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☆ Fact Check-No evidence group A strep present in flu vaccine given to children
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

“The LAIV vaccine used in the UK does not contain Streptococcus A,” an MHRA spokesperson told Reuters via email. The bacteria are not listed in the ingredients for Fluenz Tetra (bit.ly/3HesXo4), which is also marketed in the U.S. as fluMist. “Group A strep is not used at any stage of the development of the nasal flu vaccine. The vaccine does not contain Group A strep,” Pollard said via email. The MHRA and AstraZeneca told Reuters that group A strep is not an ingredient in the Fluenz Tetra vaccine, and two independent experts said there are no reports of contamination.

☆ An unexpected force may be speeding up glacier melt across the globe: colorful algae blooms
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Now he sees bright pink and red algae blooms every year. Dr. Matt DaveyScientists like Maréchal think these algae blooms are getting larger and more frequent as rising global temperatures melt glaciers worldwide. Glacier algae seems to be booming, but scientists have a lot to learnResearcher Matt Davey samples snow algae at Lagoon Island, Antarctica. Ice algae and snow algae are different types of microorganisms, and different fields of study, but they both affect glaciers. A strip of "blood snow" filled with red algae cuts across a dark bloom of purple algae in Greenland.

☆ Fact Check-Pepto-Bismol not a proven treatment for COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Pepto-Bismol, the familiar pink over-the-counter medicine, might be expected to ease diarrhea symptoms in people with or without COVID-19. The claim that “big pharma” is hiding the benefits of Pepto-Bismol as a treatment for COVID-19 is part of a narrative that COVID-19 was manufactured for the pharmaceutical industry as a source of profit, previously debunked by Reuters (here). Bruce Yacyshyn, an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and co-principal investigator of the Pepto-Bismol clinical trial, told Reuters via email that there was a valid scientific reason to test the medication in the context of COVID-19. But it remained as yet an “unproven treatment” for the virus because “no placebo controlled, randomized clinical trial data is yet available for this drug in this indication.”WHY PEPTO-BISMOL? There is no scientific evidence that Pepto-Bismol provides any benefit as a treatment for COVID-19, and a clinical trial testing that question has not yet produced results.

☆ Some bloodstream infection bacteria grew resistant to last-resort drugs in 2020 - WHO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Increased drug resistance in bacteria causing bloodstream infections, including against last-resort antibiotics, was seen in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, a World Health Organization report based on data from 87 countries in 2020 showed. High levels (above 50%) of resistance have been reported in bacteria that typically cause life-threatening bloodstream infections in hospitals such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp, report authors highlighted on Friday. These infections often require treatment with 'last-resort' antibiotics, drugs that are used when all other antibiotics fail. About 8% of bloodstream infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae grew resistant to a vital last-resort group of drugs called carbapenems, the report said. Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remain very high, but last-resort antibiotics are only just starting to lose potency, said Dr Carmem Pessoa-Silva, the lead for WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, in a media conference.

☆ Period underwear FAQS — answered
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Period underwear has grown popular over the past few years for several reasons. Period underwear brands offer a variety of absorbencies since people have different flows. Does period underwear affect symptoms and period length? Some people on social media platforms and product reviews have reported a lighter flow or shorter period while wearing period underwear. “People should be able to access and use whatever type of period management tools that work best for them, including period underwear,” Brandi said.

☆ Gut Bacteria Are Linked to Depression
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Dominique Mosbergen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bacteroides are among the most common bacteria found in the human intestinal tract. New research has bolstered a once-gutsy idea: Bugs in the digestive system may play a role in depression. Two studies published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications found a link between several types of bacteria in the gut and depressive symptoms. Trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and yeast live in the digestive tract. Research exploring whether they might affect an array of diseases has increased in recent years.

☆ Why colds and flu viruses are more common in winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s almost as if those pesky cold and flu germs whirl in with the first blast of winter weather. So why do people get more colds, flu and now Covid-19 when it’s chilly outside? It turns out the cold air itself damages the immune response occurring in the nose. Once created and dispersed out into nasal secretions, the billions of EV’s then start to swarm the marauding germs, Bleier said. Wearing a mask can protect you from cold air that can reduce your immunity, an expert says.

☆ UK health officials warn parents to be alert after 6 child deaths linked to Strep A infections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty ImagesHealth officials in the U.K. are warning parents to be alert after a recent spate of Strep A infections resulted in the deaths of at least six children. The U.K.'s Health Security Agency issued a rare health warning Friday urging parents to monitor their children for tell-tale symptoms of the illness, which can include a sore throat, headache, fever, and body rashes. While most cases are mild and often go unnoticed, it can also lead to more serious illness and complications, such as scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mostly affects young children. Make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is showing signs of deteriorating after a bout of scarlet fever.

