(2023-04-15). [Correspondence] Characteristics of the omicron XBB subvariant wave in Singapore. thelancet.com The XBB sublineage of the omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in India in August, 2022, and has since spread rapidly around the world.1,2 A recombinant of the BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sublineages,3—5 early studies6,7 suggested that XBB was one of the most immune-evasive strains tested. However, whether the growth advantage of XBB was sufficient to outcompete other SARS-CoV-2 strains and drive new waves of infection was unclear.
(2023-04-15). [Correspondence] The emergence of mpox as an HIV-related opportunistic infection. thelancet.com During the multinational mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) clade IIb outbreak in 2022, the emergence of severe mpox among people with HIV bore a striking resemblance to the emergence of opportunistic infections early in the HIV epidemic of the 1980s. Similar to HIV-associated opportunistic infections, mpox produces substantially greater morbidity and prolonged disease in people with advanced (ie, CD4 <350 cells per mm3) or untreated HIV infection.1—3 A US report2 of 57 hospitalised patients with severe mpox found that 82% had HIV infection, of whom almost three-quarters had a CD4 count less than 50 cells p...
(2023-04-15). [Comment] Chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer: the more the better? thelancet.com Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide1 and treatment de-escalation of early-stage breast cancer has been a contentious topic of discussion. Breast-conserving surgery has gradually replaced mastectomy, eliminating the need for breast surgery in patients with a pathological complete response on image-guided vacuum-assisted core biopsy after neoadjuvant systemic therapy shows highly promising results.2 Sentinel lymph node biopsy, rather than axillary lymph node dissection, is the standard of care for clinical node-negative breast cancer, and some patients with node-positive disease also do n…
(2023-04-14). COVID-19 pandemic nears its end. ecns.cn The COVID-19 pandemic is nearing its end based on data published by the World Health Organization, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
(2023-04-14). Consumer Health: Testicular cancer — are you at risk? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the symptoms and risk factors of testicular cancer. Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But, in the U.S., it's the most common cancer in men between the ages of 20 and 35. Approximately 9,190 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023, and 470 people will die from the disease, according to…
(2023-04-14). Mayo Clinic Minute: Using AI to predict kidney failure in patients with polycystic kidney disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Kidney failure can be caused by many reasons: diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and polycystic kidney disease, or PKD. PKD is an inherited disease that causes cysts to form around your kidneys. The most common form of PKD is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), where it is most often diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 40. Dr. Fouad Chebib, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist and expert on polycystic kidney disease, says patients understand…
(2023-04-15). [Correspondence] Characteristics of the omicron XBB subvariant wave in Singapore. thelancet.com The XBB sublineage of the omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in India in August, 2022, and has since spread rapidly around the world.1,2 A recombinant of the BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sublineages,3—5 early studies6,7 suggested that XBB was one of the most immune-evasive strains tested. However, whether the growth advantage of XBB was sufficient to outcompete other SARS-CoV-2 strains and drive new waves of infection was unclear.
(2023-04-15). [Correspondence] The emergence of mpox as an HIV-related opportunistic infection. thelancet.com During the multinational mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) clade IIb outbreak in 2022, the emergence of severe mpox among people with HIV bore a striking resemblance to the emergence of opportunistic infections early in the HIV epidemic of the 1980s. Similar to HIV-associated opportunistic infections, mpox produces substantially greater morbidity and prolonged disease in people with advanced (ie, CD4 <350 cells per mm3) or untreated HIV infection.1—3 A US report2 of 57 hospitalised patients with severe mpox found that 82% had HIV infection, of whom almost three-quarters had a CD4 count less than 50 cells p...
