Two panels that advise the Food and Drug Administration are recommending that naloxone nasal spray be approved for over-the-counter sale for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses. The Joint Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee voted unanimously to approve the measure. The FDA will make a final decision on March 29 if naloxone will become a nonprescription drug.
Study shows 1 in 25 patients undergoing structural cardiac intervention suffered a major complication
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine published a study in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography showing that transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided transcatheter structural cardiac intervention was associated with a major complication in 3.6% of patients.
Bird flu risk to people is low despite recent animal infections. But what would it take to cross over to humans?
Right now, the average person has very little risk of contracting bird flu, but whether that could change at some point depends on whether two viruses meet in the wrong animal.
Types of psychotherapy: Finding the right fit for your needs
For anyone struggling with a mental health issue who is looking for support coping with stress or managing complicated feelings, help is available.
Outgoing and structured people coped best with the pandemic, finds large study
When we were all cooped up during the pandemic, the media heralded the fact that it was a time for introverts.
Those with the BRCA1 gene mutation may face greater risk for aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure
A group of researchers from Nagoya University in Japan used a rat model to show that the BRCA1 mutation, which affects 1 in 500 people, increases the risks of malignant mesothelioma (MM), a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Their findings were reported in Cancer Science.
Poor oral health tied to higher risk for Meniere disease
Poor oral health may increase the incidence of Meniere disease, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Personalized Medicine.
How frontotemporal dementia changes the brain
Around 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, the actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, a rare type of dementia that typically affects people ages 45 to 64. In contrast to Alzheimer’s, in which the major initial symptom is memory loss, FTD typically involves changes in behavior.
People produce endocannabinoids—similar to compounds found in marijuana—that are critical to many bodily functions
Over the past two decades, a great deal of attention has been given to marijuana—also known as pot or weed. As of early 2023, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in 21 states and Washington, D.C., and the use of marijuana for medical purposes has grown significantly during the last 20 or so years.
Viewpoint: E-cigarettes should be in plain packaging—just like cigarettes
Vaping is a rapidly growing habit in Great Britain, particularly among younger people. Research by the anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health found that in 2022 7% of 11- to 17-year-olds in Great Britain used e-cigarettes, up from 3.3% the year before.