A new urine test might help doctors more easily screen for cervical cancer, researchers report. The test looks for proteins generated by a type of cancer-causing human papillomavirus, HPV 16. HPV strains 16 and 18 are responsible for nearly all cervical cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute. These proteins, called E7 proteins, are associated… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Cutting Out Meat Could Cut Diabetes Rates
If it would stave off heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer, would you swear off bacon and burgers? A new international simulation projects cutting Americans’ intake of processed meat alone by 30% could head off more than 350,000 cases of diabetes in the United States over 10 years, along with 92,500 cases of heart disease… read on > read on >
After Cardiac Arrest, Women More Likely to Suffer Anxiety, Depression Than Men
Women who survive cardiac arrest are more likely to suffer anxiety or depression than male survivors, a new study warns. Data regarding the five-year health consequences of a cardiac arrest revealed “most significantly a 50% rise in antidepressant prescription in the first year among women that was not mirrored in men,” said researcher Robin Smits,… read on > read on >
Study Shows RSV Vaccine Safe in Late Pregnancy
Expectant mothers who get vaccinated to protect their newborns against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are not putting themselves or their babies at risk, new research affirms. It found that getting the shot during late pregnancy was not associated with increased odds of preterm birth or other outcomes. The difference in preterm birth rates between vaccinated… read on > read on >
New ER Program Helped More Patients Get Needed Hospice Care
One hospital’s push to transition patients who are nearing the end of life from the emergency room to hospice care appears to be working. After the program went into effect, 54% of ER patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston transitioned to hospice care within 96 hours. That compared to 22% before the program… read on > read on >
Air Pollution Exposure Tied to 40% Drop in Live Births Among IVF Patients
Exposure to air pollution can significantly reduce the odds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) leading to a live birth, a new study says. The odds of a live birth are nearly 40% lower in women heavily exposed to particle pollution in the two weeks before her eggs were collected for IVF, compared to those with… read on > read on >
When Bills Become an Issue, Couples Stop Communicating
If you and your partner fall silent when vexing money issues arise, new research suggests you are not alone. A team from Cornell University found that the more stressed people were about their finances, the less likely they were to discuss those concerns with their romantic partners. The findings were published recently in the Journal… read on > read on >
About 1 in 8 Americans Has Been Diagnosed With Chronic Insomnia
Millions of Americans struggle to fall or stay asleep, a new survey finds. Some struggle more mightily than others: Roughly 12% of Americans polled said they have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) survey revealed. Who was the most likely to miss out on good sleep? Men (13%) were… read on > read on >
Unsafe Neighborhoods Could Drive Up Smoking Rates
It may sound far-fetched, but new research suggests that living in dangerous neighborhoods could trigger an unintended health harm: higher smoking rates among residents. “High levels of neighborhood threat shape perceptions of powerlessness among residents, amplifying a general sense of mistrust, that can promote maladaptive coping behavior like smoking,” said researcher Michael Zvolensky, a professor… read on > read on >
U.S. Government to Pay Moderna $176 Million to Develop mRNA Flu Vaccine
U.S. health officials announced Tuesday that the federal government will pay Moderna $176 million to speed development of a pandemic flu vaccine based on mRNA technology. Such a vaccine could be used to treat bird flu in people, as concern grows about H5N1 cases spreading in dairy cows across the country, the U.S. Department of Health and… read on > read on >