COVID-19
Coping with
COVID-19 stress easier with a dose of humor: Funny memes may help people cope with the stress of the
COVID-19 pandemic, making viewers feel calmer and more content. American Psychological Association.
Geriatrics-focused
risk factors ID'd for COVID-19 death:
Factors other than age predict mortality in older adults hospitalized with
COVID-19. Male sex, Asian race, history of kidney disease and interstitial lung
disease were among factors that increased risk of mortality. HealthDay.
Greater Risk
of Rare Neurological Symptoms From COVID-19 Than Vaccines: Coronavirus infection is linked with a
greater risk of rare neurological complications than having a first vaccine
dose with Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNtech Nature Medicine
People Vaccinated Against COVID Less Likely to Die From Any Cause: People who have been vaccinated against
COVID-19 are not only less likely to die from the virus, but they're also less
likely to die from any cause in the months following vaccination, according to
a new study. Morbidity and Morality Reports
Unvaccinated
People Likely to Catch COVID Repeatedly: People who don't get vaccinated against COVID-19 should
expect to be reinfected with the coronavirus every 16 to 17 months on average,
according to a recent study published in The Lancet Microbe.
Brain Fog
Can Persist 8 Months After COVID:
High rates of cognitive dysfunction or brain fog have been found an average of
7.6 months after patients have been treated for COVID-19, new data indicate.
The study of 740 people (mean age 49 years) with no prior history of memory
problems included people treated in the outpatient setting as well as those who
were admitted to a hospital or treated in emergency departments (EDs). JAMA Network Open published online
Statins
likely not helpful in reducing COVID-19 mortality or severity: Contrary to findings from smaller
studies, findings from a recent Johns Hopkins Medicine-led study of nearly
4,500 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over a four-month period provide a
stronger case for a very different conclusion: Statins likely do not confer any
impact—positive or negative—on COVID-related mortality and may be associated
with an significantly increased risk—nearly 1 chance in 5—of more serious
illness. PLoS ONE
Antidepressant
May Cut COVID-Related Hospitalization, Mortality: Results from the placebo-controlled,
multisite, phase 3 TOGETHER trial showed that in COVID-19 outpatients at high
risk for complications, hospitalizations were cut by 66% and deaths were
reduced by 91% in those who tolerated fluvoxamine. published online in Lancet Global Health
COVID
patients on SSRI antidepressants are less likely to die, study finds: A large analysis of health records
from 87 health care centers across the United States found that people taking a
class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs), particularly fluoxetine, were significantly less likely to die of
COVID-19 than a matched control group. JAMA Network Open
Mood
Disorders Increase Risk for Severe COVID-19: As the latest addition to CDC’s COVID-19 People with Certain Medical Conditions list, mood disorders join 18 other
conditions or behaviors that increase risk.
Cognitive
dysfunction fairly common after COVID-19 infection: A substantial proportion of relatively
young COVID-19 survivors exhibit cognitive dysfunction several months after
recovering from COVID-19, according to a research letter published online Oct.
22 in JAMA Network Open
Clinically
active IBD linked to adverse COVID-19 outcomes: Clinically active inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD) is associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes, especially in
younger and middle-aged adults. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis. Abstract/Full Text
Sotrovimab
cuts risk for COVID-19 progression in high-risk patients: In an ongoing, multicenter,
double-blind, phase 3 trial, Sotrovimab reduces the risk for disease
progression in high-risk patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. New England Journal of Medicine
Here’s Who
May Need a Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Dose: The CDCTrusted Source has found reduced vaccine effectiveness
in people who are immunocompromised compared with people who are not. It now
advises that certain people who are immunocompromised can get a fourth vaccine
dose.
