U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered a fresh safety review of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions. He asked Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to “review the latest data.” The FDA has not said when the review will begin or… read on > read on >
People who get weight-loss surgery experience an improvement in their mental health, but not because of the weight they lose, a new study says. Rather, these patients face much less societal stigma over their weight, and it’s that – not the actual weight loss – that boosts their mental health, researchers reported today in the… read on > read on >
As many as 1 in 5 women say they’ve sought care at fake medical clinics with an anti-abortion agenda, a new study says. Between 12% to 20% of 18- to 44-year-old women in four states – Arizona, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Jersey – say they’ve sought care at a pregnancy crisis center, according to report… read on > read on >
Sweet! Synthetic sugars could be key to sussing out what type of snake venom is threatening a person’s life, researchers say. Specifically, researchers have developed a way to use these sugars to detect the venom of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, according to a paper published recently in ACS Biomacromolecules. “Snake venoms are complex and detecting… read on > read on >
Having a family dog might decrease a baby’s risk of developing eczema later in childhood, a new evidence review says. Specifically, exposure to canines appears to influence a child’s genetic risk of eczema, by blunting skin inflammation, researchers reported June 4 in the journal Allergy. “We know that genetic make-up affects a child’s risk of… read on > read on >
Policy change could have significant implications for health care providers and patients read on >
A federal judge has ruled that transgender inmates in U.S. prisons must continue getting medical care, including hormone therapy and gender-affirming accommodations. The decision blocks parts of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which had restricted care for people with gender dysphoria, the distress felt when a person’s gender identity doesn’t match their… read on > read on >
Pepto Bismol is a go-to stomach remedy, but a new study suggests it might not help prevent diarrhea during international travel. The study, led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that people who took bismuth subsalicylate — the active ingredient in Pepto Bismol — did not have fewer episodes of… read on > read on >
Elevated insulin levels could be causing irregular menstrual bleeding in women, a new study says. Women with excess levels of insulin are three times more likely to suffer from abnormal uterine bleeding, researchers reported today in the journal Menopause. That means they are more apt to bleed between periods, experienced prolonged bleeding or have extremely… read on > read on >
Counting calories isn’t simply a bummer, it might actually increase your risk of depression, a new study says. People on low-calorie diets scored higher for symptoms of depression, compared with those not dieting, researchers reported June 3 in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. Overweight people and men were particularly vulnerable to the mood changes that… read on > read on >
