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On social media, families say they’ve hunted for hours for Tamiflu and the first-line antibiotics amoxicillin and Augmentin. They have one viral illness after another. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of US states have “high” or “very high” respiratory virus activity. As for the antibiotics amoxicillin and Augmentin – a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate, an agent that helps guard against antibiotic resistance – it’s not entirely clear why demand is so high. Some viral illness, like influenza, can leave the body more vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections that may need treatment with antibiotics.

☆ The only thing Elon Musk understands about Twitter is how to kill it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Biologists, anthropologists, and information theorists do think that social networks, like Musk's bird app, show at least some signs of being flocks. "Elon's tweet is basically espousing the invisible hand of social behavior," Bak-Coleman says. In this construction, a social network might have become a collective superintelligence, had capitalists left it to its — our? Under Musk, Twitter has entered the dance-off phase. I'll be sad if the Twitter superintelligence starts singing a Kubrickian cover of "Daisy" and implodes into a pile of melting isolinear chips.

☆ President Jair Bolsonaro has dropped out of sight because he 'can't wear pants' due to a skin infection, Brazil's vice president says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro lost a tightly-contested presidential election last month. Since then, he has been holed up in his official residence. Brazil's vice president told O Globo that Bolsonaro hasn't left his home due to a skin infection. Mourao said that Bolsonaro, 67, who lost a tightly-contested presidential election last month, has been holed up in his official residence because of a skin infection, known as erysipelas, on his leg. He has a leg injury, a skin infection," Mourao told O Globo .

☆ Green Day Produce recalls enoki mushroom packages due to possible health risk
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Mallika Kallingal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Green Day Produce is recalling its enoki mushroom packages sold between September and October because they could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes – the bacteria that causes Listeria infections, according to a statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. The enoki mushrooms, a product of Korea, were packed in 7.05 oz clear plastic and distributed nationwide to distributors and retail stores. Although no illnesses have been reported so far, the product is no longer being distributed, the company said in the statement. Listeria is a serious infection and can sometimes be fatal in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. An estimated 1,600 people get Listeria infections each year, and about 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

☆ COVID pandemic led to surge in superbug infections, EU agency says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Data showed that in Europe last year, reported cases of the Acinetobacter bacteria group more than doubled compared with pre-pandemic annual numbers. Some scientists link the rise in hospital-acquired superbug infections during the pandemic to wider antibiotic prescriptions to treat COVID-19 and other bacterial infections during long hospital stays. He also said the data showed decreases in cases of some other common superbugs in European hospitals. The European report is consistent with a trend noted last year in the United States, where government data showed that U.S. deaths from drug-resistant infections jumped 15% in 2020. Experts call superbug infections, including fungal pathogens, a silent pandemic that causes more than a million deaths annually but does not draw attendant focus or funding for research.

☆ Fact Check-The common cold is an upper respiratory illness, not a detox process
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

While it remains true that there is no cure for the common cold, social media users are sharing a misleading message that the common cold is itself a “cure” for built-up toxins and debris. The common cold is the body’s response to infection by a variety of common viruses, and there is no evidence that cold symptoms have a detoxifying effect, experts told Reuters. But the most common cause is the large family known as the rhinoviruses (here) (here). Social media claims that the common cold is actually a detox capable of removing toxins from the body are false, Russo said in a phone interview. Like common cold viruses, RSV is a respiratory virus that transmits from person to person and typically causes moderate cold symptoms in most people.

☆ FDA lays out plan to combat bacterial illnesses in baby formula
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US Food and Drug Administration is charting a plan to enhance its surveillance of infant formula for Cronobacter bacteria. Cronobacter infections are rare, but they can be serious and even fatal, especially in newborns. Cronobacter lives in the environment, but when these infections are diagnosed in infants, they are often linked to powdered formula. Only one state, Minnesota, now requires doctors to report Cronobacter infections to the state health department. The infants had all consumed powdered formula manufactured at an Abbott Nutrition production facility in Sturgis, Michigan.

☆ FDA Developing Plan to Guard Against Bacteria Outbreaks in Baby Formula
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Kristina Peterson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-developing-plan-to-guard-against-bacteria-outbreaks-in-baby-formula-11668539067

☆ Plant milks or dairy: What's better for you and planet Earth?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The advertisement featuring a pearly white, cow’s milk mustache on a smiling face sends a message often repeated at home: Dairy milk is good for you. Fat, sodium and cholesterol: Compared to dietary cholesterol in whole dairy, most plant milks are good choices — plant foods never have dietary cholesterol, Gardner said. Sodium levels are relatively equal between plant milks and dairy at about 100 milligrams of sodium. “No need to fear the fat of most plant-based milks — unsaturated fats are considered healthful in the modest quantities found in plant-based milks,” Gardner said. Plant milks have no such advantage, and this is where nutrition can stumble, Gardner said.

