Journal Watch October 2022
COVID-19
Prevention
Lifestyle factors may act as preventative measures against severe COVID-19: Lifestyle choices—such as eating healthy, staying active as well as resting after exercise, and managing stress—may help prevent people from developing severe COVID-19 and mitigate post-infection conditions and symptoms. Published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, the paper details various biological mechanisms, resulting from modern living, that predispose humans to chronic, low-level inflammation and incline them toward even more damaging inflammation when fighting off the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
Vaccines/Boosters
New Omicron Booster Side Effects Expected to Be Similar to Previous COVID-19 Shots: Experts expect the common side effects of the new Omicron booster to be similar to previous COVID-19 shots. The side effects include fatigue, headache, fever, skin redness, and muscle pain. The experts note that the new booster might be more effective at preventing serious illness because it targets the current circulating variants more precisely.
Treatment
Paxlovid, Drug Used for COVID-19 Treatment, May Interact With Heart Medications: Those with heart disease are among the groups who are at higher risk for serious illness, but a new review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology details that while Paxlovid is highly effective in people with heart disease, it also has numerous interactions with common heart medications.
Long Covid
About 75% of People With Long COVID Recover After a Year: New research published this month in the European Respiratory Journal finds that regardless of severity, about 75% of people will recover from long COVID within 12 months.
Long covid may set you back a decade in exercise gains: Long covid can rob people of health, energy, employment and joy. It may also strip away the equivalent of a decade’s worth of aerobic fitness, according to a large-scale new scientific review of long covid patients and exercise. The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, aggregated results from dozens of earlier experiments to show that people with long covid typically have lower endurance capacity and find working out much harder than other people of similar ages who developed covid but recovered.
Other
Survey finds more than 40% of Americans misled others about having COVID-19 and use of precautions: Four of 10 Americans surveyed report that they were often less than truthful about whether they had COVID-19 and/or didn’t comply with many of the disease’s preventive measures during the height of the pandemic, according to a new nationwide study. The study, which appears in the Oct. 10, 2022, issue of JAMA Network Open, raises concerns about how reluctance to accurately report health status and adherence to masking, social distancing, and other public health measures could potentially lengthen the current COVID-19 pandemic or promote the spread of other infectious diseases in the future.
Sore Throat Becoming Dominant COVID Symptom: Having a sore throat is becoming a dominant symptom of COVID-19 infection, with fever and loss of smell becoming less common, according to recent reports in the U.K. The shift could be a cause of concern for the fall. As the main symptoms of the coronavirus change, people could spread the virus without realizing it. Medscape
PAINAwake patients can have kidney stones moved, blasted: A new technique which combines the use of two ultrasound technologies may offer an option to move kidney stones out of the ureter with minimal pain and no anesthesia, according to a new feasibility study published today in The Journal of Urology.
How Menopause and Sleep Quality Can Impact Migraine Symptoms: Researchers say migraine symptoms can increase during menopause but tend to decrease after menopause except for women taking hormone replacement therapy. Migraines can affect the sleep quality in people of any age but there are medications that can ease migraine symptoms as well as lifestyle changes that can improve sleep quality. North American Menopause Society annual meeting
Hormone therapy may help prevent shoulder pain and loss of motion in menopausal women: Women aged 40 to 60 years are most affected by adhesive capsulitis, a painful orthopedic disorder characterized by sudden shoulder pain and loss of range of motion. There has been limited research around the disorder’s predilection for perimenopausal women, but a new study found that hormone therapy may protect against it. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINEMindfulness Linked to Lower Blood Sugar Levels in People with Type 2 Diabetes: A meta analysis recently published online in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine found that shows that mind-body practices effectively lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Results indicate that yoga had the most significant effect compared to other mindfulness practices that were studied. While rigorous physical activity can be helpful for managing T2D, gentler mind-body practices, including meditation, breathwork, and basic yoga postures, can also be effective.
