September 19, 2020

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at 87

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday, the court announced. The cause was complications from pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg was 87.

First appointed to the court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, Ginsburg was the longest serving member of the liberal justices on the bench. Her many votes in support of abortion rights, access to health care, same-sex marriage and other lightning rod issues have garnered her almost star-like status on the left.

September 18, 2020

More Pets May Be Getting COVID-19 Than Realized

THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 -- There are "substantial" rates of coronavirus infection in dogs and cats whose owners have COVID-19, new research shows.

The researchers also found that, in several cases, infected pets had COVID-like respiratory symptoms at the time their owners were infected.

September 18, 2020

Details Emerge on Unexplained Illness in AstraZeneca COVID Vaccine Trial

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (Healthday News) -- New details surfaced on Thursday on an unexplained neurological condition that struck a volunteer who was participating in AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine trial.

In an internal safety report obtained by CNN, company officials describe how a healthy 37-year-old woman "experienced confirmed transverse myelitis" after receiving her second dose of the vaccine. She was hospitalized on Sept. 5.

September 18, 2020

Another Rapid COVID-19 Test Shows Promise

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- Yet another rapid COVID-19 test has proven its mettle in spotting infection with the new coronavirus, this time in a British study.

The lab-in-a-cartridge testing device -- which can be performed at bedside, doesn't require a laboratory, and can be performed in cartridges smaller than a mobile phone -- was tested on 386 National Health Service staff and patients in Britain.

September 18, 2020

Almost 90,000 Young American Adults Will Get Cancer This Year: Report

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- Nearly 90,000 Americans between 15 and 39 years of age will be diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 9,200 will die, a new report projects.

One hematologist who deals with younger cancer patients said the shock of a diagnosis at this point in their lives can be overwhelming.

September 18, 2020

Getting a Hip Replacement? Choice of Hospital Can Be Crucial

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a spotlight on disparities in the U.S. health care system. But the issues are longstanding, and -- as one large study illustrates -- extend into a common elective surgery.

Researchers found that when hip replacement surgery is done at a "safety net" hospital designed to serve the poor and uninsured, patients' risks are higher. Of more than 500,000 Americans who had the surgery, those at safety net hospitals were 11% more likely to have postoperative complications, like infections or heart problems.

September 18, 2020

COVID-19 Poses Added Risk for People With Addiction Disorders: Study

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- People with addiction disorders are at greater risk for COVID-19 and more likely to become seriously ill if infected, a new study finds.

The researchers analyzed non-identifiable electronic health records of more than 73 million patients in the United States. People with addiction disorders accounted for just over 10% of those in the study, and nearly 16% of COVID-19 cases.

September 18, 2020

Pregnancy May Delay MS

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- Pregnancy can delay the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) by more than three years, researchers report.

The international study found those who'd been pregnant had their first MS symptoms an average of 3.3 years later than those who'd never been pregnant. Having carried a baby to term delayed MS onset by an average of 3.4 years, the researchers determined.

September 18, 2020

As Schools Reopen, Many Students, Staff Live With High-Risk Family Member

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- School districts across America are navigating exactly how to resume classes this fall, just as a new study warns that many students and teachers live in homes with people at high risk for severe COVID-19.

"For many school districts, decisions over whether and how to reopen will likely be revisited throughout the school year … [and] evidence regarding the health risks of adults with connections to schools is one piece of the puzzle," said the authors led by Thomas Selden, director of the division of research and modeling at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

September 18, 2020

Experts Offer Guidance on a Common But Underreported Menopause Syndrome

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 -- Hot flashes and night sweats are well-known side effects of menopause, but the end of a woman's periods can also lead to other uncomfortable changes.

Vaginal dryness, painful sex and painful urination are common symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM. Estimates vary, but most research suggests that a majority of postmenopausal women are affected. It can significantly impair health, sexual function and quality of life.