finds. Results suggest taking multivitamins could help prevent memory loss and slow cognitive aging among older adults, researchers report in the Jan. 18 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The effect was measurable: A daily multivitamin slowed…  read on >  read on >

Casgevy, a groundbreaking treatment that was approved to treat sickle cell disease in December, was given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s blessing on Tuesday to treat another inherited blood disorder. Casgevy is the first CRISPR-based medicine, where gene editing is used to develop the treatment, to be approved for use in the United States.…  read on >  read on >

New research in mice is pointing to a surprising connection: Gum disease could exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because gum disease (periodontitis) is a chronic, inflammatory infection, it’s long been linked to higher heart disease risks. Now, Chinese researchers believe it could also have ties to the sixth leading cause of death in the…  read on >  read on >