☆ Ultraprocessed food may contribute to dementia, study says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —We all eat them — ultraprocessed foods such as frozen pizza and ready-to-eat meals make our busy lives much easier. If more than 20% of your daily calorie intake is ultraprocessed foods, however, you may be raising your risk for cognitive decline, a new study found. While short of proof, this is robust enough that we should conclude ultraprocessed foods are probably bad for our brains.”There was an interesting twist, however. “Ultraprocessed foods drag diet quality down, and thus their concentration in the diet is an indicator of poor diet quality in most cases,” Katz said. One easy way to ensure diet quality is to cook and prepare your food from scratch, Suemoto said.

☆ I tried a $5 hangover pill. The next morning, I felt like I'd barely had anything to drink at all.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The next morning, I had no hangover symptoms and was amazed at my productivity. Myrkl pills are transparent capsules containing brown granules, and nearly an inch long. It felt like I'd barely had anything to drink the night before. Overall, Myrkl seemed to help me grapple with hangover symptoms and sustain my productivity without forcing me to sacrifice post-work drinks. While the best option is always to limit your alcohol consumption, Myrkl might make happy hour a little more cheerful.

☆ The Laundress Is Recalling 8 Million Products Over Infection-Causing Bacteria
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Joseph De Avila | Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Laundress is voluntarily recalling about eight million laundry and cleaning products that may contain bacteria that can cause respiratory infections among immunocompromised people. The company said it was issuing the recall Thursday after first warning customers on Nov. 17 to stop using its products. The Laundress said last month it had identified “the potential presence of elevated levels of bacteria” in some of its products and was working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

☆ A Harvard nutritionist and brain expert says avoid these 5 foods to keep your 'memory and focus sharp'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Dr. Uma Naidoo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Excess consumption of omega-6s can trigger the body to produce chemicals that can lead to inflammation in the brain. Foods with added and refined sugarsOur brain uses energy in the form of glucose, a type of sugar, to fuel cellular activities. But a high sugar diet can lead to excess glucose in the brain. This can cause memory impairments and less plasticity of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. Processed foodsA diet high in ultra-processed foods may put you at risk of having shorter telomeres — or the "cap" on our DNA.

☆ What is Strep A, the common bacterium that has killed 6 children in the UK?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Health officials in the United Kingdom are advising parents and schools to watch for Strep A infections following the recent deaths of six children. While there is no vaccine to prevent Strep A or iGAS infections, antibiotics are usually effective at treating them. The increase in iGAS this year has particularly been observed in children under 10, the UKHSA added. For children aged 5 to 9, there were 1.1 cases per 100,000, compared with the pre-pandemic average of 0.3. The last period of high infections was between 2017 to 2018, with four children under 10 dying in the equivalent period, the statement added.

☆ 20 years ago, a Lyme-disease vaccine was taken off the market. Now, 2 companies are developing one that could be available by 2025.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Lyme vaccine was pulled from the market 20 years agoThere's already been one US Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine for Lyme disease. GSK — then called SmithKline Beecham — made a Lyme vaccine that was approved by the FDA in 1998. If the phase 3 study results are positive, the companies are aiming to get FDA approval for the vaccine in 2025. Lyme disease is a growing problemLyme disease has become much more of a concern since 2002. In 2022, a study estimated that 15% of the global population had contracted Lyme disease at some point in their lifetimes.

☆ Some illegal cannabis shops operating in NYC are selling weed contaminated with salmonella and pesticides, survey says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A November survey tested 40 cannabis products from 20 unlicensed weed retailers in New York City. The study found harmful bacteria and pesticides in at least 16 of the products tested. Nearly 40% of the products failed at least one of the standard tests conducted on legal marijuana products, survey reports. A November survey conducted by the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association tested 40 cannabis products from 20 unlicensed stores advertising marijuana. Consumers not only have to worry about the health concerns of potentially contaminated pot but also misleading packaging on THC products.

☆ U.S. FDA gives first-ever approval to fecal transplant therapy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The therapy, Rebyota, targets Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile – a superbug responsible for infections that can cause serious and life-threatening diarrhea. While this is the first such therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for recurrent C. difficile infections, fecal microbiota transplants – classified by the regulator as investigational – have long been the standard of care in the U.S. for this condition. Approval for the therapy comes on the back of a positive vote from the regulator's advisers in September, as most on the panel sought standardization of the therapy. Ferring, which gained the therapy through its 2018 purchase of U.S.-based Rebiotix Inc, was not immediately available for a comment on pricing and availability of the therapy. Besides Ferring, other companies including Seres Therapeutics (MCRB.O), which is developing an oral treatment, are working on similar therapies based on fecal microbiota transplantation.

☆ A fire broke out aboard US Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and injured 9 sailors off the coast of California
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A fire broke out aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday. Nine sailors had "minor" injures, a Navy official told Insider, with six suffering from dehydration. It's the latest incident to plague the Lincoln, which reported polluted drinking water last month. The fire started Tuesday morning while the carrier was 30 miles off shore, but it was "quickly identified and extinguished" by the crew, according to a Navy statement. The injuries suffered by the sailors were classified as "minor injuries" in the Navy statement.