(2023-04-15). [Comment] Chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer: the more the better? thelancet.com Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide1 and treatment de-escalation of early-stage breast cancer has been a contentious topic of discussion. Breast-conserving surgery has gradually replaced mastectomy, eliminating the need for breast surgery in patients with a pathological complete response on image-guided vacuum-assisted core biopsy after neoadjuvant systemic therapy shows highly promising results.2 Sentinel lymph node biopsy, rather than axillary lymph node dissection, is the standard of care for clinical node-negative breast cancer, and some patients with node-positive disease also do n…
(2023-04-14). COVID-19 pandemic nears its end. ecns.cn The COVID-19 pandemic is nearing its end based on data published by the World Health Organization, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
(2023-04-14). Consumer Health: Testicular cancer — are you at risk? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the symptoms and risk factors of testicular cancer. Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But, in the U.S., it's the most common cancer in men between the ages of 20 and 35. Approximately 9,190 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023, and 470 people will die from the disease, according to…
(2023-04-14). Mayo Clinic Minute: Using AI to predict kidney failure in patients with polycystic kidney disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Kidney failure can be caused by many reasons: diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and polycystic kidney disease, or PKD. PKD is an inherited disease that causes cysts to form around your kidneys. The most common form of PKD is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), where it is most often diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 40. Dr. Fouad Chebib, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist and expert on polycystic kidney disease, says patients understand…
(2023-04-14). Mayo Clinic Minute: Saving more lives by expanding the donor pool. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Heart failure continues to be an epidemic in the U.S. Despite efforts put into awareness and prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. A heart transplant is the gold standard to treat advanced heart failure. With more than 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list, Mayo Clinic is hoping to save more lives by adopting strategies for expanding the donor pool for heart transplants. Watch: The Mayo Clinic…
(2023-04-13). Millions Live With Long COVID as Biden Declares End to National Emergency. truthout.org President Biden has declared an end to the COVID-19 national emergency, but people living with long COVIDsay the pandemic is far from over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found nearly one in five people infected with COVID-19 go on to experience symptoms of long COVID. We speak to science writer Ryan Prior about the movement to expand research and resources for those with long… |
(2023-04-13). The Long Haul: Millions with COVID Face Chronic Illness as Biden Declares End to National Emergency. democracynow.org 
President Biden has declared an end to the COVID-19 national emergency, but people living with long COVID say the pandemic is far from over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found nearly one in five people infected with COVID-19 go on to experience symptoms of long COVID. We speak to science writer Ryan Prior about the movement to expand research and resources for those with long COVID, and his own experience living with the chronic illness. Prior is the author of The Long Haul and writes the "Patient Revolution" for Psychology Today.
(2023-04-13). Almost 100 workers infected by rare fungal disease at paper mill in Escanaba, Michigan. wsws.org The spread of the disease in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is likely the largest blastomycosis outbreak in United States history.
(2023-04-14). America's Children Are Facing Unprecedented Epidemics! 54% of US Youth Are Chronically Ill. globalresearch.ca
(2023-04-15). [Perspectives] Renzo Guinto: creating resilient planetary systems for health. thelancet.com Towards the end of 2019, Ramon Lorenzo Luis Rosa Guinto completed his doctorate in public health at Harvard University in the USA, and, in early 2020, returned home to the Philippines. His arrival coincided with the emergence of COVID-19, which, Guinto feels, "was very timely. When a global health crisis happens, that's when you're needed in your home country". In 2012, Guinto had graduated with a medical degree from the University of the Philippines, Manila, under its accelerated programme. Originally drawn to a career in law, he had been inspired by issues of social justice, and particularly by José Rizal, who…
(2023-04-15). [Correspondence] Addressing a potential crisis in the Italian National Health System. thelancet.com A recent Editorial1 pointed out that the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK is facing its most crucial moment since its inception due to a combination of chronic and acute problems, including underinvestment, understaffing, burnout among staff, and increasing demand for services. The inclination to believe that the current NHS model is unsustainable and needs radical change is misguided when drawing on a stronger private health sector is considered the only solution. The current crisis in the NHS includes wrangling over a financial settlement for staff, addressing pension reforms, improving working condition…
(2023-04-15). [Perspectives] Women's health, Inc. thelancet.com Across the globe, health care is increasingly in the hands of corporate entities. Women's health is a vivid example of this trend. Private equity firms, start-ups, and other private-sector companies are streaming into women's health, appealing to its historical aims of equity, empowerment, and social justice, while also expecting big profits. As this industry expands, tensions between profitability, innovation, quality, and equity are already surfacing within the USA, signalling what other nations may soon encounter.
(2023-04-15). [Comment] Offline: How to fail well in global health. thelancet.com I am an expert in how to destroy global health initiatives. It is a peculiar fact that I have been an intimate witness to the demise of three promising organisations that sought to advance health in low-income settings—the Global Forum for Health Research, the Health Metrics Network, and the independent Expert Review Group on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health (iERG). All three died from multiple causes. With such a dismal record, it was no surprise when the incoming Director of one global health organisation made clear, not entirely jokingly, that he would never consider me fo…
(2023-04-14). EPA Fails to Monitor Almost Half of All "Forever Chemicals" in Drinking Water. truthout.org The term "forever chemical" might sound ominous, but there is a good reason for that. Formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called forever chemicals are used in hundreds of common products for water-proofing and stain-resistance. They're also linked to a tremendous number of health problems, including liver and fertility issues. Now, a new study published in the journal… |
(2023-04-14). Tuesday 4/18: Single-Payer Health Care in California. indybay.org Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/86465752525?pwdTzh1YVh… Meeting ID: 864 6575 2525; Passcode: 465295…
(2023-04-14). Consumer Health: The truth about organ donation. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is National Donate Life Month. This annual observation raises awareness about donation, encourages people to register as donors and honors those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. Over 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for an organ transplant. And it's estimated 20 patients die every day in the U.S. because of the lack of donor organs. Have you considered becoming a donor? If you've never considered organ donation or delayed becoming…
(2023-04-14). Science Saturday: A big step forward, bringing DNA sequencing data to routine patient care. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org In 2020, the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine set out to create a library of genomic sequencing data of 100,000 consented Mayo Clinic participants by the end of 2024 to advance research and improve patient care. The genomic sequencing study is a year ahead of the plan — reaching over 71,000 participants. "This is one of the largest population health studies of its kind," says ‚ÄØKonstantinos Lazaridis, M.D., the Carlson and Nelson Endowed Executive Director for Mayo Clinic's…
(2023-04-14). Ready to Run: Mayo Clinic Health System gives tips on self-care for plantar fasciitis. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org MANKATO, Minn. — Most runners will run into a case of plantar fasciitis occasionally, and this heel pain can range from slightly uncomfortable to utterly debilitating. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue extending from the heel to the ball of the foot, and plantar fasciitis is caused by excessive stress, which brings on inflammation and, typically, heel pain. "Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone," says Stephanie Kvas, D.P.M., a Mayo Clinic Health System podiatrist….
