Friday's Health News in Snippets
2/JUN/2023
The second RSV vaccine for older adults to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration is Pfizer's offering.
The first RSV vaccine for elderly people in the world, produced by GSK, was approved by the agency earlier in May. Depending on recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its vaccine advisers, who will meet in June, the vaccines could be accessible to seniors by fall.
RSV, also known as respiratory syncytial virus, is a very contagious virus that affects people of all ages with symptoms similar to the flu. Although RSV is frequently thought to be dangerous for infants and young children, it can also be harmful for seniors. Each year, approximately 159,000 seniors 65 and older are hospitalized in the US with RSV, and between 10,000 and 13,000 of them pass away as a result of the infection.
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Scientists investigate how immune system's T cells could fight many coronaviruses at once
Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) are examining how the immune system's T cells respond to a wide range of coronaviruses, from SARS to coronaviruses that cause the common cold. Their objective is to provide guidance for the creation of vaccines that could prevent future pandemics by simultaneously battling various coronavirus types.
Sette and LJI Research Assistant Professor Alba Grifoni, Ph.D., demonstrate in their most recent collaboration, which was published in Cell Reports Medicine, that T cells can recognize a variety of viral targets, or "antigens," which are shared by the majority of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and common cold coronaviruses. They also investigated in greater detail how these "epitopes," or fragments of these antigens, are conserved among various coronaviruses and which antigens they recognize.
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An improvement that could make a breast cancer drug more accessible to a wider range of patients has been found to reduce the likelihood of breast cancer recurring.
The findings regarding the breast cancer medication Kisqali, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved for use in those with more advanced stages of the disease, were released by the pharmaceutical company Novartis on Friday..
The majority of people with breast cancer receive a diagnosis when the disease is still in its early stages. Many people are currently being treated with endocrine therapy and chemotherapy.
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After 25 years of unsuccessful IVF treatments, a determined Scots mother finally delivered her miracle child.
Almost £100,000 was spent on Helen Dalglish's staggering 21 unsuccessful attempts to conceive before she gave birth to Daisy Grace at the age of 53.
After years of heartbreak, the 54-year-old woman spoke to the Daily Record about her joy and how she never gave up on her dream of having children.
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Mum's agony as she's told daughter's headaches mean she has 15 months to live
One mother was in despair after learning that her daughter only had 15 months to live because of her headaches.
Before seeking medical help, teen Hannah Roberts had experienced numerous headaches, strange sensations down one side of her body, and nosebleeds.
The Willington, Derbyshire, resident, who was 18 at the time, was informed that she had a brain tumor.
But after five days, doctors took it out and sent it for more testing; the results, however, would completely upend Hannah's family's life.
Gail Iredale, Hannah's mother, received the devastating news that her daughter had a rare form of glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and quickly proliferating types of brain cancer, in September 2022.
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Thursday's Health News in Snippets
1/JUN/2023
Each cigarette in the new packaging will have a warning label that reads, "Cigarettes cause cancer" and "Poison in every puff."
Health Canada announced that the regulation will go into effect on August 1.
By 2035, the goal is to get Canada's tobacco use down to less than 5%.
Health Canada stated that the new rules "will make it virtually impossible to avoid health warnings" on tobacco products in an announcement on Wednesday.
The health organization projects that by April 2025, Canadian retailers will only stock tobacco products with the new warning labels printed right on the cigarettes.
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New British-designed dialysis machine that can reverse liver disease may be rolled out to NHS hospitals within three years
British researchers have created a dialysis machine that can treat liver failure, giving millions of patients a huge boost.
Early testing of the apparatus revealed that it prevented twice as many patients from experiencing organ failure than existing therapies, marking a first for the world.
The tool, created by researchers at University College London, removes toxins from patients' blood who have liver failure. This eliminates the need for a liver transplant by giving the liver enough time to regenerate itself in as little as a month.
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Babies experiencing hypoxia due to sleep apnea tend to develop hypertension in adulthood
Newborns with sleep apnea tend to experience low oxygen levels in their body tissues, leading to respiratory and blood pressure issues as adults that could last the rest of their lives.
Researchers from Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil conducted a study that was recently published in the journal Sleep. The study demonstrates that hypertension in these situations is brought on by dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood pressure as well as other physiological functions like breathing and heart rate.
The study, which used an animal model, showed that hypertension was linked to neurons in the sympathetic nervous system, the part of the autonomic nervous system that responds to stress, being overactive.
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Teen heart-lung transplant a UK first
Freya, 17, was admitted with organ and heart failure to Cambridge's Royal Papworth Hospital in March 2022.
Her liver and kidneys were able to heal thanks to a device to support her heart.
According to her consultant, this was the first time a patient with the bio-VAD heart insert underwent a double organ transplant.
While a suitable donor was being sought, the insert stayed in Freya's heart for nine months.
After 15 months in the hospital, Freya, who underwent a heart and lung transplant in December of last year, was finally released this week.
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The antiviral drug Paxlovid was fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 in adults who are at risk of developing life-threatening infections.
