Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been an issue of concern for several decades. It’s well known that heavy drinking can have severe effects on the fetus, resulting in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome — a constellation of effects that can include mental retardation as well as facial and other abnormalities. Because of concerns about such problems, pregnant [...]
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Sometimes vaccines simply work, and sometimes they really work. Such is the case for human pappilomavirus (HPV), the causative pathogen for most cases of cervical cancer. A study of more than 85 thousand native-born Australians revealed some very encouraging, and possibly even startling results. In 2007, two HPV vaccines were approved in Australia—Merck’s Gardisil, and GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix. The country began a campaign [...]
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A study conducted by the technology’s developer — but not yet published — shows some cause for optimism in non-invasively diagnosing the 2nd leading cancer killer in the U.S., colorectal cancer (CRC). The test, made by Exact Sciences Corp. and called Cologuard , uses immuno-chemistry to seek DNA alterations — mutations, in other words — characteristic of CRC in [...]
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According to new research from the CDC, rates of foodborne illnesses have increased from the period of 2006-2008 and 2012. Specifically, increases occurred in the prevalence of illness from Campylobacter — associated with poultry, raw milk and contaminated water, and Vibrio associated with raw shellfish. Symptoms of illness range from diarrhea, stomach pain and fever [...]
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Sure, we could be doing better, but still: the undeniable fact is that the infant mortality rate in America fell by 12 percent between 2005 and 2011, after years of stagnation at an embarrassingly higher rate. This gratifying information was released this week by the CDC . The most impressive declines were noted in those [...]
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In a new study published in PLOS Medicine, researchers once again highlight the importance of receiving vaccinations, specifically the herpes zoster vaccination for those individuals 65 and older. They reported that the vaccination reduced the incidence of zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia (nerve damage and disabling pain following an outbreak of shingles) among this age goup. [...]
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It is virtually impossible to be unaware of the huge (and growing) problem of opiate addiction in the US. While traditional narcotics (Percocet, Vicodin) have always been abused drugs, it is OxyContin that gets most of the news—and rightfully so. OxyContin contains 5-10 fold more oxycodone than a Percoset pill, and lacks the acetaminophen as [...]
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Over ten years ago, Derek Lowe, an organic chemist who specializes in drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry started a small blog called “In the Pipeline,” which was mostly about developments in the drug industry. In the ensuing decade, his blog exploded, and is now the most widely-read and influential blog in the pharmaceutical/chemistry/science universe. [...]
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Alcoholism, an extremely widespread disease with devastating consequences, takes a huge toll on individuals, families and society at large. But, despite this, alcoholics have one real option: quitting outright (AA) with or without the help of drugs.