bigbio/pubhealth · Datasets at Hugging Face

id stringlengths 1 4	document_id stringlengths 1 5	text_1 stringlengths 26 490	text_2 stringlengths 11 4.18k	label stringclasses 4 values
1703	2907	Medtronic's novel hypertension device fails in trials.	Medtronic Inc’s experimental device to treat high blood pressure failed to meet its main goal in a clinical trial, sending the company’s shares down nearly 5 percent.	true
1704	9586	Novartis asthma pill shows promise in small trial	This brief story is one of two we’re reviewing this week about a clinical trial for fevipiprant, an asthma pill under development by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The piece refrains from the puffery of a similar story in Medical Daily which we also reviewed. In particular, its headline keeps reader expectations in check by stating the pill shows promise in a “small trial.” The story itself does an admirable job of describing how this pill fits into a climate of innovation in asthma treatment. Still, it should have addressed the potential cost of this pill and garnered quotes from experts who are not involved in the study. The possibility of taking a pill instead of using an inhaler to control symptoms would surely be welcome news to millions of asthma patients. One in 12 Americans — 17.7 million adults and 6.3 million children — has asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the incurable disease costs the U.S. about $56 billion in medical costs, lost school and work days, and early deaths in 2007. A story about a new, easier-to-take drug would be of interest to many people, which is why news reporting should go beyond regurgitation of the news release material. This story, while brief, did appear to do so.	true
1705	10388	Oramed Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase IIb Oral Insulin Study	This is a news release about progress toward a long-elusive goal — a pill form of insulin that eliminates the need for injections. It describes what appears to be a well-designed, randomized clinical trial powered with enough patients to achieve a significant result. Although it cites percent reduction in blood glucose values, it might have been stronger had it also included absolute reductions — from what to what. And it could have been more specific about what possible side effects might have been of concern. The release also lacks context for understanding how the new drug’s effects might compare with those of injectable insulin or other drugs used in this clinical situation. A Reuters story on the drug, which seemed to rely heavily on this news release, was also reviewed by HealthNewsReview.org. The first line treatment for type 2 diabetes is usually weight loss (for those who are overweight) plus metformin. However, many people with diabetes are unable to achieve control of blood glucose with these measures, and a second drug must be added. Injectable night-time insulin is one option, but many people balk at the idea of giving themselves a shot every night. The potential to deliver insulin in pill form would be a welcome alternative — if future trials bear out its usefulness.	mixture
1706	17920	Obamacare will question your sex life.	"""McCaughey says in """"Obamacare will question your sex life"""" that you can thank the president’s health law for questions about your sexual activity, even if your doctor finds them unnecessary. She suggests it’s part of Obamacare’s move toward electronic health records. But incentives for electronic health records were part of the Recovery Act, not Obamacare. And they don’t require participating doctors to ask questions about your sex life. McCaughey frames her concern for patient privacy with an evidence-free attack on Obamacare that veers toward the ridiculous."""	false
1707	8745	Blocking enzyme could help in rare blood cancer.	An enzyme that fights some kinds of cancers may foster the growth of a rare type of leukemia that affects babies, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday in a finding that may lead to new drugs for the hard-to-treat cancer.	true
1708	7066	Murphy reverses Christie, approves $7.5M for women’s health.	New Jersey’s new Democratic governor signed legislation Wednesday setting aside about $7.5 million for family-planning and women’s health, reversing course on former Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s handling of the issue.	true
1709	10151	Study finds statins reduce pneumonia death rates	And here’s why that’s important: There was no discussion of costs or harms, insufficient information about limitations, and no independent perspectives. Best known for lowering cholesterol, statin drugs may also have other effects that could be helpful in the prevention or treatment of a variety of diseases. In addition to pneumonia, researchers have reported preliminary evidence of potential beneficial effects of statins against cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia. But before we go ahead and start pumping statins into the water supply (as some have half-jokingly suggested we should), we need to be sure whether it is the statins themselves or some other factor associated with statin drug use that is responsible for the benefits seen in these studies. There is plenty of reason to be skeptical about the quality of the current evidence.	false
1710	1438	Groundskeeper in Bayer in U.S. weed-killer case accepts reduced award.	The school groundskeeper who won a jury trial against Bayer AG’s (BAYGn.DE) Monsanto unit over allegations that the company’s glyphosate-containing weed-killers caused his cancer, accepted a court-mandated reduced punitive damages award on Wednesday.	true
1711	9032	Vegetarian and Mediterranean diet may be equally effective in preventing heart disease	The subject of the news release is a newly published, randomized, controlled study comparing the effects of a Mediterranean diet and a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (which excludes meat and fish but allows eggs and dairy) on total body weight, BMI, fat mass, and cholesterol levels. The release clearly outlines the differences in the two diets and makes it clear this is the first head-to-head comparison of these two diets within groups of meat consumers. But the news release falls short in not including many of the study’s limitations, as well as making it clear to readers that the study outcomes are based on surrogate markers that cannot draw direct conclusions about “preventing heart disease” or stroke as implied. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with more than 600,000 deaths per year. Dietary patterns are known to affect our risk for heart disease, and represent an opportunity for each of us to modify that risk. What concerns most of us is having the duration or quality of our life affected by a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease. So studies which actually look at hard outcomes like that — rather than surrogate markers such as cholesterol levels measured over just a few months — are more relevant to more people. Furthermore, studies which look at the effect of diet on major diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke aren’t just widespread, but often lead to wide-ranging and wide-reaching news coverage. Such studies usually have significant limitations, debatable outcomes, and are prone to unjustified or hyperbolic language. This places a premium on journalists covering such studies to look for independent viewpoints, and a premium on readers for staying skeptical.	mixture
1712	2501	Tide of humanity, as well as rising seas, lap at Kiribati's future.	The ocean laps against a protective seawall outside the maternity ward at Kiribati’s Nawerewere Hospital, marshalling itself for another assault with the next king tide.	true
1713	26257	The U.S. had 44 CDC staffers “in China to observe what was going on. (President Trump) brought home the vast majority of them, I think left only four in place.”	The correct figures from the CDC show that overall staffing fell but remained higher than what Biden said. The numbers also show the elimination of all U.S. staff to counter the threat posed by the new coronavirus.	mixture
1714	34115	Eggs and popcorn kernels can be cooked by placing them between activated cell phones.	Can an egg or popcorn kernels be cooked using activated cell phones?	false
1715	19142	"""Promote Oregon Leadership PAC (Oregon House Republicans) Says, """"Carl proposed a 'windfall' tax on real estate development when he was a Metro Councilor."""	A combination of AstraZeneca’s lung cancer drug Imfinzi and an experimental treatment failed to extend the lives of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high levels of gene mutations, the drugmaker said on Wednesday.	false
1716	27767	Images reproduce contradictory statements from U.S. senators Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid about the President's prerogative in appointing Supreme Court justices.	A minor quibble could be made about Reid’s speaking of judicial “nominees” and not Supreme Court “appointees,” but that difference seemingly had little bearing on the overall thrust of his statement.	true
1717	24435	President Obama campaigned on a promise to put reproductive health care at the center of his reform plan.	"""Planned Parenthood says Obama promised to """"put reproductive health care at the center"""" of health reform"""	true
1718	9842	Non-Fried Fish Might Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s: Study	Readers heads must be spinning worse than Linda Blair’s in “The Exorcist” when they read – in one story – that this “must be viewed as an association, rather than a cause-and-effect” – yet they get cause-and-effect language such as: Over and over again, many news stories confuse readers about observational studies. It leads to a loss of confidence in science and a loss of credibility in journalism. That’s why this matters.	false
1719	3335	Attorneys: Charges expected in Florida nursing home deaths.	Defense attorneys said Sunday that arrests are expected shortly in the case of a Florida nursing home where 12 patients died after its air conditioning power went out amid sweltering heat following Hurricane Irma in 2017.	true
1720	41039	Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes.	There is no evidence yet on how long the virus can survive on the skin. But it is important to regularly wash your hands.	unproven
1721	37531	A member of the Okeechobee County Commission in Florida promoted a claim that using a blow dryer could cure people of COVID-19.	Did a Florida County Official Promote a Bogus Right-Wing COVID-19 ‘Cure’?	true
1722	36111	"""A child was being sexually abused, but her attempts to tell an adult were thwarted due to her inability to say """"vagina"""" and her use of the word """"cookie"""" instead."""	Was a Toddler Subjected to Months of Abuse Because of a ‘Cookie’ Analogy?	unproven
1723	29907	El Paso was one of the U.S. most dangerous cities before a border fence was built there.	On the 2016 campaign trail, Donald Trump promised supporters that if elected, he would build a border wall that Mexico would pay for. As time went by and it became clear Mexico would not finance the construction of such a wall, Trump waffled on how it would be funded, resulting in the longest partial shutdown of the federal government in U.S. history when he and Congressional Democrats reached an impasse over the issue.	false
1724	28474	The U.S. has several million more registered voters than eligible, voting-age adults.	"""What's true: Estimates of voter rolls in the counties of some states, including California, tally more registered voters than eligible adults. What's false: Such estimates do not encompass the entire U.S., are based on questionable methodologies, and may include voters who are listed on state rolls as """"inactive."""""""	mixture
1725	37521	Amazon is soliciting public donations to fund sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic.	Is Amazon Seeking Public Donations to Fund Sick Leave During the COVID-19 Pandemic?	true
1726	8165	Coronavirus spreads fear, isolation, death to elderly worldwide.	Grace Dowell, a 63-year-old grandmother, has stopped grocery shopping and canceled all her doctor’s appointments. No one is allowed into her rural Maryland home. Every piece of mail is disinfected.	true
