Journal Watch: January 2022

COVID-19

Please note the following changes for booster shots and quarantine/isolation if you test positive for Covid:

 

 

Booster recommendations:

Age 12-17 booster of Pfizer  after 5 months

Age 18+ Pfizer, Moderna booster after 5 months; Johnson & Johnson after 2 months

 

If you test positive for Covid: People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

 

If you are exposed to Covid and are vaccinated/boosted: Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. Best practice includes a Covid test 5 days after exposure.

 

If you are exposed but not vaccinated or fully vaccinated: For people who are unvaccinated or are more than five months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Best practice includes a Covid test 5 days after exposure.

 

Reimbursement for At-Home COVID Tests Start January 15th: Starting Jan. 15, Americans who are covered by a health insurance plan can receive reimbursement when they buy over the counter COVID-19 diagnostic tests that are authorized or approved by the FDA. This means that most people with private health coverage can go online or to a store, buy a test, and either get it covered up-front or through reimbursement by submitting a claim to their plan, the White House said. Insurance companies and group health plans will cover eight free at-home tests per person per month, the White House said. A family of four on the same health plan, for instance, could be covered for 32 tests per month. "We are requiring insurers and group health plans to make tests free for millions of Americans. This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp-up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests at no cost," Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.

 

Free Test kits starting Wednesday Jan. 19: Orders for up to four tests per household can be placed using the website COVIDtests.gov. The administration will also set up a phone number so those without access to computers or high-speed internet can place orders. The White House said tests will usually ship within seven to 12 days of ordering, meaning most Americans won't receive them until the end of January

 

Covid-19 Prevention

Some Face Mask Modifications Improve Fit and Boost Performance for Medical Professionals and for Public, Study Finds: Certain modifications to face masks, such as double masking and adjusting the fit more tightly around the face, can greatly reduce the transmission of respiratory particles, says a study involving five types of masks, eight modifications, and both mannequins and human subjects. In a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the researchers evaluated several modifications to improve the fit of a medical or cloth face mask and reduce the amount of escaping aerosols. Unmodified medical masks blocked 56% or more of cough aerosols and 42% or more of exhaled aerosols. By comparison, adding a cloth mask on top of a medical mask blocked 85% or more of cough aerosols and 91% or more of exhaled aerosols, and adding a brace over a medical mask blocked 95% or more of cough aerosols and 99% or more of exhaled aerosols. A mask bracket, worn under the mask, decreased the fit of the mask. NOTE: THE CDC ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WEAR N95 MASKS.

 

Some at-home tests may miss Omicron in early stages of infection: The Abbott BinaxNOW and Quidel QuickVue—two widely used rapid at-home COVID tests—may sometimes fail to spot evidence of the Omicron variant in the first days after infection, even when people are carrying substantial levels of the virus, preliminary research suggests. Reports have also surfaced that some people who initially tested negative on antigen tests when they swabbed inside their noses went on to receive a positive result when they swabbed the back of their throats. 

 

Real-world, rapid COVID-19 testing shows few false positives: In a Canadian employer screening program, the overall rate of false-positive results using rapid antigen test screens for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is very low, according to a research letter published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Abstract/Full Text

 

BinaxNOW test catches COVID infection in many people: Countering earlier concerns, a real-world study finds that a widely used at-home coronavirus test called BinaxNOW is as effective at detecting Omicron as other COVID-19 variants.  

 

COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests Correlate With Short-term Infectiousness: Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 might yield false negative results when viral loads are low, but in those cases, the virus may not yet be transmissible, a new study suggests. Researchers performed rapid antigen tests on swab samples from 181 individuals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections and then tried to culture the virus on the swabs. When viral loads were below the antigen tests' level of detection, the virus particles were often incapable of growing, according to a report posted on medRxiv ahead of peer review. 

