An experimental blood test could help detect pregnant women at increased risk for preeclampsia, a serious high blood pressure condition that can harm both mother and child. Researchers report the test looks at genetic markers found in tiny particles called extracellular vesicles that transfer information between human cells. Women with preeclampsia followed a specific pattern…  read on >  read on >

Many tweens and teens are filling prescriptions for opioids far in advance of surgeries unlikely to be associated with severe pain afterward, a new study says. Worse, a significant minority continue to fill those opioid prescriptions three to six months after surgery, a sign of possible addiction, researchers found. “Our study found that these patients…  read on >  read on >

Restrictive gun laws can decrease suicide rates among children and teenagers, but they don’t seem to lower their risk of being murdered, a new study says. States with laws requiring safe storage of firearms and mandatory waiting periods had lower suicide death rates among kids younger than 18, researchers report. However, no gun laws appeared…  read on >  read on >

New research offers what could become a surprising way to diagnose whether a child has autism: Simply check the makeup of their gut microbiome. In a study published July 8 in the journal Nature Microbiology, scientists analyzed more than 1,600 stool samples from children ages 1 to 13 and found several distinct biological “markers” in the…  read on >  read on >