1727	11279	Heart attack relief? The truth about omega-3 fatty acids	This TV piece did a reasonable job explaining the new wave of omega-3 fatty acid fortified foods. It is a shame that the sections on benefits and harms were not more descriptive. To its credit, the story turned to world renowned experts for this story (Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. Alice Lichtenstein from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science Policy).The two scientists cited could have easily provided additional details to guide the consumer in this regard. While it was amusing to ponder whether orange juice supplemented with omega-3 fatty acid from fish would taste fishy, the story failed to deliver content that might help the viewer understand the magnitude of the benefits one might realistically gain from increasing dietary omega-3 fatty acid or the level of harm that has been associated with this nutrient. In addition, the story did not include information about costs. It would have been better to provide people with more context to help them understand what they might gain from omega-3 fatty acids and to know that there are real risks associated with consumption of these – whether from fish or from fortified foods – so that consumers could make educated choices at the grocery store.	mixture
1728	8914	Bayer Roundup cancer trial postponed to continue settlement talks.	Bayer AG said on Friday it has reached an agreement with plaintiffs’ lawyers to postpone a Missouri jury trial over allegations its popular weed killer Roundup causes cancer to provide room for negotiations to settle the litigation.	true
1729	23863	"""Since 2000, """"the Texas clean air program achieved a 22 percent reduction in ozone and a 46 percent decrease in NOx emissions."""	Perry: State has cut ozone 22%, nitrogen oxide emissions 46%	mixture
1730	8005	Philippines coronavirus testing to be stepped up soon: WHO.	Coronavirus testing is expected to increase substantially in coming days in the Philippines, where the high number of deaths relative to confirmed cases reflects lower testing so far, a World Health Organisation official said on Tuesday.	true
1731	26397	“Small trials” to test convalescent plasma therapy for coronavirus patients “seem to have had some degree of success.”	At least two Chinese studies have found initial success with convalescent plasma therapy, a technique in which antibodies from recovered coronavirus patients are given to seriously ill patients in order to boost their immune response. The authors of these studies emphasize that more research is needed to confirm these results more broadly.	true
1732	24035	Bill White Says Gov. Rick Perry has never held a private-sector job.	Democrat Bill White says Gov. Rick Perry has never had private-sector job	false
1733	1419	Latest battle to wipe out polio begins with vast vaccine switch.	In a huge immunization effort in 150 countries, health teams will on Sunday launch what they hope will be the final push against polio.	true
1734	7810	As novice runners hit the open road, experts say take it slow.	As the days lengthen and the weather warms and novice runners cast an eye outdoors, fitness experts suggest they take a slow start to find their outdoor rhythm and pace to avoid injuries.	true
1735	26826	“(A recent study) said ‘Medicare for All’ will lower health care costs in this country by $450 billion a year and save the lives of 68,000 people who would otherwise have died.”	Many of the study's assumptions are flawed, and experts uniformly told us it overestimates the potential savings. It cherry-picks data in calculating mortality effects.	false
1736	4291	‘Second disaster’ warned in Mozambique as cholera a concern.	Cyclone-ravaged Mozambique faces a “second disaster” from cholera and other diseases, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday, while relief operations pressed into rural areas where an unknown number of people remain without aid more than 10 days after the storm.	true
1737	26651	“Now, as it stands, our health care system has adequate ventilators, ICU beds, medical professionals.”	Experts said all evidence points to the U.S. being short on hospital beds, ICUs and ventilators, assuming COVID-19 continues to spread. The U.S. could take any number of actions to increase the number of hospital beds, supplies and medical staff available. Social distancing and other measures to slow the virus’s spread are meant to shrink the peak number of cases so hospitals don’t get stretched past their capacity.	false
1738	5309	Oscars producers say the show is in ‘good shape’ for Sunday.	Academy Awards producers Donna Gigliotti and Glenn Weiss have been hearing the same question a lot recently: Are you OK?	true
1739	33370	Madmen are injecting HIV-infected blood into unsuspecting moviegoers and random young people dancing in bars or at raves.	Decades-old rumor holds that madmen are jabbing unsuspecting moviegoers with HIV-infected needles.	false
1740	38253	Claims that Senator Mitch McConnell had polio as a child and free government healthcare saved his life began making the rounds as McConnell led Senate Republicans’ efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare in June 2017.	Mitch McConnell Had Polio, Government Healthcare Saved His Life	false
1741	23927	"""Sen. Barbara Boxer """"passed only three bills in 18 years"""" into law."""	'Hot Air' movie not accurate on Boxer's laws	false
1742	35096	"""Self-described psychic Sylvia Browne """"predicted"""" a 2020 outbreak of the new coronavirus."""	"""What's true: Self-described psychic Sylvia Browne wrote in her 2008 book """"End of Days"""" that a respiratory illness would spread across the globe. What's undetermined: It's unclear whether Browne's """"prediction"""" was more of a lucky guess, considering the book was written after the SARS outbreak. Furthermore, it's unknown —possibly unlikely — whether other aspects of Browne's book passage will bear out."""	mixture
1743	24356	"""During his tenure as mayor, he """"saw Houston’s crime rates drop to the lowest levels in more than 25 years."""	White says crime hit 25-year low during his tenure	true
1744	5078	Indiana educators disappointed about mental health funding.	The failure of Indiana lawmakers to approve proposals during this year’s legislative session that would have made mental health services eligible for school safety funding is a huge disappointment, education officials said.	true
1745	11118	Laser Treatment May Work for Cataracts	"""It’s not a """"treatment"""" until it helps a living human being. Until then, it’s an experiment. In a story that afforded the topic only 268 words, rather than using 23 of them to say that """"the goal is a relatively simple procedure that would last half an hour at most and use largely automated equipment in mobile clinics"""" – perhaps a cautious independent perspective would have helped remind people that this research wasn’t done on people – only on donor lenses. Science briefs have their merit, but not when they offer too few details to show what an extremely early stage of research this is in."""	false
1746	6295	Looking for answers to rural Wisconsin OB-GYN shortage.	Dr. Alexa Lowry, an obstetrician-gynecologist who grew up in Barron County, returned to her native western Wisconsin for three weeks this fall.	true
1747	8988	California man's research leads him to Beaumont's Proton Therapy Center in Michigan	Irradiation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by photon (X-ray) therapy (left) and proton therapy (right)/Wikipedia This release focuses on one patient’s experiences with proton beam therapy to treat a form of cancer called sacral chordoma. The release is effectively an account of the patient’s diagnosis and his experiences receiving the therapy — but provides little information about potential side effects, cost, or even how well the treatment worked. We’ve published dozens of blog posts and systematic reviews on proton beam therapy; many of which focus on media messages from a single hospital that has invested in the very expensive technology. Using an individual patient to shed light on a form of cancer treatment is not uncommon; focusing on the individual gives readers someone to relate to. However, it is important for news releases or news stories to go beyond individual anecdotes and provide readers with information they can use to make informed decisions about their own treatment options. How expensive is this form of treatment? What are the potential side effects? How effective is it? This release provides no information that readers could apply to their own circumstances. The question in this instance is: why did the care provider deem this to be worthy of a news release? It’s important to keep in mind that the release highlights proton therapy without offering any comparison with any other therapies.	false
1748	18446	Renee Unterman Says state Senate leaders have accepted $142,400 in campaign contributions from dentists and pharmacists during the past two years.	: Half True. Atlanta Journal Constitution staff writer Karishma Mehrotra contributed to this article.	mixture
1749	10590	Colonoscopy Prep in a Pill May Be Easier to Swallow	No info on costs, on harms, or on the scope of benefits – and nothing on the real important measure of whether the approach improved the detection of colon cancer. An improved method of colon prep for colonoscopy would be appreciated by many. But we’re not given sufficient information in this story to judge the true possible merits of the approach the story promotes by simply rewriting a news release.	false
1750	4091	11 hospitalizations linked to vaping in Wisconsin.	Wisconsin health officials said Friday they’ve linked vaping to 11 recent cases where teenagers and young adults developed severe lung disease that required hospitalizations.	true
1751	30363	"""The United States Navy announced that it was christening a ship the """"USS Tig Ol Bitties"""" after an online vote."""	For those who may not get the joke, this fictitious ship’s name is an example of a spoonerism, a bit of word play that swaps the first letters of two words, which was named after William Archibald Spooner, a long-serving don at Oxford University in the late 1800s and early 1900s.	false
1752	15786	In an average grocery store, roughly 75 percent of processed foods contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.	"""Donna Nesselbush said, """"In an average grocery store, roughly 75 percent of processed foods contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs."""" Nesselbush quoted a percentage intended to apply to all foods and not restricted to processed foods. Although the figure is widely cited by both sides in the debate, it’s not clear that this is anything more than an estimate. And finally, in the cases of many processed foods created using the sugars, oils and other products of genetically modified organisms, the organisms themselves aren’t present in the food at all. Because the statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context. (If you have a claim you’d like PolitiFact Rhode Island to check, email us at [email protected] And follow us on Twitter: @politifactri.) (Correction: Rhode Island state Rep. Donna Nesselbush represents House District 15, which includes portions of Pawtucket and North Providence. The original version of this item incorrectly reported the community she represents.)"""	mixture
1753	13684	"""National Rifle Association Says Hillary Clinton """"doesn’t believe in your right to keep a gun at home for self-defense."""	"""The NRA said Clinton """"doesn’t believe in your right to keep a gun at home for self-defense."""" Clinton has never said that, nor could she do anything about it on her own even if she wanted to. She would need to rely on a new Supreme Court justice, who would first have to be approved by the currently Republican-led Senate. Clinton did say she disagreed with the Heller ruling, as the NRA points out. But she was talking about specifics and cited the same worries raised by the Bush administration, about looser restrictions on automatic weapons or carrying in public."""	false
1754	39614	An article from the pen of disaster rescuer Doug Copp. He lists some of his observations from being on the scene after earthquakes and introduces what he calls “The Triangle of Life,” which he says can save lives during an earthquake. He rejects the advice of traditional disaster experts and gives suggestions about what to do and where to be during an earthquake.	"""The """"Triangle of Life"""" can save your life during an earthquake """	false
1755	1909	Modern Etiquette: No gluten? No fat? Deal gracefully with that.	“If you would like to dine gluten-free, please ask to see our gluten-free menu.”	true
1756	9858	AIDS Vaccine Is of Modest Help, Fuller Research Says	This follow-up piece draws attention to secondary data analyses of the much talked about AIDS vaccination trial conducted in Thailand. According to the results released in September, the vaccine showed a statistically significant reduction in risk of HIV infection. However, two additional analyses published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine did not find statistical significance. This story underscores the need for healthy skepticism about early announcements of unpublished research. The writer did a nice job explaining different types of analysis and statistical significance, which many physicians and lay people have difficulty grasping.	true