COVID-19
Vaccines Provide 5 Times the Protection of Natural Immunity: Unvaccinated people who had a recent
infection were five times more likely to be reinfected with the coronavirus
compared to those who were fully vaccinated and didn't have a prior infection,
according to a new study in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Vaccine
After COVID-19 Infection Boosts Immune Response: People who already have had COVID-19
may have more reason to get vaccinated, with new findings suggesting that
vaccination after infection can boost protection. These new results, published in Cell Reports , show that a SARS-CoV-2 infection, like a first vaccine
dose, will elicit the primary response, as expected.
More proof
that COVID vaccines guard against severe disease: An ongoing study of 780,000 U.S.
veterans found that all three vaccines available in the United States provide
strong protection against severe disease and death, despite a significant
decline in their effectiveness against mild and asymptomatic infection, CNN reported. The second study
found that unvaccinated people with infections were much more likely to end up
in the hospital on a ventilator or to die than people who had breakthrough
infections after being fully vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Science Journal of the American Medical
Association
Study
uncovers gene that doubles risk of death from COVID-19: Sixty percent of people with South
Asian ancestry carry the high-risk genetic signal, partly explaining the excess
deaths seen in some UK communities, and the impact of COVID-19 in the Indian
subcontinent. The study also found that 2 percent of people with Afro-Caribbean
ancestry carried the higher risk genotype, meaning that this genetic factor
does not completely explain the higher death rates reported for black and
minority ethnic communities. Nature Genetics
Most People
With PEG Allergy or Reactions to First COVID-19 Shot Can Still Complete Vaccine
Series: With the
rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, there's been concern about possible allergic
reactions to polyethylene glycol (PEG), an ingredient used to stabilize lipid
nanoparticles in the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's mRNA vaccines. Two posters
presented at this year's American
College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting show that allergists can help safely
assess whether people who are allergic to PEG can receive a COVID-19 shot, and
whether individuals who reacted to the first dose can take a second.
People Who
Believe in COVID-19 Conspiracies More Likely to Catch Virus: People who believe in COVID-19
conspiracy theories are more likely to catch the virus, lose their jobs, and be
socially isolated, according to a new study published in Psychological Medicine
UK Study
Finds Vaccinated People Easily Transmit Delta Variant in Households: The Delta coronavirus variant can
transmit easily from vaccinated people to their household contacts, although
contacts were less likely to get infected if they were vaccinated themselves.
They found infections in the vaccinated cleared more quickly, but the peak
viral load remained similar to the unvaccinated.
Vaccinated
People Can Transmit the Coronavirus, but It’s Still More Likely If You’re
Unvaccinated: A recent studyTrusted
Source shows
that when fully vaccinated people do contract the coronavirus, they can still
transmit it. According to the analysis, 25 percent of vaccinated contacts
exposed to a household member with an infection contracted one themselves. In
contrast, 38 percent of unvaccinated contacts got an infection. Lancet
Infectious Diseases
Pfizer
Antiviral Drug May Be 90% Effective Against Severe COVID-19: Pfizer announced its new oral antiviral treatment
significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Clinical trial results also show Paxlovid is highly effective against
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) as well as other types of coronaviruses.
Results from the company’s phase 2 and 3 clinical trials found the drug, called
Paxlovid, was nearly 90 percent effective at preventing severe disease symptoms
when given to high-risk study participants. The drug was so effective in early
research that the trial was stopped so the data could be submitted to the FDA for
emergency use authorization.
Sleep-Disordered
Breathing Could Inflate Risk for Severe COVID-19: People with sleep-disordered breathing
or sleep-related hypoxia — low oxygen levels during sleeping — are no more likely
than other adults to get infected with SARS-CoV-2 and develop COVID-19.
However, if infected, they are at a 31% higher risk of getting hospitalized or
dying from the illness, new research reveals. The study was published November 10 in JAMA Network Open.
Long COVID:
More Clues Coming, but No 'Aha' Moments Yet: experts estimate
that from 10% to 30% of COVID survivors may develop this condition, called long
COVID. It is diagnosed when signs and symptoms of COVID that can't be explained by
other causes are present 4 weeks after the initial infection. Some experts warn that it is ''our next public health disaster in the
making."
