News in Brief 1 December 2021
UN health agency Member States agree to pursue ‘historic’ pandemic treaty Despite COVID-19 connectivity boost,…
Year: 2021
Trolls join UN campaign for healthier eating, sustainable living
The colourful characters from the Trolls movie franchise, are encouraging their fans to become food heroes through eating healthier, and reducing food waste. …
Novel immune cell population may trigger inflammation in multiple sclerosis and other brain disorders
A group of immune cells that normally protect against inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract may…
Researchers develop model for treating HIV/AIDS, depression
With a shortage of mental health professionals, an international team trained nurses to treat clinically…
Eye imaging technology breaks through skin by crossing beams
Biomedical engineers have demonstrated a method for increasing the depth at which optical coherence tomography…
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and artificial intelligence (AI) can detect early signs of tumor cell death after novel therapy
A recent study demonstrates that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and artificial intelligence (AI) can be…
Compound shows promise for minimizing erratic movements in Parkinson’s patients
A new study has identified a promising drug candidate to minimize uncontrolled, erratic muscle movements,…
.jpg)
Engineers create perching bird-like robot
With feet and legs like a peregrine falcon, engineers have created a robot that can…
New way of identifying early risk of cardiovascular disease
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease is strongly associated with ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. A large…
Targeting the brain’s immune cells may help prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease
A gene mutation linked to Alzheimer’s disease alters a signaling pathway in certain immune cells…
Effectiveness of ointment that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria shown
New research shows that use of a topical drug, called AB569, a combination of acidified…
Lunar radar data uncovers new clues about moon’s ancient past
The dusty surface of the moon — immortalized in images of Apollo astronauts’ lunar footprints…
Research reveals new evidence that sugary beverage tax impacts are sustainable, effective
Two new studies based in Seattle provide evidence that public policies to reduce consumption of…
Within an Antarctic sea squirt, scientists discover a bacterial species with promising anti-melanoma properties
Biologists have successfully traced a naturally-produced melanoma-fighting compound called ‘palmerolide A’ to its source: a…
The eyes have it: getting the gist of covid-19 transmission
Many words have been written and numbers collected about covid-19 over the past two years,…
Headwater refuges: Combined effect of drought and fire on stream communities
Life is water, and water is life. This truism certainly applies to the Pacific coast,…
Researchers identify key RNA ‘gatekeeper’ in gene expression, pointing to possible new drug targets
Researchers have identified the first non-coding RNA that controls formation of chromosome loops, which govern…
STAT+: Amgen joins a growing list of drug makers cutting discounts to safety-net hospitals
Amid a closely watched legal battle, Amgen (AMGN) has joined the growing ranks of major…
First case of Omicron coronavirus variant identified in the U.S.
U.S. health officials on Wednesday reported the country’s first case of the Omicron variant of…
Astronomers discover strangely massive black hole in Milky Way satellite galaxy
Astronomers have discovered an unusually massive black hole at the heart of one of the…
‘Unity’ of purpose and action needed: Guterres tells AU-UN Conference
For two decades, the African Union (AU) has been “a gold standard of regional co-operation”,…
Landmark decision to negotiate new accord on pandemics ‘cause for hope’
Agreement by countries to launch a process to develop a new global accord on pandemic prevention and response is cause for…
Elective care backlog could rise to 12 million patients by 2025, warns watchdog
The waiting list for elective care in England could reach 12 million by early 2025…
Women and girls at high risk of being pushed into modern slavery
Women and children are at high risk of being pushed into contemporary forms of slavery, UN-appointed…
Study links high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease to plastics
In a mouse study, a team led by a biomedical scientist found a phthalate —…
.jpg)
Coffee time: Caffeine improves reaction to moving targets
In the first study of its kind to explore caffeine’s effects on dynamic visual skills,…
MRI reveals altered brain structure in fetuses exposed to alcohol
In the first MRI-based study to investigate pre-natal alcohol exposure, researchers found significant changes in…
Aducanumab: 4 in 10 high dose trial participants experienced brain swelling or bleeding
Over 40% of trial participants who had a high dose (10 mg/kg) of the Alzheimer’s…
CT uncovers bone disease in Tyrannosaurus rex jaw
Researchers have identified bone disease in the fossilized jaw of a Tyrannosaurus rex using a…
In children with multiple sclerosis, teriflunomide tempers lesion growth
A phase 3 clinical trial tested the safety and efficacy of teriflunomide, an oral immunomodulatory…
STAT+: Pharmalittle: Merck Covid pill squeaks past FDA panel; analysis explores whether insurers give ‘fair access’ to drugs
Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. A shiny sun…
We abandon face-to-face practice at our peril
With many prominent voices in our profession opposing a return to face-to-face consultations as part…
STAT+: Just how many barriers do health insurers create to fair access to medicines?
Do large health insurers in the U.S. provide “fair access” to prescription medicines? The answer…
The BMJ appeal 2021-22: MSF is working to ensure the people of Afghanistan have access to healthcare
Afghanistan’s health service is now close to collapse, after the World Bank, the International Monetary…
St John Ambulance volunteers prepare to boost capacity in ambulance trusts
The charity St John Ambulance is in discussions with NHS leaders in England to set…
STAT+: In a medical first, Vertex drug successfully targets the underlying cause of a genetic kidney disease
An experimental pill from Vertex Pharmaceuticals reduced levels of a damaging urine protein by nearly…
STAT+: Socially responsible investor coalitions push greater access to medicines in shareholder proposals
Amid controversy over equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, a large coalition of socially minded investor…
Opinion: Listen: Who owns your health data — and why you should care
It can be hard to fathom that anyone other than you might own your information….
Subscribe to thrive: paid subscriptions to online medical education materials should be included with tuition fees
Medical students across the UK subscribe to “paid for” online content in addition to spending…
Covid-19: Government was “grossly negligent” in its handling of pandemic, says people’s inquiry
The UK government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic was “grossly negligent” and amounted to misconduct…
GP committee’s move towards industrial action will stoke animosity in the press and from the public
The BMA’s general practitioners committee for England is moving towards industrial action in response to…
Overactive bladder in women
What you need to knowAssess potential underlying causes of overactive bladder syndrome, which is characterised…
Please tell me what the long term effects might be
I was 34 weeks pregnant when I first experienced an unexplained persistent itch. I couldn’t…
Extensive ecchymosis and symptomatic anaemia
These are large atraumatic ecchymoses on the legs of a patient in her 70s (fig…
Opinion: Losing Faith: Reflecting on 40 years of the HIV pandemic
Faith was the first child I lost to HIV. I can still see her, sitting…
Opinion: Stigma, not science, is the biggest barrier to ending the HIV epidemic
“I am really sorry to reach out like this, David, but I’m worried about my…
7 policies in Biden’s spending plan aimed at health equity
WASHINGTON — Democrats have made big promises to tackle racial inequities across society, including in…
A reason for optimism on Omicron: Our immune systems are not blank slates
The emergence of a new Covid-19 variant with a startlingly large constellation of mutations has…
Omicron Symptoms In COVID-19 Patients Are Mostly Mild, Experts Say
Although it’s still too early to tell, experts are reporting mild symptoms in COVID-19 patients…
The 14 Best Prenatal Vitamins for 2022: Medically Vetted Picks – Greatist
The 14 Best Prenatal Vitamins for 2022: Medically Vetted Picks Greatist Read Original Article: The 14…