 

Dry heat disinfecting of N95 mask works, preserves fit: Entering a third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the latest infection surge nationwide comes with many challenges. One of those is for a continued adequate supply of masks, including the often used N95 respirator masks for healthcare and other settings. A study led by Stony Brook University researchers discovered that a readily available method using dry ovens can be used to disinfect N95s for reuse, in settings where new masks may not be available. PLoS ONE

 

Face masks cut distance airborne pathogens could travel in half: In a new study researchers found that face masks reduce the distance airborne pathogens could travel, when speaking or coughing, by more than half compared to not wearing a mask. Journal of Infectious Diseases

 

Substantial weight loss can reduce risk of severe COVID-19 complications, study finds: A new study shows that among patients with obesity, prior weight loss achieved with bariatric surgery was associated with a 60 percent lower risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 infection. JAMA Surgery

 

Even symptom-free, people with Omicron are much more likely to spread COVID, say studies: People who are infected but have no symptoms are still far more likely to infect others than they would have been with earlier variants, the data shows. 

 

One in ten people may still be infectious for COVID after ten days, new research indicates: The study, published in the  International Journal of Infectious Diseases found that 13 per cent of people still exhibited clinically-relevant levels of virus after 10 days, meaning they could potentially still be infectious. Some people retained these levels for up to 68 days. International Journal of Infectious Diseases

 

 COVID-19: Vaccines/Boosters

mRNA vaccines highly effective at preventing death from COVID-19, less effective at preventing infection: A target trial emulation study found that in an elderly population of U.S. veterans with high comorbidity burden, mRNA vaccine efficacy at preventing infection with COVID-19 was substantially lower than previously reported but effectiveness against death was very high. These finding suggest that complementary infection mitigation efforts remain important for pandemic control, even with vaccination. Annals of Internal Medicine

 

FDA expands Pfizer boosters for more teens as omicron surges: Everyone 12 and older who's eligible for a Pfizer booster can get one as early as five months after their last dose rather than six months.

 

COVID Vaccines Rarely Lead to Serious Problems in Ages 5-11, CDC Says: In one study, researchers found that serious problems were rare among children who had received the Pfizer vaccine. In another study, researchers looked at hundreds of pediatric hospitalizations from the summer and found that nearly all of children who developed severe COVID-19 weren't fully vaccinated.

J&J Booster Reduced Hospitalizations in South Africa, Study Shows: About 69,000 health care workers were given a booster dose of the J&J vaccine between Nov. 15 and Dec. 20, according to the study published in medRxiv. The booster provided about 85% effectiveness against hospitalization because of COVID, the study says.

COVID Booster Protection May Wane in About 10 Weeks, New Data Show: Booster shot protection against symptomatic COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant appears to fade in about 10 weeks, according to new data from Britain.

 

COVID-19 vaccination associated with a small, temporary increase in menstrual cycle length, study suggests: Women receiving one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during a single menstrual cycle had an increase in cycle length of nearly one day, compared to unvaccinated women, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The increase in cycle length—a longer time between bleeding—was not associated with any change in the number of days of menses (days of bleeding). Obstetrics & Gynecology

 

Death From COVID-19 Very Rare in Fully Vaccinated Adults: New research shows that adults who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 rarely die from the disease, although the odds of severe outcomes and death are higher in older adults and in those with compromised immune systems and underlying conditions. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published online January 6

 

Severe Covid 19 outcomes rare after primary vaccination: Severe COVID-19 outcomes are rare after primary vaccination, but those who are 65 years or older, are immunosuppressed, or have underlying conditions may be at increased risk, according to research published in the Jan. 7 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

 

Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine Protects Children Against Rare COVID-19 Complication: Two doses of the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are highly protective against a rare but often serious condition in children that causes organ inflammation weeks after COVID-19 infections. The vaccine was estimated to be 91% effective in preventing Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in 12- to 18-year-olds, the study said. MIS-C causes inflammation in organs including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain two to six weeks after a mild or asymptomatic infection. MMWR

 

Study shows COVID-19 vaccines offer lasting protection: Vaccination offers long-lasting protection from the worst outcomes of COVID-19, according to a new study. Results suggest that declining immunity is responsible for breakthrough infections, but vaccines maintained protection from hospitalization and severe disease nine months after getting the first shot. New England Journal of Medicine

