HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

November 15, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• U.S. approves digital pill that tracks when patients take it (Reuters)
• Increased Hours Online Correlate With an Uptick in Teen Depression, Suicidal Thoughts (NPR)
• FDA Warns About Dangers of 'Natural' Opioid Kratom (NPR)
• Army to Provide Medical Care for Thousands of Veterans Who Were Test Subjects (NPR)
• Should healthcare be rationed for patients who smoke or are obese? (BBC)
• With Stricter Guidelines, Do You Have High Blood Pressure Now? (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Votes in 18 nations 'hacked' in last year (BBC)
• U.S. government shares technical details on North Korean hacking campaign (Reuters)
• About 15 percent of U.S. agencies found Kaspersky Lab software: official  (Reuters)
•  Vietnamese researcher shows iPhone X face ID 'hack'  (Reuters)
• Georgian Jars Hold 8,000-Year-Old Winemaking Clues (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

HEALTH

U.S. approves digital pill that tracks when patients take it (Reuters)

 U.S. regulators have approved the first digital pill with an embedded sensor to track if patients are taking their medication properly, marking a significant step forward in the convergence of healthcare and technology. The medicine is a version of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd’s established drug Abilify for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, containing a tracking device developed by Proteus Digital Health.

Increased Hours Online Correlate With an Uptick in Teen Depression, Suicidal Thoughts (NPR)

It's not proof of cause and effect, but should be a warning, researchers say. Surveys showed teens — especially girls — who spent hours online daily were more likely than others to report depression.

FDA Warns About Dangers of 'Natural' Opioid Kratom (NPR)

The Food and Drug Administration says there's insufficient evidence the supplement works to treat addiction or other problems and cited growing evidence it can be dangerous. Kratom may cause seizures, liver damage and withdrawal symptoms.

Army to Provide Medical Care for Thousands of Veterans Who Were Test Subjects (NPR)

Veterans who were research subjects in chemical and biological testing from 1942 to 1975 can receive care, but critics say the service is still withholding details about the tests it conducted.

Should healthcare be rationed for patients who smoke or are obese? (BBC)

Is it right for patients to be prevented from having certain types of treatment, unless they quit smoking or lose weight?

With Stricter Guidelines, Do You Have High Blood Pressure Now? (NPR)

Updated blood pressure guidelines move the goal post for millions of people at risk for heart attacks and strokes. The change is likely to lead to more people taking medicines for hypertension.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Votes in 18 nations 'hacked' in last year (BBC)

Governments are turning to social-media-based campaigns to stifle dissent, warns a net freedom report….In total, 30 governments were actively engaged in using social media to stifle dissent, said the report.

U.S. government shares technical details on North Korean hacking campaign (Reuters)

The U.S. government on Tuesday issued a technical alert about cyber attacks it said are sponsored by the North Korean government that have targeted the aerospace, telecommunications and financial industries since 2016.

About 15 percent of U.S. agencies found Kaspersky Lab software: official  (Reuters)

 About 15 percent of U.S. government agencies have detected some trace of Russian company Kaspersky Lab's software on their systems in a review prompted by concerns the antivirus firm is vulnerable to Kremlin influence, a security official told Congress on Tuesday.

Vietnamese researcher shows iPhone X face ID 'hack'  (Reuters)

 A researcher in Vietnam has demonstrated how he apparently fooled Apple Inc's face recognition ID software on its new iPhone X using a mask made with a 3D printer, silicone and paper tape.

Georgian Jars Hold 8,000-Year-Old Winemaking Clues (NPR)

Scientists have found evidence of ancient winemaking in Georgia, a country which prides itself on its vino. It's the earliest trace of viniculture using wild grapes similar to those used today.