DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Among his sexual contacts, five later tested positive for mpox, WHO said. “This is the first definitive proof of sexual transmission of monkeypox in Africa,” Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist who sits on several WHO advisory groups, said. The agency described the recent mpox outbreak as “unusual” and said it highlighted the risk the disease could spread widely among sexual networks. Those figures are roughly double the mpox toll in 2020, making it Congo's biggest-ever outbreak, WHO said. “Sexual transmission of monkeypox is likely established here, but (gay) communities are hiding it because of the draconian (anti-LGBTQ+) laws in several countries,” he added.

Persons: Oyewale, Mpox, Virologist Tomori, ”, Tomori Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Congo, Belgium, Africa, Nigerian, Europe, Kinshasa, South Kivu, North America

WASHINGTON (AP) — More children were apparently sickened by apple puree pouches recently recalled due to dangerous lead contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said. The agency has received 52 reports of elevated lead levels among children who reportedly consumed the products, which is up from 34 cases reported last week. The pouches were marketed to parents and children under three brands: WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and Schnucks and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches. The agency previously said cinnamon imported from a manufacturer in Ecuador was the “likely source” of the lead contamination. The affected children’s blood lead levels ranged from 4 to 29 micrograms per deciliter.

Persons: — Organizations: WASHINGTON, Food and Drug Administration, Schnucks, FDA, Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Ecuador

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s the season of giving thanks — and it turns out humans have been doing it for a long, long time. “This is something that is part of our human DNA,” said Sarah Schnitker, a psychologist at Baylor University. “It is a glue, in a sense, that holds us together.”How we got gratefulPolitical Cartoons View All 1260 ImagesHumans are social animals. Some scientists think the feeling of gratitude evolved to keep the helping exchanges going. Though we can’t “speak chimp” well enough to know if they’re actually saying thanks, Suchak added, it makes sense that some form of this social debt showed up early in our lineage.

Persons: —, they've, ”, Sarah Schnitker, Michael Tomasello, Malini Suchak, capuchin, Suchak, Jenae Nelson, ” Nelson, they’re, Amrisha Vaish, Vaish, Schnitker, Nelson, “ It’s, “ Organizations: Baylor University, Duke University, Canisius University ., Baylor, Harvard, University of Virginia, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ” plant hardiness zone map ” was updated Wednesday for the first time in a decade, and it shows the impact that climate change will have on gardens and yards across the country. One key figure on the map is the lowest likely winter temperature in a given region, which is important for determining which plants may survive the season. It's calculated by averaging the lowest winter temperatures of the past 30 years. Winter temperatures and nighttime temperatures are rising faster than daytime and summer temperatures, Primack said, which is why the lowest winter temperature is changing faster than the U.S. temperature overall. “There are a lot of downsides to the warmer winter temperatures, too,” said Theresa Crimmins, who studies climate change and growing seasons at the University of Arizona and was not involved in creating the map.

Persons: Chris Daly, Richard Primack, ” Primack, Primack, ”, Theresa Crimmins Organizations: WASHINGTON, The U.S . Department, Oregon, Agricultural Research Service, Boston University, University of Arizona, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Boston, The, U.S

SpaceX aimed for a second test flight of its mega rocket Starship on Saturday, counting down to a morning liftoff from South Texas. The first test flight in April ended in an explosion shortly after liftoff. The goal is to send the rocketship around the world before ditching it in the ocean near Hawaii. SpaceX spent the past several months making improvements to both the rocket and launch pad, located at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border. The nearly 400-foot (121-meter) Starship is the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket.

Persons: Elon Musk Organizations: SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: South Texas, Hawaii, Texas, Mexico, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season is underway, with at least seven states reporting high levels of illnesses and cases rising in other parts of the country, health officials say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new flu data on Friday, showing very high activity last week in Louisiana, and high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina. “We’re off to the races,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expertTraditionally, the winter flu season ramps up in December or January. Flu activity was moderate but rising in New York City, Arkansas, California, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Flu vaccination rates are better than rates for the other two main respiratory viruses — COVID-19 and RSV.

Persons: “, ”, William Schaffner, Alicia Budd, Budd, it’s Organizations: Disease Control, District of Columbia, Vanderbilt University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Louisiana, Alabama , Florida, Georgia , Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, District, Puerto Rico, New York City , Arkansas , California , Maryland , New Jersey, North Carolina , Tennessee, Texas, Alaska

A New York City woman who died Sunday from cancer has raised enough money to erase millions of dollars in medical debt with a posthumous plea for help. The posts included a link to a fundraising campaign started through the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt. It had raised about $140,000 by Friday afternoon, or enough to buy around $14 million in medical debt. RIP Medical Debt erases debt purchased from hospitals, other health care providers and the secondary debt market. They were inspired by a video they saw of North Carolina churchgoers burning about $3 million in medical debt.

