Journal Watch: December 2021

 

COVID-19  

Omicron

Can you safely enjoy the holidays? Experts offer COVID tips

 

Vaccines: The new studies, from teams of researchers in Germany, South Africa, Sweden, and the drug company Pfizer, showed 25 to 40-fold drops in the ability of antibodies created by two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to neutralize the virus.  But there seemed to be a bright spot in the studies too. The virus didn't completely escape the immunity from the vaccines, and giving a third, booster dose appeared to restore antibodies to a level that's been associated with protection against variants in the past. This past week, Dr. Fauci noted, "Our booster vaccine regimens work against Omicron," he said at a White House news briefing. "At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster."

 

Omicron Variant Escapes Moderna Vaccine, but Booster Shot Helps: Moderna's two-dose COVID-19 vaccine is less effective against the new Omicron variant, according to a new preprint study. But a booster shot of the Moderna vaccine increased antibodies that were highly effective at blocking Omicron. "The antibodies that people make after they get the standard two inoculations of the Moderna mRNA vaccines are 50 times less effective against Omicron than they are against the original form of the virus.” "What these results are telling us is that if Omicron becomes a dominant variant, it's going to become even more important that people get their boost."

 

Report highlights characteristics of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant in U.S. Of the first 43 cases of COVID-19 attributed to the omicron variant, 58 percent were in persons aged 18 to 39 years. One-third (14 persons) reported international travel during the 14 days preceding symptom onset or positive test results. Seventy-nine percent of the COVID-19 cases attributed to the omicron variant occurred in persons who had completed the primary series of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine 14 days or more prior to symptom onset or positive test result; 14 had received an additional or booster dose, including five who received the additional or booster dose <14 days before symptom onset. Six persons had a documented previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cough, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose were the most commonly reported symptoms. One vaccinated patient was hospitalized for two days; to date, no deaths have been reported. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

 

What We Can Learn from the 1918 Flu Pandemic as the Omicron Variant Spreads: Historically, most pandemics last between 2 and a half to 3 and a half years. Over time, pandemic viruses typically mutate and evolve into an endemic disease that circulates at lower, more manageable levels. This was the case with the influenza strain behind the 1918 flu pandemic and some virologists hope this may be happening with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Early reports suggest that the Omicron variant may cause milder infections, potentially due to its unique collection of mutations along with the buildup of immunity across the globe. Healthline

 

Omicron thrives in airways, not lungs: Major differences in how efficiently Omicron and other variants of the coronavirus multiply may help predict Omicron's effects, researchers said. Compared to the earlier Delta variant, Omicron multiplies itself 70 times more quickly in tissues that line airway passages, which may facilitate person-to-person spread. But in lung tissues, Omicron replicates 10 times more slowly than the original version of the coronavirus, which might contribute to less-severe illness. Reuters 

 

COVID-19: Prevention

Coughing 'Can Spread SARS-CoV-2 Virus Beyond Two Metres' : The study, based on computer modelling and published in the journal Physics of Fluids, found that when an infected person without a mask coughs, most of the larger droplets fall on nearby surfaces. However, the scientists found that smaller droplets from an infected individual without a mask could spread well beyond two metres, even when outdoors. "Each time we cough, we may emit a different amount of liquid, so if a person is infected with COVID-19, they could be emitting lots of virus particles or very few, and because of the turbulence, they spread differently for every cough.”

 

How Long Does Immunity Last After COVID-19? For people who recover from COVID-19, immunity to the coronavirus can last about 3 months to 5 years, research shows .Immunity can occur naturally after developing COVID-19 or from getting the COVID-19 vaccination.Because the length of immunity after developing COVID-19 or getting the vaccine is unknown, practicing physical distancing and wearing a mask need to continue to stop the spread. Healthline

 

Four in 10 infected people may unknowingly spread virus: Infected people who show no symptoms might be contributing significantly to transmission of SARS-CoV-2, given that they account for 40.5% of confirmed infections worldwide, according to a study published online Tuesday in the journal JAMA Network Open.

