WASHINGTON — A new study by Salk scientists has shown that time-restricted eating (TRE), a dietary regimen that restricts eating to specific hours, has multiple health benefits besides weight loss. The study also indicates that these benefits may depend on sex and age. The study “Sex- and age-dependent outcomes of 9-hour time-restricted feeding of a Western high-fat high-sucrose diet in […]

WASHINGTON — A new study suggests several simple, practical steps that families can take to help with the mental health of youths during the Covid-19 pandemic. These include reducing passive screen time and news consumption, having a structured daily schedule, and getting enough sleep. The study “Promoting youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal […]

WASHINGTON — In his previous comments, Hollywood star Sean Penn recently double-downed that the Covid-19 vaccine should be mandatory for all. “I am so grateful that audiences — and yes, we’ll come around to that I would request only vaccinated audiences — have an opportunity to see this theatrically,” said Penn in an interview about his film “Flag […]

MARYLAND CITY, Md. — A group of American scientists has developed a new artificial intelligence blood testing technology to detect lung cancer. In samples from nearly 800 individuals with and without cancer, over 90 percent of lung cancers were detected by a novel artificial intelligence blood-testing technology developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The […]

WASHINGTON — Blood infections, meningitis, and stillbirth in newborns are common causes of the bacteria known as group B Streptococcus (GBS). However, GBS infections can often be treated or prevented with antibiotics, and the bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant. The researchers have discovered that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), short strings of sugar molecules abundant in breast milk, can […]

WASHINGTON — Patients with colon cancer who take common blood-pressure drugs may have a greater chance at survival, according to new research.  The findings of the study were published in the journal’ Cancer Medicine‘. After reviewing the outcomes of almost 14,000 patients with colorectal cancer, researchers determined that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, and thiazide diuretics […]

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from one of the worst droughts in southern Madagascar in 40 years, the United Nations has warned.  Issa Sanogo, the United Nations resident coordinator in Madagascar, warned that the population faces a severe humanitarian crisis during a recent visit to the region. “We started the […]

MUMBAI, India — Easing restrictions and built-up demand are driving Indian malls’ recovery faster after the second Covid-19 wave relative to the after-first wave figures, according to an analysis of the country’s top 14 malls by Indian analytical and research company Crisil Ratings. “With retail sales in malls rebounding strongly post reopening, pressure on rentals for mall owners […]

SINGAPORE — Emerging Southeast Asian economies face intense headwinds from continuous Covid-19 pandemic waves, S&P Global Ratings said on Aug. 19, adding that private consumption and services will be hit hardest. The duration and severity of the pandemic have been more adverse than previous baseline expectations. “As a result, we are revising downward our 2021 growth expectations for […]

Healthcare professionals are experiencing decreased joy, increased sadness, fear and disgust over the course of the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). Their conclusion was drawn from analyzing more than 53,000 Twitter posts (tweets) from healthcare professionals. The researchers found that levels of joy and sadness exceeded […]

President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s plan for Americans to receive a third COVID-19 vaccine shot as a booster starting next month has fueled a debate about the United States’ commitments to global vaccination programs. The administration announced Wednesday it intends to make third shots available to adults who have been inoculated with both doses of […]

WASHINGTON – A new study found that skeletal muscles in mice appear to “remember” prior training, aiding muscle growth and adaptability when retrained through exercise. “42 percent of American adults reported unintended weight gain since the Covid-19 pandemic began, averaging about 29 pounds,” states the study. Forty-two percent of American adults reported unintended weight gain […]

GENEVA — The International Air Transport Association on Aug. 19 urged governments to abide by international agreements and treaty obligations to enable airlines to repatriate close to nearly one billion dollars in blocked funds from the sale of tickets, cargo space, and other activities. “Governments are preventing nearly one billion dollars of airline revenues from being repatriated,” said […]

WASHINGTON — The national public health agency of the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Aug. 17 alerted of an expected outbreak of the polio-like disease Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in the next four months. AFM is an uncommon but serious neurologic condition. It causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to […]

NEW DELHI — A Covid-19 vaccine could be available for use in Indian children by September or soon after it. “Phase 2 and 3 trials of Covaxin [made in India by Bharat Biotech] are underway for children between the age of 2 and 18 years,” Priya Abraham, director of the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of […]