Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Study examines the prevalence of COVID-19 infections in pregnant women
A new paper reports on the prevalence of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in women admitted to labor and delivery units in several Boston hospitals.
COVID-19 hospitalizations could mean significant out-of-pocket medical costs for many Americans
If past hospitalizations for pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses are any guide, many Americans could face high out-of-pocket medical costs for COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Combination drug treatments for COVID-19 show promise in cell culture tests
Researchers have established a cell culture that allows them to test antibody-laden plasma, drugs and drug combinations in the laboratory. A screen of 136 safe-in-human antiviral drugs and identified six...
Disrupted circadian rhythms linked to later Parkinson's diagnoses
Older men who have a weak or irregular circadian rhythm guiding their daily cycles of rest and activity are more likely to later develop Parkinson's disease, according to a new...
Cancer: Drug with new approach on impeding DNA repair shows promise in first clinical trial
Berzosertib, an ATR-targeting drug, improves progression-free survival in combination with chemotherapy in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
A Sedentary Lifestyle is the Sworn Enemy of our Health
Sitting down for long periods of time and a lack of physical exercise can disrupt our metabolism and challenge our health, as explained here by the physiologist Audrey Bergouignan. But...
Lawyers request reprieve for Texas death row inmate Ruben Gutierrez
Attorneys for Texas death row inmate Ruben Gutierrez requested that Gov. Greg Abbott issue a 30-day reprieve in his case to allow time for DNA testing.
One in four parents hesitant about flu vaccine, survey finds
One in four parents describe themselves as "hesitant" about having their children vaccinated against the flu -- and nearly three in four question it's efficacy -- according to the findings...
Underlying conditions put 1.7B people at risk for severe COVID-19, study says
As much as 22 percent of the global population -- or more than 1.7 billion people -- has an underlying health condition that places them at higher risk for serious...
Can Pepcid treat COVID-19?
With clinical trials ongoing, doctors try to unravel how famotidine could be working to fight the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2
Scientists are working on at least 135 different coronavirus vaccines
The FDA had previously granted emergency approval of two malaria drugs to treat COVID-19. On Monday it revoked that approval. (Pixabay/)Follow all of PopSci’s COVID-19 coverage here, including news on federal policies, how...
The FDA has canceled emergency use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine no longer have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s blessing for use against coronavirus infections when given outside of a clinical trial. In March, the agency authorized using the malaria...
Addressing the safety of high folate levels in the older population and implications for fortification in Ireland
A new study challenges claims from some international scientific circles, that having high blood levels of folate (folic acid) increases the risk of poor cognition in older adults, especially in...
Broncos become NFL's first team with a sports betting partnership
The Denver Broncos became the first team in NFL history Monday to have a sports betting partnership when it agreed to a multi-year deal with FanDuel Group.
WHO says new virus outbreak in China needs further testing after 'hypothesis' on cause
The origins of a new cluster of coronavirus infections in Beijing are uncertain, World Health Organization officials said on Monday, but the claim that it might have been caused by...
Higher parental stress linked to low screen-time enforcement, research finds
When parents are under stress, household rules about screen time often get abandoned, new research finds.
Brothers in arms: The brain and its blood vessels
The brain and its surrounding blood vessels exist in a close relationship. Researchers have discovered how cells of the blood vessels sense the metabolic condition of the brain and alter...
Tuberculosis vaccine strengthens immune system
A tuberculosis vaccine developed 100 years ago also makes vaccinated persons less susceptible to other infections. While this effect has been recognized for a long time, it is not known...
Molecules that reduce 'bad' gut bacteria reverse narrowing of arteries in animal study
Scientists have developed molecules that can remodel the bacterial population of intestines to a healthier state. They also have shown -- through experiments in mice -- that this approach reduces...
Health departments develop apps to help track the spread of the coronavirus
Health Departments in many states are developing apps to help track the spread of the coronavirus. But will people use them? Tony Dokoupil reports.
Study finds path for addressing Alzheimer’s blood-brain barrier impairment
By developing a lab-engineered model of the human blood-brain barrier (BBB), neuroscientists at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have discovered how the most common Alzheimer’s disease risk gene causes amyloid protein...
Wounded plants: How they coordinate their healing
When we cut our fingers, blood rushes out of the wound to close it. However, the vegetable we just wanted to slice and dice, would have reacted completely differently to...
Intelligence is impacted if born small for gestational age
People born small for gestational age (SGA) have a lower IQ throughout development, however the differences in IQ to those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) reduce by adulthood. The...
The latest guidance on how to prevent cancer
These are all part of a cancer-preventing diet (Wendy Wei/Pexels/)Cancer is second only to heart disease in the number of people it kills annually in the US. For Hispanic and Asian Americans, and...
Multi-ethnic study suggests vitamin K may offer protective health benefits in older age
A new, multi-ethnic study found adults aged 54-76 with low circulating vitamin K levels were more likely to die within 13 years compared to those with adequate levels, suggesting vitamin...
More and safer heart transplants could become possible with new heart box
A donated heart can now be transported and preserved for longer than what has previously been possible. The new method, which consists of a specially designed heart box, was used...
Tuberculosis spread from animals to humans may be greater than previously thought
The number of human tuberculosis (TB) cases that are due to transmission from animals, as opposed to human-to-human transmission, may be much higher than previously estimated, according to an international...
Improved gut microbiota with cholesterol-lowering medication
There is a clear link between improved gut microbiota and one of our most common cholesterol-lowering drug groups: statins.