MONDAY, Oct. 25, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Nearly two years after earning a degree in information technology in 2016, Dwayne Levene was struggling to find a job and direction for his life. His outlook changed when the 28-year-old discovered The Knowledge House, a Bronx, New York-based nonprofit, where he enrolled in coding, web…  read on >  read on >

It’s well-known that COVID-19 pandemic restrictions pretty much quashed the 2020-2021 flu season, with influenza cases falling to never-before-seen lows in the United States. So little flu circulated, in fact, that some scientists now suspect that one of the major strains of influenza might have gone extinct, for lack of humans to infect. Influenza B/Yamagata…  read on >  read on >

Even months after beating COVID-19, many people still suffer memory lapses, difficulty concentrating and other symptoms of “brain fog,” a new study shows. Researchers found that such symptoms were prevalent seven months after a COVID diagnosis — in both patients who’d been severely ill and hospitalized, and in those who’d managed a mild case at…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, Oct. 25Walmart has recalled an aromatic room spray sold nationwide after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the presence of a “rare and dangerous” bacteria in the spray that’s linked to four illnesses, including two deaths. The retailer sold about 3,900 bottles of Better Homes and Gardens’ Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy…  read on >  read on >

COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy, according to a study that adds to previous research showing the vaccines are safe for pregnant women. An international team analyzed data from several Norwegian health registries to assess the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester among women vaccinated against COVID-19. Information from…  read on >  read on >

A significantly increased risk of self-harm and suicide among people with autism shows the need for programs to reduce that risk, researchers say. For their study, the investigators analyzed 31 studies on the link between autism and self-harm/suicide that were posted to five databases between 1999 and 2021. Overall, children and adults with autism had…  read on >  read on >

In yet another example of the cost of the pandemic, a new study finds there were significant increases in bicycle- and gun-related injuries during coronavirus lockdowns in the United States, but a decrease in traffic injuries. Researchers analyzed data on more than 27,600 trauma cases at four Level I trauma centers in Orange County, Calif.;…  read on >  read on >