Journal Watch: March 2020

 

COVID-19

Covid-19 Prevention

Can You Catch Omicron Twice? What We Know Now: A recent study suggests we can experience reinfections with BA.2, but the risk is slight, and BA.2 likely won’t lead to another pandemic surge.

 

'Immune distraction' from previous colds leads to worse COVID infections: At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, we were hopeful that pre-existing immunity to the common cold could protect you from COVID, but new evidence suggests that sometimes the opposite can happen. A new University of Rochester Medical Center study shows that prior infection and immunity to one of the common cold coronaviruses may have put people at risk of more severe COVID illness and death. Journal of Infectious Diseases

 

Mask Mandate for Planes, Public Transportation Extended to April 18: This will require travelers to continue wearing face masks while on airplanes, trains, and other types of public transportation as well as while in transit hubs. Airline and some government officials think this may be the last nationwide extension of the public transit mask requirements.

 

Omicron Infections Are Contagious for at Least 6 Days: Patients infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 remain contagious for just as long as patients infected with earlier variants, according to a small study.Reuters

 

COVID-19: Vaccines/Boosters

COVID-19 Vaccines Offer Strong Protection Against Reinfection: COVID-19 vaccination offers durable protection against reinfection, according to two studies published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In one study, getting at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine after recovering from COVID-19 was associated with a significantly lower risk of reinfection. Vaccine effectiveness was 82% for ages 16-64 and 60% for ages 65 and older. In the other study, researchers at the U.K. Health Security Agency evaluated the effectiveness and duration of COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers in the United Kingdom, including some who previously had an infection.

 

How Effective Are COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids 5–11? The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine still offers strong protection against severe disease and hospitalization among younger school aged children. But studies also show that the vaccines are not as effective at stopping children from developing COVID-19 from the Omicron variant.  A third shot may help add more protection against infection.

 

2 New COVID-19 Vaccines Nearing Approval: How They’re Different: Novavax has asked federal regulators for emergency use authorization for its new COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline are requesting full approval for their COVID-19 vaccine. Both vaccines use older technology than the mRNA vaccines currently in use. Experts say the new vaccines could help convince hesitant people to get vaccinated. They also note the new vaccines could help worldwide since they don’t need to be stored at extremely low temperatures. Healthline

 

CDC Says Most People Can Now Wait 8 Weeks Between First and Second COVID-19 Shots:   Growing evidence suggests spacing out COVID-19 doses further could boost the shot’s efficacy against infection and hospitalization. It may also reduce the risk of the rare side effect, myocarditis. The CDC updated guidanceTrusted Source to recommend that people over age 12 and especially males between the ages of 12 to 39 wait 8 weeks between their first and second COVID-19 doses.

 

Moderna seeks US approval of second COVID booster: Moderna announced it had asked the United States drug regulator for emergency authorization for a second booster shot of the company's COVID-19 vaccine for all adults. It would "allow for a fourth dose of our #COVID19 vaccine in adults 18 years of age and older who have received an initial booster" of any approved COVID jab. The request comes days after Pfizer-BioNTech, makers of the other COVID mRNA vaccine, also requested emergency approval for a second booster shot, but their request was limited to adults aged 65 and older.

 

COVID-19: Treatment

Baricitinib Significantly Reduces Death in Severe COVID-19: Baricitinib (Olumiant, Eli Lilly), an oral immunomodulatory agent usually used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), reduces mortality in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19, according to latest results from the landmark RECOVERY trial. The results are published as a preprint.

 

Elective Surgery Should Be Delayed 7 Weeks After COVID-19 Infection for Unvaccinated Patients, Statement Recommends: Elective surgical procedures should be delayed at least 7 weeks after COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated patients, according to new joint statement issued by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF).

