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☆ FLiRT variants threaten a summer Covid wave, but experts say the risk remains uncertain
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

FLiRT variants are offshoots of the JN.1 variant — all part of the broader Omicron family — that caused this winter’s wave. The mutations of the FLiRT variants make increased transmissibility — and a possible summer wave — a real threat. “We learned from the laboratories that FLiRT variants appeared, so far, to be as transmissible as the other Omicron subvariants, which means they’re really quite contagious. As of May 1, the requirement for all hospitals to report Covid-19 data to the federal government has expired. While the FLiRT variants pose some risk this summer, experts remain focused on what might happen in the fall.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Andy Pekosz, “ We’ve, William Schaffner, ” Schaffner, it’s, ” Pekosz, “, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, we’ve Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Data, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Schaffner’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center, CDC, JAMA, CNN Health, JN, US Food Locations: United States, Covid

☆ Why increasingly popular Zyn nicotine pouches concern health experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Are nicotine pouches better than vaping? Zyn, among other brands of nicotine pouches such as Rogue, On! However, FDA officials have allowed the nontobacco nicotine product to stay on the market while the application is under review. Nicotine pouches have varying degrees of nicotine strength; 3 or 6 milligrams per pouch is most common, but some brands have pouches that contain upward of 28 milligrams. What’s more, the Zyn nicotine pouches come in a variety of flavors, including cool mint, wintergreen, coffee and cinnamon, that could be appealing to younger people.

Persons: Philip Morris, Chuck Schumer, ”, Kecia Christensen, “, ’ ”, Christensen, Philip Morris International’s, ” Philip Morris, Meghan Moran, ” Moran, Brian King, Yanfang Ren, ” Ren, Moran Organizations: CNN, Philip Morris International, Facebook, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, American Cancer Society, Nebraska Medicine, FDA, National Cancer Institute, CDC, Centers for Disease Control, ” Philip Morris International, Swedish, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Tobacco Survey, FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Philip Locations: United States, ”, Baltimore, New York, Mayo

Because anti-smoking groups aren’t just fighting the tobacco companies these days. They have fractured over tobacco harm reduction — the idea that people who cannot or will not quit smoking should be provided with alternatives, notably e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without burning tobacco. They argue that e-cigarettes will lead to a new generation addicted to nicotine, even if they are not smoking. It focuses largely, but not entirely, on reduced-risk nicotine products, a category that includes e-cigarettes, oral tobacco, and “heat not burn” products that warm up tobacco without burning it. There are no safe tobacco products; all fall along what’s called a continuum of risk.

Persons: Cliff Douglas, Philip Morris, Douglas, “, ” Douglas, Bloomberg Philanthropies, American Heart Association —, Michael Bloomberg, that’s, General’s, ”, Charles Gardner, Joanna Cohen, Ellen MacKenzie, Yolonda Richardson, Deborah Arnott, “ I’m, Michael Cummings, they’ve, Marc Gunther Organizations: Foundation, Philip, Philip Morris International, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Centers for Disease Control, Bloomberg, Tobacco, American Heart Association, Truth Initiative, Rockefeller, UBS Optimus, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Campaign, Reuters, FDA, Centers for Disease, Medical University of South, Associated Press, Philanthropy, AP Locations: United States, – California , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York, Rhode, San Francisco, —, British, Medical University of South Carolina, vaping

☆ Native American communities have the highest suicide rates, yet interventions are scarce
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Cheryl Platzman Weinstock | Kff Health News | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

He spent more than a week in an inpatient mental health unit, but once home, he was offered sparse mental health resources. Despite decades of research into suicide prevention, suicide rates among Indigenous people have remained stubbornly high, especially among Indigenous people ages 10 to 24, according to the CDC. Experts say that’s because the national strategy for suicide prevention isn’t culturally relevant or sensitive to Native American communities’ unique values. Several tribal communities are attempting to implement a similar system in their communities, said Cwik. Pamela End of Horn, a social worker and national suicide prevention consultant at IHS, said the Department of Veterans Affairs “has a suicide coordinator in every medical center across the U.S., plus case managers, and they have an entire office dedicated to suicide prevention.