1757	24919	"""McCain """"has opposed stem cell research."""	Obama ad distorts McCain's stem cell position	false
1758	15623	A sitting sheriff cannot be charged except by a warrant issued by a Superior Court judge.	Vectura Group said on Friday a British court had ruled in its favor on the packaging of a generic version of an inhaler made by bigger rival GlaxoSmithKline.	mixture
1759	24029	Everyone in this country has access to health care.	Gov. Rick Perry says everyone has access to health care coverage, even without insurance	false
1760	34157	"""In 2019, Will Smith was """"rushed to hospital"""" and """"diagnosed with a life-threatening disease."""	The Stars News YouTube video consisted of a voice-over script taken from an uncredited source, with a “clickbait” headline that falsely claimed Smith had been “rushed to hospital” and “diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.”	false
1761	4847	Senior citizen wave coming to Garfield County.	Rosemarie Romeo was rushed to Glenwood Medical Center in December 2015, after accidentally misusing her anxiety medication.	true
1762	15286	$700 billion was robbed (from Medicare) to pay for Obamacare.	"""Huckabee said, """"$700 billion was robbed (from Medicare) to fund Obamacare."""" It’s an old claim and an old figure. The law does reduce Medicare spending, but not in the way Huckabee suggests. The Affordable Care Act aims to cut future Medicare costs by reducing payments to private insurers and hospitals, not beneficiaries, though this could indirectly squeeze beneficiaries. The claim is partially accurate but leaves out important context."""	mixture
1763	15593	"""In the last 24 months, 10 rural Texas hospitals have been forced to shut their doors because state leaders"""" chose not to expand Medicaid."""	"""Children’s Defense Fund-Texas said: """"In the last 24 months, 10 rural Texas hospitals have been forced to shut their doors because state leaders have chosen not to invest in our state’s health care systems by rejecting billions in available Medicaid funds to cover more of our state’s uninsured."""" Ten rural hospitals closed, we found, though different hospitals later opened on two sites. Also, as Bresette acknowledged, the non-expansion of Medicaid wasn’t the only reason for the rural closings. Our sense is they occurred due to various squeezes extending, in a few cases, to an owner’s fraudulent acts."""	false
1764	34732	Testing has revealed that eight popular tea brands contain illegal amounts of deadly pesticides.	“It’s now almost 2019,” Fraser wrote in a 1 December 2018 update to her post, “and seeing as how these studies were conducted over four years ago, it is hard to say whether they have changed up the pesticides they are using, or whether they have stopped using them at all.” We concur.	mixture
1765	9630	Experimental procedure aimed at repairing spinal cord shows promise	This story portrays a quadriplegic man who believes a stem cell transplant helped him to recover partial function after a spinal cord injury. The story effectively conveys the devastation of spinal cord injuries and correctly identifies stem cell therapy as an experimental and unproven treatment. However, its thrust that the therapy “shows promise” is misleading; its efficacy has yet to be supported by rigorous trials. The story doesn’t give data on costs, harms, and availability that might have injected balance into the piece. We’ve reviewed other stories that unfairly wow readers up front only to save caveats for the end, including a recent BuzzFeed piece on an experimental device that restored some function to a paralysis patient. But in this case, the story also perpetuates a trend of media coverage that hypes unproven stem cell therapies for various conditions, unfairly raising patient expectations based on isolated and preliminary findings. About 282,000 people in the U.S. are estimated to be living with spinal cord injuries, mainly from vehicle collisions and falls, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Spinal cord injuries can be incomplete, meaning that patients retain some motor or sensory function below the injury, or complete, in which there is a total lack of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. In either case, they almost always result in lifelong disability. Effective emergency care for people with spinal cord injuries and aggressive treatment and rehabilitation can minimize damage to the nervous system and restore some function. However, there is no treatment to repair spinal cord injuries. Stem cells are an active area of research for spinal cord repair, but their potential and associated risks are not clear. According to the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation, stem cells are being studied as a source of new cells and products that could prevent further damage, restore nerve function, generate new nerve cells and guide the regrowth of severed nerve fibers. It says current trials are very small, mostly testing the safety of putting adult stem cells into patients. The question of whether stem cells can safely improve function is years away from being answered. Meanwhile, there’s growing concern about media reports that exaggerate the potential of stem cell therapies that are in early phases of research. This month the International Society for Stem Cell Research issued guidelines to encourage accurate and balanced communication of stem cell science, including setbacks as well as progress.	false
1766	9685	Cell therapy in protective bubble offers hope for diabetes fix	This article does a really nice job of explaining the science behind two studies and appropriately depicting the pace of scientific process. With other news coverage talking about the research getting us “close to a cure” for diabetes, this story took a measured approach that should be posted on the walls of newsrooms everywhere. Yes, you can make a lab study exciting and engaging for readers without overstating the findings. A little more quantification of benefits and risks would have elevated this to five stars. Type I Diabetes is a relatively common illness that takes significant time and expense to manage and is associated with major complications. For years it has seemed we are on the verge of a major breakthrough, but, even with better treatments, this condition remains a major public health problem. All the more reason to be circumspect when describing new research into this area. This story says, “Just because the system produced strong results in mice does not mean people will respond the same way.” Hear us applauding.	true
1767	11089	Lung scans may lead to overdiagnosis: study	We identified three shortcomings – all easily addressed. Costs weren’t mentioned – a big factor in a story about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. No independent expert was quoted. Had there been an independent voice, perhaps some of our comments about evaluating the limitations of the evidence would have been addressed. Putting hard numbers to concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment is a vital health policy issue – and important for journalists to track, as Reuters did with this story.	true
1768	39283	CDC officials issued a formal apology after it was discovered that the 2014 flu vaccine proved ineffective against a common strain of the flu virus.	CDC Apologizes for Ineffective Flu Vaccines	false
1769	1977	Oregon votes to outlaw sale of suicide kits.	Sales of suicide kits, like the do-it-yourself asphyxiation hood used by a man to kill himself late last year, could soon be outlawed in the state of Oregon.	true
1770	11339	New study firmly ties hormone use to breast cancer	"""The story does a good job presenting 2002 data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) on the increased risk of developing breast cancer with prolonged use of HRT (also termed estrogen plus progestin treatment). However, the story does not accurately report the results of the recent JAMA paper: Even women who took estrogen and progestin pills for as little as a couple of years had a greater chance of getting [all types of] cancer."""" There is nothing in this study to contradict the earlier WHI report showing that breast cancer risks start to diverge after about 4 years , not """"a couple of years"""". This article reports on all cancers, not just breast. Nowhere in the JAMA article are all cancers plotted over time to support the assertion of a couple of years. Followed by the assertion that """"…these new findings are likely to end any doubt that the risks outweigh the benefits,"""" this creates the inaccurate impression that there are new data showing breast cancer risks start earlier on in the course of treatment. A second inaccuracy concerns the statements about the size of the observed risk of breast cancer: """"At the peak, the breast cancer risk for pill takers was twice that of the others."""" Not accurate: the hazard ratio was 1.26, indicating a 26% higher breast cancer risk, not 100% higher (which would be twice the risk). Finally, a main point of the article–that cancer risk [presumably all cancer, not just breast] returns to normal roughly 2 years after quitting — is not supported by the study results. JAMA article states """"The HR for overall risk of all malignancies increased from 1.03…to 1.24…in the postintervention period."""" And, """"…a downward inflection in the temporal trend in cumulative HRs for breast cancer was observed over time (not shown) but the observed change…is not statistically significant."""" Despite the misplaced emphasis in the story compared with the source article, public health and cancer specialists put the results of the study in context and reassure women that their risk profile might be different if they are younger or older (women in the study were in their 60’s, typically after menopause is complete). The story lists HRT as one option for treating very bothersome menopausal symptoms; however, HRT should be used judiciously and only for a short time. There are also other options for managing hot flashes and bothersome menopausal symptoms, which the story does not mention. But for some women, low-dose HRT may still be the most appropriate treatment. Women who are considering this choice need accurate information to weigh the risks and benefits of HRT, and the story appropriately provides absolute and relative risks of taking HRT for the short and long-term (5 1/2 years). The story gives number of cases of breast cancer per 1000 women for those who took hormone therapy v. non-users. Lastly, the story does not address the cost of estrogen plus progestin treatment, nor the costs added or saved due to complications of or benefits from that therapy. However, the story advocates for selective use of low-dose HRT."""	true
1771	6798	City sues firefighter foam makers over water contamination.	A Massachusetts city is suing the makers of firefighting foam blamed for water contamination.	true
1772	36575	The most brilliant scientists working for the United States government refuse to vaccinate their children.	Do ‘The Most Brilliant Scientists’ Not Vaccinate Their Own Children?	false
1773	4061	Officials: Tick-borne anaplasmosis on the rise in Maine.	The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says a tick-borne disease is rising in the state this year and it is a disease that is more dangerous than Lyme disease.	true
1774	9408	Shining a Deadly New Light on Airborne Flu Virus	Australian Michael Hillman fled from harrowing bushfires that hit the beachside town of Malua Bay on New Year’s Eve, only to be faced with a scene of devastation when he returned on Friday.	false
1775	3300	Colorado meatpacker recalls ground beef after E. coli death.	A Colorado meatpacker is recalling more than 132,000 pounds (60,000 kilograms) of ground beef after a suspected E. coli outbreak killed one person and sickened 17, officials said.	true
1776	6302	Scholarships target doctors in Arizona underserved areas.	University of Arizona’s medical school announced Friday that it will give free tuition to some students who commit to working as primary care doctors in underserved areas, an effort to improve access to health care in areas where it’s most lacking.	true
