Journal Watch September

COVID

Can Secondhand Smoke Transmit the Novel Coronavirus?: Experts say secondhand smoke from cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes can transmit the novel coronavirus farther than usual. They also note that smokers and vapers have a higher risk for developing COVID-19 than the general population.

 

No Proof Convalescent Plasma Effective Against COVID-19: There is no evidence to support the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients, and doctors should not consider it a standard of care until more research is completed, a U.S. National Institutes of Health expert panel said 

 

U.S. Will Not Join International COVID-19 Vaccine Effort: The United States will not join an international effort to create and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine, the Trump administration said. In the announcement, the White House said it does not want to be constrained by multinational groups such as the World Health Organization, the Associated Press reported. In early July, the Trump administration announced it was pulling out of the WHO.

 

Corticosteroids reduce risk of death by 20% in critically ill COVID-19 patients: An inexpensive, widely available class of drug called corticosteroids (dexamethasone or hydrocortisone)reduces the risk of death among critically ill COVID-19 patients by 20%, an analysis of seven trials found. JAMA

 

Likely Deficient Vitamin D Status Linked to COVID-19 Risk: Risk for testing positive for COVID-19 increased for likely deficient versus likely sufficient vitamin D groups. JAMA Open Networks 

 

COVID-19 study links strict social distancing to much lower chance of infection: Using public transportation, visiting a place of worship, or otherwise traveling from the home is associated with a significantly higher likelihood of testing positive with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, while practicing strict social distancing is associated with a markedly lower likelihood 

 

Heart and Lung Damage from COVID-19 Can Improve Over Time If Rehab Starts Early: Researchers reported that people with COVID-19 can experience long-term lung and heart damage, but for many of these patients, this condition tends to improve over time. The sooner patients start pulmonary rehabilitation programs after coming off ventilators, the better and faster their recovery, the researchers said. European Respiratory Society International Congress 2020

 

Restaurants May Be Key Component to COVID-19 Spread: Restaurants appear to play a key role in the spread of COVID-19. Masks cannot be effectively worn while eating and drinking, whereas shopping and numerous other indoor activities do not preclude mask use. A recent study found that those who became infected were 2.4 times more likely to have eaten at a restaurant in the 2 weeks prior to becoming ill. In the study, restaurant dining included being seated at a patio, being seated outdoors, or being seated indoors. Findings were published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on September 11.

 

Fauci: 'About 40%-45% of Infections Are Asymptomatic': Anthony Fauci, MD, highlighting the latest COVID-19 developments, said, "It is now clear that about 40%-45% of infections are asymptomatic."

Fauci Disagrees With Trump on Coronavirus, Cites Disturbing US Statistics: Top government infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Friday he disagreed with President Donald Trump's assessment the United States has "rounded the corner" on the coronavirus pandemic, saying the statistics are disturbing. Fauci, the outspoken director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the United States was starting the flu season with a high baseline of around 40,000 new cases a day and deaths are averaging around 1,000 daily. Trump, who has admitted playing down the severity of the virus since it emerged early this presidential election year, said on Thursday he believed the United States was "rounding the corner" on the crisis.

Counterintuitive Findings for Domestic Violence During COVID-19: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has not increased during the COVD-19 pandemic, at least during the early stages of the pandemic, new research suggests. In April 2020, investigators surveyed over 1750 individuals in intimate partner relationships. The survey was drawn from social media and e-mail distribution lists. The researchers found that of the roughly one fifth who screened positive for IPV, half stated that the degree of victimization had remained the same since the COVID-19 outbreak; 17% reported that it had worsened; and one third reported that it had gotten better. Those who reported worsening victimization said that sexual and physical violence, in particular, were exacerbated early in the pandemic's course. Study was published online September 1 in Injury Prevention.

 

Eli Lilly's Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Accelerates Recovery in COVID-19 Patients: Lilly reported its drug, baricitinib, branded as Olumiant, in combination with remdesivir cut the median recovery time by about a day, compared to patients treated with remdesivir alone. 