 

COVID-19: Treatment

Molnupiravir cuts risk for severe COVID-19 illness in adults: A double blind, randomized controlled study of 1,433 participants found that for nonhospitalized, unvaccinated adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for severe disease, molnupiravir reduces the risk for hospitalization or death. New England Journal of Medicine

 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Resolves COVID-19 Breathing Problems Much Faster Than Standard Therapy: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) appears to resolves severe COVID-19 breathing problems in a median of three days compared with nine days with standard therapy, researchers in Argentina report. Emergency Medicine Journal

 

COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages: Two brand-new COVID-19 pills that were supposed to be an important weapon against the pandemic in the U.S. are in short supply and have played little role in the fight against the omicron wave of infections. The problem, in part, is that production is still being ramped up and the medicines can take anywhere from five to eight months to manufacture. While the supply is expected to improve dramatically in the coming months, doctors are clamoring for the pills now, not just because omicron is causing an explosion of cases but because two antibody drugs that were once the go-to treatments don't work as well against the variant.  

 

Ivermectin prescriptions for COVID-19: Insurance coverage doesn't match evidence Even though clinical trials haven't shown it works against COVID-19, doctors continue to prescribe ivermectin—and a new study suggests health insurers are heavily subsidizing the cost of those prescriptions. The study's authors call for insurers to align their coverage of the drug with the level of medical evidence surrounding it—just like they do for other medications, tests and procedures. Journal of the American Medical Association

 

 

COVID-19: Long-Covid

Coronavirus Can Spread to Heart, Brain Days After Infection: The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can spread to the heart and brain within days of infection and can survive for months in organs, according to a new study by the National Institutes of Health. The virus can spread to almost every organ system in the body, which could contribute to the ongoing symptoms seen in "long COVID" patients, the study authors wrote. The study is considered one of the most comprehensive reviews of how the virus replicates in human cells and persists in the human body. It is under review for publication in the journal Nature.

 

Cardiac Inflammation Can Be Present After Mild COVID Infection: Myocardial inflammation is present in a small proportion of patients who have recovered from relatively mild cases of COVID-19 infection, a new study shows. "Our findings suggest that even in patients who have had relatively mild cases of COVID-19, some will have inflammatory changes to the heart, and these changes can be present without any cardiac symptoms. While our data suggest that this inflammation improves over time and the outcomes seem positive, we don't know if there will be any long-term consequences.” The study was published online in JAMA Cardiology on January 12. 

 

Long COVID 'Brain Fog' Shares Features With 'Chemo Brain': The "brain fog" reported by some people after COVID-19 shows striking similarities to the condition known as "chemo brain" - the mental cloudiness some people experience during and after cancer treatment, according to new research. In the brains of patients who died of COVID-19, the researchers found evidence of inflammation along with high levels of inflammatory proteins, one of which, CCL11, is linked with impairments in nervous system health and cognitive function. Reuters

 

COVID-19 Associated With Increased Diabetes Risk in Youth: SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for diabetes among youth, whereas other acute respiratory infections were not, new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate. The results from two large US health claims databases were published January 7 in an early release in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Full text

 

People Over 50 May Face Mobility Issues Even After Mild Cases: New researchTrusted Source suggests that even a mild case of COVID-19 can have a long-term effect on movement and functioning in older adults. People over age 50 appear to have mobility and functioning issues after even mild cases of COVID-19. They have seen a loss of mobility and functioning in older people that goes beyond the natural declines seen with aging. These issues include the ability to engage in physical activity, as well as muscle aches and brain fog. Experts say it’s important for older adults to make sure they get enough sleep, eat healthy, and participate in daily physical activity whether they’ve had COVID-19 or not.

