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A medication used to treat asthma can now be used to help people with food allergies avoid severe reactions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. Xolair, the brand name for the drug omalizumab, became the first medication approved to reduce allergic reactions caused by accidental exposure to food triggers. An estimated 17 million people in the U.S. have the type of food allergies that can cause rapid, serious symptoms, including severe, whole-body reactions that are potentially deadly. Wood estimated that 25% to 50% of people with food allergies, particularly children and young adults, would elect to use Xolair. The drug has been used “off-label” to treat food allergies, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research at Northwestern University.

Persons: Xolair, ”, Robert Wood, Wood, Ruchi Gupta Organizations: U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, FDA, National Institutes of Health, Center for Food Allergy, Asthma Research, Northwestern University, drugmakers Novartis, Roche, Genentech, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — Smoking has surpassed injecting as the most common way of taking drugs in U.S. overdose deaths, a new government study suggests. CDC officials decided to study the topic after seeing reports from California suggesting that smoking fentanyl was becoming more common than injecting it. Potent, illicit versions of the painkiller are involved in more U.S. overdose deaths than any other drug. But “both injection and smoking carry a substantial overdose risk,” and it’s not yet clear if a shift toward smoking fentanyl reduces U.S. overdose deaths, said Tanz, a CDC scientist who studies overdoses. It’s complicated to map out exact percentages of deaths that occurred after smoking, injecting, snorting or swallowing drugs, experts say.

Persons: Lauren Tanz, Tanz, it's, Alex Karl, Kral, ‘, snorting, ” Organizations: Disease Control, CDC, RTI, District of Columbia, West, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: California, U.S, San Francisco, Northeast

☆ DWAC shares soar as merger with Trump social media company appears closer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This photo illustration shows an image of former President Donald Trump next to a phone screen that is displaying the Truth Social app, in Washington, DC, on February 21, 2022. jumped 15% Thursday morning after the special purpose acquisition company announced Wednesday night that it is close to completing its proposed merger with Trump Media and Technology Group, former President Donald Trump's social media company. That SPAC first began merger talks with Trump's media group, which operates the Truth Social platform, in October 2021. Shvartsman last week was hit with a new money laundering count related to transfers he allegedly conducted after netting a profit of $18.2 million from selling DWAC stock. Shares of DWAC have rallied in recent months as Trump has emerged as the likely Republican nominee for president in November.

Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, DWAC, Eric Swider, Michael Shvartsman Organizations: Corp, Trump Media, Technology Group, The Securities, Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, SEC, Shvartsman, Trump, Republican Locations: Washington ,, Florida, New York

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Another private U.S. company took a shot at the moon Thursday, launching a month after a rival’s lunar lander missed its mark and came crashing back. NASA, the main sponsor with experiments on board, is hoping for a successful moon landing next week as it seeks to jumpstart the lunar economy ahead of astronaut missions. SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted off in the middle of the night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, dispatching Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander on its way to the moon, 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometers) away. If all goes well, a touchdown attempt would occur Feb. 22, after a day in lunar orbit. Only five countries — the U.S., Russia, China, India and Japan — have scored a lunar landing and no private business has yet done so.

Persons: NASA’s, Japan —, Steve Altemus, Astrobotic, Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, let’s, Trent Martin, Jeff Koons, Embry Organizations: NASA, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Pacific, Columbia, Riddle, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, U.S, Russia, China, India, Japan, Houston, Antarctica, Israeli, Tokyo

NEW YORK (AP) — For nine years, Alaska health officials have been aware of an unusual virus causing rare, relatively mild illnesses in the Fairbanks area. But a recent case in another part of the state — this one resulting in a man's death — has brought new attention to the so-called Alaskapox virus. But pets, such as dogs and cats, may also carry the virus, health officials say. He was hospitalized in November and died last month, according to a bulletin last week from Alaska public health officials. Alaskapox is a rare illness that in most cases causes a relatively mild symptoms, health officials believe.

