BioMedWire Stocks Archives - Page 13 of 68

WednesdaySep 25, 2024 10:00 am

Whooping Cough Prevalence Rises in US as Missed Shots During Pandemic Come Home to Roost

New figures released by the CDC show that whooping cough cases have increased significantly in the United States since 2023. The rise in cases has been attributed to a reduction in rates of vaccination, which started during the pandemic. Whooping cough, also referred to as pertussis, is an infection that affects the respiratory tract. This illness is especially dangerous for infants and is highly contagious. An infectious diseases expert, Dr. William Schaffner, explains that these debilitating cough seizures are normally caused by irritation in the mucus membranes, which makes it hard for an individual to breathe. Babies may not cough,…

MondaySep 23, 2024 10:00 am

Study Links Iron Deficiency to Disturbed Sleep Among Autism, ADHD Patients

Sleep disorders are often caused by hypermotor restlessness, restless leg syndrome, hyperarousability, periodic limb movements in sleep and restless sleep disorder. Now, a new study has considered the role iron levels play in causing these disorders. Iron is usually found in microglia, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons. This element is needed to help synthesize neurotransmitters that regulate the wake/sleep cycle. The study used data gathered from structured intake forms and clinical evaluations conducted at the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry division of the Sleep/Wake-Behavior clinic in BC Children’s Hospital. Data on parental history of iron deficiency, recent iron status and covariate factors…

FridaySep 20, 2024 10:00 am

Women Reach Settlement After Yale Nurse Switched Painkillers with Saline Solution

Last week, a group of women who experienced severe pain at a fertility clinic at Yale University after they received saline instead of a painkiller had their suits against the Ivy League school settled. This settlement comes after seven women sued the institution in 2021. Soon after, more patients filed lawsuits, which brought the number of plaintiffs to more than 150. Most of them claimed that because of their experience at the clinic, they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the plaintiffs, Soryorelis Henry, stated that the experience, which should have been joyous and hopeful, became traumatic. Collectively,…

WednesdaySep 18, 2024 10:00 am

Biden Admin to Pass Rules Changing Duty-Free Shipping by eCommerce Businesses

Last week, the White House announced its plans to alter trade rules it claimed had been flouted by China-founded e-commerce sites. In a fact sheet, the Biden administration revealed that its proposed regulations targeted the de minimis exception, which permitted imported products to enter the United States without taxes or duties if the aggregate fair retail price of the shipment was $800 or less. The exemption threshold was raised from $200 in 2015 to $800 to help small businesses, including sellers on e-commerce sites such as eBay. The fact sheet noted that total shipments that claimed this exemption during the…

MondaySep 16, 2024 10:00 am

Detailed Data Could Save Customers Billions in FSA Funds for Healthcare

It is estimated that every year, $4 billion is lost from flexible spending accounts when the “use it or lose it” feature goes into effect. This is something that affects both consumers and the healthcare industry, with patients rushing to determine what is eligible as they work to allocate their monies to pay for healthcare expenses. In addition to the last-minute rush, the confusion also increases at the register, where patients must ensure their healthcare spending is well allocated between their credit and debit cards and their flexible spending accounts. In a recent interview, Alpesh Chokshi of Banyan revealed that…

FridaySep 13, 2024 10:00 am

WHO Review Says No Link Between Mobile Phones, Brain-Cancer Development

A recently conducted review has determined that there’s no correlation between the use of mobile phones and a heightened risk of acoustic neuromas, meningiomas and gliomas. The review also found no correlation between mobile phone use and leukemia or salivary and pituitary cancers. Mobile phones are low-powered transmitters of radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields. They work by transmitting radio waves to their destinations via cell towers. The review included 63 studies conducted between 1994 and 2022 and published in more than 20 countries. Each study examined how exposure to radio frequency-electromagnetic fields transmitted by electronic devices, primarily mobile phones, affected the health of…

WednesdaySep 11, 2024 10:00 am

Does Multiple Sclerosis Reduce Risk of Developing Dementia?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic illness of the central nervous system that affects an individual’s immune system, causing it to attack the body by mistake. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative illness that affects an individual’s memory as well as cognitive function. Now, a new study has found that patients with multiple sclerosis are less likely to present with molecular signs of Alzheimer’s, suggesting a protective component that could help develop new treatments. The study was carried out by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. It was based on an idea of Dr.…

MondaySep 09, 2024 10:00 am

Frailty Trajectories Unaffected by Enrollment in Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage (MA) has become popular in recent years, with 2023 figures showing that the plans have more than 29 million enrollees. This figure represents 51% of all beneficiaries under Medicare. Plans under Medicare Advantage have lower premiums while covering additional benefits such as dental and vision. However, enrollees have access to a limited network of practitioners in comparison to enrollees of conventional Medicare. Additionally, beneficiaries of Medicare Advantage differ from beneficiaries of traditional Medicare across both socioeconomic and health status, with enrollees of the former plans being more likely to have lower incomes and be Hispanic or Black. Now,…

FridaySep 06, 2024 10:00 am

Expert Says Alzheimer’s Disease Could Be an Autoimmune Illness

Alzheimer’s is a progressive illness that affects an individual’s behavior, thinking and memory. In the early stages, patients present with mild forgetfulness, and this progresses as time goes by, with patients at the late stage losing many physical abilities, among other things. This common form of dementia affects more than 50 million individuals around the globe. Often, individuals living with the illness are unable to recognize their spouses or even their own children when the illness is in its final stages. While the illness has no cure, this hasn’t deterred researchers from looking for one. Previous research had determined that…

WednesdaySep 04, 2024 10:00 am

New Approach Could Boost Effectiveness of Immunotherapies Against Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer presents in many forms, with the most common type being microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer. This cancer type is common in the initial stages of colon cancer and rectal cancer, occurring in roughly 85% of colorectal cancers. Unlike patients with microsatellite unstable colorectal cancer, patients with this cancer respond to few immunotherapies designed to activate their immune systems to fight the cancer. Now new research has determined a potential cause of other therapies failing and found a way to improve the treatment for patients with this indication. The study was led by Victoria Stary from MedUni Vienna’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.…