 

Long COVID: Could antiplatelet therapy help? Scientists know little about the underlying mechanisms of long COVID despite widespread reports about it since near the start of the pandemic,  This lack of knowledge has made diagnosing and developing treatments for this condition challenging.  Estimates suggest over 20% of people who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could continue to experience chronic symptoms.  COVID-19 affects the lining of the blood vessels, and scientists have investigated whether long COVID symptoms could have links to this. A team based in South Africa has released preliminary results of a treatment regime using antiplatelet therapy and anticoagulants to treat people with long COVID. A  preprint study research found that in 24 people who received the antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy reported improvements in their long COVID symptoms; they also saw a reduction of microclots. Medical News 

Blood markers of brain cell damage higher over short term in COVID-19 patients than in Alzheimer's patients: Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 had higher levels over the short term of blood proteins known to rise with neurological damage than non-COVID-19 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds. Alzheimer's & Dementia

 

COVID-19: Other

Some Infectious Disease Specialists See COVID Approaching 'Endemic' Stage After Omicron. Newsweek

 

In COVID, New-Onset Seizures More Common Than Breakthrough Seizures: An analysis of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 finds that those with no history of epilepsy had more than 3 times the odds of suffering a new-onset seizure than patients with epilepsy were to have breakthrough seizures (odds radio [OR] 3.15, P < .0001), researchers reported at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society.

 

Epilepsy Patients Much More Likely to Die of COVID: Although their ages were similar, patients with epilepsy were nearly 1.5 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than other infected patients at a hospital system during the first 14 months of the pandemic, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. While the findings are preliminary and not yet adjusted for various confounders, the authors say they are a warning sign that patients with epilepsy may face higher risks.

 

Omicron may be headed for a rapid drop in US and Britain: Scientists are seeing signals that COVID-19′s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the U.S., at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically. The variant has proved so wildly contagious that it may already be running out of people to infect, just a month and a half after it was first detected. Medical Express

 

COVID is not just a respiratory illness, it can cause strokes too: A new study adds to mounting evidence that COVID patients have an added risk of stroke. Researchers analyzed data on more than 20,000 U.S. adults hospitalized with COVID-19 between January and November 2020. The analysis found that their risk of stroke was higher than for patients with other types of infections, including flu. The Lancet

 

Preliminaryresearch suggests SARS-CoV-2 virus less infectious within five minutes ofexposure to air: In a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed or accepted for publication, researchers at Bristol University in the U.K. have found evidence that suggests the SARS-CoV-2 virus becomes less infectious within five minutes of exposure to air. The team has published a paper on the pre-print server MedRxiv describing tests designed to simulate the behavior of the virus after it is transmitted into the air by an infected person.

 

PAIN

Over half of people with multiple long-term conditions experience chronic pain: People with multimorbidity—two or more long-term health conditions—showed a greater association with chronic pain, according to a new study. The study found that over half (53.8%) of people with two or three long term conditions—and around 75% of those with 4 or more long-term conditions—reported at least one site of chronic pain. This means that, respectively, those people were twice as likely and four times as likely to experience chronic pain than that of a person with no long-term conditions. Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity

 

AAN issues guideline for treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy Neurology^®

Can antidepressant medication alleviate pain in patients with osteoarthritis? In the trial of patients experiencing chronic osteoarthritis-related pain in the hip or knee that did not go away with over-the-counter medications, 66 were randomized to duloxetine added to usual care and 66 were randomized to usual care alone. The trial's investigators found that duloxetine did not lessen pain at 3 months or 12 months. Arthritis & Rheumatology 

 

Antidepressant medication does not alleviate pain in patients with osteoarthritis: A clinical trial published in Arthritis & Rheumatology recently examined whether duloxetine, a medication that is prescribed to treat depression and may also reduce chronic pain, can benefit patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. The trial’s investigators found that duloxetine did not lessen pain at 3 months or 12 months.

