THURSDAY, Aug. 5, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — The ancient world had a reverential affection for figs. They’re celebrated in both the Bible and in Islamic texts. In Egypt, they were offered to the gods, while the Greeks considered figs a gift from them. Today, scientists would consider the common fig, Ficus carica, to…  read on >  read on >

The two HIV prevention drugs available in the United States are equally safe and effective, and the biggest difference between them is price, a new study contends. However, a sizable minority of patients have switched from the older and cheaper “preexposure prophylaxis” (PrEP) formulation to the newer and much pricier one. In many cases that…  read on >  read on >

Taking vitamin D supplements won’t improve painful symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), British researchers report. IBS is a chronic digestive disorder that can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms come and go for some people, but the condition can severely affect quality of life for many. Previous research has suggested a link…  read on >  read on >

Go ahead, put your credit card away: Handling cash and coins isn’t likely to give you COVID-19. European researchers treated various coins and paper money with different concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. A stainless steel surface was used as a control. “Under realistic conditions, infection with SARS-CoV-2 from cash is very unlikely,”…  read on >  read on >

U.S. gun sales increased early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of those firearms ended up in homes with teens, researchers say. “This finding is concerning because we know that the single biggest risk factor for adolescent firearm injuries is access to an unsecured firearm,” said study co-author Dr. Patrick Carter. He is co-director of…  read on >  read on >