 

 

COVID-19: Vaccines/Boosters

Booster shots prompt stronger, longer protection than original shots, says study: COVID-19 booster shots trigger much stronger and longer protection than full vaccination with two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, according to a small study. It also found that the response to a booster is even greater in fully vaccinated people who have had infections. Nine months after they had two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, their neutralizing antibody levels to SARS-CoV-2 had decreased about 10-fold, the study found. After a booster shot, antibody levels rose 25-fold—five times higher than after two doses of the vaccine. Northwestern University 

Study finds gradual increase in COVID infection risk after second vaccine dose: A study published by The BMJ finds a gradual increase in the risk of COVID-19 infection from 90 days after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. British Medical Journal

 

No Serious Cardiovascular Risks for Elderly After Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine: The study showed no increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke or pulmonary embolism following vaccination in adults aged 75+ in the 14 days following vaccination. The study was published as a research letter online November 22 in JAMA.

 

Severe breakthrough COVID-19 cases drives urgency of boosters: Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections tend to be mild, but new Yale research shows that more older adults have developed severe breakthrough cases during the delta variant phase of the pandemic, particularly after a longer period of time had elapsed since their last vaccination. The Lancet Microbe

 

Young people recover quickly from rare myocarditis side effect of COVID-19 vaccine: Most young people under the age of 21 who developed suspected COVID-19 vaccine-related heart muscle inflammation known as myocarditis had mild symptoms that improved quickly, according to new research. Circulation

 

In First Head-to-Head Comparison, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Only Slightly More Effective Than Pfizer: While Moderna has a slight edge over Pfizer, both vaccines prove to be extremely effective, especially in the prevention of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Moderna showed a slight edge by offering an increased level of protection, including a 21 percent lower risk of documented infection and 41 percent lower risk of hospitalization. NEJM

 

Infection plus vaccination yields better antibodies against COVID-19 variants: Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein produced by the immune system can help identify and fend off future infections, but not all antibodies are the same. People who either recovered from COVID-19 early in the pandemic or received a current vaccine may not be able to fend off new and emerging variants. Recently, researchers report that the combination of the two can produce a more potent defense. According to the study, people who've had an infection and received a vaccine have high-quality antibodies that act against spike variants—and more effectively than either group alone. mBio

 

Fully Vaccinated' Will Eventually Mean 3 Doses: White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci, MD, says it's "a matter of when, not if," the definition of "fully-vaccinated" is changed to include a third shot. Studies released this week showed that the standard two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appear to be much less effective against the Omicron variant than a booster dose.

 

CDC panel recommends Pfizer, Moderna vaccines over J&J shot The CDC has updated their recommendation that mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna be used over Johnson & Johnson’s shot, which has weaker protection and greater risks.

 

COVID-19: Treatment

Pfizer confirms COVID pill's results, potency versus omicron: Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. The company also said full results of its 2,250-person study confirmed the pill's promising early results against the virus: The drug reduced combined hospitalizations and deaths by about 89% among high-risk adults when taken shortly after initial COVID-19 symptoms.

 

High pressure (hyperbaric) oxygen resolves severe COVID-19 breathing difficulties faster than standard therapy: High pressure (hyperbaric) oxygen resolves severe breathing difficulties in COVID-19 patients much more quickly than standard therapy, taking an average of 3 rather than 9 days, reveal the results of a small comparative clinical trial published online in Emergency Medicine Journal

 

COVID-19: Long-Covid

COVID long-haulers may experience abnormal breathing patterns, chronic fatigue syndrome: Many long-haul COVID-19 patients have chronic fatigue syndrome and other breathing issues months after their initial COVID-19 diagnosis, according to study in JACC: Heart Failure, which is the first of its kind to identify a correlation between long-haul COVID-19 and chronic fatigue syndrome. American College of Cardiology

 

People Who Survive Severe COVID-19 at Higher Risk of Death in the Following Year: People with long COVID, a condition that happens to some survivors of COVID-19, could have twice the risk of death within the next year than those who experienced mild or moderate infection or were never ill, according to a study published Dec. 1 in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.

