11Nov 2023 by Janice Holland
In a first, a man receives a whole eye transplant after surviving high-voltage electric shock

In a first, a man receives a whole eye transplant after surviving high-voltage electric shock

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Surgeons at NYU Langone Health have completed the world’s first whole eye transplant, a groundbreaking advancement many thought was impossible.The patient, Aaron James, 46, a military veteran from Hot Spring Village, Arkansas, cannot see out of the transplanted eye, but he considers the operation a success nonetheless. “You’ve got to start somewhere, and hopefully this will get the ball rolling on future surgeries,” James said in an interview. Aaron James before his accident.Courtesy James familyIn 2021, James survived what should have been a fatal electric shock while he was working as a high-voltage lineman. His face accidentally touched a live wire, causing devastating injuries, including the loss of his left eye, his nose and his lips. Only bone was left in his left cheek and his chin. Much of his left arm…
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10Nov 2023 by Janice Holland
A new toothpaste could help adults with peanut allergies, study hints

A new toothpaste could help adults with peanut allergies, study hints

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Scientists have developed a new toothpaste that shows potential to prevent severe allergic reactions in adults with peanut allergies.An early-stage clinical trial tested whether 32 adults with peanut allergies could safely brush their teeth with the toothpaste, which contains trace amounts of peanut protein. The hope is that introducing small amounts of peanuts to the body over time will help the immune system get used to the allergen and reduce severe reactions.Adults in the trial used the toothpaste once daily for about 11 months. At the end of the study, none of the participants experienced severe reactions or anaphylaxis — an allergic response often characterized by difficulty breathing, swelling in the throat, pale skin, blue lips, fainting or dizziness.A summary of the results was presented Thursday at the American College…
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10Nov 2023 by Janice Holland
Puerto Rico declares flu epidemic with 42 deaths, over 900 hospitalizations

Puerto Rico declares flu epidemic with 42 deaths, over 900 hospitalizations

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico health officials on Thursday declared an influenza epidemic in the U.S. territory.At least 25,900 cases have been reported since July, with 42 deaths and more than 900 hospitalizations on the island of 3.2 million people, Health Secretary Carlos Mellado said.Epidemiologist Melissa Marzán noted that officials have seen nearly six times more cases so far this year compared with the same period last year.Those who are 0 to 19 years old have been most affected, with more than 13,600 cases reported in that population, Mellado said.Health officials said there were plenty of vaccines, tests and treatments available on the island.A record 53,708 influenza cases were reported in 2015 in Puerto Rico. Source link
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10Nov 2023 by Janice Holland
CDC reports highest childhood vaccine exemption rate ever in the U.S.

CDC reports highest childhood vaccine exemption rate ever in the U.S.

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The number of kids whose caregivers are opting them out of routine childhood vaccines has reached an all-time high, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of children unprotected against preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough. The report did not dive into the reasons for the increase, but experts said the findings clearly reflect Americans' growing unease about medicine in general. "There is a rising distrust in the health care system," said Dr. Amna Husain, a pediatrician in private practice in North Carolina, as well as a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Vaccine exemptions "have unfortunately trended upward with it."The CDC report found that 3% of children entering kindergarten during the 2022-2023 school year were granted a vaccine exemption from…
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09Nov 2023 by Janice Holland
Newborn syphilis cases have reached ‘dire levels,’ CDC says

Newborn syphilis cases have reached ‘dire levels,’ CDC says

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Newborn syphilis cases, which can be fatal, have risen more than tenfold in the last decade and almost 32% in a single year, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Tuesday.The CDC said that cases have reached “dire levels” in the United States. More than 3,700 cases were reported to the agency last year, up from 2,855 in 2021 and 335 cases in 2012. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria that can linger in the body for many years. If untreated, symptoms may disappear temporarily, but the infection can become active again months or years later. Late-stage syphilis, though rare, can be fatal because of damage to the heart, brain or other organs. Mothers can also pass the disease to their children…
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09Nov 2023 by Janice Holland
FDA approves weight loss drug from Eli Lilly that helped people lose up to 52 pounds

FDA approves weight loss drug from Eli Lilly that helped people lose up to 52 pounds

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The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Zepbound, a new weight loss drug from drugmaker Eli Lilly that was shown in clinical trials to help people lose up to 52 pounds in 16 months.Zepbound is the latest entrant into the field of powerful new drugs that already includes Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy and Lilly's Mounjaro.The FDA approved the drug for adults with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition.In a release, Lilly said Zepbound should be available in the U.S. by the end of the year. It will carry a list price of about $1,060 for a month's supply.The cost may put the new drug out of reach for many people given that insurance companies are often reluctant to cover weight loss medications, and…
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