On a chilly Saturday in early January, news of a potential Marburg outbreak in Tanzania hit the airwaves. This nasty virus, similar to Ebola but deadlier, has no approved vaccine or treatment. So, how do we keep Americans safe from such threats? Well, the best bet is to nip it in the bud overseas. W
Gallstones are a common health issue globally, particularly among adults in the US. A recent study looked at nine different ways to measure obesity and how they relate to having gallstones. The aim was to see which of these measures—like BRI (Body Roundness Index), RFM (Relative Fat Mass), BMI (Body
Have you ever thought about tears as a window into your health? It turns out they can be! Electrochemical biosensors, which are like tiny, smart detectors, can quickly and affordably check for early signs of eye diseases by analyzing tears. But up until now, no one had really looked into how these s
Did you know that the way forests are split up and warmer temperatures can increase the risk of tick-borne diseases? Scientists in southern Japan studied this by looking at data from Miyazaki Prefecture. They found that the more forest edges there were and the hotter it was, the more cases of a tick
Citrus plants face a tough enemy in the form of Huanglongbing (HLB), a severe disease caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). These bacteria can manipulate plant immune responses, making infection management crucial. Scientists have been studying three specific bacteria prot
Ever wondered if there's a link between celiac disease and hives? It turns out, there might be a connection worth exploring. Some people with celiac disease also experience hives, a skin condition known as urticaria. This isn't just a coincidence; it could be a sign that their immune system is overr
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is a tricky health puzzle, causing symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Scientists have been hard at work trying to understand what’s going on inside our bodies when we react to gluten without having celiac disease (CeD). New discoveries show that NCGS h
Have you heard about Pinctada birnavirus (PiBV)? This virus causes a disease called summer atrophy in pearl oysters, mainly affecting young oysters and causing abnormalities in adults. First spotted in Japan in 2019, studying this virus has been tough due to the lack of suitable cell lines. But don'
Over the past decade, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U. S. has faced an uphill task when it comes to approving drugs for rare diseases. These diseases, often with small patient populations, come with unique challenges like varied genetic and symptom patterns. This makes it tough to fi
River blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, is a major health concern in Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to eliminate this neglected tropical disease (NTD) by 2030. More than 99% of people infected live in 31 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The goal here is to ex
