Keeping the magic in the bullet

Hailed as wonder drugs when they were discovered in the 1940s, the overuse of antibiotics is leading us towards a future without cures for bacterial infections.

Random Friday Thoughts for February 3, 2012

The last time I had a fever that topped 103 despite popping fever reducers, I was a teenager. I had no memory of how taxing such an illness could be on one’s body. I’ve spent the better part of this week curled up with blankets in front of the fire. I realize now that it’s [...]

Lung emergencies hit 10 year high

The number of emergency hospital admissions for people with lung conditions in Wales is at a 10 year high.

Treatment of silent acid reflux does not improve asthma in children, NIH study finds

( NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute ) Adding the acid reflux drug lansoprazole to a standard inhaled steroid treatment for asthma does not improve asthma control in children who have no symptom of acid reflux, according to a new study funded in part by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. Lansoprazole therapy slightly increased the ...

Asthma rate and costs from traffic pollution higher: Much higher than past traditional risk assessments have indicated

A team of resource economist researchers has revised the cost burden sharply upward for childhood asthma and for the first time include the number of cases attributable to air pollution, in a new study.