Story at a glance Plasmalogens are lipids that are found in cell membranes. The amount of plasmalogens found in the body may diminish with age. Researchers are examining whether plasmalogens taken as a supplement could have positive health and anti-aging effects. Scientists have long been interested in studying aging: how it happens, why it happens,…
Author: Chia-Yi Hou
High-tech contact lens could help diagnose cancer
Story at a glance A team of researchers has developed a contact lens that can collect tear samples from the eyes. In a laboratory setting, the lens detected compounds that could potentially indicate the presence of cancer. The breakthrough could help with early diagnosis, an important factor in fighting cancer. A team of researchers may…
Pfizer’s RSV vaccine candidate safe and effective in older adults
Story at a glance RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus, a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms. However, it can cause serious illness in infants and older adults, like when it develops into bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Pfizer’s vaccine candidate for RSV is more than 85 percent effective at preventing severe illness in older adults, according…
Is vaping vitamins a good idea?
Story at a glance Vaping has gotten a lot of attention for the potential harmful effects to the lungs. Non-nicotine wellness vaping products are on the rise. Much is still unknown about these products and the FDA issued a warning against using them. Among the vaping trends of recent years, some people are starting to…
What researchers are learning about monkeypox virus
Story at a glance There are more than 13,500 known cases of monkeypox in the U.S. The virus has been detected in body fluids, on surfaces and in the air. Better testing will be important for detecting cases and reducing spread. There have been more than 13,500 reported cases of monkeypox (MPX) virus in the…
Which sunscreen is best for you? Tips after spray sunscreen recalled for cancer-causing chemical
Story at a glance A Banana Boat spray sunscreen has been recalled because of benzene contamination. Benzene may be a byproduct of other ingredients and is a known carcinogen. Inhaling spray and powder sunscreens could be detrimental to your health. Spray sunscreens have increased in popularity in recent years, although there may be some health…
Are COVID-19 rapid tests working against new omicron variants?
Story at a glance Some people have said they have COVID-19 symptoms but test negative on rapid antigen tests. This may happen when it’s still early in the infection period and there’s not enough virus present. This may also start to happen when variants mutate. The FDA recommends following up with a PCR test if…
What you should know about monkeypox symptoms
Story at a glance There are more than 6,000 cases of monkeypox infection in the U.S. Monkeypox virus can cause a range of symptoms like fever, skin lesions and headache. A recent paper details symptoms of more than 500 cases from 16 countries. There have been 6,326 cases of monkeypox infection reported in the U.S.,…
How heat waves affect our physical and mental health
Story at a glance Many regions in the U.S. are experiencing heat waves this summer, including the South and Pacific Northwest. Heat stroke and exhaustion from high temperatures are actually pretty rare. Hot days can affect general body functioning, mental health and could lead to kidney stones. With temperatures climbing to record highs in many…
These are the states with the highest monkeypox cases relative to population
Story at a glance Monkeypox cases have been detected in nearly all 50 states in the U.S. The virus is transmitted through close contact with an infected person. Washington, D.C., New York and Georgia have the highest case rates by population. In the U.S., there have been a total of 2,891 monkeypox cases reported, according…