Journal Watch: February 2022

COVID-19

Covid-19 Prevention

Many People Could Still Be Infectious After 5-Day Quarantine: After a five-day quarantine, about a third of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 might still be infectious, according to new data. Internal Journal of Infectious Diseases

CDC Updates Mask Guidelines ― Cloth Masks Least Effective: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance on face masks, saying loosely woven cloth masks offer the least protection against COVID-19 and N95 and KN95 masks offer the most. The CDC update doesn't come out and say Americans should avoid cloth masks but clarifies that some kinds of masks work better than others.

How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?: The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says health care workers wear an N95 mask up to five times. But experts say how often the average person can safely wear one will vary depending on how it's used. The amount of time a mask is worn is more important than how frequently it's worn, says Richard Flagan, who studies masks and aerosols at the California Institute of Technology. In general, he recommends limiting the use of an N95 mask to about two or three days.

Testing the effectiveness of KN95 and surgical mask 'fit hacks': Researchers have tested a variety of popular hacks for improving the fit of KN95 and surgical masks, and found that while some hacks do improve fit, they can also come at the cost of the wearer's comfort. PLoS ONE

Stroke risk among older adults highest in first 3 days after COVID-19 diagnosis American Stroke Associations International Stroke Conference

 

Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection less protective against Omicron variant: Previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is about 90 percent effective for preventing reinfection with the alpha, beta, and delta variants but offers lower protection against reinfection with the Omicron variant, according to a letter to the editor published online Feb. 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine. New England Journal of Medicine

 

 COVID-19: Vaccines/Boosters

Fourth Vaccine Shot Less Effective Against Omicron, Israeli Study Says: A fourth shot of the COVID-19 vaccine boosts antibodies but doesn't provide enough protection to prevent infections from the Omicron variant, according to new research at an Israeli hospital. The preliminary results, challenge the idea of giving a second booster dose to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to USA Today.

 

Placebo effect accounts for more than two-thirds of COVID-19 vaccine adverse events, researchers find: In a new meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled COVID-19 vaccine trials, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) compared the rates of adverse events reported by participants who received the vaccines to the rates of adverse events reported by those who received a placebo injection containing no vaccine. While the scientists found significantly more trial participants who received the vaccine reported adverse events, nearly a third of participants who received the placebo also reported at least one adverse event, with headache and fatigue being the most common. JAMA Network Open

 

Boosters 90% Effective at Preventing Omicron Hospitalizations: Booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines appear to be highly effective at preventing hospitalizations due to the Omicron variant, according to three new CDC studies.

 

Pfizer and BioNTech Launch Trial of Omicron-Targeted COVID Vaccine: Both companies have started a clinical trial to test a new version of their vaccine specifically designed to target the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which has eluded some of the protection provided by the original two-dose vaccine regimen.

 

Omicron antibodies persist six months after Moderna vaccine boost but are six times lower: A booster dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine showed signs of waning antibody levels against the omicron variant after six months, but the antibodies still remained effective against the variant in laboratory tests. New England Journal of Medicine

 

First study to show waning effectiveness of third dose of mRNA vaccines: A nationwide study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the first to show that immunity against severe COVID-19 disease begins to wane four months after receipt of the third dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). Waning immunity was observed during both the Delta and Omicron variant waves in similar fashion to how mRNA vaccine effectiveness wanes after a second dose. Although protection decreased with time, a third dose was still highly effective at preventing severe illness with COVID-19. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

 

In reversal, FDA puts brakes on COVID shots for kids under 5: COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 hit another months long delay as U.S. regulators abruptly put the brakes on their efforts to speed review of the shots that Pfizer is testing for youngsters. The FDA said it had become clear the agency needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for the youngest age group. Pfizer said in a statement that it expected the data by early April.

