COVID-19
The new COVID boosters are coming: Here's what you need to know
New Moderna Vaccine to Work Against Recent COVID Variant: Moderna says its upcoming COVID-19 vaccine should work against the BA.2.86 variant that has caused worry about a possible surge in cases. "The company said its shot generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies in humans against BA.2.86, which is being tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," Reuters reported.
PAINNew study reveals the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, affects 15% of the global population over the age of 30: A new study projects nearly 1 billion people will be living with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, by 2050. Currently, 15% of individuals aged 30 and older experience osteoarthritis. The Lancet Rheumatology.
Optimize Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) patients’ postoperative pain relief and functional recovery through a clinical trial: The findings of a study evaluating whether a a combination of intravenous corticosteroids (IVS) and periarticular corticosteroids (PAS) could provide new insights into pain management and postoperative rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty were published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery [link to the publication]. The researchers concluded that IVS and IVSPAS were indirectly shown to provide better pain relief than PAS. Although patients with IVSPAS had pain relief similar to those with IVS, the combined administration of corticosteroids yielded more significant improvements in the rehabilitation parameters.
Common blood pressure medications linked to lower risk of total knee replacement: The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINETraditional Chinese Medicine Improves Outcomes in HFrEF: When added to guideline-directed therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), a traditional Chinese medicine called qiliqiangxin reduced the composite endpoint of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization by more than 20%, results of a large placebo-controlled trial show. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2023 Congress.
Just One Dose of Psychedelic Psilocybin Reduced Depression Symptoms for Weeks: A single dose of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, given with psychological support, reduced symptoms of major depression, with effects lasting up to six weeks, a new study shows. The study was publishedTrusted Source in JAMA on August 31.
Medical cannabis use in Australian patients with chronic health issues linked to significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue levels: Australian patients with chronic health issues prescribed medical cannabis showed significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue in the first three months of use, along with improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain. Interestingly, cannabis therapy did not seem to improve reported sleep disturbances, according to a study published September 6, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE
Avoid cannabis during adolescence, pregnancy and while driving, say experts: Experts recommend avoiding cannabis during adolescence and early adulthood, in people prone to or with mental health disorders, in pregnancy, and before and while driving, based on an in-depth evidence review published by The BMJ today. However, they say cannabidiol (one active compound in cannabis) is effective in people with epilepsy, and cannabis based medicines can help people with multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, inflammatory bowel disease, and in palliative care.
Cancer organizations recommend mindfulness-based interventions to treat anxiety and depression in patients: The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) formally recommend mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and other integrative therapies to manage anxiety and depression symptoms in adults living with cancer. The guideline, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, reviews the effectiveness of integrative therapies such as yoga, relaxation, hypnosis, acupuncture, and music therapy in treating anxiety and depression symptoms during and after cancer treatment.
FDA ACTION• Approved the first biosimilar to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis
PREVENTION
ExerciseSimple Aerobic Exercise Can Significantly Reduce Risk of AFib and Stroke: According to new researchpresented at the European Society of Cardiology suggests that exercise can help lower the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Greater exercise performance was found to be associated with lower rates of AFib, although even a simple walk a day can help. The findings also suggest that exercise may further reduce stroke risks, beyond AFib-associated risks.
New ‘encyclopedia’ of sedentary behavior emphasizes importance of movement to health: The article reinforces the message “Sit less, move more” while pointing to gaps in clinical trials and experimental studies that need to be filled in order to elucidate more fully the physiological effects of combining exercise with interruptions in being seated. The authors say the research conducted to date is not sufficient for them to recommend the amount by which sedentarism should be reduced if its adverse effects on health are to be avoided. The article is published in the journal Physiological Reviews.
Sitting More Than 10 Hours a Day May Raise Your Risk of Dementia, Study Shows: A new study indicates that people who are sedentary for more than 10 hours a day may be at a greater risk of dementia. Sedentary behavior can contribute to diseases like high blood pressure that put peopleat risk for dementia. It might also create fewer opportunities for mental stimulation, which can contribute to cognitive decline. Experts suggest seeking a doctor’s advice and starting slow as you increase your activity level. JAMATrusted Source.
