A vaginal ring that emits the antiviral dapivirine has passed safety trials and could shield vulnerable women against HIV infection during pregnancy, a new trial shows. “We now have data on the ring’s safety during all stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Felix Mhlanga, a senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials… read on > read on >
Air pollution harms the health of everyone exposed to it, but a new study says communities of color are disproportionately harmed by dirty air. Smog causes nearly 8 times higher childhood asthma rates and 1.3 times higher risk of premature death among minority communities compared to white communities, researchers found. These elevated risks are a… read on > read on >
Menopause is thought to trigger mood changes among women, with changes in female hormone levels contributing to anxiety, depression and stress. However, a new study says some women are at more risk than others for menopause-linked mental health issues, and many escape them altogether. There’s no evidence that menopause causes a universal rise in risk… read on > read on >
Are you typically getting only a few hours sleep each night? Besides leaving you groggy all day, your insomnia could also be raising your odds for type 2 diabetes, new research shows. Compared to people who slept the recommended seven/eight hours per night, folks who habitually slept five hours per night had a 16% higher… read on > read on >
Just one dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken after sex halved the number of chlamydia and syphilis cases in San Francisco, promising new research shows. In the study, gay and bisexual men and transgender women who had a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sex partners were given a supply of the antibiotic and… read on > read on >
A new robotic hip exoskeleton could help stroke patients improve their walking stride, a new study shows. More than 80% of stroke survivors develop problems walking, often because their step is shorter on one side than the other, researchers explained in background notes. The hip exoskeleton helps people adapt their stride by forcing both legs… read on > read on >
A new smartphone app can help doctors more accurately diagnose ear infections in babies and small children, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in kids, researchers report. Ear infections — known by doctors as acute otitis media (AOM) — can be difficult to diagnose, as they require a trained eye to detect subtle clues from a… read on > read on >
Long COVID might be triggered by low iron levels in the blood from the person’s initial infection, a new study claims. It’s remained a mystery why an estimated three out of 10 people infected with COVID go on to suffer lingering symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle aches and “brain fog” problems with memory… read on > read on >
Yogurt makers can now make limited claims about the food’s power to help prevent type 2 diabetes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. In a statement released Friday, the agency said it will not object to “qualified health claims” that say there is some evidence that eating at least 2 cups of yogurt a… read on > read on >
People with recurring urinary tract infections frequently have persistent pain, even after antibiotics have cleared the harmful bacteria from their system. Now, researchers have figured out why this perplexing problem occurs. It appears that an overgrowth of highly sensitive nerve cells can occur in the bladder as a result of frequent UTIs, researchers report March… read on > read on >
