A widely used medicine for autoimmune diseases may lower people’s immune response to the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, a new study suggests. The drug, called methotrexate, is often given to patients with immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. “Our findings suggest that different strategies may need to be explored in patients… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, May 26, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Many people know too much salt in their diet is a bad thing. Not nearly as many know exactly why. “They’re surprised at the degree to which it can affect them,” said Dr. Cheryl Laffer, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. “And… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, May 26, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Less than half of U.S. women entering pregnancy have good heart health, and those rates are falling, according to new research. Experts already knew poor heart health can have dire consequences for mothers-to-be. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of a mother’s death during pregnancy and… read on > read on >
MIÉRCOLES, 26 de mayo de 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Mucha gente sabe que el exceso de sal en su alimentación es algo malo, pero no hay tantos que sepan exactamente por qué. “Se sorprenden del grado en que puede afectarles”, afirma la Dra. Cheryl Laffer, profesora de medicina de la Universidad de Vanderbilt,… read on > read on >
Researchers have discovered that when patients who have type 2 diabetes and asthma take a certain class of medication to control their blood sugar, their asthma symptoms also improved. Not only could this help diabetes patients who may have less asthma control on asthma medicines, but it could potentially open up new treatment options for… read on > read on >
As a means of providing long-term relief from chronic pain, flotation tanks simply don’t hold water, new research reveals. Nearly 100 people plagued by longstanding pain underwent “flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy” (REST), and the results were disappointing, at least over the long term, German researchers found. The treatment involves floating inside a soundproof, lightless… read on > read on >
People with spinal cord injuries can overwork their shoulders as they move about in a wheelchair, and that often leads to chronic shoulder pain. However, a small study suggests that an injection of the patient’s own fat cells can help ease the pain. The injected cells cushion the joint and may repair it, the researchers… read on > read on >
Low testosterone levels may increase men’s risk of severe COVID-19, according to a new study. On average, men fare worse with COVID-19 than women. “During the pandemic, there has been a prevailing notion that testosterone is bad. But we found the opposite in men,” said senior study author Dr. Abhinav Diwan. He’s professor of medicine,… read on > read on >
It’s a connection most women may not be aware of, but a new study suggests osteoporosis may raise your risk of hearing loss, and the drugs often used to treat thinning bones won’t lower that risk. According to researcher Dr. Sharon Curhan, data from her team’s new study suggests that “osteoporosis and low bone density… read on > read on >
Newfangled marijuana products — edibles, concentrates, vapes — are driving an overall increase in pot-related calls to U.S. poison control centers, a new study shows. There were more than 11,100 calls related to marijuana use in 2019, up from about 8,200 in 2017, researchers said. More and more of those calls are related to manufactured… read on > read on >