Exercise could help one of prostate cancer treatment’s most-common and devastating side effects:One side-effect commonly reported by patients is sexual dysfunction – however, a new long-term clinical trial led by Edith Cowan University (ECU) and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Breakthrough Meeting in Japan, has revealed there is a therapy which may help combat this aspect of battling the disease: exercise. Spanning four years, the study split more than 100 prostate cancer patients into three groups. One group undertook supervised resistance and aerobic exercise, while another did the same exercise program but also underwent psychosexual therapy. The third group received standard treatment without any exercise or therapy component. The psychosexual therapy resulted in no improvements in erectile function or intercourse satisfaction – however the exercising patients reported a big improvement in both. Those who exercised saw erectile function increase by 5.1 points, compared to 1.0 point for the usual care group, while intercourse satisfaction increased by 2.2 points with exercise and 0.2 points with usual care.
Dietary Nitrates Reduce Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in ACS: A simple, low-cost 5-day course of dietary inorganic nitrate (beetroot juice or green leafy vegetables such as spinach and rocket) has shown apparent overwhelming benefit in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and reducing subsequent renal and cardiovascular outcomes. Medscape
Nutritionists Break Down Starbucks’ New Seasonal Drinks and How to Make Them Healthier: Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte has returned to the brand’s fall menu for its 20th year. It joins new additions: Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte. Nutritionists say these drinks have an incredibly high sugar content and minimal fiber. Meanwhile, the health benefits of the spices used in the drinks are negligible. Healthline
Eating a Small Amount of Nuts Daily May Help Lower Your Depression Risk: According to new research, a serving of nuts (30 grams) per day is associated with a 17% reduced risk of depression. A small handful of nuts, or 30 grams of nuts, equals about: 20 walnut halves or almonds; 30 pistachios, or 15 cashews. The findings of the study were published in the journal Clinical Nutrition,
Both high-protein and normal-protein diets are effective for T2D management: New research indicate that the type of protein in the diet is not as important as the overall amount of weight loss for those with Type 2 diabetes. Obesity
Extreme dietary habits for carbohydrates and fats affect life expectancy: findings from a large-scale cohort study in Japan: A new study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, suggests that extreme dietary habits involving carbohydrates and fats affect life expectancy. Researchers found that a low carbohydrate intake in men and a high carbohydrate intake in women are associated with a higher risk of all-cause and cancer-related mortality and that women with higher fat intake may have a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Their findings suggest that people should pursue a balanced diet rather than heavily restricting their carbohydrate or fat intake.
SleepScientists Say This is the Best Temperature for a Good Night's Sleep: According to a new study, the optimal sleep temperature in the bedroom for older adults is between 68 to 77 °F. Results were published in the journal Science of The Total Environment. To improve your sleep quality, stick to a consistent sleep routine, maintain low light and low temperature in the bedroom and avoid overstimulating activities too close to bedtime.
Stress and insomnia linked to atrial fibrillation after menopause: The study included 83,736 women between 50 and 79, with an average age of nearly 64 years. There were 23,954 incidents of AFIB in the group with some participants having multiple incidents. Insomnia and stressful life events were most strongly associated with atrial fibrillation in a new study. Researchers said women are far more likely to experience fatigue and weakness from AFib than men. findingsTrusted Source Journal of the American Heart Association.
Treatment for dangerous snoring prevents deaths from heart disease: People suffering with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can reduce their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease if they use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine at night, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy.
Getting Enough Sleep Can 'Clean' Your Brain and Decrease Your Alzheimer's Risk: New research from neurologists presenting at the Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA) looks at how getting good sleep can decrease the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. Getting quality sleep protects brain health by improving immunity and reducing stress — both of which lower inflammation. The glymphatic system, which is activated during sleep, plays a major role in clearing away toxins, which helps reduce the risk of neurological disorders. To improve your sleep, experts recommend getting at least seven hours of rest each night, make sure your room is cool and avoid overstimulating activities too close to bedtime.
