Journal Watch May 2023

COVID-19 

WHO and US Have Ended COVID-19 Emergency Declarations, What Happens Now? The COVID public health emergencyTrusted Source declared by U.S. officials is ended on May 11, 2023. And the World Health Organization (WHO) has also ended the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO revealed a five-step planTrusted Source to manage the long-term spread of COVID-19.  The plan focuses on surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to countermeasures, and emergency coordination efforts.

 

Experts Say Universal Masking for COVID-19 in Hospitals is Not Necessary: Universal masking in healthcare settings is no longer needed, a group of U.S. epidemiologists and infectious diseases experts proposed April 18 in a commentary published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

 

Is it 'COVID Eye' from 'Arcturus' or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference: This month federal health organizations released an additional booster vaccine to individuals at greatest risk for COVID-19 as doctors and scientists are closely monitoring the new Arcturus variant of COVID or XBB.1.16. The Arcturus strain can present with a new symptom – conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is irritation of the eye and the eyelid – oftentimes associated with viruses, allergies, or bacterial infections. Fever is also a dominant fever, which it hasn’t been with other strains. 

 

Researchers Seek to Understand Post-COVID Autoimmune Disease Risk: Approximately 28% of Americans report having ever experienced post-COVID conditions, such as brain fog, postexertional malaise, and joint pain, and 11% say they are still experiencing these long-term effects. Now, new research is showing that people who have had COVID are more likely to newly develop an autoimmune disease. Exactly why this is happening is less clear, experts say. Two preprint studies and one study published in a peer-reviewed journal provide strong evidence that patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at elevated risk of developing an autoimmune disease. The studies retrospectively reviewed medical records from three countries and compared the incidence of new-onset autoimmune disease among patients who had polymerase chain reaction–confirmed COVID-19 and those who had never been diagnosed with the virus. A study analyzing the health records of 3.8 million US patients — more than 888,460 with confirmed COVID-19 — found that the COVID-19 group was two to three times as likely to develop various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis. A UK preprint study that included more than 458,000 people with confirmed COVID found that those who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 were 22% more likely to develop an autoimmune disease compared to the control group. In this cohort, the diseases most strongly associated with COVID-19 were type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. A preprint study from German researchers found that COVID-19 patients were almost 43% more likely to develop an autoimmune disease, compared with those who had never been infected. COVID-19 was most strongly linked to vasculitis.

 

Study Finds COVID-19 Vaccine Probably Won't Make Your Periods Worse:  the latest studyTrusted Source, published in the BMJ and led by researchers at the Swedish Medical Products Agency, shows that there is no strong association between the COVID-19 vaccines and changes in menstruation.

 

The nocebo effect may influence the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine: People's negative expectations and general attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine are significantly correlated with the occurrence and intensity of its most common side effectssuch as fatigue, muscle pain, headache and injection site pain. This is suggested by a study published in the Psychological Science journal 

 

New study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 might induce lasting pain in unique way: In a new study, researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Icahn Mount Sinai) and New York University (NYU), have found that thousands of genes were affected by SARS-CoV-2-mediated disease even after the viral infection had been cleared. These genes were associated with neurodegeneration and pain-related pathways, suggesting lasting damage to dorsal root ganglia (spinal nerves that carry sensory messages from various receptors) that may underlie symptoms of Post-Covid Conditions also known as Long Covid. Science Signaling 

 

 

PAIN

Healthgrades Rates the Best Hospitals for Outpatient Knee and Hip Joint Replacements:, Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals aimed to make that process easier by announcing the recipients of their 2023 Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award. This is their first national quality ratings list for outpatient joint replacement procedures.

 

Most antidepressants prescribed for chronic pain lack reliable evidence of efficacy or safety, scientists warn: The Cochrane review, examined 176 trials consisting of nearly 30,000 patients involved in assessments which prescribed antidepressants for chronic pain. Among the drugs studied were amitriptyline, fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, and duloxetine – with only the latter showing reliable evidence for pain relief. 

