The Next ‘Catastrophic’ Superbug To Worry About Is Perfect Storm Of Scary Characteristics
Scientists are eyeing the invasive fungus warily. In other public health news: gonorrhea, autism, marijuana and DUIs, weight loss, contraception and more.
Stat:
A ‘Perfect Storm’ Superbug: How An Invasive Fungus Got Health Officials’ Attention
try as they might, the infection control specialists at Royal Brompton Hospital could not eradicate the invasive fungus that was attacking already gravely ill patients in the intensive care unit. ... The lengths to which the Royal Brompton was forced to resort to rid the hospital of Candida auris — a member of a broader fungal family named Candida — raised red flags for the small community of scientists who study fungi that infect people. (Branswell, 7/31)
Stat:
To Go After Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea, Partners Put A New Spin On Drug Development
That particular sexually transmitted infection is the target of a new drug being developed by Entasis, an antibiotics-focused spin-off from pharma giant AstraZeneca. But they’re getting help: their nonprofit partner, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, will be funding the next round of trials and doing studies to ensure this drug keeps working for as long as possible. The partnership is GARDP’s first. (Sheridan, 7/31)
NPR:
Autism Symptoms Are Less Obvious In Girls And May Lead To Underdiagnosis
Many more boys are diagnosed with autism every year than girls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disorder is 4.5 times more common among boys than girls. Boys appear to be more vulnerable to the disorder, but there is some evidence that the gender gap may not be as wide as it appears. (Neighmond and Greenhalgh, 7/31)
NPR:
Marijuana DUIs Are Still Too Subjective Say Cops. Why No BreathTest?
This spring, 16 state patrol officers from Colorado and Wyoming took a couple days off their usual work schedule to do something special. They assembled in a hotel conference room in Denver. As instructed, they wore street clothes for their first assignment: going shopping at nearby marijuana dispensaries."It's a brave new world," said instructor Chris Halsor, referring to the years since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana. (Bichell, 7/30)
Los Angeles Times:
Maybe This Is Why You Can't Lose The Weight
After decades of pushing single plans and products that didn’t prove effective for a large chunk of the population, the health and wellness industry is finally zeroing in on more precise solutions tailored to the individual. Here’s a look at some of the latest programs, tools and products designed to take your overall health to the next level. (Fulmer, 7/30)
Reveal:
Her Own Devices: Is A Contraceptive Implant Making Us Sick?
In Texas, women with limited access to abortions are traveling across the border to find a drug that will induce miscarriages. In Mississippi, anti-abortion groups are opening crisis pregnancy centers across from abortion clinics to persuade women to keep their babies. (7/29)
The New York Times:
Charlie Gard Dies, Leaving A Legacy Of Thorny Ethics Questions
Charlie Gard, the incurably ill British infant who died on Friday, could not hear, see or even cry. But his case captured the attention of the pope and the United States president, and raised difficult ethical issues that reverberated around the world. He died with his parents by his side a day after the British High Court ruled that he could be moved to a hospice and that his life support could be withdrawn. His death was confirmed by a family spokesman. (Bilefsky, 7/28)
Los Angeles Times:
NIH To Walk Away From $16 Million Of NFL Gift For Brain Research
Five years ago, four months after the suicide of legendary linebacker Junior Seau, the NFL donated $30 million to the National Institutes of Health for brain research. At the time, the league said its “unrestricted gift” was the largest donation in its history and would help fund a new Sports and Health Research Program to be conducted in collaboration with institutes and centers at the NIH. (Farmer, 7/28)
Baltimore Sun:
University Of Maryland Scientists Research Gene Linked To Depression
Although medications exist to treat depression, many scientists aren’t sure why they’re effective and why they don’t work for everyone. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine believe they may have found a key to the puzzle of major depression that could lead to therapies for those who don’t respond to medications already on the market. (Wells, 7/29)
Tampa Bay Times:
Advocates Push To Raise Awareness Of Mental Health In Minority Communities
According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. Homelessness and domestic violence can increase the group's risk for developing mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (Woodward, 7/28)