Persons: Amanda MorningStar, “, ”, MorningStar, Ben, Ben MorningStar, Mary Cwik, ” Cwik, Joseph P, Gros, Stephen O’Connor, Teresa Brockie, Brockie, Fort Belknap, It’s, Cwik, Pamela, Department of Veterans Affairs “, Robert Coberly, Coberly, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Ben MorningStar Organizations: Health, Blackfeet, Centers for Disease Control, Montana Budget, Policy, . Montana, CDC, Indian Health Service, IHS, Center, Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard University, Division of Services, Intervention, National Institute of Mental Health, ”, NIMH, National Institutes of Health, Mental Health Services Administration, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, American Public Health Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, Oglala Lakota, Rural Behavioral Health Institute, CNN, CNN Health, Kaiser Health, KFF Locations: Heart Butte , Montana, United States, Heart Butte, Baltimore, Montana, Fort, Aaniiih, Fort Peck, Peck, Arizona, U.S, South Dakota, Tulalip, Washington

☆ Covid vaccine rates in the U.S. are slumping — and it will be a challenge to boost them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

In this article PFEMRNANVAX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA sign advertises Covid vaccine shots at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Aug. 14, 2023. Brian Snyder | ReutersThree years into the Covid-19 pandemic, few Americans are rolling up their sleeves to get a Covid vaccine. Experts and vaccine makers can agree that low Covid vaccination rates are concerning, even as cases of the virus dwindle from their pandemic highs. However, Iovine of the University of Florida doesn't believe combination shots will have a significant effect on Covid vaccination rates. If combination shots don't do the trick, it's unclear what else could boost Covid vaccination rates down the line.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Ali Mokdad, Mokdad, Irfan Khan, Jennifer Kates, Brad Pollock, Nicole Iovine, epidemiologist, Iovine, Michael Yee, Albert Bourla, Arpa Garay, Garay, John Trizzino, Trizzino, Jamey Mock, Andrew Pekosz, Jefferies, Yee, doesn't Organizations: Walgreens, Reuters, Pfizer, Moderna, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, University of Washington, CVS Pharmacy, Los Angeles Times, KFF, UC Davis Health's, University of Florida, Jefferies, Arpa, CNBC, Istock, Getty, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: Somerville , Massachusetts, U.S, Novavax, Covid, Eagle Rock , California

From a health perspective, people in places like the U.S., Canada and Europe eat far more meat, especially red meat and processed meat, than recommended. There’s no question that cutting back on meat consumption could have real and lasting effects. Meat consumption is “orders of magnitude higher” in the U.S. than in low-income countries, and meals are often centered around it. Despite those hurdles, certain interventions can cut meat consumption, research shows. Interventions described as “nudges,” or small choices aimed at influencing behavior, appear to be among the most effective at cutting meat consumption.

Persons: — Preston Cabral, Eugenio Maria De Hostos, Vegans, Keren, Martin Bloem, he’s, Julia Wolfson, “, ” Wolfson, Ricardo Morales, ” Organizations: The Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, United, Food and Agricultural Organization, United Nations, Food and Agriculture Association of, University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University ., Stanford University, of Public Health, AP, Preston Cabral’s, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group Locations: I.S, United Kingdom, U.S, Canada, Europe, Netherlands, Haarlem, Amsterdam

☆ The Maine gunman was a ‘textbook case’ for a state law designed to remove firearms from people like him. Why didn’t it work?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Emma Tucker | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Lewiston, Maine CNN —The signs were there: hearing voices, expressing paranoid thoughts and making threats so violent, extra patrols were sent to guard a military installation. Instead, law enforcement relied on the gunman’s family to keep guns from him after they tried without success to talk to the reservist. Sheriff Joel Merry told CNN on Saturday law enforcement officers weren’t able to make contact with Card during two visits. The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office sent an alert to other law enforcement agencies saying they were trying to locate Card. The fact law enforcement in Maine didn’t utilize the yellow flag law in Card’s case could point to its shortcomings, Rocque said.

