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Brain scans show effect of poverty, stress on Black children
Childhood stress can change the brain negatively, according to a new study that says Black children are affected more because they experience more poverty and adversity.
“The researchers analyzed MRI scans to identify small differences in the volume of certain brain structures, and said these could accumulate as children age and play a role in the later development of mental health problems,” STAT News reported. “The finding, part of an emerging research field looking at how racism and other social factors may affect the physical architecture of the brain, may help explain longstanding racial disparities in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders such as PTSD.”
The study was published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Brain development is affected by “disparities faced by certain groups of people,” even among children as young as 9 years old, said Nathaniel Harnett, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, and the study’s senior author. “If we’re going to treat the world as colorblind, we’re not going to create mental health solutions that are effective for all people.”
The study used evidence from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which the National Institutes of Health established in 2015 to study the brains and experiences of thousands of American children through early adulthood.
Brain scans revealed that Black children had less gray matter in 11 of 14 brain areas that were examined. Disparities in 8 of the 14 brain areas were affected by childhood adversity, particularly poverty.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Childhood stress can change the brain negatively, according to a new study that says Black children are affected more because they experience more poverty and adversity.
“The researchers analyzed MRI scans to identify small differences in the volume of certain brain structures, and said these could accumulate as children age and play a role in the later development of mental health problems,” STAT News reported. “The finding, part of an emerging research field looking at how racism and other social factors may affect the physical architecture of the brain, may help explain longstanding racial disparities in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders such as PTSD.”
The study was published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Brain development is affected by “disparities faced by certain groups of people,” even among children as young as 9 years old, said Nathaniel Harnett, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, and the study’s senior author. “If we’re going to treat the world as colorblind, we’re not going to create mental health solutions that are effective for all people.”
The study used evidence from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which the National Institutes of Health established in 2015 to study the brains and experiences of thousands of American children through early adulthood.
Brain scans revealed that Black children had less gray matter in 11 of 14 brain areas that were examined. Disparities in 8 of the 14 brain areas were affected by childhood adversity, particularly poverty.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Childhood stress can change the brain negatively, according to a new study that says Black children are affected more because they experience more poverty and adversity.
“The researchers analyzed MRI scans to identify small differences in the volume of certain brain structures, and said these could accumulate as children age and play a role in the later development of mental health problems,” STAT News reported. “The finding, part of an emerging research field looking at how racism and other social factors may affect the physical architecture of the brain, may help explain longstanding racial disparities in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders such as PTSD.”
The study was published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Brain development is affected by “disparities faced by certain groups of people,” even among children as young as 9 years old, said Nathaniel Harnett, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, and the study’s senior author. “If we’re going to treat the world as colorblind, we’re not going to create mental health solutions that are effective for all people.”
The study used evidence from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which the National Institutes of Health established in 2015 to study the brains and experiences of thousands of American children through early adulthood.
Brain scans revealed that Black children had less gray matter in 11 of 14 brain areas that were examined. Disparities in 8 of the 14 brain areas were affected by childhood adversity, particularly poverty.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
Study says food dye red 40 can trigger bowel problems
A common food dye found in candy, soft drinks, and some cereals, known as Allura Red, can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, and other health problems, new research shows.
Long-term ingestion of the dye disrupts gut function, causing a series of changes that lead to a higher risk of colitis, according to the research from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
The dye is also known as FD&C Red 40 and Food Red 17. It adds color and texture and is often used to attract children, according to a press release on Eurekalert.
These findings have important implications in the prevention and management of gut inflammation,” said senior author Waliul Khan, MBBS, PhD, a professor in the McMaster department of pathology and molecular medicine.
“What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs,” he said. “The literature suggests that the consumption of Allura Red also affects certain allergies, immune disorders, and behavioural problems in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”
The human diet in Western cultures, with its reliance on processed fats, red and processed meat, and low fiber, contributes to IBDs as well, Dr. Khan said.
