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pubhealth

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Capsaicin, the spice-causing molecule in chili peppers, can help beat breast cancer.

All told, the potential cancer fighting properties of capsaicin are not all that new, but the discovery of this specific pathway for a capsaicin-like chemical to exploit is an exciting (if extremely preliminary) step in the fight against this extremely common form of cancer.

unproven

401

2466

Scientists to cook world's first in-vitro beef burger.

A corner of west London will see culinary and scientific history made on Monday when scientists cook and serve up the world’s first lab-grown beef burger.

true

402

35147

Drinking boiled garlic water will cure COVID-19.

BBC News similarly reported of this rumor that:

false

403

8169

Faced with a shortage of face masks, some U.S. doctors make their own.

Doctors in Seattle have been reduced to making their own face masks out of sheets of plastic, after a global shortage of medical protective gear has hit Washington state, an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

true

404

2592

Italy court ruling links mobile phone use to tumor.

Italy’s supreme court has upheld a ruling that said there was a link between a business executive’s brain tumor and his heavy mobile phone usage, potentially opening the door to further legal claims.

true

405

9165

Technique improves breast reduction outcomes

This news release from Louisiana State Health Sciences Center summarizes results from a retrospective study of two different surgical procedures used in cosmetic breast reduction. The release claims that a modified version of reduction surgery results in fewer cases of breast pseudoptosis, also called “bottoming out” or sagging breasts. The release adequately notes that the research was a retrospective review (as opposed to a randomized clinical trial) examining the anatomic differences seen in the use of two recognized surgical approaches — and that 92 percent of surgeries performed on 400 breasts (208 patients) used the Wise pattern incision, which purportedly interferes with the lower suspensory ligaments, and just 7.5 percent used a Boston modification of Robertson technique, which preserves the lower suspensory ligaments. No explanation was given for the wide disparity in procedures analyzed. And it leaves out some other important information from the research. Although the release claims the Boston modification technique is superior to the Wise incision, the published analysis didn’t demonstrate the superiority of the Boston modification procedure. The release didn’t say why the operating surgeon chose one approach over the other. This is important because it may have been based on preference, skill or patient anatomy. Reduction mammaplasty is a relatively common plastic surgery procedure with a goal of an aesthetic result. In 2015, there were 68,106 aesthetic breast reduction surgeries in the United States, with men accounting for more than 40 percent of those procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Differences in the surgical approach and surgical outcomes result are an important consideration for women and men who seek the procedure. The debate over the best approach has been ongoing for years and while this research adds to the suggestion that the Boston modified Robertson approach may provide superior results with regard to breast sagging, it is not definitive.

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Oregon plans meetings on proposed controlled burn rules.

Oregon agencies are holding a series of public meetings on measures aimed at reducing wildfire smoke by increasing controlled burns during non-fire seasons.

true

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33787

"""Sororities are outlawed on certain campuses because local """"brothel laws"""" prohibit more than a specified number of females from living together."""

"""We have heard from many students who were convinced their particular university lacks a sorority because of local """"law."""""""

false

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7621

Windsor doctor joining direct primary care movement.

Dr. Emily Anderson-Elder carefully considered her patient’s symptoms:

true

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8853

"""New kind of gene """"silencing"""" drug works in monkeys."""

A new class of drug that fine tunes the action of genes has been shown to cut cholesterol in monkeys and may fight a range of ills, including hepatitis C and perhaps cancer, scientists said on Wednesday.

true

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7084

Activists warn Balkan rivers at risk from hydropower plants.

Unspoiled rivers in the Balkans are facing new dangers from small hydropower plants that have sprouted up across the region in recent years, environmental experts warned Thursday.

true

411

28638

A photograph shows a red blood cell on the tip of a needle.

What's true: The image shows a representation of a red blood cell on a needle's point. What's false: It is not a single photograph, but a composite of two or more images.

mixture

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10844

Cholesterol Drugs May Treat Psoriasis

"""This 627 word story attempts to summarize a 404 word abstract submitted at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. In doing so, it fails to meet even the most simple requirements. The story fails to note the """"study"""" was a retrospective review of patients and not a prospective trial, fails to discuss confounding variables such as additional treatments for psoriasis and fails to describe the methodological issues associated with the use of non-validated single observer measurement of outcome. While the story includes some attempts to temper the enthusiasm expressed in the headline, it does so inadequately. The headline and beginning of this story are overly enthusiastic about a long stream of potential benefits from statins. Stories shouldn’t lump all of this together because the evidence is quite variable and, in this case, quite weak."""

false

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29022

Fireball whisky is being recalled due to concerns over a dangerous ingredient.

What's true: In 2014, some Scandinavian state agencies recalled Fireball whisky until they could determine if it met local regulations regarding propylene glycol content. What's false: Fireball whisky has been broadly recalled from all markets because it contains antifreeze.

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From parade to pandemic: Museum looks at 1918′s deadly flu.

On Sept. 28, 1918, in the waning days of World War I, over 200,000 people gathered along Broad Street in Philadelphia for a parade meant to raise funds for the war effort. Among the patriotic throngs cheering for troops and floats was an invisible threat, which would be more dangerous to soldiers and civilians than any foreign enemy: the influenza virus.

true

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7042

Teen baseball player finds alternative to Tommy John surgery.

