
RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Panel Is Turning Misinformation Into Policy
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's dismantling of Americans' trust in — and ultimately, access to — vaccines isn't happening with one sweeping policy that grabs the public's attention. It's unfolding quickly and quietly, in bland conference rooms where hand-picked appointees make decisions that will have far-reaching consequences for our health.
Inside one of those nondescript rooms last week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel that makes vaccine recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offered a glimpse of what's to come. The group, few of whom have any expertise in vaccines, infectious diseases or epidemiology, at times cast aside evidence-based science and sowed doubt in some of our most valuable public health tools.

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New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
A Canadian City Brings Fluoride Back to Its Drinking Water
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Associated Press
30 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Rejected by his mother, a rare wild Asian horse foal finds a new mom in a grieving domestic mare
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. (AP) — An endangered wild Asian horse foal is thriving thanks to an unlikely hero. Marat, a Przewalski's horse, fell critically ill soon after his birth at the Minnesota Zoo nearly two months ago. He survived thanks to intensive care. But his mother rejected him when he returned. His future looked grim until Alice, a domestic Pony of the Americas who'd recently lost her newborn, accepted him as her own. Veterinarians say this is one of the first times this kind of surrogacy has been tried with Asian wild horses, and his caregivers couldn't be happier. Zoo staffers picked the name Marat because it means 'one who is brave,' and he's had to be brave from such a young age Przewalski's are considered the only remaining truly wild horse species. They were declared extinct in the wild in the 1960s, with just a few surviving in zoos. But they've since been reestablished on the steppes of Mongolia and China, with some in Russia and Ukraine. Since fewer than 2,000 exist today, each foal is critical to the species' survival. 'Being one of the true wild horses left in the world, behaviorally, they are a little bit different,' said Dr. Randy Kochevar, the zoo's chief animal care officer. They've never been truly domesticated, and they're shorter and stockier than familiar breeds, he said. Marat was born with some limb problems that made it hard for him to stand up straight, said Dr. Annie Rivas, the zoo's director of animal health. 'And because he was struggling to keep up with Mom in the herd, he was spending a lot of time lying down on the ground and unfortunately developed bacterial sepsis. So he was very, very sick,' Rivas said. The University of Minnesota's equine intensive care unit nursed him back from his pneumonia and wounds. But it wasn't unusual that his first-time mom, Nady, would refuse to take him back. 'That left us with, 'What are we going to do with this foal?'' Rivas said. 'We could hand-rear him, but we're not going to be the ones who are the best at teaching them how to be a horse — especially a wild horse.' Fortunately, they found Alice, a gentle mare who was still grieving her own foal but immediately started nurturing Marat and allowing him to nurse. 'It was really kind of a perfect fairy-tale ending. ... They just bonded like that,' Rivas said. Integrating Marat into the complex social hierarchies of a wild herd will be the next challenge, she said, but Alice is helping Marat learn how to behave with other horses. They'll probably stay together for a few more months. They want him to join the zoo's adult Przewalski's herd before he's too old. 'He is definitely a wild horse,' Rivas said. 'One, he is a stallion, so he's already got a big personality from that. But he is also a little more wild than you would expect a domestic horse foal to be at this point in his life. And he is trying to show me that he's the boss, he's in charge, he's dominant. So he's trying to step up, kick, assert his dominance over me.' ___ Karnowski reported from Minneapolis.


