LAURAN NEERGAARD Medical Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - This undated image made available by the National Human Genome Research Institute shows the output from a DNA sequencer. (NHGRI via AP, File)

Studies test whether gene-editing can fix high cholesterol. For now, take your medicine

February 11, 2026

Scientists are testing an entirely new way to fight heart disease: whether gene editing might offer a one-time fix for high cholesterol. It’s very early-stage research that has been tried in only a few dozen people so far. But gene-editing approaches being developed by two companies show hints that switching off certain genes could dramatically reduce artery-clogging cholesterol. It will take far longer and larger studies to prove. Still, researchers say it raises hope of one day being able to prevent heart attacks without having to take pills.

FILE - A monitor shows an artery during a catheterization lab heart procedure in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

Experimental cholesterol-lowering pill may offer new option for millions

February 4, 2026

A new kind of pill sharply reduced cholesterol in people at high risk of heart attacks despite taking statins. It’s still experimental but new research published Wednesday suggests Merck’s pill could eventually offer an easier-to-use option for millions. Statins are the mainstay cholesterol-lowering treatment but many need additional drugs, too. Merck is expected to seek approval to sell the new pill, called enlicitide, this year. It blocks cholesterol in a way that today can be done only with injected medicines.

FILE - Surgical instruments are arranged during an organ procurement surgery June 15, 2023, in Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Medicare proposes new transplant system rules that might spur use of less-than-perfect organs

January 28, 2026

The government has proposed new rules for the nation’s transplant system that aim to increase use of certain donated organs and set additional safety standards for donor groups. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said on Wednesday that the proposal would strengthen its oversight of groups that retrieve organs from deceased donors. The move comes as donations from the deceased dropped last year for the first time in over a decade. Among the proposals is a step to increase retrieval and use of less-than-perfect organs from older, sicker donors that still could help the right recipient.

FILE - A person looks out of a window in an apartment building in Kansas City, Mo., May 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it

January 28, 2026

Being a night owl can be bad for your heart. That’s according to a study showing night owls had poorer overall cardiovascular health than most people, plus a modestly higher risk of a first heart attack or stroke. Unhealthy behaviors like too little sleep, smoking and a poor diet were key reasons. The body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, governs when people feel sleepy and awake. Researchers say night owls will have to work harder on healthy behaviors like getting enough sleep in a morning person’s world — but the health advice is good for everyone.

FILE - The organ donor entry on the back of a driver license is photographed in New York, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

Public mistrust linked to drop in deceased donor organ donations and kidney transplants

January 14, 2026

A new report says organ donations from the recently deceased dropped last year, resulting in fewer kidney transplants. Wednesday’s analysis from a kidney advocacy group found the transplant decline was small but a red flag. That’s because the drop in deceased donation began after publicity over some rare but scary reports of patients prepared for organ retrieval despite showing signs of life. Last year’s decline in deceased donors didn’t translate into fewer transplants overall. There were just over 49,000 compared with 48,150 in 2024. Transplants of hearts, livers and lungs continued to see gains.

FILE - A certified medical assistant holds a syringe for a flu vaccine at a clinic in Seattle, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Here’s what to know about the unprecedented changes to child vaccine recommendations

January 5, 2026

U.S. health officials have made unprecedented changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, alarming pediatricians and other medical experts. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases, down from 18 a year ago. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics plan to continue recommending the broader list. Insurance coverage for vaccines is expected to continue despite the changes.

Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here’s what to know

December 30, 2025

Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday that after a slow start to flu season in early December, much of the country is now seeing a jump in cases. The agency estimates there have been 3,100 deaths already, including at least eight children. A new version of the harsh H3N2 flu strain is causing most of the illnesses. While the flu shot isn’t a perfect match to that variant, health experts urge vaccination as it provides at least partial protection.

You finally got a doctor’s appointment. Here’s how to get the most out of it

December 20, 2025

It’s not that unusual for a 20-something to text Mom from the doctor’s office for help answering a health question. Or for patients of any age to struggle at recalling all their medicines. Getting the most out of a doctor’s visit requires some advance preparation, whether it’s a routine checkup or following up on health problems. Ask relatives about diseases that run in the family. Write down the names of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs and supplements you use. And bring a list of symptoms and questions to show at the beginning of the visit so nothing gets forgotten.