 

Antihistamines May Help Calm COVID-19 Cytokine Storm: Dual histamine-receptor blockade with cetirizine and famotidine appears to reduce pulmonary symptoms and may have other benefits in patients with COVID-19, according to a new study. Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

 

Will YourCOVID-19 Mask Protect You from Wildfire Smoke? People in the West now have to protect themselves not only from the novel coronavirus, but from wildfire smoke as well. Health experts say an N95 mask is your best bet for protecting yourself from both the novel coronavirus and wildfire smoke.  Research shows KN95 masks are just as effective. Healthline 

 

Vitamin D Can Help Reduce COVID-19 Risks: Here’s How: New studies conclude that vitamin D can reduce your risk of developing COVID-19 as well as decrease the severity of the illness. Experts say vitamin D boosts the immune system, which can help fight off ailments such as COVID-19. The best way to get vitamin D is through sunshine and healthy meals, but supplements can also be used. Healthline

 

 

PAIN

Conservative osteoarthritis therapy programme delays need for knee and hip joint replacement surgery: With implementation of conservative treatment methods like physiotherapy and individually tailored, adjusted exercises, quality of osteoarthritis care can improve and patients can delay the need for an artificial hip or knee joint. This has been demonstrated by a clinical study from Norway that was recently presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR 2020) Online Annual Congress.

 

Most Shoulder Replacements Last More Than 10 Years: A bout 90 percent of shoulder replacements last for longer than 10 years, and patient-reported outcome measures show sustained benefits, according to a review published online Aug. 26 in The Lancet Rheumatology.

 

Turmeric Curcuma longa Extract Improves Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis: For patients with knee osteoarthritis, Curcuma longa extract (CL) is more effective than placebo for knee pain but does not improve knee effusion-synovitis, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

 

Study Finds Ibuprofen Likely Doesn’t Make COVID-19 Symptoms Worse During the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, the WHO said people shouldn’t take ibuprofen if they had COVID-19. A new report found that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen aren’t linked to any adverse effects in people who were positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. PLOS Medicine

 

 

COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Honey found to be a better treatment for upper respiratory tract infections than traditional remedies: A trio of researchers at Oxford University has found that honey is a better treatment for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) than traditional remedies. In their paper published in BMJ Evidence-based Medicine the team looked at data from 14 clinical trials involving 1,761 patients. Studies included virtually all of the traditional remedies such as over-the-counter cold and sinus medicines as well as antibiotics—and honey. They found that honey proved to be the best therapy among all of those tested. In addition to proving more effective in treating coughing (36 percent better at reducing the amount of coughing and 44 percent better at reducing coughing severity), it also led to a reduction in average duration of infection by two days.

 

Anxiety and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says: Researchers are studying a variety of complementary health approaches to see whether they might be helpful for occasional anxiety or anxiety disorders. There is some evidence that mindfulness and other forms of meditation, music, relaxation techniques, and melatonin may be efficacious for anxiety, especially anxiety associated with medical procedures or chronic medical problems. However, there is not enough evidence on other complementary health approaches for anxiety to draw definitive conclusions about their efficacy. NCCIH

 

Kundalini Yoga Is Helpful for Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder but not as Effective as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Kundalini yoga can reduce anxiety in adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but it’s not as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), according to a new study. The study results support CBT as a first-line treatment for GAD but also suggest that Kundalini yoga may have short-term benefits for some people with GAD. JAMA Psychiatry

National Yoga Month Livestream: The Science and Practice of Yoga: Many people practice yoga for health-related reasons, such as for fitness and well-being, to help control stress, or to help manage or prevent a health problem. To learn more about the science and practice of yoga, join Dr. Lanay Mudd and Dr. Pam Jeter of NCCIH on Tuesday, September 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET for a National Yoga Month livestream. They will discuss the latest research on yoga for health while demonstrating several yoga poses you can do at home. Watch live on the NCCIH Facebook and Twitter pages.

New UBCO study examines pain tolerance among cannabis users  Unlike opioids, long-term cannabis use does not increase sensitivity to pain Clinical Journal of Pain.

 

Medical Marijuana Tied to Fewer Admissions in Sickle Cell Disease: Use of medical marijuana is associated with fewer hospitalizations among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Blood Advances.

 

FDA ACTION

• Approved The first rapid COVID-19 test that does not need any special computer equipment to produce results

• Approved the MiniMed 770G System for patients ages 2 to 6 years with type 1 diabetes

 

PREVENTION: Exercise

Exercise improves learning and memory in young adults: Just a single exercise workout has positive effects on learning and memory in young adults, according to a recent review of published studies. The review, which is published in Translational Sports Medicine, included 13 relevant studies. The types of exercise that were studied involved walking, running, and bicycling in individuals between 18 to 35 years of age.