Food dyes such as Allura Red have been used more and more in recent years. Their effect on gut health hasn’t been studied much.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
A common food dye found in candy, soft drinks, and some cereals, known as Allura Red, can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, and other health problems, new research shows.
Long-term ingestion of the dye disrupts gut function, causing a series of changes that lead to a higher risk of colitis, according to the research from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
The dye is also known as FD&C Red 40 and Food Red 17. It adds color and texture and is often used to attract children, according to a press release on Eurekalert.
These findings have important implications in the prevention and management of gut inflammation,” said senior author Waliul Khan, MBBS, PhD, a professor in the McMaster department of pathology and molecular medicine.
“What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs,” he said. “The literature suggests that the consumption of Allura Red also affects certain allergies, immune disorders, and behavioural problems in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”
The human diet in Western cultures, with its reliance on processed fats, red and processed meat, and low fiber, contributes to IBDs as well, Dr. Khan said.
Food dyes such as Allura Red have been used more and more in recent years. Their effect on gut health hasn’t been studied much.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
A common food dye found in candy, soft drinks, and some cereals, known as Allura Red, can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, and other health problems, new research shows.
Long-term ingestion of the dye disrupts gut function, causing a series of changes that lead to a higher risk of colitis, according to the research from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
The dye is also known as FD&C Red 40 and Food Red 17. It adds color and texture and is often used to attract children, according to a press release on Eurekalert.
These findings have important implications in the prevention and management of gut inflammation,” said senior author Waliul Khan, MBBS, PhD, a professor in the McMaster department of pathology and molecular medicine.
“What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs,” he said. “The literature suggests that the consumption of Allura Red also affects certain allergies, immune disorders, and behavioural problems in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”
The human diet in Western cultures, with its reliance on processed fats, red and processed meat, and low fiber, contributes to IBDs as well, Dr. Khan said.
Food dyes such as Allura Red have been used more and more in recent years. Their effect on gut health hasn’t been studied much.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
At-home births rose during the pandemic, CDC reports
More women gave birth at home in America last year, continuing a pandemic trend and reaching the highest level in decades, according to figures released by the CDC.
The report said that almost 52,000 births occurred at home in 2021, out of 4 million total births in the country. This was an increase of 12% from 2020. The figure rose by 22% in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, over 2019.
There were several possible reasons for the increase in home births. Infection rates and hospitalizations were high. Vaccinations were not available or were not widely used, and many people avoided going to hospitals or the doctor, said Elizabeth Gregory, the report’s lead author.
Also, some women didn’t have health insurance, lived far from a medical facility, or could not get to a hospital fast enough. About 25% of home births are not planned, the Associated Press reported.
Increases in home births occurred across all races, but home births were less common among Hispanics.
The AP reported that home births are riskier than hospital births, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The organization advises against home births for women carrying multiple babies or who have previously had a cesarean section.
“Hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest places to give birth, because although serious complications associated with labor and delivery are rare, they can be catastrophic,” said Jeffrey Ecker, M.D., chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
More women gave birth at home in America last year, continuing a pandemic trend and reaching the highest level in decades, according to figures released by the CDC.
The report said that almost 52,000 births occurred at home in 2021, out of 4 million total births in the country. This was an increase of 12% from 2020. The figure rose by 22% in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, over 2019.
There were several possible reasons for the increase in home births. Infection rates and hospitalizations were high. Vaccinations were not available or were not widely used, and many people avoided going to hospitals or the doctor, said Elizabeth Gregory, the report’s lead author.
Also, some women didn’t have health insurance, lived far from a medical facility, or could not get to a hospital fast enough. About 25% of home births are not planned, the Associated Press reported.
Increases in home births occurred across all races, but home births were less common among Hispanics.
The AP reported that home births are riskier than hospital births, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The organization advises against home births for women carrying multiple babies or who have previously had a cesarean section.
“Hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest places to give birth, because although serious complications associated with labor and delivery are rare, they can be catastrophic,” said Jeffrey Ecker, M.D., chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
More women gave birth at home in America last year, continuing a pandemic trend and reaching the highest level in decades, according to figures released by the CDC.
