BioMedWire Stocks Archives - Page 53 of 77

FridayMar 17, 2023 11:02 am

Japan to Categorize COVID-19 as Common Infectious Illness

The Japanese government recently announced that the coronavirus will be categorized as a common infectious disease on May 8, 2023. As a result, patients diagnosed with the communicable disease will have to cover medical expenses on their own. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Japan’s government instituted a special response that limited the number of medical institutions that could handle COVID-19 patients. The upcoming reclassification will classify the coronavirus as a class 5 disease similar to conditions such as seasonal influenza. At the moment, Japan currently classifies COVID-19 as part of a special category that is equal…

ThursdayMar 16, 2023 11:17 am

Research Finds Link Between Chicken Pox, Cold Sores, Alzheimer’s

Recent research from Tufts University and Oxford University suggests that there may be a link between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and certain viral infections. The joint research team found that viral infections, such as the common cold sore virus, chicken pox, and shingles, may have some association with the deadly neurological disease. The study sought to understand the link between Alzheimer’s disease and common viruses. The debilitating neural condition is characterized by the damage and death of neurons in the brain that eventually results in brain atrophy and the loss of significant brain volume. More than 6 million Americans live with…

WednesdayMar 15, 2023 10:58 am

How Research on Blood Cancer Could Benefit the Organ Transplant Field

There is a critical shortage of organs within the organ transplant field. Even though there are more than 100,000 people awaiting organ transplants in the United States, there were only 14,903 deceased organ donors last year. The organ shortage crisis in the U.S. and across the globe is taking thousands of lives each year. In the U.S. alone, 13 patients lose their lives to severe kidney disease every day while awaiting a compatible kidney. With around 92,000 people waiting for an organ transplant this year, 1 in 10 of them will have quite a hard time securing a compatible kidney.…

TuesdayMar 14, 2023 12:27 pm

Research Suggests Brain Cancers Could Be Detected Via Blood Tests

The National Brain Tumor Society estimates that around 700,000 Americans live with a primary brain tumor. These tumors can significantly impact patients’ health and quality of life, especially when they aren’t discovered early enough. Reports indicate that 51,329 people died of primary brain cancers and central nervous system tumors (CNS) in 2020; an estimated 18,990 Americans are predicted to lose their lives to brain cancers and CNS this year. Glioblastoma is without a doubt one of the deadliest types of brain cancer. It accounts for 49.1% of all malignant brain tumors, has a five-year survival rate of only 5%, and…

MondayMar 13, 2023 12:28 pm

Study Shows Air Pollution in Urban Areas Worsens Lung Function in Kids

Asthma is a respiratory disease caused by chronic inflammation in the lung airways and is characterized by shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing. It affects an estimated 8.3% of Americans (26.5 million) with 6.1 million being children and 20.4 million being adults. For the most part, asthma attacks are caused by viral respiratory infections that increase inflammation in the lung airways and cause them to narrow. A recent study has now revealed that air pollutants can also increase the risk of asthma attacks. The study found that an increased concentration of air pollutants, especially fine particulate matter and…

FridayMar 10, 2023 11:13 am

Simple Skin Swab Could Help Predict Future Eczema Risks in Kids

Researchers have found that physicians can predict the future risk of eczema in children via simple skin swabs. Their findings show that collecting cells from the top layers of a week-old baby’s skin using sticky strips can allow doctors to predict whether the infant will develop eczema. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema. It is characterized by itchy, dry and inflamed skin. While it can occur at any age, the condition is very common in young children. The condition also increases a patient’s risk of developing asthma, hay fever and food allergies. It affects close to…

ThursdayMar 09, 2023 1:00 pm

Study Documents Dangers of Halting Opioid Treatments for Chronic Pain

An estimated 8% of Americans aged 18 years and older suffer from chronic pain so severe that it limits their day-to-day activities. Epidemiological studies estimate that the overall prevalence of chronic pain among American adults is between 18% and 34.5%. For most of these people, opioids are the most common way to manage their chronic pain enough to engage in daily activities. However, opioids aren’t always effective, and they carry a significant risk of addiction and unwanted side effects. Aside from causing side effects such as nausea, mental fog and constipation, opioids are incredibly addictive, especially for people who take…

WednesdayMar 08, 2023 1:00 pm

FDA Issues Warning about Reliability of Food Allergy Skin Tests

An estimated 32 million Americans, including around 5.6 million children and 26 million adults, suffer from food allergies. The severity of these food allergies ranges from hives and swelling of the face to difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Currently one of the most common ways of testing for food allergies is a skin prick test that involves placing a small amount of a certain food on a patient’s skin to see if it will cause an adverse reaction. This method is the most accessible food allergy test, and it usually provides immediate results, allowing patients to discuss means of…

TuesdayMar 07, 2023 1:10 pm

Study Finds Repeated Head Trauma Increases Brain Cancer Risk

Recent research has revealed that repeated head trauma can elevate the risk of developing brain cancer. The study found that repeated hits to the head can increase risk of a rare and aggressive brain tumor called glioma by more than four times. Brain injuries are the leading cause of disability and death worldwide, and traumatic brain injuries are the number one cause of seizure disorders. University College London Cancer Institute researchers have now determined that head injuries could also increase your risk of brain cancer. The UCL study adds to a growing body of research that has indicated a possible…

MondayMar 06, 2023 1:26 pm

Climate Change Heightening Risk of Global Infectious Illnesses

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how quickly an infectious disease can spread in our modern interconnected world. Just a few months after the disease was first discovered in Wuhan, China, it had spread to most continents and shut down dozens of economies across the world. Even though we are now past the worst of the pandemic, it seems that infectious diseases will keep humanity on its toes for much longer than we thought. A recent analysis has revealed that climate change has significantly increased the world’s risk of infectious diseases. The analysis states that climate change has already upped…