FILE - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

Former NIH scientist sues Trump administration, claims illegal firing over research cuts

December 16, 2025

A former leading scientist at the National Institutes of Health has sued the Trump administration, saying she was illegally fired for warning that research cuts were endangering patients and public health. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, a well-known HIV expert who had led NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, filed the complaint Tuesday alleging whistleblower retaliation. The NIH has cut billions in research projects since President Donald Trump took office, bypassing the usual funding process. Marrazzo was put on leave after challenging the cuts and was later fired.

FILE - A doctor holds a vial of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil in Chicago on Aug. 28, 2006. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds

December 3, 2025

A new study suggests a single HPV vaccination appears just as effective as two doses at preventing the viral infection that causes cervical cancer. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is very common and spread through sex. Most HPV infections clear up on their own. But some linger, causing cancers that appear years later, including cervical cancer in women and rarer cancers in both women and men. On Wednesday, researchers reported a U.S.-funded study in Costa Rica that found a single HPV shot provided similar protection against cervical cancer-causing infection as two doses, for at least five years.

FILE - The label for a bottle of melatonin pills is seen in New York on Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

A study questions melatonin use and heart health but don’t lose sleep over it

November 7, 2025

Don’t lose sleep over headlines linking melatonin to heart failure. That’s the message after some scary-sounding reports about a preliminary study involving the sleep-related supplement. A study being presented at an American Heart Association meeting used international electronic health records to track people with prescriptions for long-term melatonin use, rather than more typical short-term use for jet lag. The study isn’t the kind that can prove cause-and-effect — and doctors not involved with the work stress that too little or interrupted sleep by itself raises the risk of heart disease. Specialists advise talking to your doctor as well as getting better sleep by avoiding too much light at night.

FILE - Surgeons at NYU Langone Health prepare to transplant a pig's kidney into a brain-dead man in New York on July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum, File)

First clinical trial of pig kidney transplants gets underway

November 3, 2025

The first clinical trial is getting underway to see if transplanting pig kidneys into people might really save lives. United Therapeutics, a producer of gene-edited pig kidneys, announced Monday that the study’s initial transplant was performed successfully at NYU Langone Health. It’s the latest step in the quest for animal-to-human transplants. A second U.S. company, eGenesis, is preparing to begin a similar trial in the coming months. A handful of experiments led up to these more rigorous studies. The longest-lasting known so far was 271 days, when a New Hampshire man resumed dialysis as his declining pig kidney was removed.

New Hampshire man resumes dialysis after record 271 days living with a pig kidney

October 27, 2025

A New Hampshire man lived with a pig kidney for a record 271 days before surgeons removed it last week as the organ’s function declined. Doctors at Mass General Brigham said Monday that Tim Andrews is resuming dialysis after the Oct. 23 surgery, and called him a “selfless medical pioneer.” Andrews is among a handful of people who’ve received experimental transplants of gene-edited pig organs, which researchers hope might one day help alleviate a shortage of donated organs. Two U.S. companies are preparing to begin rigorous clinical trials of pig kidney transplants.

FILE - A healthcare worker prepares a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in La Paz, Bolivia, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita, File)

COVID-19 vaccines may help some cancer patients fight tumors

October 22, 2025

The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines may offer a surprise benefit for some cancer patients by boosting their immune systems to help fight tumors. Research reported Wednesday in the journal Nature found that people with advanced lung or skin cancer lived longer if they received a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting a type of immunotherapy. The mRNA in these vaccines appears to enhance the immune system’s response. Now the research team is preparing a more rigorous study of the potential connection, to see if mRNA vaccines should be deliberately paired with cancer drugs called checkpoint inhibitors.

