The first known epidemic of extensively drug-resistant typhoid is spreading through Pakistan, infecting at least 850 people in 14 districts since 2016, according to the National Institute of Health Islamabad.
The strain is expected to disseminate globally, replacing weaker strains where they are endemic. Experts have identified only one remaining oral antibiotic — azithromycin — to combat it; one more genetic mutation could make typhoid untreatable in some areas.
Caffeine tied to babies born overweight
Consuming caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk for obesity in childhood, researchers report. A Norwegian study, in BMJ Open, involved 50,943 mother-infant pairs. After adjusting for other variables, the scientists found that compared with the children of women who consumed less than 50 milligrams of caffeine a day, those whose mothers had more than 300 milligrams a day — two to three cups of coffee — were 29-44 percent more likely to be overweight through age 8.
Steroid SARMs carries safety risks
Many athletes and gym-goers are turning to a potentially dangerous new pill to help them build muscle and gain strength: a steroid alternative known as SARMs. The pills are widely marketed online as "legal steroids," but health authorities warn of the potential for an increased risk of liver toxicity, heart attacks and strokes.
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