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Injuries mount as sales reps for device makers cozy up to surgeons, even in operating rooms

Cristina Martinez's spinal operation in Houston was expected to be routine. But after destabilizing her spine, the surgeon discovered the implant he was ready to put in her back was larger than he wanted to use — and the device company’s sales rep didn’t have a smaller size on hand, according to a report he filed about the operation.

9 Aug 2021

Hard lessons from a city that tried to privatize public health

If you were growing up in Detroit in the 1970s or '80s, chances are you knew the city's Herman Kiefer public health complex by both sight and reputation.

6 Aug 2021

Antibacterial immunity may change in the intestines based on circadian cycle

The body's ability to prevent food poisoning by producing a natural antimicrobial compound increases during the day, when exposure to noxious bacteria is most likely, a new study by UT Southwestern scientists suggests.

28 Jul 2021

Latin American communities heavily affected by mercury and lead contamination

Intervention programmes are vitally needed to support Amazonian communities exposed to mercury contamination in Latin America, and children who are among those most affected by lead poisoning.

13 Jul 2021

Nose drops of modified 'friendly' bacteria offer protection against meningitis

A world-first trial has shown that nose drops of modified 'friendly' bacteria protect against meningitis.

12 Jul 2021

Deletion of an embryonic gene in liver cells completely wipes out bile ducts of newborn mice

Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine described a new phenomenon in which the deletion of a single gene involved in liver embryogenesis completely wipes out bile ducts of newborn mice.

6 Jul 2021

Stool transplant may be worth exploring as treatment option for COVID-19

It might be worth exploring stool transplant to treat COVID-19 infection, suggest doctors in a letter published online in the journal Gut, after they used the procedure in two patients to prevent the recurrence of another bacterial infection.

2 Jul 2021

Damage to children’s education — and their health — could last a lifetime

Before the pandemic, 16-year-old Na'ryen Cayou had everything he needed. He had his own room. A partial scholarship to a boys' prep school. A spot playing trombone in the marching band, performing in parades all over New Orleans.

1 Jul 2021

Cannabis poisoning rates increase among children after legalization

Significantly higher rates of child intensive care admissions for unintentional cannabis poisonings have been seen following legalization of the drug in Canada.

30 Jun 2021

Environmental lead poisoning has cross-generational consequences

Japanese and Zambian scientists have shown that environmental lead poisoning in children affects not only their own health and wellbeing, but the vitality and mental health of their mothers, as well.

30 Jun 2021

Black and Hispanic Americans suffer most in biggest US decline in life expectancy since WWII

Although James Toussaint has never had covid, the pandemic is taking a profound toll on his health.

24 Jun 2021

WHO estimates suicide as one of the leading causes of death

Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, according to WHO's latest estimates, published today in "Suicide worldwide in 2019".

20 Jun 2021

Blocking IL-11 signaling can promote liver regeneration after paracetamol-induced damage

Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School and National Heart Centre Singapore, in collaboration with colleagues in Singapore and the UK, have shown that the human form of the signaling protein interleukin 11 (IL-11) has a damaging effect on human liver cells--overturning a prior hypothesis that it could help livers damaged by paracetamol poisoning.

18 Jun 2021

New approach to gene therapy uses common pain reliever to fight against genetic diseases

Researchers have developed a new approach to gene therapy that leans on the common pain reliever acetaminophen to force a variety of genetic diseases into remission.

14 Jun 2021

Researchers map potential toxicity of lanthanide metals used in medicine

Lanthanides are rare-earth heavy metals with useful magnetic properties and a knack for emitting light. Researchers had long assumed that lanthanides' toxicity risk was low and therefore safe to implement in a number of high-tech breakthroughs we now take for granted: from OLEDs (organic light-emitting displays)¬¬ to medical MRIs and even hybrid vehicles.

9 Jun 2021

Study finds high levels of lead in indigenous people in Peruvian Amazonia

Lead is a toxic metal, and its widespread use has led to significant environmental pollution and public health problems in many parts of the world.

7 Jun 2021

Portugal's first major forensic case attests the importance of toxicological analysis

Announcing a new article publication for Forensic Sciences Research journal. In this review article the author Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira of the University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS)-CESPU, Gandra, Portugal continues a three-part investigation of the "Crime of Flores Street" one of the most famous cases of poisoning which occurred in Portugal in the late 19th century.

11 May 2021