 

Had COVID? You're 5 times more prone to get it again if unvaccinated: Stay unvaccinated after a bout with COVID-19 and you're five times more likely than someone who has had the shot to get COVID again, the new study found. That's because the immunity acquired through an infection is short-lived. "It's very good for three months, and may well be good for a lot longer, but it's not permanent." New England Journal of Medicine

 

COVID-19 vaccination may protect against variants better than natural infection: Antibodies generated by COVID-19 vaccines are more suited to recognizing viral variants than antibodies that arise from natural infection, according to a study by researchers at Stanford Medicine. Cell

 

COVID-19: Treatment

Study supports use of remdesivir for COVID-19 patients on low-flow oxygen or no oxygen: Remdesivir, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, increased the likelihood of clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients on low-flow oxygen or no oxygen, according to a new study. Clinical Infectious Diseases

 

Therapies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Do Not Pose Additional Risks for Adverse Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

 

FDA halts use of antibody drugs that don't work vs. omicron: COVID-19 antibody drugs from Regeneron and Eli Lilly should no longer be used because they don't work against the omicron variant that now accounts for nearly all U.S. infections. The Food and Drug Administration said it was revoking emergency authorization for both drugs, which were purchased by the federal government and have been administered to millions of Americans with COVID-19. If the drugs prove effective against future variants, the FDA said it could reauthorize their use.

 

Casirivimab + imdevimab prevents progression to symptomatic COVID-19: For asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive individuals living with an infected household contact, treatment with the subcutaneous casirivimab and imdevimab antibody combination reduces the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 over 28 days, according to a study in Journal of the American Medical Association

 

Study strengthens case that vitamins cannot treat COVID-19: A new review of COVID-19 hospitalization data by researchers at The University of Toledo has found that taking immune-boosting supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc do not lessen your chance of dying from COVID-19. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN

 

Heartburn Drug Shows Promise Against COVID-19: In adults with mild to moderate COVID-19, treatment with a high-dose of famotidine led to early resolution of symptoms and inflammation in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Gut 

Ivermectin Does Not Stop Progression to Severe COVID: Randomized Trial: Ivermectin treatment given to high-risk patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 during the first week of illness did not prevent progression to severe disease, according to results from a randomized study.  "The study findings do not support the use of ivermectin for patients with COVID-19," researchers conclude in the paper published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

COVID-19: Long-Covid

Mild COVID cases still lead to attention and memory issues – study: People with mild COVID-19 who do not suffer any other traditional "long COVID" symptoms can still exhibit deteriorated attention and memory six to nine months after infection, a study by Britain's Oxford University has found. "What is surprising is that although our COVID-19 survivors did not feel any more symptomatic at the time of testing, they showed degraded attention and memory.” Reuters

 

COVID Brain Fog a 'True Neurologic Condition': Impaired cognition associated with COVID-19 appears to have a biological vs psychological basis, early research suggests. Investigators found abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other risk factors, including diabetes and hypertension present in individuals with mild COVID-19 experiencing persistent cognitive problems, often referred to as "brain fog." The study was published online January 18 in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.

 

Long COVID Associated With Risk of Metabolic Liver Disease: Post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS), an ongoing inflammatory state following infection with SARS-CoV-2, is associated with greater risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), according to an analysis of patients at a single clinic in Canada published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Medscape

 

Most COVID ICU Survivors Show Adverse Effects 1 Year Later: Most patients with COVID-19 who were treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) show physical, mental, and cognitive effects a year later, new data found. Additionally, nearly 60% (57.8%) who were employed before ICU admission reported problems at work 1 year later, such as needing to work fewer hours or still taking sick leave. Two-thirds of study participants reported new physical problems as a result of ICU treatment for COVID.

 JAMA published online

 

Long COVID Linked to Unbalanced Gut Microbiome: People with a less diverse microbiome in their intestines were more likely to have lingering symptoms after coronavirus infection. The composition of the gut microbiome is “strongly” linked with long-COVID symptoms months a person recovers from their initial infection, a new study shows. Gut.

 

Scientists See Hope in New Therapy for COVID Brain Fog Patients: One of the most common symptoms of long COVID is brain fog: a life-altering condition characterized by slow thinking, confusion, difficulty remembering things, and poor concentration. A type of rehabilitation program that allows the brain to rewire itself has been successful in improving the lives of people with brain fog. The approaches are based on the concept of neuroplasticity: The ability of neural networks in the brain to change, adapt, and strengthen, much like a muscle in the body that has been trained and exercised. Though results of the cognitive studies have not been published, researcher says patients with brain fog have shown improvement after just 35 hours of therapy and are nearly 100% improved after 6 months. Medscape

 

Vaccination Reduces Chance of Getting Long COVID: Vaccination against COVID-19 reduces the risk of developing long COVID and improves long COVID symptoms among those who were unvaccinated when infected, according to a new comprehensive review by the U.K. Health Security Agency.

