FDA Approves Landmark Sickle Cell Gene Therapies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved two milestone gene therapies for sickle cell disease, including the first treatment ever approved that uses gene-editing technology.

Casgevy, developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals of Boston and CRISPR Therapeutics of Switzerland, is the first medicine available in the United States to ...

Hospitals in Ukraine Seeing Surge in Drug-Resistant Infections: CDC

As the war in the Ukraine rages on, new research shows that hospitals there are waging a battle of their own against a different kind of enemy: antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" that are spreading at an alarming rate.

In a study published Thursday by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, researchers from the CDC and Ukraine's ...

Women With Very Early Breast Cancer May Safely Skip Radiation Rx: Study

Some women with a very early form of breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can safely skip follow-up radiation therapy after surgery, new research suggests.

Results from a sophisticated genetic test are key to the decision to either undergo or skip radiotherapy, say researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago.

...

Can Breast Cancer Survivors Reduce Frequency of Mammograms?

Under current U.S. guidelines, women over 49 who've survived early-stage breast cancer are directed to undergo a mammogram every year "indefinitely."

But a new British study suggests that, just three years after being declared free of their cancer, these women might be fine having mammograms less frequently.

“The trial demonstrat...

Lymphedema Left her 'Miserable, Depressed' Until Specialized Surgery Changed Everything

Sydnee Meth survived breast cancer, but she wasn’t prepared for the aftereffects of her treatment.

Doctors removed the lymph nodes from Meth’s right armpit during her second bout with breast cancer in 2014, and as a result she developed a painful condition called lymphedema.

For years, her right arm was so swollen and heavy she c...

Salmonella Illnesses Tied to Cantaloupes Have Doubled: CDC

FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2023 (Healthday News) -- A salmonella outbreak tied to tainted cantaloupes keeps expanding, with cases doubling since the last tally, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.

"Since the last update [on] November 30, 2023, an additional 113 people infected with this outbreak strain of salmonella have been reported...

Night Shifts Are Triggering Sleep Disorders in Workers

More than half of night shift workers have at least one sleep disorder, as nocturnal labor plays havoc with body rhythms, a new study shows.

About 51% of people working nights score positive for at least one sleep disorder, said senior study author Dr. Marike Lancel, a professor of behavioral and social sciences at GGZ Drenthe’s Mental H...

E-Scooter on Your Kids' Holiday Gift List? Experts Have Warnings, Safety Tips

An electric scooter might be on your kid’s wish list for Christmas, but pediatricians say parents should think twice before buying one.

Even taking a child on a ride with an e-scooter is a dicey proposition, said Dr. Ashley Ebersole, a pediatrician with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

“If you fall off an e-scooter, whic...

Diabetes Meds Like Ozempic, Mounjaro Might Also Lower Risks for Colon Cancer

Could blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss meds such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound also lower users' odds for colon cancer?

New research suggests they might.

All of these medications (and more) fall into a class of diabetes drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs).

The new study, from ...

Suicide Rates Have Risen Steadily for Black Girls and Women

Suicide rates for Black women and girls ages 15 to 24 have more than doubled over the past two decades, a new report finds.

“Suicides are rapidly increasingly among young, Black females in the U.S.,” said study first author Victoria Joseph, an analyst in the department of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health in New ...

White House Could Punish Big Pharma's High Prices by Removing Patents

The Biden administration is flexing some federal muscle in its push for lower drug prices, warning pharmaceutical companies that it might use its authority to cancel patent protections if a medication costs too much.

Federal law allows the government to grant patent licenses if taxpayer dollars were used in the development of inventions --...

Biden Administration Delays Decision on Menthol Cigarette Ban Amid Pushback

The Biden administration has again delayed enacting a ban on menthol cigarettes following intense lobbying from the tobacco industry.

Along with that pressure, other critics of the ban have warned that it might anger Black smokers, who use menthol cigarettes at far higher rates than whites -- just as President Biden gears up to run for re-...

Tennis Ball Impacts Can Also Cause Concussions

Games like football, soccer and rugby come to mind when thinking about sports-related concussions.

But a smashing tennis shot could cause a traumatic brain injury if the ball whacks a player’s head, a new study argues.

Concussions can happen if a tennis ball traveling faster than 89 miles per hour hits someone on the head, research...

Some Older Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Can Safely Skip Radiotherapy: Study

Women in the their 50s and 60s who've gone through menopause may be able to safely skip radiation treatment if they're diagnosed with a common form of breast cancer, new research shows.

The study focused on early stage HR+ breast cancers, which comprise the large majority of new cases. In HR+ breast cancer, tumor cells carry receptors for ...

PFAS Chemicals May Harm Bones of Hispanic Teens

“Forever” PFAS chemicals appear to harm bone health in Hispanic teenagers, a new study finds.

The more PFAS chemicals found in the bodies of Hispanic adolescents, the lower their bone density was, researchers report in the Dec. 6 issue of the journal Environmental Research.

Peak bone mineral density in adolescence helps...

Watching Your Cholesterol? Virtual Doctor Visits Work Just as Well

In a win for telemedicine, new research shows that folks fighting high cholesterol benefit just as much from online coaching as they do from in-person visits with a dietitian.

“This study reinforces the idea that comparable clinical outcomes can be achieved using the virtual format,” said lead researcher Dr. Shannon Zoulek, a resident ...

Exercise Brings Better Quality of Life to Women With Advanced Breast Cancer

Exercise can boost the quality of life of women who are battling advanced breast cancer, a new study has found.

Women who took part in a nine-month structured exercise program reported less fatigue and a better overall quality of life, according to results presented Thursday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

“Optimizing q...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Could Put Brakes on Type 1 Diabetes

A drug long used to curb rheumatoid arthritis may be a potent foe against another immune disorder, type 1 diabetes.

Australian researchers report that baricitinib (Olumiant) appears to help patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes maintain their natural ability to produce insulin, slowing progression of the disease.

Type 1 diabe...

Your Organs Are Aging Differently, and a New Test Could Pinpoint Risk

A certain organ or organs might be growing old faster than the rest of a person's body, placing them at increased risk for disease and death, a new study suggests.

About one in every five reasonably healthy people aged 50 or older are walking around with at least one organ aging at an accelerated rate, researchers report in the Dec. 6 issu...

Acne in Adults Can Bring Stigma at Work and Socially

Acne can be terribly embarrassing for a teenager, but a new study has found that adults' blemishes might have even greater consequences for their social and professional reputation.

People are less likely to want to be friends, have close contact or post a pic on social media with a person who has severe acne, researchers found.

“O...