Friday's Health News in Snippets
16/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
15/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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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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Wednesday's Health News in Snippets
14/JUN/2023
Tuesday's Health News in Snippets
13/JUN/2023
A mother of three who performed an abortion after the permitted period received a sentence of more than two years in prison.
Carla Foster, 44, was prescribed the drug after lying during a telephone consultation about how far along she was in her pregnancy.
Pregnancies up to 10 weeks may be terminated at home thanks to the "pills by post" program, which was implemented during lockdown.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was informed that the woman was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant at the time she took the pills.
Up to 24 weeks, abortion is legal. However, the procedure is done in a clinic after 10 weeks.
Foster, according to the prosecution, searched online and gave false information knowing she had exceeded the time limit, which they claimed showed "careful planning."
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Antibiotic resistance genes are much more pervasive in our environment than was previously thought. The risk of resistance genes spreading and worsening the issue of bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotic treatment is demonstrated by a recent study from Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
A major threat to global health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is antibiotic resistance. It becomes difficult or impossible to treat diseases like pneumonia, wound infections, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infections when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. The UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG) estimates that 700,000 people per year pass away from infections brought on by bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
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At the age of 21, Anthony Seward's left hand got caught in an exposed factory machine, forcing him to quit his dream job for good, or so he believed.
He had only been employed by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) for a year when, in 2017, he was "degloved" at a side job by an industrial mangle.
One surgical procedure involved creating a "pocket" inside the patient's stomach with his limb, which miraculously kept it alive for three weeks.
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Monday's Health News in Snippets
12/JUN/2023
The successful delivery of identical twins who shared the same amniotic sac, blood flow, and placenta has been hailed by their mother as "miraculous."
The births of Wylder and Gem Chapman were delayed by 2.5 months.
When doctors noticed blood flowing from one of the twins to the placenta, they made the decision to deliver the babies.
The other twin was beginning to benefit from him, according to their father Leigh Chapman.
The potential for fatal complications existed.
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All dogs can bite, experts warned parents, as they expect a rise in attacks during the summer vacation.
We never anticipate our own dogs biting, but all dogs have the potential to do so, according to Dr. Samantha Gaines, head of companion animals at the RSPCA.
After 1,726 children were admitted to hospitals in 2022, Dr. Gaines deemed the statistics concerning. The mother of Jack Lis, 10, who died in 2021 after being mauled by an XL Bully, has endorsed the Mirror's campaign for legislation to stop maulings.
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A woman who was bitten by the only venomous snake in Britain and spent two days in the hospital said she is lucky to be alive.
On Wednesday, an adder jumped on Beau Avis as she was walking Bonnie in sandals down a country road near Brentwood, Essex. It bit into her ankle and within minutes, she went into anaphylactic shock.
The 26-year-old was rushed to Queen's Hospital in Romford, where doctors by chance had anti-venom on hand. Fortunately, she was with her dad Kevin at the time.
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Man, 64, who couldn't get NHS dental appointment is diagnosed with cancer after paying £50 to go private
After being forced to pay £50 to go private because he couldn't get a dental appointment on the NHS, a 64-year-old man was diagnosed with cancer.
Last winter, Ray, a retired NHS employee, started experiencing pain and swelling in his jaw, which he attributed to having just had a tooth extracted.
When the pain persisted, he called his dentist, who informed him that there were already 800 people on the waiting list. However, the practice claimed that if he paid to go private, he could get an appointment within a week.
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