COVID
COVID-19 may cause deadly blood clots:
COVID-19 may increase the risk of blot cots in women who are pregnant or taking
estrogen with birth control or hormone replacement therapy, according to a new
manuscript published in the Endocrine Society's journal, Endocrinology.
Hygiene
Theater is a Huge Waste of Time:
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated
its guidelines to clarify that while COVID-19 spreads easily among speakers
and sneezers in close encounters, touching a surface “isn’t thought to be the
main way the virus spreads.” Other scientists have reached a more forceful
conclusion. “Surface transmission of COVID-19 is not justified at all by the
science,” Emanuel Goldman, a microbiology professor at Rutgers New Jersey
Medical School, told me. He also emphasized the primacy of airborne
person-to-person transmission. COVID-19 has reawakened America’s spirit of misdirected
anxiety, inspiring businesses and families to obsess over risk-reduction
rituals that make us feel
safer but don’t actually do much to reduce risk—even as more dangerous
activities are still allowed. This is hygiene theater. A July article in the The Lancet, Goldman noted
that all those studies that made COVID-19 seem likely to live for days on metal
and paper bags were based on unrealistically strong concentrations of the
virus. As he explained to me, as many as 100 people would need to sneeze on the
same area of a table to mimic some of their experimental conditions. The
studies “stacked the deck to get a result that bears no resemblance to the real
world," Atlantic Monthly
E-Cigarette
Use Linked to Increased Odds of COVID-19: Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and dual use
of cigarettes and e-cigarettes are associated with increased likelihood of
COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in the Journal
of Adolescent Health.
FDA Head Says Any Approved COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Safe; During a briefing with the American
Medical Association, Stephen Hahn, M.D., the head of the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, said Monday that the agency will not compromise safety when
approving a COVID-19 vaccine, CNN reported.
Russia
Approves COVID-19 Vaccine Before Trials Completed: Before completing clinical trials to
ensure the vaccine is safe and effective, the Russian government has gone ahead
and approved a vaccine against the new coronavirus. Russian President Vladimir
Putin's announcement comes despite a lack of published data on any testing for
the vaccine. "It works effectively enough, forms a stable immunity and I
repeat, it has gone through all necessary tests," Putin told a Cabinet
meeting. the World Health Organization urged Russia not to bypass the usual
methods of testing to ensure safety and effectiveness. The Russian vaccine was
rushed through monkey and early human trials and was most likely successful.
But it has not been widely tested in large phase 3 trials. Mikhail Murashko,
Russia's minister of health, has said mass vaccination will start in October,
beginning with teachers and medical workers.
300,000
American Deaths Projected by December Without More Face Mask Use: Researchers from the University of
Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) on Thursday
issued a forecast of 295,011 deaths from COVID-19 by Dec. 1. However, if 95
percent of people were to wear a face mask in public, some 66,000 lives could
be saved, they added.
Stay-at-home orders significantly associated with reduced spread of COVID-19 Journal
of Infectious Diseases
People
Without Symptoms Carry Just as Much of the Coronavirus as Symptomatic People: New research from
South Korea has found that people with an infection with the new coronavirus
who don’t have any symptoms carry just as much virus in their throats, lungs,
and noses as those who do have symptoms. The studyTrusted Source, which published
Thursday in JAMA Internal Medicine, also discovered that on average, it took
asymptomatic people 17 days to test negative for the virus after diagnosis,
whereas it took symptomatic people 19 to 20 days.
Preliminary
study of 300+ COVID-19 patients suggests convalescent plasma therapy effective: A preliminary analysis of an ongoing
study of more than 300 COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma
therapy at Houston Methodist suggests the treatment is safe and effective. The
results, which appear now in The American Journal of Pathology,
represents one of the first peer-reviewed publications in the country assessing
efficacy of convalescent plasma.
Household
contact the greatest risk for transmission of COVID-19: Asymptomatic patients
less likely to infect close contacts compared to severe cases Secondary
transmission acquired from public transportation was rare Researchers from
Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China traced more than 3,410 close
contacts of 391 COVID-19 index cases between January and March 2020 to evaluate
the risk for disease transmission in different settings. They found that risk
for secondary transmission of COVID-19 was less than 4 percent among close
contacts of persons with COVID-19. In addition, secondary infections acquired
while using public transportation were rare. In contrast, 1 in 10 household
contacts was found to be infected. The
researchers also found that patients with more clinically severe disease were more
likely to infect their close contacts than were less severe index cases. Those
with asymptomatic cases were the least likely to infect their close contacts.
Manifestation of certain symptoms, such as expectoration, in index cases was
also associated with an increased risk for infection in their close contacts.