1777	8943	MRI scans shows promise in predicting dementia	This news release announced findings of a study that looked at differences in brain MRI scans between older people who went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and those who did not get the disease. The release said the findings, presented at the Radiological Society of North America meeting in Chicago, suggest MRI scans may one day help predict whether people will develop dementia. The news release mentioned alternative ways to predict Alzheimer’s, but it didn’t say anything about potential harms or costs of using MRIs, and it didn’t explain that the method has not been tested in a clinical trial. A test to predict Alzheimer’s disease might be useful, but anytime such a new test is discussed, one should be reminded of the limited treatment options for anyone who finds they are at higher risk. Costs and potential harms need to be weighed against potential benefits. One of the potential benefits pointed out by the authors is that people who are told they are at risk would have time to make financial and living arrangements in advance of health problems. That’s something every aging person would ideally have on their to-do list, not just those at risk.	mixture
1778	15328	With the exception of baby formula, the federal government does not require any food to carry an expiration date, and state laws vary widely.	"""Oliver said, """"With the exception of baby formula, the federal government does not require any food to carry an expiration date, and state laws vary widely."""" While Oliver’s underlying argument for more regulation can be debated, he’s right to say that the federal government doesn’t require expiration dates on food, and state laws filling in that gap are inconsistent."""	true
1779	1062	Alabama Senate bans nearly all abortions, including rape cases.	Alabama’s state Senate passed a bill on Tuesday to outlaw nearly all abortions, creating exceptions only to protect the mother’s health, as part of a multistate effort to have the U.S. Supreme Court reconsider a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.	true
1780	28410	"""Americans Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan were killed in Tajikistan while cycling through """"Isis territory"""" in order to vindicate their belief in human kindness."""	What's true: Isis militants claimed responsibility for the murders of Austin, Geoghegan, and two other tourists. Austin and Geoghegan had posted several times online about the generosity and kindness they encountered on their round-the-world cycling trip. What's false: There is no evidence Austin and Geoghegan were aware of any terrorist threat in Tajikistan, or that they travelled through that region particularly in order to vindicate their belief in human kindness. There is ample evidence that their trip was motivated by no more than a desire for adventure and life experience.	mixture
1781	29237	"""A second Broward County sheriff’s deputy died suspiciously after """"exposing"""" the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida."""	"""What's true: Two sheriff’s deputies in Broward County, Florida, where the Parkland school shooting took place in February 2018, passed away in April 2018. What's false: Neither man """"exposed"""" anything about the Parkland school shooting, and local officials have not pegged either man's death as """"suspicious."""""""	false
1782	2772	Israel's Oramed a step closer in race for first insulin pill.	Israel’s Oramed, which is racing Novo Nordisk of Denmark to develop the world’s first insulin pill, moved a step closer to its goal on Thursday by announcing successful results from a small mid-stage test.	true
1783	8830	Drug combination reduces colon cancer risk.	Combining a low dose of a targeted cancer-fighter with an anti-inflammatory drug reduces the risk of recurring colorectal polyps, an early sign of colon cancer, by as much as 95 percent, researchers said on Monday.	true
1784	36710	Former Arizona senator John McCain confessed to being a war criminal and to committing treason during the Vietnam War, but he was later pardoned by U.S. President Richard Nixon to spare him from death by firing squad.	President Richard Nixon Pardoned John McCain of War Crimes?	false
1785	433	Chinese officials investigate cause of pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan.	Chinese health authorities said they are investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan, after rumors on social media suggested the outbreak could be linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).	true
1786	16234	Before World War II, very few people actually had health insurance.	Carr said before World War II, very few people had health insurance. While Carr doesn’t take into account the advances in medical care over the past 75 years, he’s right. Only about 10 percent of the U.S. population had private health insurance then, generally from an employer-based system.	true
1787	11066	Test Aids Prostate Cancer Treatment	This story describes the upcoming commercialization by Genomic Health and Epic Sciences of a diagnostic blood test which could help determine whether men with advanced prostate cancer should receive new-generation drugs or chemotherapy. The test detects whether the genetic variant AR-V7 is present in tumor cells circulating in the blood stream, and a study in JAMA Oncology found that drugs which target androgen receptors are not as effective as chemotherapy for tumors with the AR-V7 variant. The article does a good job of explaining how this new approach could not only lead to better outcomes for patients by enabling clinicians to tailor treatments to individuals, but could also save money being spent on an expensive class of drugs that would not work for some patients. The story is careful not to overstate how useful the test would be in practice, since there have not yet been randomized clinical trials to quantify the impact on patient survival. However, readers are left somewhat in the dark about how strong the evidence is in favor of the test, and the companies’ claims that there is enough evidence for the test to move into the clinic based on a fairly small retrospective study should have been interrogated. Moreover, readers are not made aware that the lead author has significant ties to the makers of the prostate cancer drugs in question, and the majority of the co-authors are employees of Epic Sciences. A nod to conflicts of interest and the inclusion of independent experts would have provided crucial balance to a story dominated by commercial concerns. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. While new drugs have significantly extended survival times for men in the late stages of the disease, for some men traditional chemotherapy is a better option, so a diagnostic test that would enable doctors to choose which therapy is best could have a significant impact on patient survival. The need for independent sources matters here because there has been a lot of hype around the potential for non-invasive “liquid biopsy” blood tests to tailor treatments to individual patients, and lots of companies are pushing to develop tests. It’s important for readers to know when to trust in the promise of new tests, and when not to believe the hype.	true
1788	8035	China's Xi offers Trump help in coronavirus fight as Wuhan reopens to traffic.	Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday that he would have China’s support in fighting the coronavirus, as Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak emerged, reopened to incoming traffic.	true
1789	8562	New Zealand orders quarantine for returning citizens in coronavirus battle.	New Zealand will begin moving citizens to compulsory quarantine from Friday as they return from overseas, stepping up its efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus halfway through a four-week nationwide lockdown.	true
1790	14024	More than 32,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence each year.	"""The Safety For All Initiative proposes stronger gun and ammunition restrictions in California. On its website, it says """"More than 32,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence each year."""" That sad statistic checks out, based on an examination of data from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. While the statement is accurate, it needs a key clarification that more than 60 percent of those gun deaths result from suicides. Much of the Safety For All Initiative is designed to make it more difficult for individuals to obtain ammunition for assault-style weapons, not typically associated with suicides."""	true
1791	10513	Stem-cell therapy feels Food and Drug Administration’s pinch	The story provides some key points from both sides of the debate and some caveats. But about one third of the story reads like an advertisement for the procedure. Rather than discussing data/evidence, the story centers on the positive aspects of the unregulated and unsubstantiated approach. New health care interventions may offer great promise and hope to patients with debilitating diseases such as severe arthritis. But news stories on such new ideas simply must help readers evaluate evidence – and this story didn’t do that.	mixture
1792	9006	New breath and urine tests detect early breast cancer more accurately	This news release summarizes a pilot study conducted by Israeli researchers on non-traditional methods for screening for breast cancer. One method employed an electronic nose sensor that measured chemicals in human breath and another analyzed urine samples. The screening methods were 95% and 85% accurate, respectively, according to the release. Key details were missing from the brief summary, including how many patients were screened and whether it was a randomized controlled study. The study was a pilot, designed to develop an accurate statistical model to use when testing urine and exhaled breath samples, according to the journal article, but the release does not tell us that. Cancer screening is a topic of much debate among experts. Some screening methods have a large number of false positive results that may lead to unnecessary or risky biopsies or treatments. This release raises the expectation that cheaper and yet accurate methods could be available soon for breast cancer. But this method would require much larger experiments with many more patients before it could become widely available, if ever.	false
1793	38766	Hundreds of people died after eating Patti LaBelle brand “Patti’s Sweet Potato Pie.”	Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pie Kills Hundreds	false
1794	26063	As of June 23, the COVID-19 death rate is “way down.”	Deaths from the coronavirus have fallen consistently since their peak in late April, and have continued to fall in June even as the number of cases has risen. Experts say deaths lag behind the number of cases. So the trend may reverse.	true
1795	33689	Young women are inserting vodka-soaked tampons as a furtive way of getting drunk.	Sightings: Vodka-soaked tampons were referenced in an episode of the television crime drama CSI (“Two and a Half Deaths,” original air date 8 May 2008). Also, in the TV series The Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (“Rule No. 67: Don’t Kill the Princess,” original air date 13 January 2015), Lilly’s14th birthday party is enlivened by the sudden cascade of her friends into the pool after vodka-soaked tampons have caused severe sensations of burning and stinging in the nether regions of the young partygoers.	false
1796	34829	Handles of shopping carts are laden with germs.	One study ranked grocery cart handles and child seats third on a list of nastiest public items to touch.	true
1797	8610	After-coronavirus, SE Asia strongly favours crackdown on wildlife trade, says WWF.	The coronavirus pandemic has generated overwhelming support for the closure of markets selling illegal wildlife across Southeast Asia, an epicenter of the multi-billion-dollar trade, the World Wildlife Fund said in a public opinion poll on Monday.	true
1798	2305	France reopens euthanasia debate with right-to-die ruling.	France’s top administrative court ruled on Tuesday that doctors should be allowed to take a tetraplegic man off life support after nearly six years in a coma, siding with his wife in a case that has revived a debate about euthanasia.	true
1799	38858	An over-the-counter supplement called Synagen IQ boosts brain function, improves memory and promotes overall wellness.	Synagen IQ Boosts Brain Function and Overall Health	unproven
1800	20780	Many types of fish and shellfish from waters across the state are labeled unsafe to eat.	Jim Florio says fish from New Jersey waters labeled unsafe to eat	true
1801	35154	In February 2020 the Vatican said that Pope Francis and two aides had tested positive for COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus.	At an Ash Wednesday service in the Vatican on Feb. 26, Francis was seen coughing and blowing his nose, causing some observers to speculate that the 83-year-old may have been among hundreds affected by a widespread coronavirus outbreak in Italy:	false
1802	1639	Zimbabwean charged over killing of Cecil the lion.	A Zimbabwean court on Wednesday charged a professional hunter with failing to prevent an American from unlawfully killing ‘Cecil’, the southern African country’s best-known lion, in a case that has triggered widespread revulsion at trophy hunting.	true

