Nursing home groups divided on proposed increase on bed tax
A proposal late in the legislative session to raise the nursing provider assessment, commonly known as the nursing home bed tax, has split the industry.
No Laughing Matter: Nitrous Oxide for Transrectal Prostate Biopsy
Patient-adjusted nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly called laughing gas, did not reduce anxiety associated with transrectal prostate biopsy but significantly reduced pain as compared with standard anesthesia, a small randomized study showed. Scores on a standardized anxiety questionnaire, the primary endpoint, did not differ significantly between patients randomized to N2O or standard care. However, patents in […]
Epinephrine Was First an Asthma Treatment
This is the first in an occasional series on the origin of commonly used medicines. When epinephrine was first discovered at the turn of the 20th century, it was essentially a drug without a disease. In 1894, two British researchers — physician George Oliver and physiologist Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer — discovered that the extract of […]
Elevated levels of toxic metals in some mixed-fruit juices and soft drinks
A new study has found that some commonly consumed beverages contained levels of toxic metals that exceed federal drinking water standards. Five of the 60 beverages tested contained levels of a toxic metal above federal drinking water standards, according to the study from Tulane University. Two mixed juices had levels of arsenic above the 10 […]
Fiber discovery could shape better gut health
Changing the structure of a dietary fibre commonly found in a range of food products has been found to promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce gas formation, a finding that could help people with intolerances to fibre and irritable bowel conditions. A team of scientists from the University of Nottingham, Quadram Institute Biosciences and the […]
5-ARIs Not Linked to Risk of Dementia Over the Long Term
Men taking 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), commonly used for androgenic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), should be aware of possible adverse psychological effects, researchers warned. In a register-based cohort study of over 2.2 million Swedish men, an increased risk for depression was seen in those taking finasteride (Proscar, Propecia; HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.48-1.75) or […]
A common dietary fiber promotes allergy-like immune responses in preclinical studies
A type of dietary fiber called inulin, commonly used in health supplements and known to have certain anti-inflammatory properties, can also promote an allergy-related type of inflammation in the lung and gut, and other parts of the body, according to a preclinical study from researchers in the Friedman Center for Nutrition and Inflammation and Jill […]
FDA Declares Adderall Shortage Following Supply Delays
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared a nationwide shortage of a medication commonly known by its brand name, Adderall, which is prescribed to tens of millions of people to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy and other conditions. Teva Pharmaceuticals, one of the primary manufacturers of the drug, “is experiencing ongoing intermittent manufacturing delays,” […]
Diets rich in refined fiber may increase liver cancer risk in some individuals
Many people commonly consume fiber-enriched foods to promote weight loss and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. However, in some individuals — particularly those with a silent vascular deformity — consumption of highly refined fiber may increase the risk of liver cancer, new research from The University of Toledo has found. The discovery, […]
6 Signs Of Heart Problems That Have Nothing To Do With Chest Pain
Though chest pain is the symptom most commonly associated with cardiovascular issues, there are a range of atypical symptoms that may indicate something is wrong with the heart. High blood pressure, blood clots, arrhythmias and valve issues can trigger lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath and jaw pain. Because these symptoms aren’t so obviously linked to […]