Nine Things Experts Know Now About Covid-19
from Elemental
- The virus can
become airborne
- Face masks
are crucial to help control the pandemic
- Covid affects
the whole body, not just the lungs
- Young adults
and children can also get seriously ill or die from it.
- The virus
isn’t seasonal
- Covid-19 is
much deadlier than the flu-It’s five times more dangerous
- The virus won’t disappear
- People spread
the virus without realizing it
- A vaccine is
almost certain
PAIN
Canakinumab Explored as Therapy for Large-Joint Osteoarthritis: Inhibition of interleukin-1β (IL-1β)
with canakinumab seems to reduce the incidence of total hip replacement/total
knee replacement (THR/TKR) compared with placebo, according to an exploratory
analysis published online Aug. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Cannabis May Have Adverse Cardiovascular Effects: Cannabis seems not to be associated with
cardiovascular benefits but has adverse cardiovascular effects, according to a
scientific statement from the American Heart Association published online Aug.
5 in Circulation.
Yoga shown
to improve anxiety, study shows:
Yoga improves symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, a condition with
chronic nervousness and worry, suggesting the popular practice may be helpful
in treating anxiety in some people. JAMA Psychiatry
To improve
students' mental health, study finds, teach them to breathe: When college students learn specific
techniques for managing stress and anxiety, their wellbeing improves across a
range of measures and leads to better mental health, a new Yale study finds. Frontiers in Psychiatry
Cannabis shows potential for mitigating sickle cell disease pain: Cannabis appears to be a safe and
potentially effective treatment for the chronic pain that afflicts people with
sickle cell disease, according to a new clinical trial co-led by University of
California, Irvine researches. JAMA
Network Open
FDA ACTION
• Approved
Evrysdi First Oral Drug for Spinal
Muscular Atrophy
• Approved
opioid Olinvyk (oliceridine) for the management of moderate-to-severe acute
pain in controlled settings
• Approved
Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma
(MCL) in patients who have not responded to other treatment types or relapsed
following treatment
PREVENTION: Exercise
Regular
exercise helps prevent high blood pressure, even in areas of high air pollution People who regularly exercise tend to
have a lower risk of high blood pressure, even if they live in areas where air
pollution is relatively high, according to new research published today in the
American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.
Aerobic exercise could have the final say on fatty livers: A new study highlights that fitness may
be a more important clinical endpoint for improvement in patients with fatty
liver diseases during exercise trials, rather than weight loss. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
Plant-based
diets shown to lower blood pressure even with limited meat and dairy : Published online School in the Journal of Hypertension,
they argue that any effort to increase plant-based foods in your diet and limit
animal products is likely to benefit your blood pressure and reduce your risk
of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease.
Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, linked to lower risk of death: Diets high in protein,
particularly plant protein, are associated with a lower risk of death from any
cause, finds an analysis of the latest evidence published by The BMJ
Western Diet Tied to Adult Acne:
Large survey shows diets high in fatty, sugary foods and drinks and milk
associated with current acne. JAMA Dermatology
Does eating
fish protect our brains from air pollution?: Older women who eat more than one to two servings a week
of baked or broiled fish or shellfish may consume enough omega-3 fatty acids to
counteract the effects of air pollution on the brain, according to a new study
published in the July 15, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American
Academy of Neurology.
PREVENTION: Supplements
Vitamin D3
Does Not Reduce Depression Incidence, Recurrence Incidence and recurrence of depression,
change in mood scores did not differ from placebo for adults ≥50. JAMA
Probiotics
Not Recommended for Most Digestive Conditions: Probiotics are not recommended for most digestive
conditions, according to a clinical practice guideline issued by the American
Gastroenterological Association and published online June 9 in Gastroenterology.
Lipoic acid
supplements help some obese but otherwise healthy people lose weight: A compound given as a dietary
supplement to overweight but otherwise healthy people in a clinical trial
caused many of the patients to slim down. The research, published in the Journal of Nutrition,
analyzed the effects of 24 weeks of daily, 600-milligram doses of lipoic acid
supplements on 31 people, with a similarly sized control group receiving a
placebo.
PREVENTION
Flu Shot and
Pneumonia Vaccine Might Reduce Alzhemiers:
Flu
Vaccination in High-Risk Groups May Reduce CV Events: Flu vaccination is underused in
high-risk patients but is associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular
events among patients who do receive it, according to a study presented at the
American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2020 Scientific
Sessions. Hospitalized patients at high risk who are vaccinated have lower
rates of MI, TIA, cardiac arrest, death
Researchers
say where you live could add years to your life: People who live in blue states are
living longer, and the gap is widening. In the greatest gap between states,
residents in Connecticut outlive their counterparts in Oklahoma by as many as
seven years. Milbank Quarterly
Over screening for Cancer Common Among Older Adults:
Almost half of older U.S. adults report being screened for colorectal,
cervical, or breast cancer beyond recommended upper age limits, particularly
women living in metropolitan areas, according to a study published online July
27 in JAMA Network Open.