1703

2907

Medtronic's novel hypertension device fails in trials.

Medtronic Inc’s experimental device to treat high blood pressure failed to meet its main goal in a clinical trial, sending the company’s shares down nearly 5 percent.

true

1704

9586

Novartis asthma pill shows promise in small trial

This brief story is one of two we’re reviewing this week about a clinical trial for fevipiprant, an asthma pill under development by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The piece refrains from the puffery of a similar story in Medical Daily which we also reviewed. In particular, its headline keeps reader expectations in check by stating the pill shows promise in a “small trial.” The story itself does an admirable job of describing how this pill fits into a climate of innovation in asthma treatment. Still, it should have addressed the potential cost of this pill and garnered quotes from experts who are not involved in the study. The possibility of taking a pill instead of using an inhaler to control symptoms would surely be welcome news to millions of asthma patients. One in 12 Americans — 17.7 million adults and 6.3 million children — has asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the incurable disease costs the U.S. about $56 billion in medical costs, lost school and work days, and early deaths in 2007. A story about a new, easier-to-take drug would be of interest to many people, which is why news reporting should go beyond regurgitation of the news release material. This story, while brief, did appear to do so.

true

1705

10388

Oramed Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase IIb Oral Insulin Study

This is a news release about progress toward a long-elusive goal — a pill form of insulin that eliminates the need for injections. It describes what appears to be a well-designed, randomized clinical trial powered with enough patients to achieve a significant result. Although it cites percent reduction in blood glucose values, it might have been stronger had it also included absolute reductions — from what to what. And it could have been more specific about what possible side effects might have been of concern. The release also lacks context for understanding how the new drug’s effects might compare with those of injectable insulin or other drugs used in this clinical situation. A Reuters story on the drug, which seemed to rely heavily on this news release, was also reviewed by HealthNewsReview.org. The first line treatment for type 2 diabetes is usually weight loss (for those who are overweight) plus metformin. However, many people with diabetes are unable to achieve control of blood glucose with these measures, and a second drug must be added. Injectable night-time insulin is one option, but many people balk at the idea of giving themselves a shot every night. The potential to deliver insulin in pill form would be a welcome alternative — if future trials bear out its usefulness.

mixture

1706

17920

Obamacare will question your sex life.

"""McCaughey says in """"Obamacare will question your sex life"""" that you can thank the president’s health law for questions about your sexual activity, even if your doctor finds them unnecessary. She suggests it’s part of Obamacare’s move toward electronic health records. But incentives for electronic health records were part of the Recovery Act, not Obamacare. And they don’t require participating doctors to ask questions about your sex life. McCaughey frames her concern for patient privacy with an evidence-free attack on Obamacare that veers toward the ridiculous."""

false

1707

8745

Blocking enzyme could help in rare blood cancer.

An enzyme that fights some kinds of cancers may foster the growth of a rare type of leukemia that affects babies, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday in a finding that may lead to new drugs for the hard-to-treat cancer.

true

1708

7066

Murphy reverses Christie, approves $7.5M for women’s health.

New Jersey’s new Democratic governor signed legislation Wednesday setting aside about $7.5 million for family-planning and women’s health, reversing course on former Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s handling of the issue.

true

1709

10151

Study finds statins reduce pneumonia death rates

And here’s why that’s important: There was no discussion of costs or harms, insufficient information about limitations, and no independent perspectives. Best known for lowering cholesterol, statin drugs may also have other effects that could be helpful in the prevention or treatment of a variety of diseases. In addition to pneumonia, researchers have reported preliminary evidence of potential beneficial effects of statins against cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia. But before we go ahead and start pumping statins into the water supply (as some have half-jokingly suggested we should), we need to be sure whether it is the statins themselves or some other factor associated with statin drug use that is responsible for the benefits seen in these studies. There is plenty of reason to be skeptical about the quality of the current evidence.

false

1710

1438

Groundskeeper in Bayer in U.S. weed-killer case accepts reduced award.

The school groundskeeper who won a jury trial against Bayer AG’s (BAYGn.DE) Monsanto unit over allegations that the company’s glyphosate-containing weed-killers caused his cancer, accepted a court-mandated reduced punitive damages award on Wednesday.

true

1711

9032

Vegetarian and Mediterranean diet may be equally effective in preventing heart disease

The subject of the news release is a newly published, randomized, controlled study comparing the effects of a Mediterranean diet and a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (which excludes meat and fish but allows eggs and dairy) on total body weight, BMI, fat mass, and cholesterol levels. The release clearly outlines the differences in the two diets and makes it clear this is the first head-to-head comparison of these two diets within groups of meat consumers. But the news release falls short in not including many of the study’s limitations, as well as making it clear to readers that the study outcomes are based on surrogate markers that cannot draw direct conclusions about “preventing heart disease” or stroke as implied. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with more than 600,000 deaths per year. Dietary patterns are known to affect our risk for heart disease, and represent an opportunity for each of us to modify that risk. What concerns most of us is having the duration or quality of our life affected by a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease. So studies which actually look at hard outcomes like that — rather than surrogate markers such as cholesterol levels measured over just a few months — are more relevant to more people. Furthermore, studies which look at the effect of diet on major diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke aren’t just widespread, but often lead to wide-ranging and wide-reaching news coverage. Such studies usually have significant limitations, debatable outcomes, and are prone to unjustified or hyperbolic language. This places a premium on journalists covering such studies to look for independent viewpoints, and a premium on readers for staying skeptical.

mixture

1712

2501

Tide of humanity, as well as rising seas, lap at Kiribati's future.

The ocean laps against a protective seawall outside the maternity ward at Kiribati’s Nawerewere Hospital, marshalling itself for another assault with the next king tide.

true

1713

26257

The U.S. had 44 CDC staffers “in China to observe what was going on. (President Trump) brought home the vast majority of them, I think left only four in place.”

The correct figures from the CDC show that overall staffing fell but remained higher than what Biden said. The numbers also show the elimination of all U.S. staff to counter the threat posed by the new coronavirus.

mixture

1714

34115

Eggs and popcorn kernels can be cooked by placing them between activated cell phones.

Can an egg or popcorn kernels be cooked using activated cell phones?

false

1715

19142

"""Promote Oregon Leadership PAC (Oregon House Republicans) Says, """"Carl proposed a 'windfall' tax on real estate development when he was a Metro Councilor."""

A combination of AstraZeneca’s lung cancer drug Imfinzi and an experimental treatment failed to extend the lives of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high levels of gene mutations, the drugmaker said on Wednesday.

false

1716

27767

Images reproduce contradictory statements from U.S. senators Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid about the President's prerogative in appointing Supreme Court justices.

A minor quibble could be made about Reid’s speaking of judicial “nominees” and not Supreme Court “appointees,” but that difference seemingly had little bearing on the overall thrust of his statement.

true

1717

24435

President Obama campaigned on a promise to put reproductive health care at the center of his reform plan.

"""Planned Parenthood says Obama promised to """"put reproductive health care at the center"""" of health reform"""

true

1718

9842

Non-Fried Fish Might Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s: Study

Readers heads must be spinning worse than Linda Blair’s in “The Exorcist” when they read – in one story – that this “must be viewed as an association, rather than a cause-and-effect” – yet they get cause-and-effect language such as: Over and over again, many news stories confuse readers about observational studies. It leads to a loss of confidence in science and a loss of credibility in journalism. That’s why this matters.

false

1719

3335

Attorneys: Charges expected in Florida nursing home deaths.

Defense attorneys said Sunday that arrests are expected shortly in the case of a Florida nursing home where 12 patients died after its air conditioning power went out amid sweltering heat following Hurricane Irma in 2017.

true

1720

41039

Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes.

There is no evidence yet on how long the virus can survive on the skin. But it is important to regularly wash your hands.

unproven

1721

37531

A member of the Okeechobee County Commission in Florida promoted a claim that using a blow dryer could cure people of COVID-19.

Did a Florida County Official Promote a Bogus Right-Wing COVID-19 ‘Cure’?

true

1722

36111

"""A child was being sexually abused, but her attempts to tell an adult were thwarted due to her inability to say """"vagina"""" and her use of the word """"cookie"""" instead."""

Was a Toddler Subjected to Months of Abuse Because of a ‘Cookie’ Analogy?

unproven

1723

29907

El Paso was one of the U.S. most dangerous cities before a border fence was built there.

On the 2016 campaign trail, Donald Trump promised supporters that if elected, he would build a border wall that Mexico would pay for. As time went by and it became clear Mexico would not finance the construction of such a wall, Trump waffled on how it would be funded, resulting in the longest partial shutdown of the federal government in U.S. history when he and Congressional Democrats reached an impasse over the issue.

false

1724

28474

The U.S. has several million more registered voters than eligible, voting-age adults.

"""What's true: Estimates of voter rolls in the counties of some states, including California, tally more registered voters than eligible adults. What's false: Such estimates do not encompass the entire U.S., are based on questionable methodologies, and may include voters who are listed on state rolls as """"inactive."""""""

mixture

1725

37521

Amazon is soliciting public donations to fund sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is Amazon Seeking Public Donations to Fund Sick Leave During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

true

1726

8165

Coronavirus spreads fear, isolation, death to elderly worldwide.

Grace Dowell, a 63-year-old grandmother, has stopped grocery shopping and canceled all her doctor’s appointments. No one is allowed into her rural Maryland home. Every piece of mail is disinfected.

true

1727

11279

Heart attack relief? The truth about omega-3 fatty acids

This TV piece did a reasonable job explaining the new wave of omega-3 fatty acid fortified foods. It is a shame that the sections on benefits and harms were not more descriptive. To its credit, the story turned to world renowned experts for this story (Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. Alice Lichtenstein from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science Policy).The two scientists cited could have easily provided additional details to guide the consumer in this regard. While it was amusing to ponder whether orange juice supplemented with omega-3 fatty acid from fish would taste fishy, the story failed to deliver content that might help the viewer understand the magnitude of the benefits one might realistically gain from increasing dietary omega-3 fatty acid or the level of harm that has been associated with this nutrient. In addition, the story did not include information about costs. It would have been better to provide people with more context to help them understand what they might gain from omega-3 fatty acids and to know that there are real risks associated with consumption of these – whether from fish or from fortified foods – so that consumers could make educated choices at the grocery store.

mixture

1728

8914

Bayer Roundup cancer trial postponed to continue settlement talks.