Persons: Casey McIntyre, McIntyre, ” “, Andrew Rose Gregory, Gregory, Casey, ”, Daniel Lempert, Grace, “ Casey, ” Gregory Organizations: York City, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, North, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: York, U.S, Brooklyn, North Carolina

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is screening imports of cinnamon from multiple countries for toxic lead contamination after growing reports of children who were sickened after eating pouches of applesauce and apple puree. But the agency noted there have not been other reports of illness or elevated blood lead levels tied to the spice that's popular in holiday baking. One pouch of recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon puree collected from a Dollar Tree store was found to have lead levels more than 200 times higher than proposed FDA guidance would allow, officials said. Consumers should be aware that cinnamon may contain lead, she said, but the FDA's release on Friday said there’s no indication that cinnamon products other than the applesauce puree are affected. The recalled fruit products include pouches of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and Schnucks and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce.

Persons: Joanne Slavin, ” Organizations: . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Coral, University of Minnesota, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Schnucks, Weis, American Academy of Pediatrics, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Ecuador, Coral Gables , Florida, Austrofood

U.S. health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain whole and cut cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit products linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. Several brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit have been recalled. They include Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. Investigators are working to identify any additional cantaloupe products that may be contaminated. Officials in Canada are investigating an outbreak involving the same strain of salmonella, which they detected in a sample of Malichita brand cantaloupe.

Organizations: ALDI, Consumers, Officials, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Canada

LONDON (AP) — Measles deaths globally spiked by more than 40% last year and cases rose after vaccination levels dramatically dropped during the pandemic, leading health agencies said Thursday. The highly infectious disease triggered epidemics in 37 countries last year, versus 22 countries in 2021. “The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we’ve seen in the past few years,” said CDC's John Vertefeuille, said in a statement. Two doses of the measles vaccine are highly protective against the disease. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: ”, CDC's John Vertefeuille, Andrew Wakefield Organizations: World Health Organization, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, WHO, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, India, British, London

Advances in childhood cancer are a success story in modern medicine. But in the past decade, those strides have stalled for Black and Hispanic youth, opening a gap in death rates, according to a new report published Thursday. Death rates were about the same for Black, Hispanic and white children in 2001, and all went lower during the next decade. Nearly incurable 50 years ago, childhood cancer now is survivable for most patients, especially those with leukemia. The National Cancer Institute is working to gather data from every childhood cancer patient with the goal of linking each child to state-of-the-art care.

Persons: ”, Sharon Castellino, Emory University’s, Castellino, Paula Aristizabal, ” Aristizabal, Emily Tonorezos Organizations: Black, Emory, Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control, University of California, Rady Children’s, Equity, National Cancer Institute, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Atlanta, U.S, San Diego, Rady

NEW YORK (AP) — RSV infections are rising sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states. To help counter the surge, federal officials on Thursday announced they were releasing 77,000 doses of a new RSV shot for newborns that have been in short supply. In Virginia, 20 kids are currently hospitalized with RSV at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health, with about half of them in the intensive care unit, said spokesperson Shira Pollard. “Our emergency departments, our urgent cares are extremely busy. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, cough and fever.

Persons: Meredith McMorrow, Shira Pollard, Jim Fortenberry, ” Fortenberry, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, VCU Health, Children’s Healthcare, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Georgia , Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Atlanta, Children’s

FDA officials don't have the legal authority to force manufacturers to recall their products, and instead rely on companies to “voluntarily” do so. The FDA previously stated it recommended the manufacturer recall the eyedrops on Oct. 25. That suggests agency officials may still be finalizing documentation from the inspection that triggered the latest recall. Agency records show FDA didn't conduct any inspections in India during fiscal year 2021, at the height of the pandemic. CVS Health said in a statement that it previously “stopped the sale in-store and online” of all the eyedrops cited by the FDA.

