The “love hormone” oxytocin may be able to turn highly territorial lions into social sweethearts, researchers say. Lions typically guard their turf fiercely, which can be a problem when they’re on reserves or in captivity and have less space to share than they do in the wild. The authors of a study published online March… read on > read on >
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Computer Helps ‘Locked-In’ ALS Patients Communicate, Shop Online
A handful of “locked-in” amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients can now work a laptop computer using their brain waves, thanks to an implant lodged in a major vein inside their skull. The implant — a stent lined with 16 miniscule electrodes — is nestled in a vein located near the motor cortex of completely paralyzed… read on > read on >
COVID Vaccine Safe for Kids Who’ve Had MIS-C, Small Study Suggests
COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe for kids who have had a rare complication called MIS-C after being infected by the coronavirus, according to a new small study. Some kids get MIS-C — shorthand for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children — four to six weeks after a bout with COVID. Many have few or no… read on > read on >
CDC Supports 2nd Booster Shots for Americans 50 and Older
Hours after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster shot of the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines for people 50 and older, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced its support for the move. Echoing the FDA, the CDC also recommended a second booster for “certain immune-compromised Individuals.” “Boosters are… read on > read on >
Does Social Media Harm Kids? It Might Depend on Their Age
Your child’s risk of harm from social media is higher at certain ages and it’s different for girls and boys, researchers report. To figure out how social media use affected “life satisfaction” among 10- to 21-year-olds, the investigators analyzed long-term data on 17,400 young people in the United Kingdom. The new study found key periods… read on > read on >
Cancer Patients Vulnerable to Depression, Suicide
Cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, and now two new studies show these patients are at increased risk for anxiety, depression and suicide. The findings highlight the need for oncologists to pay more attention to their patients’ mental health needs, the authors said. In the first paper, researchers reviewed 28 studies that included more than… read on > read on >
More Balmy Summer Nights, Higher Heart Death Rate in Men
Warm summer nights may leave you tossing and turning in bed, but that could be the least of your worries. Just a slight rise in summer nighttime temperatures increases the risk of heart-related death for men in their 60s, a new study shows. “Considering the growing likelihood of extreme summers in Western USA and the… read on > read on >
Depression Raises Stroke Risk for Heart Attack Survivors
Heart attack survivors with depression have an increased risk of stroke, and more research is needed to find out why, according to the authors of a new study. “There could be a multitude of depression-related factors that are leading to these outcomes,” said lead author Frank Annie, a research scientist at Charleston Area Medical Center… read on > read on >
‘Live’ Type of Flu Shot Is Safe for Kids With Asthma: Study
Yearly flu shots are especially important for kids with asthma as any virus can trigger an asthma attack. But in the not-too-distant future, these kids might be able to get a spritz instead of a jab, new research hints. Current recommendations suggest children with asthma get an inactivated flu shot (the flu virus is dead)… read on > read on >
Will a Little Drinking Help Your Heart? Maybe Not
If you believe an occasional tipple is good for your heart, a new study may make you reconsider the notion. Some previous research has suggested that light drinking may benefit the heart, but this large study concluded that any amount of drinking is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, and that any supposed… read on > read on >