☆ FDA to review baby formula production rules to prevent bacterial illness
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. health regulator said on Tuesday it would review guidance and rules about manufacturing infant formula as part of its strategy to prevent bacterial illness similar to Abbott Laboratories' (ABT.N) products this year. The plant shutdown and the recall of Abbott infant formula products deepened a supply shortage and sent parents in the United States scrambling. Abbott's plant was restarted in July. While the bacterial infection is considered rare and is not reportable in most states, it can be deadly in newborns. Abbott's products were recalled following reports of four cases and two deaths.

☆ This is the best dish you could serve at Thanksgiving
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As iconic Thanksgiving dishes go, stuffing is likely runner-up only to turkey as the dish most often on the dining table. Classic bread stuffing and variationsA traditional bread and herb stuffing is a fan favorite for many reasons. Think of this basic stuffing recipe as a jumping-off point for bringing more main dish energy to the table (especially if you’re considering a turkey-free or plant-based Thanksgiving this year). In place of meat-based ingredients, nuts, seeds and dried fruit can also bring in flavor and textural interest. Chestnut stuffing was once as popular as oyster stuffing, as the meaty but tender nuts give the dish a subtly earthy and sweet undertone.

☆ A brain expert shares his 7 'hard rules' for boosting memory and fighting off dementia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Marc Milstein | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As a neuroscience researcher, here are seven hard rules I live by to keep my brain sharp and fight off dementia. Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in checkYour heart beats roughly 115,000 times a day, and with every beat, it sends about 20% of the oxygen in your body to your brain. High blood pressure can weaken your heart muscle, and is one of the leading causes of strokes. Ideally, your blood pressure should be no higher than 120/80. To lessen isolation and loneliness, you can also boost brain chemicals like serotonin and endorphins by performing small acts of kindness: Wish others well or check in with somebody.

One person died, a woman lost her pregnancy, and over a dozen others were sickened in a listeria outbreak believed to be linked to deli meat and cheese, public health officials said Wednesday. At least 16 people in six states have been sickened, with New York state reporting the most people sickened, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said, but the real number is likely higher. In New York, where seven of the sick people were identified, five bought deli meat or cheese from at least one location of the NetCost Market chain, but others did not, according to the CDC. The CDC said investigators don’t think that chain is the sole source, and that products bought at deli counters in multiple states are the likely source. “A contaminated food likely introduced the outbreak strain of Listeria into delis in multiple states,” the agency said.

☆ Legumes can help fight climate change, but 'bean hesitancy' might stand in the way
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Lentils, beans, and peas are low-carbon protein sources that can help prevent fertilizer pollution. People have told her they don't like beans, don't know how to cook them, or don't want to deal with the gas they get from eating them. We don't need to research what they do for the human body — there's mountains of research proving that. We don't need to research how many ways there are to cook it, because there's mountains of cookbooks also proving that. But we do need to understand what is this hesitancy among Americans to eat beans," Ichikawa told Insider.

☆ How often you should wash your hair
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But experts say there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should wash your hair — or what you can do to maintain it on off days. When to washRossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you’ve had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said. But you should wash it at least every two to three weeks to keep your scalp and hair clean and healthy. If you’re experiencing perpetual issues with your scalp or hair — such as dandruff, hair loss or brittle hair — you should see a board-certified dermatologist who treats conditions in these areas, Rossi said.

Persons: ”, Anthony Rossi, ” Rossi, Rossi, you’ve Organizations: CNN, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Academy of Dermatology Locations: New York City

☆ New Antibiotic for Urinary-Tract Infections Found Effective in Trials
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Denise Roland | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

GSK said the new drug, called gepotidacin, was effective in two large clinical trials spanning around 3,000 patients. GSK PLC said its experimental treatment for uncomplicated urinary-tract infections was effective in two large clinical trials, paving the way for what could be the first new oral antibiotic for the common ailment in more than two decades. Around half of all women have suffered a urinary-tract infection, or UTI, at least once, and recurrence is common, according to studies. UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics, but some bacteria have developed resistance to existing drugs, creating a need for new treatment options.

☆ We're closer to getting the first new pill to treat UTIs in over 20 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Andrew Dunn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It would be the first new pill to treat uncomplicated UTIs in 20 years, GSK said. The drug, called gepotidacin, could become the first new oral antibiotic for uncomplicated UTIs in more than two decades, according to the company. GSK's drug was tested in uncomplicated UTIs, which are restricted to the the bladder and urethra and are generally less serious than complicated UTIs. On Thursday, GSK said two studies enrolled over 3,000 patients with uncomplicated UTIs. GSK, on the other hand, paid $66 million in September to license another antibiotic program being tested to treat complicated UTIs.

