(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic expert talks about the new omicron variant. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org While COVID-19 rates in the U.S. are relatively low and are declining, the World Health Organization (WHO) is keeping an eye on a new COVID-19 variant. The omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, known as "Arcturus," has been listed by the WHO as a variant under monitoring since March 22. Experts say this variant has a higher transmissibility rate than previous strains but doesn't appear to be more dangerous. "It is causing increasing case counts in certain parts…
(2023-05-05). Consumer Health: Recognizing the signs of irritable bowel syndrome. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is IBS Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Research suggests that about 12% of people in the U.S. have irritable bowel syndrome, and it's more common among women than men and in people younger than 50, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine. Even though the digestive…
(2023-05-05). Regenerative biotherapeutics: Pivoting toward a new strategy for fighting disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic has made significant strides biomanufacturing early-stage therapeutics. The focus is on new medicines derived from the human body, called biotherapeutics, which are shaping the future of medicine. "Our commitment to delivering new cures for unmet conditions is behind Mayo's pivot to biomanufacturing," says Julie Allickson, Ph.D., the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Family Director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics and the Otto Bremer Trust Director, Biomanufacturing and…
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic expert talks about the new omicron variant. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org While COVID-19 rates in the U.S. are relatively low and are declining, the World Health Organization (WHO) is keeping an eye on a new COVID-19 variant. The omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, known as "Arcturus," has been listed by the WHO as a variant under monitoring since March 22. Experts say this variant has a higher transmissibility rate than previous strains but doesn't appear to be more dangerous. "It is causing increasing case counts in certain parts…
(2023-05-05). Consumer Health: Recognizing the signs of irritable bowel syndrome. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is IBS Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Research suggests that about 12% of people in the U.S. have irritable bowel syndrome, and it's more common among women than men and in people younger than 50, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine. Even though the digestive…
(2023-05-05). Regenerative biotherapeutics: Pivoting toward a new strategy for fighting disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic has made significant strides biomanufacturing early-stage therapeutics. The focus is on new medicines derived from the human body, called biotherapeutics, which are shaping the future of medicine. "Our commitment to delivering new cures for unmet conditions is behind Mayo's pivot to biomanufacturing," says Julie Allickson, Ph.D., the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Family Director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics and the Otto Bremer Trust Director, Biomanufacturing and…
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic Minute: Why some patients with breast tumors could possibly avoid a mastectomy. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. Now, patients with multiple tumors may have another option when it comes to fighting the disease. Dr. Judy Boughey, a surgical oncologist with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, led a recent study that found some patients can avoid a mastectomy when it comes to surgery. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/7ISTexS0VdU Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0: 57) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please…
(2023-05-05). HPV infection may cause throat, mouth cancer. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org 3D illustration of the human papillomavirus (HPV). April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Head and neck cancers, including mouth and throat, occur in the head and neck region. You may have heard about the connection between HPV infection and certain types of cervical cancer, but did you know HPV infection is also related to a higher risk of throat and mouth cancer? To prevent these cancers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all…
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic Minute: A tick to blame for the alpha-gal, meat allergy. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org You may have heard about alpha-gal syndrome, also known as the meat allergy illness or tick bite meat allergy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most diagnosed cases are in the southern, eastern and central parts of the U.S. It also has been diagnosed in Europe, Australia, Asia, South Africa, and South and Central America. It can be a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The American Gastroenterological Association recently added guidance to medical professionals to watch for…
(2023-05-05). Candida auris: This fungus is a health care concern. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org 3D illustration of Candida auris Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging fungus that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking. Fungi live just about everywhere, including on and inside of the body. Fungal infections are more common in people with weakened immune systems, or when fungi are introduced to areas where they are not normally found, such as in a wound. Candida species are the most common yeast responsible for fungal infections. Many…
(2023-05-05). People with severe obesity and a genetic pathway variant have increased risk of hypertension, Mayo Clinic research finds. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Obesity and its associated cardiometabolic issues are a major health concern in the U.S. and internationally. According to a study published in 2017, 12% of the world's adult population was affected by obesity in 2016, double the percentage from 30 years earlier. With obesity comes an increasing risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. Fortunately, obesity is a multifactorial disease that results from an energy balance dysregulation…
(2023-05-05). CDC confirms that its 2023 Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference became a COVID superspreader event. wsws.org The four-day conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention became a superspreader event.
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] A glimpse of light for Sudan's pressured health system amid military coup violations. thelancet.com As violent oppression of peaceful protesters in Sudan persists after the military takeover of power in a coup d'état in October, 2021, health-care professionals in the country continue to endure the distressing conditions of responding to mass casualties and handling serious and lethal gunshot injuries.
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] Spain facing the challenge of regulating unhealthy food advertising. thelancet.com In 2022, the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs drafted a Royal Decree to regulate food and beverage advertising aimed at children. This proposal is the first one with legal rank to take into account the nutritional profile of the advertised products, and it represents a great advance in the protection of children and adolescents' rights in Spain, which are undermined by the advertising of food and beverage products high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar.
(2023-05-05). Norwegian seafood sells swimmingly in China. ecns.cn China's consolidated economic rebound, the expansion of middle-income groups and consumers' greater importance paid to health and nutrition all point to huge growth potential for Norwegian seafood exporters, said Christian Chramer.
