PITTSBURGH – October 29, 2026 -- Pedestrian deaths are nearly 45% higher on Halloween than on other evenings around the same time of year, so Allegheny Health Network (AHN) pediatricians are urging families to take five precautions before kids hit the streets this weekend.

Bright colors and supervision cut pedestrian risk

The 45% figure comes from the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics. AHN advises dressing children in bright or reflective clothing and choosing costumes that fit well to reduce tripping and falls.

Schwalbach am Taunus – October 29, 2026 -- Pampers baby wipes are alcohol-free, and the Aqua Soft Touch, 99 % Water Wipes and Sensitive variants are also fragrance-free. The company says it checks ingredients, production and finished products for safety and skin compatibility, and adds checks by outside organizations.

Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- Ex-smokers gain an average of 4 to 5 kilograms in the first year after quitting, and the cause is metabolic rather than a lack of willpower.

Two effects disappear when the last cigarette goes out

Nicotine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which raises energy use. While smoking, the daily basal metabolic rate is estimated to be about 7 to 15 percent higher, equal to roughly 100 to 250 extra kilocalories per day. After quitting, resting energy use drops back to normal.

Boston – October 28, 2026 -- People with Parkinson's can now order WellPD, an FDA-cleared and CE-marked wrist-worn device from Empatica that tracks tremor, dyskinesia and bradykinesia at home, along with sleep and activity.

A companion app pulls those measurements into daily summaries. The aim is to help users see how their symptoms fluctuate, spot changes around medication doses and talk through those patterns with their care teams.

Fountain Valley – October 27, 2026 -- Patients in Orange County and Long Beach now have three MemorialCare hospitals ranked among America's 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, with top marks in gastrointestinal care, gastrointestinal surgery and prostate surgery.

Saddleback Medical Center, Orange Coast Medical Center and Long Beach Medical Center also earned five-star ratings in seven specialties: cardiac, critical care, gastrointestinal, neurosciences (including stroke), orthopedics, prostate surgery and pulmonary care.

Bochum – October 27, 2026 -- People who lose 30, 40 or 60 kilograms on GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide often keep loose skin that does not retract on its own. A Bochum surgeon says some of these cases count as medical treatment rather than a cosmetic wish.

Boston – October 27, 2026 -- People living with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) have a new gene therapy candidate heading toward human testing: Solid Biosciences says the FDA has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for SGT-212, with a Phase 1b trial planned for the second half of 2025.

SGT-212 attacks FA through two delivery routes

The company describes SGT-212 as the first gene therapy in the industry to use a dual route of administration. It delivers full-length frataxin protein in two ways:

Irvine – October 20, 2026 -- Radiant Health Centers offers LGBTQ+ case management services that connect underrepresented members of the Irvine community with the resources they need to improve their long-term health.

Managing your health takes more than booking a doctor's appointment. According to the clinic, a range of factors can make it hard for patients to get treatment, keep up with appointments and find long-term support. Case managers step in to coordinate appointments, connect patients with support and provide guidance.

Easton – October 20, 2026 -- Choosing between braces and Invisalign comes down to your orthodontic needs, daily habits and how much responsibility you want to carry, according to a new HelloNation article featuring Dr. Erik Higginbottom and Dr. Kyle Higginbottom of Higginbottom Orthodontics in Easton, Maryland.

East Setauket – October 19, 2026 -- Cataract patients in Suffolk County can now book with Ana A. Morales, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist who began seeing patients at OCLI Vision's East Setauket, Patchogue and Port Jefferson offices on October 19, 2026.