Health Line
35 minutes ago
- Health Line
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC): Diagnosing and Living With This Liver Condition
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) affects the liver and bile ducts. Symptoms and treatment vary from person to person. PSC is a rare liver disease that affects the bile ducts. It's progressive, which means it gets worse over time. Treatment includes taking certain medications, including antibiotics, undergoing procedures to address blockages, and — in cases of liver failure — receiving an organ transplant. Here's what you need to know about PSC, its symptoms, and the outlook with proper treatment. What is primary sclerosing cholangitis? The liver is an organ in your body that breaks down food into its essential nutrients (proteins, fats, etc.) and energy, vitamins, and minerals. It also works to remove toxins from the bloodstream and assists in the digestive process by making a fluid called bile. More specifically, the bile ducts in the liver are responsible for transporting digestive juices (bile) from the liver to the small intestine and gallbladder. Bile helps break down fats and fatty vitamins in these organs and further aids digestion. With PSC, inflammation causes damage in the form of scarring, also called fibrosis. The scarring narrows and eventually blocks the bile ducts. When the ducts are blocked, the bile cannot travel where it needs to go. This results in liver damage. How many stages of primary sclerosing cholangitis exist? There are four stages of PSC: Cholangitis or portal hepatitis: With cholangitis, scarring is limited to the portal areas of the liver. Periportal fibrosis or periportal hepatitis: Areas of scarring extend beyond the portal areas but do not yet connect. Septal fibrosis, bridging necrosis (or both): Areas of scarring begin to connect to one another. Biliary cirrhosis: Scarring forms 'honeycomb' shapes and becomes more widespread. You may not have any symptoms or only mild signs in the beginning stages, so any symptoms you're experiencing do not necessarily relate to the stage of PSC. That said, symptoms tend to get more severe with each stage and continued damage to the liver. What causes primary sclerosing cholangitis? Doctors don't know exactly what causes PSC. And what causes it may be different for different people. What they do know is that: Some 70% of people who are affected are men, primarily young and middle-aged men. Around 80% of people with PSC also have inflammatory bowel disease. Several factors may increase your risk, like having certain viral or bacterial infections or a family history of the condition. What are the symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis? You may not have symptoms in the early stages of PSC. Some people may be asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms for the first few years. If you do have symptoms, they may come and go and get worse as the condition progresses. Possible symptoms include: fatigue itchy skin (pruritus) yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) fever, chills nausea abdominal pain (upper right) weight loss dark-colored urine, light-colored stools vitamin deficiencies enlarged liver or spleen If you're experiencing any concerning symptoms, make an appointment with a primary care doctor. They may refer you to a liver specialist called a hepatologist for more detailed testing and treatment. How is primary sclerosing cholangitis diagnosed? Signs of PSC may show up as abnormal results on liver blood tests. A more concrete diagnosis can be made after an liver MRI or a test called a cholangiography, where contrast dye is injected into the bile ducts and then viewed on an X-ray. How do you treat primary sclerosing cholangitis? To treat PSC, doctors will first personalize treatment by focusing on the symptoms a person is experiencing. The main goal of treatment is not to cure the condition but to slow its progression. Treatment options include: Medications: Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection or manage inflammation. Other medications include cholestyramine to help manage skin itching and bisphosphonates to protect bone mass and treat osteoporosis. Surgery: You may have endoscopic surgery to remove blockages in the bile ducts or widen narrowed ducts. Lifestyle changes: You may need to reduce or avoid your alcohol intake and quit smoking to further protect your liver. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet and taking supplements may also help address nutritional deficiencies. Vaccination: Your doctor may recommend getting vaccinated against both hepatitis A and B to provide extra protection for your liver. A liver transplant may be necessary in the later stages of PSC. This is usually around 10 years after diagnosis. Examples of later-stage complications might include: itching that is difficult to manage recurrent bacterial cholangitis end stage liver disease liver failure Liver transplants are generally effective in treating PSC, and many people go on to have a full, healthy life. However, it's also possible for PSC to come back, even with a transplant. Does the NHS cover primary sclerosing cholangitis liver procedures? The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom provides universal healthcare. The NHS generally pays for both inpatient and outpatient hospital care, which may include liver procedures and transplants. Still, there is no legislation or ' absolute right ' to specific care of any kind. It's important to check with your hospital for details on the coverage provided for you and your procedure. The average time a person waits for a liver transplant in the United Kingdom is between 5 and 7 months. This time may be shorter or longer depending on organ availability and your health status. Is primary sclerosing cholangitis covered by insurance plans in the United States? In the U.S., many insurance plans cover the basic treatments and prescription medications that might come with PSC. Of course, insurance plans vary, so it's important to know what your plan formulary allows. Most insurance companies also cover liver transplants, though it's important to check with your carrier to verify that coverage and your out-of-pocket costs. What's the long-term outlook for primary sclerosing cholangitis? Without treatment, people with PSC may experience: liver failure frequent infections certain cancers Both bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) and gallbladder cancer are two types of cancer that are more likely to occur in people with PSC. Again, this condition is progressive, so it tends to worsen over time. Treatment may slow the progression and treat symptoms, but a liver transplant is often necessary. The outlook for people who have undergone a liver transplant for PSC is favorable. Around 80% survive beyond 2 years after surgery with a good quality of life. Takeaway PSC is a rare, progressive liver disease that affects the bile ducts. Symptoms can vary in intensity and may include fatigue, itching, and yellowing skin and eyes. If you're experiencing any symptoms that concern you, make an appointment with a primary care doctor. They may refer you to a hepatologist for tests and treatments. There are various treatments for PSC, depending on the stage and symptoms you're experiencing. Some people with PSC may need a liver transplant around 10 years after their diagnosis. After a transplant, many people go on to have a good quality of life.