Under an emergency use authorization, or EUA, paxlovid had been made available for adults and teenagers in the US, with strict restrictions on how the drug could be prescribed.
The criteria for a full FDA approval are more stringent than those for an EUA.
According to a press release from the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, "Today's approval demonstrates that Paxlovid has met the agency's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness, and that it remains an important treatment option for people at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including those with prior immunity.
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New microbial strains unleashed in the fight against plastic pollution
Plastic pollution of natural habitats, clogging of waterways, and threatened extinction of numerous species are all results of plastic overproduction, overuse, and improper disposal. This has inspired researchers to look into cutting-edge techniques that could speed up the degradation or recycling of plastics while still being environmentally responsible.
Her liver and kidneys were able to heal thanks to a device to support her heart.
The breakdown of plastic into short-chain compounds, dimers, and monomers could also be aided by microbial enzymes. This happens as a result of a biofilm that microbial colonies create on the plastic's surface. Within the microbial cells, the digested plastic pieces are further broken down to produce useful compounds like water and carbon dioxide.
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Wednesday's Health News in Snippets
31/MAY/2023
A new antibiotic, discovered with artificial intelligence, may defeat a dangerous superbug
Researchers claim to have discovered a brand-new class of antibiotic that is effective against a particularly dangerous drug-resistant bacteria using artificial intelligence.
The antibiotic controlled the growth of the bacteria when it was tested on the skin of mice that had been artificially infected with the superbug, indicating that the technique could be used to develop antibiotics specifically designed to combat other drug-resistant pathogens.
The antibiotic was also tested against 41 distinct strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria. All of them responded to the medication, but it would need to be improved and put through human clinical trials before it could be used on patients.
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Expert warns using popular skincare ingredient on hot days can increase cancer risk
When it's sunny outside, using a good SPF is crucial because it will reduce the ability of UV rays to penetrate the skin. UV rays can harm skin cells, increasing your risk of developing skin cancer.
However, it's crucial to be mindful of what you apply to your skin because one common ingredient in skincare products may further raise the risk.
When using Retinol during the day when the sun is out, skincare expert and chemical engineer Cigdem Kemal Yilmaz, founder of Skin Masterclass, advises against doing so.
Even though retinol is a fantastic anti-aging product, using it on sunny days can make you more sensitive to UV rays.
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The second most prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), frequently affects adolescents and young adults. Back pain, stiffness, joint inflammation (arthritis), inflammation where tendons attach to bones (enthesitis), and fatigue are all possible AS symptoms. These symptoms over time may result in spinal fusion, which has a significant impact on quality of life, especially in young people.
Unfortunately, it can take up to ten years from the onset of symptoms to diagnose AS, and X-rays are frequently needed. These delays are a result of the condition's gradual progression as well as the absence of a conclusive test.
However, early detection of the condition can make a tremendous difference, halting the degenerative process and preserving a good quality of life for those affected.
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Katie Harpur, 25, was unable to eat without becoming queasy because she had a constant urge to use the restroom.
She lost all but five stone, and she had so little energy that she could hardly move.
In 2014, when she was 16 years old, she finally saw a doctor who took her seriously and received a diagnosis of Crohn's disease.
It was predicted that Katie would eventually require a stoma bag, so in 2019 she had a temporary one installed.
She had the opportunity to make the bag permanent in June of last year, and she attributes this to changing her life.
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It's believed that an insect carrying "breakbone fever," which causes severe muscle and joint pain, is on its way to the UK.
It has been determined that Asian tiger mosquitoes are present in up to 30 nations, including several scattered throughout Europe.
Numerous diseases, including Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya fever, are known to be carried by the tiny predators.
Additionally, they spread dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, which causes a number of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, rashes, headaches, eye pain, muscle, joint, and bone pain.
These typically appear four to ten days after being bitten and frequently go away on their own.
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Married father, 55, diagnosed with stage four CANCER - and he believes it was due to his adventurous sex history as a young man
A stage four throat cancer brought on by a STI was discovered in a married father of one who had a lingering cold.
In 2015, 63-year-old UK resident Steve Bergman first noticed pain down the side of his neck and a series of colds he could not shake.
After noticing a tumor on the actor's right tonsil, medical professionals determined that he had throat cancer. He underwent surgery to remove it, followed by chemotherapy before being told he was cancer-free.
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Tuesday's Health News in Snippets
30/MAY/2023
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Governments need to be ready for a disease even deadlier than Covid-19, the head of the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday.
The WHO's director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told the annual health assembly in Geneva that it was time to move the pandemic-prevention talks forward.
He forewarned that the next major infectious disease would "come knocking" and that nation states could not "kick this can down the road."
If we don't make the necessary changes, who will, according to Dr. Tedros? If not now, when will we make them?
"There is still a risk that a new variant will emerge and cause new outbreaks of disease and fatalities," he continued. And there is still a risk that a new pathogen with even greater potential for death will emerge.
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According to new data, the Scottish government's goal of ending lengthy waits for NHS care was not met.
In order to end outpatient waiting times of more than a year, the previous health secretary Humza Yousaf set a goal last summer.