 

COVID-19: Other

Updated CPR Guidance Amidst Omicron Surge: The updated "2022 Interim Guidance to Health Care Professionals for Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Adults, Children, and Neonates With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19," was published online January 24 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

COVID Fatigue Pervasive, but Men and Women React Differently: Most people experience COVID fatigue a few times a week, but men and women and older and younger people have reacted differently to it, a recent WebMD poll suggests. Just more than a third (34%) of men answered they have experienced fatigue, frustration, or feeling fed up daily compared with 40% of the women; 18% of male respondents said those feelings come a few times a week compared with 25% of women. Some (34% of men and 23% of women) said the feelings never come and they have adjusted well to the restrictions and changes. Poll results also highlight different experiences by age and indicate younger people have been more preoccupied with the effects. Medscape

20% of US Population Has Been Infected With COVID: Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 20% of the U.S. population has been infected with the virus, Johns Hopkins University's COVID Resource Center reports.

Stealth Omicron' spreads more than original strain: A sub-variant of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus strain is even more infectious than the original version. Sub-variant BA.2—also called "stealth Omicron"—was detected earlier this year and has displaced the first Omicron variant, known as BA.1, as the dominant strain in Denmark. A person infected with BA.2 has a 39 percent chance of transmitting the virus to someone else in their household within a week, compared to a 29 percent risk with BA.1, Denmark's SSI health authority said in a statement.

About 73% of US Estimated to Be Immune to Omicron Variant: About 73% of Americans are now immune to the Omicron variant, which could increase to 80% by mid-March, a university health institute says. About half of eligible Americans have received booster shots, and about 80 million confirmed COVID-19 infections have been reported. Many more infections have occurred but haven't been officially recorded, The Associated Press reported.

PAIN

AAN Updates Treatment Guidance on Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: Updated guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) advise against prescribing opioids for painful diabetic neuropathy but note that several other oral and topical therapies may help ease pain. The new guidance was published online December 27 in Neurology and has been endorsed by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

 

Opioids ease osteoarthritis pain only slightly. Deadly risks need to be weighed against benefit: In a new study, published today, a review of all the relevant research and found opioids only offer very small benefits for the relief of osteoarthritis pain. Patients—and their doctors—need to carefully weigh up the risks and benefits of taking these commonly prescribed medicines for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

 

Music therapy improves ability to cope with pain for patients with sickle cell disease: A new study from University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health found patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) who participated in music therapy learned new self-management skills and improved their ability to cope with pain. Journal of Pain Research

 

Does body mass index impact pain in individuals with hand osteoarthritis? In a study in Arthritis & Rheumatology of people with hand osteoarthritis, higher body mass index was associated with greater pain severity in the hands, feet, knees, and hips.

 

Mental health is an issue for people with spinal cord injury. Chronic pain makes it worse: Adults living with spinal cord injuries have a near-80% increased risk of developing psychological conditions, such as depression and anxiety, compared to people without the traumatic injury, a new study shows. But chronic pain may have an equally large, negative effect on mental health. Spinal Cord

 

Managing pain after knee, shoulder surgeries without opioids: Researchers created an approach to managing pain that eliminated opioids after common sports surgeries. In the first study, participants had undergone knee surgery to reconstruct their ACL. In the second study, participants had undergone surgery to repair their rotator cuff. All received a nerve block before surgery. In each study, one group of participants received a standard opioid regimen to manage pain. The other group took part in a pain management approach without opioids. The nonopioid regimen included pain relievers, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. Both studies found that the nonopioid regimen provided at least the same if not more pain control and patient satisfaction, compared with the standard opioid regimen. In both studies, the most common side effects were drowsiness, dizziness and gastrointestinal symptoms. In the rotator cuff study, participants who received the nonopioid regimen reported slightly lesser side effects than those who received the opioid regimen. The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery

 

 

COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

UBCO study finds psychedelic microdosing improves mental health: An international suggests repeated use of small doses of psychedelics such as psilocybin or LSD can be a valuable tool for those struggling with anxiety and depression.The study, recently published in Nature: Scientific Reports, demonstrated fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and greater feelings of wellbeing among individuals who reported consuming psychedelics in small quantities, or microdosing, compared to those who did not.

