Physical therapy for knee arthritis tends to cost patients more out-of-pocket and involves a lot more hassle than a quick steroid shot to soothe an aching joint. But in the long run, physical therapy is at least as cost-effective as steroid injections and is more likely to provide longer-term relief, a new study concludes. “Even… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccines activate long-lasting immune system T-cells that target coronavirus variants of concern, including Delta and Omicron, new research shows. The research team at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California studied adults who were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or Novavax vaccines, but had not received boosters. “The vast… read on > read on >
A robot performed challenging keyhole surgery on pigs without any human help in what could be a major step toward fully automated surgery on people. “Our findings show that we can automate one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in surgery: the reconnection of two ends of an intestine,” said senior study author Axel… read on > read on >
Older people who live near or downwind of fracking sites have an increased risk of premature death, likely due to airborne contaminants from the sites, according to a new study. “There is an urgent need to understand the causal link between living near or downwind of [unconventional oil and gas development] and adverse health effects,”… read on > read on >
Most gene variants that have been labeled “pathogenic” may make only a small difference in a person’s risk of actually developing disease, a new study suggests. Scouring genetic data on more than 72,000 individuals, researchers found that most of the gene variants believed to contribute to disease actually have a minor impact: On average, those… read on > read on >
In response to claims that a man was denied a heart transplant because he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston said Wednesday that its transplant policies mirror those used across the United States. In a crowdfunding appeal for 31-year-old D.J. Ferguson, a father of two, his family said the… read on > read on >
An initial surge in antibody levels against the Omicron variant after a booster dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine wanes within six months, but the antibodies remained effective against it in lab tests, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed antibody levels in volunteers who received the booster after two doses of the Moderna mRNA vaccine.… read on > read on >
A “stealthier” version of the Omicron variant that has been spotted in the United States and dozens of other countries is being closely monitored by health officials and scientists. The variant, called BA.2, has genetic traits that make it somewhat more difficult to detect, and some experts fear it may also be more contagious than… read on > read on >
Moderna Inc. announced Wednesday that it has launched a trial that will study the power of a redesigned booster shot — one that hones in on the highly contagious Omicron variant. The news comes just one day after Pfizer announced that it has started testing its own Omicron-specific shot. In announcing its trial, Moderna also… read on > read on >
They’ve gotten some media headlines recently, but potential menstrual changes associated with getting a COVID vaccine are typically minor and temporary, two new international studies confirm. That’s great news for women, said an expert in fertility and reproductive health. “The studies coming from the UK, US and Norway provide us with significance reassurance that the… read on > read on >
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