 

Drugcombination reduces narcotic use, manages pain after surgery for teens withscoliosis: Intrathecal morphine and oral gabapentin, an anticonvulsant that is used to treat nerve-related pain, when given to adolescents undergoing scoliosis surgery, found that patients required fewer oral narcotics ager surgery, average pain scores were more stable and they experienced fewer side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

Vitamin D supplementation could reduce migraine headache attacks: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials exploring the effect of vitamin D for migraine patients- six randomized controlled trials with 301 patients-concludes that that vitamin D supplementation could reduce headache attacks per month, headache days per month, and migraine disability assessment questionnaire scores compared with controls, but it had no obvious effect on attack duration or headache severity. American Journal of Emergency Medicine

 

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy beneficial in migraine: A migraine-specific adaptation of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program does not improve headache-related impairment among patients with migraine, but does result in reduced headache frequency and improved psychological functioning, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Abstract/Full Text

 

Aquatic exercise cuts pain, disability from chronic low back pain: Therapeutic aquatic exercise leads to greater pain alleviation in patients with chronic low back pain compared with physical therapy. JAMA Network Open

 

 

COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Marijuana users' risk of deadly complication doubles after rare type of bleeding stroke: Among people with an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) stroke, a type of bleeding stroke, recent marijuana users were more than twice as likely to develop a dangerous complication that can result in death or greater disability. Stroke

 

Survival odds higher for breast cancer patients with access to integrative therapies: Breast cancer patients treated at hospitals and health systems that educate patients and provide integrative health services have a better chance of survival compared to those treated at institutions with few of these resources, according to a new study published in the Journal of Oncology. Integrative health services include complementary and lifestyle therapies, such as nutrition and exercise counseling, in addition to medical cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery.

Whole-plant Cannabis Linked to Large Reduction in Seizures: In a small case series, children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy treated with a range of whole-plant extract cannabis-based medical products (CBMPs) reported an 86% reduction in monthly seizures. All participants had no improvement with traditional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The findings were published online December 14 in BMJ Paediatrics Open.

College Cannabis Users Report Worsening Depression, Anxiety: Results from a survey study of college students showed that the mental health of those using cannabis worsened over a 5-year period. "A very crucial part of this study is the finding of a growing mental health impact, based on worsening screening scores for depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being." American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) 32nd Annual Meeting.

 

 

FDA ACTION

• Approved Solensia (frunevetmab injection), the first treatment for the control of pain associated with osteoarthritis in cats and the first monoclonal antibody (mAb)

• Amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to shorten the time between the completion of a primary series of the vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months for individuals 18 years of age and older. 

• Amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to: Expand the use of a single booster dose to include use in individuals 12 through 15 years of age. Shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months. Allow for a third primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years of age.

• Issued an emergency use authorization for Merck’s molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.

• Authorized the marketing of 22nd Century Group Inc.’s “VLN King” and “VLN Menthol King” combusted, filtered cigarettes as modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs), which help reduce exposure to, and consumption of, nicotine for smokers who use them.

• Approved Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) for use in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (77 pounds) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV.

 

PREVENTION: Exercise

Move more often supports better long-term weight loss for older adults: When considered alongside the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, new findings suggest that focusing less on structured exercise, and more on building frequent periods of enjoyable movement into the day, will more likely contribute to health benefits that can be sustained. This study is the first to demonstrate that a behavioral intervention focused on moving often throughout the day produces similar short-term weight loss and better long-term weight maintenance relative to a high volume of aerobic treadmill walking. Obesity

 

Exercise alters brain chemistry to protect aging synapses: When elderly people stay active, their brains have more of a class of proteins that enhances the connections between neurons to maintain healthy cognition, a new study has found. This protective impact was found even in people whose brains at autopsy were riddled with toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's & Dementia

 

HIIT for liver health: Aerobic exercise interventions incorporating either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) are effective for improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

 

How do weight changes and physical functioning affect mortality in older women? In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society that included 5,039 older women who were followed for an average of 5.4 years, loss of 5% or more body weight was associated with a 66% higher risk of dying. Weight gain was not related to mortality. Higher grip strength and better lower extremity functioning were associated with lower risks of death during follow-up, regardless of weight change. "Our findings support increasing efforts to improve mobility and muscle strength in older women and less focus on long-term weight loss in this population.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

