A subtype of the Delta variant is causing a growing number of infections in the United Kingdom and is being closely monitored there and in other countries. During the week of Sept. 27, the AY.4.2 variant accounted for about 6% of cases in the U.K. and is “on an increasing trajectory,” according to the U.K.… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Depression, Anxiety Could Raise a Pregnant Woman’s Odds for C-Section
FRIDAY, Oct. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) – While anxiety and depression in pregnant women have already been linked to low birth weight and preterm birth, they may also contribute to higher rates of cesarean deliveries. Researchers called the study among the largest to document a link between mood and anxiety disorders and first-time C-sections among… read on > read on >
Good Sleep May Help Babies Avoid Obesity as They Grow
You’ve probably heard that getting better sleep can be good for your waistline. The same appears to be true for your baby. Newborns who get more sleep and wake up less during the night are less likely to become overweight in infancy, according to a just-published study. “While an association between insufficient sleep and weight… read on > read on >
Confusion, Seizures: People Hospitalized After Taking Veterinary Drug for COVID
It’s a drug that’s been supported by some conservative media figures, but taking ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 might land you in the hospital, a new study warns. Interest in the drug surged last summer as the highly contagious Delta variant took over the United States. But instead of protecting against the virus, the… read on > read on >
Moving Monoclonal Antibody Treatments for COVID From Hospital to Home
Antibody infusions help keep high-risk COVID-19 patients out of the hospital, but getting the therapy can be a challenge. One U.S. health system has found a creative way to address the problem: home infusions administered by paramedics. Researchers found that the tactic was feasible, delivering antibody infusions to 144 COVID-19 patients in their homes over… read on > read on >
Slings, Other ‘Baby-Wearing’ Products Leave Infants at Injury Risk: Study
Slings and other popular “baby-wearing” products have sent thousands of U.S. infants to the emergency room in the past decade, a new study finds. Researchers estimate that between 2011 and 2020, more than 14,000 infants nationwide ended up in an ER because of an injury related to a baby sling or other carrier. In more… read on > read on >
Sex of Fetus May Matter When COVID Strikes in Pregnancy
When a pregnant woman is infected with COVID-19, the sex of the fetus may influence immune system activity, researchers say. The new study included 68 mothers-to-be. Thirty-eight developed COVID-19 during their third trimester, while 30 remained virus-free. In both groups, half of the fetuses were male and half were female. In the infected women, male… read on > read on >
Ten Years On, Gene Therapy Still Beating Most Cases of ‘Bubble Boy’ Immune Disease
Nine of 10 patients with so-called “bubble boy” immune disease who received gene therapy about a decade ago are still disease-free, researchers report. The gene therapy was developed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to treat the rare and deadly immune system disorder formally known as adenosine deaminase–deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID). It’s… read on > read on >
Even With Mild COVID, Obesity May Mean Worse Symptoms
Obese people have a tougher time fighting COVID-19, even if they have a milder form of the virus, a new study finds. Researchers looked at more than 500 patients who tested positive for COVID but didn’t require hospitalization. Teens and adults who were overweight or obese had more symptoms, including cough and shortness of breath,… read on > read on >
Switch to Vaping Won’t Help Ex-Smokers Quit for Good: Study
Smokers may think electronic cigarettes will help them quit, but a new study finds no evidence that’s the case. Researchers found that among Americans who’d recently quit smoking, those who were using e-cigarettes were just as likely to relapse in the next year as non-users were. And the risk of relapse was actually slightly increased… read on > read on >