The report said that almost 52,000 births occurred at home in 2021, out of 4 million total births in the country. This was an increase of 12% from 2020. The figure rose by 22% in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, over 2019.
There were several possible reasons for the increase in home births. Infection rates and hospitalizations were high. Vaccinations were not available or were not widely used, and many people avoided going to hospitals or the doctor, said Elizabeth Gregory, the report’s lead author.
Also, some women didn’t have health insurance, lived far from a medical facility, or could not get to a hospital fast enough. About 25% of home births are not planned, the Associated Press reported.
Increases in home births occurred across all races, but home births were less common among Hispanics.
The AP reported that home births are riskier than hospital births, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The organization advises against home births for women carrying multiple babies or who have previously had a cesarean section.
“Hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest places to give birth, because although serious complications associated with labor and delivery are rare, they can be catastrophic,” said Jeffrey Ecker, M.D., chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Side effects from COVID vaccine show its effectiveness
It means your body had a greater antibody response than people who had just a little pain or rash at the injection site, or no reaction at all.
That’s according to new research published in the journal JAMA Network Open .
“These findings support reframing postvaccination symptoms as signals of vaccine effectiveness and reinforce guidelines for vaccine boosters in older adults,” researchers from Columbia University in New York, the University of Vermont, and Boston University wrote.
The vaccines provided strong protection regardless of the level of reaction, researchers said. Almost all the study’s 928 adult participants had a positive antibody response after receiving two doses of vaccine.
“I don’t want a patient to tell me that, ‘Golly, I didn’t get any reaction, my arm wasn’t sore, I didn’t have fever. The vaccine didn’t work.’ I don’t want that conclusion to be out there,” William Schaffner, MD, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn., told CNN.
“This is more to reassure people who have had a reaction that that’s their immune system responding, actually in a rather good way, to the vaccine, even though it has caused them some discomfort,” said Dr. Schaffner, who was not involved in the study.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
It means your body had a greater antibody response than people who had just a little pain or rash at the injection site, or no reaction at all.
That’s according to new research published in the journal JAMA Network Open .
“These findings support reframing postvaccination symptoms as signals of vaccine effectiveness and reinforce guidelines for vaccine boosters in older adults,” researchers from Columbia University in New York, the University of Vermont, and Boston University wrote.
The vaccines provided strong protection regardless of the level of reaction, researchers said. Almost all the study’s 928 adult participants had a positive antibody response after receiving two doses of vaccine.
“I don’t want a patient to tell me that, ‘Golly, I didn’t get any reaction, my arm wasn’t sore, I didn’t have fever. The vaccine didn’t work.’ I don’t want that conclusion to be out there,” William Schaffner, MD, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn., told CNN.
“This is more to reassure people who have had a reaction that that’s their immune system responding, actually in a rather good way, to the vaccine, even though it has caused them some discomfort,” said Dr. Schaffner, who was not involved in the study.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
It means your body had a greater antibody response than people who had just a little pain or rash at the injection site, or no reaction at all.
That’s according to new research published in the journal JAMA Network Open .
“These findings support reframing postvaccination symptoms as signals of vaccine effectiveness and reinforce guidelines for vaccine boosters in older adults,” researchers from Columbia University in New York, the University of Vermont, and Boston University wrote.
The vaccines provided strong protection regardless of the level of reaction, researchers said. Almost all the study’s 928 adult participants had a positive antibody response after receiving two doses of vaccine.
“I don’t want a patient to tell me that, ‘Golly, I didn’t get any reaction, my arm wasn’t sore, I didn’t have fever. The vaccine didn’t work.’ I don’t want that conclusion to be out there,” William Schaffner, MD, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn., told CNN.
“This is more to reassure people who have had a reaction that that’s their immune system responding, actually in a rather good way, to the vaccine, even though it has caused them some discomfort,” said Dr. Schaffner, who was not involved in the study.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM JAMA NETWORK OPEN
CVS cuts prices of menstrual products, covers sales tax in some states
CVS is cutting the cost of its store-branded menstrual products and paying state sales taxes on them in a dozen states.