How Daily Breathing Exercises Can Help Lower Blood Pressure as Much as Medication: Using breathing techniques for 5 to 10 minutes a day might help lower blood pressure, according to a study. Participants used equipment that provided some resistance while they did their breathing. Experts say utilizing daily breathing techniques can provide a number of health benefits. They add that lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise are also important.
Mindfulness Linked to Lower Blood Sugar Levels in People with Type 2 Diabetes: In the study, recently published online in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, the authors combined and analyzed results from 28 previous randomized controlled trials. The research shows that mind-body practices effectively lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Results indicate that yoga had the most significant effect compared to other mindfulness practices that were studied. While rigorous physical activity can be helpful for managing T2D, gentler mind-body practices, including meditation, breathwork, and basic yoga postures, can also be effective.
Could greater prescription of medical cannabis be a solution to the opioid crisis? Medical cannabis could be an important alternative to opioids when managing pain, a new study of thousands of patients concludes. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Substance Use and Misuse, found that people reported being in less pain and could function better physically and socially, after using medical cannabis. It also found that the majority of those who had been taking oxycodone, codeine and other opioids to treat their pain were able to stop or reduce them via using medical cannabis.
Talk therapy could improve mental health of people with dementia: A study of over 2 million people found that those living with dementia may benefit from talking therapies, if they suffer from anxiety or depression eClinicalMedicine
FDA ACTION• Approved the drug Relyvrio for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• Approved Moderna and Pfizer Bivalent Covid vaccines for younger age groups
• Approved emergency use authorization for Alinity to detect monkeypox
• Approved vaccine for use during third trimester pregnancy to prevent whooping cough in infants younger than 2 months of age
• Approved SpectoGard, the first generic spectinomycin sulfate injectable solution for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (pneumonia).
• Accelerated approval to Skysona (elivaldogene autotemcel), the first cell-based gene therapy indicated to slow the progression of neurologic dysfunction in boys 4-17 years of age with early, active cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD).
PREVENTION
ExerciseAerobic Exercise Combined With Weight Lifting May Lower Risk of Early Death: Lifting weights significantly decreases an older person’s risk of premature death, especially in those who combine pumping iron with aerobic exercise, according to new research from the National Cancer Institute. Among other benefits, experts say weightlifting can improve balance in older women. They add that lifting weights can help women strengthen their bones and muscle mass.
E-bikes not likely to help users reach moderate-vigorous physical activity targets: E-bikes aren’t likely to help users reach weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity targets, because riders tend to take fewer and less physically demanding trips than conventional cyclists, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
Window to the brain: Pupillometry sheds light on exercise intensity-dependent activation: In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Tsukuba to identify activation of the arousal system, it was found that even very light intensity exercise elicited pupil dilation. Exercises, like yoga, that do not cause a measurable stress-related hormonal response (like increases in adrenocorticotropic hormone, norepinephrine, or epinephrine level in blood) nonetheless activate brain pathways that lead to better mood and better cognitive performance. The Journal of Physiological Sciences
Wearing a pedometer — even if you don't look at it — may boost step counts: Almost half of American adults don’t meet recommended weekly physical activity levels, but new research from Brigham Young University suggests a surprisingly simple way to help increase exercise time: just strap on an activity monitor.The study found that those wearing a pedometer walked an average of 318 more steps per day than those without a tracker, even if the walkers had no specific fitness goals or incentives, and even when they couldn’t see the step count the pedometer kept.
8,200 Steps a Day Can Reduce Your Risk of Sleep Apnea, Obesity, and More: Using a Fitbit device to track and increase daily step counts can lower a person’s risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and sleep apnea, according to a studyTrusted Sourcepublished online in Nature Medicine. Generally, the risk for conditions went down as a person’s step count went up, except for hypertension and diabetes. The risks for those two conditions plateaued at approximately 8,000 to 9,000 daily steps.
