Two “smart bomb” drugs are offering new hope to women with aggressive breast cancers, a pair of clinical trials show. Both medications are antibody-drug conjugates, consisting of a chemo drug that’s been wedded to an antibody that delivers the chemotherapy directly to cancer cells. “That’s a way to take the chemo right to the cancer… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
People With Diabetes 4 Times More Prone to Long COVID
Diabetes increases the odds that a COVID-19 infection will be severe, and folks with diabetes may be up to four times more likely to develop long-lasting symptoms, new research suggests. “Though more data is needed, some early studies suggest that diabetes may be a risk factor for long COVID, and thus careful monitoring of people… read on > read on >
Study Uncovers Strong Links Between Depression and Crohn’s, Colitis
New research points to a compelling interplay between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and depression. IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition to the physical pain that these illnesses can inflict upon sufferers, the new study showed that patients face a significantly increased risk of depression. Interestingly, the investigators also found that IBD-free siblings… read on > read on >
Setting Time Limits on Opioid Prescriptions Might Reduce Misuse
Here’s a simple weapon to employ against the opioid epidemic: New research finds that placing time limits on prescriptions for highly addictive narcotic painkillers may reduce the risk of misuse. In 2019, 1% of opioid prescriptions from U.S. dentists and surgeons were filled more than 30 days after being issued, long after the acute pain… read on > read on >
‘Mental Resilience’ May Give Holocaust Survivors an Edge After Surgery
Holocaust survivors have a lower risk of delirium after surgery than others their age, and a new study suggests it may owe to mental resilience developed in response to their horrific experiences. “Given that Holocaust survivors are at increased risk of a range of physical and psychological conditions, we were surprised to find that they… read on > read on >
Could You Spot and Save a Person Drowning?
When you’re at a beach or pool, would you be able to identify someone who’s drowning and take action to save them? “Even the most experienced swimmers can be in danger if the weather is bad, currents are strong or a medical emergency occurs in the water,” said Dr. Gillian Schmitz, president of the American… read on > read on >
U.S. Monkeypox Cases Now at 21, Two Strains Identified
The number of known U.S. monkeypox cases has increased to 21 in 11 states, federal health officials announced Friday. The cases are also concentrated largely among gay or bisexual men, with the virus apparently transmitted as a result of intimate skin-to-skin contact, according to a new report published June 3 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly… read on > read on >
Intentional Overdoses Rise Among U.S. Kids, Teens
A growing number of U.S. kids are attempting suicide by medication overdose — with the biggest increase seen among preteens, a recent study shows. Researchers found that between 2015 and 2020, there was a 27% increase in overdose suicide or attempted suicide among U.S. children and teenagers. While teens accounted for most of those incidents,… read on > read on >
Feds Warn of Bedrails That Can Entrap; 3 Deaths Reported
At least three elderly Americans suffocated after getting trapped in Mobility Transfer Systems adult portable bedrails, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says anyone who has the rails should stop using them immediately. The warning applies to 10 models of bedrails made and sold by Mobility Transfer Systems Inc. from 1992 to 2021,… read on > read on >
Melatonin Poisoning Cases Soaring Among U.S. Kids
It’s a startling statistic: A new study finds the number of kids accidentally poisoned by the over-the-counter sleep aid melatonin has soared by 530% over the past decade. For most children, the overdose only causes excessive sleepiness, but for some it can result in hospitalization and even death, the researchers found. “The largest increases were… read on > read on >