After years of speculation, the CIA has weighed in yet again: A lab leak is now considered the likely origin of the COVID pandemic. However, the agency admits it has “low confidence” in its conclusion and says both a natural origin and a research-related incident are still possible. “CIA assesses with low confidence that a… read on > read on >
Adderall shortages have prompted doctors to switch kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to other forms of stimulant medication. Adderall prescription fills for children and teens plunged after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a shortage of the drug in October 2022, researchers reported in a new study published today in the journal Pediatrics.… read on > read on >
Time is of the essence during a medical emergency, and helicopter transport often is essential to saving a patient teetering near death. Unfortunately, Black, Asian and Hispanic people with life-threatening injuries are significantly less likely than white patients to be airlifted to a trauma center, according to a study published Jan. 22 in JAMA Surgery.… read on > read on >
Maintaining tight control over blood pressure for even a short while can provide lasting benefits for seniors’ brain health, a new clinical trial says. People had lower risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia after keeping their blood pressure around 120 systolic for three and a half years, according to results published recently in the… read on > read on >
That busy highway could be contributing to depression, and not just because you’re snarled in a traffic jam. Air pollution from traffic appears to increase risk of depression among women, according to a new study published Jan. 21 in the journal Menopause. Further, researchers think this air pollution might be raising depression risk by affecting… read on > read on >
Could a virtual avatar be the future of mental health care? New research shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) goggles could revolutionize therapy — helping patients overcome addiction and receive unbiased care. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Extended Reality focused on patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, a serious liver condition… read on > read on >
In the throes of winter’s yearly round of respiratory virus outbreaks, it pays to remember what Grandma told you. Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and stay away from folks who may be infected. And, of course, wearing a mask won’t hurt. Respiratory viruses… read on > read on >
When one abortion pill faces lawsuits, another may be waiting in the wings, a new study suggests. The study, published Jan. 23 in the journal NEJM Evidence, has found a potential alternative to the abortion pill mifepristone, offering yet another option at a time when access to reproductive health care faces increasing legal and political… read on > read on >
People can reverse their type 2 diabetes through a combination of calorie cutting and medication, a small clinical trial says. Overweight and obese adults caused their diabetes to go into remission by following a calorie-restricted diet and taking the prescription diabetes drug dapagliflozin, researchers reported Jan. 22 in The BMJ. After a year, about 44%… read on > read on >
Patients can improve their odds for a successful surgery by actively preparing for the procedure through diet and exercise, a tactic called “prehabilitation,” a new evidence review shows. Surgical patients who prehabbed had fewer complications and shorter hospital stays, also recovered better and had a higher quality of life, researchers reported Jan. 22 in The… read on > read on >