☆ Dead bodies are randomly mummifying in Portugal, baffling scientists and sparking a crisis in its graveyards
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Graveyards in Portugal are running out of space, partly because bodies aren't decaying as expected. Under local laws implemented to save space, bodies need to be routinely exhumed so that skeletal remains can be laid to rest in smaller containers. Scientists like Krap use facilities that have access to donated bodies to study decomposition, so-called body farms. A lasting effect on culture, and grief"This has a social impact, which is quite a big deal for my own country," Silva Bessa said. But, as Silva Bessa noted, for the Portuguese "it's quite the tradition to bury the bodies not to cremate them."

☆ China pledges high-tech support for climate, environmental problems
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - China will seek high-tech solutions to resolve its complex environmental challenges and make use of innovations in big data, biotech and artificial intelligence to tackle pollution, habitat loss and climate change, it said on Wednesday. The system will be backed by tax incentives and new "green technology banks", and China will also encourage enterprises and financial institutions to provide more support to innovative green technologies, the plan said. China has cut CO2 emissions per unit of economic growth by a third in the last decade, but overall volumes continue to rise. It promised more research to support large-scale demonstration projects and the use of aquifers and oil-bearing formations to contain sequestered CO2. The government will also support research into "deep decarbonisation technologies" in a variety of industrial sectors, including steel, cement, thermal power and agriculture, it said.

SKIP AHEAD Best scalp acne treatments | Common causes of scalp acne and how to treat itBest and worst ingredients for scalp acneClarifying shampoos help to remove buildup on your scalp, said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung, MD, and look out for ingredients like salicylic acid. Regardless of which product you use, Cheung noted that you may notice a drying effect “immediately,” but scalp acne can take a few days to heal. Witch hazel and peppermint oil help soothe the scalp and remove excess oil, according to Zeichner, which can improve both flakes and scalp acne. Scalp acne: Common causes and how to treat itTucked under your hair, scalp acne might not be as glaring as a huge zit on your nose, but it’s still a nuisance. The bad news is that if your scalp acne is genetic or hormonal, it's a bit trickier to remedy.

☆ CDC warns of bacteria in dental waterlines after disease outbreaks in children
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Mirna Alsharif | Mirna Alsharif Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday issued a health advisory about waterborne bacteria in dental plumbing systems after children who visited pediatric dental clinics were infected with nontuberculous Mycobacteria. The cluster of suspected NTM infections identified in March arose among patients of the same pediatric dental facility. The year before, 24 children got NTM infections after receiving dental care from a clinic in Georgia. "Dental providers should consult with the dental equipment manufacturer for appropriate methods and equipment to both maintain and monitor the quality of dental water," the CDC said. If left untreated, dental water can also breed other bacteria, including Legionella.

☆ Opinion | Science Has a Nasty Photoshopping Problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Elisabeth Bik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

One evening in January 2014, I sat at my computer at home, sifting through scientific papers. Manipulated imagery in scientific papers can look ordinary at first glance. However, this ability, combined with my — what some might call obsessive — personality, helped me when hunting duplications in scientific images by eye. So when a scientist’s research shows a negative result, cheating can be tempting. Legitimate criticism of scientific research should receive legal protection.

☆ Video shows lemur picking its nose so deep it touches the back of its throat, then eats it — behavior previously unknown to science
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A video shows a lemur picking its nose, a behavior never before observed by scientists. The animal shoves one of her long agile fingers all the way up her nose to her throat. The video shows Kali, an aye-aye living in the Duke Lemur Center in North Carolina, shoving her 3-inch long finger all the way up her nose, taking it out again, and licking it. A picture of a juvenile aye-aye shows its long slender fingers, which are used to hunt for bugs — and for nose picking. Renaud BoiselThe scan, above, showed the lemur's finger going all the way up its nose to the back of its throat.

☆ New videos from a sailor show 'horrible' polluted drinking water on a US Navy aircraft carrier
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The US Navy found drinking water on an aircraft carrier was polluted with bacteria and bilge water. Videos shared with Insider by a USS Abraham Lincoln sailor show murky water bubbling out of drinking fountains and sinks on September 21-22. The sailor told Insider that the water smelled and tasted "horrible" and said "you can't escape it." One sailor told Insider "it was horrible" and that at times the water the crew used to drink, bathe, and cook appeared "black." The Lincoln is the second aircraft carrier to deal with water contamination within the last few weeks.

☆ Eight Pine-Sol disinfectant cleaners recalled over infection-causing bacteria
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Dennis Romero | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Eight Pine-Sol disinfectant cleaning products are being recalled over fears they may contain infection-causing bacteria, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday. The Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners, CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners, and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners produced at a plant in Forest Park, Georgia, may contain the natural bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause infections in those with compromised immune systems, the commission said in a statement. Clorox, the parent company of the Pine-Sol brand, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through a break in the skin," it said. Included are the Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave and Lemon Fresh scents of Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners; the Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, Lemon Fresh and Orange Energy scents of CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners; and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners, the commission said.

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