 

COVID-19: Long-Covid

Almost a Third of People Report Lingering Symptom 6-12 Months After COVID-19: Almost a third of people report at least one ongoing symptom between 6 and 12 months after their coronavirus infection, a survey of 152,000 people in Denmark has found. Just over half (53.1%) of those with positive tests said they had experienced either mental or physical exhaustion, sleep problems or cognitive problems within the 6 to 12 months after infection. That compared to 11.5% in the control group. New diagnoses of anxiety and depression were also more common among those with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study was published as a preprint on the medRxiv website

 

COVID-Related Diabetes May Be Temporary: Patients with severe COVID-19 who develop diabetes while hospitalized may have only a temporary form of the disease and their blood sugar levels may return to normal afterward, according to new findings. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications

 

Brain changes may fuel 'long COVID' anxiety, confusion: Coronavirus infection may cause a greater loss of gray matter and structural changes in certain parts of the brain than what occurs naturally due to aging and other factors, a large new studyTrusted Source found. Brain inflammation—was associated with symptoms of anxiety in people with long COVID. Neurology, Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation

 

COVID-19 and Cognitive Issues: What We Know About the Risk for Older Adults: New researchTrusted Source from China finds seniors who survived COVID-19 demonstrated significant cognitive decline 1 year after infection — and those with more severe symptoms experienced greater declines.

 

Exercise may treat long COVID-induced diabetes, depression: While no medically recognized treatment exists for Long COVID, exercise may break the vicious cycle of inflammation that can lead to developing diabetes and depression months after a person recovers from the virus. “Exercise as a Moderator of Persistent Neuroendocrine Symptoms of COVID-19,” published in the journal Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews.

 

Licensing deals struck for cheaper Pfizer COVID pill: The global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed agreements with three dozen manufacturers to produce the oral COVID-19 treatment nirmatrelvir for supply in 95 low- and middle income countries.

Severe COVID Associated With Long-Term Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety: People who have been bedridden for seven days or more with COVID-19 are at increased risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, a new study of data from several countries shows. However, those with a mild infection appear to be at lower risk of the mental-health problems compared with people not diagnosed with the virus, researchers report in The Lancet Public Health.

COVID-19: Other

Pandemic Takes Its Toll; 23% of HCWs Likely to Leave Industry: American health care workers have remained resilient during the pandemic but are feeling the ongoing strain, with 23% saying they are likely to leave the field in the near future, according to a new poll. About half of the respondents to the poll from USA Today/Ipsos reported feeling "burned out," 43% said they were "anxious," and 21% said they were "angry" about politics and abuse from patients and families.

 

Studies Indicate COVID Pandemic Began in Wuhan Market Two preprint studies released on Saturday offer additional evidence that the coronavirus pandemic started at a market in Wuhan, China. By analyzing data from several sources, scientists concluded that the virus came from animals and spread to humans in late 2019 at the Huanan Seafood Market. They added that no evidence supported a theory that the virus came from a laboratory in Wuhan. Medscape

 

Global COVID-19 Death Toll Surpasses 6 Million: The official global COVID-19 death toll passed 6 million on March 7, marking another grim milestone as the pandemic enters its third year. The U.S. has reported the highest number of deaths by far, with more than 958,000 total deaths, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. Brazil has recorded more than 650,000 deaths, followed by India with 515,000 and Russia with almost 350,000.

COVID-19 Will Likely Become a Seasonal Disease: The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said she expects COVID-19 to become a seasonal illness that ebbs and flows with the weather. Epidemiologists say stricter measures — like lockdowns and capacity limitations at certain venues — are unlikely to return. But masking and physical distancing may continue to be recommended during future surges. there does appear to be some degree of seasonality to COVID-19 already. As observed over the past two years, COVID-19 cases have increased during the winter months.