Persons: Robert Card, ”, Michael Rocque, Rocque, Shannon Frattaroli, ” Frattaroli, Sheriff Joel Merry, ’, Merry, “, Alex Piquero, Piquero, Card, Michael Sauschuck, hadn’t, ” Sauschuck, Robert F, Roque, Jack Clements, WMTW, Sheriff Merry, Card’s, Salwan Georges, Aaron Frey’s, ” Rocque, It’s, Janet Mills, Erin Clark, ” CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz, Mark Morales Organizations: Maine CNN, US Army, CNN, Bates College, Lewiston , Maine . Maine Department of Public Safety Authorities, D.C, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center, Gun Violence Solutions, “, Sheriff’s, University of Miami, US, of Justice Statistics, 3rd Battalion, Army, Public, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, ATF, Saco Police, New York Times, Army Reserve, ” CNN, Sheriff’s Office, An Army, Maine Department of Public Safety, Giffords Law, Washington Post, Maine Gov, Army National Reserve Unit, Boston Globe Locations: Lewiston, Maine, Lewiston ., “, Lewiston , Maine, Washington, Sagadahoc, Auburn , Maine, Saco, WMTW Maine, Lisbon , Maine, ” Maine, New York

☆ Ozempic and Wegovy Don’t Cost What You Think They Do
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Gina Kolata | More About Gina Kolata | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A recent paper published by the American Enterprise Institute revealed that the net prices for the new obesity drugs are just a fraction of the published annual list prices. And while the drugs’ prices remain out of reach for many, economists anticipate they will soon be driven down. More than a dozen companies are developing obesity drugs. As they enter the market, greater choice is expected to make prices plummet, as has happened with other expensive drugs. Those revenues are based on the net prices.

Persons: ”, Jalpa Doshi, Ippolito, Joseph F, Levy Organizations: American Enterprise Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Investors, Novo Nordisk, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Health Locations: Denmark, Novo

☆ First Pill for Dengue Shows Promise in Human Challenge Trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Jennifer Rigby(Reuters) - A pill for dengue fever developed by Johnson & Johnson appeared to protect against a form of the virus in a handful of patients in a small human challenge trial in the United States, according to data presented by the company on Friday. In human challenge trials, researchers intentionally expose healthy volunteers to a pathogen to test a vaccine or treatment, or better understand the disease they cause. Dengue fever, while often asymptomatic, is also known as “break bone fever” for the severity of the joint pain and spasms that some patients experience. In the trial done with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 10 volunteers were given a high dose of the J&J pill five days before being injected with a type of dengue. The five people in a placebo group, who were also injected with dengue, all showed detectable virus when tested.

Persons: Jennifer Rigby, Johnson, Van Loock, J’s Janssen, Jeremy Farrar, Johns, J, “, ”, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Johnson, American Society of Tropical Medicine, Hygiene, J, Health Organization’s, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, WHO Locations: United States, Chicago, Asia, Latin America

The summer increase of COVID-19 appears to have passed its peak. The mindset change is likely how health officials will examine COVID-19 during the fall and winter months for years to come. Last winter saw a peak of new weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions at nearly 44,500. That would mean that the U.S. enters peak respiratory disease season with an elevated level of COVID-19 circulating already, so a further increase could be possible on top of that. But to get the most protection against this form of the COVID virus that's circulating right now, get the updated COVID vaccine."