Persons: “, weren't Organizations: WASHINGTON, CVS Health, Target, Rite, Kilitch Healthcare, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Healthcare, U.S, Velocity Pharma, Agency, COVID, CVS, Cardinal Health, Delsam Pharma, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Kilitch Healthcare India, Mumbai, Farmingdale, N.Y, India, India’s, Tamil Nadu

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

LONDON (AP) — Britain's medicines regulator has authorized the world's first gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease, in a move that could offer relief to thousands of people with the crippling disease in the U.K. The agency approved the treatment for patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia who are 12 years old and over. Casgevy is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the agency is expected to make a decision early next month, before considering another sickle cell gene therapy. Millions of people around the world, including about 100,000 in the U.S., have sickle cell disease. Scientists believe being a carrier of the sickle cell trait helps protect against severe malaria.

Persons: ”, Helen O'Neill Organizations: Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, CRISPR Therapeutics, Helen O'Neill of University College London, Medicines, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Europe, CRISPR, South Asian, Britain, U.S, Africa, India, Eastern

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX is aiming for another test flight of its mega rocket on Friday after getting final approval from federal regulators. The first launch of Starship ended in an explosion minutes after lifting off from South Texas in April. The Federal Aviation Administration issued its license Wednesday, noting that SpaceX has met safety, environmental and other requirements to launch again. Political Cartoons View All 1250 ImagesA month ago, the FAA completed its safety review of the upcoming Starship launch. It needed more time to wrap up its environmental review.

Persons: Elon Organizations: SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration, Elon Musk's, NASA, FAA, Fish, Wildlife Service, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, South Texas, of Mexico, U.S, Boca Chica Beach, Indian, Hawaii

On Tuesday, Palestinian authorities proposed a supervised evacuation of Shifa Hospital, a sprawling complex that runs several city blocks in the heart of Gaza City. Gaza health officials and Hamas deny that. The military said soldiers were accompanied by medical teams and had brought medical supplies and baby food as well as incubators and other equipment. But health officials say supplies and extra equipment are not enough to save patients and ongoing fighting makes it almost impossible to safely move patients. The Red Cross said it was “extremely concerned” about the situation at Shifa hospital, noting that hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law and must be spared from violence.

Persons: Irwin Redlener, ”, Redlener, Sandy, —, “ It’s, Shifa, Natalie Thurtle, Jordan, Dr Mohammed Obeid, ” Obeid, Nebal Farsakh Organizations: Shifa, Columbia University, Health Ministry, World Health Organization, Shifa Hospital, International Committee, Palestinian, Associated Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Gaza City, New York, U.S, Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Egypt, Crescent, Al, Quds, Shifa

☆ Kate Beckinsale attends Leonardo DiCaprio’s birthday in a party dress with a familiar blue gemstone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Kate Beckinsale and rapper Big Boss Vette arrive for DiCaprio's birthday. Miha Azne/Frank Vasquez/BACKGRIDCNN —Kate Beckinsale wore a bejeweled mini dress over the weekend to celebrate Leonardo DiCaprio’s 49th birthday in Los Angeles, and a photograph of the black frock, which featured a colossal blue-gemstone-like accessory belted around her waist, has since made its rounds across the Internet. Though the look seems to be a delightful reference to a famous DiCaprio film, one question has persisted: Which one? Is the gem a blue diamond or blue sapphire? Beckinsale starred alongside DiCaprio in “The Aviator“ as actress Ava Gardner and aerospace engineer Howard Hughes.

Persons: Kate Beckinsale, Big Boss Vette, Miha Azne, Frank Vasquez, CNN — Kate Beckinsale, Leonardo DiCaprio’s, DiCaprio, Beckinsale, Ava Gardner, ” Beckinsale, Howard Hughes, “, Moviestore, Billy Zane, Kate Winslet, Elizabeth Taylor, Phillipe Blond, David Blond —, Beyoncé, Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Zoë Kravitz, Channing Tatum Organizations: CNN, New York, Beverly Hills Locations: Los Angeles, “

In this crowded field, Vancouver-based Filament Health has a unique approach: extracting drugs like psilocybin and mescaline from natural sources, including mushrooms and cacti, rather than synthesizing the ingredients in a laboratory. Filament CEO Benjamin Lightburn spoke with The Associated Press about the ethical, therapeutic and medical case for using naturally derived psychedelics. Q: What do you mean by “natural psychedelics” and how are they produced? A: The iboga plant, which contains the psychedelic ibogaine, is probably the best example of that at Filament. There is a ton of interest from different researchers all around the world to use our psychedelic drugs.

