There’s yet another study that’s been released that reveals autism is not linked to early vaccinations that children receive. It suggests that even when infants receive several shots at a time, they have no increased risk of autism. The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, used data from children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The researchers examined each child’s cumulative exposure to antigens, the material in the vaccines that cause a body’s immune system to produce antibodies to fight off infectious diseases. In particular, the scientists...

World’s Mothers Report ranks Israel below Cuba on list of best places to raise children. Norway ranks first, while Niger takes last spot Israel ranked 45 in the State of The World’s Mothers Report, which ranks the countries where it is easiest to raise children. The three top spots, unsurprisingly, were taken by Norway, Iceland and Sweden. The report, which is conducted by Save the Children organization, relies on data collected by the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Published for the past 13 years, the report examines women’s level of education, wages and health...

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Doctors treating University of West Georgia grad student for a type of flesh-eating bacteria say the 24-year-old will end up losing both her hands and her remaining foot. Watch…

To sleep: perchance to sleepwalk, ah, that is not unusual after all, finds a study Monday in Neurology. About 30% of adults in the USA have experienced nighttime wanderings, and those with sleep apnea or psychiatric disorders such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder are at higher risk, finds the study of 19,136 Americans ages 18 and older. Antidepressants, sleeping pills and certain other medications can increase the risk, but they appear to bring on events in people with a history of sleepwalking. “I would like to correct the impression that sleepwalking is rare,” says study...

A key ingredient in garlic is 100 times more powerful than two popular antibiotics at fighting a leading cause of food poisoning, scientists have found. Tests discovered that the compound, diallyl sulphide, can easily breach a slimy protective biofilm employed by the bug to make it harder to destroy. Not only is it a lot more powerful than antibiotics erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, it also takes a fraction of the time to work. The discovery, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, could open the door to new treatments for raw and processed meats, and food preparation surfaces,...

Babies who spend too long in the womb are twice as likely to suffer behavioural problems in early childhood, researchers have warned. The added risk is similar to that of being born prematurely, which is known to cause health and emotional problems. The first study of its kind found that babies born after a pregnancy of 42 weeks were twice as likely to have long-term problems compared with those born after about 40 weeks – the normal length of a pregnancy. The findings will increase calls for women to be offered induction methods or a caesarean if their pregnancy becomes prolonged. The researchers,...

Handwashing helped slash rates of infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and C. difficile in hospitals, British researchers have found. After the “Cleanyourhands” campaign rolled out at hospitals in England and Wales between 2004 and 2008, infection rates for the antibiotic-resistant strains fell. The bacterial infections claim thousands of lives a year in Europe, Canada and the U.S., according to the World Health Organization. As part of the campaign, alcohol hand rub was provided at bedsides, posters were distributed to remind healthcare workers to clean their...

Technology similar to chips in cell phone cameras helps patients see light and shapes after years of total blindness After being blind for more than 20 years, Chris James is regaining the gift of sight thanks to a computer chip implanted at the back of his eye. The 54-year-old is the first British patient to be fitted with the new chip, which is similar to those found in cell phone cameras, Sky News reported. The treatment was developed for people who, like James, suffer from retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease that destroys the retina over time. The chip, developed by German company Retina...

About 20 percent of teens having sex reported using no method of birth control at all, a level that has remained about the same since 1995 More US teenagers are postponing sex than in 1995, and hormonal contraceptive use is up among those who are sexually active, said US health authorities on Thursday. However, disparities in safe sex practices remain, with white teenagers more likely to regularly use contraception than African-Americans or Hispanics, said the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data came from the National Survey of Family Growth collected for 1995, 2002,...

Increased attention is being brought to mental health issues in the workplace, due in part to the annual health care cost of mental disorders in Canada, which are estimated at $51 billion. One third of that can be attributed to productivity losses. Common mental health problems in the workplace include depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders, all of which are associated with decreased work performance and productivity, interpersonal conflicts, increased absenteeism, sick leave and disability. Being away from work on sick leave often compounds the psychological distress because of a reduced...