The drug store chain said that starting Thursday it was reducing prices on CVS Health and Live Better tampons, menstrual pads, liners, and cups by 25%.
“Women deserve quality when it comes to the products they may need each month,” CVS said in a statement. “We’re paying the tax on period products on behalf of our customers where and when possible, and are working to help eliminate the tax nationwide.”
The store is also trying to equalize costs between men’s and women’s hygiene products, like razors.
The chain is paying sales taxes on period products in these 12 states: Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
It can’t pay the taxes in other states that have them because of laws that prevent third parties from paying taxes for a customer.
“This move will highlight their commitment to addressing women’s health and pave the way for reducing menstrual inequity,” Padmini Murthy, MD, the global health lead for the American Medical Women’s Association, said in an email to CNN, “and not just to promote the use of CVS products.”
Twenty-three states don’t tax feminine hygiene products, says the Alliance for Period Supplies, an advocacy group seeking to expand access to menstrual supplies.
“Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities,” the organization said. “Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup, and toys.”
Tampon prices rose 12.2% for the year ending Oct. 2, according to market research firm IRI.
And 25% of women struggle to buy the products because of the expense, says the group.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
CVS is cutting the cost of its store-branded menstrual products and paying state sales taxes on them in a dozen states.
The drug store chain said that starting Thursday it was reducing prices on CVS Health and Live Better tampons, menstrual pads, liners, and cups by 25%.
“Women deserve quality when it comes to the products they may need each month,” CVS said in a statement. “We’re paying the tax on period products on behalf of our customers where and when possible, and are working to help eliminate the tax nationwide.”
The store is also trying to equalize costs between men’s and women’s hygiene products, like razors.
The chain is paying sales taxes on period products in these 12 states: Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
It can’t pay the taxes in other states that have them because of laws that prevent third parties from paying taxes for a customer.
“This move will highlight their commitment to addressing women’s health and pave the way for reducing menstrual inequity,” Padmini Murthy, MD, the global health lead for the American Medical Women’s Association, said in an email to CNN, “and not just to promote the use of CVS products.”
Twenty-three states don’t tax feminine hygiene products, says the Alliance for Period Supplies, an advocacy group seeking to expand access to menstrual supplies.
“Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities,” the organization said. “Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup, and toys.”
Tampon prices rose 12.2% for the year ending Oct. 2, according to market research firm IRI.
And 25% of women struggle to buy the products because of the expense, says the group.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
CVS is cutting the cost of its store-branded menstrual products and paying state sales taxes on them in a dozen states.
The drug store chain said that starting Thursday it was reducing prices on CVS Health and Live Better tampons, menstrual pads, liners, and cups by 25%.
“Women deserve quality when it comes to the products they may need each month,” CVS said in a statement. “We’re paying the tax on period products on behalf of our customers where and when possible, and are working to help eliminate the tax nationwide.”
The store is also trying to equalize costs between men’s and women’s hygiene products, like razors.
The chain is paying sales taxes on period products in these 12 states: Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
It can’t pay the taxes in other states that have them because of laws that prevent third parties from paying taxes for a customer.
“This move will highlight their commitment to addressing women’s health and pave the way for reducing menstrual inequity,” Padmini Murthy, MD, the global health lead for the American Medical Women’s Association, said in an email to CNN, “and not just to promote the use of CVS products.”
Twenty-three states don’t tax feminine hygiene products, says the Alliance for Period Supplies, an advocacy group seeking to expand access to menstrual supplies.
“Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities,” the organization said. “Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup, and toys.”
Tampon prices rose 12.2% for the year ending Oct. 2, according to market research firm IRI.
And 25% of women struggle to buy the products because of the expense, says the group.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
CDC says 44% of people hospitalized with COVID had third dose or booster
, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Unvaccinated adults were 3.4 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who were vaccinated, the CDC said.