Persons: —, mpox — Organizations: Health, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Alaska, Fairbanks, Fairbanks , Alaska, Kenai

The human brain has trouble pulling names out of stuffed memory banks on cue. But when are those and other verbal stumbles normal, and when might they be a sign of cognitive trouble? Former President Donald Trump, Biden's likely opponent in the November presidential election, has also. And while Trump often brags about passing a screening-style memory test several years ago, Lenze said the best assessment includes rigorous neuropsychological testing. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Joe Biden, Macron, Mitterrand, I’m, ”, Jay Olshansky, Biden, ” Biden, Donald Trump, Biden's, Trump, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi, “, Eric Lenze, Louis, Emmanuel Macron, Francois Mitterrand, ” Mitterrand, ” Lenze, It’s “, Olshansky, everybody's, Lenze Organizations: WASHINGTON, University of Illinois, White, GOP, Washington University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Chicago, St

NEW YORK (AP) — The flu virus is hanging on in the U.S., intensifying in some areas of the country after weeks of an apparent national decline. National data suggests this season's peak came around late December, but a second surge is always possible. That's happened in other flu seasons, with the second peak often — but not always — lower than the first, Budd said. CDC data indicates coronavirus-caused hospitalizations haven’t hit the same levels they did at the same point during the last three winters. COVID-19 is putting more people in the hospital than flu, CDC data shows.

Persons: ”, Alicia Budd, “, Budd, hospitalizations haven’t Organizations: for Disease Control, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S

More foods are being recalled in the wake of a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning, including snack foods that may be part of Super Bowl Sunday party menus. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesThe recalled foods were sold to food service providers, retailers and at deli counters nationwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also issued a public health alert for certain Amazon kitchen burritos that contain ingredients made by Rizo Lopez Foods. About 1,600 people are sickened by listeria food poisoning every year, according to the CDC. The CDC said consumers who have the recalled products should throw them away and thoroughly clean the refrigerator, counters and other contact sites.

Persons: Joe's, Rizo Lopez, Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo, Campesino, Dos, Casa Organizations: Super Bowl, Costco, Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Health, Rizo Bros, Food, U.S . Department of Agriculture, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Modesto , California, Rio Grande , Food City, El, San Carlos, Santa Maria, Casa Cardenas

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts from Turkey, Italy and Sweden returned to Earth on Friday, ending a private three-week mission to the International Space Station. A former fighter pilot and captain for Turkish Airlines, he became the first person from his country to fly in space. It was Axiom’s third private mission to the space station; the fourth is planned later this year. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesBefore leaving the space station, Gezeravci thanked his country for its “bold and determined decision” to send a citizen into space as part of its 100th anniversary as a republic. They enjoyed a few extra days at the space station, waiting for the weather to improve in the splashdown zone.

Persons: Alper, Gezeravci, Walter Villadei, Sweden’s Marcus Wandt, Michael Lopez, Alegria Organizations: International Space, NASA, Houston, SpaceX, Cape Canaveral, Turkish Airlines, Italian Air Force, European Space Agency, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Florida, Cape

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s newest climate satellite rocketed into orbit Thursday to survey the world’s oceans and atmosphere in never-before-seen detail. SpaceX launched the Pace satellite on its $948 million mission before dawn, with the Falcon rocket heading south over the Atlantic to achieve a rare polar orbit. The satellite will spend at least three years studying the oceans from 420 miles (676 kilometers) up, as well as the atmosphere. Photos You Should See View All 15 ImagesNASA already has more than two dozen Earth-observing satellites and instruments in orbit. NASA is collaborating with India on another advanced Earth-observing satellite due to launch this year.