Diet/NutritionExperts Have Beef with Study Linking Depression and Vegetarian Diet: According to a new study published this month in the Journal of Affective Disorders, vegetarians experienced depressive episodes twice as often as those who ate meat. “The researchers found that diet quality was somewhat associated with higher rates of depression, but it did not fully explain the association,”
Drinking 2-3 Cups of Coffee a Day Can Lower Your Cardiovascular Disease Risk: New research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has found an association between coffee drinking and living longer. Two to three cups per day appeared to be the sweet spot for these benefits. Experts say moderate coffee consumption can be a part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. They note, however, that too much coffee may increase the risk of adverse effects.
Time-restricted eating improves health of firefighters: Scientists conducted a clinical trial and found that time-restricted eating improved measures of health and wellbeing in firefighters. The lifestyle intervention only required the firefighters to eat during a 10-hour window and did not involve skipping meals. The new findings may also have implications for shift workers, such as military personnel; health care, food service, and transportation professionals; telecommunications staff; and new parents, whose schedules often mimic shift work when caring for a new baby. Cell Metabolism
Combining time-restricted eating and HIIT improves health measures in women with obesity: Both time-restricted eating (TRE) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) have been shown to improve cardiometabolic health in people who are overweight and at risk of serious disease. Now a randomized, controlled trial has tested whether combining these two approaches is more effective than either of them on their own. The results show that the combination improved the average long-term glycemic control compared to a no-intervention control group and induced 2-fold greater reductions in fat mass and visceral fat area compared with each intervention in isolation. Cell Press
Eating late increases hunger, decreases calories burned, and changes fat tissue: A new study provides experimental evidence that late eating causes decreased energy expenditure, increased hunger, and changes in fat tissue that combined may increase obesity risk. Cell Metabolism
Switching from Western diet to a balanced diet may reduce skin, joint inflammation: The secret to healthier skin and joints may reside in gut microorganisms. A study led by UC Davis Health researchers has found that a diet rich in sugar and fat leads to an imbalance in the gut's microbial culture and may contribute to inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Eating These Types of Grains Can Lower Your Heart Disease Risk: A new study that is being presented this week at the American College of Cardiology Middle East 2022 Together With the 13th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress, reports that eating more refined grains was linked with a greater risk for premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). Additionally, consuming whole grains was associated with reduced risk.
SleepThe Surprising Link Between Bedtime and Dementia: Sleep can influence physical and mental health and is linked to conditions from heart disease and stroke to depression and obesity. And a new studyTrusted Source published September 21 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Societyhas provided further insights into sleep’s role in dementia. The study found that longer time spent in bed (TIB) was associated with significantly increased dementia risk. Those in bed for more than 8 hours were far more likely to show a cognitive decline during a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) — a test used to measure cognitive impairment.
Why 'Night Owls' May Have Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk Than 'Early Birds': Early risers burn more fat, even while resting, than people whose chronotype is to be busy in the evening. Differences in how fat and carbohydrates are burned can have consequences for disease risk. Chronotypes can’t be completely changed, but scheduling around your chronotype could have health benefits. researchTrusted Source Experimental Physiology
Weighted blanket increases melatonin: A new study shows that using a weighted blanket at bedtime increases melatonin in young adults. This hormone increases in response to darkness, and some evidence suggests that it promotes sleep. The findings are published in the Journal of Sleep Research.
Severe Sleep Apnea Diagnosis Panics Reporter Until He Finds a Simple, No-Cost Solution
Vitamins/SupplementsFolic Acid May Help Decrease Risk of Suicide, Study Finds: New research publishedTrusted Source in JAMA Psychiatry investigated if taking the inexpensive vitamin folic acid may help reduce the risk of suicide. Researchers found people with a folic acid prescription experienced a 44% reduction in suicidal events.
Could Vitamin C Help Reduce Gout? A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who were given 500 milligrams of vitamin C versus a placebo had a 12% reduced risk of getting gout. The study of over 14,000 male doctors showed that men who weren't overweight had the most significant reduction in the risk of getting the condition. (Excess weight has been shown to increase the risk of gout.)
