A new DNA sensor can detect viruses and tell if they are infectious or not in minutes, a new study finds. The sensor was developed by using DNA technology, and does not require the need to pretreat test samples. Researchers demonstrated this technique with the human adenovirus (which causes colds and flu) and the virus…  read on >  read on >

Obese boys who lose weight may avoid fertility problems in adulthood, a preliminary study suggests. Even short-term weight loss might partially reverse weight-related alterations in reproductive function, the researchers said. Childhood obesity can have serious effects on adulthood health, including a risk of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Obesity has also been linked…  read on >  read on >

Insulin resistance can make you more than twice as likely to develop major depression, even if you haven’t developed full-blown diabetes, a new study reports. Initially healthy people who later developed prediabetes were 2.6 times more likely to come down with major depression during a nine-year follow-up period, according to the findings. “The insulin-resistant folks…  read on >  read on >

Metformin, a commonly prescribed diabetes drug, may help stave off preterm birth among women who develop pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Preeclampsia is marked by a sudden spike in blood pressure, protein in urine, or other problems during pregnancy. Preterm preeclampsia occurs between 26 and 32 weeks of pregnancy and often leads to early delivery, putting…  read on >  read on >

Certain changes in a part of the brain stem, visible in scans, might be a potential early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. Using different brain imaging techniques, researchers found that lesser “integrity” in the brain stem region was linked to a faster decline in memory and thinking in older adults, as well…  read on >  read on >

You remember the ad. It asked if you’ve “got milk?” and said that “milk does a body good.” So, does it? New research suggests it might. In the study, people who consumed more dairy fat actually had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those who drank or ate less dairy, CNN reported. “Increasing evidence…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Sept. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Hispanic people in the United States have lower cancer rates than white people, but they are much more likely to develop certain preventable cancers. “The good news is that overall cancer rates are lower in Hispanic people, but we are seeing very high rates of infectious disease-related cancers,…  read on >  read on >

Here are some of HealthDay’s top stories for Thursday, Sept. 23: FDA approves Pfizer booster shot for seniors, high-risk folks: Under the emergency use authorization, the booster shots should be given at least six months after a person is fully vaccinated. The move is likely the beginning of a staggered campaign to deliver booster shots…  read on >  read on >