Genotype Tied to Azathioprine Discontinuation for Toxicity
Patients with inflammatory conditions who have the CC genotype were at greater risk both for discontinuing the use of azathioprine (Imuran) due to hematopoietic toxicity and for needing to switch to lower doses, a retrospective cohort study found. In a competing-risk analysis involving over 1,400 such patients starting on azathioprine, those who carried the CC […]
What Triggers Ramsay Hunt Syndrome? Treatment, Symptoms & Recovery
Ramsay Hunt syndrome may be triggered by conditions that weaken the immune system, such as COVID-19 or the shingles virus. Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus in the facial nerve. In most individuals, the varicella zoster virus may stay dormant by immune system activity. What specifically triggers […]
Abbott Formula Plant Was ‘Unacceptably Insanitary,’ FDA Chief Tells Lawmakers
WASHINGTON — FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, expressed disgust and disappointment over the conditions at the Abbott baby formula manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan, while an Abbott official apologized and vowed to ensure that the problem would not return. “There is no dispute that the facility was unacceptably insanitary” when FDA inspectors went to see […]
Polynesian Island yields ‘treasure trove’ of fungal biodiversity
The islands of the South Pacific are a hot spot for biodiversity, but their jagged peaks, hot and humid conditions, and remote locations have limited scientists’ ability to document the many fantastic forms of life in the region. In a new study published this week in the Journal of Biogeography, researchers from the University of […]
Do older adults using statins have lower risk of developing Parkinsonism later? Study finds drug therapy associated with 16% lower risk
Parkinsonism is a term for a group of neurological conditions that cause movement problems including tremors, slowed movement and stiffness, with Parkinson’s disease being one of the better knowns causes. A new study suggests that older people taking statin drugs have a lower chance of developing parkinsonism later compared to people who were not taking […]
Nature vs. Nurture: Effects on Genes, Mental & Physical Health
Your Genes and Disease Some genetic diseases and conditions are inherited from your family, while others are caused by changes or mutations in a pre-existing gene, or group of genes. These gene mutations can occur from an environmental exposure or randomly. Click for more about your genes and disease » What is nature vs. nurture […]
Let PCPs Guide Post-COVID Care, CDC Staff Urges
When it comes to diagnosing post-COVID conditions (or so-called long COVID), Michael Saag, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, referred to the first line of an old Buffalo Springfield song in a call with clinicians on Thursday. “There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear,” Saag said. CDC, which hosted the […]
Too dry, too hot, or too wet: Increasing weather persistence in European summer
“In our study, we show that persistent weather conditions have an increasing similarity in summer over the North Atlantic, Europe and Siberia, favoring more pronounced extreme weather events. In Europe alone, about 70% of the land area is already affected by more persistent weather situations,” says Peter Hoffmann from the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research […]
Trees on the move: Researchers reveal how wildfire accelerates forest changes
Refugees are on the move in forests across the western U.S. As climate conditions change, the ranges of tree species are shifting, especially toward cooler or wetter sites. A new Stanford analysis provides some of the first empirical evidence that wildfire is accelerating this process, likely by reducing competition from established species. The study, published […]
Artificial intelligence to help predict Arctic sea ice loss
A new AI (artificial intelligence) tool is set to enable scientists to more accurately forecast Arctic sea ice conditions months into the future. The improved predictions could underpin new early-warning systems that protect Arctic wildlife and coastal communities from the impacts of sea ice loss. Published this week (Thursday 26 August) in the journal Nature […]