 

Study of LSD microdosing doesn't show a therapeutic effect: Proponents of LSD "microdosing"—taking small amounts of the drug at regular intervals—claim it can improve mood and cognitive function. But new research by the University of Chicago has not found evidence to support those claims. The study doesn't disprove microdosing's possible benefits, and that more investigation is needed. The study does show that taking small doses of LSD is safe. Addiction Biology

 

 Over the Counter (OTC) Cannabidiol Products Tied to Improved Pain, Sleep, Anxiety: Interim findings from the Advancing CBD Education and Science (ACES), a 100% virtual, open label, randomized controlled trial, show study participants experienced various degrees of "clinically meaningful" improvements in sleep quality, anxiety, and pain. “ACES is the largest clinical trial ever conducted on commercially available CBD products and provides first-of-its-kind real world evidence into what conditions users may experience benefit from CBD usage, whether these benefits are clinically meaningful, what attributes of CBD products may impact health outcomes, and what side effects may occur.” Medscape 

 

Flowered steering: How well do drivers fare after smoking cannabis? In a novel, two-year randomized trial, 191 regular cannabis users to took cannabis containing different levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis or a placebo immediately before a series of driving simulation tests over several hours. Compared to participants who took the placebo, the THC group (who had smoked a cannabis cigarette with either 5.9 percent or 13.4 percent THC as they would "do at home to get high") displayed significantly diminished ability on a Composite Drive Score (CDS) that assessed key simulated driving variables, such as swerving in lane, responding to divided attention tasks and following a lead car. However, not all individuals displayed significantly diminished driving skills compared to the placebo group researchers said approximately 50 percent could be described as "impaired." JAMA Psychiatry

 

In IBS patients, cognitive behavioral therapy modulates brain-gut microbiome and helpsrelieve symptoms: A new study is revealing for the first time that behavioral self-management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a painful and common gastrointestinal disorder, can fundamentally change the gut microbiome. It is the first to show how cognitive behavioral therapy can teach patients information-processing skills that address the biological roots of their GI symptoms. Teaching people how to think more flexibly in specific situations can reduce the physical tension and stress that can disrupt brain-gut interactions and crank up symptoms. Microbiome

 

Young marijuana smokers may be at greater risk of recurrent stroke: Among younger adults who had a previous stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and were later hospitalized for any cause, recurrent stroke was far more likely among patients with cannabis use disorder. International Stroke Conference

 

Heavy cannabis use by female adults associated with lower incidence of diabetes: A new study recently published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found that women who heavily used cannabis had lower incidence of diabetes, a chronic condition that prevents the body from either making enough insulin (type 1) or being able to use insulin efficiently (type 2). Cannabis use was estimated on the basis of exposure and frequency of use with smoking cannabis fewer than four times per month deemed "light use," and "heavy use" defined as four or more times per month.

 

Combining traditional mandala coloring and brain sensing technologies to aid mindfulness: Combining centuries-old traditional mandala coloring with cutting-edge computing and brain sensing technologies could lead to new ways of helping people achieve mindfulness. Human–Computer Interaction

 

Kids' poisonings rise as more parents bring pot edibles home: Edibles. In adults, they can be used recreationally or to help manage pain, nausea and anxiety. But these THC-loaded products, often sold as gummies, cookies and brownies, have fueled a four-year increase in the number of emergency calls for young children who mistakenly think they're yummy treats. Pediatrics Annals of Emergency Medicine

 

 

FDA ACTION

• Granted full approval for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.

• Authorized a new antibody drug, bebtelovimab,  that targets the omicron variant, a key step in restocking the nation's arsenal against the latest version of COVID-19.

