Are Some Ultraprocessed Foods Worse Than Others?
A new study may offer the biggest clues yet.
… Of the 10 ultraprocessed food categories they looked at, two were clearly associated with greater risk: sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda and fruit punch) and processed meat, poultry and fish (like bacon, hot dogs, breaded fish products, chicken sausages and salami sandwiches). NYT.
Only 61 percent of teens have been fully vaccinated against HPV
If used before HPV exposure, the completed vaccination series can protect against 92 percent of cancers associated with the virus.
… The CDC recommends two HPV vaccine doses if starting at ages 11 or 12 and three at or after age 15. For the two-dose series, doses are separated by at least six months. If used before HPV exposure, the completed vaccination series can protect against 92 percent of cancers associated with the virus, including those of the mouth and throat and cervix, the CDC says. WashPost.
Michigan Mpox Infection Is Clade II Variant Of Virus: Why That Matters
The mpox infection that sickened a person from Wayne County in August was caused by the clade II variant of the virus, spokesperson Kimberly Harry told the Free Press on Thursday. It’s the same, less severe strain of mpox virus that sparked international outbreaks in 2022 and has continued to trigger sporadic cases in Michigan and across the U.S. Detroit Free Press.
Sitting All Day Can Cause Dead Butt Syndrome
The name might make you snicker, but addressing “gluteal amnesia” can help you avoid chronic pain.
… Gluteal amnesia happens when the muscles in your rear become so weak from inactivity they seem to forget how to function — meaning they fail or become slow to activate. This is different than a leg or arm “falling asleep” because of a compressed nerve; you won’t feel pins and needles. Some people may feel a dull ache while sitting, but most people don’t feel any pain until they go for a jog or hike… NYT.
‘Better than medication’: prescribing nature works, project shows
Scheme helping people in England connect with nature led to better mental health, report finds
… More than 8,000 people were helped to take part in activities including nature walks, community gardening, tree planting and wild swimming. It is thought to be the largest such project in the world so far. The results showed that after taking part in the schemes, people’s feelings of happiness and of life being worthwhile jumped to near national averages, while levels of anxiety fell significantly. The project also found the cost of a green prescription was about £500, making it cost-effective compared with other treatments. Cognitive behavioural therapy costs about £1,000 for 10 sessions. Guardian.
Medical provider to US jails failing to keep its patients alive, advocates say
Jails where NaphCare is contracted have seen the highest death tolls compared with any healthcare provider
… Jails around the US regularly contract private healthcare companies that are oftentimes paid for by taxpayers to meet the needs of people in their care. NaphCare, a $1bn company, has been paid tens of millions of dollars to provide medical and mental health care at the Montgomery county jail … jails where NaphCare is contracted have seen the highest death tolls compared with any healthcare provider in the country, according to a 2020 Reuters investigation. Guardian.
Polio vaccination drive begins in Gaza’s Khan Younis
Crowds of Palestinians gathered at medical centers in the south of the embattled Gaza Strip on Thursday (September 5) to have their children vaccinated against polio in the second stage of the campaign. Reuters.
Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat Populations
Without bats to eat insects, farmers turned to more pesticides, a study found. That appears to have increased infant deaths.
… According to the research, published Thursday in the journal Science, farmers in affected U.S. counties increased their use of insecticides by 31 percent when bat populations declined. In those places, infant mortality rose by an estimated 8 percent. NYT.
Teenage E-Cigarette Use Drops to a 10-Year Low
The percentage of middle and high school students reporting that they vaped tobacco products declined to about a third of the peak levels in 2019, a new survey shows. NYT.
FDA gives an early nod to psychedelic research
… The FDA has approved an early-stage clinical trial involving the little-known psychedelic compound 5-MeO-MiPT, which biotech firm Mindstate Design Labs is slated to announce Thursday. Researchers will study whether the drug, also known as moxy, can treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions…. WashPost.
The clinic for psychedelic difficulties: where people go when the trip never really ends
Derealization and anxiety can result from use of psychedelics. A Berlin clinic provides nonjudgmental help
… HPPD [ hallucination persisting perception disorder], depersonalization, derealization syndrome, psychosis and anxiety are the most common reasons people seek out the clinic. Sometimes, a patient struggles to make sense of a traumatic psychedelic experience. Guardian.
At least 19 people contract fungal infection after California music festival, officials say
New research shows that cases of valley fever, which in rare cases can be fatal, have risen dramatically in recent years
… Coccidioides grows in the dirt but can be become airborne when disturbed and can travel miles away. Most people do not become ill after exposure to the fungus, but for those who do, experts have said that it is likely very few actually receive a valley fever diagnosis. Of those infected, about 40% of people develop a respiratory illness that can be mild while 1% have more severe outcomes… Guardian.
Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s wife and bandmate, reveals blood cancer diagnosis
Singer says ‘touring has become a challenge for me’ in new documentary film, following 2018 diagnosis with multiple myeloma. Guardian.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin will start for first time since cardiac arrest
Bills safety Damar Hamlin will start in Buffalo’s season opener against the Arizona Cardinals at home Sunday, coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday. It will be Hamlin’s first start since he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023. NYT.