Folks might want to try timing their COVID-19 booster vaccine to coincide with a period of increased transmission in their area, a new study suggests. Doing so can improve protection against COVID infection as much as fourfold compared to getting the jab when the coronavirus isn’t spreading as much, researchers report in the journal Clinical… read on > read on >
For decades, surgery to remove an inflamed appendix has been a rite of childhood for many. But a new study says treating appendicitis with antibiotics, rather than surgery, is the best way to address most cases. Using antibiotics to treat uncomplicated cases of appendicitis resulted in less pain and fewer days off from school for… read on > read on >
A new study provides good evidence that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be achieving its goal of slashing rates of cervical cancer. “We observed a … 62% drop in cervical cancer deaths over the last decade, likely due to HPV vaccination,” said study senior author Ashish Deshmukh. “We cannot think of any other reason… read on > read on >
For decades, it’s been known that certain older medications women use to control epilepsy seizures can pose risks to a fetus. However, data now suggests that no such risk exists for newer-generation anti-seizure meds. “We need to balance making sure there is enough medicine on board to protect the mother and her developing fetus… read on > read on >
Concussion-related brain damage can combine with a family history of mental illness to make some athletes and military personnel prone to aggression and violence in middle age, a new study says. People with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) are at higher risk of mood changes and dementia, but this study shows that aggression is another risk… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Dec.2, 2024Cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rising at an alarming rate among young Americans, a new study reveals. “Prevalence rates [are] among the highest reported worldwide,” said researcher Dr. Michael Kappelman, a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study — published Nov. 20… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Dec.2, 2024Doctors have potent new weapons against the deadliest cancer in America and they want to make sure they’re on the radar of current and former smokers. “Lung cancer screening is the most powerful tool we have to lower cancer [deaths],” said Dr. Timothy Mullett, medical director of the Markey Cancer Center Network and… read on > read on >
Winter storms that are bearing down on Americansalso bring a hidden killer in their wake: carbon monoxide. Experts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning of the potentially lethal effects of carbon monoxide (CO), emitted by the gas generators folks may use to power their homes when storms knock out electricity. According… read on > read on >
A child from a poorer neighborhood is more prone to severe illness once they develop multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to children growing up in more affluent areas, new research shows. The study of 138 MS patients who’d been diagnosed before the age of 18 revealed that kids from less advantaged neighborhoods showed larger volumes of… read on > read on >
Don’t let your surgeon toss your old heart pacemaker out with the trash. Used pacemakers can be refurbished, researchers report, providing the potential for more people overseas to get the lifesaving devices. “Unlike in the United States, pacemaker therapy is often not available or affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries,” explained Dr. Thomas… read on > read on >
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