• Approved the first generic of Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% single-use vials (eye drops) to increase tear production in patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (commonly known as dry eye).

• Revised the authorizations for two monoclonal antibody treatments – bamlanivimab and etesevimab (administered together) and REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab) – to limit their use to only when the patient is likely to have been infected with or exposed to a variant that is susceptible to these treatments. 

• Expanded the use of the antiviral drug Veklury (remdesivir) to certain non-hospitalized adults and pediatric patients for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease.

 

 

PREVENTION: Exercise

Walking may reduce type 2 diabetes risk for adults 65 and older: Walking regularly and at greater intensity may help prevent Type 2 diabetes among 70 and 80 year olds, according to one of the first studies measuring steps and pace among this population. The more steps a person takes, and the more intense, the lower their risk for developing diabetes. Diabetes Care

 

Physical activity monitors do help boost activity levels in adults: Physical activity monitors, such as fitness apps and wearable activity trackers, that provide direct feedback to users do help to boost activity levels in adults, finds a summary of the evidence, published by British Medical Journal

 

Concussion management is changing as more research suggests exercise is best approach: In the past few years, scientists have started to study aerobic exercise (or cardio training) as a management strategy for concussion symptoms. This exercise-is-medicine approach is diametrically opposed to the rest-is-best status quo. An academic review that summarizes the findings of individual studies shows that exercise is indeed one of the most effective, evidence-informed strategies for managing concussion symptoms. Beyond a brief period (24 to 48 hours) of rest after concussion, the science now suggests that exercise is more beneficial than rest.

 

Researchers report cognitive effects of aerobic exercise on persons with significant memory loss caused by traumatic brain injury: A pilot study by a team of rehabilitation researchers showed that 12 weeks of supervised moderate aerobic cycling may improve memory and processing speed in individuals with disabling cognitive deficits caused by traumatic brain injury. Neurocase

 

Blood samples from professional soccer players provides latest evidence that headers affect brain activity: Repetitive headers and accidental head impacts in soccer are leading to changes in blood patterns, linked to brain signalling pathways and potential alterations – the latest study to assess potential dangers of heading in soccer shows. Brain Injury

 

Brain function boosted by daily physical activity in middle-aged, older adults: A study of 90 middle-aged and older subjects who wore accelerometers while physically active and completed mobile cognitive testing from home found that nn the days their physical activity increased, the 50- to 74-year-old participants performed more effectively on an executive function task, and on the days when their physical activity decreased, so too did their cognitive performance. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. 

 

Exercise can help older adults retain their memories: A meta analysis was able to show a link between exercise and episodic memory.  “We found that there were greater improvements in memory among those who are age 55 to 68 years compared to those who are 69 to 85 years old — so intervening earlier is better.” The team also found the greatest effects of exercise in those who hadn’t yet experienced any cognitive decline, and in studies where participants exercised consistently several times a week. Communications Medicine

 

Older people in good shape have fitter brains: Seventy- to eighty-year-olds who train for better fitness are better at solving cognitive tasks and are less likely to suffer cognitive impairment. Good conditioning appears to be an important prerequisite for good brain function in the elderly in the other two research articles as well. In both of these studies, the researchers tested the brain health of more than 100 of the participants in the Generation 100 study at start-up and after one, three and five years of training. Cardiac Exercise Research Group.

 

Exercise can provide relief for dry, itchy eyes: A significant increase in tear secretion and tear film stability after participating in aerobic exercise can be another remedy for relieving dry, itchy eyes. Experimental Eye Research

 

Exercise post-vaccine bumps up antibodies, new study finds: Participants who cycled on a stationary bike or took a brisk walk for an hour-and-a-half after getting a jab produced more antibodies in the following four weeks compared to participants who sat or continued with their daily routine post-immunization. "Our preliminary results are the first to demonstrate a specific amount of time can enhance the body's antibody response to the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine and two vaccines for influenza." Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

 

20 mins of daily exercise at 70 may best stave off major heart disease in late old age: Twenty minutes of daily moderate to vigorous exercise in early old age (70-75) may best stave off major heart disease, including heart failure, in late old age (80+), suggests research published online in the journal Heart

