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Almost 9000 children and teens died from opioid poisonings in over two decades, finds study

Nearly 9,000 children and adolescents died from opioid poisonings with prescription and illicit drugs between 1999 and 2016 based on an analysis of national data.

31 Dec 2018

‘Don’t wash that bird!’ and other (often unheeded) food safety advice

Rinsing chicken or turkey before cooking it is an ingrained step for many home cooks — passed down through generations and reinforced by cookbooks. Recipes like the "Perfect Roast Chicken" in 1999's "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook" advise cooks to "Rinse the chicken inside and out." But that doesn't reflect the science.

21 Dec 2018

Immune cells explode themselves to inform about the danger of invading bacteria

Our immune systems are working overtime this time of year. Knowing that a bunch of dedicated immune cells are willing to explode themselves to inform other cells about the danger may offer a bit of consolation.

17 Dec 2018

Mass spectrometry throws light on old case of intentional heavy metal poisoning

In 1994, Chinese university student Zhu Ling began experiencing stomach pain, hair loss and partial paralysis.

14 Dec 2018

Microbiological analysis of bacteria that cause food poisoning could save lives

Researchers have made an important discovery that could help save patients with bacterial infections, particularly those suffering from food poisoning.

12 Dec 2018

ToxicDocs: The largest database on industrial poisons

Johnson & Johnson, the world's largest health care products maker, is in the midst of more than 10,000 lawsuits claiming that its iconic baby powder is linked to cancer.

12 Dec 2018

Sacrificial immune cells alert body to infection

Scientists have discovered a new mechanism by which immune cells burst to alert the body to infection with Yersinia pestis.

11 Dec 2018

Researchers shed new light on how to combat Shiga and ricin toxins

Min Dong, PhD, and his lab are world experts in toxins and how to combat them. They've figured out how Clostridium difficile's most potent toxin gets into cells and zeroed in on the first new botulinum toxin identified since 1969.

11 Dec 2018

Study quantifies links between alcohol, drug use and violent deaths

A group of researchers at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil recently published the results of a study on the links between alcohol and drug use and the occurrence of violent deaths.

7 Dec 2018

Study addresses continued challenges of lead poisoning prevention

Over the years, the Centers for Disease Control and its partners have made major progress towards reducing lead exposure in the United States. But more work remains in preventing lead poisoning in US children and adults, according to a special supplement to the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

5 Dec 2018

Study highlights potential risks of lead exposure from ‘non-traditional’ sources

The study by Paromita Hore, PhD, MPH, and colleagues at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene highlights the potential risks of lead exposure from "non-traditional" sources, even as US population blood levels continue to decline.

4 Dec 2018

Early gut bacterial colonization may reduce risk of developing eczema

Strains of a bacterium commonly found in skin infections may help to protect against eczema, according to new research in the British Journal of Dermatology.

4 Dec 2018

Increasing mental health problems related to drug use in over 55's

Reports have shown that individuals aged over 45 years are increasingly being admitted to hospitals with mental health problems related to drug use. The number of admissions due to mental health problems and behavioural problems associated with drug use, were 638 in 2007/8 and have now come to 1,182 says the report.

3 Dec 2018

Study reveals significant increase in hospitalization rates among homeless adults

Hospitalization rates among homeless adults have increased sharply in recent years, with a very different set of causes from those in non-homeless individuals, reports a study in the January issue of Medical Care. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

30 Nov 2018

New ointment for treating brown recluse spider bites is tested on humans

The bite from a brown recluse spider (Loxosceles) can cause skin necrosis, renal failure, and even death. A new ointment is being tested in Brazil, however. Its effects have already been proven in tests conducted in cell cultures and animal models.

29 Nov 2018

'Unknown' enzyme may be key to new treatment for inflammatory diseases

An enzyme that normally repairs damaged DNA, may be the key to a new treatment for inflammatory diseases.

20 Nov 2018

In throes of turkey salmonella outbreak, don’t invite illness to your table

As Americans prepare to cook and consume nearly 50 million turkeys on Thanksgiving Day, an ongoing outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to the poultry means food safety at home is more critical than ever.

19 Nov 2018

Specific bacterial toxins reduce number of cells suppressing immune response

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can cause numerous diseases, such as skin infections, pneumonia and blood poisoning.

16 Nov 2018

Suicidal patients with prescribed access to psychotropic drugs should be closely monitored

As prescriptions for psychotropic drugs increase, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that prescribed access to anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic medications may make it easier for some patients to use the drugs in attempted suicides.

13 Nov 2018

Air pollution kills 600,000 children with India being worst affected says WHO

A report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that air pollution is responsible for killing nearly 600,000 children every year. Among millions of other children affected with the effects of air pollution it leads to severe symptoms of various conditions such as asthma, respiratory diseases, loss of intelligence, excessive weight gain and ear infections.

31 Oct 2018