The CDC report considered hospitalization numbers from March 20 to May 31, when the omicron subvariant BA.2 was the dominant strain. Researchers found 39.1% of patients had received a primary vaccination series and at least one booster or additional dose; 5% were fully vaccinated with two boosters.
“Adults should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses,” the CDC said. “Multiple nonpharmaceutical and medical prevention measures should be used to protect persons at high risk for severe SARS-CoV-2, regardless of vaccination status.”
Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions who become infected with the coronavirus are more likely to be hospitalized.
The study also found that hospitalization rates among people over 65 increased threefold over the study period. Rates among people under 65 rose 1.7 times.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Unvaccinated adults were 3.4 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who were vaccinated, the CDC said.
The CDC report considered hospitalization numbers from March 20 to May 31, when the omicron subvariant BA.2 was the dominant strain. Researchers found 39.1% of patients had received a primary vaccination series and at least one booster or additional dose; 5% were fully vaccinated with two boosters.
“Adults should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses,” the CDC said. “Multiple nonpharmaceutical and medical prevention measures should be used to protect persons at high risk for severe SARS-CoV-2, regardless of vaccination status.”
Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions who become infected with the coronavirus are more likely to be hospitalized.
The study also found that hospitalization rates among people over 65 increased threefold over the study period. Rates among people under 65 rose 1.7 times.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Unvaccinated adults were 3.4 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who were vaccinated, the CDC said.
The CDC report considered hospitalization numbers from March 20 to May 31, when the omicron subvariant BA.2 was the dominant strain. Researchers found 39.1% of patients had received a primary vaccination series and at least one booster or additional dose; 5% were fully vaccinated with two boosters.
“Adults should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses,” the CDC said. “Multiple nonpharmaceutical and medical prevention measures should be used to protect persons at high risk for severe SARS-CoV-2, regardless of vaccination status.”
Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions who become infected with the coronavirus are more likely to be hospitalized.
The study also found that hospitalization rates among people over 65 increased threefold over the study period. Rates among people under 65 rose 1.7 times.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM MMWR
Blue light from cell phones and other devices could be causing wrinkles
Blue light from screens on smartphones, computers, and other gadgets “may have detrimental effects on a wide range of cells in our body, from skin and fat cells to sensory neurons,” Oregon State University scientist Jadwiga Giebultowicz, PhD, said of the study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Aging.
“Our study suggests that avoidance of excessive blue light exposure may be a good anti-aging strategy,” Dr. Giebultowicz added.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun harm skin appearance and health. Doctors are continuing to study the damage caused by the screens of devices that most people are exposed to throughout the day. These devices emit blue light.
“Aging occurs in various ways, but on a cellular level, we age when cells stop repairing and producing new healthy cells. And cells that aren’t functioning properly are more likely to self destruct – which has ramifications not only in terms of appearance but for the whole body,” the New York Post wrote. “It’s the reason why the elderly take longer to heal, and their bones and organs begin to deteriorate.”
Dr. Giebultowicz said the study shows that certain substances in the body, called metabolites, are essential indicators of how a cell functions. These metabolites are naturally occurring as the body converts food and drinks into energy. Research indicates that these substances are altered by blue light exposure.
More specifically, researchers found that levels of succinate, or succinic acid, in fruit flies increased under excessive blue light, while glutamate decreased, the newspaper wrote.
Researchers said the insects “make an appropriate analog for humans” because the same signaling devices are shared.
The flies were exposed with more blue light than people usually get. Dr. Giebultowicz said future research is needed on human cells.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Blue light from screens on smartphones, computers, and other gadgets “may have detrimental effects on a wide range of cells in our body, from skin and fat cells to sensory neurons,” Oregon State University scientist Jadwiga Giebultowicz, PhD, said of the study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Aging.
“Our study suggests that avoidance of excessive blue light exposure may be a good anti-aging strategy,” Dr. Giebultowicz added.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun harm skin appearance and health. Doctors are continuing to study the damage caused by the screens of devices that most people are exposed to throughout the day. These devices emit blue light.