 

How exercise interventions could help people with asthma: Interventions aimed at promoting physical activity in people with asthma could improve their symptoms and quality of life—according to new research. Patients with asthma may have had difficulty with exercise programs because of their difficulty travelling to fitness groups or because the interventions were not suitable for people with additional health conditions. Digital interventions—such as video appointments, smartwatches and mobile apps could remove some of these barriers and enable patients to carry out home-based programs in future. Journal of Health Psychology

 

Exercise at high altitude could increase low blood sugar risk in people with diabetes: People with diabetes may need to monitor their blood sugar more closely when doing high-altitude activities such as hiking or skiing, according to a small study published in the Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

 

HIIT for liver health: New research suggests that aerobic exercise interventions incorporating either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) are effective for improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Effect of High-intensity Interval Training vs Moderate-intensity Continuous  Training on Liver Fat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

 

Get moving to put the brakes on early Parkinson's: A new study suggests that people with early-stage Parkinson's disease who regularly got one to two hours of moderate exercise twice a week, like walking or gardening, may have less trouble balancing, walking and doing daily activities later. Neurology

 

PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition

Plant-based doesn't always mean healthy: Plant-based meats are often high in sodium, ultra-processed and not any healthier than the meat they imitate. According to one study this year, the nutritional benefit of plant-based foods is minimal. Diets that substituted animal products with the plant-based alternative were below the daily recommendations for vitamin B12, calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium, and higher in sodium, sugar and saturated fat.

 

High-fiber diet associated with improved progression-free survival and response to immunotherapy in melanoma patients Science

 

Want to avoid glaucoma? Look at what you eat: Eat right to protect your sight.  That's the advice of the Glaucoma Research Foundation, which offers its recipe for healthier eyes. A study that included 584 Black women found that those who consumed three or more fruit or juice servings daily were 79% less likely to have glaucoma than those who had less than one. Leafy greens are one of those veggies to focus on. Research has found a link between kale and spinach consumption and a reduced risk of glaucoma, the foundation said.

 

Higher olive oil intake associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality: Consuming more than 7 grams (>1/2 tablespoon) of olive oil per day is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, neurodegenerative disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality, according to a study publishing today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study found that replacing about 10 grams/day of margarine, butter, mayonnaise and dairy fat with the equivalent amount of olive oil is associated with lower risk of mortality as well. Journal of the American College of Cardiology

 

Binge drinking linked to first episodes of heart rhythm disorder: This is the first study to show an association between increased drinking and hospital visits for atrial fibrilation( AF) in a large population, and the first to link acute alcohol with an increased incidence of new-onset AF in previously undiagnosed individuals. Nature Cardiovascular Research

 

Dried goji berries may provide protection against age-related vision loss: Regularly eating a small serving of dried goji berries may help prevent or delay the development of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, in healthy middle-aged people, according to a small, randomized trial Nutrients

 

PREVENTION: Vitamins/Supplements

Prebiotics supplements help women reduce sugar intake by four percent: A new study found that young women who took four weeks of prebiotic supplements made healthier food choices and consumed less sugar. The prebiotics used in this study were galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) which increase the amount of "friendly" gut bacteria. Nutrients

 

Vitamin D supplements may reduce the duration of the common cold: Research shows that vitamin D influences the risk of catching common colds and other respiratory infections. recent research shows that vitamin D supplementation reduces the severity and duration of common colds. Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the likelihood of getting a common cold, but it did reduce the number of days a participant had a common cold by 36 percent. It also reduced the peak severity of common cold symptoms by 15 percent.