The pitching gods have naturally blessed Sammy Rosenfield. He’s just 14 years old but already stands 6 feet 5 inches and has a wingspan that would rival that of Red Sox ace Chris Sale. He was an all-star for his local AAU baseball team before he tore a ligament in his elbow playing basketball.

true

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9199

Anti-inflammatory diet could reduce risk of bone loss in women

Drugmakers including Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMY.N), Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O), and Biogen Inc (BIIB.O) hiked U.S. list prices on more than 50 drugs on Wednesday, bringing total New Year’s Day drug price increases to more than 250, according to data analyzed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.

true

417

5253

Colleges’ message to ease student stress: Failure is normal.

Bentley University has plenty of success stories among its faculty and alumni. But one recent evening, the school invited students to hear about the failures.

true

418

4057

Illinois illnesses from insect bites increased by 58 percent.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning the public to take precautions against tick and mosquito bites, saying reported cases of infections have increased over the past decade.

true

419

21958

Roughly 700 Georgians die needlessly each year because they are too far from a trauma center.

Trauma Centers Save Lives Just Not as Many as People Think

false

420

9727

New Support for Home Births U.K. board NICE, in a surprise, rules having a baby at home is safer than a hospital in some low-risk pregnancies

The story looks at guidance from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — and related research — to pregnant women. Specifically, the guidance says home births pose fewer risks than hospital births for woman with low-risk pregnancies who are not having their first child. The story features plenty of expert views on both sides of this issue and is well-reported overall. However, it does little to explain the difference in risk between home and hospital births to readers — and it never defines what constitutes a “low-risk” pregnancy in this context. Giving birth is an intensely personal experience, and therefore the decision about where to give birth is an extremely personal decision. It’s also a decision that can affect the health and well-being of both mother and child. More than 3.9 million children were born in the U.S. in 2013, so this is clearly a subject that affects a great many people, and the range of factors that come into play when making that decision is significant. A story that specifically highlights a reported reduction in risk for at least some home births should be sure to clearly articulate that difference in risk, and to explain precisely how those risks change for both mother and child.

true

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17278

As attorney general, I have prosecuted judges, district attorneys and other public officials across Texas who violated that (public) trust, who have been corrupted.

"""Abbott said, """"As attorney general, I have prosecuted judges, district attorneys and other public officials across Texas who violated that (public) trust, who have been corrupted."""" During Abbott’s decade-plus as attorney general, his office has helped prosecute 104 cases against public officials across Texas -- 61 of them appearing to involve public corruption and five of those against judges, a county attorney and a DA."""

true

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20969

A database police use to look up wanted suspects excludes certain warrants issued by Atlanta Municipal Court.

City: Criminal database lacks some Atlanta warrants

true

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10511

Less body fat for toddlers taking vitamin D

This release summarizes an unexpected finding observed during follow-up of a study that looked at the impact of vitamin D3 supplementation on bone density in young children. The release claims in one section that at 3 years old, children that had been given vitamin D supplementation in infancy (during the ages of 1 month to 12 months old) appear to have reduced body fat and improved muscle mass. In another section, the release states “there were no significant differences in body composition across the different dosage groups” (the children were given either 400, 800, 1200 or 1600 IU/day). The journal article on which the release is based also states that there were no differences in body (muscle) mass between the groups of children given different doses of vitamin D.  The headline and some of the content appear to be discordant with the main findings — that higher vitamin D stores among those given supplements were associated with “around 450 grams less body fat at 3 years of age.” The release also omits cost, harms and funding sources. This is an important topic because we are in the midst of a childhood obesity epidemic and need better approaches to prevent childhood obesity. All of the children in this study received vitamin D supplements. Some were given more than others, but the researchers reported no differences in body composition (just body fat) between the various dosage groups. Yet, because the term body composition and body mass are used interchangeably, readers of the release may be left with the idea that giving kids vitamin D supplements reduces body fat and increases muscle mass. (It’s probably important here to note that the term “body composition” refers to both body fat and lean mass. The release several times refers to improved body composition when the study clearly noted there was a correlation only with reduced body fat.) We often see confusion between correlation and causation, but this release appears to wrongly claim causation for changes in body composition where there wasn’t any.

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"""A study proved e-cigarette use (or vaping) leads to an incurable condition known as """"popcorn lung."""

What's true: A December 2015 Harvard study concluded that diacetyl, which is associated with popcorn lung, is present in e-cigarettes,. What's false: The Harvard study did not prove a link between e-cigarettes and popcorn lung; it simply stated that the possibility should be explored through additional research.

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Massachusetts collecting data on possible vaping illnesses.

Massachusetts health officials are mandating the collection of data on potential cases of lung disease related to the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping.

true

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15652

"""Said President Barack Obama """"said he was going to stop (signature strikes)."""

"""Clarke said, """"President Obama said he was going to stop (signature strikes)."""" As far as we can tell, Obama has never said himself that he would stop signature drone strikes, which killed two western civilian hostages. An unnamed administration official implied that signature strikes would eventually be phased out, though without any details. In any case, the drone program in Pakistan, which killed the hostages, was generally exempt from these rules. Clarke’s claim suggests that Obama did something he said he wouldn’t do anymore, but that isn’t the case."""

false

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15422

The House of Representatives just voted 300-131 to remove ‘country-of-origin labeling’ on chicken, pork, and beef sold in the U.S.