(2023-04-14). Mayo Clinic to ease universal face mask requirement. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Beginning Monday, April 10, wearing a face mask will no longer be required for patients and staff in most patient care areas on Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System campuses. In line with Mayo Clinic's commitment to patient care, Mayo Clinic will continue to require wearing a face mask in high-risk patient settings. High-risk immunocompromised patients will be notified to wear a mask while they are at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic is evolving its…
(2023-04-14). Artificial intelligence creates opportunities to close health care, workplace equity gaps. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and platform models are increasingly driving everyone's day-to-day experiences, including how people receive health care. However, those experiences are not always the same for everyone. April is Minority Health Awareness Month, a national observance to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect people from racial and ethnic minority groups. At Mayo Clinic, experts are looking at the ways AI and digital tools can and are shaping the future…
(2023-04-14). "Nakedly Unconstitutional": Missouri AG Limits Trans Health Care for All Ages. truthout.org In a move on Thursday that appears to be the first of its kind, conservative Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a sweeping set of regulations on gender-affirming care for both children and adults, implementing restrictions that trans advocates say will almost certainly lead to the death of trans people across the state. The emergency rule, chock-full of disinformation about trans… |
(2023-04-14). LGBTQ and Immigrant Rights Groups Issue Travel Advisories for Florida. truthout.org LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida issued an unprecedented travel advisory on April 12, warning LGBTQ people of the risks that traveling or relocating to Florida could pose to their health, safety and freedom. "The advisory comes after passage of laws that are hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, restrict access to reproductive health care, repeal gun safety laws and allow untrained… |
(2023-04-14). Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): The Weaponization of Money? WHO's Health Tyranny: Towards a Totalitarian World Government? No Way! globalresearch.ca
(2023-04-13). Workers vote to unionize at LGBTQ nightclub in Chicago's gentrifying Boystown neighborhood. liberationnews.org 
Demands of the union drive included higher wages, increased health benefits, paid sick time, consistency in scheduling and a say in how the workplace is run.
(2023-04-13). AmCham head bullish on Sino-U.S. opportunities. ecns.cn There will be abundant opportunities for collaboration between U.S. and Chinese companies in the coming years, especially in the areas of healthcare, manufacturing and information and communication technology.
(2023-04-13). Healthcare Activists Demand: Restore Covid-19 Protections Now! popularresistance.org Boston, Massachusetts – The Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity (Mass. CHE) held an online press conference on April 5 to demand the state keep protections against COVID-19 in place to safeguard health care workers, people with disabilities and the general population during the continuing pandemic. | The conference was a response to Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy's decision to comply with the Biden administration's decision to terminate the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11. | Ending the PHE, which was initially declared by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in January 20…
(2023-04-13). Why is Britain's Socialist Workers Party downplaying the no-confidence petition against the RCN nurses' union leadership? wsws.org SWP members on Unison's national executive are playing a central role in blocking a rank-and-file insurgency against the health unions' pay deal with the Tory government.
(2023-04-13). Scientists, health care workers, and advocates speak against Biden's ending COVID emergency. wsws.org Scientists, health care professionals and advocates speak against Joe Biden's declaration on the COVID national emergency.
(2023-04-13). Scientists, healthcare workers, and advocates speak against Biden's ending COVID emergency. wsws.org Scientists, healthcare professionals, and advocates speak against Joe Biden's declaration on the COVID national emergency.