(2023-05-05). Consumer Health: 3 types of head and neck cancers. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about three types of cancer that affect these areas of the body. Head and neck cancers account for nearly 4% of all cancers in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. These cancers are more than twice as common among men as women, and are diagnosed more often among people over 50. Among the many types of head and neck cancers are…
(2023-05-05). Ready to Run: Mayo athletic trainer suggests ways to manage pain, swelling during marathon training. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org MANKATO, Minn. — Everyone has heard the saying "No pain, no gain," and, if you're training for a long-distance race, chances are that you've felt some pain. "General muscle soreness and mild discomfort is common among runners, and it often is the sign of a successful training program," says Paul Osterman, a licensed athletic trainer in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System. "When training for a long-distance race, it's important to gradually progress your training and…
(2023-05-05). Breaking barriers: Helping Native Americans in need get the gift of life. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Robert Monroe and Jackie Johnson stand near their home on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona For many American Indians and Alaska Natives, living on an Indian reservation provides a sense of pride, independence, and the ability to maintain cultural and social traditions important to their heritage. Life on the Indian reservation can also mean high rates of poverty, lack of access to food, transportation, communication and health care. Complex medical procedures like an organ…
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic Health System announces grand opening of new location for Plainview clinic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org PLAINVIEW, Minn. — The Plainview community is invited to attend a grand opening celebration at the new Mayo Clinic Health System in Plainview clinic location, 245 First St. SW, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 21. Tours of the new facility will follow a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4: 15 p.m. On Monday, April 24, Mayo Clinic Health System in Plainview's new location at 245 First St. SW will open for patient appointments. Patients…
(2023-05-05). Sri Lanka's public health services face breakdown. wsws.org Drastic falls in the numbers of doctors and health workers have led to huge workloads for the remaining workforce, who are already severely burdened with higher taxes, inflation and cuts in allowances and overtime.
(2023-05-04). People's Health Assembly in Colombia will be a milestone in struggles for right to health. peoplesdispatch.org The People's Health Movement is mobilizing for the 5th People's Health Assembly, which will take place in Cali, Colombia, in December this year…
(2023-05-04). Sudan: A new territory of instability and… Opportunity. uwidata.com Large-scale clashes between government forces and rebels from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have continued for three weeks in Sudan. More than 500 people have been killed and nearly 5,000 wounded (lightly and seriously), according to the country's Ministry of Health. Türkiye has completed the evacuation of its citizens from Sudan who have expressed a …
(2023-05-04). Weingarten refutes GOP charges of teacher union control of pandemic policy. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON —Steady and calm under a barrage of hostile Republican propaganda, Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten refuted right-wing charges of undue union influence on pandemic policy on whether, when, how and if schools should have opened at the height of the coronavirus plague. Given the chance to refute their unproven charges that AFT in general …
(2023-05-06). World Report] Gavi unveils malaria vaccine plans. thelancet.com With huge demand for new malaria vaccines, Gavi is concerned that scaling up production and affordability pose a formidable challenge. John Zarocostas reports from Geneva.
(2023-05-04). Have victims of covid "vaccines" become a new source of organ donors? expose-news.com Jacinda Ardern's government had an emotional response to the crisis and a mistaken understanding of science, which led to multiple vaccine-induced deaths. Have these victims become a new source of organ donors …
(2023-05-06). Perspectives] Grief, but different. thelancet.com What do we gain or lose when we try to distinguish one form of grief from another, particularly at a time of overwhelming pain and loss? During the COVID-19 pandemic in March, 2021, a Canadian Government survey reported that the number of overdose deaths had doubled compared to the previous year. Social isolation as an effect of physical distancing to reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 also reduced access to support networks and resources for those using substances early in the pandemic. While discussing overdose deaths in Québec at a symposium on HIV and Human Rights in 2021, Sandhia Vadlamudy, Executive Director of…
(2023-05-06). Perspectives] Eloise Todd: mobilising civil society for pandemic prevention. thelancet.com "We're at an exciting moment in the fight for better pandemic prevention and preparedness, but it's also a moment of jeopardy", says Eloise Todd, co-founder and Executive Director of the Pandemic Action Network, an international network of more than 350 diverse organisations. Todd points out that with the invasion of Ukraine, attention shifted from COVID-19 "in terms of both political consciousness but also public consciousness". Renewing attention on COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness and prevention is a key focus for the Network.
(2023-05-05). Tourism recovery 'will continue'. ecns.cn China's tourism industry is expected to experience a sustained recovery this year, after its best performance in the May Day holiday since COVID-19 hit the industry in 2019.
(2023-05-05). Science Saturday: COVID-19 — the pandemic that's forever changed laboratory testing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Like many people throughout the world, Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing when COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic. "Those first few months of the pandemic will be forever ingrained in my memory," he says. For Dr. Binnicker, director of Mayo Clinic's Clinical Virology Laboratory, two important dates stand out above the rest. "One was Feb. 17, 2020, when Dr. (William) Morice and I were talking about whether the department should…
(2023-05-04). La Unión Europea vuelve a las políticas de austeridad. globalizacion.ca La Comisión Europea ha decidido poner fin a la "fiesta" y ha avisado a los Estados miembros que tendrán que apretarse de nuevo el cinturón a partir de 2024. Se acabó la "barra libre". La crisis del Covid-19 provocó que…
(2023-05-04). Fostering Partnerships with BRICS Energy Investors. infobrics.org South Africa took over as the chair of BRICS on Jan. 1, 2023, during a challenging economic period, both domestically and globally. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the West's sanctions have worsened the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies globally, leading to soaring energy and food prices, which have had a disproportionate effect on the global South…
(2023-05-04). AFT President Randi Weingarten defends push to reopen schools during pandemic. wsws.org Testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten defended her record of forcing millions of teachers and students back into unsafe classrooms during the pandemic.