Persons: Benjamin Lightburn, It’s Organizations: Associated Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Vancouver, West Africa, Gabon

U.S. health officials are warning doctors to be on the lookout for possible cases of lead poisoning in children after at least 22 toddlers in 14 states were sickened by lead linked to tainted pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce. There’s no safe level of lead exposure, but the CDC uses a marker of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter to identify children with higher levels than most. The affected children's blood lead levels ranged from 4 to 29 micrograms per deciliter. The illnesses are part of an outbreak tied to recalled pouches of fruit puree marketed to kids from the brands WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and Schnucks and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches. Political Cartoons View All 1244 ImagesParents and caregivers should not buy or serve the products, and kids who may have eaten them should be tested for lead levels.

Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Schnucks, American Academy of Pediatrics, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Alabama , Arkansas , Louisiana , Maryland , Missouri, New Mexico , New York, North Carolina , Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas, Washington

The popular weight-loss drug Wegovy reduced the risk of serious heart problems by 20% in a large, international study that experts say could change the way doctors treat certain heart patients. Wegovy is a high-dose version of the diabetes treatment Ozempic, which already has been shown to reduce the risk of serious heart problems in people who have diabetes. Study volunteers who took Wegovy lost about 9% of their weight while the placebo group lost less than 1%. About 17% in the Wegovy group and about 8% in the comparison group left the study, mostly because of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other stomach-related problems. In 2006, Medicare was allowed to cover weight-loss surgery to treat the complications of severe obesity, if not obesity itself, he noted.

Persons: Wegovy, pare, ”, Michael Lincoff, hasn’t, Dr, Francisco Lopez, Jimenez, Lopez, Martha Gulati, Gulati, Eli Lilly's Zepbound, Mark McClellan Organizations: Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, New England, of Medicine, Novo Nordisk, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Sinai Medical Center, Medicare, Centers, Services, FDA, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Philadelphia, Novo, Los Angeles

☆ Cramer's Lightning Round: Uber is a buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Advanced Micro Devices' year-to-date stock performance. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Teladoc's year-to-date stock performance. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon EQT's year-to-date stock performance. Uber : "[Buy, buy, buy!] Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon SoFi's year-to-date stock performance.

Persons: Howard Hughes, Jim Cramer's Organizations: Devices, Palo Alto Networks Locations: DoorDash

James is recovering well from the dual transplant last May and the donated eye looks remarkably healthy. Whatever happens next, James' surgery offers scientists an unprecedented window into how the human eye tries to heal. The hurdle is how to regrow the optic nerve, although animal studies are making strides, Goldberg added. James’ optic nerve clearly hasn't healed. Yet when light was flashed into the donated eye during an MRI, the scan recorded some sort of brain signaling.

Persons: Aaron James ’, James, ” James, there’s, ”, “ We’re, Eduardo Rodriguez, Rodriguez, James ’, Jeffrey Goldberg, Goldberg, ” Goldberg, Allie, “, Meagan James, Vaidehi Dedania, Steven Galetta, David Klassen, “ we’re Organizations: — Surgeons, NYU Langone Health, NYU, Associated Press, Stanford University, United Network, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Springs , Arkansas, U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — The proportion of U.S. kindergartners exempted from school vaccination requirements has hit its highest level ever, 3%, U.S. health officials said Thursday. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesAll states allow exemptions for children with medical conditions that prevents them from receiving certain vaccines. But the percentage with nonmedical exemptions has inched up, lifting the overall exemption rate from 1.6% in the 2011-2012 school year to 3% last year. Hawaii saw the largest jump, with the exemption rate rising to 6.4%, nearly double the year before. One apparent paradox in the report: The national vaccination rate held steady even as exemptions increased.

Persons: kindergarteners, it’s, hasn’t, ”, Sean O’Leary, —, O’Leary, “, Shannon Stokley Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, University of Colorado, CDC, West, American Academy of Pediatrics, Health, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: COVID, Idaho, New York, Hawaii, Connecticut, Maine, U.S

A new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's drug, named Zepbound. Zepbound is the latest diabetes drug approved for chronic weight management, joining Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a high-dose version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic. Those with diabetes, who have a harder time losing weight, cut about 12%, or nearly 27 pounds (12 kilograms), the FDA said. Approved for weight loss in 2021, Wegovy helped people lose about 15% of their weight or 34 pounds (15 kilograms), according to study results.

Persons: Eli Lilly's, dieters, Zepbound, Wegovy, Fatima Cody Stanford, tirzepatide, pare, ”, Katherine Saunders, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro, Kelly Burns, Burns Organizations: U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, FDA, Massachusetts General Hospital, New York's Weill Cornell Medicine, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Zepbound, Wegovy, Massachusetts, Boston, St . Petersburg , Florida

Search resuls for: "Howard Hu"

25 mentions found