"""""""The House of Representatives just voted 300-131 to remove ‘country-of-origin labeling’ on chicken, pork, and beef sold in the United States,"""" according to a Facebook meme. The bill in question seeks to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling or COOL from ground and muscle cuts of chicken, pork, and beef. The House passed it in June this year with a 300-131 vote, after Canada and Mexico said the consumer rights law was unfair to foreign hog farmers and cattle ranchers and threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs. The Senate has yet to decide on the labeling law’s fate and, at this early stage, there has been support for making COOL voluntary. While country-of-origin labeling isn’t quite dead meat, the House voted for repeal."""

true

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36279

"""Beyond Meat"""" and """"Impossible Burger"""" foods have nearly identical ingredients to dog food."""

Are ‘Beyond Meat’ or ‘Impossible Burger’ Ingredients Indistinguishable From Dog Food?

false

429

21353

We have had over 40 days this summer where it was unsafe to breathe the air.

How dangerous is it to breathe Atlanta air?

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PCSK9-Inhibitor Drug Class That Grew Out of UT Southwestern Research Becomes a Game-Changer for Patient with Extremely High Cholesterol

Frank Brown, the subject of this news release, with Dr. Khera, his cardiologist.This news release describes one patient’s response to a “game-changing” new drug designed to help patients manage their cholesterol, and offers a brief history of how this class of drug was developed and how they work. The release offers only anecdotal data on the drug’s efficacy — it offers numbers for only one patient. What’s more, the release doesn’t even tell readers which drug the patient took (though it narrows it down to one of two drugs). It also tells readers nothing about costs or potential harms, and describes high cholesterol as a disease — instead of as a risk factor for disease. High levels of cholesterol, especially high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol relative to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, are widely considered a significant risk factor for heart disease. However, it is only a risk factor — it is not a disease in itself. It is important for news releases to characterize this distinction clearly, particularly when the focus of the release is a drug treatment that costs thousands of dollars and carries health risks of its own. That said, the larger question here is why a health research institution issued a news release that offers only anecdotal data on the health of a single patient taking an unspecified drug.

false

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5144

Producers grapple with UW Health’s shift from local food.

In February of this year, Tommy Stauffer of Vitruvian Farms in McFarland went to meet with UW Health. Vitruvian had been selling salad greens, tomatoes and microgreens to the hospital’s cafeterias for more than three years.

true

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2035

Device treatment may silence ringing in the ears.

A new treatment that retrains part of the brain that processes sound may help silence tinnitus — a ringing in the ears that afflicts 10 percent of senior citizens and more than 40 percent of military veterans, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

true

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39784

  An abandoned “ghost ship” full of Ebola-infected rats will make landfall in Florida.

Ghost Ship Full of Ebola Rats Headed Toward U.S. – Fiction!

false

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16972

"""Brett Hulsey Says opponent Mary Burke told reporters she would have """"required workers to give up bargained-for healthcare and retirement benefits like Gov. Walker."""

"""Hulsey claimed Burke told Journal Sentinel reporters and editors that she """"would have required workers to give up bargained-for healthcare and retirement benefits like Gov. Walker."""" There’s an element of truth here in that Burke did say she backed benefits cuts in the same areas as Walker got, and was confident she could have achieved them. But Hulsey’s phrasing makes it sound like Burke backs Walker’s approach. That’s a huge stretch given that she would have left collective bargaining intact and tried to negotiate the cost-cutting moves."""

false

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5787

Education, climate change, health care on lawmakers’ agenda.

The Oregon Legislature convened Tuesday for the 2019 session, aiming to improve the state’s lagging public schools — and find the revenue to accomplish that, address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promote access to health care and housing.

true

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30095

An advertisement sought paid participants to take part in the Central American caravan to the U.S.

British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Monday the European Commission approved its diabetes drug Forxiga for use as an oral supplement to insulin in adults with a rare type of the disease.

false

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29012

The soft drinks Coca-Cola and Pepsi used as pesticides by farmers in India.

To what extent farmers in India might currently be using soft drinks in place of pesticides, and just how effective that technique might be, are yet to be determined.

mixture

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California governor has doubts about tougher vaccine rules.

Gov. Gavin Newsom says he has concerns about enacting tougher rules that limit doctors from granting medical exemptions for children’s vaccinations.

true

439

9904

A prenatal fix to a twin threat

Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome is a serious, progressive condition that occurs almost exclusively in identical twins (because they share the same placenta) when they are in the womb. This story profiled a successful procedure using selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for Twin-to-Twin Syndrome which resulted in the birth of two healthy babies. However, this piece tends to downplay the likelihood of an unsuccessful outcome, especially for severe cases. It lacks balance in presenting the risk and benefits of another common treatment option and provided no insights from an independent expert. It should have mentioned that treatment for Twin-to-Twin syndrome is an area of evolving research and there is uncertainty over which cases will benefit and to what degree from available treatment options. Further, while seemingly healthy babies may be born, there is less research about their long-term prognosis and potential for serious developmental and health problems.

false

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28324

In 1998, Senator Chuck Schumer was caught taking $1 million in excessive campaign contributions and failing to properly disclose $4.6 million in expenses, for which he was fined $138,000.

"""What's true: Schumer's 1998 campaign was assessed a fine of $130,000 by the FEC for """"excessive contributions"""" and """"improperly disclosed disbursements."""" What's false: The fine was primarily related to accounting issues and did not involve the campaign's accepting contributions from prohibited sources or engaging in other prosecutable activity."""

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“People Of Color May Be Immune To The Coronavirus Because Of Melanin.”