Persons: It’s, Jeremy Werdell, Pace, “ Pace, Karen St, Germain, Trump, ” Werdell Organizations: SpaceX, Pace, NASA, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, India

In an internal memo to Bell Media employees, it said news stations such as CTV and BNN Bloomberg would be affected immediately. The radio stations being sold are in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The memo, signed by Dave Daigle, vice-president of local TV, radio and Bell Media Studios, and Richard Gray, vice-president of news at Bell Media, said weekday noon newscasts at all CTV stations except Toronto would end. It is also scrapping its 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on weekends at all CTV and CTV2 stations except Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. Fewer than 10% of the total job cuts are at Bell Media specifically.

Persons: BNN, Dave Daigle, Richard Gray, Bell, Mirko Bibic, Bibic, ” Organizations: TORONTO, —, Bell Media, CTV, BNN Bloomberg, Bell Media Studios, Inc, Bell, CTV National News, CTV News Locations: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa

The sun is about to pull another disappearing act across North America, turning day into night during a total solar eclipse. Photos You Should See View All 15 ImagesHere's what to know about April’s extravaganza and how to prepare:WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE? By a cosmic stroke of luck, the moon will make the month’s closest approach to Earth the day before the total solar eclipse. WHEN IS THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE? The next total solar eclipse, in 2026, will grace the northern fringes of Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

Persons: Kelly Korreck, Neil Armstrong's, won’t, NASA’s Organizations: Michigan —, Indianapolis Motor, Armstrong Air, Space Museum, NASA, Space, Pacific, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: North America, Texas, Oklahoma, New England, Canada, Mazatlán, Mexico, Newfoundland, U.S, — Tennessee, Michigan, Dallas, Rock , Arkansas, Indianapolis, Cleveland , Ohio, Buffalo , New York, Montreal, Seattle, Portland , Oregon, Africa, Tiffin , Ohio, Russellville , Arkansas, Wapakoneta , Ohio, Virginia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Alaska, Western Canada, Montana, North Dakota, Northern California, Cape Canaveral , Florida, Carbondale , Illinois

NEW YORK (AP) — A new, higher-dose nasal spray for reversing opioid overdoses did not save more lives than the previous standard dose, but it did cause more vomiting and other side effects, researchers wrote in a study published Thursday. Three troops in eastern New York were given 8-milligram sprays. The study results were based on 354 instances in which troopers administered naloxone sprays from late March 2022 to mid-August 2023. But so too did those treated with the 8-milligram sprays, who got 1.58 doses, or 12.6 milligrams, on average. But other problems were significantly more common in the patients who got the higher-dose sprays.

Persons: —, Michael Dailey, Dailey Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Albany Medical College, New York State Police, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: New York, Albany

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronomers have found the best evidence yet of a vast, young ocean beneath the icy exterior of Saturn’s Death Star lookalike mini moon. Barely 250 miles (400 kilometers) in diameter, the heavily cratered moon lacks the fractures and geysers — typical signs of subsurface activity — of Saturn’s Enceladus and Jupiter’s Europa. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesThe ocean is believed to fill half of Mimas’ volume, according to Lainey. But at the seafloor, he said the water temperature could be much warmer. Co-author Nick Cooper of Queen Mary University of London said the existence of a “remarkably young” ocean of liquid water makes Mimas a prime candidate for studying the origin of life.

Persons: Cassini, “ Mimas, ”, Valery Lainey, Alyssa Rose Rhoden, Nick Cooper, William Herschel, Mimas Organizations: —, Paris Observatory, Star, “ Star, Research, Queen Mary University of London, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla

A medical journal has retracted two studies claiming to show the harms of the abortion pill mifepristone, citing conflicts of interest by the authors and flaws in their research. Two of the three studies retracted by medical publisher Sage Perspectives were cited in a pivotal Texas court ruling that has threatened access to the pill. The U.S. Supreme Court will take up the case next month, with a decision expected later this year. Photos You Should See View All 15 ImagesBoth studies cited in the court ruling were published in the journal Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology. She said one of the major flaws of the retracted research is that the authors conflate ER visits with serious adverse events and don’t confirm whether patients received treatment.