Women with
long COVID-19 may need targeted rehabilitation to help counter problems with
physical activity tolerance
Women with long COVID experience heart rate irregularities in
response to physical exertion, and this has the potential to
constrain not only exercise tolerance but free-living physical
activity (1). In perspective of the greater prevalence of
age-related physical disability among women, compared to
men, these findings highlight a need for targeted
rehabilitation programmes to manage the consequences of
persistent heart and lung problems in women with lingering
COVID-19 related symptoms. Experimental Physiology
Breakthrough
Infections Can Lead to Long COVID:
Researchers at Oxford University in the UK reviewed data on nearly 20,000 U.S.
COVID-19 patients, half of whom had been vaccinated. Compared to unvaccinated
patients, people who were fully vaccinated - and in particular those under age
60 - did have lower risks for death and serious complications such as lung
failure, need for mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, life-threatening blood
clots, seizures, and psychosis. "On the other hand," the research
team reported on medRxiv ahead of peer review, "previous vaccination does
not appear to protect against several previously documented outcomes of
COVID-19 such as long COVID features, arrhythmia, joint pain, Type 2 diabetes,
liver disease, sleep disorders, and mood and anxiety disorders."
Experts call
for continued use of personal protective and social measures alongside Covid-19
vaccination Several
personal protective and social measures, including handwashing, mask wearing,
and physical distancing are associated with reductions in the incidence
COVID-19 and should be continued alongside vaccination, suggest experts after
reviewing the latest evidence in British Medical Journal
Mask-Wearing
Cuts New COVID-19 Cases by 53%, Study Says: When people wear face masks to reduce the spread of the
coronavirus, the number of new COVID-19 infections drops by 53%, according to a
new study in the British
Medical Journal. Social distancing and handwashing were also effective at
lowering the number of cases, but wearing masks was the most effective tool
against the coronavirus.
COVID-19 booster shot helps vast majority of cancer patients: Most cancer patients who had no
measurable immune response after being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 were
helped by a third vaccine dose, according to a new study. The findings also
show that a "booster" shot is extremely beneficial for all cancer
patients, who face a heightened risk of severe disease and dying from COVID-19,
and particularly in people who have a blood cancer. Cancer Cell
Make your holiday gatherings COVID-safer with rapid tests
Repurposing
a familiar drug for COVID-19:
In the retrospective study, published Oct. 28 in PLOS ONE,
patients taking disulfiram for alcoholism were less likely to become infected
with SARS-CoV-2, and those who did get infected were less likely to die from
COVID-19 than those not taking the drug. PLoS ONE
Atrial
fibrillation significantly increases a person's risk of serious complications
and death from COVID-19:
The study found that patients with a history of atrial fibrillation who have
COVID-19 illness are not only more likely to need hospitalization, ICU and
ventilator support, but nearly 62% more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular
event, such as a heart failure hospitalization, and 40% more likely to die than
individuals who don't have a history of atrial fibrillation. American Heart
Association's 2021 Scientific Sessions.
CDC DirectorEndorses Pfizer, Moderna Boosters for All US Adults: Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, signed off on a recommendation
Friday evening to let all US adults get a COVID-19 booster shot. The
endorsement, following a unanimous vote by a panel of CDC advisors earlier in
the day backing a third dose of a Moderna or Pfizer mRNA COVID vaccine, now
means everyone over the age of 18 is eligible for a booster.
Wuhan Market
Vendor Likely First Case of COVID, Scientist Says: A vendor at an animal market in Wuhan,
China, was probably the first person to contract COVID-19, continuing an
international debate about when the coronavirus pandemic originated, according
to an American scientist. Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona wrote
"Dissecting the early COVID-19 cases in Wuhan" in the online journal Science after studying public records,
news reports, and medical journal entries about the outbreak in Wuhan.
