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Simple Paper Strip Test Could Detect Flu and Tell Patients What Strain They Have
A simple paper strip test may help more patients find out which type of flu they have and whether antiviral meds will help. Right now, fewer than 1% of people get tested because it takes trained personnel, specialized equipment, and freezers to store reagents. Researchers from MIT, Harvard and Princeton have now developed a low-cost paper strip test that distinguishes between the two main types of seasonal flu --- influenza A and B --- as well as the subtypes H1N1 and H3N2. The new test is based on a technology called SHINE, which identifies specific sequences of viral RNA in samples. SHINE was first used to detect for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
Summer COVID Cases Are Rising Across America
TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- As scorching summer temperatures drive Americans indoors and millions travel for vacations and family gatherings, COVID infections are again climbing, U.S. health officials warned Monday. In evidence that suggests a COVID summer wave is underway, case counts are most likely increasing in 39 states and aren’t declining anywhere in the country, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. While the CDC no longer tracks COVID cases, it still estimates spread of the virus using data on emergency department visits. Both COVID deaths and emergency department visits have risen in the last week, while hospitalizations climbed 25% from May 26 to June 1, according to the latest CDC data. “It looks like the summer wave is starting to begin,” Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, told NBC News.
U.S. Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Emergency
TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Gun violence in the United States has become a national public health crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General declared Tuesday. "Today, for the first time in the history of our office, I am issuing a Surgeon General's Advisory on firearm violence. It outlines the urgent threat firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of our country," Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a news release announcing the new health advisory. "As a doctor, I've seen the consequences of firearm violence up close," he added. "These are moms and dads, sons and daughters, all of whom were robbed of their physical and mental health by senseless acts of violence." "Unfortunately, the problem has continued to grow. Fifty-four percent of adults in America report that they or family member have experienced a firearm-related incident, whether they've been personally threatened with or injured by a firearm, lost a family member, witnessed a shooting or shot a firearm in self-defense."
Wegovy Helps Heart Failure Patients Lose Weight, Improve Symptoms
The weight-loss drug semaglutide appears to improve heart failure symptoms Men and women both had fewer symptoms and better physical function after taking semaglutide Women lost more weight, but heart failure benefits were similar with those in men TUESDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy can improve symptoms in heart failure patients, a new clinical trial shows.
Despite Falling Out of Favor With Doctors, Daily Aspirin Still Popular
In 2019, major cardiologists' groups turned against the routine use of daily low-dose aspirin But new survey data shows that by 2021, almost 30% of Americans ages 60 or older were still taking one every day Because risks from aspirin might exceed benefits, experts urge that patients talk the issue over with their doctors TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- For decades, millions of Americans popped a low-dose aspirin each day to lower their heart risks.
Loneliness Can Raise Older People's Odds for Stroke
New research finds that loneliness appears tied to higher stroke risk in folks over 50 The main risk came from chronic, not intermittent, loneliness Easing people's loneliness could have a profound effect on their health TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A lonely middle and old age could bring higher odds for a stroke, new data suggests.
Healthy Weight Loss Could Lower Your Odds for Cancer
Losing weight can improve a person’s odds against getting cancer Shedding pounds over a 10-year period was associated with lower risk of cancers related to obesity It also protected against some cancers not related to obesity TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Losing weight can protect you against cancers related to obesity, a new study finds.
Simple Paper-Strip Test Might Spot Flu, and Which Type You Have
A cheap, easy paper strip test can be used to diagnose flu The test also can identify the type of flu a person has The test was created from technology first used to identify COVID-19 TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A simple and inexpensive paper strip test could help diagnose a case of the flu, and even identify the influenza strain that caused it, a new study finds.
Cholesterol Med Might Slow Vision Loss in People With Diabetes
A well-known cholesterol drug appears to slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy People taking fenofibrate had a 27% reduced progression of the eye disease The drug also cut the risk of macular edema TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A well-established cholesterol-lowering drug appears to significantly slow the progression of a diabetes-related eye disease, a new trial shows.
U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Decline for First Time Since Pandemic
The annual rate of pedestrian deaths among Americans declined in 2023 for the first time since the pandemic Rates are still above pre-pandemic levels, however You're more vulnerable walking along streets at night than day, research shows TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- For the first time since the pandemic, it got a little safer to cross America's streets in 2023, new statistics show.
Stem Cell Therapy Could Be Breakthrough Against Type 1 Diabetes
An experimental stem cell therapy could potentially cure type 1 diabetes Seven out of 12 patients no longer needed insulin shots after receiving the therapy The therapy introduces stem cell-derived islet cells into the pancreas, restoring natural production of insulin TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental stem cell therapy can essentially cure type 1 diabetes by restoring insulin production in some patients, early clinical trial results show.
