Health

Though mask supplies have slowly increased in the US, many people are still turning to homemade masks for their daily needs. Multiple mask style patterns are freely available online, but questions remain over which materials are ideal for slowing and, ideally, blocking the small respiratory droplets that carry the virus. A new study out of Florida Atlantic University used a laser and sneezing apparatus to answer that question.

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The US Food and Drug Administration has released a list of potentially fatal hand sanitizers, which if used could be toxic or worse. The COVID-19 crisis saw a rush on alcohol hand rub supplies, clearing store shelves as worried shoppers tried to find a backup for when traditional hand-washing with soap and water wasn't available.

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This year has included several big food recalls in the US, something that doesn't appear to be slowing down. In addition to the ongoing massive beef recalls, the USDA and FDA have both reported new and expanded food recalls over the past few days. Consumers in various parts of the US are warned to avoid certain pasta, salad, and chicken products over the risk of parasites and other contamination.

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Fearing skepticism or even outright refusal among some Americans to consider a COVID-19 vaccination, the US Food and Drug Administration has preemptively published its guidelines for the development of a lasting coronavirus treatment. The recommendations, released today, cover the process by which the FDA will eventually approve potential COVID-19 vaccines, at least in part to try to bring "anti-vaxx" advocates onboard.

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Wood alcohol may have found its way into a certain set of hand sanitizer bottles released to the public earlier this year. One voluntary recall was announced on behalf of Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, for their 1-liter bottles of consumer-level product. The recall was done after a news alert from the Food and Drug Administration for related toxic hand sanitizer manufacturing done by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico.

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The retina found within one's eye ages alongside the rest of the body, slowly resulting in a degradation of vision that can be substantial by late life. A new study has found a promising at-home way to slow down or possibly even reverse this decline, however, and it involves ordinary red light. According to the researchers, it only takes a few minutes of daily light exposure to experience positive effects.

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A common additive found in many food products, beverages, and supplements has been linked to gut bacteria changes that cause inflammation of the colon, fueling Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The findings come from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where researchers found that titanium dioxide 'significantly' alters the composition of gut bacteria in mice with harmful results on digestive health.

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It's well known that breast milk offers beneficial compounds that help a newborn thrive and that may help protect them from various conditions later in life. A new study has found that the amount of these beneficial compounds varies based on, in part, how active the nursing mother is. Exercise was found to increase the amount of beneficial, protective compounds in breast milk, helping promote lifelong health in the baby.

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Gilead Sciences has addressed the big question surrounding just how much its drug remdesivir will cost for COVID-19 treatment, after positive early trials indicated the medicine could hasten recovery during the pandemic. The announcement will come as a disappointment to anybody hoping coronavirus treatment might be given free of charge, though Gilead argues that it's pricing remdesivir aggressively.

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If the coronavirus pandemic has you upset, you're not alone. Many people are stressed and depressed over the toll of this virus for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is concern over the loss of life, widespread unemployment, and the isolation that results from stay-home orders. It'll be a while before life goes back to normal, but a new study has revealed ways to make the days more bearable.

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While some forms of dementia may have a strong genetic link, existing research indicates that lifestyle factors play a huge role in whether most people will develop this brain condition as they age. Things like exercise, getting proper sleep, avoiding excessive alcohol, and eating a healthy diet have all been identified as potentially beneficial, but there is another big risk factor that gets less attention.

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Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may benefit from a fasting-like diet, according to a new study. The researchers evaluated the effects of a very low-calorie diet on patients receiving chemotherapy, finding that not only did the special diet improve the effects of chemotherapy, but may have also helped protect the patient's body from cellular damage caused by the treatment.

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