The Cross Heads

Prenatal test accidentally picks up cancer in 50% of those with wonky results

To address the lack of data, researchers at the National Institute of Health set up a study to look at outcomes after abnormal cfDNA tests—and specifically look for cancer in patients. Women were enrolled if they were pregnant or recently postpartum and had no known cancers. Another big requirement was that they had received some […]

December 5, 2024 | cancer, cfDNA, chromosomes, Health, NEJM, pregnancy, prenatal, Science | No comments

Splash pads really are fountains of fecal material; CDC reports 10K illnesses

Once infectious material gets into the water, disinfection systems that aren’t working properly or are inadequate can allow pathogens to gush from every nozzle. Splash pads aren’t unique in having to handle sick children in poopy swim diapers—but they are unique in how they are regulated. That is, in some places, they’re not regulated at […]

December 3, 2024 | CDC, cyrptosporidium, gastrointestinal diseases, Health, Infectious disease, kids, public health, Science, splash pads | No comments

Raw milk producer optimistic after being shut down for bird flu detection

“We are shut down due to testing results showing DEAD VIRUS PIECES in some of our samples. Nothing alive,” McAfee said, despite the fact that testing for live virus is still pending. “We are testing and will have more data soon,” he added. Another document McAfee sent was an assessment from Margaret E. (Peg) Coleman, […]

December 3, 2024 | bird flu, H5N1, Health, Infectious disease, Raw Farm, raw milk, Science | No comments

Man suffers chemical burn that lasted months after squeezing limes

If Margaritaville were a real place, it should definitely keep a few dermatologists on hand. In a case of an oft-overlooked food preparation risk, a 40-year-old man showed up to an allergy clinic in Texas with a severe, burning rash on both his hands that had developed two days earlier. A couple of days later, […]

November 27, 2024 | Health, medical cases, NEJM, phytophotodermatitis, rash, Science, skin | No comments

Biased AI in health care faces crackdown in sweeping Biden admin proposals

Prior authorization Elsewhere in the over 700-page proposal, the administration lays out policy that would bar Medicare Advantage plan providers from reopening and reneging on paying claims for inpatient hospital admission if those claims had already been granted approval through prior authorization. The proposal also wants to make criteria for coverage clearer and help ensure […]

November 27, 2024 | GLP-1, Health, healthcare, Policy, weight loss | No comments

Things aren’t looking good for infamous CEO of “health care terrorists”

Earlier this year, a Maltese magistrate concluded a four-year investigation into the matter and recommended that Ernst and de la Torre be charged with money laundering, criminal association, and corruption of public officials, including the nation’s former prime minister, Joseph Muscat, the Globe reports. Meanwhile, new allegations of domestic dealings continue to come to light. […]

November 26, 2024 | corruption, Health, health care, health care industry, hospitals, Malta, ralph de la torre, Science, steward | No comments

Raw milk recalled for containing bird flu virus, California reports

Pasteurization The milk-related risk of H5N1 is only from raw milk; pasteurized milk does not contain live virus and is safe to drink. Pasteurization, which heats milk to a specific temperature for a specified amount of time, kills a variety of bacteria and viruses, including bird flu. Influenza viruses, generally, are considered susceptible to heat […]

November 25, 2024 | bird flu, California, H5N1, Health, Infectious disease, influenza, pasteurization, raw milk, Science | No comments

Surgeons remove 2.5-inch hairball from teen with rare Rapunzel syndrome

Hair is resistant to digestion and isn’t easily moved through the digestive system. As such, it often gets lodged in folds of the gastric lining, denatures, and then traps food and gunk to form a mass. Over time, it will continue to collect material, growing into a thick, matted wad. Of all the bezoars, trichobezoars […]

November 21, 2024 | abdominal pain, hair, Health, NEJM, rapunzel syndrome, Science, stomach | No comments

Horrifying medical device malfunction: Abdominal implant erupts from leg

On May 7, 2011, Georgia resident Tonya Brand noticed a pain on the inside of her right thigh. As the pain grew worse in the 4- to 5-inch area of her leg, she headed to a hospital. There, doctors suspected she had a blood clot. But an ultrasound the next day failed to find one. […]

November 21, 2024 | Cook Medical, fda, Health, IVC filter, medical device, safety, Science | No comments

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