by Ernie Mundell Onions spread on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders are the definite source of an outbreak of E. coli illness that’s now affected 90 people nationwide, new evidence from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. “Epidemiologic and traceback information show that fresh, slivered onions are the likely source of illness in this...
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Causal relationship seen between GERD and hypertension
by Lori Solomon There is a positive causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. Weige Li, from the Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine in Nanchang, China, and colleagues investigated the causal relationship between GERD and hypertension using a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. The researchers reported...
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New method to analyze complex genetic data could be the key to tackling rare diseases
by University of Nottingham Credit: CC0 Public Domain Scientists from the University of Nottingham have developed a new method of genetic analysis, which extracts more precise data than previously used methods when looking at DNA, and will improve our understanding of the genetic basis of rare and complex diseases. The findings of the study, which are...
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Is the updated COVID vaccine a good match for the current variant and the emerging strain?
by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert, Northeastern University Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Northeastern University professors of pharmacy say the updated COVID-19 vaccines available for fall and winter of 2024 are a good match for the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 currently in circulation. The mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are not a 100% match since they’re based on...
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Cancer patients who stop smoking within the first six months of diagnosis see improved longevity, study finds
by University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Smokers who are diagnosed with cancer now have more incentive to quit, as researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found survival outcomes were optimized when patients quit smoking within six months of their diagnosis. Study results, published in JAMA...
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RNA editing tool shows potential as a replacement for regular eye injections
by Centre for Eye Research Australia Intravitreal delivery of AAV2.7m8 achieves strong transduction of mice photoreceptors. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2408345121 Australian scientists have successfully used an innovative gene therapy technique in the lab to combat a key cause of vision loss in “wet” age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease....
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Childhood neglect associated with later stroke, COPD, cognitive impairment, and depression
by University of Toronto Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New research from the University of Toronto found that childhood neglect, even in the absence of childhood sexual abuse and physical abuse, is linked with a wide range of mental and physical health problems in adulthood. “While a large body of research has established the detrimental impact of childhood physical...
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Powerful new therapy doubles progression-free survival in advanced breast cancer, clinical trial finds
by Institute of Cancer Research Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumor beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia A powerful, three-drug therapy for aggressive advanced breast cancer doubles the length of time before the cancer progresses, compared with a drug combination currently available on the NHS, new research...
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Does Exercise Intensity Modulate Ghrelin?
TOPLINE: High-intensity exercise suppresses ghrelin levels more than moderate-intensity exercise, leading to a greater reduction in hunger. This effect may be more pronounced in women than in men. METHODOLOGY: TAKEAWAY: IN PRACTICE: “Exercise should be thought of as a ‘drug,’ where the ‘dose’ should be customized based on an individual’s personal goals,” the lead author...
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12 Medications That Cause Hair Loss
Written by Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP | Reviewed by Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS Updated on January 12, 2024print_outlinedemail_outlined Key takeaways: Table of contents Retinoids Antidepressants Blood thinners Anti-seizure meds Beta blockers Antithyroid meds Chemotherapy Tamoxifen Some arthritis meds Allopurinol Levodopa Ozempic Treating hair loss Bottom line References “Rattankun Thongbun”/iStock via Getty Images If you or someone you know...