Melanin is a natural pigment that gives color to skin and eyes. It does not make you any less susceptible to coronavirus.

false

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10083

Knee Replacement Getting Easier

This story presented a knee replacement system that is portrayed as greatly reducing recover time and discomfort. This information would be of interest to individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee who may be wondering about the options available for relief of their knee pain. This piece, however, failed to put this medical device in the context of other options available to patients and did not include hard facts, such as costs, the type of patients for whom it might be an option, or how long the device has been shown to last or how long it can be expected to last. This is the sort of information, along with some acknowledgement of other treatment options, that is valuable to consumers for decision making about knee replacement. And CBS afforded plenty of time to discuss such important issues – a rare 5 1/2 minutes. But much of that time was devoted to weepy testimonials from a single patient. Showing one patient standing and walking in the hospital post-op, and then on the golf course shortly thereafter, may not be representive of all patient experiences. We can’t know that because we are given no summary of other patient experiences. In this, and other ways, this story ended up mired in a sand trap.

false

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"""The 'Old Farmer's Almanac' predicted an """"alarming number of snowstorms"""" for the 2019 to 2020 winter season."""

Did Old Farmer’s Almanac Predict an Alarming Number of Snowstorms This Winter?

false

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8620

Too soon to ease anti-virus curbs, Swiss say as new cases decelerate.

It is too early to consider easing measures that restrict the spread of the new coronavirus, Switzerland’s health minister said on Monday, even as neighbouring Austria sketched out plans to start loosening a national lockdown.

true

445

4787

Federal lawsuit targets West Virginia foster care system.

The overwhelmed foster care system in opioid-ravaged West Virginia has failed to protect children, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

true

446

11584

Protein urine test may signal prostate cancer

This is a story about a study for a test under development, the results of which suggest that it may be better able to predict which diagnosed prostate cancers are aggressive and which are not. This would be an exciting development as indicated by the spokesperson from the UK Prostate Charity. However – the story should have tempered its enthusiasm a bit until the results have been reproduced. A better test would have fewer false positives and be less likely to detect clinically unimportant disease. In addition, it would be useful to remind readers that it is one thing to properly identify disease that is aggressive but more important to be able to identify aggressive disease still sufficiently early in its course that it can be treated before metastasis takes place.

false

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17294

Marijuana contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco.

"""When Michael Cerullo said, """"Marijuana contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco,"""" he was quoting a reputable source. But we could find no evidence that marijuana smoke contains more kinds of cancer-causing chemicals. And evidence on whether marijuana smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals is hazy at best. It depends on whether you are talking about smoke inhaled by the user, or second-hand smoke. On this burning issue, because the statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. (If you have a claim you’d like PolitiFact Rhode Island to check, email us at [email protected] And follow us on Twitter: @politifactri.)"""

false

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7708

Death toll nears 400 in India's flood-hit Kerala, dozens missing.

The death toll in India’s southern state of Kerala rose on Monday to nearly 400 after its worst flood in a century, as authorities handed out medicine and disinfectants to ward off disease in thousands of relief camps.

true

449

37737

Condom manufacturer Durex created a coronavirus advertisement comparing face masks to condoms.

A COVID-19 themed, purported condom advertisement labeled “Durex have smashed it with this lockdown advert” featuring a comparison between a condom and a mask spread in June and July 2020, but it didn’t appear to be the work of Durex or any agency working on their behalf. Durex did create pandemic-specific advertisements, but the campaign did not feature masks, and it had a completely different hashtag and focus. The creator of the image remains unknown, but Durex never seemed to claim the image for itself despite its global popularity — making it unlikely that it was specifically commissioned or endorsed by the company.

unproven

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11176

Researchers Make Progress With Insomnia

This story covers a relatively new area of research into the biology of sleep. The story would have been more valuable had it contained some more pertinent background and context. It details the early stage development of a drug being studied as a treatment for insomnia that differs from the currently available drugs used as sleep aids. This story included little evidence other than a brief mention that the drug discussed blocked the receptors in the brain for a protein known as orexin. The story did not accurately present the information in the research paper that it was reporting on. For example, the article suggest that the drug induces sleep when it actually was found to reduce latency to sleep. The study found that at higher doses, the drug decreased time to sleep as compared to placebo. This was not mentioned in the story. The story should have made clear that the early-phase studies were done in a total of 70 healthy adults. There has not yet been any examination of whether this drug has any efficacy for people actually suffering with insomnia. The story mentioned that cataplexy is a potential side effect that may be seen with use of this drug and that the studies to date have not eliminated the chance that it may be a problem. However the story failed to present a sufficiently complete picture of the role of orexin in the human brain for the reader to understand the complexity. Orexins are involved in appetite, regulation of growth hormone and leutinizing hormone as well as sleep. It is a bit simplistic to assume that the blocking of the receptors would only produce sleep. It is also important to note that the study used single doses of the drug in the human subjects. The story did not give an idea how big the potential harms or benefits may be. Several experts in the field were quoted. Though clear that this drug acts differently than those currently on the market they were also clear to point out that the potential for this drug must be viewed with some skepticism until the quality of the sleep induced and the extent to which side effects occur can be established.

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"""Kathryn Starkey """"joined forces with liberal Democrats on a historic sales tax hike."""

"""""""Taxin' Kathryn"""" Starkey draws fire over 2004 local sales tax"""

false

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32183

Twenty-three states have agreed to enact a total ban on all forms of hollow point ammunition.

Associated Media Coverage expanded their scope into darker yet unfunny fake news items, including claims a transgender bathroom controversy-related shooting resulted in someone’s death (appearing during nationwide debate over the issue), Casey Anthony planned to open a home daycare center, a dead baby was found in a Walmart DVD bin, and Jodi Arias was granted early release from prison.

false

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4180

Kentucky issues harmful algae warning for Ohio River.