OtherYounger Women Face 52% Higher Risk of Type 2 Diabetes After Hysterectomy: According to new research, having a hysterectomy may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.The study, which included over 83,000 women, found that women under 45 who had a hysterectomy had a 52% higher risk of developing the condition.The findings suggest that keeping the ovaries intact could help reduce some individuals’ risk of developing diabetes after a hysterectomy.Type 2 diabetes is often preventable and manageable through diet and lifestyle modifications, even among this risk group. The study was recently presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. The research has yet to be peer-reviewed and published.
Can Ice Baths Help You Burn Body Fat? The authors of a new review published in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health say that taking a dip in cold water may be just the thing if you are looking to reduce the amount of unhealthy body fat that you have. Cold water exposure might also lower your risk for certain conditions such as diabetes, they explain. It seems to increase the amount of a hormone called “adiponectin” that is made by adipose tissue. Adiponectin plays an important part in preventing insulin resistance, a state where the muscles, fat, and liver become less responsive to insulin.
People With ADHD at Significantly Higher Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Researchers followed over 37,000 people with ADHD for nearly 12 years to see if they developed any cardiovascular conditions. While people with ADHD all had an increased risk of cardiac diagnoses, the risk was especially high for cardiac arrest, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. studyTrusted Source in World Psychiatry
Gum disease increases risk of other illness such as mental health and heart conditions, study suggests: From the research, published today in journal BMJ Open, the team discovered that those patients with a recorded history of periodontal disease at the start of the study were more likely to go on and be diagnosed with one of these additional conditions over an average of three years, compared to those in the cohort without periodontal disease at the beginning of the research. The results of the study showed, in patients with a recorded history of periodontal disease at the start of the study, the increased risk of developing mental ill-health was 37%, while the risk of developing autoimmune disease was increased by 33%, and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease was raised by 18%, while the risk of having a cardiometabolic disorder was increased by 7% (with the increased risk much higher for Type 2 diabetes at 26%).
New study examines the effectiveness of colonoscopies: A landmark study suggests the benefits of colonoscopies for cancer screening may be overestimated. The study marks the first time colonoscopies have been compared head-to-head to no cancer screening in a randomized trial. The study found only meager benefits for the group of people invited to get the procedure: an 18% lower risk of getting colorectal cancer, and no significant reduction in the risk of cancer death. The study published was published in The New England Journal of Medicine
New star rating system published in Nature Medicine helps people make informed decisions about diet and healthy habits: A new meta-analyses clarifies the often complex and contradictory health guidance linking certain diets, behaviors, and conditions to illness. The analyses, conducted by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, were published in Nature Medicine. IHME analyzed the strength of the evidence for 180 pairs of risk factors and health outcomes – such as smoking and lung cancer, diet low in vegetables and type 2 diabetes, and high systolic blood pressure and ischemic heart disease. The findings are presented in an easy-to-understand star rating system showing the strength of evidence for each link. The new star rating system aims to help people make personal health decisions, inform health policy, and guide future research.
New survey: 91% of parents say their family is less stressed when they eat together: The American Heart Association released new survey highlighting mealtime impact on mental well-being and introduces Together Tuesdays™ to help people maximize health benefits of shared meals. Survey Highlights: 91% of parents notice their family is less stressed when they share family meals together. 65% of surveyed adults say they are at least somewhat stressed, and more than a quarter (27%) are very or extremely stressed. 84% of adults wish they could share a meal together more often.Overall, respondents reported eating alone about half of the time. Stress reduction, connecting with other people and taking time to slow down are identified as top benefits of mealtime.
Therapeutic games and brain stimulation mitigates cognitive decline in older adults: Research published in Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience shows COGNISANT, cognitive needs and skill training, can provide particular benefit for older people who have low working memory capacity (WMC). T he combination of training games and tDCS ( brain stimulation administered via a mobile wireless device that delivers a small (2milliAmpère) transcranial direct current stimulation) showed particular benefit in older people with lower initial working memory. This subset included people aged 69.5 to 76 years, the advantage was evident from the first day of training and became statistically significant by the end of training.