Age, sex and
waning COVID-19 antibodies:
Antibody levels after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vary by
age and sex, but across the board, antibody levels dropped significantly within
six months, according to an ongoing study
The study found total antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 varied between age
groups and between men and women. Specifically, individuals under the age of 65
had more than twice the level of antibodies than individuals 65 years and older
throughout the six months following vaccination. Women had higher antibody
levels than men, especially women under the age of 65. Importantly, however, by
the six-month mark, antibody levels had decreased by more than 50% from peak
levels for everyone in the study.
Delta-like
SARS-CoV-2 variants are most likely to increase pandemic severity A SARS-CoV-2 variant with traits
similar to that of the Delta variant—enhanced transmissibility and an ability
to infect people who had previous infections/vaccination—will cause a more
severe pandemic with more infections and breakthrough infections/reinfections
than variants with either trait alone, according to a mathematical model
created by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Cell
PAIN
Pain and
fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis tied to sitting and standing time: For patients with rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), pain and fatigue may both cause and be caused by more sitting time and
less standing time. Rheumatology
Steroid
injection no better for long-term carpal tunnel symptoms: At five years, symptom severity does
not differ, but rates of subsequent surgical treatment are lower in patients
with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome receiving local methylprednisolone
injection versus saline placebo injection. JAMA Network Open
Most willing
to forgo opioids after surgery if pain can be effectively managed without them: A new national survey by Orlando Health
finds nearly four out of five Americans believe opioids are necessary to manage
pain after surgery, but most would also be open to forgoing these potentially
harmful medications if there are better options. The survey found that 65% of
Americans are more worried about managing their pain than the risks of opioid addiction,
but more than two-thirds (68%) would be willing to try opioid-free pain
management after surgery. Orlando Health
Adults under
35 who experience chronic pain are more likely to use cannabis or CBD to manage
it:
Young adults with chronic pain – most commonly experienced in their back (32%),
neck and knees (20% each) – are looking for help from health care providers to
manage their pain, according to the online survey conducted in September of
more than 2,000 U.S. adults. Three-quarters of young adults (75%) also say they don’t know what kind of
health care provider can best help them manage their pain.
Only certain
patients with chronic neck pain need invasive procedures to treat it: The use of radiofrequency
ablation--targeted heat from an electrical current to ease nerve pain--may be
helpful for treating chronic neck pain, but only in patients meeting particular
criteria, conclude evidence-based consensus guidelines, published online in the
journal Regional
Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
New study
shows non-opioids provide effective pain relief after knee surgery: A novel opioid-free pain management
protocol developed by Henry Ford sports medicine physicians provided the same
pain relief for patients as common types of prescription opioids like morphine,
hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Henry Ford Health System
May be worth
adopting plant based diet to ease chronic migraine severity: It may be worth adopting a plant based
diet, rich in dark green leafy vegetables, to ease the symptoms of chronic
migraine, suggest doctors in the online journal BMJ Case Reports. While
drugs can help prevent and treat the condition, a growing body of evidence
suggests that diet may also offer an effective alternative without any of the
side effects associated with some meds, say the report authors. British Medical Journal
COMPLEMENTARY &
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Study shows
medicinal cannabis products can help with depression and improve quality of
life: A team of
researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in the U.S. has found
evidence that medicinal cannabis products relieve depression and improve the
quality of life. Frontiers in Psychiatry
Cannabis users at ‘much higher’ risk of developing poor mental health: Those with a recorded history of
cannabis use in general practice records are at a much higher risk of
developing mental ill health problems such as anxiety or depression as well as
severe mental illnesses, new research shows. The findings point to the need for
a public health approach to the management of people misusing cannabis,
including the need to emphasise the importance of general practitioners to
continue enquiring about recreational drug use. Psychological Medicine
Cannabis use
disorder may be linked to growing number of heart attacks in younger adults: At a time of increasing legalization of
marijuana, a growing number of people under 50 diagnosed with cannabis use
disorder were later hospitalized for a heart attack, new research has found.
