Reuters Health News Summary

07/30/2016 0:55

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Ovarian cancer risk nearly doubles in women who douche

Women who reported douching almost doubled their risk of developing ovarian cancer, a national U.S. study shows. Prior studies have linked douching, or vaginal washing with a device, to yeast infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancies. Researchers have also found associations between douching and cervical cancer, reduced fertility, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

New crop of robots to vie for space in the operating room

Even though many doctors see need for improvement, surgical robots are poised for big gains in operating rooms around the world. Within five years, one in three U.S. surgeries - more than double current levels - is expected to be performed with robotic systems, with surgeons sitting at computer consoles guiding mechanical arms. Companies developing new robots also plan to expand their use in India, China and other emerging markets.

U.N. supports 'brelfies' to encourage breastfeeding

If you're hesitating about sending a brelfie, the United Nations says go for it. A social media trend of mothers sharing "brelfies" - pictures of themselves breastfeeding - is a good way to break down any stigma about breastfeeding in public and spread the word about the importance of a mother's milk, the United Nations said on Friday.

Non-celiac 'wheat sensitivity' is an immune disorder, too

People who feel ill after eating wheat but who don't have celiac disease may finally have a biological explanation for their symptoms, a new study suggests. Researchers from the U.S. and Italy found that people who claim to have "wheat sensitivity" do have biological reactions to gluten proteins in wheat, rye and barley. It's just that the reactions are different from what's seen in people with celiac disease, which is also triggered by gluten.

Trendy Miami neighborhood is first in U.S. with local Zika spread

Christophe and Franziska Lefever were admiring graffiti at an outdoor gallery in a chic Miami arts district on Friday when they learned that the first cases of Zika spread by mosquitoes in the continental United States were contracted in the area. "We're covered in bug bites already," said Christophe Lefever, 26, weighing his and his wife's odds of getting infected with a virus tied to a rare but serious birth defect.

Lasting brain changes seen in college athletes after concussion

(Reuters Health) - The brain may show signs of concussion for months or years after the injury occurred, according to a Canadian study of college athletes. Using advanced MRI scans, researchers found evidence of brain shrinkage in the frontal lobes of athletes with a history of concussions compared to those who never had a concussion.

Florida cases seen as first sign Zika transmitted locally in U.S

Florida authorities on Friday reported the first sign of local Zika transmission in the continental United States, concluding that mosquitoes likely infected four people with the virus that can cause a rare but serious birth defect. Governor Rick Scott said the state believed active transmission of the virus was occurring within an area of Miami about the size of a square mile (2.6 square kms). Testing showed that one woman and three men had been infected, Scott said.

Bayer says will halt future U.S. sales of insecticide

The agricultural unit of German chemicals company Bayer AG will halt future U.S. sales of an insecticide that can be used on more than 200 crops after losing a fight with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company said on Friday. Bayer lost an attempt to continue sales of flubendiamide, marketed in the United States as Belt, after the EPA earlier found that it posed risks to the environment.

Exclusive: In Florida Zika probe, federal scientists kept at arm's length

The state of Florida, the first to report the arrival of Zika in the continental United States, has yet to invite a dedicated team of the federal government's disease hunters to assist with the investigation on the ground, health officials told Reuters. Coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since the state reported possible local Zika transmission on July 19 has been conducted largely at a distance, they said. That is surprising to some infectious disease experts, who say a less robust response could lead to a higher number of infections.

WHO chief going to the Olympics, says Zika risk low

The risk of Zika virus infections at the Olympic Games is both low and manageable, the chief of the World Health Organization said on Friday, a week before the event kicks off in Rio de Janeiro. Nearly half a million people are expected to visit for the Games, many from the United States. Worries about security, the Zika virus and an economic crisis could deter travelers, with just under a third of event tickets as yet unsold.

07/30/2016 0:55