 

Long COVID Can Cause Heart Problems Along with Breathing Difficulties: More than one-third of people with no history of heart or lung disease who were hospitalized with COVID-19 continued to have shortness of breath a year after being discharged from the hospital, researchers from Belgium reported. Abnormal heart function was independently associated with persistent shortness of breath. EuroEcho 2021,

 

Data Shows Little Improvement in Long COVID Patients After One Year: The latest results from the The prospective longitudinal cohort study , published as a preprint, point towards the possibility of personalised treatments for patients suffering from long COVID. Data shows that there is no or minimal improvements in symptom severity and patient perception of recovery 12 months after discharge, following hospitalisation for acute COVID-19. However, the study did identify a number of modifiable factors and potential treatment targets that could improve outcomes.

 

COVID-19Vaccines May Reduce Long COVID Burden: Researchers analyzed survey responses from 28,356 adults ages 18 to 69 from across the UK who had previously had COVID-19, nearly one-quarter of whom had reported troublesome lingering symptoms. The likelihood that participants would report long COVID symptoms at least 12 weeks after infection fell by 13% after the first vaccine dose, the researchers reported on medRxiv ahead of peer review. It was unclear whether this improvement continued between the first and second doses. But a further 9% reduction in the odds of persistent symptoms after the second vaccine dose "did appear to be sustained, at least over the follow-up period of 67 days on average." The pattern was similar regardless of whether participants received vaccines from AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, or Moderna.

 

COVID-19: Other

About 40 percent with confirmed COVID-19 are asymptomatic: The percentage of asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections is 0.25 and 40.50 percent among individuals undergoing testing and those with confirmed COVID-19, respectively, according to a review published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Network Open

 

PAIN

Telehealth-delivered diet and exercise program eased knee pain and triggered weight loss: New research investigating the benefits of telehealth-delivered exercise and diet programs has found 80 per cent of participants experienced improvement in pain and an average of 10 per cent in loss of body weight, with one man shedding 39 kilograms. Annals of Internal Medicine

 

Clinical trial denounces use of platelet-rich plasma injections for knee jointosteoarthritis: Injections of platelet-rich plasma are no better than placebo for helping reduce knee pain in people with knee joint osteoarthritis. JAMA

 

Cooled RFA relieves pain after knee replacement: A minimally invasive ablation procedure - cooled radiofrequency ablation (C-RFA)-offers long-term relief for patients who experience chronic and debilitating pain after knee replacement surgery. Annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America

 

Treatment of Medication Overuse Headache: Effect and Predictors After 1 Year: All treatment strategies proved effective in treating MOH with a low relapse rate. The withdrawal and early preventives strategy leads to the fastest effect, confirming earlier treatment recommendations. Identification of predictors for chronic headache may help identify more complex patients. Headache

 

COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Study shows treating insomnia with cognitive behavioral therapy can prevent major depression in older adults: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) prevented major depression, decreasing the likelihood of depression by over 50% as compared to sleep education therapy in adults over the age of 60 with insomnia. JAMA Psychiatry

 

Recent cannabis use linked to extremes of nightly sleep duration: Recent cannabis use is linked to extremes of nightly sleep duration—less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours—reveals a study of a large representative sample of US adults. This pattern was even more pronounced among heavy users—those using on 20 out of the previous 30 days, the findings show. British Medical Journal

Yoga improves quality of life in men with new diagnosis of prostate cancer : With a new diagnosis of prostate cancer, these men have approximately a 30% incidence of depression and anxiety, a fourfold higher risk of heart attack and a twofold higher risk of committing suicide Yoga, a set of specific body postures combined with breathing techniques and mindfulness, may be an easy-to-implement answer in this stressful situation. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.

FDA ACTION

• Approved Livtencity for posttransplant cytomegalovirus

• Approved Vyvgart (efgartigimod) for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis

• Approved Orencia (abatacept) for the prophylaxis (prevention) of acute graft versus host disease

• Issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for AstraZeneca’s Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab and administered together) for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in certain adults and pediatric individuals (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms [about 88 pounds]). 