Persons: Ashish Jha, ”, – COVID, don’t, Andrew Pekosz, It’s, Mandy Cohen, ” Pekosz, “ pirola, it's, Biden, ” Cohen, Cohen, – Organizations: White, for Disease Control, CDC, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: U.S, hospitalizations, Boston

Accounts of suicidal thoughts linked to this class of drugs are drawing increasing scrutiny, including an investigation by European regulators announced in July. More than half of the narrative summaries describe suicidal thoughts appearing shortly after the person started the medicine or increased the dose. Wegovy’s U.S. prescribing label, produced with FDA approval, says suicidal thoughts or attempts have been reported in clinical trials for other weight-loss medicines. Sanofi's Acomplia, which never won U.S. approval, was withdrawn in Europe in 2008 after being linked to suicidal thoughts. She said she has not experienced any suicidal thoughts on that drug.

Persons: Dawn Heidlebaugh, Megan Jelinger, ”, Heidlebaugh, Eli Lilly, Thomas J, Moore, aren't, It’s, Novo, Dr, Erick Turner, Turner, Novo’s, drugmakers, Sanofi's, Sanofi, Contrave, John Amos, Lilly, Reuters weren’t, Lisa Wood, ” Wood, Sarah Sobol, you’re, Sobol, ’ ” Katherine, Jayson Chesnutt, Chesnutt, Robin Respaut, Chad Terhune, Maggie Fick, Ludwig Burger, Michele Gershberg, Brian Thevenot Organizations: REUTERS, Novo, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Reuters, FDA, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Novo Nordisk, U.S ., European Union, European Medicines Agency, U.S, Currax Pharmaceuticals, Vivus, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Findlay , Ohio, U.S, Ohio, Novo, Canada, Europe, Carolina, Buffalo , New York, North Carolina, Indiana

☆ Covid, RSV and flu vaccines are now available — here's how to decide whether to get them together
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For the first time ever, vaccines for Covid, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus are available in the U.S.Public health officials are urging eligible Americans to take all three shots so the nation can avoid another "tripledemic" of Covid, flu and RSV, which inundated hospitals last fall and winter. Most people only need to consider whether they should get an updated Pfizer or Moderna Covid shot and a flu vaccine at the same time, since both are broadly available to all Americans. A maternal vaccine from Pfizer protects infants against RSV, but that shot isn't available just yet. Health experts told CNBC that they don't expect any issues with taking all three shots at once. Still, other experts note that there is little research on administering an RSV shot with another vaccine, or on giving all three shots together.

Persons: Dr, Ali Alhassani, Andrew Pekosz Organizations: Public, Pfizer, Moderna, GSK, CNBC, Boston Children's Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: U.S, Boston

Nicknamed "Pirola" on social media, the BA.2.86 Omicron subvariant is being tracked by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Aug. 30, CDC said the BA.2.86 variant was detected in at least four U.S. states in people or wastewater. Delaware on Tuesday said it had detected a BA.2.86 infection at a hospital. Moderna on Wednesday said clinical data showed that its retooled COVID vaccine generated a nearly 9-fold increase in human antibodies that can neutralize BA.2.86. Pfizer said on Wednesday that its updated COVID shot showed neutralizing activity against BA.2.86 and EG.5 in studies conducted on mice.

Persons: Emily Elconin, David Dowdy, Dowdy, Dan Barouch, David Ho, Deena Beasley, Julie Steenhuysen, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Moderna, Pfizer, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, EG, Omicron, East, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center, Virology, Vaccine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, Columbia University, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Waterford , Michigan, U.S, Europe, Asia, Delaware, East Coast, Boston, Sweden, China

☆ Covid: How to check if expired tests still work as cases rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As Covid cases surge again in the U.S., Americans are digging out unused at-home tests that they stashed earlier on in the pandemic. If the date has not changed, the FDA advises against using expired tests. Public health experts say testing remains a critical tool for protection as Covid metrics climb. However, certain local health clinics and community sites still offer at-home tests to the public at no cost. Before buying new at-home tests, it wouldn't hurt to check if any expired ones sitting in your medicine cabinet are still safe to use.