(2023-04-13). Close Cooperation with China Can Help Brazil Deal with Three Major Challenges. libya360.wordpress.com Marco Fernandes Brazil's former president Dilma Rousseff officially assumes the presidency of the New Development Bank at an inauguration attended by President Lula de Silva After a last-minute postponement due to health issues, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is finally visiting China this week. The meeting between President Lula and Chinese President Xi…
(2023-04-13). Planned Parenthood workers rally to demand reinstatement of fired bargaining committee member. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Union members at Planned Parenthood rallied on Tuesday evening, April 11, along with community supporters. The central demands of the action were that Planned Parenthood immediately reinstate a member of the bargaining committee who they fired recently, and to stop engaging in union-busting activity. | Around 450 workers at Planned Parenthood North Central States Region (PPNCS), across Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota formed a union and joined SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa last year and have since been fighting for their first contract. Recently Planned Parenthood ma…
(2023-04-13). Junior doctors in England intensify protests demanding pay restoration. peoplesdispatch.org Junior doctors in England, like other workers of the National Health Service (NHS), are struggling due to low wages, overwork, and soaring inflation. They are demanding a salary hike to compensate for the 26% cut, since 2008, in take-home wages for the highly qualified workforce…
(2023-04-13). Dossier No. 63: Life or debt: The stranglehold of neocolonialism and Africa's search for alternatives. mronline.org 
Before the pandemic was announced by the World Health Organisation in March 2020, the poorer nations of the world already struggled with seriously high—and unpayable—levels of debt.
(2023-04-14). Mayo Clinic Q and A: Allergies or a virus? How to tell the difference. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Every year I am plagued by springtime allergies. But in the last few weeks I have been experiencing congestion, runny nose and a persistent cough. How can I determine whether this is a cold, allergies or something more? When should I seek medical care? ANSWER: As the seasons shift, it can be harder to distinguish between the symptoms of the common cold, COVID-19, the flu and allergies, since all can have similar symptoms. This…
(2023-04-13). 'Plantation Politics' To Blame For Jackson, Mississippi Water Crisis. popularresistance.org Jackson, Mississippi – Jackson, Mississippi made international headlines last summer when from August 30 to September 5, water stopped flowing entirely for over 150,000 residents. In the past seven months since then, the Mississippi capital's water system has been plagued with crisis after crisis. And yet, the crumbling water infrastructure remains largely unchanged. Why is this? The answer lies in the antagonistic and racist attitude that majority white state leadership has towards the Black officials of Jackson, which has one of the largest Black populations per capita of any city in the US.
(2023-04-13). Paramilitary violence continues to plague Colombia. peoplesdispatch.org According to INDEPAZ, between April 1 and 11, ten people were killed in three massacres, eleven social leaders were assassinated and one ex-combatant was killed in different departments of Colombia…
(2023-04-14). The Covid "Killer Vaccine". People Are Dying All Over the World. It's A Criminal Undertaking. globalresearch.ca First published on November 26, 2022 | *** | We are being accused of "spreading disinformation" regarding the Covid-19 vaccine. | The Reuters and AP media "trackers" and "fact checkers" will be out to smear the testimonies of parents who have lost their …
(2023-04-13). Selected Articles: Strokes Are Skyrocketing in Young People. Pfizer & Moderna COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Showed Safety Signals for Strokes as Early as November 2021, But These Were Ignored. globalresearch.ca 
(2023-04-13). Biden to Spend $5 Billion on New Coronavirus Vaccine Initiative Supported by Gates, Fauci and Republican Lawmakers. globalresearch.ca
(2023-04-14). 2 California Prisons Face Imminent Flooding. They Must Be Evacuated Now. truthout.org California's prison system is in a state of crisis. Routine violations of incarcerated people's Eighth Amendment protections from cruel and unusual punishment — including a lack of medical care, overcrowding and ongoing endangerment of incarcerated people with dramatic COVID surges — are compounded by climate-induced disasters that result in losses of power, water and food. What's more… |
(2023-04-14). [Articles] Efficacy and tolerability of an endogenous metabolic modulator (AXA1125) in fatigue-predominant long COVID: a single-centre, double-blind, randomised controlled phase 2a pilot study. thelancet.com Although treatment with AXA1125 did not improve the primary endpoint (τPCr-measure of mitochondrial respiration), when compared to placebo, there was a significant improvement in fatigue-based symptoms among patients living with Long COVID following a four week treatment period. Further multicentre studies are needed to validate our findings in a larger cohort of patients with fatigue-dominant Long COVID.
(2023-04-14). Australian state government internal report details spread of COVID infections in schools. wsws.org The previously suppressed documents show that the Victorian Labor government knowingly presided over the mass infection of children, with a potentially-deadly illness.
(2023-04-13). U.S. pregnancy-related deaths skyrocket, capitalism is to blame. liberationnews.org 
While the spike in maternal mortality is being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic simply exacerbated an already existing crisis.
(2023-04-13). China-Laos cross-border passenger trains to boost tourism. ecns.cn Two cross-border passenger trains linking Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and the Lao capital Vientiane were launched on the China-Laos railway on Thursday morning, making them the first international passenger trains between the two countries after the COVID-19 outbreak.