A simple and inexpensive paper strip test could help diagnose a case of the flu, and even identify the influenza strain that caused it, a new study finds. The test can distinguish between influenza A and B — the two main types of seasonal flu — as well as identifying more virulent strains like H1N1… read on > read on >
A well-established cholesterol-lowering drug appears to significantly slow the progression of a diabetes-related eye disease, a new trial shows. Fenofibrate (Tricor) has been approved since 2004 as a means of lowering cholesterol. Now, this new study shows that fenofibrate also can reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy by 27% compared to placebo. The findings were… read on > read on >
For the first time since the pandemic, it got a little safer to cross America’s streets in 2023, new statistics show. According to data released Monday from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 7,318 American pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles last year — a dip of 5.4% from 2022 and the first such decline… read on > read on >
An experimental stem cell therapy can essentially cure type 1 diabetes by restoring insulin production in some patients, early clinical trial results show. Seven out of 12 patients no longer needed daily insulin shots after receiving a full dose of the gene therapy, dubbed VX-800, researchers reported Friday at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting… read on > read on >
The rate of self-reported mental distress and depression among American adults who identify as transgender or gender-diverse (TGD) has more than doubled between 2014 and 2022, an analysis of federal health data reveals. During that time, “a record number of enacted laws has threatened the rights and protections of TGD people, including restricting access to… read on > read on >
Following state legislation passed in 2021 that essentially banned abortion in Texas, the rate of infant deaths rose by almost 13%, compared to a much smaller 1.8% rise nationwide, a new study finds. The number of Texan babies whose deaths were specifically linked to birth defects also jumped by 22.9% in 2022, the year after… read on > read on >
Women don’t need an ultrasound to have a safe medication abortion, a new study says. Women who received abortion pills by mail without getting an ultrasound first did just as well as those who were examined and given the drugs in person, researchers found. “This study adds to a growing and robust body of evidence… read on > read on >
John Nicolas was deep into kidney transplant surgery when he decided to ask his doctors if they’d started yet. “At one point during surgery, I recall asking, ‘Should I be expecting the spinal anesthesia to kick in?’” Nicolas, 28, recalled in a news release. “They had already been doing a lot of work and I… read on > read on >
Inhaled insulin could be a better option than injections or pumps for some patients with type 1 diabetes, a new clinical trial shows. Patients using inhaled insulin (Afrezza) plus long-lasting insulin degludec injections had better control over their blood sugar than those assigned to receive usual care, researchers report. About 21% of those on inhaled… read on > read on >
Independent living is important for seniors, but a new study shows it might not be the best thing for their health. Older adults living in senior housing tended to have better health than those who remain in their own homes, researchers found. People in senior housing are less vulnerable to illness and accidents, receive more… read on > read on >