Persons: Abbott's, Andrew Pekosz, Covid hospitalizations Organizations: Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CNBC, FDA, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Orlando, U.S

☆ When to wear masks as Covid cases rise, new variants emerge in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An uptick in Covid cases and hospitalizations in the U.S., and the emergence of new variants of the virus, are prompting questions about whether Americans should start masking up again. One thing's for sure: People infected with Covid should wear masks around others to prevent the spread of the virus. That includes your personal risk level, Covid rates in your region and who you might make contact with, public health experts said. Newer Covid variants like the now-dominant EG.5, or "Eris," and a handful of XBB strains have fueled the rise. New Covid shots from Pfizer , Moderna and Novavax are slated to roll out in mid-September, and will likely provide robust protection against those variants.

Persons: Michael Nason, Donna Nason, Andrew Pekosz, Francesca Torriani, Pavitra, Axios Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CNBC, CDC, U.S, Pfizer, Moderna, University of California, University of Washington School of Medicine Locations: Bakersfield, Los Angeles , CA, California, U.S, Covid, San Diego

☆ Is It Time to Wear a Mask Again?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As new Covid variants gain traction, reinfections become more common and cases climb in certain areas, a few schools and businesses are reinstating mask requirements. Here’s a refresher on where, when and how to mask. When should you wear a mask inside? Everyone’s risk tolerance varies, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said. “Certainly every time you add another person to the room, particularly people who are within three to five feet of you, that increases your chance of getting infected, exponentially,” Dr. Pekosz added.

Persons: reinfections, ”, Andrew Pekosz, William Schaffner, Pekosz Organizations: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Nonprofit hospitals like Allina get massive tax breaks in exchange for providing care for the poorest, most vulnerable people in their communities. Allina Health owns 13 hospitals and more than 90 clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its nonprofit status enabled Allina to avoid roughly $266 million in state, local and federal taxes in 2020, according to the Lown Institute, a think tank that studies health care. But the federal rules are silent on how poor patients need to be to qualify for free care. “The industry needs to tell people they might be eligible for charity care,” Mr. Ellison said.

Persons: Allina, Ge Bai, Mr, Ellison, ” Organizations: The Times, Allina Health, Lown Institute, Internal Revenue Service, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: Minnesota, Wisconsin

☆ Hearing aids may reduce your risk of dementia by half, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —For people facing a greater threat of cognitive decline, getting hearing aids could cut your risk in half, according to a new study. Over the past decade, research has established that hearing loss is one of the biggest risk factors for developing dementia, but it wasn’t clear whether intervening with hearing aids would reduce the risk, he added. In the total group, hearing aids did not appear to reduce cognitive decline, the study said. Why hearing loss may increase dementia riskEveryone’s hearing declines with age, Lin said. In those cases, lower cost over-the-counter hearing aids — available without a prescription — may be a good option.

Persons: ”, Frank Lin, Lin, Thomas Holland, Holland, couldn’t, that’s, ” Lin, “, Benjamin Tan, Dean’s, Tan, ” Holland Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Rush Institute for Health Aging, Loo Lin, of Medicine, National University of Singapore Locations: United States

☆ Study Finds Rise in Texas Births After Abortion Law. But Questions Remain.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Researchers watching the new abortion bans around the country have expected a resultant rise in births, but perhaps not one so large. “The inference I’m less comfortable making at this point is that all of those excess births are because of S.B. “This pattern was unique to Texas,” said Alison Gemmill, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and one of the researchers on the study. 8 abortion law went into effect. Quantifying the effect of abortion bans has been difficult for researchers because of a lag in obtaining detailed data about births.

