Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Senators call for investigation of hydroxychloroquine use in nursing homes
Three Democratic senators on Thursday called for an investigation into the experimental use of hydroxychloroquine in nursing homes to treat COVID-19 patients.
Orlando Magic F Aaron Gordon leaves NBA bubble due to hamstring injury
Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon has departed the NBA's bubble in Orlando, Fla., because of a hamstring injury.
Buffalo Bills release veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka
The Buffalo Bills have released veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka, who was the team's starter at the position since 2017.
Trump administration buys 150M card-based COVID-19 tests authorized by FDA
The Trump administration purchased 150 million low-cost, rapid-response COVID-19 tests that were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday.
How genetics could impact COVID-19 treatments
A new study looked at how pharmacogenomics could improve the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 drug therapies.
Single-use N95 respirators can be decontaminated and used again, study finds
N95 respirators, which are widely worn by health care workers treating patients with COVID-19 and are designed to be used only once, can be decontaminated effectively and used up to...
Estrogen may lessen severity of COVID-19 symptoms in women, study finds
Why are men at greater risk than women for more severe symptoms and worse outcomes from COVID-19 regardless of age?
Antiviral used to treat cat coronavirus also works against SARS-CoV-2
Researchers are preparing to launch clinical trials of a drug used to cure a deadly disease caused by a coronavirus in cats that they expect will also be effective as...
FDA grants emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma in COVID-19
Move widens access to a therapy that many feel has modest efficacy at best
Lung injuries from vaping have characteristic patterns on CT
Injuries to the lungs from vaping have suggestive patterns on CT scans that could help physicians make accurate diagnoses and reduce unnecessary biopsies, according to a new study.
Study examines link between sperm quality and light from devices at night
Men might want to think twice before reaching for their smartphone at night. A new study found correlations between electronic media use at night and poor sperm quality.
Neighborhoods with high walk and bike scores also have greater crash risks
Neighbourhoods with high bikeability and walkability scores actually present higher crash risks to cyclists and pedestrians in Vancouver, according to new research.
Gout treatment may aid patients with congenital heart disease
A drug used to treat gout, probenecid, may improve heart function in individuals with a particular heart defect, according to results from a small pilot study. Individuals with congenital univentricular...
Cochlear implants should be recommended for adults more often
An international group of hearing specialists has released a new set of recommendations emphasizing that cochlear implants should be offered to adults who have moderate to severe or worse hearing...
Search for COVID-19 drugs boosted by SARS discovery
An extensive search and testing of current drugs and drug-like compounds has revealed compounds previously developed to fight SARS might also work against COVID-19.
Beating HIV and COVID-19 may depend on tweaking vaccine molecules
In a new study, researchers show that one way to improve the body's immune response to vaccines is to factor in antigen valency. Valency refers to the number of antibody...
Phase 1 human trials suggest breast cancer drug is safe, effective
A new type of breast cancer drug can help halt progression of disease and is not toxic, according to phase 1 clinical trials.
50 percent drop in patients attending cardiology services during coronavirus lockdown
The number of NHS patients presenting to cardiology services for serious heart problems more than halved while the number of heart attacks diagnosed fell by 40 percent at one center...
U.S. hospital admissions for stroke fell by almost a third during lockdown
Almost a third fewer cases of stroke and mini-stroke (TIA) were seen in U.S. hospitals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic between March and April this year compared to...
Water flossers that get between your teeth
Add to your nightly routine. (Matheus Ferrero via Unsplash/)If you’ve had braces, you likely know about water flossers. These dental care appliances shoot a pinpoint jet of water at teeth to dislodge any...
What is cerebral venous thrombosis? Study finds blood clot condition on the rise
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the veins in the brain, preventing blood from draining out of the brain. A new analysis has...
American Academy of Sleep Medicine calls for elimination of daylight saving time
Public health and safety would benefit from eliminating daylight saving time, according to a position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Interventions stem antibiotic prescribing rates in telemedicine
Two different interventions both worked to significantly reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions made by physicians in a telemedicine practice, a new study shows. The finding could offer a...
Yoga could calm atrial fibrillation, early findings suggest
People with the heart-rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, may ease their symptoms with the help of a slower-paced yoga, a preliminary study finds.
Cochlear implants improve hearing in older adults, with no side effects, study finds
Cochlear implants offer improvement over hearing aids in both hearing and quality of life for adults 65 years old and older with hearing loss, a study published by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head...
The CDC’s new COVID-19 testing guidelines could make the pandemic worse
Experts worry that the decision is based more in politics than scientific fact. (Photographer: James Gathany/)Follow all of PopSci’s COVID-19 coverage here, including tips on cleaning groceries, ways to tell if your symptoms...
Vertebral body tethering shows clinical success as treatment for scoliosis
Scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity affecting pediatric patients. A posterior spinal fusion (PSF) is the gold standard treatment for patients with curves exceeding 45 degrees, but the procedure's...
Zika virus infection enhances future risk of severe dengue disease
The Zika pandemic sparked intense interest in whether immune interactions among dengue virus serotypes 1 to 4 (DENV1 to -4) extend to the closely related Zika virus (ZIKV). We investigated prospective pediatric cohorts...