Persons: —, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Sage, James Studnicki, Ivan Oransky, mifepristone Organizations: Sage, U.S, Supreme, Health Services Research, Charlotte Lozier Institute, District, New York University, University of California, FDA, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Texas, U.S, San Francisco

Officials in Ecuador have named the likely source of contaminated ground cinnamon used in fruit pouches tied to more than 400 potential cases of lead poisoning in U.S. children, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. Carlos Aguilera, a cinnamon-processing company in Ecuador, supplied the spice added to WanaBana and other applesauce pouches sent to the U.S., according to the Ecuadorian regulatory agency ARCSA. The cinnamon, which was sent to another supplier, Negasmart, was found to be contaminated with high levels of lead and chromium, an FDA analysis showed. The unprocessed cinnamon sticks used in the products were originally imported from Sri Lanka. The sticks were tested and found to have no lead contamination, ARCSA told FDA.

Persons: Carlos Aguilera, ARCSA Organizations: Food and Drug Administration, FDA, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Ecuador, U.S, Ecuadorian, Sri Lanka

A California cheese and dairy company is the source of a decade-long outbreak of listeria food poisoning that killed two people and sickened more than two dozen, federal health officials said Tuesday. They include a person who died in California in 2017 and one who died in Texas in 2020, CDC officials said. The strain of listeria linked to the outbreak was found in a cheese sample from Rizo-Lopez Foods. Federal officials confirmed that queso fresco and cojita made by the company were making people sick. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo, Campesino, Dos, Casa, cojita Organizations: Rizo, Foods of, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Rizo Bros, CDC, Foods, Federal, El Super, Cardenas, Northgate, Numero Uno, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: California, Foods of Modesto , California, Texas, Rio Grande , Food City, El, San Carlos, Santa Maria, Casa Cardenas, Cardenas Market, Northgate Gonzalez, Superior, El Rancho, Vallarta, Food City, La

He’s seeing this develop as co-CEO of Amwell, a Boston-based company that provides telemedicine software and technology for health systems and insurers. The company works with more than 55 health plans and health systems representing over 2,000 hospitals. Q: What is some care patients seek in-person now that you expect will become largely virtual in the future? The revolution that’s going on right now is where people are beginning to utilize these technologies to interact with their regular caretakers. If the patient is not doing well, (the technology) will have the smarts to escalate that patient right back in front of (a nurse or doctor).

Persons: Roy Schoenberg, He’s, Schoenberg, We’re, Ido, We’ve Organizations: Associated Press, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Boston, telemedicine

☆ Paramount, even with a takeover offer, may still prove a rare losing bet for Berkshire Hathaway
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Paramount Global shares got a boost last week after reports of a potential takeover offer , but the media company could still prove a rare losing bet for Berkshire Hathaway , its biggest institutional investor. The media company's Class B shares climbed almost 5% last week to close Friday at $14.43 as investors cheered billionaire media mogul Byron Allen's $14.3 billion buyout bid. Allen Media Group offered $21.53 for each Class B nonvoting share of Paramount, about 50% above the 90-day average price. The Omaha-based conglomerate owns 93.7 million shares of Paramount nonvoting Class B stock, or a 15.4% stake, according to FactSet. It may have been the case that Berkshire was betting on Paramount being an acquisition target.

Persons: Berkshire Hathaway, Byron Allen's, Buffett, You've, Shari Redstone, Don Bilson, Gordon Haskett, Allen Organizations: Paramount Global, Berkshire, Allen Media Group, Paramount, Paramount nonvoting, Oracle, CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Skydance Media, Warner Bros . Locations: Omaha

The effect of police violence on Black Americans is tracked in two new studies, with one tying police-involved deaths to sleep disturbances and the other finding a racial gap in injuries involving police use of Tasers. The health effects of police violence on Black people “need to be documented as a critical first step to reduce these harms,” three editors of JAMA Internal Medicine wrote in an editorial published Monday with the studies. For the sleep study, researchers looked at responses from more than 2 million people from 2013 through 2019 in two large government surveys. They focused on people's reports of sleep in the months following police-involved killings of unarmed Black people. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, ”, Atheendar, Tasers, “, Kevin Griffith Organizations: Mapping, Justice Department, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S

