Average daily new coronavirus cases in the United States dipped below 100,000 in recent days for the first time in months, but experts cautioned Sunday that infections remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place. The seven-day rolling average of new infections was well above 200,000 for much of December and […]
Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill Reintroduced in a New York Minute
An ASPCA-supported bill to shut down the flow of cruelly bred puppies into New York State, first introduced in 2019, was quickly reintroduced in the opening weeks of the state’s 2021 legislative session. Known as the New York Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, it would end the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail pet […]
COVID-19 vaccine developed with new platform proves effective in mice
It is necessary to develop additional COVID-19 vaccines, as different vaccine approaches have their advantages and disadvantages and may work synergistically. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report that they have developed a prototype vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 using a DNA vaccine platform that is inexpensive, stable, easy to produce, and shows a good safety […]
Do you really need IVF? A new online tool can help you weigh up your options
People who want a baby and struggle to conceive often resort to in vitro fertilization (IVF). While IVF has helped countless people have children, it’s expensive and comes with some risks. But research shows some people with so-called “unexplained infertility” have a 30-40% chance of conceiving without treatment if they just keep trying for a […]
As new COVID variants emerge, do you need to ‘double mask’?
Could wearing two masks be better than one? The emergence of new and more infectious COVID-19 variants has led health experts to consider “double masking” as a potential way to better protect yourself and those around you. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating whether donning a medical mask underneath a typical […]
New technique identifies important mutations behind Lynch syndrome
Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer. While 90% of cases are in people older than 50, there is an as-yet unexplained rising incidence in younger people. Family history ranks high among risk factors for developing colorectal cancer, and people with such a history are often advised to get more frequent screening […]
New device enables guided biopsies in real time and personalized treatment of cancers
A team from the Gamma and Neutron Spectroscopy Group of the Corpuscular Physics Institute (IFIC) has patented a new device for real-time guided biopsies, with direct application in any type of cancer that requires a biopsy and whose process must be carried out using ultrasound. The system makes it possible to personalize the treatment, reduces […]
New perspectives challenge the idea that saturated fats cause heart disease
In science, sometimes a new perspective can turn our interpretation of the data upside-down, and necessitate a paradigm shift. There has been, and continues to be, fierce disagreements in nutrition science as to what constitutes a healthy diet. A key controversy is the role of saturated fats in health and disease. Saturated fats are known […]
From Hiding to Hiking: Binney’s New Lease on Life
As a Registered Veterinary Technician and aspiring dog behaviorist, April K. is passionate about the work of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC), where she serves as a foster parent and volunteer. In December 2019, April offered to foster a recent graduate—rescued dog Binney—from the program. After treatment at the BRC, undersocialized dogs often benefit […]
Homeless Pets Transported from Hurricane-Ravaged Louisiana Thrive in New Homes
Six weeks after Hurricane Laura, the ASPCA closed down its temporary shelter in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Luckily, shelters across the country generously opened their doors to take in 494 homeless dogs and cats—either unowned before the storm or surrendered afterward—so they could be made available for adoption. “Through ground and flight transport, animals from Louisiana […]