Hospitals Face Tough Choices as Lockdown in China Disrupts IV Contrast Supply
Shortages of iohexol and iodixanol intravenous contrast media products have been reported after a GE Healthcare production facility in Shanghai experienced an unexpected, temporary shutdown last month during a COVID-19-related lockdown in the city. Though the preeminent supplier is back up and running, it may take until July to right the resulting shortage. Accordingly, hospitals […]
Flu causes cardiac complications by directly infecting the heart: In mouse study, heart is unaffected by lung inflammation alone
Researchers have shown for the first time in mice that heart problems associated with the flu are not caused by raging inflammation in the lungs, as has long been predicted. Instead, the Ohio State University study revealed, the electrical malfunctions and heart scarring seen in some of the sickest flu patients are caused by direct […]
New York Doc Tries to Take Down No Surprises Act
Healthcare organizations have already sued the federal government over its interpretation of the No Surprises Act, but one Long Island physician has declared the new law designed to protect patients from surprise billing flat-out unconstitutional. Acute care surgeon Daniel Haller, MD, of Rockville Centre, New York, filed a lawsuit in December 2021 against HHS, among […]
Diets high in fiber associated with less antibiotic resistance in gut bacteria
Healthy adults who eat a diverse diet with at least 8-10 grams of soluble fiber a day have fewer antibiotic-resistant microbes in their guts, according to a study published by Agricultural Research Service scientists and their colleagues in mBio. Microbes that have resistance to various commonly used antibiotics such as tetracycline and aminoglycoside are a […]
Emissions tied to the international trade of agricultural goods are rising
Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions have drawn the clearest line yet connecting consumers of agricultural produce in wealthier countries in Asia, Europe and North America with a growth in greenhouse gas emissions in less-developed nations, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. In a paper published today in Science, the […]
Self-propelled, endlessly programmable artificial cilia: Simple microstructures that bend, twist and perform stroke-like motions could be used for soft robotics, medical devices and more
For years, scientists have been attempting to engineer tiny, artificial cilia for miniature robotic systems that can perform complex motions, including bending, twisting, and reversing. Building these smaller-than-a-human-hair microstructures typically requires multi-step fabrication processes and varying stimuli to create the complex movements, limiting their wide-scale applications. Now, researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School […]
Cutting calories and eating at the right time of day leads to longer life in mice
One recipe for longevity is simple, if not easy to follow: eat less. Studies in a variety of animals have shown that restricting calories can lead to a longer, healthier life. Now, new research suggests that the body’s daily rhythms play a big part in this longevity effect. Eating only during their most active time […]
Young Cancer Survivors Face Higher Risk of Death From Second Malignancies
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have a significantly increased risk for developing a new cancer and dying from that cancer, according to a population-based study. These younger cancer survivors had a 25% higher risk for cancer incidence, and an 84% higher risk for cancer death, compared with the general population, reported Hyuna Sung, […]
Mental illness plays havoc with the mind as well as the heart
University of South Australia scientists have uncovered another reason why society should be paying more attention to mental health: it is closely aligned to blood pressure and heart rate variations. A new study published in BioMedical Engineering draws a link between mental illness and widely fluctuating blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular disease and […]
New Data On Youth Mental Health Is Here ― And It’s Not Good
The past couple of years have not been good for many kids’ mental health, but new data offers some devastating insight into the toll. On Monday, Mental Health America released an analysis of 5.4 million online mental health screenings people took through the organization’s website in 2021. According to the report, 45% of individuals who […]