A pharmacist gives a patient a flu shot in Miami on Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Daniel Kozin)

It’s time get a flu vaccination. Here’s who needs one and why

October 1, 2025

It’s flu vaccine time again. After last winter, when the U.S. saw the highest number of flu-related child deaths in 15 years, pediatricians are urging the public to get them. October is the ideal month, as flu typically begins climbing in November. The U.S. recommends a yearly flu vaccination for just about everyone age 6 months and older. And a first this year, certain people can vaccinate themselves at home, if they qualify for a shipment of the nasal spray vaccine FluMist. Flu is particularly dangerous for older people, pregnant women and young children — plus anyone with a chronic health problem such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

Researchers turn human skin cells into eggs — but not yet usable ones

September 30, 2025

Oregon scientists used human skin cells to create fertilizable eggs, a step in the quest to develop lab-grown eggs or sperm to one day help people conceive. But the experiment resulted in abnormalities in chromosomes, prompting the Oregon Health & Science University team to caution it could take a decade of additional research before such a technique might be ready for trials in people. They are already working to improve the technique. The work was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. It may offer lessons as scientists try to learn to create eggs and sperm for the infertile or to help same-sex couples have children genetically related to both partners.

President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims made by Trump about autism, Tylenol and pregnancy

September 23, 2025

President Donald Trump has announced his administration is recommending women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless necessary. He claims Tylenol is linked to autism, but experts criticize this as unfounded. Trump also made several erroneous statements including incorrectly stating the history of autism rates and that vaccines play a role. Additionally, medical professionals emphasize that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy when needed. They warn that untreated fevers can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

What we know about autism’s causes

September 22, 2025

A White House announcement about autism is expected Monday afternoon. President Donald Trump claimed over the weekend that “I think we found an answer” to the developmental disorder. But brain experts say they already know there is no single cause. They say the rhetoric appears to ignore decades of science into the genetic and environmental factors that can play a role. Autism rates are rising, but that’s largely about an expanded definition, more awareness and more screening.

FILE - Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Trump administration to close Miami organ donation group it calls ‘failing’

September 18, 2025

The Trump administration is moving to shut down a Miami nonprofit that recovers organs from deceased donors. The Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency is one of 55 organ procurement organizations, or OPOs, that coordinate the recovery and matching of donated organs to patients on the transplant waiting list. Officials cited unrecovered organs and unspecified unsafe practices. Life Alliance can appeal Thursday’s decision. Meanwhile, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said would-be donors should be reassured the donation and transplant system is safe.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

What to know about mRNA vaccines

August 6, 2025

Research shows mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now scientists are using that Nobel Prize-winning technology to try to develop vaccines and treatments against a long list of diseases including cancer and cystic fibrosis. But this week, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic, canceled $500 million in government-funded research projects to create new mRNA vaccines against respiratory illnesses that might trigger another health emergency. That dismays infectious disease experts who note that mRNA allows faster production of shots than older vaccine-production methods, buying precious time if another pandemic were to emerge.

US organ donation system faces scrutiny and changes after reports of disturbing near-misses

July 22, 2025

The U.S. is developing new safeguards for the organ transplant system after a government investigation found a Kentucky group continued preparations for donation by some patients who showed signs of life. A House subcommittee Tuesday asked how to repair trust in the transplant network for potential organ donors and families, some of whom have opted out of donor registries after these cases were publicized. One initiative underway is to develop new national policies making clear that anyone – family, hospital staff or organ donation staff – can call for a pause in donation preparations any time there are concerns about the patient’s eligibility.

Researchers try new ways of preserving more hearts for transplants

July 16, 2025

Two university hospitals are pioneering new ways to expand access to the lifesaving heart transplants for adults and babies. They aim to overcome some barriers to retrieving hearts donated after circulatory death, when the heart stops beating after withdrawal of life support. Surgeons at Duke and Vanderbilt universities say they’ve separately devised some simpler approaches. In the New England Journal of Medicine, they describe small but early successes, transplanting an infant at Duke and three men at Vanderbilt. These are the kinds of transplantable hearts that too often aren’t retrieved depending on how would-be organ donors die.

FILE - President Donald Trump, from left, speaks as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Judge rules some NIH grant cuts illegal, saying he’s never seen such discrimination in 40 years

June 16, 2025

A federal judge says it was illegal for the Trump administration to cancel several hundred research grants issued by the National Institutes of Health. The grants were deemed to focus on gender identity or diversity, equity and inclusion, and Judge William Young of Massachusetts said Monday the NIH’s cancellation process was “arbitrary and capricious.” The judge went on to say the case raises serious questions about racial discrimination by the government. His written ruling is expected soon but is an interim step as the Trump administration is expected to appeal.

LAURAN NEERGAARD Medical Writer.