 

Exercise reduces anxiety during active surveillance for prostate cancer: "In our study, a high-intensity interval training program yielded significant mental and physical health benefits for men who chose active surveillance for initial management of low-grade prostate cancer.” Journal of Urology

 

No time to exercise? What about THREE SECONDS a day?: Lifting weights for as little as a few seconds a day can have a positive impact on muscle strength, a new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has discovered. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 

 

 

PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition

Mediterranean diet associated with a lower risk of mortality in older adults: A greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet which had been assessed through an index made with biomarkers during a 20-year scientific monitoring is associated with a lower mortality in adults over 65. BMC Medicine

No Amount of Alcohol Safe for the Heart: The widely held notion that consuming small to moderate amounts of alcohol is good for cardiovascular health is not supported by the data, the World Heart Federation (WHF) says in a new policy brief. In fact, the evidence is clear that any level of drinking can contribute to loss of a healthy life, the organization says. The WHF conclusions follow a recent report in the Lancet based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), which found that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

Flavonoids may reduce mortality risk for people with Parkinson's disease: People with Parkinson's disease who eat more flavonoids—compounds found in richly colored foods like berries, cocoa and red wine—may have a lower mortality risk than those who don't, according to a new study. Eating more flavonoids before being diagnosed with PD was associated with a lower risk of dying in men, but not in women. Neurology

 

Nutrient-laden snacks can meaningfully cut cholesterol: A suite of ready-to-eat bioactive snacks can meaningfully reduce cholesterol in patients unwilling or unable to take statin drugs. Journal of Nutrition

 

More spice could help seniors avoid salt: Add a little spicy seasoning to a low sodium meal, and adults over the age of 60 may have a harder time noticing a lack of salt. The addition of chipotle seasoning to the white sauce made it difficult for the study participants to differentiate between the samples with low and high levels of salt. Conversely, the addition of herbs, such as basil leaves, garlic powder and coarse ground pepper, was not as effective at masking the samples with less salt. Food Quality and Preference

 

Eating prunes may help protect against bone loss in older women: In a research review, the researchers found that prunes can help prevent or delay bone loss in postmenopausal women, possibly due to their ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to bone loss. Advances in Nutrition

Do low-carb diets help you lose weight? What the science says: A new Cochrane review of the evidence found long-term low-carb dieters lost just under a kilo more weight than other dieters. However the review concluded there was no evidence low-carb diets have any additional health benefits.  In fact, if you're on a low-carb diet, you'll need to pay closer attention to what you eat to make sure you get enough essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other phytonutrients.

PREVENTION: Vitamins/Supplements

Supplement appears to boost muscle, mitochondria health: New research suggests that the supplement, urolithin A, may help improve or prolong muscle activity in people who are aging or who have diseases that make exercise difficult. JAMA Network Open

 

Study finds vitamin D supplements with or without Omega-3s decreased risk of autoimmune diseases: Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital evaluated whether taking vitamin D and/or omega fatty acid supplements could affect rates of AD. The team tested this in the large-scale vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL), a randomized study which followed participants for approximately five years. Investigators found the people who took vitamin D, or vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids had a significantly lower rate of AD than people who took a placebo. British Medical Journal

 

Lowering homocysteine with vitamin supplements to treat drug-resistant hypertension: Using B vitamins to lower homocysteine levels is an effective means of reducing blood pressure and may be especially useful in the management of drug-resistant hypertension. American Journal of Hypertension

 

PREVENTION: Other

Men who worry more may develop heart disease and diabetes risk factors at younger ages: Middle-aged men who are anxious and worry more may be at greater biological risk for developing heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, also called cardiometabolic disease, as they get older, according to new research. Journal of the American Heart Association

 

Despite genetic makeup, following heart health guidelines can decrease risk of heart disease: Following Life's Simple 7 guidelines developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) can significantly lower the risk of coronary heart disease despite a genetic predisposition. Life’s Simple Seven includes: eating better, increasing physical activity, managing blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, reducing blood sugar, losing weight, and stopping smoking.  Circulation

 