☆ Australian War Hero Appeals Defamation Ruling on Reports He Was Complicit in Afghan Unlawful Killings
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lewis JacksonSYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian court on Monday began hearing the appeal of a decorated war hero, who is fighting a court defamation ruling that found media groups had proven their reports he played a part in the unlawful killings of four Afghans in Afghanistan. He called the reports false and based on claims of failed soldiers who were jealous of his accolades, and sought unspecified damages. The civil court defamation finding required a lower threshold of proof than a criminal court would. Roberts-Smith, 45, whose portrait hangs in the Australian War Memorial, has not been charged with any crimes. The lengthy legal battle has racked up huge costs for Roberts-Smith and his financial backer, Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes.

Persons: Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, Kerry Stokes, Stokes, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Michael Perry Organizations: Former SAS, Victoria Cross, Nine Entertainment, Australian, Roberts, Seven West Media, Sydney Morning Herald Locations: Afghanistan

☆ Dozens of journalists detained in Moscow as military wives protest mobilization
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Darya Tarasova | Amy Cassidy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A number of people, including journalists from foreign press organizations, have been detained in Moscow after authorities cracked down on protesters at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s election headquarters, independent outlets reported Saturday. Independent Russian media group Mediazona reported Saturday that among those held are journalists working for Kommersant, France Press and Spiegel, as well as human rights activists. Another seven journalists covering the rally were taken to the Basmanny police station, OVD-info said. One state media employee has since been released from Kitay-Gorod along with three minors, according to OVD-info on Telegram. They said: “Police officers told them that they planned to soon release the rest of the employees of federal and foreign media, but to leave ‘foreign agents’ media representatives in the police station.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Mediazona, Andrei Zaiko, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, ”, Independent, Kommersant, France Press, Spiegel, Fuji, “ Police, Kremlin Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Putin’s, Independent Russian

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An asteroid as big as a skyscraper will pass within 1.7 million miles of Earth on Friday. Don’t worry: There’s no chance of it hitting us since it will pass seven times the distance from Earth to the moon. That means the asteroid could be similar in size to New York City’s Empire State Building or Chicago’s Willis Tower. It won’t be back our way again until 2032, but it will be a much more distant encounter, staying 45 million miles (72 million kilometers) away. On Sunday, an asteroid roughly half the size of 2008 0S7 will swing by, staying 4.5 million miles (7.3 million kilometers) away.

Persons: Willis Organizations: NASA’s, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Women are far more likely than men to get autoimmune diseases, when an out-of-whack immune system attacks their own bodies — and new research may finally explain why. One theory is that the X chromosome might be a culprit. The X chromosome is packed with hundreds of genes, far more than males’ much smaller Y chromosome. Every female cell must switch off one of its X chromosome copies, to avoid getting a toxic double dose of all those genes. “We think that’s really important, for Xist RNA to leak out of the cell to where the immune system gets to see it.

Persons: ”, John Wherry, wasn’t, Howard Chang, Chang, ” Chang, Epstein, Barr, Chang’s, Xist, hadn't, Penn’s, they’re, Stanford’s Chang Organizations: WASHINGTON, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Associated Press ’ Health, Science Department, Associated Press Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest versions of COVID-19 vaccines were 54% effective at preventing symptomatic infection in adults, according to the first U.S. study to assess how well the shots work. The shots became available last year and were designed to better protect against more recent coronavirus variants. Studies coming out later this year will assess how effective the shot was at preventing symptoms severe enough to send patients to a doctor's office or hospital, she said. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesThe CDC recommends the new shots for everyone 6 months and older, but most Americans haven't gotten them. The latest CDC data suggests only about 22% of U.S. adults have gotten the shots, and only 11% of children.

Persons: what's, it's, Ruth Link, haven't, Gelles Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CVS, Walgreens, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S

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