Escherichia coli(E. coli) is a bacterium that’s found in the environment, foods and intestines of people and animals. Many strains are harmless, but some can make you very sick, causing diarrhea, urinary tract infection, respiratory illness and pneumonia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Certain strains produce a toxin called Shiga, leading… read on >
When it comes to having “the talk,” many teens admit they’re not communicating with their parents or their doctors about sex, new research reveals. “Teens and young adults account for more STIs [sexually transmitted infections] than all other ages combined,” said study co-author Dr. Kari Schneider, an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at… read on >
Dementia can turn even the simple task of getting dressed into a Herculean ordeal. But an experimental automated system called “DRESS” might someday ease that challenge. Using available technology, the system might enable patients to dress themselves without a human assistant. A just completed laboratory trial assessed the system’s ability to use video cameras, tablets,… read on >
The overall quality of care provided by the U.S. Veterans Health Administration is equal to or better than that provided by other health care systems in the United States, a new report says. The Rand Corporation study did find significant variation in quality among individual VA hospitals — but less variation than was seen among… read on >
French Bulldogs can melt your heart with their wrinkled faces and big ears, but they come with a special set of health problems, a new report warns. The breed is becoming the most popular in the United Kingdom, so researchers at the Royal Veterinary College analyzed data from more than 2,200 French Bulldogs that received… read on >
U.S. hospitals are running short of the injectable opioids and anesthesia drugs that most surgery patients need during and after their procedures, a new survey shows. More than 98 percent of anesthesiologists responding to the survey said they regularly experience shortages of these drugs. And recent efforts by the federal government to curb the opioid… read on >
Due to the U.S. opioid epidemic, hepatitis C is up among pregnant women, raising the risk for mother-to-child transmission of the virus, a new study reveals. Hepatitis C can be contracted via dirty needles used by opioid addicts. But just a fraction of newborns exposed to hepatitis C in the womb are screened for the… read on >
Men looking for a wife might need to get a grip — a strong hand grip, that is. Researchers examined data from more than 5,000 adults in Norway to study the association between their marital status and grip strength. They were between ages 59 and 71. Although the study couldn’t prove cause and effect, it… read on >
Teens love their cellphones, but that love affair can turn deadly when they climb behind the wheel of a car. But new research suggests that financial incentives and other measures might help to dissuade young drivers from texting while driving. Many teens who admit to texting while driving said they’d be receptive to cash rewards… read on >
A European woman who needed an implanted brain device got an unwelcome side effect during a storm: Nearby lightning switched the device off. Experts say the phenomenon is likely rare, and the deep brain stimulator device worked fine again once it was turned back on by doctors. Still, it’s a hazard worth looking out for,… read on >