The rising trend from 2007 to 2018 was most pronounced in three groups: ages 18
to 34, men and African Americans, according to findings being presented at the
American Heart Association's virtual Scientific Sessions conference. The
results are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. JAMA Psychiatry
Cannabis use
during pregnancy impacts the placenta and may affect subsequent child
development: Women who
use cannabis during pregnancy, potentially to relieve stress and anxiety, may
inadvertently predispose their children to stress susceptibility and anxiety,
according to a study conducted by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine
at Mount Sinai and the City University of New York. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
CBT intervention with yoga and education components improved pain management for patients on long-term opioids better than usual care: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial
comparing pain-related outcomes for patients with chronic pain receiving
long-term opioid therapy found that patients who received cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) in their treatment plans reported improvements in self-reported
pain and greater reductions in pain impact after one year. Annals of Internal
Medicine
Effects of age, sex and mindfulness on quality of life in men, women with autism: The practice of mindfulness was often
touted throughout the pandemic as a useful tool for dealing with an unforeseen
life stressor. mindfulness is also a useful tool for dealing with the
particular stressors associated with autism spectrum disorder. Quality of
Life Research
Traditional
Samoan medicine found to be as effective as ibuprofen at reducing inflammation: Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences
FDA ACTION
• Approved
EaseVRx system, a 3D virtual reality system to treat back pain
• Approved
Exablate Neuro, an incisionless form of brain surgery to treat problems with
mobility, rigidity and dyskinesias (involuntary movements).
• Approved
Voxzogo injection to improve growth in children five years of age and older
with most common form of Dwarfism
• Approved
Besremi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft) injection to treat adults with
polycythemia vera, a blood disease that causes the overproduction of red blood
cells.
• Authorizes
Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in children 5-11 years of
age
• Issued a
landmark proposal intended to improve access to and reduce the cost of hearing
aid technology for millions of Americans.
PREVENTION:
Exercise
Virtual
exercise effective for people with arthritis and helps them stay socially
connected too : New
research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of
Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that a virtual exercise program can be
safe for people with musculoskeletal conditions, improved their health
outcomes, and helped them feel more socially connected, an important benefit
during the pandemic when many people have chosen to avoid in-person exercise
classes (Abstract #1451).
Keep Moving:
Physical Activity Doesn’t Increase Your Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis: In an analysisTrusted Source published in the journal Arthritis
& Rheumatology, researchers said they found the amount of energy expended
during exercise and the duration of physical activity did not increase the risk
of developing osteoarthritis. Researchers found that whole-body physical
activity in sports, walking, or cycling did not have an association with knee
osteoarthritis.
Exercise
helps women with arm and shoulder problems after breast cancer surgery: Early post-operative exercise appears
to help women recover better than receiving standard care only, study shows.
BMJ
Exercise
linked to better mental health
Kaiser Permanente research published on November 11 in Preventive Medicine showed people who exercised more during the initial lockdown
period of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced less anxiety and depression than
those who didn’t exercise. It also showed that people who spent more time
outdoors typically experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression than
those who stayed inside.
Anxiety
effectively treated with exercise:
Both moderate and strenuous exercise alleviate symptoms of anxiety, even when
the disorder is chronic. Journal of Affective Disorders
Exercise,
not bed rest, can speed concussion recovery: Contrary to long-held wisdom, teen athletes recover from
concussions sooner if they do light aerobic exercise rather than resting in a
dark room, new research suggests. Instead of so-called "cocoon
therapy," new research-supported therapy has young concussion patients
getting out of bed and doing protected exercise earlier. HealthDay.
Is 10,000
steps really a magic number for health?: A a new meta-analysis looking at the link between how many
steps people take and cardiovascular disease.
It reinforces the premise that while there's no magic number when it
comes to steps, any number is healthier than the one below it. Federal physical
activity guidelines urge adults to sit less, move more and accumulate at least
150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. HealthDay.
