Reuters Health News Summary
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
WHO updates view on Zika as cause of brain abnormalities
The World Health Organization updated its assessment of the Zika virus on Wednesday as a cause of congenital brain abnormalities in babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome, after considering months of research into the mosquito-borne disease. "The most likely explanation of available evidence from outbreaks of Zika virus infection and clusters of microcephaly is that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of congenital brain abnormalities including microcephaly," the WHO said.
Timing twin deliveries to avoid stillbirths
Women pregnant with twins need to time delivery just right, a research review suggests. They need to minimize the risks that come with early arrivals yet still avoid the risk of stillbirths, which rises the longer multiples stay in the womb, the researchers say.
Senate investigations panel to probe Mylan's EpiPen pricing
The U.S. Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations will probe Mylan Pharmaceuticals' pricing of the allergy auto-injector EpiPen, according to a press release issued on Wednesday. The release described the probe as a "preliminary inquiry."
Hours spent record-keeping may fuel physician burnout
For every hour doctors spend treating patients during a typical workday, they devote nearly two more hours to maintaining electronic health records (EHR) and clerical work, a small U.S. study suggests. Time spent in meaningful interactions with patients is a powerful driver of physician career satisfaction, but increased paperwork and time on the computer means less time for direct patient care, the authors argue.
Florida politicians urge use of Intrexon GM mosquitoes for Zika
Intrexon Corp said on Wednesday a bipartisan coalition of Florida politicians had urged the U.S. government to step up efforts to fight Zika, including sanctioning the emergency use of the company's genetically engineered mosquitoes. The Florida House members, led by Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran and Democratic leader-designate Janet Cruz, have written to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, seeking permission for the state and local governments to use the GM mosquito, the company said.
Special Report: 'Superbug' scourge spreads as U.S. fails to track rising human toll
Josiah Cooper-Pope, born 15 weeks premature, did fine in the neonatal intensive care unit for the first 10 days of his life. Then, suddenly, his tiny body started to swell. Overnight, he grew so distended that his skin split.
Irregular heartbeat may be tied to more than just stroke risk
Atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat that's already linked to an increased risk of stroke, may also be tied to higher risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and sudden death, according to a new research review. "It was particularly noteworthy that the relative and absolute risk increase for heart failure was the highest among all outcomes examined, even higher than the risk of stroke, said lead author Ayodele Odutayo, a doctoral candidate at the University of Oxford in the U.K.
St. Jude sues short-seller over heart device allegations
St. Jude Medical Inc on Wednesday sued short-selling firm Muddy Waters and cybersecurity company MedSec Holdings Ltd, saying they intentionally disseminated false information about its heart devices to manipulate its stock. Muddy Waters, run by Carson Block, said in late August that St. Jude's pacemakers and defibrillators, which are used to regulate heart rhythm and treat cardiac arrest, had cybersecurity flaws that enabled them to be hacked and manipulated, with potentially fatal consequences.
Thanksgiving flight bookings to Miami fall on Zika risk: study
Flight bookings to Miami for the Thanksgiving holiday in November dropped after the Zika virus was detected in the Wynwood area in the popular tourist destination, travel data analysis company ForwardKeys said. Flight bookings were down 10 percent as of Aug. 27, after being up 11 percent as of Aug. 19, the day Florida confirmed that the mosquito-borne Zika virus was active in Miami, according to the report. (http://bit.ly/2bXVlfk)
More evidence of a link between C-sections and childhood obesity
Children born by cesarean delivery appear to have higher odds of developing obesity than their peers who experienced vaginal births, a U.S. study suggests. Women who had surgical deliveries known as C-sections were also more likely to be overweight, or to develop complications like diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy, than women who had vaginal births, the study found.
© Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained in this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd.