 

Cognitive Functional Therapy with or without movement sensor biofeedback versus usual care for chronic, disabling low back pain (RESTORE):  The treatment, called Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT), offered personalised and intensive coaching sessions that helped people make sense of their pain, focused on retraining them to move in ways that reduced their pain, and built confidence in movements and activities they had been afraid of or were avoiding. The treatment was delivered in 20 clinics across Perth and Sydney by 18 physiotherapists that were specifically trained to deliver CFT. Participants living with chronic back pain - including many who had high levels of disability - tested the program in up to seven sessions over a 12-week period, followed by a booster session at six months. They were followed-up by questionnaires until 12 months. More than 80 per cent of the participants were satisfied with the treatment. Lancet 

 

Positive long-term outcomes with arthroscopy for young adults with borderline hip dysplasia: Primary arthroscopy provides positive long-term outcomes, improving symptoms and function while avoiding the need for hip replacement surgery in most cases, reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.  The patients were young (mean age, 31 years) and predominantly female (38 of 45 patients). 

 

How alcohol consumption contributes to chronic pain: Chronic alcohol consumption may make people more sensitive to pain through two different molecular mechanisms—one driven by alcohol intake and one by alcohol withdrawal. That is one new conclusion by scientists at Scripps Research on the complex links between alcohol and pain. The research, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology on April 12, 2023, also suggests potential new drug targets for treating alcohol-associated chronic pain and hypersensitivity.

 

New drug may help prevent migraine for difficult cases: The drug atogepant may help prevent migraines for people who have had no success with other preventive drugs, according to a preliminary study released at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting. The study involved people with episodic migraine, which is defined as having up to 14 headache days per month with migraine characteristics. The study involved 309 people who had at least four migraine days during the month before the study and who had tried at least two classes of drugs for preventing migraine without improvement. Of those, 44% had previously taken three or more classes of preventive drugs with no success. For the study, half of the participants took 60 milligrams of atogepant once a day as a pill and the other half took a placebo for 12 weeks. Those taking the drug had an average of four fewer days with migraine per month from the start of the study to the end, while those taking the placebo had about two fewer days with migraine per month.

 

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Medicinal Cannabis Can Effectively Reduce Cancer Pain: Medicinal cannabis can relieve cancer pain and reduce the need for opioids and other medications, a new study suggests. In addition, products with a balance of the active compounds delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) — versus those dominant in either one — were more effective, the results showed. The study was published May 3 in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

 

Cannabis knocks down pain, improves sleep and lifts brain fog in cancer patients: Cancer patients who use cannabis to address their symptoms have less pain and sleep better, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research. But they also experience another, unexpected, benefit: After a few weeks of sustained use, they seem to think more clearly. “We found that when patients’ pain levels came down after using cannabis for a while, their cognition got better.”  Exploration in Medicine

 

Young Men at Highest Schizophrenia Risk From Cannabis Abuse: Investigators estimate that roughly 15% of schizophrenia cases among young males may be preventable by avoiding cannabis use disorder (CUD). The study was published online May 4 in Psychological Medicine.

 

Music therapy significantly reduces pain, stress, and anxiety in community hospitals: A new study  found patients with moderate-to-severe pain, stress, or anxiety treated at UH community hospitals reported clinically significant reductions in pain, stress, and anxiety in response to a single session of music therapy. Furthermore, the clinically significant effect on pain was not influenced by patients’ demographic or clinical characteristics, suggesting that music therapy can be effective for acute pain management across various inpatient adult populations. The findings from this study were recently published in the journal, Pain Reports.

 

At-home yoga reduces anxiety, improves short-term memory: The trial, which appeared in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, led participants through three self-paced remote workouts each week, assessed levels of stress and anxiety in addition to executive functioning. The results showed overall decreases in stress and anxiety. Researchers wanted to know if learning new chains of yoga sequences could improve working memory, similar to the brain benefits of learning a new dance. The benefits to executive functioning observed in the study are reinforced by the literature, according to the researchers.

 

Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Can Significantly Affect Fetal Growth: The study conducted at the Central Michigan University College of Medicine found that occasional cannabis use during pregnancy can significantly reduce a newborn’s birth weight and head circumference. Fetal development was impacted if exposure to weed occurred during the first trimester, while continued use resulted in more significant changes. Experts say THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, can disrupt functions that impair fetal growth. People are advised to quit cannabis completely before becoming pregnant.

 

Will a Mindfulness Approach to Depression Boost Recovery Rates, Reduce Costs?: A self-led, practitioner-supported form of mindfulness therapy was more effective and more cost-effective than self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-SH), results from a head-to-head study show. Self-help mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-SH) produced better outcomes for participants with depression and was more cost-effective than CBT-SH. Generally, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy aims to increase awareness of the depression maintenance cycle while fostering a nonjudgmental attitude toward present-moment experiences, the investigators note. In contrast, CBT aims to challenge negative and unrealistic thought patterns that may perpetuate depression, replacing them with more realistic and objective thoughts. The study was published online March 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.