What to Know About Biden’s ‘Test to Treat’ Plan for COVID-19 President Biden announced a plan for the next phase of pandemic response at his State of the Union Address in March, which focuses on several goals including a ‘test to treat’ program that makes it easier for people with COVID-19 to get treatment. The program will be established at locations that include pharmacy-based clinics, community health centers, long-term care facilities, and Department of Veterans Affairs facilities across the country. “One-stop” sites will open soon that allow anyone who’s tested positive for COVID-19 to be treated with FDA-approvedTrusted Source antiviral pills almost immediately and at no cost. These sites may be up and running “by March,” according to the White House.

COVID Surge in Western Europe Puts US Health Experts on Alert: A new surge in COVID-19 cases across Western Europe has led U.S. health officials to consider whether another pandemic wave will arrive soon, even as states and cities continue to lift restrictions amid low case numbers. Infectious disease experts are watching BA.2, the Omicron subvariant that appears to be more transmissible than the original strain. BA.2 is fueling outbreaks across Europe and is growing in dominance across the U.S. Medscape

PAIN

How Nostalgia Can Sometimes Help Ease Pain: Researchers in China say nostalgic thoughts can help ease some types of physical pain. However, some experts questioned this new study and say more research is needed. They do acknowledge that there appears to be some connection between memories and pain, but it’s uncertain exactly what it might be. They add that mindfulness and imagery can be used in some instances to treat chronic pain. study from Chinese Academy of Sciences.

 

Younger age at first menstrual period linked to chronic pain in women: Strong associations exist between age at menarche (before 13) and chronic pain outcomes in adult women. PAIN®,

 

Sleep apnea may lead to increased joint pain in postmenopausal women: The menopause transition is associated with several health issues. The incidence of both sleep apnea and joint pain, for example, are higher in postmenopausal women. A new study aimed to investigate the association between various physical and psychological symptoms common during the menopause transition with sleep apnea. Menopause

 

Mindfulness therapy reduces opioid misuse and chronic pain in primary care, according to new research: Results from a new clinical trial demonstrate that an eight-week mindfulness-based therapy—Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)—decreased opioid use and misuse while reducing chronic pain symptoms, with effects lasting as long as nine months. This is the first large-scale clinical trial to demonstrate that a psychological intervention can simultaneously reduce opioid misuse and chronic pain among people who were prescribed opioid pain relievers. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, followed 250 adults with chronic pain on long-term opioid therapy who met the criteria of misusing opioids.

 

Is migraine tied to complications in pregnancy? Women with migraine may have a higher risk of pregnancy complications like preterm delivery, gestational high blood pressure and preeclampsia, according to a preliminary study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 74th Annual Meeting

 

Anti–CGRPs Effective for Medication Overuse Headache, Regardless of Detox Strategy: “[C]urrently, the abrupt discontinuation of the overused painkiller(s), accompanied by the start of a pharmacological preventive therapy, is the most recommended strategy [for medication overuse headache],” the investigators wrote in Cephalalgia. “While painkiller(s) withdrawal could be accomplished on an outpatient basis in most cases, an in-hospital setting may be required to achieve successful discontinuation in a subgroup of patients with medication overuse headache, further weighing on individual and hospital costs. Additionally hampering this approach, the abrupt discontinuation of the overused painkiller(s) invariably results in disabling withdrawal symptoms for up to 2 weeks, including a transitory worsening of headache, the so-called ‘rebound headache.’” Three months after starting anti-CGRP therapy, 59% of patients had resolution of medication overuse headache, including 57% in the inpatient detox group and 64% in the outpatient group.

