Journal Watch : November 2021

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