Category: Health News

Scientists publish the most extensive description to date of WAGR syndrome

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have published the most comprehensive description to date of the rare genetic disorder known as WAGR syndrome. This new report identified several clinical issues not classically associated with the disease and provides guidance for proper diagnosis, management, and potential treatment options. The findings were recently published in the

Home-Based System Relieves Refractory Ascites in Cirrhosis

A home-based tunneled peritoneal catheter (PeCa) drainage system provided significant relief for patients with refractory ascites who were not candidates for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). For these patients, the current standard of care is repeated large volume paracentesis, but this can require frequent hospital trips that can be costly and onerous. The PeCa system

Omicron is dominant in wastewater samples in Florida county

Even though there have been practically no cases of clinical infection, wastewater samples show that the new omicron variant is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the Florida county that is home to the nation’s largest theme park resorts, officials said this week. The omicron variant has quickly surpassed the delta variant in collections

COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Less Effective Against Omicron: WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) – Preliminary evidence indicates that COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against infection and transmission linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant, which also carries a higher risk of reinfection, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. The WHO, in its weekly epidemiological update, said that more data was needed to better understand the

Cardiovascular disease risk boosted by stress

The risk of cardiovascular disease rises with an increasing burden of perceived stress, financial problems and adverse life events, a major international study with University of Gothenburg researchers as main authors shows. They were able to link the risk of both heart attack and stroke with high stress levels. The study, published in the journal

Limited recovery from long COVID one year after hospitalisation

People who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and continued to experience symptoms at five months show limited further recovery one year after hospital discharge. The latest results of the PHOSP-COVID study have been released as a pre-print on medRxiv today. This has also confirmed earlier research that people who were less likely to make a full

Survey shows significant decrease in percentage of adolescents reporting substance use in 2021

The percentage of adolescents reporting substance use decreased significantly in 2021, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders in the United States. In line with continued long-term declines in the use of many illicit substances among adolescents previously

FDA Approves First Drug to Prevent GVHD in Cancer Patients

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved abatacept (Orencia) in combination with immunosuppressants for the prevention of acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD) in adults and pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an unrelated donor. Abatacept is the first drug approved for aGVHD prevention and incorporates real-world evidence as one component of the

Most Oncologists Discuss Drug Side Effects, Open to Reduce Doses

Many patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) experience distressing toxicity related to treatment. According to a new survey, all oncologists reported talking to their patients about side effects at every visit and nearly all (97%) were open to lowering medication doses. The findings, presented during a poster session at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer

S.Africa reports daily record of COVID infections

South Africa Wednesday reported its highest daily tally of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, just weeks after announcing the discovery of the Omicron strain. The tally of 26,976 COVID infections topped the previous record of 26,485 on July 3, at the height of the country’s third wave caused by the Delta

Pretty Peas: Doc, Wife Ask Community to Eat Better

The United States has a growing health problem. On account of poor diet choices, particularly those toward highly processed foods, the majority of American adults are overweight or obese, with record numbers of cardiovascular disease and other health ailments as well. Rizwan Bukhari, MD, and Maya Acosta, a husband-and-wife duo in Dallas, Texas, are seeking