 

Melatonin exacerbates asthma, study finds: Asthma sufferers generally find their condition gets worse at night. Now researchers may understand why. Melatonin, a sleep hormone that is sometimes prescribed to treat insomnia, exasperates the constriction of the bronchus -- the pathway that moves air to and from your lungs, according to a new study. American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology

 

Researchers urge: 'Prescribe aspirin based on benefit-to-risk not age': Recent guidelines have restricted aspirin use in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease to patients under 70, and more recent guidance to patients under 60. Yet, the risks of heart attacks and strokes increase markedly with age. Researchers urge that to do the most good for the most patients in primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes, health care providers should make individual clinical judgements about prescribing aspirin on a case-by-case basis and based on benefit-to-risk not age. They conducted an updated meta-analysis, which adds the results of the four recent trials to the previous comprehensive meta-analysis of six earlier major trials, and aspirin produced a statistically significant 13 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease with similar benefits at older ages in each of the individual trials. Family Medicine and Community Health

 

Taking high-dose vitamin D supplements for five years did not affect the incidence of cardiovascular disease or cancer: A trial found that taking a much higher dose of vitamin D than recommended for five years did not affect total mortality or the incidence of cardiovascular disease or cancer in older men and women. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

 

Vitamin D supplementation does not improve symptoms in people with psychosis: New research involving 149 participants found no evidence that vitamin D supplementation taken over six months improves mental or physical health symptoms in people with psychosis. Participants did however show high rates of vitamin D deficiency which could have longer term health impacts not captured in the study, according to researchers. JAMA Psychiatry

 

PREVENTION: Other

Ditching cigarettes for smokeless tobacco can help cut cardiovascular risks, study finds: Regular smokers are at heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but crushing the butts in favor of a "smokeless" alternative like chewing tobacco, snuff or tobacco lozenges may go a long way toward bringing the danger down to a more normal level, a new UCLA-led study shows. Nicotine & Tobacco Research

 

People with high-risk prediabetes benefit from intensive lifestyle intervention: Intensive lifestyle intervention with plenty of exercise helps people with prediabetes improve their blood glucose levels over a period of years and thus delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes. In particular, individuals with prediabetes at highest risk benefited from intensive lifestyle intervention. Diabetes

 

Breastfeeding reduces mothers' cardiovascular disease risk, review found: Women who breastfed were less likely to develop heart disease or a stroke, or die from cardiovascular disease than women who did not breastfeed, according to a meta-analysis. Breastfeeding also has been linked to maternal health benefits, including lower risk for Type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Journal of the American Heart Association

 

Years lived alone and/or serial break-ups strongly linked to inflammation in men: Living alone for several years and/or experiencing serial relationship break-ups are strongly linked to raised levels of inflammatory markers in the blood–but only in men–finds a large population study. Divorce and committed relationship break-ups, which are often followed by a potentially lengthy period of living alone, have been associated with a heightened risk of poor physical and mental health, lowered immunity, and death. British Medical Journal

 

Secondhand nicotine vaping at home linked to heightened risk of bronchitic symptoms in young adults: Secondhand exposure at home to the nicotine vapor from e-cigarettes is linked to a heightened risk of bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath among young adults. Thorax

 

Reducing air pollution could lower dementia risk for older women in the U.S.: Using data from the National Institutes of Health-funded Women's Health Initiative Memory Study-Epidemiology of Cognitive Health Outcomes (WHIMS-ECHO), researchers analyzed the link between reductions in air pollution and the development of dementia among women aged 74 to 92. Among women living in locations with the greatest reductions in two types of air pollutants—fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the traffic-related pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)—the risk of dementia decreased by 14% and 26% respectively. The benefit from lower air pollution was consistent despite differences among study participants in age, geographic area, socioeconomic background, cardiovascular risk factors and apolipoprotein E genotype. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 

Psychogenic Seizures Tied to Sexual Assault, Stroke: Individuals who have experienced sexual trauma have more than a tenfold increased risk of developing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) and are also more likely to suffer a stroke, new research shows. Medscape

 

Self-perceptions of aging and stress have significant impact on physical health: As adults age, it's common to start thinking about how getting older affects their energy, physical health and cognitive well-being. But dwelling on negative aspects of aging can have a measurable negative impact on your physical health and ability to respond to stress. The Journals of Gerontology 

 

No Convincing Evidence That Hangover Cures Work: A systematic review of 21 randomized clinical trials that examined hangover cures revealed there is no high-quality evidence supporting any of the remedies touted to prevent or abort alcohol-related symptoms, such as headache, nausea, stomachache and tiredness, according to the results published in Addiction. "Of the limited remedies studied scientifically, clove extract, tolfenamic acid, and pyritinol show the most promise to be further examined in larger well-designed studies.”

