BioMedWire Stocks Archives - Page 9 of 65

FridayOct 04, 2024 10:00 am

Jimmy Carter Survival Thanks to Novel Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment

In August 2015, former president Jimmy Carter revealed at a conference held at the Carter Center that cancer had spread to his brain. Carter, then aged 91, discussed how his initial diagnosis of melanoma had led to the disease’s spread. If he had been diagnosed with the illness just a few years prior, he would have had about six months to live. Instead, the former president celebrated his 100th birthday on Oct. 1, 2024. While luck did play a role, experts believe Carter is alive today because of immunotherapy treatments. At the time, immunotherapy was a new treatment following the…

WednesdayOct 02, 2024 10:00 am

Disruptions in Purine Metabolism Cited in Parkinson’s Development

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects an individual’s brain, causing issues with their movement, sleep and mental health. Common symptoms include tremors, slowed movements and issues with balance. For years, researchers have observed reduced uric acid levels in Parkinson’s disease patients. Uric acid is created when the human body breaks down purines, which are produced in the body. In the past, scientists posited that uric acid, which possesses antioxidant properties, played a role in decreasing oxidative stress in the brain. Now, new research has unveiled new insights into how patients with Parkinson’s disease suffer metabolic disruptions. Scientists began…

MondaySep 30, 2024 10:00 am

HRW Urges Governments to Fix Factors Fueling Healthcare Access Racial Inequalities

Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch called for governments to tackle racial inequalities and discrimination in healthcare. The international nongovernmental organization (NGO) discussed how prejudice and racism had impacted health rights globally. It also referred to General Recommendation No. 37 of the UN CERD, which discusses the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination regarding the right to health. While the NGO’s recommendation is nonbinding, it touches on different initiatives governments can employ to address discrimination and racial inequalities in healthcare. These initiatives include the promotion of healthy working conditions, addressing environmental issues, and making sure individuals have access to…

FridaySep 27, 2024 10:00 am

Addressing Vision Problems Could Lower Risk of Dementia, Study Finds

New research suggests that addressing any issues with your vision may reduce your risk of future brain issues. The research was led by Jason Smith, an epidemiologist at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins. For their research, the investigators analyzed data from more than 2,700 patients in the United States. They discovered that roughly 19% of cases of dementia could be linked to a vision issue. This included loss in near visual acuity and loss of sensitivity in detecting contrast. They also found that the link between dementia and vision was almost nine times higher when contrast…

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…