 

FDA ACTION

• Approved the use of QUILPTA atogepant for the treatment of chronic migraine.

• Approved the drug tofersen to treat a rare genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

• Approved a vaccine to protect against RSV. 

• Approved Veozah, an alternative form of hormone therapies used for hot flashes.

• Expanded the indication for Abbott Laboratories' spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices to include treatment of chronic back pain in patients who have not had, or are not eligible for, back surgery

• Approved Vyjuvek, a herpes-simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vector-based gene therapy, for the treatment of wounds in patients 6 months of age and older with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB)

• Cleared the Beta Bionics iLet ACE Pump and the iLet Dosing Decision Software for people six years of age and older with type 1 diabetes.

•  Approved Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factor blockers.

• Approved Rexulti (brexpiprazole) oral tablets for the treatment of agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease

• Approved Vowst, the first fecal microbiota product that is taken orally. Vowst is approved for the prevention of recurrence of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) in individuals 18 years of age and older, following antibacterial treatment for recurrent CDI. 

 

PREVENTION

Exercise

Regular Exercise May Boost Recovery for People with Substance Use Disorders: A new meta-analysis published in the journal PLOS One has revealed the benefits of another therapeutic measure- regular exercise. A large number of participants who engaged in exercise reduced or stopped their substance use. More research is required into how — and to what extent — exercise may help those with substance use disorders.

 

How Exercise Can Boost Brain Health: According to a new study published in the journal Neuroscience, the relationship between physical activity and brain health may be even more closely linked. Exercise promotes neuronal activity in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is an area of the brain that is involved with the storage of long-term memory. The study’s findings suggest that chemical signals from contracting muscles may trigger a signaling pathway that boosts brain function and may help treat neurological disorders in the future. The next steps for research involve important clinical questions such as the types of exercise that are most effective – aerobic vs anaerobic – and how much and for how long.

 

Boxing can take the fight to Parkinson’s Disease: It's not an activity usually associated with being ‘good’ for our brains, however boxing could be a valuable way for people living with Parkinson’s Disease to improve their quality of life. Edith Cowan University (ECU) research undertaken in partnership with The Perron Institute and boxer Rai Fazio has shown the sport — without an opponent — could be a valuable way for people suffering Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to improve their quality of life. A 15-week program found that nine of the 10 participants improved their score on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, a tool used to measure the progression and severity of PD. The group also reported a reduction in fatigue and improvements in sleep. Group boxing has the benefit of by combining many aspects of therapy, such as exercise, cognitive stimulation and socialisation into a single exercise.

 

Exercise increases the number of cancer-destroying immune cells in cancer patients: Two new Finnish studies show that short bouts of light or moderate exercise can increase the number of immune cells in the bloodstream of cancer patients. Exercise decreases the risk of cancer and reduces side effects of cancer treatments. In addition, it improves patients’ quality of life and the prognosis of cancer patients.  “It was previously thought that cancer patients should just rest after a cancer diagnosis. Today, we have more and more researched information that exercise can even improve the prognosis of cancer. However, it is not yet fully known how exercise controls cancer,” explains Research Assistant Tiia Koivula. Only 10 minutes was enough to see a change. Frontiers in Physiology - Clinical and Translational Physiology and Scientific Reports

 

Diet/Nutrition

Processed Meat and Carbs Increase Type 2 Diabetes Risk: According to a new study published in the journal Nature MedicineTrusted Source, eating large amounts of processed meats as well as refined rice and wheat may be linked to the rising rates of type 2 diabetes  worldwide. Not eating enough whole grains was also associated with the increase in cases. This was based on a research model of dietary intake in 184 countries with data collected from 1990 to 2018.

 

People With Type 2 Diabetes May Live Longer by Giving Up Sugary Drinks: A new study, published in The BMJTrusted Source, has found that drinking sugar sweetened beverages increases the risk of death, including from cardiovascular disease, for those with type 2 diabetes. The study found people who drank the most sugary beverages had a 20% increase in mortality risk. Switching drinks with added sugar for beverages like tea, coffee, and water, reduced mortality risk for those with type 2 diabetes, according to new research The study used data from over 15,000 people over the course of 38 years.

