As the COVID-19 pandemic transformed everyday lives in 2020, Americans began dwelling on a few key topics, sourdough bread among them. But we were also tweeting about and researching sacrifice, survival and death, according to new research on online trends. Researchers analyzed how Google searches and the phrasing of a half-billion words and phrases on… read on > read on >
The DNA ties that bind: Marriage satisfaction may lie in your genes, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of Arkansas looked at 71 newly married couples, asking them to complete a survey three months after marriage and again every four months for four years. They also tested their DNA. Recent research indicates that… read on > read on >
The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants could require a quick pivot on the part of pharmaceutical and medical device companies, to help stay one step ahead of COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued guidelines Monday encouraging drug and test developers to pay attention to new coronavirus variants and be prepared to make that… read on > read on >
New research offers up hopeful news for the millions of people struggling with panic disorder. Two relatively brief types of psychotherapy can help alleviate the often-debilitating symptoms of this anxiety disorder. Fully 70% of people showed improvements in panic disorder symptoms and 45% were symptom-free in about 12 weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or… read on > read on >
While coronavirus infections in America plunge to levels not seen in months, the country prepares to mark the devastating toll of 500,000 dead so far in the pandemic. The seven-day rolling average is now under 65,000 and the daily death toll is also dropping, with fatalities decreasing by 30 percent in the past week, the… read on > read on >
A new combo pill can substantially reduce bleeding caused by uterine fibroids — possibly offering some women yet another alternative to surgery, a new trial finds. The once-daily medication, which combines a drug called relugolix with estrogen and progestin, is not yet approved in the United States. But it is under review by the U.S.… read on > read on >
Worried or wondering about COVID-19 vaccines? Many Americans are, so experts at Penn State Health are offering some reassuring insight. “People are approaching this vaccine with more hesitation because it was approved quickly, but that really just speaks to how far we have come in vaccinology,” said Dr. Mohammad Ali, an infectious disease physician at… read on > read on >
Pregnant women have high COVID-19 infection rates — especially women of color — and they should be near the front of the line for vaccines across the United States, researchers say. “Our data indicates that pregnant people did not avoid the pandemic as we hoped that they would, and communities of color bore the greatest… read on > read on >
Breathing in air that has even low levels of pollution poses a threat to older adults’ heart and lungs, a new study warns. Researchers analyzed medical records of more than 63 million Medicare patients from 2000 to 2016. They found that long-term exposure to low levels of air pollution could increase the risk of pneumonia,… read on > read on >
There was a double dose of good news Friday from COVID vaccine maker Pfizer: The company said just one dose may provide 85% protection against SARS-CoV-2, and vials of the vaccine might not require ultra-cold storage after all. The latter finding could be a game-changer for vaccine distribution, because the need for refrigerators capable of… read on > read on >