 

PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition

Red hot meat:The wrong recipe for heart disease: A new study found that study found that consuming red and processed meat increased a protein compound that may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and complications in diabetes. "When red meat is seared at high temperatures, such as grilling, roasting or frying, it creates compounds called advanced glycation end products -- or AGEs ¬- which when consumed, can accumulate in your body and interfere with normal cell functions. Nutrients

 

Women Increasingly at Risk for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: The report, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that the number of non-Hispanic white women dying from ALD grew more rapidly compared to rates for non-Hispanic Black women. Though men have higher death rates, the gap between death rates of men and women is getting smaller. This is especially true of women who are 25 to 34 years of age. Higher levels of endotoxins from gut bacteria are found in women compared to men after a single episode of binge drinking.

 

Does the Mediterranean diet protect against rheumatoid arthritis? The analysis included 62,629 women from France who have been taking part in a questionnaire-based study assessing dietary intake since 1990. In total, 480 women developed rheumatoid arthritis. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was not associated with rheumatoid arthritis risk overall; however, among women who smoked or used to smoke, it was associated with a decreased risk.

 

Coffee, Tea, Soda Tied to Higher Risk for Gastroesophageal Reflux: Consuming water, juice, milk not linked to increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

 

Coffee Linked to Reduced Disease Progression, Death in CRC: For patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), coffee consumption is associated with reduced risk of disease progression and death, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JAMA Oncology.

 

A Pesco-Mediterranean Diet and Intermittent Fasting Can Help Your Heart: A recent study indicates that the Pesco-Mediterranean diet, when combined with intermittent fasting, may lower the risk of heart disease. The diet involves eating plants, nuts, whole grains, extra-virgin olive oil, and fish or seafood. It limits the amount of red meat, dairy, and eggs a person eats.  Journal of the American College of Cardiology

 

Blackout Drinking May Increase Risk of Dementia: New research finds that even moderate drinkers can double their risk of dementia, if they drink themselves unconscious — even rarely. Experts say there are long-term, irreversible effects of long-term alcohol exposure. Heavy drinking is considered eight or more drinks per week for women or greater than 14 drinks per week for men. No one believes getting so drunk you pass out doesn’t have serious health consequences. However, a new studyTrusted Source finds the price you pay involves much more than waking up with a hangover.

 

 

PREVENTION: Supplements

Vitamin D twice a day may keep vertigo away: Taking vitamin D and calcium twice a day may reduce chances of getting vertigo again. Neurology®

 

Multivitamin,mineral supplement linked to less-severe, shorter-lasting illness symptoms: Older adults who took a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement with zinc and high amounts of vitamin C in a 12-week study experienced sickness for shorter periods and with less severe symptoms than counterparts in a control group receiving a placebo. Nutrients

 

EPA, DHA Supplementation Linked to Reduced Risk for MI, CHD: Supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with a reduced risk for myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) events, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 17 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

 

PREVENTION

A New Warning About Low-Dose Aspirin: Daily Use Could Increase Cancer Risk for Older Adults: Now, findingsTrusted Source from a new study published earlier this month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) show that taking a daily low-dose aspirin could accelerate the progression of cancer in adults over the age of 70. In their analysis of nearly 20,000 older adults in Australia and the United States, the researchers found that taking a daily aspirin doubled the risk of a person age 70 or older dying from stage 3 cancer. This same group also saw the risk of their cancer spreading to other parts of the body increase by about 20 percent.

 

Personal use of permanent hair dye not associated with greater risk of most cancers or cancer death: Women who use permanent hair dye products to color their hair at home do not experience greater risk of most cancers or greater cancer related mortality, finds a study published by The BMJ 

 

Common drugs tied to increased risk of cognitive decline: A class of drugs used for many conditions, including allergies, colds, high blood pressure and depression, may be associated with an increased risk of developing mild thinking and memory problems, particularly in people who have genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease or markers of this condition, according to a study published in the September 2, 2020, online issue of Neurology. These types of drugs, called anticholinergic drugs, are used for motion sickness, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, Parkinson's disease and high blood pressure. There are approximately 100 such drugs in widespread use, with some requiring a prescription and many others that may be purchased over the counter. 

 

Studies: E-cigarettes won't help smokers quit, but they may become addicted to vaping: E-cigarettes are now the most popular product used for smoking cessation in the United States, ahead of all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cessation aids combined, from nicotine patches and gum to prescription medications. However, two recently published analyses of a large nationally representative longitudinal study report that e-cigarettes are not effective in helping adults to quit smoking.