 

Nutritional Approaches for Musculoskeletal Pain and Inflammation:What the Science Says: Many nutritional approaches such as dietary supplements have purported anti-inflammatory properties, and some have a long history of use for treating inflammation and the pain that is associated with musculoskeletal inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tendinitis. Although there is some limited evidence that a few natural products may provide modest benefits, in general, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of many of these approaches for inflammatory conditions. This issue of the digest provides a current summary of the evidence of several natural products marketed for improving these conditions. NCCIH Clinical Digest 

 

15 medical societies develop best practices to manage acute pain in complex surgical patients: The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and 14 leading medical specialty organizations established seven guiding principles to better address the perioperative treatment of acute pain in complex surgical patients. The principles were established during a second-of-its-kind landmark pain summit hosted by ASA. The participating organizations reached consensus on seven foundational principles for the perioperative treatment of acute pain, published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

 

 

COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

From Pillows to Music: How Sensory Therapies May Help Ease Anxiety: Sensory therapy techniques may be beneficial for people experiencing feelings of anxiety. That’s the conclusion of two new studies that explore the benefits of therapies that use the senses to help manage feelings of anxiety. One study involved music, and the other involved a huggable pillow that simulates breathing. “In the realm of psychology, sensory therapy involves the use of visual and kinesthetic components to treat mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation.” Healthline

Effect of medical marijuana card ownership on pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression: This randomized clinical trial that involved 186 participants found that compared to waiting 12 weeks, immediate acquisition of a medical marijuana card led to a higher incidence and severity of cannabis use disorder and no significant improvement in symptoms of pain, anxiety or depression but improvements in sleep. Jamanetwork

 

FDA ACTION

• Approves First generic version of Restasis for Dry Eye

• Approves New CAR T cancer therapy for form of multiple myeloma

• Approves One Male Condom, the first such product designed specifically for anal intercourse

• Approves the first generic of Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol

• Approves Jardiance (empagliflozin) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults

 

 

PREVENTION: Exercise

How Resistance Training Can Help You Sleep Better: Researchers say resistance training such as using free weights and stretching cables may be better for getting quality sleep than aerobic exercise. Experts say resistance training results in post-workout fatigue and muscle recovery that can promote better sleep. They add that aerobic exercise can also improve sleep. A combination of the two types of exercise may be the best course for some people. new studyTrusted Source presented at Epidemiology and Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Conference 2022Trusted Source

 

Less Than an Hour of Strength Training a Week Can Lower Your Risk of Death: Doing just 30 to 60 minutes of strength training during the week can help you stay healthy and reduce your risk of death, according to a new study.  Strength training includes activities like squats, pushups, and weight training.  Exercise in all forms can help with overall health including cardiovascular health. New research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine finds that even 30 minutes of strength training reduce the risk of many health issues.

 

Why You May Want to Give Running ‘Naked’ a Try (No, Not That Kind of Naked): Exercising without a smartphone or other fitness-tracking device may help you better focus on the physical activity itself and get more out of it.  Experts say running “naked” can help you become more attuned to how your own body responds to exercise in the moment. It can also help avoid overexertion and injuries that may occur when people push too hard to hit a specific number on their device rather than listening to signals from their body during a workout.  Additionally, running “naked” can help declutter your mind from noise and numbers, creating a sense of calm while simplifying your relationship to your chosen physical activity. Healthline

 

Work, sex, swimming and fit bands: All safe for dialysis patients: New international guidelines have been released on the eve of Kidney Health Week showing how important it is for dialysis patients to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. The best practice guidelines developed by global clinicians, patients and researchers, outline activities that are safe for people receiving peritoneal dialysis to maintain and improve their quality of life.

 

PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition

How a Glass of Wine With Dinner May Help Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Drinking wine with dinner may help prevent type 2 diabetes, according to preliminary researchTrusted Source presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Conference 2022Trusted Source.

Even Moderate Drinking Can Shrink Brain Over Time: The researchers’ reportTrusted Source, based on an analysis of data about drinking and brain health among more than 36,000 people, likened the changes in brain volume among drinkers to aging.  For example, a 50-year-old who on average drinks a pint of beer or a glass of wine once a day effectively ages their brain by two years, according to findings published in the journal Nature Communications. And those who consume an average of 4 drinks daily had brains that were 10 years “older” than those who did not drink.