Experts on Where Flu Cases are Rising and When to Get Your Flu Shot: Health experts say this flu season is likely to be severe. Currently, Texas, Georgia, and Washington D.C. are all seeing high flu activity and it’s only the beginning of flu season. The majority of flu cases this season have been caused by influenza A H3N2Trusted Source, a strain that’s previously been associated with severe flu seasons. Your best bet to avoid severe flu symptoms is to get the flu shot
TREATMENTAlzheimer's Drug Lecanemab Shows Promise in Clinical Trial: A potential new Alzheimer’s drug, lecanemab, showed promise in slowing cognitive decline in a recent phase 3 clinical trial Officials at an Alzheimer’s organization called the trial results “modest” but said they are nonetheless encouraging. Some experts have said lecanemab may simply reduce symptoms and not improve brain function.
Psoriasis Medication Otezla Leads to Fat Loss in People with Psoriatic Arthritis: In a recent studyTrusted Source, scientists say they found the drug may also help people with psoriasis reduce body fat, potentially improving their cardiovascular health.
These Two Popular Diabetes Drugs Outperformed Others in a New Study: In a clinical trial directly comparing different medications used to treat type 2 diabetes, researchers found that two drugs — insulin glargine and liraglutide — worked “modestly” better. All four drugs tested — including glimepiride and sitagliptin — improved blood glucose levels to some extent when added to metformin.
Don't Take Aspirin and Warfarin Together: Aspirin and warfarin are two commonly prescribed blood thinners. Researchers are cautioning that taking the two medications at the same time may increase the risk of excessive bleeding. Experts recommend talking with your doctor if you are taking both medications. A studyTrusted Source included 6,700 participants who took aspirin with warfarin. The researchers found that when the participants reduced their aspirin use by 46%, bleeding complications dropped by 32%.
Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment: How a Mediterranean Diet Can Help: A new study from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom has found that a Mediterranean diet can improve immunotherapy response in people with advanced melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. The research was presented at a conference held by United European Gastroenterology. a Mediterranean diet containing mono-and polyunsaturated fats from olive oil, nuts, and fish as well as polyphenols and fiber from vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, was associated with a significantly improved response to immunotherapy drugs
Long-term Antidepressant Use Tied to an Increase in CVD, Mortality Risk: Investigators drew on 10-year data from the UK Biobank on over 220,000 adults and compared the risk of developing adverse health outcomes among those taking antidepressants with the risk among those who were not taking antidepressants. After adjusting for preexisting risk factors, they found that 10-year antidepressant use was associated with a twofold higher risk of CHD, an almost twofold higher risk of CVD as well as CVD mortality, a higher risk of CV, and more than double the risk of all-cause mortality. On the other hand, at 10 years, antidepressant use was associated with a 23% lower risk of developing hypertension and a 32% lower risk of diabetes. The main culprits were mirtazapine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, and trazodone, although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were also tied to increased risk. The study was published online September 13 in the British Journal of Psychiatry Open.
ADHD Medication Shortage: What to Know About Availability of Adderall
OTHER
People With Chronic Conditions Like RA Can Face Difficulty Getting Meds Due to Strict Abortion Laws:Methotrexate is “classified as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, which means it can actually slow joint damage and disease progression over time, along with reducing pain and swelling.” Methotrexate is also used to reduce inflammation in other autoimmune conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and lupus. At much higher doses, it may be used to treat an incomplete miscarriage or end an ectopic pregnancy, which is a non-viable and potentially life-threatening pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. Due to methotrexate’s potential to end a pregnancy, some pharmacists may be reluctant to fill prescriptions for the drug in states that have implemented restrictive abortion laws. Both the Arthritis Foundation and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation are monitoring disruptions. When methotrexate access is delayed or disrupted, it may negatively affect patients who rely on this medication to keep inflammation from chronic conditions in check. Healthline
Do Smartwatches Accurately Detect Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)? A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology reports that smartwatches can indeed increase the detection of AFib. However, researchers said limited battery life and lack of immediate feedback may decrease the app’s efficacy. Smartwatches are best used as a screening tool and any irregularities should be followed up with a visit to your doctor.