Bayer AG said on Friday it has reached an agreement with plaintiffs’ lawyers to postpone a Missouri jury trial over allegations its popular weed killer Roundup causes cancer to provide room for negotiations to settle the litigation.

true

1729

23863

"""Since 2000, """"the Texas clean air program achieved a 22 percent reduction in ozone and a 46 percent decrease in NOx emissions."""

Perry: State has cut ozone 22%, nitrogen oxide emissions 46%

mixture

1730

8005

Philippines coronavirus testing to be stepped up soon: WHO.

Coronavirus testing is expected to increase substantially in coming days in the Philippines, where the high number of deaths relative to confirmed cases reflects lower testing so far, a World Health Organisation official said on Tuesday.

true

1731

26397

“Small trials” to test convalescent plasma therapy for coronavirus patients “seem to have had some degree of success.”

At least two Chinese studies have found initial success with convalescent plasma therapy, a technique in which antibodies from recovered coronavirus patients are given to seriously ill patients in order to boost their immune response. The authors of these studies emphasize that more research is needed to confirm these results more broadly.

true

1732

24035

Bill White Says Gov. Rick Perry has never held a private-sector job.

Democrat Bill White says Gov. Rick Perry has never had private-sector job

false

1733

1419

Latest battle to wipe out polio begins with vast vaccine switch.

In a huge immunization effort in 150 countries, health teams will on Sunday launch what they hope will be the final push against polio.

true

1734

7810

As novice runners hit the open road, experts say take it slow.

As the days lengthen and the weather warms and novice runners cast an eye outdoors, fitness experts suggest they take a slow start to find their outdoor rhythm and pace to avoid injuries.

true

1735

26826

“(A recent study) said ‘Medicare for All’ will lower health care costs in this country by $450 billion a year and save the lives of 68,000 people who would otherwise have died.”

Many of the study's assumptions are flawed, and experts uniformly told us it overestimates the potential savings. It cherry-picks data in calculating mortality effects.

false

1736

4291

‘Second disaster’ warned in Mozambique as cholera a concern.

Cyclone-ravaged Mozambique faces a “second disaster” from cholera and other diseases, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday, while relief operations pressed into rural areas where an unknown number of people remain without aid more than 10 days after the storm.

true

1737

26651

“Now, as it stands, our health care system has adequate ventilators, ICU beds, medical professionals.”

Experts said all evidence points to the U.S. being short on hospital beds, ICUs and ventilators, assuming COVID-19 continues to spread. The U.S. could take any number of actions to increase the number of hospital beds, supplies and medical staff available. Social distancing and other measures to slow the virus’s spread are meant to shrink the peak number of cases so hospitals don’t get stretched past their capacity.

false

1738

5309

Oscars producers say the show is in ‘good shape’ for Sunday.

Academy Awards producers Donna Gigliotti and Glenn Weiss have been hearing the same question a lot recently: Are you OK?

true

1739

33370

Madmen are injecting HIV-infected blood into unsuspecting moviegoers and random young people dancing in bars or at raves.

Decades-old rumor holds that madmen are jabbing unsuspecting moviegoers with HIV-infected needles.

false

1740

38253

Claims that Senator Mitch McConnell had polio as a child and free government healthcare saved his life began making the rounds as McConnell led Senate Republicans’ efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare in June 2017.

Mitch McConnell Had Polio, Government Healthcare Saved His Life

false

1741

23927

"""Sen. Barbara Boxer """"passed only three bills in 18 years"""" into law."""

'Hot Air' movie not accurate on Boxer's laws

false

1742

35096

"""Self-described psychic Sylvia Browne """"predicted"""" a 2020 outbreak of the new coronavirus."""

"""What's true: Self-described psychic Sylvia Browne wrote in her 2008 book """"End of Days"""" that a respiratory illness would spread across the globe. What's undetermined: It's unclear whether Browne's """"prediction"""" was more of a lucky guess, considering the book was written after the SARS outbreak. Furthermore, it's unknown —possibly unlikely — whether other aspects of Browne's book passage will bear out."""

mixture

1743

24356

"""During his tenure as mayor, he """"saw Houston’s crime rates drop to the lowest levels in more than 25 years."""

White says crime hit 25-year low during his tenure

true

1744

5078

Indiana educators disappointed about mental health funding.

The failure of Indiana lawmakers to approve proposals during this year’s legislative session that would have made mental health services eligible for school safety funding is a huge disappointment, education officials said.

true

1745

11118

Laser Treatment May Work for Cataracts

"""It’s not a """"treatment"""" until it helps a living human being. Until then, it’s an experiment. In a story that afforded the topic only 268 words, rather than using 23 of them to say that """"the goal is a relatively simple procedure that would last half an hour at most and use largely automated equipment in mobile clinics"""" – perhaps a cautious independent perspective would have helped remind people that this research wasn’t done on people – only on donor lenses. Science briefs have their merit, but not when they offer too few details to show what an extremely early stage of research this is in."""

false

1746

6295

Looking for answers to rural Wisconsin OB-GYN shortage.

Dr. Alexa Lowry, an obstetrician-gynecologist who grew up in Barron County, returned to her native western Wisconsin for three weeks this fall.

true

1747

8988

California man's research leads him to Beaumont's Proton Therapy Center in Michigan

Irradiation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by photon (X-ray) therapy (left) and proton therapy (right)/Wikipedia This release focuses on one patient’s experiences with proton beam therapy to treat a form of cancer called sacral chordoma. The release is effectively an account of the patient’s diagnosis and his experiences receiving the therapy — but provides little information about potential side effects, cost, or even how well the treatment worked. We’ve published dozens of blog posts and systematic reviews on proton beam therapy; many of which focus on media messages from a single hospital that has invested in the very expensive technology. Using an individual patient to shed light on a form of cancer treatment is not uncommon; focusing on the individual gives readers someone to relate to. However, it is important for news releases or news stories to go beyond individual anecdotes and provide readers with information they can use to make informed decisions about their own treatment options. How expensive is this form of treatment? What are the potential side effects? How effective is it? This release provides no information that readers could apply to their own circumstances. The question in this instance is: why did the care provider deem this to be worthy of a news release? It’s important to keep in mind that the release highlights proton therapy without offering any comparison with any other therapies.

false

1748

18446

Renee Unterman Says state Senate leaders have accepted $142,400 in campaign contributions from dentists and pharmacists during the past two years.

: Half True. Atlanta Journal Constitution staff writer Karishma Mehrotra contributed to this article.

mixture

1749

10590

Colonoscopy Prep in a Pill May Be Easier to Swallow

No info on costs, on harms, or on the scope of benefits – and nothing on the real important measure of whether the approach improved the detection of colon cancer. An improved method of colon prep for colonoscopy would be appreciated by many. But we’re not given sufficient information in this story to judge the true possible merits of the approach the story promotes by simply rewriting a news release.

false

1750

4091

11 hospitalizations linked to vaping in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin health officials said Friday they’ve linked vaping to 11 recent cases where teenagers and young adults developed severe lung disease that required hospitalizations.

true

1751

30363

"""The United States Navy announced that it was christening a ship the """"USS Tig Ol Bitties"""" after an online vote."""

For those who may not get the joke, this fictitious ship’s name is an example of a spoonerism, a bit of word play that swaps the first letters of two words, which was named after William Archibald Spooner, a long-serving don at Oxford University in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

false

1752

15786

In an average grocery store, roughly 75 percent of processed foods contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

"""Donna Nesselbush said, """"In an average grocery store, roughly 75 percent of processed foods contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs."""" Nesselbush quoted a percentage intended to apply to all foods and not restricted to processed foods. Although the figure is widely cited by both sides in the debate, it’s not clear that this is anything more than an estimate. And finally, in the cases of many processed foods created using the sugars, oils and other products of genetically modified organisms, the organisms themselves aren’t present in the food at all. Because the statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context. (If you have a claim you’d like PolitiFact Rhode Island to check, email us at [email protected] And follow us on Twitter: @politifactri.) (Correction: Rhode Island state Rep. Donna Nesselbush represents House District 15, which includes portions of Pawtucket and North Providence. The original version of this item incorrectly reported the community she represents.)"""

mixture

1753

13684

"""National Rifle Association Says Hillary Clinton """"doesn’t believe in your right to keep a gun at home for self-defense."""

"""The NRA said Clinton """"doesn’t believe in your right to keep a gun at home for self-defense."""" Clinton has never said that, nor could she do anything about it on her own even if she wanted to. She would need to rely on a new Supreme Court justice, who would first have to be approved by the currently Republican-led Senate. Clinton did say she disagreed with the Heller ruling, as the NRA points out. But she was talking about specifics and cited the same worries raised by the Bush administration, about looser restrictions on automatic weapons or carrying in public."""

false

1754

39614

An article from the pen of disaster rescuer Doug Copp. He lists some of his observations from being on the scene after earthquakes and introduces what he calls “The Triangle of Life,” which he says can save lives during an earthquake. He rejects the advice of traditional disaster experts and gives suggestions about what to do and where to be during an earthquake.

"""The """"Triangle of Life"""" can save your life during an earthquake """

false

1755

1909

Modern Etiquette: No gluten? No fat? Deal gracefully with that.

“If you would like to dine gluten-free, please ask to see our gluten-free menu.”

true

1756

9858

AIDS Vaccine Is of Modest Help, Fuller Research Says

This follow-up piece draws attention to secondary data analyses of the much talked about AIDS vaccination trial conducted in Thailand. According to the results released in September, the vaccine showed a statistically significant reduction in risk of HIV infection. However, two additional analyses published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine did not find statistical significance. This story underscores the need for healthy skepticism about early announcements of unpublished research. The writer did a nice job explaining different types of analysis and statistical significance, which many physicians and lay people have difficulty grasping.

true

1757

24919

"""McCain """"has opposed stem cell research."""

