Brain fog. It has become an inexplicable side effect of COVID-19 infection, but researchers now report they have discovered a possible reason why it happens. In a small study, investigators found abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid of some COVID-19 patients who developed thinking problems. The symptoms “manifest as problems remembering recent events, coming up with… read on > read on >
As air pollution worsens, fruits, flowers and the creatures that pollinate them could pay a price. That’s the takeaway from British researchers who used special equipment to control levels of two common pollutants — diesel exhaust and ozone — in a field of black mustard plants, and then monitored pollinating insects over two summers. “We… read on > read on >
New research shows that mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus bite more often, which triples the risk of transmitting the disease to people. Dengue is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases. It affects more than 400 million people each year worldwide, killing around 40,000. Most infected people have no symptoms or mild ones such… read on > read on >
Skin side effects caused by cancer drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors may be a telltale sign that the drugs are working, according to a new study. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, boost the body’s immune response against tumor cells and have become standard care for many patients with advanced cancer. However, many experience… read on > read on >
Folks who’ve had a tough case of COVID-19 shouldn’t hit the gym for basketball or an aerobics class without getting checked out by their doctor first, according to the American College for Sports Medicine. The disease wracks the body in ways that can be tough on athletes, especially if they develop “long” COVID, sports medicine… read on > read on >
Numerous COVID restrictions will be dropped in England because government experts believe the Omicron variant “has now peaked nationally,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday. As of Jan. 27, COVID-19 passes will no longer be needed to enter large-scale events and the use of face masks in public schools will no longer be required.… read on > read on >
Even in a setting where white and Black people have equal access to medical care, Black Americans fare worse than whites in terms of prostate cancer, new research shows. A review of nearly 8 million men seen at America’s Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals found that Black veterans had nearly twice the incidence of localized and… read on > read on >
A seemingly endless wait in an emergency department can be taxing for many reasons, but new research suggests that long delays in being admitted to the hospital may even raise a patient’s risk of death within the following 30 days. Why? One possible reason: A crowded ER might mean care happens in suboptimal spaces, said… read on > read on >
For many people undergoing total hip or knee replacement, same-day surgery is a safe option, new research shows. Among folks in overall good health, the study of nearly 1.8 million patients found similar post-op complication rates among those who had outpatient joint replacement surgery compared to those who spent a night or two in the… read on > read on >
Homelessness is difficult enough, but when it’s compounded by serious mental health issues the result can be an inability to function at even the most basic level. Sometimes that leads to round-the-clock involuntary hospitalization, and when that happens a state-appointed psychiatric conservator can take over, making critical health care decisions for a person deemed mentally… read on > read on >
