Laura Kelly

Three Chicago men charged for selling lethal fake marijuana

Federal prosecutors have charged three men with the illegal sale of a synthetic marijuana product that has been linked to at least two deaths and 56 illnesses in Illinois, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

April 3, 2018

States with marijuana laws show drop in opioid prescriptions: Study

States with medical marijuana and recreational laws had less opioid prescriptions among Medicaid beneficiaries, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

April 3, 2018

JUUL smoking craze sparks teen nicotine addiction warning

It's the latest smoking craze that has teenagers buzzing on social media -- and public health officials warning of a new nicotine-addicted generation.

April 1, 2018

Charges dropped against 11 of 15 Turkish security officers in D.C. brawl

U.S. officials have dropped federal assault charges against 11 Turkish security officers who were involved in an attack on peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in May, the latest development in an almost yearlong saga spanning the realms of local law enforcement and international diplomacy.

March 22, 2018

Secondhand smoke more dangerous from marijuana than from cigarettes: Study

One minute of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke can impair blood flow in the body for about 90 minutes, worse than a half-hour of restricted blood flow caused by secondhand tobacco smoke, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

March 20, 2018

Americans eating beef contribute to almost half of greenhouse gas emissions: Study

At least 20 percent of the American population are responsible for half of greenhouse gas emissions polluting the atmosphere, with high levels of beef consumption the greatest factor contributing to global warming, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

March 20, 2018

Male birth control pill shows promise in early human trials

An experimental male birth control pill was shown to be safe and effective in early human trials, according to researchers who will present their findings at the upcoming Endocrine Society's annual conference.

March 19, 2018

Shingrix, shingles vaccine for older adults, now available at CVS

Pharmacy-retail giant CVS announced on Friday that it will now carry the shingles vaccine Shingrix in all 9,800 of its locations, with many insurance providers covering the preventive treatment recommended for adults age 50 and older, the company said in a statement.

March 16, 2018

Multistate salmonella kratom outbreak rises to 87 sick, 27 hospitalized

At least 87 people in 35 states have been sickened by salmonella linked to kratom powder, a botanical herb used as a mild stimulant and pain reliever but criticized by authorities as a dangerous opiate.

March 16, 2018

H.R. McMaster: Nations must act to stop Russia, Iran and Assad

National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster pointedly blamed Russia and Iran for committing atrocities against civilians in Syria while reinforcing the United States commitment to help civilians and hold the Assad regime accountable for crimes against humanity.

March 15, 2018

Kratom herb caught up in multi-state salmonella outbreak

A multi-state outbreak of salmonella has intensified focus on an herbal supplement that has drawn the support of thousands of users and the ire of federal authorities.

March 14, 2018

Zero mass shootings in Australia a result of legislation, not chance, researchers say

A new study suggests that Australia's lack of mass shootings over two decades has resulted from the country's strict gun ownership laws, not luck.

March 13, 2018

Doctors take high blood pressure message to black barbershops

In an effort to engage more black men about their heart health, doctors are trying to meet patients where they are -- specifically at the barbershop.

March 12, 2018

Families in flux as thousands of embryos compromised at Ohio hospital

Heartbreak for hundreds of families has followed the revelation that a refrigerator malfunction last weekend at Cleveland's University Hospitals' fertility clinics compromised thousands of embryos.

March 9, 2018

Lifelong exercise slows down aging: Study

The key to the fountain of youth is exercise, scientists concluded, in a study that found amateur cyclists over the age of 55 had biological markers similar to those of young and healthy individuals.

March 9, 2018

FDA approves over-the-counter test for breast cancer genes

The Food and Drug Administration has given approval to popular genetic-testing kit 23andme to allow their customers to test for genetic markers known to significantly increase a person's chance for developing breast, ovarian and prostate cancer, the company recently announced.

March 7, 2018

Non-opioid pain relief outperforms opioids for chronic pain: Study

Opioids were shown to have no significant advantage in treating chronic pain over non-opioid drugs in a year of patient observation, according to a study evaluating the effectiveness of often-prescribed medications at the forefront of the U.S. drug crisis.

March 7, 2018

‘Cycle for Survival’ bikes for rare cancer research

More than 2,000 cyclists from Maryland and D.C. participated over the last two weekends in the annual fundraiser Cycle for Survival, which has raised nearly $32 million nationally for rare cancer research and treatment for patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

March 6, 2018

E-cigarettes expose teens to cancer-causing chemicals: Study

E-cigarettes contain cancer-causing chemicals similar to those found in traditional cigarettes, according to new research exploring the unknown dangers of electronic nicotine delivery systems, especially as their use becomes more widespread among teenagers.

March 6, 2018

Thomas Boyne, Buffalo Soldier, has Medal of Honor, mystery

Bloodied but victorious, the small band of cavalry soldiers dragged themselves down New Mexico's Mimbres Mountains in 1879 carrying their one dead and two wounded comrades as the rest of their Army company chased the hostile Indians, now in retreat.

February 27, 2018