Kentucky's Division of Water and Department for Public Health are issuing a public health advisory for harmful algal bloom along the Ohio River.

true

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5899

North Carolina confirms 2nd death from Legionnaires’ disease.

North Carolina health officials have confirmed a second death from Legionnaires’ disease linked to a hot tub display at a fair.

true

455

36706

A commentary titled, “Getting to Know the Real John McCain” by Burma Davis Posey began making the rounds in August 2017 after Senator McCain voted against the GOP’s plan to repeal Obamacare.

Getting to Know the Real John McCain by Burma Davis Posey

true

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13901

"""The folks in Washington"""" are """"already forcing you to buy government health care."""

"""Beruff said Washington politicians are """"already forcing you to buy government health care."""" His statement makes a sweeping generalization, but there is some truth to the """"forcing"""" part. The individual mandate incentivizes individuals to have health care or face a tax penalty. Of course, the choice is still theirs. The bigger problem is Beruff’s use of """"government health care."""" This talking point was flawed around the law’s passage six years ago, and it’s no more accurate now. Just as before, the country’s health care system largely depends on the free market."""

false

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13432

"""Tom DeLay Says most illegal immigrants draw """"welfare benefits, they’re sending their kids to school, they’re using the public services."""

"""DeLay said most illegal immigrants draw """"welfare benefits, they’re sending their kids to school, they’re using the public services."""" People living in the U.S. without authorization indeed draw on public services including government-supported hospitals. Also, children of all origins attend public schools. But counter to DeLay’s prime point, adults lacking legal residency are barred by law from government programs that fit the """"welfare"""" category. Parents still may seek benefits, though, for their child-citizens. The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context. "

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Acupressure for menstrual pain

This news release, issued by a university in Berlin, Germany, concludes that use of an app-based acupressure program can achieve a “sustained reduction in menstrual pain” in some women when assessed at 3- and 6-month intervals. The release does a reasonable job of describing the study outcomes, how researchers went about conducting a randomized controlled trial using a “self care” app, and in describing statistically significant pain reduction over six months in some women. Careful readers will likely come away with the idea that acupressure — essentially massage and manipulation applied to certain parts of the torso — is not the final answer to menstrual pain. The release could have done more to make clear that hormone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were still used by the study participants, and to better list the adverse effects. As the release notes, most young women experience cramps, bloating, headaches, backaches, and other discomforts — often severe — at some point of their lives during their monthly menses. An entire industry, pharmaceutical and otherwise, has grown up around this perpetual “market,” with a growing complementary/alternative “self-care” therapy sector that includes yoga, meditation, herbal medicines, and app-based regimens. As the study summary reports, research results on the use of acupressure for menstrual pain relief have been inconclusive or negative, and controlled clinical trials of the technique are extremely rare. Thus, a release with positive results, about a distinctly, albeit limited, controlled trial in more than 200 women, is newsworthy and could encourage the use of smart phone apps for this purpose. That makes it all the more important to include as many important details about the makeup of the study group and the quality of the data as possible. Because acupressure is considered safe, its use as an add-on to drug and other active therapies has the potential to be widely and inexpensively adapted. But potential users of the method also need to be aware that more research, with longer follow-ups, will be needed to determine accupressure’s true effectiveness over time.

true

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4790

Study: Iowa nitrogen pollution in the water is getting worse.

Nitrogen pollution flowing out of Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico has grown by close to 50 percent over nearly two decades, a new report shows, despite hundreds of millions of dollars spent to stem nutrients entering the state’s waterways.

true

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10328

Health Experts Call For Heart Checkups For Kids

The death of a young athlete during exercise is a rare but nonetheless heartbreaking event. Some experts believe that these tragedies can be prevented by subjecting all student athletes to screening with an electrocardiogram (EKG). This story tilts strongly toward those who advocate this view and emphasizes a couple of positive anecdotes from children who benefited from an EKG. However, it provides no data demonstrating that this approach would identify more children at risk than current screening methods based on family history, personal medical history, and a thorough physical exam. Moreover, no attempt is made to balance the story with discussion of the costs and potential harms that frequent use of EKGs would entail. In the end, the story delivered a one-sided view of an issue that demanded a more nuanced treatment. A new screening program for heart abnormalities could potentially save lives but would entail significant costs and carry risks for some children. But one-sided expert arguments and supportive anecdotes do not give readers a balanced view of what is a very complicated story.

false

461

10000

New Drug Helps Treatment-Resistant Arthritis

This WebMD story offers an interesting approach to covering a clinical trial for a new arthritis drug. It provides many more numbers than the typical story but very little commentary, no cost information, no analysis of the quality of the evidence, and no explanation of how this drug fits into the bigger picture of arthritis treatment. In the hunt for a better arthritis drug researchers, and reporters, have to take care to present the evidence clearly and in context. We wish more stories would include this many numbers to back up information about purported benefits and harms, but stories also need to help readers understand what the numbers mean. That’s where more analysis and strong, independent voices are crucial.

false

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17160

"""Paul Broun Says U.S. Reps. Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston have """"even changed votes to what I voted, multiple times."""

Broun says campaign rivals following his lead

false

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1065

Vietnam to mobilize military in fight against African swine fever.