Keto Diet May Help Ease Fatigue and Depression for People with Multiple Sclerosis: The ketogenic, or keto diet, is one that focuses on meats, fats, and non-starchy vegetables. Researchers say the low carb diet may help ease depression and fatigue for people with multiple sclerosis. Other experts say the diet can possibly help with symptoms of an inflammatory disease such as multiple sclerosis, but they say more research is needed. They also note the keto diet is difficult to maintain long-term. new research American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting

 

Challenges with a novel approach to managing over weight and obesity: Managing overweight and obesity is challenging, and a new randomized controlled trial found that, contrary to earlier evidence, making small changes to caloric intake and physical activity levels did not prevent long-term weight gain better than monitoring alone. The research is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) 

 

Which promote greater metabolic health, almonds or potatoes? Rigorous, randomized trial weighs in No short-term, statistically significant difference between calorie-matched fries and almonds on key health metrics. “Our results show two food items identified previously for opposite associations with health outcomes had no differences in effects on the health outcomes we measured.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

 

A new study relates liquid fructose intake to fatty liver disease: A high-fat diet is not enough to cause short-term fatty liver disease. However, if this diet is combined with the intake of beverages sweetened with liquid fructose, the accumulation of fats in the liver accelerates and hypertriglyceridemia —a cardiovascular risk factor— can appear. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research

 

Study finds that Nordic diet lowers cholesterol and blood sugar, even if you don't lose weight: in a new study, University of Copenhagen researchers and their Nordic colleagues found clear evidence that a Nordic diet can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels even without weight loss. In particular, they point to the composition of dietary fats as a possible explanation for the diet's positive effects. Berries, veggies, fish, whole grains and rapeseed oil: These are the main ingredients of the Nordic diet concept that for the past decade, has been recognized as extremely healthy, tasty and sustainable. The diet can prevent obesity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Clinical Nutrition

 

Eating Protein From a Variety of Sources May Lower Risk of High Blood Pressure: According to a new studyTrusted Source, people who get their protein from a variety of sources (four or more versus two or less) have a 66 percent lower chance of experiencing high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The study drew data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, which from 1997 to 2015 gathered nutrition information from 12,200 adults in China. Experts recommend putting seafood and legumes into your diet in addition to traditional protein sources of beef and chicken.

 

Dietary Fiber Tied to Lower Dementia Risk: Eating a high-fiber diet, especially one rich in soluble fiber, is linked to a lower risk of incident disabling dementia, new research shows. Investigators administered a dietary survey to 3700 healthy adults at midlife and then followed them for up to 20 years. They found that participants who consumed the most fiber had approximately a 25% lower risk of developing dementia in later life. The study was published online February 6 in Nutritional Neuroscience.

 

Research team provides guidelines, recommendations for intermittent fasting: A University of Illinois Chicago team has summarized research on intermittent fasting to provide insights into its effects on the body and to provide advice for incorporating these diets in everyday life. They have also presented recommendations for future research into these popular diet methods. “Clinical application of intermittent fasting for weight loss: progress and future directions,”

 

PREVENTION: Vitamins/Supplements

Researchers Say Vitamin D3 Bolsters Immune System Better Than Vitamin D2: Vitamin D is an essential nutrient but not all forms of the vitamin are created equal, new research suggests. Researchers say vitamin D3 bolsters the immune system better than vitamin D2. This goes against previous research that rated both forms of vitamin D about the same. Experts say you can obtain a sufficient amount of vitamin D by being out in the sun for up to 30 minutes. Certain foods, such as milk, cheese, and breakfast cereals, are fortified with vitamin D.

 

PREVENTION: Other

Owning a Pet May Help Keep Your Mind Sharp as You Get Older: A new study has found that owning a pet may help delay cognitive decline as we grow older. The greatest effects of pet ownership were seen after 5 years. Study authors say it is too early to recommend pet ownership to protect cognitive health. However, they do advocate for programs that help older adults keep their current pets. Other ways to keep your brain healthy include physical exercise, socialization, and playing games. study to be presented in April at the American Academy of Neurology’s 74th Annual Meeting.