Persons: ”, Caitlin Myers, It’s, “, Alison Gemmill Organizations: Middlebury College, American Medical Association, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, D.C Locations: Texas, Washington

☆ How to repel mosquitoes, according to science
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here’s the lowdown on how mosquitoes hunt us, what attracts them, and what scientists recommend for keeping them at bay. The science of mosquito bitesMost of the time, mosquitoes drink plant nectars and juices, and even help pollinate flowers. “How attractive you think you are to mosquitoes might not necessarily correlate with how attractive you actually are to the mosquitoes,” McMeniman said. The itchiness and discomfort from mosquito bites come later when the perpetrator is no longer at risk of getting swatted. No silver bullet exists to protect yourself from mosquito bites, but get a good bug spray and reapply it as needed.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, Conor McMeniman, ” McMeniman, Olivier Morin, “, We’re, there’s, Rick Bowmer, Kristen Healy, Healy, ” Healy, they’ve, McMeniman, tantalizing, Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Getty, Louisiana State University, American Mosquito Control Association, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: Baltimore, It’s, AFP, coexisting, Chicago

☆ A body odor buffet reveals which scents attract mosquitoes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Anyone who has spent a summer evening swatting away mosquitoes, or a summer day scratching mosquito bites, can agree: Mosquitoes stink. In a scientific report published Friday, scientists helped pinpoint the different chemicals in body odor that attract these insects by building an ice-rink size testing arena and pumping in the scents of different people. Hundreds of mosquitoes in the main 20-by-20-meter facility were then treated to a buffet of the sleeping subjects’ scents. The researchers found what many who have been on a picnic would attest to: Some people attract more mosquitoes than others. (Vosshall said that even scrubbing with unscented soap doesn’t get rid of the natural scents that attract mosquitoes.)

☆ What 40-Somethings Should Know About Breast Cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Some biopsies don’t indicate cancer, yet still create anxiety for patients — but many biopsies do find cancer, he said, which saves lives. Many of the factors that contribute to breast cancer risk, like genetics and a family history of cancer, aren’t modifiable; others are within a patient’s control, but not necessarily practical. For example, having a child before age 35 lowers the risk of breast cancer, as does breastfeeding, but a doctor would never recommend a woman have a child by a certain age to reduce cancer risk, said Avonne Connor, a cancer epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But a few behaviors have been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, doctors said. A mounting body of evidence has tied drinking to a higher risk of cancer in general — and potentially to breast cancer in particular, partly because alcohol can boost levels of estrogen in the body.

☆ Gun-loving Texas, where most households own a firearm, has become an epicenter of mass shootings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Emma Tucker | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

CNN and the GVA define a mass shooting as a shooting that injures or kills four or more people, not including the shooter. They argue that more firearms and higher gun ownership increases public safety – a stance that continues to be at odds with gun violence experts and data. The area around the Robb Elementary School signs has become a memorial dedicated to the victims of the May 24 mass shooting. Mass shootings are just a piece of that, and the strategies that we’re laying out will impact mass shootings. They’ll also impact a lot of other types of gun violence and that’s absolutely critical to saving lives,” Horwitz said.

☆ Viral fast-food hacks, like the Chipotle 'fajita quesadilla,' prove American appetites haven't caught up to the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The TikTok creator, known for reviewing fast-food staples, posted last summer about leveling up Chipotle's steak quesadilla with fajita veggies. Nathan Llorin, another popular TikToker, told Insider that it wasn't until he started eating and reviewing fast food that his videos took off. A climate message for menusIn January, research showed that labeling fast-food menus with their climate impacts swayed people away from red meat. But about 10% of customers now choose a meatless option, including Sofritas, the chain's plant-based mainstay made from tofu. Frost, the TikToker, told Insider that of all the things viewers attack her for on the platform, the environmental impact of fast food isn't among them.

Small icons of scientific papers are lined up in a grid, each representing a study of medication abortion. Studies of abortion pills Each icon represents one study that reported serious complications after medication abortion. For pregnant women considering medication abortion, the alternatives would be childbirth or procedural abortion. Almost all patients will experience bleeding and pain during a medication abortion, because the pills essentially trigger a miscarriage. But the study itself notes that bleeding is expected, serious complications are rare and medication abortion is safe.

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