Obama ad distorts McCain's stem cell position

false

1758

15623

A sitting sheriff cannot be charged except by a warrant issued by a Superior Court judge.

Vectura Group said on Friday a British court had ruled in its favor on the packaging of a generic version of an inhaler made by bigger rival GlaxoSmithKline.

mixture

1759

24029

Everyone in this country has access to health care.

Gov. Rick Perry says everyone has access to health care coverage, even without insurance

false

1760

34157

"""In 2019, Will Smith was """"rushed to hospital"""" and """"diagnosed with a life-threatening disease."""

The Stars News YouTube video consisted of a voice-over script taken from an uncredited source, with a “clickbait” headline that falsely claimed Smith had been “rushed to hospital” and “diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.”

false

1761

4847

Senior citizen wave coming to Garfield County.

Rosemarie Romeo was rushed to Glenwood Medical Center in December 2015, after accidentally misusing her anxiety medication.

true

1762

15286

$700 billion was robbed (from Medicare) to pay for Obamacare.

"""Huckabee said, """"$700 billion was robbed (from Medicare) to fund Obamacare."""" It’s an old claim and an old figure. The law does reduce Medicare spending, but not in the way Huckabee suggests. The Affordable Care Act aims to cut future Medicare costs by reducing payments to private insurers and hospitals, not beneficiaries, though this could indirectly squeeze beneficiaries. The claim is partially accurate but leaves out important context."""

mixture

1763

15593

"""In the last 24 months, 10 rural Texas hospitals have been forced to shut their doors because state leaders"""" chose not to expand Medicaid."""

"""Children’s Defense Fund-Texas said: """"In the last 24 months, 10 rural Texas hospitals have been forced to shut their doors because state leaders have chosen not to invest in our state’s health care systems by rejecting billions in available Medicaid funds to cover more of our state’s uninsured."""" Ten rural hospitals closed, we found, though different hospitals later opened on two sites. Also, as Bresette acknowledged, the non-expansion of Medicaid wasn’t the only reason for the rural closings. Our sense is they occurred due to various squeezes extending, in a few cases, to an owner’s fraudulent acts."""

false

1764

34732

Testing has revealed that eight popular tea brands contain illegal amounts of deadly pesticides.

“It’s now almost 2019,” Fraser wrote in a 1 December 2018 update to her post, “and seeing as how these studies were conducted over four years ago, it is hard to say whether they have changed up the pesticides they are using, or whether they have stopped using them at all.” We concur.

mixture

1765

9630

Experimental procedure aimed at repairing spinal cord shows promise

This story portrays a quadriplegic man who believes a stem cell transplant helped him to recover partial function after a spinal cord injury. The story effectively conveys the devastation of spinal cord injuries and correctly identifies stem cell therapy as an experimental and unproven treatment. However, its thrust that the therapy “shows promise” is misleading; its efficacy has yet to be supported by rigorous trials. The story doesn’t give data on costs, harms, and availability that might have injected balance into the piece. We’ve reviewed other stories that unfairly wow readers up front only to save caveats for the end, including a recent BuzzFeed piece on an experimental device that restored some function to a paralysis patient. But in this case, the story also perpetuates a trend of media coverage that hypes unproven stem cell therapies for various conditions, unfairly raising patient expectations based on isolated and preliminary findings. About 282,000 people in the U.S. are estimated to be living with spinal cord injuries, mainly from vehicle collisions and falls, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Spinal cord injuries can be incomplete, meaning that patients retain some motor or sensory function below the injury, or complete, in which there is a total lack of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. In either case, they almost always result in lifelong disability. Effective emergency care for people with spinal cord injuries and aggressive treatment and rehabilitation can minimize damage to the nervous system and restore some function. However, there is no treatment to repair spinal cord injuries. Stem cells are an active area of research for spinal cord repair, but their potential and associated risks are not clear. According to the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation, stem cells are being studied as a source of new cells and products that could prevent further damage, restore nerve function, generate new nerve cells and guide the regrowth of severed nerve fibers. It says current trials are very small, mostly testing the safety of putting adult stem cells into patients. The question of whether stem cells can safely improve function is years away from being answered. Meanwhile, there’s growing concern about media reports that exaggerate the potential of stem cell therapies that are in early phases of research. This month the International Society for Stem Cell Research issued guidelines to encourage accurate and balanced communication of stem cell science, including setbacks as well as progress.

false

1766

9685

Cell therapy in protective bubble offers hope for diabetes fix

This article does a really nice job of explaining the science behind two studies and appropriately depicting the pace of scientific process. With other news coverage talking about the research getting us “close to a cure” for diabetes, this story took a measured approach that should be posted on the walls of newsrooms everywhere. Yes, you can make a lab study exciting and engaging for readers without overstating the findings. A little more quantification of benefits and risks would have elevated this to five stars. Type I Diabetes is a relatively common illness that takes significant time and expense to manage and is associated with major complications. For years it has seemed we are on the verge of a major breakthrough, but, even with better treatments, this condition remains a major public health problem. All the more reason to be circumspect when describing new research into this area. This story says, “Just because the system produced strong results in mice does not mean people will respond the same way.” Hear us applauding.

true

1767

11089

Lung scans may lead to overdiagnosis: study

We identified three shortcomings – all easily addressed. Costs weren’t mentioned – a big factor in a story about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. No independent expert was quoted. Had there been an independent voice, perhaps some of our comments about evaluating the limitations of the evidence would have been addressed. Putting hard numbers to concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment is a vital health policy issue – and important for journalists to track, as Reuters did with this story.

true

1768

39283

CDC officials issued a formal apology after it was discovered that the 2014 flu vaccine proved ineffective against a common strain of the flu virus.

CDC Apologizes for Ineffective Flu Vaccines

false

1769

1977

Oregon votes to outlaw sale of suicide kits.

Sales of suicide kits, like the do-it-yourself asphyxiation hood used by a man to kill himself late last year, could soon be outlawed in the state of Oregon.

true

1770

11339

New study firmly ties hormone use to breast cancer

"""The story does a good job presenting 2002 data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) on the increased risk of developing breast cancer with prolonged use of HRT (also termed estrogen plus progestin treatment). However, the story does not accurately report the results of the recent JAMA paper: Even women who took estrogen and progestin pills for as little as a couple of years had a greater chance of getting [all types of] cancer."""" There is nothing in this study to contradict the earlier WHI report showing that breast cancer risks start to diverge after about 4 years , not """"a couple of years"""". This article reports on all cancers, not just breast. Nowhere in the JAMA article are all cancers plotted over time to support the assertion of a couple of years. Followed by the assertion that """"…these new findings are likely to end any doubt that the risks outweigh the benefits,"""" this creates the inaccurate impression that there are new data showing breast cancer risks start earlier on in the course of treatment. A second inaccuracy concerns the statements about the size of the observed risk of breast cancer: """"At the peak, the breast cancer risk for pill takers was twice that of the others."""" Not accurate: the hazard ratio was 1.26, indicating a 26% higher breast cancer risk, not 100% higher (which would be twice the risk). Finally, a main point of the article–that cancer risk [presumably all cancer, not just breast] returns to normal roughly 2 years after quitting — is not supported by the study results. JAMA article states """"The HR for overall risk of all malignancies increased from 1.03…to 1.24…in the postintervention period."""" And, """"…a downward inflection in the temporal trend in cumulative HRs for breast cancer was observed over time (not shown) but the observed change…is not statistically significant."""" Despite the misplaced emphasis in the story compared with the source article, public health and cancer specialists put the results of the study in context and reassure women that their risk profile might be different if they are younger or older (women in the study were in their 60’s, typically after menopause is complete). The story lists HRT as one option for treating very bothersome menopausal symptoms; however, HRT should be used judiciously and only for a short time. There are also other options for managing hot flashes and bothersome menopausal symptoms, which the story does not mention. But for some women, low-dose HRT may still be the most appropriate treatment. Women who are considering this choice need accurate information to weigh the risks and benefits of HRT, and the story appropriately provides absolute and relative risks of taking HRT for the short and long-term (5 1/2 years). The story gives number of cases of breast cancer per 1000 women for those who took hormone therapy v. non-users. Lastly, the story does not address the cost of estrogen plus progestin treatment, nor the costs added or saved due to complications of or benefits from that therapy. However, the story advocates for selective use of low-dose HRT."""

true

1771

6798

City sues firefighter foam makers over water contamination.

A Massachusetts city is suing the makers of firefighting foam blamed for water contamination.

true

1772

36575

The most brilliant scientists working for the United States government refuse to vaccinate their children.

Do ‘The Most Brilliant Scientists’ Not Vaccinate Their Own Children?

false

1773

4061

Officials: Tick-borne anaplasmosis on the rise in Maine.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says a tick-borne disease is rising in the state this year and it is a disease that is more dangerous than Lyme disease.

true

1774

9408

Shining a Deadly New Light on Airborne Flu Virus

Australian Michael Hillman fled from harrowing bushfires that hit the beachside town of Malua Bay on New Year’s Eve, only to be faced with a scene of devastation when he returned on Friday.

false

1775

3300

Colorado meatpacker recalls ground beef after E. coli death.

A Colorado meatpacker is recalling more than 132,000 pounds (60,000 kilograms) of ground beef after a suspected E. coli outbreak killed one person and sickened 17, officials said.

true

1776

6302

Scholarships target doctors in Arizona underserved areas.