 

Sexual Harassment, Assault Increases Odds of High Blood Pressure in Women: Women who’ve experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment have a higher risk for high blood pressure. This type of trauma can increase stress within the body, resulting in a rise in blood pressure. Increased stress can also be heightened if a woman’s charges of sexual misconduct are not believed. That’s according to researchTrusted Source published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

 

Optimism may promote emotional well-being by limiting how often one experiences stressful situations: When it comes to dealing with day-to-day stressors, such as household chores or arguments with others, a new study has found that being more or less optimistic did not make a difference in how older men emotionally reacted to or recovered from these stressors. However, optimism appeared to promote emotional well-being by limiting how often older men experience stressful situations or changing the way they interpret situations as stressful. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.

 

These three risk factors may have the biggest impact on dementia cases: Nearly half of all dementia cases in the U.S. may be linked to a dozen modifiable risk factors—most notably high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity, according to new research. The findings suggest a large portion of dementia cases could be prevented, especially among Black and Hispanic adults, who had the highest percentage of combined risk factors. American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health conference 

Optimists Tend to Live Longer Than Pessimists: Researchers from Boston University came to that conclusion after following 233 men over 22 years. They reported that the study participants who had a more optimistic attitude had higher levels of emotional well-being and experienced stress differently and less frequently than those who were more pessimistic. The study also showed that the optimistic participants reported more frequent positive moods and lower negative moods.

If blood pressure rises upon standing, so may risk for heart attack: Among young and middle-aged adults with high blood pressure, a substantial rise in blood pressure upon standing may identify those with a higher risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s peer-reviewed journal Hypertension.

 

Close the blinds during sleep to protect your health: Exposure to even moderate ambient lighting during nighttime sleep, compared to sleeping in a dimly lit room, harms your cardiovascular function during sleep and increases your insulin resistance the following morning, reports a new study. Just a single night of exposure to moderate room lighting during sleep can impair glucose and cardiovascular regulation, which are risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Why People With Chronic Conditions Such as Diabetes Are Living Longer Without Disability: On average, the number of healthy years we live is growing.  This includes people living with some common chronic health conditions, according to new research published in PLOS Medicine. Researchers reported that between 1991 and 2011, men gained 4.6 years of life expectancy while women gained 2.1.  When it comes to disability-free life expectancy, men gained 3.7 years, and women gained 2 years.  Data for the research comes from two large population-based studies involving people ages 65 and older living in England.  The researchers wrote that further gains could be made through earlier diagnosis and greater access to beneficial treatments.

Why Ditching Daylight Saving Time Would Be Healthier for Everyone: While daylight saving time has been going on for decades now, scientists have begun to realize that any benefits that it provides may be outweighed by its negative effects on human health and safety. The time changes associated with daylight saving time typically cause us to lose sleep for about 1 week until we adapt to the change. While we are going through this adjustment period, however, it can put our health and safety at risk. “In addition, DST has been linked to an increase in heart-related issues such as the acute occurrence of heart attacks, stroke, and atrial fibrillation.” Healthline

 

 

TREATMENT

Researchers identified brain wounds in IDF veterans with PTSD and relieved their symptoms using hyperbaric oxygen therapy Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Center relieved the PTSD symptoms of IDF veterans using new protocols of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The veterans, who suffered from treatment-resistant PTSD, demonstrated significant improvement in all classes of symptoms following a controlled clinical trial. Following a protocol of 60 treatments improvement was demonstrated in all PTSD symptoms, including hyper-arousal, avoidance, and depression. Moreover, both functional and structural improvement was observed in the non-healing brain wounds that characterize PTSD. Plos One

 

