FDA Approves First Self-Test Collection Kit for HPV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a kit that will allow women to collect their own vaginal sample for HPV screening, a move that could increase early detection in those at risk for cervical cancer.

Women will be able to swab themselves in privacy at a doctor’s office, clinic or pharmacy, and the sample will then be sent ...

U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Decline for First Time in 5 Years

The relentless rise in deaths from drug overdose in the United States may finally have stalled: New data from 2023 show the first decline in such deaths since 2018.

"Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023 — a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022," CDC ...

Avian Flu Virus Showing Up in NYC Wild Birds

The H5N1 avian flu virus has been discovered in a small number of wild birds in New York City.

The highly infectious and severe virus was detected in fecal samples in six New York City birds representing four different species, according to a report published May 15 in the Journal of Virology.

Bird flu is now widespread in w...

New Blood Test Could Help Spot Preeclampsia in First Trimester

Preeclampsia can be a life-threatening complication of pregnancy, but a new blood test can help predict a woman's risk for the condition while she is in her first trimester, the test's maker said Wednesday.

It’s the first test in the United States that can be used between 11 and 14 weeks gestation to determine the r...

Report Highlights Big Gaps in Cancer Outcomes Based on Race

U.S. cancer death rates are continuing to drop, falling by 33% between 1991 and 2020.

However, not all Americans are reaping the benefits from advances in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment, a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) shows.

Race, location and sexuality all play a role in cance...

Could a Low-Cal Keto Diet Help Ease Acne?

In a small pilot study, some young women looking to lose weight on a low-calorie keto diet got an unexpected benefit: Their acne began to clear up.

“These findings represent an opportunity to control a skin disease that affects most teenagers and many adults at some point in their lifetimes, causing distress, embarrassment, anxiety and l...

Pedal Power: Biking Could Help Prevent Knee Arthritis

People who regularly ride bikes throughout their life are less likely to develop knee arthritis, a new study suggests.

Bicyclists are 17% less likely to have knee pain and 21% less likely to have symptoms of knee arthritis, compared to people who’ve never biked, researchers discovered.

It also appears that people who’ve biked all...

Surgical Outcomes Better With More Women on Your Team

Heading for surgery? The ratio of women to men in the operating room could influence your recovery, new research shows.

Hospitals in Canada that had 35% or more surgeons and anesthesiologists who were female on staff tended to produce better outcomes for patients undergoing surgery, a new study has found.

“Ensuring a critical mass ...

Early Hints at a Gene Therapy Cure for Herpes

An experimental gene therapy could one day provide a first-ever cure for genital and oral herpes, researchers report.

The gene therapy removed 90% or more of oral herpes infection in lab mice, and it also suppressed how much virus an infected animal shed, according to results published May 13 in the journal Nature Communications.<...

One Key to Weight Loss for Men: Competing for Cash

A competitive game with a potential cash reward appeared to help overweight British men lose weight, researchers report.

The incentive was winning the "Game of Stones" -- a stone is a British measurement of body weight equal to 14 pounds -- and pocketing the equivalent of just over $500 in American dollars if the man achieved weight-loss g...

Recent Release From Jail a Big Risk Factor for Suicide

Inmates released from jail have a ninefold increased risk of suicide within the following year, compared to people who’ve never been incarcerated, new research shows.

“Suicide prevention efforts should focus on people who have spent at least one night in jail in the past year,” concluded the team led by Ted Miller, a senior research ...