 

TREATMENT

Botox injections may reduce anxiety: People receiving Botox injections at four different sites—not just in the forehead—reported anxiety significantly less often than patients undergoing different treatments for the same conditions. The reported anxiety risk was 22 to 72 percent lower in Botox-treated patients for four of eight conditions and injection sites: facial muscles for cosmetic use; facial and head muscles for migraine; upper and lower limbs for spasm and spasticity; and neck muscles for torticollis. Scientific Reports

 

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons updates guideline for managing hip fracture in seniors

 

Single Infusion of Ketamine Rapidly Reduces Suicidal Thoughts: What was unclear was what else changed that could decrease suicidal ideation and the risk for suicidal behavior. This study identifies a second new domain of improvement — namely rapid improvement in several cognitive functions that can potentially reduce suicide risk. The study was published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

 

Ketamine and psychological therapy helped severe alcoholics abstain for longer in trial: People with severe alcohol disorder were able to stay off alcohol for longer when they were treated with low doses of ketamine combined with psychological therapy in a clinical trial. American Journal of Psychiatry

 

Relatlimab plus nivolumab improves progression-free survival in metastatic melanoma: In patients with untreated, advanced melanoma, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors relatlimab and nivolumab doubled the progression-free survival benefit compared to nivolumab alone, with a manageable safety profile, according to the results of the Phase II/III RELATIVITY-047 clinical trial. New England Journal of Medicine

 

In 1st, US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient: While it's too soon to know if the operation really will work, it marks a step in the decades-long quest to one day use animal organs for life-saving transplants. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center say the transplant showed that a heart from a genetically modified animal can function in the human body without immediate rejection.

 

PTSD treatment can help patients with childhood trauma: Adults who were abused or mistreated as a child and consequently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can benefit greatly from cognitive behavioral therapy concludes a study of 149 patients. 

 

rTMS as a treatment for Veterans with cognitive impairment and multiple co-morbidities: A recent study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, showed that a novel treatment, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), may have the potential of improving the memory function in Veterans with cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. rTMS has been previously approved by the FDA for treating patients with treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

 

ADA updates standards of medical care in diabetes for 2022: The Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes clinical practice guideline has been updated for 2022 by the American Diabetes Association and published as a supplement to the January issue of Diabetes Care

 

OTHER

Study examines attachment to God, psychological distress: A national study examines the link between perceived relationship with God and mental health from a sample of more than 1,600 Americans. The research suggests that religious believers who relate to God in an uncertain or anxious manner are more likely to experience symptoms of psychological distress, including anxiety, paranoia, obsession and compulsion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

 

Family and friends are the invisible workforce in long-term care: It is generally assume that when a loved one moves to an assisted living facility or a nursing home, their needs for care are met by paid staff, relieving the burden on family and friends. Anew study in Health Affairs challenges that assumption, finding that family and friends continue to provide substantial amounts of care in these facilities, amounting to an invisible workforce, providing more than an extra "shift" of care every week in nursing homes and two "shifts" in assisted living facilities, on average. Health Affairs

 

Severity of menopause symptoms can affect a woman's cognitive performance: Menopause is often accompanied by an array of symptoms that can detract from a woman's quality of life. A new study suggests that the severity of some of those symptoms—especially depression and sexual dysfunction—were linked to a woman's cognitive performance. Menopause

 

Main stream news more reliable than social, alternative media for accurate healthinformation: Accuracy and truth, according to a new study involving three countries, including the United States, has been found by individuals who rely more on mainstream news.. Meanwhile, people who depend on social media or less-established forms of "alternative" health media are more likely to subscribe to false beliefs about health. Health Communication