Changing the standard of care for stage III melanoma surgery: For years, surgery for patients with stage III melanoma -- melanoma that has spread to the lymph nodes -- involved removing those lymph nodes along with the primary tumor. Known as completion lymph node dissection (CLND), the surgery was meant to ensure that no cancer remained after surgery. More recently, however, cancer surgeons have discovered that CLND has the potential to cause more problems than it solves. In most cases, patients do better on immunotherapy alone than they do when their surgery involves removal of the lymph nodes, due to potential complications from lymph node surgery. Annals of Surgical Oncology

 

New Kawasaki disease guideline for physicians released: The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation (VF), released a new guideline for the management of Kawasaki disease that addresses diagnostic issues relating to Kawasaki disease, the treatment of high-risk patients, and the management of convalescent patients. Arthritis & Rheumatology

Antiseptic Drug May Be as Effective as Antibiotics at Preventing Recurring UTIs: A non-antibiotic treatment, methenamine hippurate, could benefit women who live with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). In a new studyTrusted Source, researchers say the antiseptic treatment acts as prophylaxis without contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at 240 women over the age of 18 with recurrent UTIs. The participants randomly received either methenamine hippurate or a low dose antibiotic.

Link between high cholesterol and heart disease 'inconsistent', new study finds: New research from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has revealed that the link between 'bad' cholesterol (LDL-C) and poor health outcomes, such as heart attack and stroke, may not be as strong as previously thought. the research questions the efficacy of statins when prescribed with the aim of lowering LDL-C and therefore reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous research has suggested that using statins to lower LDL-C positively affects health outcomes, and this is reflected in the various iterations of expert guidelines for the prevention of CVD. Statins are now commonly prescribed by doctors, with one third of Irish adults over the age of 50 taking statins, according to previous research. The new findings contradict this theory, finding that this relationship was not as strong as previously thought. Instead, the research demonstrates that lowering LDL-C using statins had an inconsistent and inconclusive impact on CVD outcomes such as myocardial infarction (MI), stoke, and all-cause mortality. In addition, it indicates that the overall benefit of taking statins may be small and will vary depending on an individual's personal risk factors. JAMA Internal Medicine

 

A virtual way to rehab from a stroke: Study finds video game-based therapy helps stroke patients improve their motor skills while also reducing therapist time, cost of treatment. The researchers found the game-based therapy led to improved outcomes similar to a highly regarded form of in-person therapy, known as constraint-induced therapy, while only requiring one-fifth of the therapist hours. EClinicalMedicine

 

Sleep apnea accelerates aging, but treatment may reverse it: Untreated OSA also accelerates the biological aging process and that appropriate treatment can slow or possibly reverse the trend. “Our results found that OSA-induced sleep disruptions and lower oxygen levels during sleep promoted faster biological age acceleration compared to the control group.” “However, the OSA patients who adhered to CPAP showed a deceleration of the epigenetic age, while the age acceleration trends did not change for the control group. Our results suggest that biological age acceleration is at least partially reversible when effective treatment of OSA is implemented.” “Epigenetic Age Accelration in Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Reversible with Adherent Treatment,” was recently published in the European Respiratory Journal.  

 

OTHER

Symptom persistence during first year following traumatic brain injury: More than 70% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) reported at least one problematic symptom at one year of follow-up that was new or worse than before injury. Half of patients reported three or more such symptoms after a year, according to a study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma

 

Black adults may be at higher risk of diabetes due togenetic variations and social health determinants: In a recent study published in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers found that, while many African Americans, especially those with a higher African ancestry proportion, have a favorable lipid profile, they are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than those of white/European ancestry. A favorable lipid profile indicates there are fewer components of body fat that can lead to cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Researchers believe this may be driven by genetic factors associated with geographic ancestry. 

 

Communities with higher levels of racial prejudice have worse health outcomes: People who live in communities with higher levels of racial prejudice have worse health outcomes, including more heart disease and mental health problems and higher overall mortality rates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Health Psychology