U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case on Medical Care for Transgender Youth
MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it would hear a case on a Tennessee law that bans transgender minors from receiving certain medical treatments in that state. The banned treatments include puberty-blocking drugs or hormonal therapies. It's the first time the court will hear arguments regarding transitional medical care for transgender youth. The issue is whether the new law violates the Constitutional rights of those seeking such care, according to the Biden Administration, which has asked that the court take up the case, United States v. Skrmetti.
Rates of Distress, Depression Have Doubled Among Transgender Americans Since 2014
Data from 2014 to 2022 shows a doubling of distress and depression among transgender and gender-diverse U.S. adults The trend correlates with increasing legal and social restrictions placed on this community, researchers say Even the physical health of trans and non-binary people appears to be suffering MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of self-reported mental distress and depression among American adults who identify as transgender or gender-diverse (TGD) has more than doubled between 2014 and 2022, an analysis of federal health data reveals.
Texas' 2021 Abortion Ban Tied to Rise in Infant Deaths
Texas enacted a ban on abortions in 2021, and new data suggests that infant deaths rose soon after Deaths linked to birth defects rose especially sharply a year after the ban Experts worry the Texas data is but a harbinger of national trends to come, following the 2022 Dobbs decision MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Following state legislation passed in 2021 that essentially banned abortion in Texas, the rate of infant deaths rose by almost 13%, compared to a much smaller 1.8% rise nationwide, a new study finds.
Medication Abortion Without Ultrasound Is Safe: Study
Medication abortion can be safely provided without an ultrasound, new research shows Women prescribed the pills via telehealth did just as well as those who had an in-clinic visit with an ultrasound Earlier research showed medication abortion using pills sent in the mail also is safe MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Women don’t need an ultrasound to have a safe medication abortion, a new study says.
Chicago Man Undergoes Kidney Transplant While Awake
28-year-old John Nicholas has a new kidney thanks to a miracle donation by his best friend, but that’s not the only amazing thing about his journey to health. Nicholas is the first patient at Northwestern Medicine to undergo a kidney transplant while awake for the entire surgery. Instead of using general anesthesia, surgeons used a single-spinal anesthesia shot. “The spinal is something that we use for other types of surgeries, including abdominal and pelvic surgery, and the most clear, probably the most clear example that comes to mind are cesarean sections, says Vicente A. Garcia Tomas, MD. Nicholas started having kidney issues at the age of 16 and by 2022 needed a transplant. His mother planned on being his donor but was unable to after a breast cancer diagnosis. So, he reached out to his childhood friends and found a match.
Twice-a-Year Injection Gives Women Full Protection Against HIV, Trial Finds
MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Just two injections a year of a new HIV drug protected young women in Africa from infection with the sexually transmitted disease, new trial results show. In announcing the findings, Gilead Sciences Inc. said its HIV medication lenacapavir demonstrated 100% efficacy as a preventive treatment. This is the first round of data generated from Gilead’s PURPOSE program, a collection of five HIV prevention trials that are being conducted around the world, the company noted. “With zero infections and 100% efficacy, twice-yearly lenacapavir has demonstrated its potential as an important new tool to help prevent HIV infections,” Gilead Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merdad Parsey, said in a news release announcing the results. “We look forward to additional results from the ongoing PURPOSE clinical program and continuing toward our goal of helping to end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.”
FDA's Move to OK First Menthol Vapes Is Big Mistake, Health Advocates Say
MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision to authorize the first menthol-flavored e-cigarettes has drawn the the ire of health advocates who say the decision undermines efforts to end the youth vaping epidemic in America. In its approval of four flavored vaping products made by Njoy, the agency defended its decision. “Based upon our rigorous scientific review, in this instance, the strength of evidence of benefits to adult smokers from completely switching to a less harmful product was sufficient to outweigh the risks to youth," Matthew Farrelly, director of the Office of Science in the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said in an agency news release announcing the authorization. But that argument did not convince anti-tobacco groups and health advocates.
'A Pretty Cool Experience:' Having a Kidney Transplant While Awake
Doctors at Northwestern Medicine have performed the hospital's first kidney transplant surgery on an awake patient A spinal injection was used to anesthetize him while he remained awake The patient left the hospital the next day MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- John Nicolas was deep into kidney transplant surgery when he decided to ask his doctors if they’d started yet.
Inhaled Insulin Could Help Folks With Type 1 Diabetes Avoid Needles
Inhaled insulin could work as well or better than injected insulin or insulin pumps, a new clinical trial says Many patients using inhaled insulin achieved better control of blood sugar levels, on average, than those using traditional insulin methods However, about a quarter of patients on inhaled insulin had their blood sugar levels worsen MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Inhaled insulin could be a better option than injections or pumps for some patients with type 1 diabetes, a new clinical trial shows.
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