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MONDAY, Feb. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that doctors should be cautious about giving newborns antibiotics because they can upset a baby's gut microbiome -- the balance of bacteria in their digestive systems."We were surprised with the magnitude and duration of the effects of broad spectrum antibiotics on the infants' microbiome when compared to effects of those same antibiotics on adults' microbiota," said study leader Dr. Debby Bogaert, chair of pediatric medicine at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. "This is likely because the antibiotic treatment is given at a time that infants have just received their first microbes from their mother and have not yet developed a resilient microbiome," Bogaert said in a university news release.Broad-spectrum...

MONDAY, Feb. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A type of skin cell that plays a significant role in fighting acne has been identified -- a finding researchers say could lead to new ways to treat the common skin ailmentHair follicles have been known to be major factors in acne development, but this study suggests that other skin cells may have a larger impact."These findings may transform the way we treat acne," said study author Dr. Richard Gallo, professor and chairman of dermatology at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. "Previously, it was thought that hair follicles were most important for acne to develop," Gallo said in a university news release. "In this study, we looked at the cells outside of the hair follicle and found they had a major effect on controlling...

MONDAY, Feb. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have discovered differences between the brains of girls and boys with autism that they say may improve diagnosis of the developmental disorder in girls."We detected significant differences between the brains of boys and girls with autism, and obtained individualized predictions of clinical symptoms in girls," said study senior author Vinod Menon, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University. "We know that camouflaging of symptoms is a major challenge in the diagnosis of autism in girls, resulting in diagnostic and treatment delays," Menon said in a university news release.In the study, he and his university colleagues used artificial intelligence to analyze MRI brain scans from 637 boys and 136 girls with...

SUNDAY, Feb. 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- When you break out in hives, you want relief fast. This common skin reaction is characterized by itchy bumps or raised, swollen patches. Fortunately, hives are usually harmless and short-lived, a Chicago dermatologist says."A single hive tends to last for a few minutes to a few hours. Most hives clear within 24 hours," Dr. Danilo Del Campo said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release.Several factors, including sunlight, stress and an allergic reaction to food or medicine, can cause hives, also known as urticaria.While anyone can get hives, Black women, people who have eczema, and smokers are at increased risk.If you have darker skin, hives are often the same color or slightly darker or lighter. If you have lighter skin, hives will...