Vietnam said it will mobilize its military and police forces to help combat the outbreak of African swine fever that has already resulted in the culling of about 4% of the country’s pig herd.

true

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12460

I think if you look at the entire federal government and the president’s commitment to (fighting opioid addiction), you’ll see that there are actually hundreds of millions of dollars increase on this issue.

"""Citing Trump’s commitment to fight the country’s opioid crisis, Price said the government is already spending """"hundreds of millions of dollars"""" more to that end. More funding was approved in the recent Congressional omnibus bill to keep the government running, but other policies he’s seeking to pursue -- notably cuts to Medicaid -- could wipe out that increase and then some."""

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Promising 'better days,' Macron extends France's lockdown until May 11.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced he was extending a virtual lockdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak until May 11, adding that progress had been made but the battle not yet won.

true

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28054

President Donald Trump said: “I have signed a letter to Congress to make clear that if they send any legislation to my desk that weakens the protection of human life, I will issue a veto … Every child is a sacred gift from God … Every life is worth protecting … We know that every life has meaning and that every life is worth protecting.”

Though the words were rearranged and excerpted, the sections of text enclosed in the quotation marks of the meme were word-for-word reflections of Trump’s remarks. As such, the claim is mostly true.

true

467

14184

There’s no data that says a gun-free zone has saved lives.

""": O’Neill says """"there’s no data that says a gun-free zone has saved lives."""" He is correct. There is no definitive data to say that a gun-free zone has saved lives. In part, that’s because the CDC has been blocked from studying anything related to firearms for the last 20 years. And also because """"saved lives"""" are hard to quantify. However, there are many anecdotes, scholarly articles and federal studies with data showing that just the presence of guns can cause anxiety and increase aggressive behavior. Plus, there are the teachers who accidentally shot themselves on school grounds. And yes, there are the cases in which the """"good guys"""" prevail."""

true

468

26931

"Viral image says John F. Kennedy ""smoked cannabis in the White House, while president, because he suffered from severe back pain and Addison's disease."""

One unconfirmed, secondhand report says Kennedy smoked marijuana once at the White House. No evidence is available to back the idea that Kennedy regularly used marijuana at the White House because of his physical ailments.

false

469

29026

U.S. farmers are saturating wheat crops with the herbicide Roundup as a desiccant before each harvest, causing an increase in wheat-related ailments.

What's true: RoundUp (glyphosate) is sometimes used as a desiccant to alter the timing of wheat harvests, but that practice is far from common in the United States. What's false: Claims that the practice is both widespread and the cause of digestive ailments are unsupported by credible evidence or accurately reported data.

mixture

470

11435

Sweet news for chocoholics

"""This story reported on the latest study, among """"mounting evidence"""", that suggests that small amounts of dark chocolate may slightly lower blood pressure. But the story never explained how much blood pressure dropped in the study. It never explained anything about how the research was done. It didn’t cite the source of the new evidence. It didn’t interview anyone involved in the research, nor did it reflect any meaningful input from anyone knowledgeable about this area of research. (CBS did interview a Center for Science in the Public Interest spokesperson, but the clips they chose to use from her interview didn’t add much.) While this report at least hinted that portion size control was an important factor, the story contained a very limited amount of factual information for consumers to use for decision making."""

mixture

471

6760

Vulnerable people disappeared, regulators didn’t know.

Willie Lee Shell, who is deaf and unable to speak, disappeared from Upstate Residential Care three times in two months, according to Anderson police records. The fourth time he disappeared, he was gone for days before anyone called police.

true

472

7439

Tennessee county adding public health jobs with fed funds .

The mayor of Tennessee’s largest county says the health department wants to hire scores of employees from funds provided by the federal coronavirus response assistance package.

true

473

27575

"""Under certain conditions, lionesses can grow manes and develop """"masculine behavior""""."""

According to New Scientist, this is not an active area of research — so it may be some time before we have more answers about the origin of the phenomenon.

true

474

26525

“Non-essential people get to file for unemployment and make two to three times more than normal,” but essential workers still on the job get no pay raise.

Some lower-wage workers collecting unemployment can receive two or three times the amount they were paid on the job. That’s the result of a $600-per-week federal unemployment bonus that’s available from April through July of 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak. The stimulus does not raise pay for people still on the job.

mixture

475

9625

New Eczema Treatments Could Be Available Soon

This story is an overview about a couple of drugs that treat eczema by preventing the immune system from overreacting. So far, the drugs are faring well in clinical trials, and the companies behind them plan to seek FDA approval later this year. This story is clear that availability of the drugs must await that approval, but the headline—New Eczema Treatments Could Be Available Soon—ignores the uncertainty surrounding FDA drug approvals. (We saw a similar level of excessive optimism in our review of a news release on a different drug: PR release on mid-stage eczema drug trial suggests benefit but doesn’t quantify.) The new drugs may, as sources attest, be “safer and potentially more effective” than existing medications. But the story gives short shrift to explaining the clinical evidence underlying those conclusions and offers no information about potential conflicts of interest among the sources. Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, afflicts millions of individuals and is so severe in an estimated 1.6 million that it limits social life and leads to bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts. Steroid creams help but bring with them long-term side effects. Newer immune modulator drugs may minimize side effects while providing substantial relief.

mixture

476

28216

Donald Trump said in the good old days, protesters were harshly dealt with and carried away on stretchers.