“Aging occurs in various ways, but on a cellular level, we age when cells stop repairing and producing new healthy cells. And cells that aren’t functioning properly are more likely to self destruct – which has ramifications not only in terms of appearance but for the whole body,” the New York Post wrote. “It’s the reason why the elderly take longer to heal, and their bones and organs begin to deteriorate.”
Dr. Giebultowicz said the study shows that certain substances in the body, called metabolites, are essential indicators of how a cell functions. These metabolites are naturally occurring as the body converts food and drinks into energy. Research indicates that these substances are altered by blue light exposure.
More specifically, researchers found that levels of succinate, or succinic acid, in fruit flies increased under excessive blue light, while glutamate decreased, the newspaper wrote.
Researchers said the insects “make an appropriate analog for humans” because the same signaling devices are shared.
The flies were exposed with more blue light than people usually get. Dr. Giebultowicz said future research is needed on human cells.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Blue light from screens on smartphones, computers, and other gadgets “may have detrimental effects on a wide range of cells in our body, from skin and fat cells to sensory neurons,” Oregon State University scientist Jadwiga Giebultowicz, PhD, said of the study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Aging.
“Our study suggests that avoidance of excessive blue light exposure may be a good anti-aging strategy,” Dr. Giebultowicz added.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun harm skin appearance and health. Doctors are continuing to study the damage caused by the screens of devices that most people are exposed to throughout the day. These devices emit blue light.
“Aging occurs in various ways, but on a cellular level, we age when cells stop repairing and producing new healthy cells. And cells that aren’t functioning properly are more likely to self destruct – which has ramifications not only in terms of appearance but for the whole body,” the New York Post wrote. “It’s the reason why the elderly take longer to heal, and their bones and organs begin to deteriorate.”
Dr. Giebultowicz said the study shows that certain substances in the body, called metabolites, are essential indicators of how a cell functions. These metabolites are naturally occurring as the body converts food and drinks into energy. Research indicates that these substances are altered by blue light exposure.
More specifically, researchers found that levels of succinate, or succinic acid, in fruit flies increased under excessive blue light, while glutamate decreased, the newspaper wrote.
Researchers said the insects “make an appropriate analog for humans” because the same signaling devices are shared.
The flies were exposed with more blue light than people usually get. Dr. Giebultowicz said future research is needed on human cells.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM FRONTIERS IN AGING
COVID to blame as U.S. life expectancy falls
All 50 states and the District of Columbia saw drops in life expectancy, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
The declines were mostly because of COVID-19 and “unintentional injuries,” such as drug overdoses.
The overall drop took national life expectancy from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77 years in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, ABC News reported.
States in the West and Northwest generally had higher life expectancy, with states in the South having the lowest.
Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at 80.7 years. It was followed by Washington, Minnesota, California, and Massachusetts. Mississippi had the lowest at 71.9 years, the figures show. The others in the bottom five were West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kentucky.
In 2020, COVID-19 was the third-highest cause of death, leading to more than 350,000, the CDC reported earlier this year. At the same time, more people are dying annually from drug overdoses. A record 83,500 fatal overdoses were reported in 2020.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia saw drops in life expectancy, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
The declines were mostly because of COVID-19 and “unintentional injuries,” such as drug overdoses.
The overall drop took national life expectancy from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77 years in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, ABC News reported.
States in the West and Northwest generally had higher life expectancy, with states in the South having the lowest.
Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at 80.7 years. It was followed by Washington, Minnesota, California, and Massachusetts. Mississippi had the lowest at 71.9 years, the figures show. The others in the bottom five were West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kentucky.
In 2020, COVID-19 was the third-highest cause of death, leading to more than 350,000, the CDC reported earlier this year. At the same time, more people are dying annually from drug overdoses. A record 83,500 fatal overdoses were reported in 2020.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia saw drops in life expectancy, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
The declines were mostly because of COVID-19 and “unintentional injuries,” such as drug overdoses.
The overall drop took national life expectancy from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77 years in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, ABC News reported.
