Category: Health News

Dialing Down Pain From the Brain

Four Chinese characters in calligraphy—寧靜致遠 (ning jing zhi yuan) hang framed on Yuanyuan “Kevin” Liu’s office wall. The words from ancient Chinese literature have become the motto that Liu lives by—translated into English, they say that great achievements are not accomplished by chasing fame and fortune, but by dedicating oneself to one’s calling. Liu discovered his calling…


HKU Discovers Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn Extract Can Protect Against Mutant Viruses.

A multidisciplinary study at the HKU School of Chinese Medicine found that the extract (SSP) of Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn (SSD), an herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, can inhibit and kill a broad range of viruses, including coronavirus, SAR-CoV-2, and its variants. Researchers expect that sprays will be developed from the extract, that can be…


Large-Scale Study Finds Ground Coffee Linked to Longer Lifespan

While exercising, getting enough sleep, and limiting alcohol intake are good ways to increase longevity, experts have discovered you can also drink yourself to longevity with the help of coffee. Research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, on Sep. 27, observed that amongst 450,000 adults with an average age of 58 over a…


11 Health Care Tips to Boost Your Immune System and Help Combat Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the United States, second only to skin cancer. It is also the type of cancer that causes the second-most deaths in women, after lung cancer. Because this unique gland is rich in blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and lymph nodes, it makes it easy…


Biogen Agrees to Pay $900 Million in Drug Kickbacks Settlement, Denies Wrongdoing

Pharmaceutical giant Biogen has agreed to pay $900 million to settle claims that it paid kickbacks to physicians to encourage them to prescribe its multiple sclerosis drugs, the Department of Justice announced on Monday. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company’s settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in 2012 by former Biogen employee turned whistleblower, Michael Bawduniak. Bawduniak sued Biogen under the False…


Syrian Health Ministry Says Cholera Death Toll Rises to 29

AMMAN—Syria said on Monday that 29 people had died of cholera in what the United Nations has called the worst outbreak of the disease in the war-torn country for years. Rapid assessment testing has confirmed 338 cases since the outbreak was first recorded last month, Syria’s health ministry said in a statement, with the bulk…


PCR Testing Providers Reel in Mega Profits During COVID-19 Years

The latest annual reports from three major pathology firms—that provided large-scale PCR testing during the pandemic—reveal bumper profits from the COVID-19 years. Global pathology provider, Sonic Healthcare reeled in a record $1.46 billion (US$950 million) net profit—an 11 percent increase on the previous year—while its revenue was also up seven percent to $9.3 billion. The…


CUHK Develops New Technique to Deeply Visualize 3D Structure of Brain’s Biological Tissue

The technique of visualizing the 3D structure of the brain’s biological tissues is particularly important for understanding the pathological process of neurological diseases, such as, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. However, the current technology which can fully visualize the brain structure is not widely used and is costly. A team at the Margaret K.L. Cheung Research Centre…


Academia Sinica in Taiwan Discovers Pulmonary Embolism Mechanism Induced by COVID-19

Infection with COVID-19 can lead to the formation of blood clots in the lungs, which can be fatal in severe cases and carry the risk of serious sequelae. Researchers of Academia Sinica in Taiwan found the key cause of thrombosis in COVID-19 patients is that the COVID-19 pathogen SARS-CoV-2 activates platelets to amplify the inflammatory…


FDA Issues New Safety Warning on Rare Cancers Linked to Breast Implants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new warning about rare cases of certain cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and various lymphomas, linked to breast implants. In a safety communication notice posted on Sept. 8, the FDA said it had received reports of cancers found in the scar tissue, or capsule, that forms around…