However, according to Public Health Scotland (PHS) data, 31,498 patients were still on the waiting list as of March of this year.
According to the Scottish government, fewer people are experiencing lengthy waits.
The Scottish government missed a second goal last September to end two-year wait times for planned hospital procedures.
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Scientific breakthrough: AI helps paralyzed man to walk again using only his thoughts
Gert-Jan Oskam, a 40-year-old Dutchman who was born with paralysis in his legs, can now walk easily with the help of only his thoughts. Two implants that helped the man regain communication between his brain and spinal cord led to the scientific discovery and gave him "a freedom that I did not have" before.
A team of researchers from France and Switzerland worked on the technology for more than ten years.
Through the use of a spinal cord implant that sends electrical pulses to stimulate movement in the leg muscles, the team helped three paralyzed patients walk last year. But each time they wanted to move their legs, they had to press a button. As a result, it was challenging to establish the rhythm of a "natural step".
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Researchers have created a digital tool that assesses an individual's inhaler use objectively.
According to research, people who used the device to track medication compliance were more likely to use fewer asthma medications.
The technology, according to the researchers, could aid physicians in selecting patients who would benefit from costly biologic medications.
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Parasitic infections hit the health of low-income Black communities where states have neglected sewage systems
Inferior sewage systems in underprivileged Black communities cause a significant burden of intestinal infections. These infections, which are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide, frequently spread through contaminated soil and water..
A quarter of the world's population is infected with helminths, intestinal parasitic worms that can have a serious negative impact on health.
Additionally, Helicobacter pylori, a stomach-living bacteria that can lead to cancer and ulcers, is present in up to 50% of people worldwide.
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Monday's Health News in Snippets
29/MAY/2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) is being urged by US and Mexican authorities to declare a public health emergency due to a fungal outbreak linked to cosmetic procedures in Mexico.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meningitis claimed the lives of two patients who underwent surgeries under epidural anesthesia.
Nearly 400 people are being watched in the US and Mexico.
In the Mexican city of Matamoros, two cosmetic surgery clinics have closed.
Authorities have urged patients who underwent epidural anesthesia for surgeries at either the River Side Surgical Center or Clinica K-3 since January to get checked out, even if they are not currently experiencing any symptoms.
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According to new research, drinking heavily when you are younger increases your risk of frailty and muscle loss as you age.
The research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom believes that these results are yet another reason to limit alcohol consumption.
Professor Ailsa Welch of UEA's Norwich Medical School stated that problems with weakness and frailty in later life are caused by muscle loss as we age.
We wanted to learn more about the connection between drinking and muscle health as we age because alcohol consumption is a significant modifiable risk factor for many diseases, she said in a university news release.
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AUniversity of California San Diego engineers have created a straightforward, inexpensive clip that measures blood pressure at the user's fingertip using the camera and flash of a smartphone. The clip currently costs about 80 cents to produce and works with a unique smartphone app. When produced in large quantities, the cost, according to the researchers, could be as low as 10 cents per unit.
Scientific Reports published the technology on May 29.
According to researchers, it might make regular blood pressure monitoring simple, affordable, and available to people in communities with limited resources. For example, it could help pregnant women and older people manage conditions like hypertension.
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Combining supplements with prescription drugs may cause treatment failure – Experts
According to pharmacists and doctors, taking prescription medications and dietary supplements simultaneously without consulting a qualified healthcare professional is dangerous.
They pointed out that although some ingredients in supplements are micronutrients, they may interact with medications and result in treatment failure.
The experts advised people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases to talk to their doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements.
They argued that this was crucial to prevent adverse reactions that, especially when used frequently, could result in organ failure and prolonged healing times.
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Doctors say this is the most important virus you’ve never heard of
Respiratory viruses had a particularly active winter this year, with RSV, influenza, and Covid-19 outbreaks dominating. But as it was ending, a little-known virus that shares many of the same symptoms, such as a hacking cough, runny nose, sore throat, and fever, was just beginning to gain ground.
According to respiratory virus surveillance systems run by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, increased this spring. The most vulnerable populations for these infections—young children and the elderly—were overrepresented in hospital intensive care units. Nearly 11% of tested specimens were HMPV positive at its peak in mid-March, a figure that is about 36% higher than the typical, pre-pandemic seasonal peak of 7% test positivity.
However, the majority of those who contracted it likely had no idea they did. Outside of a hospital or emergency room, sick people are not typically tested for it. There is no vaccine or medicine to treat HMPV, unlike Covid-19 and the flu. Instead, doctors treat the symptoms of seriously ill patients.
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Dr. Margaret Erhunmwunsee, president of the Association of Residents Doctors at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Branch, has cautioned women, especially young girls, against using tissue paper and pieces of cloth during menstruation.
She claims that these things can spread infections, which over time could result in infertility.
The medical professional issued the caution while leading the leadership of the Association to observe World Menstrual Hygiene Day with the theme, "Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030," at the Comprehensive Secondary School Atai Otoro, in the Abak Local Government, Akwa Ibom State.
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