Premature birth awareness
World Prematurity Day is an observance held on the 17th of November in more than 50 countries worldwide. In the U.S. alone, approximately one in 10 is born prematurely every year. A premature birth is a birth before the 37th week of pregnancy. There are sub-categories of preterm birth listed below: -extremely preterm: less than […]
Melanoma treatment approved by FDA
A new melanoma treatment has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The treatment will now include the addition of cobimetinib to vemurafenib to treat melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be removed surgically and also has a mutated BRAF gene. Skin cancer is the most common […]
New vaccine for cholesterol treatment
A new vaccine, still in its early stages, has reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in both mice and monkeys with just one vaccination according to a recent study. The vaccine targets a protein called PCSK9 that controls cholesterol levels in the blood. By manipulating PCSK9, the researchers are able to lower cholesterol in the blood, LDL is “bad” cholesterol. High […]
Dengue fever in Hawaii
Thirty-three people on Hawaii’s Big Island have become sick with the dengue fever since September. This is the first outbreak in the state since 2011 when five people were infected. Twenty-five are residents of the Big Island, while eight were visitors. All patients are either undergoing treatment or have recovered. According to the Centers for Disease […]
E. Coli outbreak in U.S.
An E. Coli outbreak in Washington State and Oregon has caused Chipotle to shut down 43 restaurants. This outbreak is the third in 2015 alone. There is a current investigation to 19 cases of E.Coli reported in Washington and three cases in Oregon. Eight people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported. The […]
Opioid abuse clues
Opioid abuse and misuse account for a majority of injury deaths in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summary says state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) can and should used as a deterrent. “Every day, 44 people die in American communities from an overdose of […]
TB vaccine protects monkeys
A new, experimental aerosol tuberculosis, TB vaccine produced strong immune responses in a small number of rhesus monkeys and also protected against pulmonary infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The Bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is the only vaccine available to help protect against TB infection. The current vaccine has many limitations and could be improved. According to Nature Communications, researchers funded […]
Diagnosing strep throat
Strep throat infections may clear without medication while others need antibiotic treatment. To get proper treatment, it is important to get properly diagnosed. Doctors may run simple lab tests to check for strep throat. Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. Group A strep bacteria is through an infected […]
Protect your hearing month
Hearing loss caused by loud noise exposure is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. About 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to dangerously loud noise each year. Who is at risk? Noise levels over 85 decibels can be damaging to anyone’s ears. According to the Centers for Disease Control and […]
Maintaining a healthy heart age
One way to assess your risk for heart attack and strokes is to learn your heart age. Heart age is based on risk factors. Some you can not control such as family history and age. Factors that can be changed include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and diabetes. Changing unhealthy habits can make […]
Human plague cases in U.S.
Human plague has been reported in the following six states as of April 2015: Arizona (two) California (one) Colorado (four) Georgia (one) New Mexico (two) Oregon (one). The Georgia and California cases have been linked to exposures at or near Yosemite National Park. Three patients ages 16, 52, and 79 years have died as a result […]
ADHD and children
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become the most common childhood disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), ADHD often begins between the ages of 3 and 6 years. There are three types of ADHD: inattentive (trouble focusing, following instructions, and finishing tasks) hyperactive-impulsive (constantly on the go, talking excessively, and interrupting […]