USPSTF Still Advises Against Carotid Artery Stenosis Screening: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) recommends against screening the general adult population for
asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. This recommendation forms the basis of a
draft recommendation statement published online Aug. 4 by the USPSTF.
Long-Term
Negative Thinking Tied to Alzheimer Risk: Association seen between negative thinking, cognitive
decline, neuroimaging markers. Alzheimer's & Dementia
Stress and
anger may exacerbate heart failure:
Mental stress and anger may have clinical implications for patients with heart
failure according to a new report published in the Journal of Cardiac
Failure.
TREATMENT
Remote
Therapy Is As Effective As Face-to-Face, for Depression: A systemic review of 17 randomized
controlled trials by McMaster University found that remote cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) is as effective as in-person for the treatment of depression.
Lancet's EClinicalMedicine
Memory
loss reversed or abated in those with cognitive decline: Latest research
from Affirmativ Health succeeds in treating cognitive decline using
personalized, precision medicine. The Affirmativ Health scientific team, after
thorough review of published research, has developed a comprehensive approach
to addressing scientifically supported risk factors that have been rigorously
defined as interventions to promote prevention, increased resiliency, and
stabilization of brain function in the realm of AD and dementia. Utilizing
cutting edge technology in concert with in-person coaching and consultation, we
are demonstrating that a multi-modal and personalized approach promotes an
improved resiliency and restoration of optimal brain function. The personalized
therapeutic program includes genetics, an extensive blood panel, medical
history and lifestyle data to evaluate relevant metabolic risk factors and
nutrient levels associated with cognitive health. The study approach considers
more than 35 factors known to contribute to cognitive decline. In conjunction
with the publication of this vital study, and to expose alternative treatment
options for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline, the team at Affirmativ
Health has written a book, Outsmart your Brain - an Insider's Guide to
Life-Long Memory.
Longer Bisphosphonate Drug Holiday May Up
Fracture Risk: In patients who have previously suffered a vertebral
fracture, a longer bisphosphonate (BP) drug holiday is associated with an
increased risk for major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs), according to a study
published online in the September issue of Bone.
Lack off males in drug dose trials leads to over medicated women: Women are more likely than men to
suffer adverse side effects of medications because drug dosages have
historically been based on clinical trials conducted on men, suggests new
research. Researchers analyzed data from several thousand medical journal
articles and found clear evidence of a drug dose gender gap for 86 different
medications approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), including
antidepressants, cardiovascular and anti-seizure drugs and analgesics, among
others. Biology of Sex
Differences
No increased skin cancer risk with topical immunosuppressant ointments Adults with the
chronic skin condition atopic dermatitis can rest easy in the knowledge that
two topical immunosuppressant medications commonly prescribed to treat the
condition do not appear to increase the risk for the most common forms of skin
cancer, despite package label warnings to the contrary, researchers from
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found. JAMA Dermatology
Strict diet explains metabolic effect of gastric bypass surgery: In many studies, bariatric surgery has
been highlighted as an almost magical method for weight loss and reversing type
2 diabetes. One question that has remained largely unanswered is how the effect
of surgery differs from the effects of a strict low-calorie diet. This question
has now been examined by researchers at Lund University in Sweden in a study
published in the journal Diabetes. By monitoring individuals who underwent a
six-week low-calorie diet
followed by a bariatric operation, they can for the first time show why several
health markers improve. "What we previously thought was an effect of the
operation is actually due to the diet," says associate professor Nils
Wierup, who led the study
Cholesterol-lowering
drug improved function of heart's arteries: In a pilot study of people living with HIV or high levels
of cholesterol, researchers found that a six-week course of a
cholesterol-lowering medication improved the function of the coronary arteries
that provide oxygen to the heart. Journal
of the American Heart Association
OTHER
Our sense of
normalcy bounces back fast:
The coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented uncertainty and stress. But even
amid the turmoil and the new pressures of work-from-home and home-schooling,
millions of people were able to keep calm and carry on with the demands of the
moment. Research forthcoming in the Journal of Applied Psychology shows
that the human sense of normalcy is capable of bouncing back a lot faster than
we might think.
Gulf war illness, chronic fatigue syndrome distinct illnesses, study suggests A brain imaging study
of veterans with Gulf War illness (GWI) and patients with chronic fatigue
syndrome (CFS) (sometimes called myalgic encephalomyelitis), has shown that the
two illnesses produce distinctly different, abnormal patterns of brain activity
after moderate exercise. The result of the Georgetown University Medical Center
study suggests that GWI and CFS are distinct illnesses, an outcome that could
affect the treatment of veterans with Gulf War illness. Brain Communications