Poor sleep can triple risk for heart disease: Individual aspects of poor sleep can be detrimental to heart health. But if you combine them, the risk of heart disease can increase by as much as 141 percent. Science Daily

 

Reusable plastic bottles shown to release hundreds of chemicals: Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found several hundred different chemical substances in tap water stored in reusable plastic bottles. Several of these substances are potentially harmful to human health. There is a need for better regulation and manufacturing standards for manufacturers, according to the chemists behind the study. Journal of Hazardous Materials

 

Mindful adults age with better mental health: Aging adults with high levels of "trait mindfulness," or a person's innate ability to pay attention to the present moment without judgment, showed measures of greater well-being and mental health. Mindful adults also demonstrated more mental resilience to stressful situations. Aging & Mental Health

 

Is good dental care key to stroke prevention?: Early results from the study of stroke patients in South Carolina and North Carolina show secondary stroke events occur less often when patients receive proper dental care for periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, can damage the tissue that holds teeth in place. AHA

 

New adult immunization schedule recommends changes to zoster, pneumococcal, and hep B vaccines Annals of Internal Medicine , Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

 

Pressure to feel good associated with poorer individual wellbeing in happier countries: In countries with higher national happiness, citizens who perceive societal pressure to be happy report poorer wellbeing than those in countries with lower national happiness. For most wellbeing indicators, the relationship between societal pressure to be happy and poor wellbeing was almost twice as strong in countries with higher World Happiness Index scores than in countries with lower national happiness scores. Scientific Reports

 

 

TREATMENT

Two new clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and management of diverticulitis: According to two new clinical guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP), uncomplicated diverticulitis can be treated in an outpatient setting without antibiotics. Published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the guidelines are based on the best available evidence on the clinical benefits and harms, test accuracy, patient values and preferences, and consideration of costs.

 

Newer hormone treatments for prostate cancer may raise risk of depression: Advanced forms of hormone therapy are very effective at keeping prostate cancer in check, but they also can double a man's risk of falling into depression, researchers have found. JAMA Network Open

 

'Off target' metabolic effects of anti-inflammatory drugs used for autoimmune disorders need better treatment strategy: New therapies for autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) that are designed to better regulate lipid (fat) metabolism, could significantly reduce the harmful side-effects caused by conventional treatments, finds a new large-scale review led by UCL researchers. Journal of Clinical Investigation

 

Increased survival rate in prostate cancer patients with addition of hormone therapy treatments: In a first-of-its kind meta-analysis, researchers from University Hospitals (UH) and Case Western Reserve University show that there is consistent improvement in overall survival in men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer with the addition of hormone therapy to radiotherapy treatments. Lancet Oncology

 

Study finds up to 30% of patients with wet macular degeneration can safely stop eye injections: In a preliminary study of 106 people with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that as many as a third of those with the blinding retinal disease may someday be able to safely stop eye injection therapy without further vision loss. The findings, say the researchers, fall short of setting a timeline for ending treatment or predicting precisely which patients can stop injections, but they say the results add to growing evidence that many people with the disease may not need the lifelong monthly medication currently recommended. Journal of Clinical Investigation

 

The best way to fix a sad mood: Whatever you think works best: Researchers found that people who were in a sad mood improved more quickly when they used a mood-improving method that they were told was their strongest skill. These participants improved more quickly than people asked to use a skill that they were told was a relative weakness. "Our results suggest that whether participants were good at the skill was not relevant. It was the belief that they were good at that skill that made it effective.” Journal of Clinical Psychology

 

Spore Therapy Cuts C. Difficile Reinfection by 68% in 8-Week Study: An experimental three-day therapy that adds Firmicutes spores to the gut can reduce the risk of Clostridioides difficile reinfection by 68% according to the results from an eight-week phase 3 study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. NEJM

 

Higher Corticosteroid Dose Tied to HBV Reactivation in People With Resolved Infection: In people with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, exposure to higher doses of corticosteroids is associated with an increased risk of HBV reactivation and hepatitis flare. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases

 

Study finds cancer immunotherapy treatment can reverse HIV latency: An international research collaboration has found the cancer immunotherapy treatment, pembrolizumab, can reverse HIV latency, the ability for the virus to 'hide' inside cells of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, the major barrier to a cure for HIV. Science Translational Medicine

