U.S. pediatricians’ group moves to abandon race-based guidance
For years, pediatricians have followed flawed guidelines linking race to risks for urinary infections and newborn jaundice. In a new policy announced Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics said it is putting all its guidance under the microscope to eliminate “race-based” medicine and resulting health disparities. A re-examination of AAP...
1st case of human bird flu infection confirmed in Colorado
A Colorado prison inmate has tested positive for bird flu in the first recent confirmed case of a human infected with the disease that has resulted in the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys, but federal officials say they still see little threat to the general public. The U.S....
‘Our little miracle’: Pitcairn couple celebrates 1st Mother’s Day after long wait
The image captures vials, needles and medicine bottles in the shape of a heart surrounding a photo of a baby’s sonogram and a onesie. It’s a photo that shows the depth of her parents’ love for baby Everly Journey. Her mom and dad waited more than a decade to hear...
Climate change may increase risk of new infectious diseases
Climate change will result in thousands of new viruses spread among animal species by 2070 — and that’s likely to increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans, according to a new study. This is especially true for Africa and Asia, continents that have been hotspots...
FDA to issue plan banning menthol in cigarettes, cigarsVideo
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government on Thursday released its long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the toll on Black smokers and young people. “The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” said Health and Human...
‘I just need a space to cry.’ How hospitals have set up places where nurses can recharge
MIAMI — Caring for very sick children daily can be emotionally taxing, even for professionals with years of experience. As front-line workers who also support grieving parents, nurses often cope with chronic stress. To help support their nurses, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital recently created two serenity spaces in the oncology and...
Daily aspirin to prevent heart disease, stroke no longer recommended for people 60 and older
This might be a tough pill to swallow. People aged 60 and older are no longer recommended to take aspirin medication as a way of avoiding heart disease because of the potential health risks, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced Tuesday. The new stance by the leading task force...
Survey: 93% of Pittsburgh hospital workers are thinking about leaving profession
The pandemic has been extremely hard on health care workers, with hospitals facing record high patient numbers during the past two years. Many workers have reported burnout, long hours, and feeling hopeless. A new survey from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh confirms those reports. So much so that among...
Overcoming the odds: Born premature, baby at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in need of a liver
His eyes light up when you say his name. He smiles when he’s being held, when visitors talk to him, and definitely when his family members kiss his forehead. Chance William Kacin Halloran is 15.2 pounds of one happy infant — despite his challenging arrival into this world. “There were...
Plan to ban menthol cigarettes prompts last-minute lobbying blitz
As federal officials finalize a long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes, dozens of interest groups have met with White House staffers to try to influence the process, which has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives while wiping out billions in tobacco sales. Biden administration officials have heard...
During Pittsburgh seminar, FDA chief lays misinformation battle on doorsteps of universities, health systems
The head of the Food and Drug Administration called on academic and health systems such as the University of Pittsburgh to take a stance in the battle against misinformation, calling it the “problem of our time.” The call for action from Dr. Robert Califf, FDA commissioner, came during a virtual...
Rates for measles, other vaccinations dip for kindergartners
A smaller portion of U.S. children got routine vaccinations required for kindergarten during the pandemic, government researchers said Thursday, raising concerns that measles and other preventable diseases could increase. Rates were close to 94% for measles, whooping cough and chickenpox vaccinations for the 2020-21 school year. That was down 1%...
UPMC disputes report challenging its community benefits
Health care giant UPMC is disputing a report from a health care think tank that gives it low marks on what it spends on charity care and community investment compared to the tax exemptions it receives. The report from the Massachusetts-based Lown Institute says Pittsburgh-based UPMC is the 5th worst...
Expert on masks and flying: ‘It is not one size fits all’
On Monday, the mandate for passengers to wear masks on airplanes, in airports and on public transportation was lifted after a federal judge in Florida struck down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s authority. The ruling has been met with celebration from some — as many passengers on planes...
Puzzling outbreak of liver disease in kids spreads to EU, U.S.
LONDON — Health officials say they have detected more cases of a mysterious liver disease in children that was first identified in Britain, with new infections spreading to Europe and the U.S. Last week, British officials reported 74 cases of hepatitis, or liver inflammation, found in children since January. The...
Moderna announces step toward updating covid shots for fall
Moderna hopes to offer updated covid-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work. Today’s covid-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. But the virus...
Abortion training under threat for med students, residents
Browse any medical dictionary, and before hitting appendectomy and anesthesia, you’ll find abortion. The first two procedures are part of standard physician education. But for many U.S. medical school students and residents who want to learn about abortions, options are scarce. And new restrictions are piling up: Within the past...
How the test-to-treat pillar of the U.S. covid strategy is failing patients
The federal “test-to-treat” program, announced in March, is meant to reduce covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths by quickly getting antiviral pills to people who test positive. But even as cases rise again, many Americans don’t have access to the program. Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Lagevrio are both designed to be started...
‘Magic mushrooms’ for therapy? Veterans help sway conservatives
SALT LAKE CITY — Matthew Butler spent 27 years in the Army, but it took a day in jail to convince him his post-traumatic stress disorder was out of control. The recently retired Green Beret had tried antidepressants, therapy and a support dog. But his arrest for punching a hole...
Pennsylvania confirms 1st case of avian influenza
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed on Saturday the state’s first positive case of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in domestic poultry. Positive samples were detected in a flock of commercial layer chickens at an East Donegal Township, Lancaster County poultry farm, the department said. The farm and commercial poultry...
Flu cases, colds up in Western Pa. as people relax covid-19 precautions
Influenza cases now outnumber covid-19 cases in some areas of Western Pennsylvania, though they remain far below pre-pandemic numbers, experts say. “Over the last couple weeks, there has certainly been a surge in noncovid-related illnesses in the region. Chief among these pathogens has been the yearly influenza virus,” said Dr....
FDA authorizes 1st breath test for covid-19 infection
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued an emergency use authorization for what it said is the first device that can detect covid-19 in breath samples. The InspectIR covid-19 Breathalyzer is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage, the FDA said, and can be used...
Washington, D.C., man stops in Pittsburgh on his 3,400-mile e-bike journey to raise money for charity
The wooden shoes on the back of the trailer attached to the electric bicycle are more than footwear – they symbolize the home country of the rider. And the clogs are making a 3,400-mile trek with him. Gregory Maassen, a native of the Netherlands, is riding an e-bike from Washington,...
Bill proposal would allow medical marijuana edibles in Pa. dispensaries
Pennsylvania medical cannabis patients currently have access to tinctures, pills, oils, topicals, and dry leaf to vaporize. A new bill will soon be introduced by state Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, to possibly expand those options and allow patients to purchase medical cannabis edibles. Launglin said that 25 other states already...
Can cancer blood tests live up to promise of saving lives?
Joyce Ares had just turned 74 and was feeling fine when she agreed to give a blood sample for research. So she was surprised when the screening test came back positive for signs of cancer. After a repeat blood test, a PET scan and a needle biopsy, she was diagnosed...
