Identifying the cause of one of the most deadly brain tumors — and more
For Monday, March 17, WGN's Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including:
More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch
Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor that is incredibly difficult to treat.
Now, doctors in Sao Paulo say their discovery could improve treatment and save lives.
By singling out a protein they say is involved in the growth of glioblastoma, scientists say they can create targeted therapies to attack the prion protein and halt the spread of the deadly brain cancer.
When the protein is blocked, tumor stem cells die off rather than replicate.
Current treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, fail to eradicate cancer cells, so the disease recurs shortly after therapy stops.
Most patients with a glioblastoma diagnosis only live 12 months.
When children have breathing problems that prevent them from sleeping, doctors say surgery is the best option.
Children who undergo surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids visit the doctor less often and take less medication than their peers who do not have the operation.
A National Institutes of Health study shows that surgery reduces medical visits by 32% and prescriptions by 48%.
Parents should seek help for their children if they snore loudly or experience breathing pauses while asleep.
The issues can also impact sleep quality, behavior, and blood pressure.
Surgery lowers blood pressure and improves sleep quality and quality of life.
A pacemaker may be able to ease addiction.
Much like an implanted device regulates the heart, Cambridge doctors say a brain implant can normalize abnormal brain activity that triggers impulse behaviors.
They are implanting electrodes to halt cravings and improve self-control.
They are recruiting others to get deep brain stimulation for addiction control.
People with severe alcohol and opioid dependence qualify.
Deep brain stimulation is already widely used for neurological and psychiatric disorders and obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Now, doctors want to employ it for cravings, severe addiction, and relapse.
Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs Due to Microbial Contamination
EWING, N.J., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots within expiry of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs to the consumer level. The products are being recalled due to potential microbial contamination identified as fungi in cotton swab components. Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries. The risk is highest (potentially severe or life-threatening) among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions. To date, no serious adverse events associated with the affected product have been reported. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico. Recalled Product Information Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, with UPC 732216301205, all lots: A zinc-free, homeopathic cold remedy swab designed to shorten the duration of the common cold. Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, with UPC 732216301656, all lots: A nasal cleansing swab product (discontinued in December 2024). Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs, with UPC 310310400002, all lots: Pre-moistened swabs designed to soothe teething discomfort in infants and toddlers. What Consumers Should Do Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should stop using the product immediately. Please visit or call its Consumer Relations team at (800) 981-4710 for a full refund. Any additional questions can also be directed to its Consumer Relations team Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm ET. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. Complete and submit the report Online: Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This recall is limited exclusively to Zicam and Orajel swab products. All other Zicam and Orajel products, including Zicam RapidMelts, are not affected by this recall. About Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is a leading manufacturer of consumer household and personal care products. For more information, visit Media Contact:Keith View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Church & Dwight Co. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs Due to Microbial Contamination
EWING, N.J., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots within expiry of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs to the consumer level. The products are being recalled due to potential microbial contamination identified as fungi in cotton swab components. Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries. The risk is highest (potentially severe or life-threatening) among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions. To date, no serious adverse events associated with the affected product have been reported. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico. Recalled Product Information Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, with UPC 732216301205, all lots: A zinc-free, homeopathic cold remedy swab designed to shorten the duration of the common cold. Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, with UPC 732216301656, all lots: A nasal cleansing swab product (discontinued in December 2024). Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs, with UPC 310310400002, all lots: Pre-moistened swabs designed to soothe teething discomfort in infants and toddlers. What Consumers Should Do Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should stop using the product immediately. Please visit or call its Consumer Relations team at (800) 981-4710 for a full refund. Any additional questions can also be directed to its Consumer Relations team Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm ET. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. Complete and submit the report Online: Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This recall is limited exclusively to Zicam and Orajel swab products. All other Zicam and Orajel products, including Zicam RapidMelts, are not affected by this recall. About Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is a leading manufacturer of consumer household and personal care products. For more information, visit Media Contact:Keith View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Church & Dwight Co. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Peeing frequently at night? Here's what that could mean, according to health experts.
Peeing frequently at night? Here's what that could mean, according to health experts. Show Caption Hide Caption What causes urinary tract infections? A UTI is an infection of your bladder, kidneys or the tubes that connect them, typically caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. Cover Media - Shareable It's 2 a.m., and you know the blinding light you just flickered on to use the bathroom is about to ruin your sleep. But when you've got to go, you've got to. Nocturia, known colloquially as frequent nighttime urination, is common. More than 50 million people in the U.S. suffer, according to the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Library of Medicine. And roughly half of adults over the age of 65 have reported getting up at least once every night to use the bathroom. "Waking up to urinate can either be a warning sign or an actual sign of a health issue you may not be aware of or a health issue that is not being properly treated," Dr. Justin Dubin, a urologist and men's health specialist at Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida and a co-host of the Man Up podcast, tells USA TODAY. First, let's be clear about how nighttime urination is actually counted. Nocturia refers to urinating after a period of sleep, so simply heading to the bathroom after sundown doesn't count. Nocturia can be caused by a number of factors, including sleep disorders, excessive urine production, problems with bladder capacity and hormonal issues, per NIH. Sometimes, waking up to go to the bathroom is just waking up to go to the bathroom. But how do you know when it's an issue worth bringing up to a doctor? Here's what medical professionals say. Is your pee cloudy? Here's what medical experts say that could mean. How many times is it normal to urinate at night? Waking up once a night every once in a while is usually OK, Dubin says. But you should generally be able to sleep six to eight hours without having to do so. "Consistently waking up two or more times every night? That is considered abnormal," he adds. If you feel like you fit the description of nocturia, it may be worth it to take stock of how much fluid you're consuming two hours before bedtime, "especially alcohol and caffeine," which are both diuretics, meaning they make you urinate more frequently, Dubin notes. Hmm: Certain foods can cause changes in urine, but so can medical conditions. Know the signs. Why am I peeing so much? Frequent nighttime urination can sometimes be an indicator of further health issues, experts say. Sometimes it isn't; Certain medications that are classified as diuretics, such as water pills, some heart medications and lithium can be the culprit. If that's the case, you can ask your doctor if you'd benefit from taking the medication in the morning, rather than right before bed. But even if your nocturia isn't a warning sign for other health issues, the loss of sleep is likely enough reason to seek help. "It is worth bringing up to your doctor, especially if it bothers you," Dubin says. "There are a lot of possible causes for you to be waking up at night and talking to your doctor will allow them to appropriately evaluate your history, your lifestyle and your overall health to see what is causing you to wake up at night. If you have specific health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure or prostate issues, the solution to your problem is treating your health issues." Health experts will typically recommend patients try a mix of behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes and medication to relieve significant nocturia, according to the NIH. "Like anything with your health, if something feels off or bothers you, it's important you go talk with a doctor," Dubin says. "Remember, we can't help you if you don't come in to talk with us."