 

Lenvatinib + pembrolizumab treats advanced endometrial cancer: For patients with advanced endometrial cancer, lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab results in significantly longer progression-free and overall survival than the physician's choice of chemotherapy. New England Journal of Medicine

 

Drug that targets macrophages offers new hope to select patients with ALS: A new drug has been found to slow or temporarily stall the progression of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in a select group of patients. The drug, a proprietary form of purified chlorite that inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, may provide a treatment option in patients aged 40 to 65 with higher levels of inflammation, according to a new study.  Muscle & Nerve

 

Ketamine is a short-term effective treatment for some suicidal patients in hospital: The results suggest that some patients with severe suicidal ideation, particularly those with bipolar disorder, could benefit from ketamine, as current treatment options are limited, say the researchers. British Medical Journal

 

Bile acids may improve skin inflammation in patients with psoriasis: Bile acids may improve skin inflammation in patients with psoriasis Journal of Investigative Dermatology

 

Widely-used hormone drug associated with increased risk of benign brain tumor at high doses: High doses of a widely-used drug, cyproterone acetate, used in the hormonal treatment of conditions such as excessive hair growth, early puberty, prostate cancer, are linked to an increased risk of meningioma—the most common type of benign brain tumor, finds a University of Bristol-led study of over 8-million patients. Scientific Reports

 

For young people with meniscal tears, surgery and exercise are equally effective: The first study in the world comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment of meniscal tears in young people shows that exercise and patient education provide similar results as surgery. NEJM Evidence

 

Exercise may boost impact of pre-surgical chemo in patients with food pipe (oesophageal)cancer: ‘Prehab’ exercise may boost the impact of chemotherapy given to patients with cancer of the food pipe (oesophagus) to shrink their tumour (s) before surgery, reveals the first study of its kind. British Journal of Sports Medicine

 

Clinical trial suggests pegcetacoplan may slow onset of age-related macular degeneration: An international team of researchers has found via clinical trial that the drug pegcetacoplan may slow the onset of age-related macular degeneration in some people. JAMA Ophthalmology

 

MRI-guided radiotherapy appears to lead to fewer side effects from treatment for prostate cancer: An interim analysis of an ongoing Phase III study from UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center indicates that using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide precisely-focused high-dose radiation treatment for prostate cancer reduced side effects associated with the treatment. The findings are being presented at the 2022 ASCO Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium

 

Research shows new drug combination effective for patients with advanced ovarian cancer: A new study led by researchers at Yale Cancer Center and the University of Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Center shows ixabepilone plus bevacizumab (IXA+BEV) is a well-tolerated, effective combination for treatment of platinum/taxane-resistant ovarian cancer compared to ixabepilone (IXA) alone. The data shows it also may significantly extend both progression free survival and overall survival. British Journal of Cancer

 

Less antibiotic use in dentistry shows no increase in endocarditis: Sweden is one of the few countries that have removed the dental health recommendation to give prophylactic antibiotics to people at a higher risk of infection of the heart valves, so-called infective endocarditis. Since the recommendation was removed in 2012, there has been no increase in this disease. Clinical Infectious Diseases

 

Statinintolerance is “over-estimated and over-diagnosed”: As many as one in two patients stop taking statins, reduce the dose or take them irregularly because they believe the cholesterol-lowering drugs cause muscle pain and other side-effects. Now, a new study of over four million patients has shown that the true prevalence of statin intolerance worldwide is between six to ten percent. European Heart Journal

 

Hepatitis C patients cured with antiviral medicines are less likely to be hospitalized, need ER care for liver: The study, published online in Clinical Infectious Diseases underscores the extraordinary effect of these newer antivirals, which have been shown to cure hepatitis C in 98 percent of patients who take them.

 

NOACs associated with lower risk for diabetic complications and mortality compared with warfarin: A retrospective cohort study of patients with atrial fibrillation and diabetes found that the use of non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) was associated with a lower risk of diabetes complications and mortality than warfarin. These findings suggest that NOAC may be a better therapeutic choice for this patient population. Annals of Internal Medicine