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WHO urges pandemic accord in 2024 after years of Covid pain

The head of the WHO said Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after finally ending three years of Covid “crisis, pain and loss,” In his end-of-year message, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 2023 had marked a turning point in fighting major health challenges but had also brought “immense and avoidable suffering.” Tedros called ...

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Obesity may weaken vaccine protection

The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review. OBESITY MAY WEAKEN VACCINE PROTECTION IN THE NEVER INFECTED Severe obesity may weaken the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in those who have never been infected with the coronavirus, ...

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Babies in the womb react differently to flavours: researchers

Babies in the womb are big fans of carrots but not so much leafy green vegetables — and show it in their faces, scientists said in a new study published Thursday. Researchers at Durham University in northeast England said the findings were the first direct evidence that babies react differently to various smells and tastes before they are born, reports ...

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Obesity drug brings heart health benefit alongside weight loss: study

Taking Novo Nordisk’s new obesity drug may help reduce the risk of heart disease as well as boosting weight loss, according to new research from the United States. After a year of taking semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, patients’ risk of suffering from conditions like a heart attack or a stroke over the next ten years dropped to 6.3% from 7.6% ...

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Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly

Similar to doing an MOT on a car, scientists believe they can run a blood test to check how fast a person’s internal organs are ageing, and even predict which ones might soon fail. The Stanford University team say they can monitor 11 major body parts, including the heart, brain and lungs, reports BBC. They tried it on thousands of ...

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India bans anti-cold drug combo for children

India’s top drug controller has banned an anti-cold drug combination for use in children below the age of four, BBC reports. The ban comes after a spate of child deaths in The Gambia and Uzbekistan were linked to Indian-made cough syrups last year. In India, at least 12 children died between 2019 and 2020 allegedly after consuming a similar medication ...

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JN.1 Covid variant: WHO charts its rapid global spread

A sub-variant of the Omicron strain of coronavirus has been classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization, because of “its rapidly increasing spread”. JN.1 has been found in many countries around the world, including India, China, UK and the United States, reports BBC. The risk to the public is currently low and current vaccines continue to ...

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Can menstrual cycles can trigger seizures in epileptic women?

“Understanding the intricate connection between hormonal fluctuations and seizure activity is crucial for managing epilepsy, especially in women. On National Epilepsy Day, let us raise awareness about catamenial seizures, a phenomenon where hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can impact seizure frequency. As a physician, I emphasize the importance of tailored treatment approaches, including natural progesterone, oral contraceptives, and innovative ...

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NHS dentistry as we know it ‘gone for good’

The traditional model of NHS dentistry is gone for good, experts are warning. The Nuffield Trust think tank said the service had been cut back so much it was now at the most perilous position in its 75-year history in England. It said restoring services would probably need an unrealistic amount of money and called for radical reform, suggesting NHS ...

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Why Covid is still flooring some people

What is it like to catch Covid now? It is a question I have been pondering since a friend was surprised by how roughed up they were by it. Their third bout of Covid was significantly worse than the previous time they caught it. “I thought every time you catch an illness it’s supposed to be a bit better each ...

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