 

A Combination Mediterranean and Keto Diet May Lower Alzheimer's Risk, Boost Memory: A new studyTrusted Source published this month in the medical journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia found that a combination of Mediterranean and keto diets may help with cognitive function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Can Intermittent Fasting Decrease Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk? According to a new study and the largest of its kind published this month in Nature Medicine. intermittent fasting for three days a week may reduce type 2 diabetes risk. The study data collected from 209 participants over 18 months.  Participants experienced similar amounts of weight loss on both the time-restricted, intermittent fasting diet and the low-calorie diet. Those fasting had more insulin sensitivity.

 

Drinking Coffee Instead of Soda May Help People With Type 2 Diabetes Live Longer: A new study, published in The BMJTrusted Source, has found that drinking sugar sweetened beverages increases the risk of death, including from cardiovascular disease, for those with type 2 diabetes.  The study found people who drank the most sugary beverages had a 20% increase in mortality risk. People who dropped sugary drinks for unsweetened beverages had up to a 26% drop in mortality risk during the study period.

 

Why Eating Fried Foods May Increase Your Risk of Depression and Anxiety: New research suggests that what we eat may not only affect us physically but mentally too. More specifically, a new study conducted at the St. Louis School of Medicine at Washington University has linked a diet high in the consumption of of fried foods, particularly fried potatoes, carries a 12% and 7% higher risk of anxiety and depression respectively. The researchers conclude that frequent fried food consumption is “strongly associated” with a higher risk of anxiety and depression due to a contaminant in fried foods known as acrylamideTrusted Source.

 

Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk More Than Previously Thought: According to new evidence In a first study of its kind, researchers developed a blood test to determine the impact of eating a Mediterranean diet on type 2 diabetes risk. This test identified a stronger link between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes than previous tests, which were based on self-reporting.

 

AHA Rate 10 Popular Diets for Heart Health: Cutting through some of the noise, new research from the American Heart Association (AHA) has rated 10 popular diets and offered rankings on how well they adhere to heart-healthy living.  They have categorized these diets into four tiers, with Mediterranean, pescatarian, and vegetarian diets achieving the highest scores. Paleo and keto diets scored lowest in the American Heart Association’s rankings. Experts say you can reduce your risk of heart disease by eating more fruit, veggies, and whole grains while limiting your intake of saturated and trans fats.

 

It's True, Cranberry Products Can Help You Avoid UTIs: New evidence and findings from a global study suggest cranberry products like juice and pills may help prevent UTIs. Women’s risk of developing UTIs could drop by over 25% when taking cranberry products and children’s risk by more than 50%. Risk in people susceptible to UTI following medical interventions was reduced by about 53%. Researchers looked at over 50 studies with more than 9,000 participating individuals. Cochrane Reviews

 

Eating Fruits and Vegetables Cuts Risk for Crohn's Disease: A prospective European study of nearly 400,000 patients who were monitored for more than 10 years has shown that eating unprocessed or minimally processed foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, cuts the risk of developing Crohn's disease by half. Yet this protective effect is not found among patients with ulcerative colitis. These were the findings presented at this year's French-language hepato-gastroenterology and digestive oncology conference (JFHOD 2023) and published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

 

Want to Live a Longer Life? Eating a Low-Fat or Healthly Low-Carb Diet May Help: Low-fat and healthy low-carb diets are associated lower rates of heart disease, various cancers, and premature death from all causes. Nutrition experts say following simple tips can help you adopt a low-carb or low-fat eating style. That’s according to a new study published in the Journal of Internal MedicineTrusted Source that examined the effects of low-fat and low-carb diets on disease and mortality in middle-aged and older adults.  In the study, a healthy low-fat diet was characterized by a low intake of saturated fat and high intakes of plant protein and high-quality carbohydrates.

 

Switching to Healthier, Mediterranean-Style Diet May Be Equal to Taking 4,000 More Steps: The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, suggests that a healthy diet is associated with greater physical fitness in middle-aged adults. New research is suggesting that what we eat can also help contribute to our daily step goals by as much as 4,000 additional steps. People who had a healthier diet were found to have better physical fitness. Eating healthily was associated with better metabolic health, as well. 

 

 Want to Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease? Try Eating Watermelon: According to a new study published in Nutrients, eating watermelon could actually help increase total nutrient intake and diet quality. Researchers found that study participants who ate more watermelon had a greater intake of essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.  Watermelon can also help improve hydration and lower your risk of heart disease.

