Federal health officials have confirmed unsettling new details about the first United States case of severe bird flu, reported recently in a hospitalized patient in Louisiana. Genetic samples from the patient contained mutations that could, in theory, help the virus better infect human cells. Importantly, these mutations were observed in the later stages of infection…  read on >  read on >

The United States is lagging behind dozens of nations in its preparation for dealing with its aging population. The U.S. ranks 24 among 143 countries when it comes to ensuring seniors’ well-being, productivity and security, according to results published Dec. 27 in the journal Nature Aging. By comparison, Switzerland tops the rankings, Singapore is at 10,…  read on >  read on >

Blue Christmas, anyone? Holiday time can be wonderful, worrisome, energizing and depressing — all at the same time. There is no doubt about it: The holidays can be darn hard, especially when the season dredges up painful feelings or memories. Rather than stirring merry and joyful feelings, the end of the year can feel sad,…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) A specific class of anti-inflammatory drugs can help children avoid a debilitating complication of Crohn’s disease. A new study published recently in the journal Gut shows children with Crohn’s who were prescribed anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drugs following their diagnosis had an 82% lower risk of anal fistulas, or…  read on >  read on >

More Americans believe in the effectiveness of vaccines developed to protect newborns and seniors against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). More than half of U.S. adults (52%) think the RSV vaccine given to pregnant women will protect newborns from the infection, up from 42% a year ago, say survey results from the Annenberg Public Policy Center…  read on >  read on >

Very early-stage breast cancers are notoriously tough to spot via mammograms, but new technology might make detection easier. According to a new study published recently in the Journal of Biophotonics, Scottish researchers are combining AI with high-tech “laser analysis” to spot changes in circulating blood that could signal the earliest stages of breast tumors. Innovations…  read on >  read on >