☆ RSV, flu and colds: How to tell when your child is too sick for school
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Almost all children catch RSV at some point before they turn 2, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Here’s how to assess when to keep your child home from school and when to visit the pediatrician, according to experts. Ideally, public health professionals would like it if no child showing symptoms were sent to school or day care, where they could potentially spread infections Schaffner said. Again, here is where schools may have different policies and it becomes important to check with written information, a school administrator or school nurse, Wen said. “Parents should know that treating RSV and other respiratory infections is the bread and butter of pediatricians and emergency physicians,” Wen said.

Here's what happens to your body after death, in 13 steps. The body temperature dropsBody temperature starts dropping. How fast this happens depends on many factors like external temperature, clothing on the body, and fat content of the body. Within minutes, cells in the body start breaking downCells break down. Marianne Ayala/InsiderThe body starts breaking down shortly after death, but the physical signs of decomposition only appear later on.

☆ Fact Check-PCR test for COVID-19 uses gene cloning but cannot be used to clone humans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits for COVID-19 use what’s known as gene cloning – not reproductive cloning – to detect the presence or absence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but social media posts claim that humans are being cloned using COVID-19 PCR tests. The claim appears to originate from an Aug. 18 segment of the Stew Peters Show titled, “Patent PCR Test Linked To Human Cloning Video Shows Animal Experiments, Cross Species Genetics” (here). The 2015 paper by Hoseini and Sauer explains methods for gene cloning with PCR and used a gene encoding a red fluorescent protein as its example. PCR tests for COVID-19 cannot be used for human cloning. Molecular cloning, or gene cloning, that is described in a 2015 paper about using PCR to copy individual genes is an entirely different process.

☆ Houston lifts boil-water order affecting more than 2 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON — Houston officials lifted an order Tuesday that had called for more than 2 million people in the nation’s fourth-largest city to boil their tap water before drinking or using it. The boil order had been in effect since Sunday, when a power outage at a purification plant caused pressure to drop. The order led to the closure of businesses and schools, including the Houston Independent School District, which canceled classes Monday and Tuesday. The city said water quality samples sent to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed the tap water meets regulatory standards and is safe to drink. The power system at the water plant undergoes regular maintenance, Turner said, but he did not give a timeline for how often.

☆ World’s ‘oldest meal’ discovered in 550-million-year-old fossil
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Toyin Owoseje | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An international team of scientists say they have new insight into how the very earliest animals survived after traces of what they described as the world’s oldest meal were found in a 550 million-year-old fossil. Some of the oldest life on Earth is referred to as the Ediacaran biota. This group is based on the earliest fossils ever discovered, providing evidence of complex, multicellular organisms. Nearly all fossils that came before the Ediacaran biota were single-celled and microscopic in size,” Brocks said, according to a press release. Dr. Bobrovskiy said the findings are helping scientists track the evolution of the earliest animals, and how they relate to their descendants today.

Vaping may increase a person's risk for cavities and tooth decay, preliminary new research suggests. Adding artificial sweeteners and flavorings to the sticky aerosol may create the perfect breeding ground for cavities. The new study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Dental Association, is considered preliminary and does not prove that vaping causes cavities. But because e-cigarette usage is so rampant among adolescents — with 2.5 million teens vaping in the United States alone — the possibility that it could increase the risk for tooth decay in this generation is worrisome, experts who study vaping in young people said. Among these high-risk patients, e-cigarette users, Irusa found, were at a "significantly" higher risk of developing cavities, compared with those who did not vape.

☆ 'Vulture bees' feed their babies rotting flesh, even though it breeds toxin-producing bacteria. They're a mystery to scientists.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Vulture bees" feed their larvae rotting meat instead of relying on pollen like other bees. Scientists hung raw chicken in Costa Rica and watched vulture bees fill their leg pouches and stomachs with it. Sure enough, the researchers discovered that vulture bees' guts may be more like actual vultures or hyenas than their pollen-gathering relatives. The vulture bees had lots of acid-producing bacteria like lactobacillus, probably creating a far more acidic gut than their pollen-eating cousins. They want to study what happens in the pods where the vulture bees store meat before feeding it to their larvae.

☆ Prehistoric humans were surprisingly creative cooks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Stone Age cooks were surprisingly sophisticated, combining an array of ingredients and using different techniques to prepare and flavor their meals, analysis of some the earliest charred food remains has suggested. (From left) Breadlike food was found in Franchthi Cave in Greece; pulse-rich food with wild peas was uncovered in Shanidar Cave in northern Iraq. The charred food remains from Franchthi Cave dated from 12,000 years ago, when it was also occupied by hunter-gatherer Homo sapiens. Much research on prehistoric diets has focused on whether early humans were predominantly meat eaters, but Kabukcu said it was clear they weren’t just chomping on woolly mammoth steaks. A Neanderthal hearth was unearthed at Shanidar Cave, where charred plant remains were also found.

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