• Approved Cytalux (pafolacianine), an imaging drug intended to assist surgeons in identifying ovarian cancer lesions.

• Authorized the antiviral pill made by Merck and Ridgeback. Pill is modestly effective at reducing risk of hospitalization/death from Covid 19.

 

PREVENTION: Exercise

Study finds brain lesions on MRI linked to years of playing football: Certain markers of injury to the brain's white matter, called white matter hyperintensities, can be seen on brain scans. A new study finds that brain scans taken during the lifetimes of athletes in contact sports, compared to changes in their brains at autopsy, showed that white matter hyperintensities were associated with neuropathological changes. The study also found that white matter hyperintensities were more common in athletes who played contact sports longer or had more head impacts during their careers. American Academy of Neurology

 

Exercising at the start of fast can help people reach ketosis 3.5 hours faster: Exercising intensely at the start of a fast may help maximize health benefits of temporarily foregoing food. Ketosis occurs when the body runs out of glucose—its first, preferred fuel—and begins breaking down stored fat for energy, producing chemicals called ketones as a byproduct. In addition to being a healthy energy source for the brain and heart, ketones combat diseases like diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

 

Higher physical activity is associated with a better metabolic health risk factor profile in menopausal women: A study shows that menopausal transition is associated with unfavorable changes in metabolic health that may be mitigated with a physically active lifestyle. Physical activity especially alleviated increases in systolic blood pressure. International Journal of Obesity

 

How Daily Exercise Can Help Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Cancer: Physical activity may reduce the risk of two high-profile diseases — cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. More than 46,000 cancer diagnoses could be avoided with 5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, according to a study. “A few mechanisms behind why physical activity aids in the reduction of cancer are the positive physiological changes in the body. These include weight loss, making the heart stronger, causing the arteries to dilate more readily, allowing for improved blood flow through the body, and reducing the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol while raising the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.” In a paper published in the Journal of Neuroscience reported that physical activity improved cognition, including in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Study associates regular vigorous physical activity with improved cardiac response to exercise in people with COPD: A new study has found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience cardiac autonomic dysfunction, meaning that the heart's ability to speed up during exercise and recover afterwards is limited, regardless of disease severity. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Higher Levels of Exercise Can Improve Cardiovascular Health: A new study says that exercise is particularly good for those battling cardiovascular health issues, something that researchers say wasn’t so clear previously. The researchers said they found that while increasing physical activity helped reduce mortality rates in all groups, the benefits tended to level off above a certain level of activity in healthy people and those with cardiovascular risk factors. However, among those with cardiovascular disease, the researchers say they found no limit to the benefits from physical activity.

Regular exercise reduces the risk of and death from pneumonia, study suggests: The study found people who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing pneumonia and pneumonia-related death compared to those who were the least or not physically active. The relationship was shown for pneumonias that did not result in death and those that resulted in death. The results did not change on taking into account known factors that can affect pneumonia such as age, sex, body mass index, socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, smoking, and pre-existing diseases. The strength of the association did not vary by age or sex. GeroScience

 

Minimal effort required: A ten-minute run can boost brain processing Researchers have found that only ten minutes of moderate-intensity running increases local blood flow to the various loci in the bilateral prefrontal cortex —the part of the brain that plays an important role in controlling mood and executive functions. These findings may contribute to the development of a wider range of treatment recommendations to benefit mental health. Scientific Reports

 

 

PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition

Only alcohol—not caffeine, diet or lack of sleep—might trigger heart rhythm condition: New research from UC San Francisco that tested possible triggers of a common heart condition, including caffeine, sleep deprivation and sleeping on the left side, found that only alcohol use was consistently associated with more episodes of the heart arrhythmia. The authors conclude that people might be able to reduce their risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) by avoiding certain triggers. JAMA Cardiology

 

Sulfur microbial diet may increase risk for colorectal cancer: Greater adherence to a sulfur microbial diet is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) in both men and women. A sulfur microbial diet in a subsample of 307 men and 212 women was characterized by high intakes of low-calorie beverages, French fries, red meats, and processed meats and low intakes of fruits, yellow vegetables, whole grains, legumes, leafy vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables. JAMA Network Open

