THURSDAY, Dec.2, 2021For those who think vaping is safer than smoking, think again. A new study warns that vaping triggers the same gene regulation changes that smoking does, so it may raise the risk of cancer and other serious diseases. “Our study, for the first time, investigates the biological effects of vaping in adult e-cigarette…  read on >  read on >

With HIV a continuing threat to women’s health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first long-acting device to protect women from sexually transmitted HIV. The device is a vaginal ring made of silicone elastomer, a flexible rubber-like material that makes it easy to insert and comfortable to use. The ring releases the antiretroviral…  read on >  read on >

Vaping can be tough on the lungs, but new research warns of another possible danger to men: It may more than double the risk for erectile dysfunction. After tracking erectile dysfunction (ED) risk among nearly 25,000 men aged 20 and older, investigators found that even vapers with no history of heart disease or other health…  read on >  read on >

Blows to the head are common among America’s kids, with close to 7% showing signs of a brain injury at some time in childhood, U.S. health officials report. Sports, falls and abuse are likely causes, experts say. Concussions and other head injuries are more common among white kids than Black or Hispanic kids. And prevalence…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 1, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Hispanic people hospitalized for peripheral artery disease may be more likely to undergo amputations than their white peers who are not Hispanic, according to new research that points to the need for greater awareness and prevention of the condition. Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a…  read on >  read on >

People who are prescribed opioid painkillers after receiving a heart pacemaker or defibrillator may be at risk for opioid abuse — and the higher the initial dose, the greater the risk, according to a new study. “The significance of this study is to make other electrophysiologists aware that even a low-risk procedure like a pacemaker…  read on >  read on >

They once ruled the planet, but even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex could suffer from bone disease, new research shows. Scientists used imaging to examine the lower left jaw of a fossilized T. rex skeleton discovered in Montana in 2010. The skeleton, which is about 68 million years old and one of the most complete skeletons…  read on >  read on >

Americans who are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 should have enough antibody protection to prevent severe illness if they become infected with the new Omicron variant, White House COVID response officials said Tuesday. Omicron has caused concern among medical experts due to a “large number of mutations, around 50, much larger than previous variants,” including…  read on >  read on >