Category: study

New Study Says Phthalates May Increase Cancer Risk in Children

High concentrations of phthalates like that found in some medications may be linked to an increase in childhood cancer risk, a first-of-its-kind study from the University of Vermont Cancer Center suggests. Phthalates, also known as the “everywhere chemical,” are used as inactive ingredients in some medications, but are more commonly found in several types of chemical…


‘Shelflation’: Canadians Dumped Over $500 Million Worth of Food in Past Six Months Due to Decreased Shelf Life

On top of “shrinkflation,” whereby the size of food products shrink but prices stay the same, Canadian consumers are now encountering “shelflation”—having to throw away some food products because they go bad before the expiry date, a new study shows. “Shelflation” happens when overripe or less fresh food products find their way onto store shelves…


Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Goes Into Liver Cells and Is Converted to DNA: Study

The messenger RNA (mRNA) from Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is able to enter human liver cells and is converted into DNA, according to Swedish researchers at Lund University. The researchers found that when the mRNA vaccine enters the human liver cells, it triggers the cell’s DNA, which is inside the nucleus, to increase the production of…


COVID-19 Lockdowns Linked to Brain Inflammation and Poor Mental Health, Study Suggests

Lockdowns imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused brain inflammation among healthy adults who did not contract the virus, a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital suggests. Researchers examined the societal and lifestyle disruptions caused by the pandemic, and found that healthy adults without COVID-19 had higher brain and blood levels of various…


Moderna Begins Late-Stage Study of RSV Vaccine Using mRNA Technology

Moderna Inc. said on Tuesday it had begun a late-stage study of its vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) based on the same technology used to develop its COVID-19 shots. The only approved product using messenger RNA (mRNA)is COVID-19 vaccine, but Moderna and rival Pfizer are rushing to tap the potential of the technology to…


Protection Against Hospitalization From COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Wanes Over Time: Study

COVID-19 vaccine boosters bolster protection against hospitalization but the effect wanes over time, according to a study published Feb. 11. Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other institutions found the booster effectiveness against emergency department or urgent care (ED/UC) visits held at 87 percent during the first two months after…


Children ‘Struggle to Recognize Masked Faces:’ Study

Children have difficulty recognizing people who are wearing masks, according to a new study. Researchers had children complete a face memory test for kids called the CFMT-K and found that there was a significant difference between children studying unmasked faces and masked faces. “The main findings from this paper are that children struggle to recognize masked…


Australian Researchers Look For Way To Make Edible Insects Marketable

The University of Adelaide is set to undertake a new study to develop accurate and consumer-friendly descriptions for edible insects, one of the most sustainable and protein-rich food sources known. According to a media release on Tuesday, despite the excellent nutrient profile and known sustainability of edible insects, a lot of work still needs to…


Lockdowns Had ‘Little to No Public Health Effect,’ Analysis of 24 Studies Concludes

Lockdown measures used by governments worldwide to reduce the death toll from the pandemic had little or no impact on COVID-19 mortality, according to three researchers who analyzed 24 studies. The researchers, led by Steve Hanke, the co-founder of The Johns Hopkins Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise, screened 18,590…


Study Shows COVID-19 Exacerbates Eating Disorders

A major study has revealed the “detrimental” impact of COVID-19 on people who suffered from eating disorders in Australia, with 40 percent going undiagnosed. According to a survey of 1,723 Australians aged 16-80 years, taken from July to October 2020, all eating disorders symptoms have “increased,” particularly body image concerns (88 percent), food restriction (74 percent)…