An antibody infusion being tested for preventing HIV does not seem to thwart most infections — but its success against certain strains of the virus suggests researchers are on the right track. That’s the takeaway from a clinical trial that put the antibody, called VRC01, to the test in 2,700 people at high risk of… read on > read on >
Research into miscarriages, infertility and birth defects is now primed to undergo revolutionary advances, thanks to the creation in the lab of an early stage of human embryos by two separate international teams of scientists. Both teams were able to use human cells to create artificial blastocysts, an early stage of conception that occurs a… read on > read on >
Most women can have a natural childbirth even if labor doesn’t begin soon after their water breaks, according to a new study. This situation occurs in about 11% of pregnant women who carry to term. Labor is typically induced in such cases. But University of Michigan researchers found there is no significant increased risk to… read on > read on >
If you saunter and shuffle instead of scurry when you walk, you are at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, British researchers warn. For the study, the investigators analyzed data from more than 412,000 middle-aged Britons and found that among those whose weight was normal, slow walkers were more than twice as… read on > read on >
To the lingering damage of COVID-19 infection, add this side effect: New research shows that more than half of those sickened by COVID-19 report depression. Among more than 3,900 people who had COVID-19 surveyed between May 2020 and January 2021, 52% suffered symptoms of major depression, researchers found. “People who have been ill with COVID-19… read on > read on >
This year, COVID-19 has made decisions around surgery tougher than ever for folks who may need one. But one major medical group can help provide some answers. Top on their list: Is it safe to have surgery right now? “It is very safe to have surgery, especially with all of the precautions in place,” said… read on > read on >
Health care workers are more likely to catch COVID-19 at home or in their community than on the job, a new study finds. “The news is reassuring in that it shows the measures taken are working to prevent infections from spreading in health care facilities,” said study co-author Dr. Anthony Harris. He’s professor of epidemiology… read on > read on >
In more good news on the coronavirus vaccine front, a new government report finds that 88% of Americans who get their first COVID-19 shot return for their second. That bodes well for the United States, since full vaccination is vital to stopping the pandemic. In December 2020, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were approved… read on > read on >
As much of the world hunkered down at home over the past year, women shouldered most of the cleaning, laundry and child care — and they are not happy about it. In a series of international surveys on “time use” during the pandemic, researchers found a clear gender divide when it came to chores and… read on > read on >
Even when women do their best to have a safe pregnancy, chemicals commonly found in the home could still raise their risk for premature delivery, a new study shows. The chemicals — called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) — are used as flame retardants in items like furniture and carpets. For the study, researchers analyzed blood… read on > read on >