 

WHO Says Avoid These Non-Sugar Sweeteners if You Want to Lose Weight: The World Health Organization (WHO) says sugar substitutes will not help with weight loss or diet-related diseases. In new guidanceTrusted Source released May 15, the global health body said a review of the available evidence suggests that use of non-sugar sweeteners “does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”  Evidence from randomized controlled trials included in the review showed that while non-sugar sweeteners may help people lose weight over the short term, the changes are not sustained. The guidance applies to all people except those with preexisting diabetes.

 

Sleep

Taking Naps for More than 30 Minutes May Raise Your Risk of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome: A multi-national group of researchers has published a new study in ObesityTrusted Sourcethat connects siestas or naps with increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.  The study found that longer siestas of 30 minutes or more were more closely tied to increases in indicators of poorer health. This included higher BMI, fasting blood glucose levels, and various blood pressure readings.

 

Sleep Apnea May Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease: A new study published in Neurology indicates that sleep apnea and a lack of deep sleep are associated with poorer brain health. Findings from the research suggest that people who spend less time in deep sleep are more likely to have brain biomarkers associated with a heightened risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline.  Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder that can also increase other health risks, including cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The research, published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, involved looking at sleep factors and biomarkers of brain health.

 

Best treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness: Researchers have found that the drug solriamfetol is the most effective treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Annals of Internal Medicine 

 

 

Vitamins/Supplements

Reduced cancer mortality with daily vitamin D intake: Vitamin D intake could reduce cancer mortality in the population by twelve percent - provided the vitamin is taken daily. This was the result of an evaluation of 14 studies of the highest quality conducted at the German Cancer Research Center with a total of almost 105,000 participants. Ageing Res Rev. 2023 

 

Do vitamin D levels affect the body’s response to anti-cancer immunotherapy?: New research indicates that for patients with advanced skin cancer, it may be important to maintain normal vitamin D levels when receiving immunotherapy medications called immune checkpoint inhibitors. The findings are published online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. A favorable response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors was observed in 56.0% of patients in the group with normal baseline vitamin D levels or normal levels obtained with vitamin D supplementation, compared with 36.2% in the group with low vitamin D levels without supplementation.

 

 

 

Other

Stress Can Increase Your Biological Age: A new study published in the journal Cell MetabolismTrusted Sourcefound that the biological age of humans undergoes a rapid increase in response to diverse forms of stress.  However, it also found this aging can be reversed following a period of recovery from stress. A lower biological age is linked with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, metabolic disorders, and other age-related conditions. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and sleeping well can slow your biological age.

 

Vaccines, Better Tests Are Coming for Lyme Disease: Medscape 

 

Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Drugs May Help Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack: A new study has shown that a class of diabetes medications is associated with fewer major adverse cardiovascular events. GLP-1 drugs used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are associated with fewer adverse heart health events. The study found GLP-1s were associated with a 20% reduced risk of major cardiovascular events in older adults when compared to other diabetes drugs. Experts say these medications may lower the risk of adverse heart health because of their effects on weight loss, blood pressure, and lipid profiles. They also contain anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties.

 

Talking On Your Cell Phone May Increase Hypertension Risk: New research, published this month in the European Heart Journal—Digital Health, suggests a link between cell phone usage and hypertension. The researchers looked at that people who were on the phone about 30-59 minutes, 1-3 hours, 4-6 hours or more than 6 hours per week. The more time people were on the phone every week, the higher the chance they would have high blood pressure or hypertension. People on the phone about 30-59 minutes a week had an 8% increased risk for hypertension. People on the phone 1-3 hours had a 13% increased risk, those on the phone 4 to 6 hours had a 16% increased risk and those on the phone over 6 hours every week had a 25% increased risk of high blood pressure.

 

Hearing Aids a 'Powerful' Tool for Reducing Dementia Risk: A large observational study from the United Kingdom showed a 42% increased risk for dementia in people with hearing loss compared with their peers with no hearing trouble. In addition, there was no increased risk in those with hearing loss who used hearing aids. The study which was published online April 13 in Lancet Public Health, comes on the heels of the 2020 Lancet Commission report on dementia, which suggested hearing loss may be linked to approximately 8% of worldwide dementia cases, as reported by Medscape Medical News.