Exercise
improves muscle performance in statin users: A moderate intensity endurance and resistance exercise
training program improves muscle performance in statin users without
exacerbating muscle complaints. This is one of the conclusions of a training
study that is published in the Journal of the American College of
Cardiology
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
Polyphenol-rich diets improve leaky gut
syndrome in the elderly:
This European study, conducted within the framework of the Joint Programming
Initiative—A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL), was carried out in
people aged over sixty who underwent a polyphenol-rich diet for eight weeks.
The results show that including up to three daily portions of apple, cocoa,
dark chocolate, green tea, cranberries, oranges or pomegranate juice, improves
intestinal permeability when making specific changes in the intestinal
microbiota. Clinical Nutrition
For
effective weight maintenance, eat breakfast and stop late-night snacking: Researchers have confirmed that due to
daily circadian rhythms regulating metabolism, when you eat is as important as
the how much and what you eat when trying to gain, lose or maintain weight. Open Biology PLoS Biology
Drinking
alcohol to stay healthy?
That might not work, says new study: Increased mortality risk among current
alcohol abstainers might largely be explained by other factors, including
previous alcohol or drug problems, daily smoking, and overall poor health. PLoS Medicine
Can eating alone be bad for your heart?
A new study suggests that eating alone may contribute to an increased risk of
heart disease in older women. "This study shows that older women who eat
alone are more likely to have symptomatic heart disease. They are also more
likely to be widowed and to have lower incomes and poorer nutritional intake.
Menopause
The 5:2
diet: A good choice for gestational diabetes: New research suggests that the popular 5:2 or intermittent
fasting diet is just as effective as a conventional energy-restricting diet,
enabling women greater choice and flexibility when it comes
to weight loss.
Brief 5:2
diet advice is as effective as traditional GP advice, but people like it
better, according to new study:
The findings show that long-term weight loss was similar for those who received
5:2 diet or standard weight management advice with 18 percent and 15 percent of
participants respectively losing at least five percent of their body weight at
one year. However, when asked to rate each intervention, participants in the
5:2 diet group were more likely to recommend the intervention to others or be
willing to continue with their diet. PLoS ONE
Vegetable
Fat May Reduce Stroke Risk While Animal Fat Can Increase It: Researchers say foods high in vegetable
fat, such as olive oil, canola or sunflower oil, soy oil, nuts, and seeds, can
help lower your stroke risk while foods high in animal fats can increase it.
Experts recommend eating more plant-based foods as well as seafood and whole
grains. They also recommend reducing the amount of red meat and processed meat
in your diet. Fat from dairy products, such as cheese, butter, milk, ice cream,
and cream was not associated with a higher risk of stroke. Participants who ate
more red meat had an 8 percent higher risk of stroke. Those who ate processed
red meat (bacon, sausage, bologna, hot dogs, salami) had a 12 percent higher
risk of stroke than those who ate less of these foods. American Heart
Association’s Scientific
Sessions 2021
Your morning
cup of coffee can affect your heart's rhythms: Drinking coffee helps people stay more
active, but it also significantly robs some of sleep, researchers say. And
while java doesn't seem to cause irregular rhythms in the upper chamber of the
heart, it can cause the lower chambers to skip beats. annual meeting of the
American Heart Association.
Coffee and
tea drinking may be associated with reduced rates of stroke and dementia: Drinking coffee or tea may be
associated with a lower risk of stroke and dementia, according to a study of
healthy individuals aged 50-74. Drinking coffee was also associated with a
lower risk of post-stroke dementia. PLoS Medicine
An Anti-Inflammatory Diet High in Veggies May Decrease Your Dementia Risk: New research has found that consuming
an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and tea or coffee may
protect the brain and reduce the risk of dementia. These foods, which are rich
in beneficial vitamins and minerals, can prevent cell damage in the body and
create less inflammation than fatty and sugary foods. Less inflammation in the
body means less inflammation in the brain and better cognitive health. American
Academy of Neurology
Can herbs
and spices lower blood pressure? Researchers
at Pennsylvania State University recently conducted a randomized controlled
trial investigating the effect of longer-term consumption of herbs and spices
on risk factors for cardiovascular disease. They found that a higher level of herbs and
spices in food reduced 24-hour blood pressure readings. American Journal of Clinical NutritionTrusted
Source.
