Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Pollution taking a toll on penis size, scientist claims
A class of chemicals called phthalates that are often used to make plastics more flexible is exacting a toll on fertility rates and leading to genital malformation, an environmental scientist claims. Shanna Swan, Ph.D., professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, details the health consequences of pollution in her new…
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FDA panel rejects Pfizer’s arthritis drug as too risky
U.S. health advisers sharply criticized an experimental arthritis drug Thursday, saying that it was too risky, even with limits on its use. The expert panel for the Food and Drug Administration voted 19-1 that the drug’s modest benefits don’t outweigh its considerable risks, even with proposed measures to restrict who gets the medicine. Pfizer is seeking FDA approval of…
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Oxford studying nasal spray coronavirus vaccine
The University of Oxford is studying a nasal spray version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine among 30 young, healthy volunteers, and will assess the induced immune response, safety and any side effects. The early-stage trial will enroll adults aged 18 to 40 from the Oxford area, and researchers will conduct four months of follow-up, according to a release posted Thursday. …
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Postpartum depression may last 3 years after childbirth
Intense sadness, hopelessness and anxiety among new mothers may last up to three years after childbirth, according to a new study. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says postpartum depression may persist after the recommended timeline for screening, citing the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance that doctors screen women for postpartum depression several times up to six months after birth. “Our study…
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COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, new study shows
The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines trigger strong immune responses in pregnant and breastfeeding women, equivalent to that of other women of reproductive age, preliminary research shows. The data also suggests that the vaccines are equally safe in all women of reproductive age, and that they likely offer at least some protection to fetuses through the placenta,…
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US to send millions of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to Mexico, Canada in loan deal
The United States plans to send a combined 4 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to Canada and Mexico, respectively, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday. Psaki during a White House press briefing said the Biden administration is finalizing the “loan,” with some 2.5 million doses to be sent to Mexico while 1.5 million will…
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AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ‘safe and effective’ amid blood clotting reports, EU regulator says
A safety committee with Europe’s regulator concluded AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, with no ties to an overall increased risk of blood clots in vaccinated individuals. However, a definitive link to serious blood disorders could not be ruled out. Top officials with the European Medicines Agency said the benefits of the vaccine against COVID-19 and its associated hospitalizations and…
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Pakistan increases COVID restrictions amid a third wave
Pakistani authorities have sealed sections of the capital Islamabad, officials say, as the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic caused a spike in cases and hospital admissions across the country. Pakistan recorded 2,253 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, with active cases rising by 917 to 22,038, according to government data…
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Denmark suspends use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following reports of blood clots
Denmark has suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after some people who received the jab later developed blood clots. The country’s health agency said there is no evidence at this time that the vaccine is behind the clots, but is suspending the use of it as a precaution as it investigates the matter further. “At present,…
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Danish woman dead after AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, blood clotting had ‘highly unusual’ symptoms
A 60-year-old Danish woman who succumbed to a blood clot after receiving a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca had a “highly unusual” disease state, according to the Danish Medicines Agency. The statement follows Denmark’s decision to suspend the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after some people who received the jab later developed blood clots. Denmark’s Health Authority noted its move to suspend the use of…
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