States in the West and Northwest generally had higher life expectancy, with states in the South having the lowest.
Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at 80.7 years. It was followed by Washington, Minnesota, California, and Massachusetts. Mississippi had the lowest at 71.9 years, the figures show. The others in the bottom five were West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kentucky.
In 2020, COVID-19 was the third-highest cause of death, leading to more than 350,000, the CDC reported earlier this year. At the same time, more people are dying annually from drug overdoses. A record 83,500 fatal overdoses were reported in 2020.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Leukemia rates two to three times higher in children born near fracking
Children born near fracking and other “unconventional” drilling sites are at two to three times greater risk of developing childhood leukemia, according to new research.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, compared proximity of homes to unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) sites and risk of the most common form of childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Researchers looked at 405 children aged 2-7 diagnosed with ALL in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2017. These children were compared to a control group of 2,080 without the disease matched on the year of birth.
“Unconventional oil and gas development can both use and release chemicals that have been linked to cancer,” study coauthor Nicole Deziel, PhD, of the Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Conn., said in a statement . She noted that the possibility that children living in close proximity to such sites are “exposed to these chemical carcinogens is a major public health concern.”
About 17 million Americans live within a half-mile of active oil and gas production, according to the Oil & Gas Threat Map, Common Dreams reports. That number includes 4 million children.
The Yale study also found that drinking water could be an important pathway of exposure to oil- and gas-related chemicals used in the UOGD methods of extraction.
Researchers used a new metric that measures exposure to contaminated drinking water and distance to a well. They were able to identify UOGD-affected wells that fell within watersheds where children and their families likely obtained their water.
“Previous health studies have found links between proximity to oil and gas drilling and various children’s health outcomes,” said Dr. Deziel. “This study is among the few to focus on drinking water specifically and the first to apply a novel metric designed to capture potential exposure through this pathway.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Children born near fracking and other “unconventional” drilling sites are at two to three times greater risk of developing childhood leukemia, according to new research.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, compared proximity of homes to unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) sites and risk of the most common form of childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Researchers looked at 405 children aged 2-7 diagnosed with ALL in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2017. These children were compared to a control group of 2,080 without the disease matched on the year of birth.
“Unconventional oil and gas development can both use and release chemicals that have been linked to cancer,” study coauthor Nicole Deziel, PhD, of the Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Conn., said in a statement . She noted that the possibility that children living in close proximity to such sites are “exposed to these chemical carcinogens is a major public health concern.”
About 17 million Americans live within a half-mile of active oil and gas production, according to the Oil & Gas Threat Map, Common Dreams reports. That number includes 4 million children.
The Yale study also found that drinking water could be an important pathway of exposure to oil- and gas-related chemicals used in the UOGD methods of extraction.
Researchers used a new metric that measures exposure to contaminated drinking water and distance to a well. They were able to identify UOGD-affected wells that fell within watersheds where children and their families likely obtained their water.
“Previous health studies have found links between proximity to oil and gas drilling and various children’s health outcomes,” said Dr. Deziel. “This study is among the few to focus on drinking water specifically and the first to apply a novel metric designed to capture potential exposure through this pathway.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Children born near fracking and other “unconventional” drilling sites are at two to three times greater risk of developing childhood leukemia, according to new research.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, compared proximity of homes to unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) sites and risk of the most common form of childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Researchers looked at 405 children aged 2-7 diagnosed with ALL in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2017. These children were compared to a control group of 2,080 without the disease matched on the year of birth.
“Unconventional oil and gas development can both use and release chemicals that have been linked to cancer,” study coauthor Nicole Deziel, PhD, of the Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Conn., said in a statement . She noted that the possibility that children living in close proximity to such sites are “exposed to these chemical carcinogens is a major public health concern.”
About 17 million Americans live within a half-mile of active oil and gas production, according to the Oil & Gas Threat Map, Common Dreams reports. That number includes 4 million children.
The Yale study also found that drinking water could be an important pathway of exposure to oil- and gas-related chemicals used in the UOGD methods of extraction.
