Researchers have confirmed that some white-tailed deer in Texas have COVID-19. The scientific community has been alarmed by the prospect of deer becoming new hosts for COVID since July, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture found antibodies in white-tailed deer in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. The new study suggests that deer should not… read on > read on >
Researchers are still trying to figure out what will happen with both the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 spreading simultaneously. Now new lab-based data is suggesting that the newer variant, Omicron, might bring one silver lining: It could help folks who contract it defend against the prior variant, Delta. Scientists in South Africa found… read on > read on >
Red-meat lovers may raise their risk of heart disease through a chain of events that plays out in the gut, a new study suggests. Many studies over the years have tied diets heavy in red and processed meats to a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke. That type of evidence does not, however, prove… read on > read on >
COVID-19 patients are at risk for serious long-term kidney damage, according to the results of a new investigation. The damage appears to come from the virus’ ability to directly infect the kidneys. And in some cases, the scarring and damage may last well beyond the COVID infection itself, German, Dutch and American researchers said. The… read on > read on >
Some smokers who take up vaping may give up tobacco cigarettes altogether — without ever intending to, a new study suggests. The researchers see this as a hopeful sign that daily use of e-cigarettes can play a role in helping people quit smoking. “Our study focused on smokers who were not planning to ever quit… read on > read on >
New antiviral pills for COVID-19 recently authorized for emergency use in high-risk people by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should give doctors an easier means of keeping people out of the hospital. But the initial hype is giving way to reality, as doctors and public health officials grapple with the challenges of getting the… read on > read on >
Hearing loss can happen with advancing age, but fewer American women appear to be affected now than in the past. Researchers who studied hearing loss between 2008 and 2017 found in the earliest of those years, 16.3% of older U.S. adults reported serious hearing loss. But by 2017 that had dropped to 14.8%, or 739,000… read on > read on >
While climate change calls to mind extreme weather and melting polar ice caps, government officials’ inaction to stop it is also affecting the mental health of young people, new research reveals. “This study paints a horrific picture of widespread climate anxiety in our children and young people. It suggests for the first time that high… read on > read on >
A program meant to encourage the use of a drug that can help people overcome opioid addiction led to dramatic increases in its use in emergency rooms, researchers report. Buprenorphine is a medication that stabilizes opioid withdrawal and soothes cravings. Using it can help people with opioid use disorder stay engaged with care, while reducing… read on > read on >
Every year in the United States, a few hundred children die suddenly and without explanation. Now researchers have found gene variants that may contribute to some of those tragic deaths. The hope, experts said, is that understanding the underlying mechanisms will eventually lead to ways to save lives. Since the 1990s, the term SIDS —… read on > read on >
