House committee approves medical aid in dying plan
Discussions on whether to allow Illinoisans near death to medically end their own lives continue into the final days of the legislative session.
Eggs may not be bad for your heart after all
Whether you like your eggs sunny-side up, hard boiled or scrambled, many hesitate to eat them amid concerns that eggs may raise cholesterol levels and be bad for heart health. However, results from a prospective, controlled trial presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session show that over a four-month period cholesterol levels […]
Donor Milk, Formula Go Head-to-Head for Extreme Preemies in the NICU
Whether extremely preterm neonates got nutrient fortified, pasteurized donor milk or preterm formula in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) made little difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes, a randomized clinical trial found. Among newborns fed minimal maternal milk, the adjusted mean Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID) cognitive score at 22 to 26 months […]
What to Know About Lead Toxicity and Kids’ Applesauce
While it’s not clear whether children exposed to recalled applesauce packets have suffered acute lead poisoning, pediatricians should take recent warnings seriously, experts told MedPage Today. Morri Markowitz, MD, director of the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment Program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, New York, told MedPage Today that blood lead […]
Colorado’s Ban on ‘Abortion Reversal’ Tied Up in Court Battle
A fight is raging in Colorado over whether or not the state can ban medication abortion reversal — a procedure that mainstream medicine says isn’t backed by science. Last month, a Trump-appointed federal judge blocked the state from enforcing a ban on the so-called treatment while he considers a legal challenge brought by the Bella […]
Pre-COPD Current and Former Smokers Not in the Clear for Airway Disease
Whether they had respiratory symptoms or not, former and current smokers who didn’t meet criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had similar declines in lung function and progression to COPD in subsequent years, the SPIROMICS II study found. Participants with symptomatic tobacco exposure and preserved spirometry (TEPS) experienced no significant difference in annual declines […]
How heat treatment affects a milk alternative made from rice and coconut water
Whether they’re made from soybeans, almonds, oats, or just sourced straight from the cow, milk products must go through heat treatment to prevent harmful bacterial growth and keep them safe. But understanding how these processes affect new, plant-based milk formulations could make the beverages more pleasant to drink as well. Researchers reporting in ACS Omega […]
Antibody for Infant RSV Prevention to Face FDA Panel
An FDA advisory committee on Thursday will consider whether to recommend a shot of a monoclonal antibody against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to prevent lower respiratory tract disease in both infants and in at-risk children up to age 2 years. The Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee will examine a biologics license application approval for nirsevimab, a […]
SCOTUS Case Hinges on ‘Weapon of Choice’ for Targeting Healthcare Fraud
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on whether major pharmacies illegally overbilled Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs, a case that could weaken a key law the federal government uses to stamp out fraud. The case before the high court hinges on two whistleblower cases brought under the False Claims Act, a 19th-century […]
Exposure therapy to feared foods may help kids with eating disorders
Whether you’re afraid of dogs, needles or enclosed spaces, one of the most effective interventions for this type of anxiety disorder is exposure therapy in which you confront your fear in a safe environment. A new study led by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine finds that exposure therapy is also a promising treatment […]