 

Coffee or Tea? Drinking Both Tied to Lower Stroke, Dementia Risk: Drinking coffee or tea is associated with reduced risk for stroke and dementia, with the biggest benefit associated with consuming both beverages, new research suggests. Investigators found that individuals who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee and 2 to 3 cups of tea per day had a 30% decrease in incidence of stroke and a 28% lower risk for dementia vs those who did not. published online  PLOS Medicine

 

Multivitamins, but Not Cocoa, Tied to Slowed Brain Aging: Taking a daily multivitamin for 3 years is associated with a 60% slowing of cognitive aging, with the effects especially pronounced in patients with cardiovascular (CVD) disease, new research suggests. In addition to testing the effect of a daily multivitamin on cognition the COSMOS-Mind study also examined the effect of cocoa flavanols, but showed no beneficial effect. The findings were presented at the 14th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference.

 

Two Diets Linked to Improved Cognition, Fatigue in MS: A Paleolithic elimination diet (Wahls diet) or a low-saturated fat diet (Swank diet) are associated with improved cognition, among other clinical outcomes, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), new research suggests. The results were presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2021 annual meeting. he CMSC findings came from a secondary analysis of a randomized trial published online in July in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical (MSJ-ETC).

 

MIND Diet Preserves Cognition Even in the Presence of Alzheimer's Pathology: Adherence to the MIND diet can improve memory and thinking skills of older adults, even in the presence of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, new data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP) show. "The MIND diet was associated with better cognitive functions independently of brain pathologies related to Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that diet may contribute to cognitive resilience, which ultimately indicates that it is never too late for dementia prevention.” A hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets, the MIND diet includes green leafy vegetables, fish, nuts, berries, beans, and whole grains and limits consumption of fried and fast foods, sweets, and pastries. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease published online

 

A diet rich in plant-based products reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly: The results reveal a protective association between metabolites derived from cocoa, coffee, mushrooms and red wine, microbial metabolism of polyphenol-rich foods (apple, cocoa, green tea, blueberries, oranges or pomegranates) and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Changes in lifestyle and diet are decisive as a strategy to prevent cognitive deterioration and its progression in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and other dementias. "A higher intake of fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods provides polyphenols and other bioactive compounds that could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline due to ageing. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research

 

Prunes have promising effect on men’s bone health, adding to growing body of research: New research reports that eating prunes daily has a protective effect on bone health in men over 50. Journal of Medicinal Food

 

Older Adults Who Drink Alcohol Moderately May Have Lower Risk of Heart Disease: Moderate drinking was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and death from any cause among a study group of 18,000 men and women ages 70 and older, according to a recent study

 

Ultra-processed foods increase the risk of a second heart attack or stroke: Study findings indicate a higher risk of a second heart attack (or stroke), this time fatal, in those with cardiovascular disease whose diet has a large share of ultra-processed food.  Moreover, another observation emerges from this study: Even in people generally following the Mediterranean diet, but consuming too many ultra-processed foods, health risks are higher. European Heart Journal

 

An overview of the effectiveness of anti-aging diets: A review of research conducted regarding the effectiveness of anti-aging diets  has found little to suggest they work. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their work and some of the myths they uncovered. Science

 

Low protein intake is associated with reduced muscle mass and strength in women over 65: Sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) has an enormous impact on the quality of life of the elderly, by allowing them to maintain their daily activities and independence for many more years and with an optimal state of health." Nutrición Hospitalaria 

 

How Eating at Night Affects Your Health, Risk for Diabetes The Brigham and Women’s study looked specifically at how eating throughout the evening affected blood sugar levels versus eating during the day. Researchers say eating at night can disrupt blood sugar levels and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that having meals in the evening can cause weight gain and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Experts say people who work night or overnight shifts should try to eat meals at as close to “normal” times as possible. They add that what you eat is also important, so making healthy food choices is essential.