 

1 in 3 Americans Exposed to Excessive Noise Levels. How to Protect Your Hearing: The latest findings from the Apple Hearing Study (AHS) revealed that 1 in 3 Americans are regularly exposed to excessive noise levels, classed as sound over 70 decibels (dBA). Technology and apps, such as the Apple Watch and Apple AirPods, can help you monitor noise levels and reduce hearing health risks.

 

Study Finds Breath Work May Decrease Alzheimer's Disease Risk: The study, conducted at USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and published in Scientific ReportsTrusted Source, shows evidence that adults, both old and young, may be able to reduce factors that contribute to the risk of Alzheimer’s. Participants took part in simple breathing exercises twice a day for four weeks. At the end of the study, researchers found lower levels of key proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease in their blood. The study asked 108 participants, half between ages 18 to 30 and half between 55 to 80, to inhale for a count of five, then exhale for a count of five for 20 minutes, twice a day, for four weeks. All the participants were hooked up to a heart monitor. Half the group was told to think of calming things, while the other group was told to pace their breathing in rhythm with a pacer. The breathing exercises had an effect on the heart rate of the volunteers. The heart rate variability increased during each exercise. The breathing exercises were associated with a drop in the levels of amyloid-beta peptides and tau protein circulating in the bloodstreams of study participants over the four-week period.

 

Women Should Start Getting Regular Mammograms at Age 40: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft recommendationsuggesting that women get screened for breast cancer starting at age 40. Experts agree that screening at age 40 is beneficial. It’s also suggested that women around age 30 start talking to their doctors about breast cancer risks and educating themselves.

 

Limit PSA Screening to Men With Symptoms: In a paper published online on May 17 in the BMJ, the panel recommends instead a comprehensive nationwide program that would base PSA testing on individual patient risk and direct those with abnormal results to a managed system of imaging, targeted biopsy only if indicated, and subsequent active monitoring or treatment for those with more aggressive disease features.

 

 

TREATMENT

Currently Available Drug May Help Delay Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: Starting treatment early for multiple sclerosis (MS) may delay the onset of the condition, according to new research. A study conducted at the University Hospital of Nice in France has found that a drug called teriflunomide may delay the first symptoms of MS for people whose MRI scans show signs of MS, even though they are not yet manifesting symptoms of the disease. 

 

This Minimally Invasive Treatment for AFib May Reduce Dementia Risk: Treating a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (AFib) with a procedure known as catheter ablation may reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia, a preliminary study suggests. In the study, researchers found that people with AFib who underwent catheter ablation were 36% less likely to develop cognitive problems during the study, compared to those treated only with medication. The results of the study fit with a 2011 studyTrusted Source published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Physiology, which found that people with AFib who received catheter ablation had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease than AFib patients who were treated medically.

 

Hearing Aids May Help Lower Dementia Risk if You Have Hearing Loss: In a new study publishedTrusted Source in The Lancet Public Health, researchers in China explored the relationship between dementia and hearing loss, along with approaches to help protect against disease onset. After reviewing the data, the researchers discovered that those with hearing loss who did not use hearing aids had a 42% greater chance of developing all-cause dementia. Meanwhile, no increased risk was found for those with hearing loss who did wear hearing aids. 

 

Statins May Help Reduce Strokes Related to Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): The findings, which were presented at the Annual Congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) show that statin use was associated with a 17% lower risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism in people with atrial fibrillation.People with atrial fibrillation who took statins also had a lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke(where a blood vessel ruptures leading to bleeding) and transient ischemic attackTrusted Source (a type of stroke that only lasts a few minutes.)

Statins Appear to Guard Against Liver Disease Progression: The Swedish population-based study found that adults with non-cirrhotic CLD who were on statin therapy had a statistically significant 40% lower risk of developing severe liver disease compared with matched patients who were not on statin therapy. The statin users were also less apt to progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to die of liver disease. study is published online in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

 

 Ozempic Can Cause Major Loss of Muscle Mass and Reduce Bone Density: “According to a clinical trial of Ozempic, after 68 weeks on the medication, 86.4% of participants lost 5% or more of their body weight, and 69.1% lost 10% or more of their body weight.” While weight loss can bring about health benefits, losing weight rapidly can also cause a decrease in muscle mass, lessen bone density, and lower your resting metabolic rate, leading to sarcopenia — the gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function.

 

Study Finds Using 3 to 4 Drugs for High Blood Pressure May Be More Effective Than Single Pill:New research suggests that taking three or four medications — at lower doses — may help people lower their blood pressure without increasing the risk of most negative side effects. The results were published April 26 in JAMA CardiologyTrusted Source.