Fighting
inflammation and oxidative stress: New study finds some benefits of orange
juice: A new study suggests 100% orange juice has the potential to help fight
inflammation and oxidative stress in adults, paving the way for further
research on the topic. Though limited in scope, the study indicates drinking
100% orange juice significantly reduces interleukin 6, a well-established
marker of inflammation, in both healthy and high-risk adults. Two additional
inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were also reduced; however, the
results did not quite reach statistical significance.
PREVENTION:
Supplements
Two omega-3s
in fish oil may boost brain function in people with heart disease: A new study found that DHA and EPA,
given in a combined supplement at prescription levels, improved cognitive
function in older adults with coronary artery disease, or CAD. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Plant-based
gummy candy helps vegans and vegetarians get their vitamins: While these diets have purported health
benefits, they can also lack essential nutrients, such as vitamins B12 and
D3, if not well-planned or supplemented correctly. Now, researchers
reporting in ACS Food
Science & Technology have packed a strawberry-flavored
gummy with these vitamins, formulating it without any animal products so vegans
and vegetarians can reach their recommended daily allowances (RDA).
PREVENTION
Short on
sleep? Your heart
may have a harder time adjusting to disruptions during sleep: Otherwise
healthy adults with chronically limited sleep showed abnormal heart rate
patterns in a new study published in the American Journal of
Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
New study suggests
that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline: A new study has found that women over
the age of 50 who had breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive
tests compared to women who had never breastfed. The findings suggest that
breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women's cognitive
performance and could have long-term benefits for the mother's brain. Evolution, Medicine and Public Health
E-Cigarettes
Can Raise Risk of Stroke, Heart Disease: People who use electronic cigarettes have a higher risk of
stroke at a younger age than people who smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes.
The findings are scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific
Sessions 2021
The ‘Sweet
Spot’ for Bedtime: Between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Is Best for Heart Health: Researchers say there actually is an
ideal time to crawl under the covers for the sake of your heart health.
According to a new study from the United Kingdom, if you want to
protect your heart, get to bed between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m
TREATMENT
Common
antidepressant should no longer be used to treat people with dementia: The research, published in The Lancet,
has shown that antidepressant mirtazapine offered no improvement in agitation
for people with dementia and was possibly more likely to be associated with
mortality than no intervention at all. The
Lancet
Breast
cancer survival increases with early diagnosis and treatment: According to a recent Cleveland Clinic
study, breast cancer survival increases when treatment involving surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation are completed within 38 weeks of the initial
diagnosis. Annals of Surgical Oncology
Patients
with rectal cancer who exercise while receiving radiation therapy more likely
to have tumors disappear:
"This study starts to look at exercise as a cancer treatment, as opposed to just exercise
as a supportive care intervention.” Clinical Colorectal Cancer
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-patients-rectal-cancer-therapy-tumors.html
Researchers
find new treatment for HPV-associated oral cancer: The new treatment employs minimally
invasive surgery and half the standard dose of radiation therapy, compared to current
treatments. The new treatment also lasts for two weeks, rather than the
standard six weeks. American Society for Radiation
Oncology's Annual Meeting.
