FEATURED STORIES

Juul and Altria, both makers of e-cigarettes and vape products, are in trouble with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) again, this time for reneging on a promise the companies made to the government to help curb the epidemic of youth vaping.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said he is drafting letters to both companies that will criticize them for publicly vowing to remove flavored liquid nicotine pods from store shelves, while quietly working on a financial partnership that will, in fact, place even more nicotine pods on shelves.

Low-carb diets are nothing new. If you haven’t tried the Keto diet or the Atkin’s diet, you’ve likely heard of them. Many people consider these “fad” diets, and they very well may be, but fad or not, research does suggest that cutting carbs could be an effective way for people who have lost weight to keep it off.
Click for larger version. Source: BMJ

Gene editing has the potential to save lives and prevent devastating diseases, but the technology is still new and the ramifications of such experiments remain largely unknown. So, when a patient’s DNA has been edited using CRISPR-Cas9, researchers keep a close eye on them to track their progress and any problems that may arise.  Or, at least, they’re supposed to. That has not been happening in China.

A class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones has been associated with numerous serious side effects over the years, so it’s not uncommon to see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue new warnings about more complications of taking the medications. On December 20, the agency yet again warned about a new threat associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Do a quick search for “Mediterranean diet” on our site and you will find oodles of articles espousing the health benefits of this eating lifestyle.  In December, yet another study showed that people who eat a Mediterranean-style diet have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease – possibly even as low as those taking statin drugs.
Let’s see why this diet can be so good for the heart.
Lead study author Shafqut Ahmad, Ph.D., a research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said of the findings:

You expect your doctor(s) and their staff to be familiar with your medical history. You probably also assume the information in your records is correct. But your doctor and nurses are only human, and mistakes can happen. Unfortunately, errors on your medical records can be hazardous to your health and even your life, so it’s important to give your records a once-over every so often to ensure accuracy. [1]

One of the top causes of antibiotic resistance is the use of the medicines in livestock. Many factory farms feed animals antibiotics to prevent disease and promote growth. Yet, despite countless warnings that the practice fuels drug-resistant superbugs, it continues to be a serious problem. Thankfully, establishments such as McDonald’s claims to finally be taking more action against widespread antibiotic use.

The Canadian federal government has launched a new risk assessment for AquaBounty’s new genetically modified (GM) salmon, following the company’s July 2018 announcement that it planned to build a new egg production and grow-out facility in Rollo Bay West, Prince Edward Island (PEI), according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

Experts in the United Kingdom (UK) are alarmed by a sharp increase in anxiety among British children. Equally alarming is the rise in medication addiction and the number of youngsters seeking outside counsel to cope with their anxiety. [1]

If the world were to lose honey bees, it would be a crisis for humanity unlike any we have ever seen. The food supply would shrink drastically, leaving large swaths of the Earth’s population to starve. Unfortunately, bees face numerous threats, and bacterial diseases are among the direst of these threats (along with neonicotinoid pesticides). Researchers in Finland say they’ve created the first-ever vaccine for insects, and it could help protect struggling honey bee populations.