 

Diabetes Drug Mounjaro May Help People Lose 15% of Body Weight, Eli Lilly Reports: In the latest trial dubbed the SURMOUNT-2 trial, Eli Lilly reported that people taking either 10 or 15 mg tirzepatide achieved significant weight loss compared to people taking a placebo. The trial involved people with type 2 diabetes who had obesity and overweight. They reported that people lose up to 34 lbs or about 16% of their body weight.

 

Can an Endoscopic Procedure Treat Type 2 Diabetes?: An investigational outpatient endoscopic procedure may help eliminate the need for insulin in people with type 2 diabetes, early research suggests. Called re-cellularization via electroporation therapy (ReCET), the technology, manufactured by Endogenex, uses a specialized catheter to deliver alternating electric pulses to the duodenum to induce cellular regeneration. This process is thought to improve insulin sensitivity, in part, by altering gut hormones and nutritional sensing, principal investigator Jacques Bergman, MD, PhD, said in a press briefing held in conjunction with Digestive Disease Week (DDW), where he will present the data on May 9. In the first-in-human study of ReCET, 12 of 14 patients were able to come off insulin for up to a year following the procedure when combined with the use of the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist semaglutide. Digestive Disease Week 2023. Abstract #1272 

 

Contact Allergens Lurk in Diabetes Devices: Diabetes devices represent a major advancement in the management of diabetes, but they can cause skin reactions that affect patient adherence and quality of life. annual meeting of the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS). 

 

CPAP Not Only Solution for Sleep Apnea: Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are the gold standard in the management of sleep apnea, several other treatments should be considered. Nasal and oral mandibular advancement devices and oral appliance therapy can be alternatives to CPAP. Surgical options include nasal surgery and maxillomandibular advancement surgery, also known as double-jaw surgery. Such procedures should be considered only for patients who are unwilling or unable to use CPAP or other nonsurgical treatments. Medscape 

 

Eli Lilly Says New Drug Can Reduce Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms: The drug called donanemab was used in a Phase 3 trial with over 1,100 individuals participating. Officials at Eli Lilly said the drug was able to help people with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.  Eli Lilly officials said they will be asking the FDA for approval for the drug as an Alzheimer’s disease treatment this year.

 

Beta-Blockers May Not Help Reduce Further Risks for Heart Attack Patients: A a large new study published in Heart has found that taking beta-blockers after a heart attack may not reduce additional cardiovascular health risks. The study found that beta-blockers made no difference in improving cardiovascular risks beyond a year following a heart attack. The data also showed that long-term treatment with beta-blockers wasn’t associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes during an average monitoring period of 4.5 years.

 

Women with Hardened Arteries Need Stronger Treatment Than Men to Prevent Heart Attacks: New research finds that the risk of heart attack is higher for postmenopausal women with hardened arteries than it is for men of the same age and health status.  Women may need stronger treatment to help prevent heart attacks. Researchers say the differences in risk are due to structural differences in the arteries between men and women. “That’s all according to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s EACVI 2023 event and published in European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging.”

 

 

OTHER

Stroke Survivors Face High Risk of Dementia: Over half of people who survive a stroke go on to develop cognitive impairment, ranging from mild memory and attention issues to dementia, according to new research from the American Heart Association. The analysisTrusted Source, published in Stroke  found that as many as 1 in 3 people who have a stroke get dementia within five years.

 

Washing With These Types of Soaps Can Make You More Attractive to Mosquitoes: A studyTrusted Source published in the journal iScience found that washing with some soaps attracted mosquitoes, while other soaps were repellent. These effects varied between different people as a result of interactions between the soaps and each person’s unique odor profile. floral scents in particular may make you more attractive to mosquitoes To make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes, you can use products containing DEET, picaridin, citronella, lemon, and eucalyptus. Also recommended soaps that contain neem oil or the fatty acid of coconut oil. 

 

These Common Medications Can Increase Your Depression Risk

 

The FDA published a new web page with details about over-the-counter (OTC) Hearing Aids: What You Should Know before and after buying an OTC hearing aid.

 

Drug Shortages in US at 10-Year High: Drug shortages in the United States hit a 10-year high in the first quarter of 2023, according to data from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Among the top five drug classes affected by shortages are chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of cancer, many of which do not have alternatives.