Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Pandemic babies higher risk for developmental delays, but don’t blame the virus
COVID-19 during pregnancy surprisingly did not increase the chance of babies’ neurodevelopmental delay, although those born during the pandemic were associated with higher neurodevelopmental delays compared to those born prior to the pandemic, according to a recent JAMA Pediatrics study. Columbia University Irving Medical Center established a prospective cohort study called COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes (COMBO) Initiative in…
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Cloth masks may not protect against omicron
Single-layer cloth masks may not provide adequate protection against the very infectious omicron variant of COVID-19, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. Many infectious disease experts noted people prefer cloth masks because they are more comfortable and fashionable to wear, but these masks can only block larger droplets of COVID-19, not smaller aerosols or…
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FDA authorizes AstraZeneca COVID antibody treatment for emergency use
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday issued emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca’s Evusheld. The vaccine maker’s COVID-19 antibody drug is for people with serious health problems or a history of allergies to a COVID-19 vaccine who are unable to get adequate protection from vaccination. In a news release, the agency said the authorization was issued for certain adults and individuals 12…
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Omicron 3 times more likely to cause reinfection than previous COVID variants
South African scientists say the risk of reinfection from the omicron COVID-19 variant is at least three times higher than for any previous variant. null In the preliminary study, researchers looked at approximately 2.8 million positive coronavirus infections between March 2020 and Nov. 27, 2021, and 35,670 suspected reinfections were identified. From this retrospective analysis, the group said increases in…
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Omicron: What are the variant’s symptoms?
In just a matter of weeks, cases of the omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in countries around the world – including the U.S. – forcing health leaders to take action. Much remains unknown about the new variant, but nations like the U.S. have acted quickly to respond, implementing controversial travel restrictions and updating mask-wearing guidance. The concern is…
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FDA approves Keytruda as adjuvant treatment for kidney cancer
The cancer immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), was approved Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help in the fight against renal cell carcinoma (RCC), according to a news release from Merck, the drug maker of Keytruda. Keytruda is a medicine that is typically used to treat advanced types of cancers such as lung cancer and melanoma, by working with a patient’s immune system.null…
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Man hospitalized with seizures discovers tapeworm was in brain for decades
A man hospitalized with mysterious seizures and an “altered mental status” had tapeworms living in his brain for decades, according to researchers. null In a case study published last week in The New England Journal of Medicine, experts from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School said the 38-year-old man was initially evaluated following his first seizure and had been “speaking…
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Low libido? Some foods could make a difference
Loss of libido is a common problem that can affect many men and women over the course of their lives. null There are many psychological causes of a low sex drive, including stress, fatigue or changes in lifestyle. Over the years, scientists have found that eating certain foods could potentially make a difference, aiding in boosting libido, and that a nutritious diet can help increase…
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Behaviors that could cause a heart attack
A heart attack occurs in the U.S. every 40 seconds.null A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle does not get enough blood. The more time that passes without treatment, the greater the damage to the heart muscle, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).null While coronary…
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Shocking human tail surgically removed from newborn
A Brazilian baby boy was born with a real human tail that was successfully removed without complications at Albert Sabin Children’s Hospital in the city of Fortaleza, according to the Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. The case report described his mother as previously healthy who did not drink alcohol or use illicit drugs, but smoked 10 cigarettes…
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