University of Arizona’s medical school announced Friday that it will give free tuition to some students who commit to working as primary care doctors in underserved areas, an effort to improve access to health care in areas where it’s most lacking.

true

1777

8943

MRI scans shows promise in predicting dementia

This news release announced findings of a study that looked at differences in brain MRI scans between older people who went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and those who did not get the disease. The release said the findings, presented at the Radiological Society of North America meeting in Chicago, suggest MRI scans may one day help predict whether people will develop dementia. The news release mentioned alternative ways to predict Alzheimer’s, but it didn’t say anything about potential harms or costs of using MRIs, and it didn’t explain that the method has not been tested in a clinical trial. A test to predict Alzheimer’s disease might be useful, but anytime such a new test is discussed, one should be reminded of the limited treatment options for anyone who finds they are at higher risk. Costs and potential harms need to be weighed against potential benefits. One of the potential benefits pointed out by the authors is that people who are told they are at risk would have time to make financial and living arrangements in advance of health problems. That’s something every aging person would ideally have on their to-do list, not just those at risk.

mixture

1778

15328

With the exception of baby formula, the federal government does not require any food to carry an expiration date, and state laws vary widely.

"""Oliver said, """"With the exception of baby formula, the federal government does not require any food to carry an expiration date, and state laws vary widely."""" While Oliver’s underlying argument for more regulation can be debated, he’s right to say that the federal government doesn’t require expiration dates on food, and state laws filling in that gap are inconsistent."""

true

1779

1062

Alabama Senate bans nearly all abortions, including rape cases.

Alabama’s state Senate passed a bill on Tuesday to outlaw nearly all abortions, creating exceptions only to protect the mother’s health, as part of a multistate effort to have the U.S. Supreme Court reconsider a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.

true

1780

28410

"""Americans Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan were killed in Tajikistan while cycling through """"Isis territory"""" in order to vindicate their belief in human kindness."""

What's true: Isis militants claimed responsibility for the murders of Austin, Geoghegan, and two other tourists. Austin and Geoghegan had posted several times online about the generosity and kindness they encountered on their round-the-world cycling trip. What's false: There is no evidence Austin and Geoghegan were aware of any terrorist threat in Tajikistan, or that they travelled through that region particularly in order to vindicate their belief in human kindness. There is ample evidence that their trip was motivated by no more than a desire for adventure and life experience.

mixture

1781

29237

"""A second Broward County sheriff’s deputy died suspiciously after """"exposing"""" the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida."""

"""What's true: Two sheriff’s deputies in Broward County, Florida, where the Parkland school shooting took place in February 2018, passed away in April 2018. What's false: Neither man """"exposed"""" anything about the Parkland school shooting, and local officials have not pegged either man's death as """"suspicious."""""""

false

1782

2772

Israel's Oramed a step closer in race for first insulin pill.

Israel’s Oramed, which is racing Novo Nordisk of Denmark to develop the world’s first insulin pill, moved a step closer to its goal on Thursday by announcing successful results from a small mid-stage test.

true

1783

8830

Drug combination reduces colon cancer risk.

Combining a low dose of a targeted cancer-fighter with an anti-inflammatory drug reduces the risk of recurring colorectal polyps, an early sign of colon cancer, by as much as 95 percent, researchers said on Monday.

true

1784

36710

Former Arizona senator John McCain confessed to being a war criminal and to committing treason during the Vietnam War, but he was later pardoned by U.S. President Richard Nixon to spare him from death by firing squad.

President Richard Nixon Pardoned John McCain of War Crimes?

false

1785

433

Chinese officials investigate cause of pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan.

Chinese health authorities said they are investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan, after rumors on social media suggested the outbreak could be linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

true

1786

16234

Before World War II, very few people actually had health insurance.

Carr said before World War II, very few people had health insurance. While Carr doesn’t take into account the advances in medical care over the past 75 years, he’s right. Only about 10 percent of the U.S. population had private health insurance then, generally from an employer-based system.

true

1787

11066

Test Aids Prostate Cancer Treatment

This story describes the upcoming commercialization by Genomic Health and Epic Sciences of a diagnostic blood test which could help determine whether men with advanced prostate cancer should receive new-generation drugs or chemotherapy. The test detects whether the genetic variant AR-V7 is present in tumor cells circulating in the blood stream, and a study in JAMA Oncology found that drugs which target androgen receptors are not as effective as chemotherapy for tumors with the AR-V7 variant. The article does a good job of explaining how this new approach could not only lead to better outcomes for patients by enabling clinicians to tailor treatments to individuals, but could also save money being spent on an expensive class of drugs that would not work for some patients. The story is careful not to overstate how useful the test would be in practice, since there have not yet been randomized clinical trials to quantify the impact on patient survival. However, readers are left somewhat in the dark about how strong the evidence is in favor of the test, and the companies’ claims that there is enough evidence for the test to move into the clinic based on a fairly small retrospective study should have been interrogated. Moreover, readers are not made aware that the lead author has significant ties to the makers of the prostate cancer drugs in question, and the majority of the co-authors are employees of Epic Sciences. A nod to conflicts of interest and the inclusion of independent experts would have provided crucial balance to a story dominated by commercial concerns. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. While new drugs have significantly extended survival times for men in the late stages of the disease, for some men traditional chemotherapy is a better option, so a diagnostic test that would enable doctors to choose which therapy is best could have a significant impact on patient survival. The need for independent sources matters here because there has been a lot of hype around the potential for non-invasive “liquid biopsy” blood tests to tailor treatments to individual patients, and lots of companies are pushing to develop tests. It’s important for readers to know when to trust in the promise of new tests, and when not to believe the hype.

true

1788

8035

China's Xi offers Trump help in coronavirus fight as Wuhan reopens to traffic.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday that he would have China’s support in fighting the coronavirus, as Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak emerged, reopened to incoming traffic.

true

1789

8562

New Zealand orders quarantine for returning citizens in coronavirus battle.

New Zealand will begin moving citizens to compulsory quarantine from Friday as they return from overseas, stepping up its efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus halfway through a four-week nationwide lockdown.

true

1790

14024

More than 32,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence each year.

"""The Safety For All Initiative proposes stronger gun and ammunition restrictions in California. On its website, it says """"More than 32,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence each year."""" That sad statistic checks out, based on an examination of data from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. While the statement is accurate, it needs a key clarification that more than 60 percent of those gun deaths result from suicides. Much of the Safety For All Initiative is designed to make it more difficult for individuals to obtain ammunition for assault-style weapons, not typically associated with suicides."""

true

1791

10513

Stem-cell therapy feels Food and Drug Administration’s pinch

The story provides some key points from both sides of the debate and some caveats. But about one third of the story reads like an advertisement for the procedure. Rather than discussing data/evidence, the story centers on the positive aspects of the unregulated and unsubstantiated approach. New health care interventions may offer great promise and hope to patients with debilitating diseases such as severe arthritis. But news stories on such new ideas simply must help readers evaluate evidence – and this story didn’t do that.

mixture

1792

9006

New breath and urine tests detect early breast cancer more accurately

This news release summarizes a pilot study conducted by Israeli researchers on non-traditional methods for screening for breast cancer. One method employed an electronic nose sensor that measured chemicals in human breath and another analyzed urine samples. The screening methods were 95% and 85% accurate, respectively, according to the release. Key details were missing from the brief summary, including how many patients were screened and whether it was a randomized controlled study. The study was a pilot, designed to develop an accurate statistical model to use when testing urine and exhaled breath samples, according to the journal article, but the release does not tell us that. Cancer screening is a topic of much debate among experts. Some screening methods have a large number of false positive results that may lead to unnecessary or risky biopsies or treatments. This release raises the expectation that cheaper and yet accurate methods could be available soon for breast cancer. But this method would require much larger experiments with many more patients before it could become widely available, if ever.

false

1793

38766

Hundreds of people died after eating Patti LaBelle brand “Patti’s Sweet Potato Pie.”

Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pie Kills Hundreds

false

1794

26063

As of June 23, the COVID-19 death rate is “way down.”

Deaths from the coronavirus have fallen consistently since their peak in late April, and have continued to fall in June even as the number of cases has risen. Experts say deaths lag behind the number of cases. So the trend may reverse.

true

1795

33689

Young women are inserting vodka-soaked tampons as a furtive way of getting drunk.

Sightings: Vodka-soaked tampons were referenced in an episode of the television crime drama CSI (“Two and a Half Deaths,” original air date 8 May 2008). Also, in the TV series The Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (“Rule No. 67: Don’t Kill the Princess,” original air date 13 January 2015), Lilly’s14th birthday party is enlivened by the sudden cascade of her friends into the pool after vodka-soaked tampons have caused severe sensations of burning and stinging in the nether regions of the young partygoers.

false

1796

34829

Handles of shopping carts are laden with germs.

One study ranked grocery cart handles and child seats third on a list of nastiest public items to touch.

true

1797

8610

After-coronavirus, SE Asia strongly favours crackdown on wildlife trade, says WWF.

The coronavirus pandemic has generated overwhelming support for the closure of markets selling illegal wildlife across Southeast Asia, an epicenter of the multi-billion-dollar trade, the World Wildlife Fund said in a public opinion poll on Monday.

true

1798

2305

France reopens euthanasia debate with right-to-die ruling.

France’s top administrative court ruled on Tuesday that doctors should be allowed to take a tetraplegic man off life support after nearly six years in a coma, siding with his wife in a case that has revived a debate about euthanasia.

true

1799

38858

An over-the-counter supplement called Synagen IQ boosts brain function, improves memory and promotes overall wellness.

Synagen IQ Boosts Brain Function and Overall Health

unproven

1800

20780

Many types of fish and shellfish from waters across the state are labeled unsafe to eat.

Jim Florio says fish from New Jersey waters labeled unsafe to eat

true

1801

35154

In February 2020 the Vatican said that Pope Francis and two aides had tested positive for COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus.

At an Ash Wednesday service in the Vatican on Feb. 26, Francis was seen coughing and blowing his nose, causing some observers to speculate that the 83-year-old may have been among hundreds affected by a widespread coronavirus outbreak in Italy:

false

1802

1639

Zimbabwean charged over killing of Cecil the lion.

A Zimbabwean court on Wednesday charged a professional hunter with failing to prevent an American from unlawfully killing ‘Cecil’, the southern African country’s best-known lion, in a case that has triggered widespread revulsion at trophy hunting.

true