It’s mostly accurate to say that Trump made the remarks attributed to him in this image (along with numerous similar statements at multiple other rallies), but the use of the iconic Kent State photograph to accompany those remarks was someone’s editorial choice (in the sense that Trump didn’t literally advocate shooting political protesters nor did he directly reference the Kent State shootings in the course of what many news outlets described as increasingly violent rhetoric). The juxtaposition of Trump’s words with the historically significant Kent State image was illustrative in nature, although Trump has repeatedly stated a desire to see individuals protesting at his campaign events treated roughly (i.e., without “political correctness”).

true

477

9599

Stem cell research aims to put an end to root canals

This story emanates from a research award given to researchers at the University of Nottingham by the UK-based Royal Society of Chemistry to study the use of native stem cells to repair dental tissue. It says stem cells could allow patients to regrow decayed material inside their teeth: “Instead of the current dental materials used on fillings, which are toxic to cells, the new approach harnesses stem cells instead.” The story makes clear that this idea is far from being tested on humans but strays into the realm of stem cell hype by asserting that it might someday offer “significant benefits” to millions of patients and even “put an end to root canals.” This material, according to the researchers, has been studied in cell culture and is about to be studied in rodents. Suggesting at this point that it might offer any benefits is a stretch at best and suggesting that its use in repair of dental caries could “put an end to root canals” is absurd. The story inflates the benefits, ignores the risks and provides no counterbalance by experts in the field. Root canals are commonly performed when an existing dental filing fails. The notion of doing away with root canals makes a tantalizing headline. More than 15 million root canals are performed every year, according to the American Association of Endodontists. A material that could reduce the risk of failure by helping the tooth to repair decayed material, could be an important advance. But headlines should be saved for research that involves humans, and not cell clusters.

false

478

9176

Free lung-cancer screening in the Augusta area finds more than double the cancer rate of previous screenings

The news release reports on a journal article about a lung cancer screening initiative in the Augusta, Georgia, area. The screening initiative found that eight of 264 “high-risk” individuals — or 3 percent — had lung cancer. The release notes 3 percent is “more than double” the 1.1 percent lung cancer rate found among high-risk individuals in a national study launched in 2002. Overall, the release provides some useful information but is unbalanced in its portrayal of screening. It cites survival statistics that inflate the true benefits of screening. And it doesn’t address a common harm of any screening test — the potential for false positive results that would lead to more invasive, stress-inducing tests. Screening involves tradeoffs and potential harms just like any medical intervention. That’s not a message we often hear from the news media but it should be communicated more often. We explored some of the harms of lung cancer screening, including the additional invasive testing that can be prompted by false-positive results, in a recent blog post.

true

479

32233

A woman saved multiple lives by using her concealed carry pistol to take down a department store shooter in Virginia.

While Associated Media Coverage may be changing their name to The Boston Tribune, their content is still nothing more than fake news.

false

480

5592

Doctor at Missouri abortion clinic defends patient care.

The top doctor at Missouri’s sole abortion clinic on Wednesday defended its handling of four patients who faced complications — women whose care has been cited by the state as it seeks to revoke the clinic’s license.

true

481

18585

Ted Cruz Says the Democrats told the Catholic Church that they’ll use federal powers to shut down church charities and hospitals if the church doesn’t change its beliefs.

Cruz, alluding to Obamacare’s contraception insurance coverage mandate, said Democrats told the Catholic Church they would use federal powers to shut down its charities and hospitals if the church doesn’t change its beliefs. We found no sign of such a statement -- or anything close. The Catholic bishops have said that potential accumulated fines resulting from refusals to carry out the contraception mandate will cause some institutions to shut down. Perhaps. However, such prospects do not reflect a direct threat from Democrats or the government. To the contrary, the administration has moved to widen the mandate’s exemption for religious employers and provide a workaround for those who act as their own insurance providers -- with the goal of allowing affected parties to continue their work without violating or changing their beliefs. This claim proved both incorrect and ridiculous.

false

482

938

France will end healthcare refunds for homeopathic drugs.

France will end social security reimbursements for homeopathic drugs and the new policy - which has drawn the fire of alternative medicine advocates - will take full effect in 2021, the healthcare minister said on Tuesday.

true

483

25083

John McCain has given erratic and inconsistent answers on when troops should return from Iraq.

The southern Iraqi city of Basra is struggling to cope with a growing drug problem that has overcrowded prisons and strained police resources, only months after violent protests over poor municipal services.

false

484

526

Fired Zimbabwe state doctors reject offer to return to work.

Zimbabwe state doctors who were fired for going on strike have rejected a government offer to return to work, their union said on Friday.

true

485

35328

Prolonged use of COVID-19-related face masks cause health problems due to breathing in too much exhaled carbon dioxide.

What's true: Breathing in excessive carbon dioxide is dangerous for the body. Some people with preexisting respiratory illnesses may face health issues only with prolonged use of tight-fitting masks, such as respirators. What's false: However, people wearing cloth or surgical masks are in little to no danger of breathing in unhealthy amounts of carbon dioxide.

false

486

10087

FDA Questions Using Avodart to Cut Prostate Cancer Risk

Tens of trillions of global investment dollars are pouring into companies touting robust environmental, social and governance credentials. Now short-sellers spy an opportunity.

mixture

487

10246

Weight Loss Pill Also Lowers Blood Pressure

Although highlighting the effect of this product on blood pressure, the story did not explain how much blood pressure dropped. The story also didn’t say how common the side effects are or how often people have to discontinue the medication due to side effects. It would have been helpful to remind readers of the possible pitfalls that may be ahead and that little is known about the long term use of this product in terms of both weight loss and potential risks that might result. Obesity and high blood pressure are very common conditions. There are few treatment for obesity that have been demonstrated to be enable people to lose weight and maintain that loss.

true

488

33737

Text transcribes a press conference given by actor and former Marine R. Lee Ermey.

