Babies born via cesarean section may not mount as strong an immune response after some childhood vaccines compared to babies delivered vaginally, researchers suggest. Antibody levels can be checked in blood or saliva, and babies born vaginally had higher levels of antibodies in their saliva to pneumonia shots at one year and meningococcal shots at… read on > read on >
Though the COVID-19 pandemic has eased, a mental health crisis persists, a nationwide survey of U.S. psychologists reveals. And growing demand for help with depression, anxiety and substance use issues means many psychologists across the United States are unable to take on new patients, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2022 COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey… read on > read on >
One in 5 privately insured American adults hospitalized for a traumatic injury end up with medical bills they can’t pay, a new study finds. Among more than 3,100 working-aged insured adults who suffered a traumatic injury, the risk of incurring co-pays and deductibles they couldn’t afford was 23% higher than among similar adults without traumatic… read on > read on >
Uterine fibroids can cause uncontrolled bleeding and infertility in women, and now a new study finds an unexpected culprit: Toxic chemicals called phthalates that are present in everything from fast-food packaging to plastic water bottles. “We detected the phthalate DEHP and its breakdown products in much higher quantities in the urine of women who also… read on > read on >
Too few people are getting screened for lung cancer. This is the message from the American Lung Association’s 2022 “State of Lung Cancer” report. Less than 6% of eligible Americans have been screened for lung cancer, and in some states, lung cancer screening rates are as low as 1%. In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services… read on > read on >
Patients with advanced ankle osteoarthritis have two surgical options to restore their quality of life, and the good news is a new study shows both have good outcomes. Deciding which one is better depends on the patient. “Our aim in this trial was to provide the data that patients need to make informed decisions about… read on > read on >
A new immunotherapy gel being tested in pet dogs could pave the way for gentler and more effective treatment of one of the most common childhood cancers, researchers say. Sarcoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs, affecting the bones and soft tissues. It’s also the third most common cancer in children, with… read on > read on >
Moderna, Inc., announced Monday that its updated booster shot triggers strong antibody responses against three Omicron subvariants. “We are pleased to see that both of our bivalent booster vaccine candidates offer superior protection against Omicron BA.4/BA.5 variants compared to our original booster, which is encouraging given COVID-19 remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death… read on > read on >
Illinois has seen a recent surge in the number of kids arriving in the emergency room for suicidal thoughts — both during and shortly before the pandemic, according to a new study. Among kids ages 5 to 19, ER visits for suicidal thoughts rose by 59% across the state between 2016 and 2021, researchers found.… read on > read on >
The EpiPen is a known lifesaver when someone with a serious food allergy eats something they can’t tolerate. Yet the auto-injection treatment is greatly underused in the United States, according to a new survey. Just over half of at-risk adults said they had ever been prescribed the device, researchers found. And more than one-third of… read on > read on >