 

When doing good boosts health, well-being: Performing acts of kindness and helping other people can be good for people's health and well-being, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. But not all good-hearted behavior is equally beneficial to the giver. The strength of the link depends on many factors, including the type of kindness, the definition of well-being, and the giver's age, gender and other demographic factors. Random acts of kindness such as helping an older neighbor carry groceries, were more strongly associated with overall well-being than formal prosocial behavior, such as scheduled volunteering for a charity.

 

Skin creams, make-up and shampoos should be free from Pluralibacter: If products contaminated with P. gergoviae are used, the bacterium can enter the body via open wounds or the mucous membranes. Severe infections may develop in people with pre-existing conditions.

 

Sleep apnea linked with higher spine fracture risk among women: Emerging evidence suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may negatively affect bone health. Results from a new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research now indicate that women with history of OSA may face a higher risk of spine, or vertebral, fractures.

 

Lifestyle improvements may lessen cognitive decline: In the study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 119 individuals older than 65 years of age who were experiencing cognitive decline were randomized to a control group or an intervention group for 8 weeks. The control group received online information related to dementia and lifestyle risk factors, Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement. Over 6 months of follow-up, investigators noted that participants in the intervention group were able to improve their lifestyle and had higher cognition scores than those in the control group. The results suggest that lifestyle-based changes may modify the course of cognitive decline. 

 

Get Your Flu Shot, It Can Protect Your Heart: The study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in late August, looked at the health data of almost 90,000 flu patients and found that about 12 percent — or 1 in 8 people — experienced serious heart complications soon after being diagnosed with the flu.

 

BMI May Be a Bigger Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes Than Genetics: Researchers say body mass index (BMI) may be a higher risk factor for type 2 diabetes than genetics. Other experts say genetics is actually the number one factor for developing diabetes, but they note that lowering BMI can help delay or even prevent the onset of the disease. They say you can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by having your blood sugar screened every 3 years after age 45 as well as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. Managing your weight may prevent type 2 diabetes, delay onset, or even reverse it in some cases, according to new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2020.

 

Study Suggests Smoking Causes Fatal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Large, long-term twin study reveals link between smoking and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke 

 

 

TREATMENT

Only one in 10 medical treatments are backed by high-quality evidence: The analysis, which is published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, included 154 Cochrane systematic reviews published between 2015 and 2019.

 

No Link Between Hyperthyroidism Treatment, Solid Cancer Death: There is no association between treatment type for hyperthyroidism and later risk of solid cancer mortality, according to a study published online July 23 in JAMA Network Open.

 

Common class of drugs linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease: Researchers report that a class of drugs used for a broad array of conditions, from allergies and colds to hypertension and urinary incontinence, may be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, particularly in older adults at greater risk for Alzheimer's disease. Anticholinergic drugs are widely used for dozens of conditions, over the counter and prescription. although older persons metabolize anticholinergic drugs differently than younger people, anticholinergic medications were being taken at levels much higher than the lowest effective dose recommended for older adults, with 57 percent taken at twice the recommended dosage and 18 percent at least four times the recommended dosage.

 Neurology

 

Levodopa may improve vision in patients with macular degeneration

The widely used and well-tolerated drug commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may help significantly reduce the need for more costly, more invasive treatments, report investigators in The American Journal of Medicine

 

Treating hypertension lowers the risk for orthostatic hypotension, or drop in blood pressure upon standing: A systematic review of published evidence suggests that hypertension treatment lowers the risk for orthostatic hypotension, or extreme drop in blood pressure upon standing.  Annals of Internal Medicine

 

Electroconvulsive therapy shown to significantly reduce suicide risk in Bipolar patients: One of the largest ever studies of patients with untreatable bipolar disorder has shown that ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) was able to reduce suicide risk by 84% in high-risk patients, as well as giving effective treatment to around 72% of sufferers. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry 

Large Study Finds No Link Between Blood Pressure Medications and Cancer: Blood pressure medications have no link to cancer, a new large study has concluded. The research was presented last week at the ESC Congress 2020. The findings have not been peer reviewed or published yet.

Testosterone as a possible alternative to weight loss surgery: Data spanning more than 11 years suggest that testosterone injections could be a novel treatment for obesity in men. The results show that long-term testosterone therapy may be comparable to weight loss surgery, with a lower risk of complications. European and International Congress on Obesity

 

OTHER

Concussion discovery reveals dire, unknown effect of even mild brain injuries: Researchers have discovered that concussions and traumatic brain injuries, even when mild, cause swelling that blocks the brain's ability to clean itself of harmful toxins and debris.  In addition to an immediate impact on memory and brain inflammation, this may seed the brain for Alzheimer's, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.