The anonymous author of this item adopted the common technique of grabbing attention by putting his words into the mouth of a colorful, well-known figure, and — as often happens — some readers took the abstraction a little too literally.

false

489

3635

Officials warn of exposure to rabid bat at Omaha school.

Health officials in Omaha are notifying parents that some students at a city middle school may have been exposed to a rabid bat was found on school grounds.

true

490

36409

"""Black soldiers were lynched after World War I during the """"Red Summer"""" of 1919."""

Were Black WWI Veterans in Uniform Lynched During the Red Summer of 1919?

true

491

6358

Flight attendant may have exposed passengers to Hepatitis A.

Health officials in North Carolina say more than a dozen people may have been exposed to hepatitis A on a recent flight.

true

492

11560

German doctors declare “cure” in HIV patient

The quote marks around the word “cure” in the headline were a sign of the cautious approach of this story. Instead of allowing a sense of hyperbole to permeate, as we saw in other coverage of the same study, we were glad to see many of the appropriate caveats included. The story should have been more specific about the enormous hazards of bone marrow transplants and told readers of their high cost. The word cure, even when surrounded by quote marks certainly gets one’s attention. Applied to a story about HIV and AIDS, it is an attention-grabber. Despite the arguable hyperbole on the part of the German researchers, the story is interesting because it adds to the suggestion that the CCR5 mutation may represent an approach to eradication of the virus. This story, like others on the topic, spent a fair amount of time explaining the difficulty in broadly applying stem cell transplants to AIDS patients and leukemia patients and talked with the appropriate experts. It serves as a good lesson, in many ways, for reporters covering studies with limited results and stacked odds of long term success.

true

493

3551

Mississippi will phase out warehouses for nutrition program.

Mississippi will close distribution centers for a federal nutrition program in the coming year and will move to a system that could be simpler to use.

true

494

27516

In July 2017, it was announced that Finnish researchers would begin human trials of a Type 1 diabetes vaccine in 2018.

The American biopharmaceutical company Provention Bio, which is based in Lebanon, New Jersey, is funding the continuation of Hyöty and Knip’s research, after reportedly receiving $28.4 million in financing, which it will disburse between the Type 1 diabetes vaccine trials and a second project.

true

495

9861

Study: Dark chocolate improves blood vessel health

"""This news report describes a study which suggests that dark chocolate might be healthy for the heart. It provides some background on flavonols, the constituent in dark chocolate that might be beneficial, notes some of the potential harms associated with this """"chocolate therapy,"""" and includes interviews with three experts who are mostly enthusiastic about the study’s findings. Yet the story fails to examine the rigor of the new evidence. The researchers enrolled 39 people. Were there enough subjects to muster the statistical power needed to answer their question? Could the improvements in blood flow be the result of chance? Did the researchers account for other factors that might affect arterial blood flow? What are the true benefits of improvements in blood flow to an arm? Is there research to suggest that they correspond to any outcome of clinical significance, such as rates of heart attack, stroke, or death? What else could patients do to derive the same apparent benefit without the fat and calories of chocolate? Could they take a low-cost, fat-free, calorie-burning walk once a day? The story answers none of these. The study appears to be one small, preliminary step in the investigation of a scientific hypothesis. Readers should not be left with the impression that consuming chocolate every six hours is a sound, scientifically proven, good idea."""

true

496

31100

"""In August 2017, NASA scientists declared that Mexico's """"Our Lady of Guadalupe"""" artifact is """"living."""

We contacted NASA to ask about the rumor, but have not yet received a response. However, the legend’s trajectory over the years indicated that its origins lay not with NASA, but with an unreliable and unsupported item published in 2011, three decades after Callahan’s analysis appeared in print).

false

497

11535

Drug may slow growth of early prostate cancer

This story is a very measured discussion of early stage prostate cancer and the results of a new study that confirms that active surveillance is a viable option for men and that for those choosing active surveillance, taking a medication currently used in the treatment of BPH may be helpful, but does not appear to be necessary. The story framed the take-home message early and ended the same way. Early quote: “”We’re identifying men who are not likely to need even a pill,” said Dr. Maha Hussain, a University of Michigan cancer specialist. Ending quote: “If it was me, I’d choose active surveillance,” said Dr. Howard Sandler, a prostate cancer specialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. One quibble we have is that the story didn’t challenge the statements that referred to “active surveillance” or “watchful waiting” even after the drug was in use. That’s no longer wait-and-see. That’s active treatment. Thousands of men each year may be diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. News stories that provide accurate, clear, and concise information about the disease and its treatment options are priceless.

true

498

26498

"""DeAnna Lorraine Says of COVID-19 that Dr. Anthony Fauci """"was telling people on February 29th that there was nothing to worry about and it posed no threat to the US public at large."""

A Trump supporter’s tweet misleadingly portrays advice that Dr. Anthony Fauci gave publicly on Feb. 29. On that date, Fauci said rules Americans would come to know as social distancing were not yet warranted. However, just about every other sentence of his remarks was filled with caveats indicating that the situation could change. He did not suggest that there was “nothing to worry about” or that the virus “posed no threat to the public.”

false

499

6931

Los Angeles County identifies additional case of measles.

The number of cases of measles among Los Angeles County residents this year has risen to seven.

true