As the struggle against racism continues to simmer across the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics took a hard look at racial gaps in health care for children during its recent annual meeting. “We know racism is a social determinant of health, and it’s a public health issue, so we spent a great deal… read on >
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday that it is seeking emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an experimental antibody cocktail given to President Donald Trump shortly after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Hours before the company made the announcement, Trump proclaimed in a video released by the White House that the drug… read on >
After starting a drug that’s officially approved to treat a type of blood cancer, a young man with type 1 diabetes was able to stop using insulin. He’s been off insulin since August 2018 — more than two years. Dr. Lisa Forbes — his doctor and co-author of a letter describing his case in the… read on >
Following weeks of delay, the White House on Tuesday approved tough new rules for coronavirus vaccine developers that will make it unlikely that a vaccine will be approved before Election Day. The approval came only after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the updated guidelines on its website as part of briefing materials for… read on >
Everyone agrees about the good news — folks whose asthma is spurred on by allergies don’t appear to have an increased risk of life-threatening illness if they contract COVID-19. “Asthma has not risen as one of the top comorbid diseases for worse COVID-19 outcomes,” said Dr. Sandhya Khurana, director of the Mary Parkes Center for… read on >
Black people who have a strong sense of psychological well-being may have better heart health, a new study indicates. It suggests that feelings of optimism and a sense of purpose and control — hallmarks of psychosocial resilience — are more important to heart health than where people live, researchers said. Lead researcher Tené Lewis, an… read on >
Facebook chatter from the anti-vaccination movement now frames the issue as one of civil liberties, a new study finds. As a COVID-19 vaccine gets closer to becoming a reality, opposition from so-called anti-vaxxer groups could become a political movement, researchers warn. For the study, the investigators looked at more than 250,000 posts on 204 Facebook… read on >
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients face an increased risk of developing dangerous blood clots, a new review indicates. The odds of a clot are highest for the most critically ill patients. Analysis of 66 studies found that 23% of COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) developed a blood clot in the leg, known as a… read on >
Wearing a face mask cannot lead to carbon dioxide poisoning, even in people with lung disease, researchers report. The findings counter claims that wearing face masks to prevent spread of the new coronavirus may put some people’s health at risk. The authors of the new study assessed changes in oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in… read on >
The coronavirus pandemic and flu season pose a double risk for heart disease patients, so they need to be extra vigilant about their health, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) says. “Heart disease patients bear a greater burden during the pandemic since they are having to navigate managing their heart health while also protecting themselves… read on >