 

Margarines now nutritionally better than butter after hydrogenated oil ban: In the U.S. marketplace today, margarines are now a better option than butter for your health.” In the past there was a lot of debate about which product was better for you, but now that trans fats have been removed from margarines, they're the best choice in terms of heart health." Public Health Nutrition

 

 

PREVENTION: Other

Gratitude May Improve Your Health Be thankful for what you have—it might improve your physical and mental health, according to a new global study that uses cell phone data. People who were more grateful had lower blood pressure and heart disease. as well as greater feelings of appreciation toward others. The study found that optimism was also linked to health and mental benefits, such and better sleep quality and more positive expectations and reflections. Emotion

Can Viagra Cut Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease? Data from more than 7 million people to find sildenafil (Viagra) significantly reduced the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease. According to researchers, their findings, recently publishedTrusted Source in the journal Nature Aging, suggest it might soon be prescribed to fight dementia.

Stress, by itself, can lead to excessive drinking in women but not men: A new study has shown that stress alone can drive women to excessive drinking. Men who experienced the same stress only drank to excess when they had already started consuming alcohol. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors

 

 

TREATMENT

Wearable vibration device may ease Parkinson's tremor: The device, which is worn on the wrist or ankle and is roughly the size and weight of a smartwatch, may be a safe and effective way to reduce resting tremors in people with Parkinson's disease. For the new study, 44 people with Parkinson's used the device on their wrists or ankles with two vibration patterns to make sure it was safe. The answer was yes. The next step is a larger study comparing the device to a placebo device for daily use, he said. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

 

Many people with high blood pressure may take a drug that worsens it, says study: Nearly 1 in 5 people with hypertension may be unintentionally taking a drug for another condition that causes their blood pressure to climb even higher, a new study suggests. "The risk of [drugs] raising blood pressure may be simply overlooked, particularly for patients using these additional medications for many years.” JAMA Internal Medicine

 

Statin use affects prostate cancer screening results: Prostate cancer screening results differ in men taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs compared with non-users. The study found the clearest difference in low-risk cancer, which is often overdiagnosed due to screening. The number of low-risk tumors found in screening was significantly lower in statin users. However, statin use caused no difference in the detection of high-risk cancers. In the screened group, prostate cancer mortality was slightly lower than in the unscreened group, both in men taking statins and other men. JAMA Oncology

 

Bariatric surgery highly effective for reducing fatty liver disease in patients with obesity and diabetes: A randomized controlled trial found that both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery were highly effective in reducing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Both procedures led to substantial reduction in liver fat 5 weeks after surgery and almost complete clearance of liver fat 1 year after surgery. The effect of bariatric surgery on liver scarring, or cirrhosis, was not clear. Annals of Internal Medicine 

 

Greater odds of overall satisfaction three months after lumbar fusion when surgery is minimally invasive: Researchers compared outcomes in two groups of patients surgically treated with lumbar fusion for degenerative spine disease. One group had undergone minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and the other open surgery. The researchers found that MIS procedures were associated with significantly greater odds of patient satisfaction 3 months postoperatively but not 12 months postoperatively. MIS was also associated with less disability and pain at both time points. For more details, see the article "Minimally invasive versus open lumbar spinal fusion: a matched study investigating patient-reported and surgical outcomes"  Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine

 

Infectious Diseases Society of America issues guidance on treating antimicrobial-resistant infections: Abstract/Full Text

 

OTHER

Major spike among American adults skipping medical treatment due to cost Nearly one-third (30%) of Americans skipped needed medical care in the past three months due to cost, the highest reported number since the COVID-19 pandemic began and a threefold increase from March to October, according to the latest survey from the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization West Health and Gallup, the global analytics and advice firm. Even about 20% of the nation's highest-income households—those earning more than $120,000 per year—blame cost as the reason for not seeking care, up from 3% over the same timeframe.

 

'Brain fog' during menopause is real, and it can disrupt women's work and spark dementia fears Just over 60% of women report cognitive difficulties during menopause. Women should be reassured that dementia that begins before age 65—called young onset dementia—is not common (unless there is a family history of early-onset dementia). Forgetfulness and other cognitive difficulties during the menopausal transition are common and a normal part of menopause.