Antidepressants
plus common painkillers may raise bleeding risk: In a review of 10 published studies
involving 6,000 patients, researchers found that those taking SSRIs (such as
Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) like Advil and Aleve had an increased risk for gastrointestinal
bleeding. American College of
Gastroenterology annual meeting,
Severe
asthma symptoms worsen when treated with psoriasis medicine: Patients treated with Risankizumab had
worse severe asthma symptoms. New England Journal of Medicine
Arginine, an
inexpensive oral drug, could enhance radiation therapy for cancer: Treatment with arginine, one of the
amino-acid building blocks of proteins, enhanced the effectiveness of radiation
therapy in cancer patients with brain metastases, in a proof-of-concept,
randomized clinical trial. Science Advances
Oral pill as
safe, efficacious as conventional treatment for anemia in patients with kidney
disease: Researchers
examined hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF PH
inhibitors), a new class of drug that can be given orally to treat anemia. The
ASCEND trials, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), tested one of these
compounds, daprodustat, in patients with CKD on dialysis and in patients with
CKD not on dialysis, and compared the oral medication's safety and efficacy to
conventional treatment. In two studies published in The New England Journal
of Medicine and in a simultaneous presentation at the American Society for Nephrology
Kidney Week, they offered data indicating that daprodustat was as safe and
efficacious as ESAs. New England Journal of Medicine
Study
compares bypass, stenting for patients with severe heart disease: Bypass surgery is slightly better
overall than stenting to open blocked arteries in people with severe coronary
artery disease, new research shows. But decisions may still need to be made on
a case-by-case basis: Stenting appeared more beneficial in some patients,
particularly if they didn't have complex disease. New England Journal of Medicine
Organization
issues new guideline for treatment of early Parkinson's disease: The American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
has issued a guideline providing recommendations for treating movement
symptoms, called motor symptoms, in people with early Parkinson's disease. This
guideline updates recommendations on dopaminergic medications that were
published in the 2002 AAN guideline on the initiation of treatment for
Parkinson's disease. Neurology
Common blood
pressure drug does not slow down the progression of more advanced Alzheimer's,
study finds: New
research led by the University of Bristol, has shown the drug losartan,
normally used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), is not effective in
slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in people with
mild-to-moderate disease after 12 months of treatment. However, the drug
could still be of benefit if prescribed for longer and if given to people with
very early disease. The findings are from the phase 2 multi-center
clinical trial known as RADAR ((Reducing pathology in Alzheimer's Disease
through Angiotensin taRgeting). Lancet Neurology
Blood
thinners may prevent cognitive decline in older patients with atrial
fibrillation:
The anticoagulant medication dabigatran yielded similar results to
warfarin for the prevention of cognitive decline in older adults
with atrial fibrillation after two years of treatment, according to
late-breaking research presented at the American Heart
Association's Scientific Sessions 2021.
Practice-changing
trial results for advanced melanoma skin cancer: The combination of nivolumab and
ipilimumab (N/I), followed by the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib
(D/T) if there was disease progression, led to a significant improvement in
estimated 2-year overall survival from the start of treatment (72%) when
compared to the opposite treatment sequence (52%). ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research
Group
Bilateral
oophorectomy before menopause linked to MCI: Women who undergo bilateral oophorectomy before menopause
have increased odds of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and poorer cognitive
performance about 30 years later. JAMA Network Open
OTHER
Car crash
deaths involving cannabis increasing and more likely to involve alcohol: New research indicates that between
2000 and 2018, the percentage of car crash deaths in the United States
involving cannabis have doubled, and the percentage of deaths involving both
cannabis and alcohol, have more than doubled. People who died in crashes
involving cannabis had 50 percent greater odds of also having alcohol in their
system. Published in the American Journal of Public Health, these results suggest that as states
have loosened cannabis policies, cannabis and alcohol have increasingly been
used together when driving.
After clocks
'Fall back' this weekend, watch out for seasonal mood changes: As clocks are turned back an hour this
weekend and it gets dark earlier, many people will begin grappling with
seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The disorder—also known as winter or
seasonal depression—affects up to 5% of Americans, but rates are much higher in
Northern U.S. states (10%) than in Southern states (1%). HealthDay.
Caregivers
more likely to have subjective cognitive decline: Caregivers who provide care to a family
member or friend with a health condition or disability are more likely to have
subjective cognitive decline (SCD), according to research published in the Nov.
19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