Researchers used a new metric that measures exposure to contaminated drinking water and distance to a well. They were able to identify UOGD-affected wells that fell within watersheds where children and their families likely obtained their water.
“Previous health studies have found links between proximity to oil and gas drilling and various children’s health outcomes,” said Dr. Deziel. “This study is among the few to focus on drinking water specifically and the first to apply a novel metric designed to capture potential exposure through this pathway.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Most people with Omicron don’t know they’re infected
Most people with Omicron likely don’t know it.
That’s according to a study in JAMA Network Open, which says 56% of people who have the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are unaware of their infection.
And it has an upside and a downside, depending on how you look at it, according to Time magazine.
“It’s good news, in some ways, since ) in vaccinated people,” Time says. “The downside is that many people are likely spreading the virus unintentionally.”
The study looked at 210 hospital patients and employees in the Los Angeles area. More than half who tested positive didn’t know it – because they had no symptoms, or they assumed they merely had a cold or allergies.
“The findings support early data from around the world suggesting that throughout the pandemic, anywhere from 25% to 40% of SARS-CoV-2 infections have been asymptomatic, which presents challenges for public health officials trying to control the spread of the virus,” Time reports.
The study found that awareness of infection rose after at-home tests became available this year. About three-quarters of people in January and February didn’t know their status, for example.
“Findings of this study suggest that low rates of Omicron variant infection awareness may be a key contributor to rapid transmission of the virus within communities,” the authors wrote. “Given that unawareness of active infection precludes self-initiated interventions, such as testing and self-isolation, even modest levels of undiagnosed infection can contribute to substantial population-level transmission.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Most people with Omicron likely don’t know it.
That’s according to a study in JAMA Network Open, which says 56% of people who have the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are unaware of their infection.
And it has an upside and a downside, depending on how you look at it, according to Time magazine.
“It’s good news, in some ways, since ) in vaccinated people,” Time says. “The downside is that many people are likely spreading the virus unintentionally.”
The study looked at 210 hospital patients and employees in the Los Angeles area. More than half who tested positive didn’t know it – because they had no symptoms, or they assumed they merely had a cold or allergies.
“The findings support early data from around the world suggesting that throughout the pandemic, anywhere from 25% to 40% of SARS-CoV-2 infections have been asymptomatic, which presents challenges for public health officials trying to control the spread of the virus,” Time reports.
The study found that awareness of infection rose after at-home tests became available this year. About three-quarters of people in January and February didn’t know their status, for example.
“Findings of this study suggest that low rates of Omicron variant infection awareness may be a key contributor to rapid transmission of the virus within communities,” the authors wrote. “Given that unawareness of active infection precludes self-initiated interventions, such as testing and self-isolation, even modest levels of undiagnosed infection can contribute to substantial population-level transmission.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Most people with Omicron likely don’t know it.
That’s according to a study in JAMA Network Open, which says 56% of people who have the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are unaware of their infection.
And it has an upside and a downside, depending on how you look at it, according to Time magazine.
“It’s good news, in some ways, since ) in vaccinated people,” Time says. “The downside is that many people are likely spreading the virus unintentionally.”
The study looked at 210 hospital patients and employees in the Los Angeles area. More than half who tested positive didn’t know it – because they had no symptoms, or they assumed they merely had a cold or allergies.
“The findings support early data from around the world suggesting that throughout the pandemic, anywhere from 25% to 40% of SARS-CoV-2 infections have been asymptomatic, which presents challenges for public health officials trying to control the spread of the virus,” Time reports.
The study found that awareness of infection rose after at-home tests became available this year. About three-quarters of people in January and February didn’t know their status, for example.
“Findings of this study suggest that low rates of Omicron variant infection awareness may be a key contributor to rapid transmission of the virus within communities,” the authors wrote. “Given that unawareness of active infection precludes self-initiated interventions, such as testing and self-isolation, even modest levels of undiagnosed infection can contribute to substantial population-level transmission.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM JAMA NETWORK OPEN