Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Recently discovered protein may play key role in obesity and metabolic disease

With unexpected findings about a protein that's highly expressed in fat tissue, scientists at Scripps Research have opened the door to critical new understandings about obesity and metabolism.

21 Nov 2019

Efforts to move the needle on flu shot rates get stuck

It's free and available everywhere. Yet most Americans skip the annual flu shot - with the number of dispensed vaccines barely changed in the past decade, despite government removal of cost and access obstacles.

21 Nov 2019

Study examines prevalence of Miller-Fisher syndrome after vaccination in the U.S.

A recent study published in Muscle & Nerve created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Food and Drug Administration examined the prevalence of Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) occurring after vaccination in the United States.

21 Nov 2019

New research case report describes lung injury related to e-cigarette use

A research case report describing lung injury related to e-cigarette use in a 17-year-old Canadian may be the first documented case of a new form of damage from vaping products.

21 Nov 2019

Influenza vaccine found to be safe for people with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders

A recent study published in Muscle & Nerve appears to show that the influenza vaccination is safe to use for those with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders.

20 Nov 2019

Tips to help smokers and vapers quit smoking

As the American Cancer Society prepares to help smokers kick the habit during tomorrow's Great American Smokeout, Cedars-Sinai is offering tips for quitting smoking, whether you are hooked on tobacco or vaping.

20 Nov 2019

Pioneering CRISPR therapy leaves two patients free of blood disease symptoms

The first two clinical trials for CRISPR-based treatments for inherited blood disorders have been successful.

20 Nov 2019

Dopamine may worsen lung inflammation in asthma

A new study on a mouse model of asthma shows that nerve cells producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter, signal T cells in the body to promote inflammation due to allergic reactions in the lungs during childhood but not in adult mice.

19 Nov 2019

Woman’s velvety tripe palms turn out to be a sign of lung cancer

A 73-year-old woman presented with pruritic, itchy, and painful lesions on her hand, showing an appearance consisted of tripe palms. It was later revealed by doctors that her velvety palms turned out to be a rare sign of lung cancer.

19 Nov 2019

Ketogenic diet wards off flu, study finds

The ketogenic diet has gained immense popularity over the past years because it helps lose weight speedily, with a wide range of health benefits. Similar to the Atkins diet, the ketogenic diet may not only help people shed off extra pounds but also boosting the immune system and warding off flu.

19 Nov 2019

Mysterious feather duvet lung disease nearly kills a man

A soft pillow and a warm duvet are all you need to have a soothing and relaxing sleep, especially during the frigid season. However, a man from the United Kingdom nearly died because of a mysterious illness related to a duvet. It was later found out by doctors that the culprit for his lung disease is his newly-bought feather duvet.

19 Nov 2019

Scientists develop new therapy for acute myeloid leukemia

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists, with chemists and cancer biologists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, have developed a new therapy that extended the survival of mice with acute myeloid leukemia.

19 Nov 2019

The startlingly high cost of the ‘free’ flu shot

In the Byzantine world of health care pricing, most people wouldn't expect that the ubiquitous flu shot could be a prime example of how the system's lack of transparency can lead to disparate costs.

19 Nov 2019

Measles heralds state of emergency in Samoa

All students in Samoa should stay at home, because all schools are closed – this message may bring joy to juvenile hearts but not to those of parents and other adults, who know this is because of the destruction caused by the deadly measles epidemic that is spreading across the Pacific islands.

18 Nov 2019

No symptoms? No thyroid testing!

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care has published new recommendations that rule out the need to do a thyroid screening test “just because” if the patient doesn’t have symptoms of thyroid abnormality, is an adult, isn’t pregnant, and has no risk factors for thyroid disease. This should put to rest any doubts that thyroid screening is a part of a routine check-up.

18 Nov 2019

Legislation and rising incidence of vaccine preventable diseases – the connection explored

There have been repeated reports of outbreaks of “vaccine-preventable disease” or VPDs across United States over the past few years. A new research letter was published this week in the JAMA Pediatrics. It was titled, “Association of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Incidence With Proposed State Vaccine Exemption Legislation.”

18 Nov 2019