After our first report, Europe and Japan banned most uses and types of the most problematic gadolinium MRI dyes. The FDA decided not to issue a ban in the U.S. saying benefits outweigh risks. The FDA issued a warning, instead. The FDA says there’s more risk with Omniscan or OptiMARK than Eovist, Magnevist, or MultiHance. […]
Health
Does salty, fast food lead to teen depression, particularly in at-risk black teens?
Scientists believe there are likely multiple factors behind what seems like a depression epidemic among teens. The prevalence of depression among U.S. adolescents is reportedly up 30% over the last decade. For example, it’s now well-established that anti-depressant prescription medicine can actually make depression worse. Other commonly prescribed medicines have depression and other brain disorders […]
The Ebola outbreak is still going strong in the Congo
Ebola has not reared its ugly head in the U.S. since 2014. But the deadly virus is a major problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to an update this week from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the current Ebola outbreak there has reached 3,004 cases with 2,006 deaths. Although the illness […]
Parents of kids with cancer question chemicals in water and cell phone tower as possible causes
There is fascinating, new information uncovered an investigation by CBS Sacramento regarding the cluster of school children with cancer. Some parents blamed a nearby cell phone tower, which has now been disabled. The company that operated the tower said it was well within safety limits but took it down in response to the public outcry. […]
FDA study: “Forever chemicals” linked to cancer persist in U.S. food but aren’t dangerous
A leaked Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report has confirmed the presence of dangerous “forever chemicals” in meat, milk, and produce sold in the U.S. That’s according to a report in The Hill, which says the FDA information was leaked to it and other news outlets. The Hill says the report is based on an […]
Nonprofit pays off medical debt for needy patients
Through a novel charitable program and donations from churches, a non-profit organization called “RIP Medical Debt” has successfully paid off the debts of thousands of people (so far). That’s according to a report by Kaiser Health News. A recent surge in donations from churches around the U.S. have contributed to the millions of dollars paid […]
Hacked Off: Ransomware attacks impact us more than heavily-covered “Russiagate”
The following is an opinion and news analysis by Rich Weinstein On May 21st, the City of Philadelphia shut down its computer system as a precaution after a virus was found. Although this virus has not been officially tied to the ransomeware attacks on other court systems (Baltimore, Allentown, San Antonio), the effect is the […]
We’ll soon know prices for prescription drugs, at last
This may be one of the most revolutionary changes in years when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry and health care costs. Under a new rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), drug companies will be required to disclose the list price of medicine that’s advertised on TV. Officials say the rule […]