Self-reported “night owls” more likely to have unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, significantly increased diabetes risk: A Large study of middle-aged nurses found those with an evening chronotype (sleep preference) were more likely to engage in an overall unhealthy lifestyle particularly smoking, poor sleep and physical inactivity and had a 72 percent higher risk of developing diabetes. Annals of Internal Medicine.
Vitamins/SupplementsStudy Finds Fish Oil Supplements May Overpromise Health Benefits: A new analysis has assessed the extent of heart health-related claims on fish oil supplements.
The researchers state that most products contain claims, but many lack supporting trial data. While some studies have found fish oil supplements have no effect on cardiovascular health, others indicate supplementation is beneficial. More research is required into the relationship between fish oil and heart health. new analysis reportTrusted Source JAMA Cardiology website.
'Game Changer' Data for Vitamin D in Digestive Tract Cancers: Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of relapse or death in a subgroup of patients with digestive tract cancer who were p53-immunoreactive, a recent analysis found. In the p53-immunoreactive subgroup, daily vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of relapse or death by 73%. Overall, the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) among those receiving vitamin D was 81% vs nearly 31% in the placebo group. Vitamin D supplementation, however, had no effect on survival outcomes in the non-p53-immunoreactive subgroup. published online August 22 in JAMA Network Open.
Can Low-Dose Aspirin Decrease Type 2 Diabetes Risk?: Adults aged 65 and up who took 100 milligrams of aspirin daily were associated with a 15% lower risk of diabetes, according to the findings, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Before doctors start prescribing aspirin to help prevent diabetes, researchers need to continue investigating the drug’s impact along with its risks.
Turmeric May Be as Good as OTC Drug Omeprazole for Treating Indigestion: A small study has found turmeric to be as effective as Omeprazole at treating indigestion.
Participants experienced a significant reduction in symptom severity after taking turmeric supplements for 28 days.
Patients with AML who received vitamin C/D supplements had fewer complications, but no overall survival benefit seen: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who received vitamin C and D supplements while undergoing intensive chemotherapy had lower rates of complications, such as infections, bleeding, and inflammation, when compared with similar, previously treated patients who did not receive these supplements. Moreover, while the study showed no difference in survival between the two groups, a subgroup analysis showed that among patients with a genetic mutation known as NPM1 – found in about one in three patients with AML – the risk of death was nearly 50% lower among those who were taking the supplements. Blood Advances.
Antioxidants stimulate blood flow in tumors: Vitamin C and other antioxidants stimulate the formation of new blood vessels in lung cancer tumors “We’ve found that antioxidants activate a mechanism that causes cancer tumors to form new blood vessels, which is surprising, since it was previously thought that antioxidants have a protective effect,” “The new blood vessels nourish the tumors and can help them grow and spread.” Antioxidants neutralise free oxygen radicals, which can damage the body, and are therefore commonly found in dietary supplements. But overly high doses can be harmful. The Journal of Clinical Investigation
OtherStable weight is linked with greater longevity in older women: A new study published online in the Journal of Gerontology reports that women over the age of 60 who maintained a stable weight were more likely to experience what the authors referred to as exceptional longevity. Exceptional longevity, according to the authors, was defined as living to the age of 90 or older.
Digital puzzle games may help improve memory in older adults, study finds: Researchers recently conducted a study to see how playing different types of video games impacts memory capabilities in both younger and older adults. They saw greater performance in older adults who played digital puzzle games and younger adults who played strategy games. The researchers published their findings in the journal Heliyon.
Even a Small Decrease in Plaque Levels Can Drop Heart Attack Risk by 25%: A new study finds that reducing fatty deposits of cholesterol called arterial plaque, even by as little as 1%, can lead to a major reduction in the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. That is the conclusion of a large meta-analysis published Wednesday in JAMA CardiologyTrusted Source.
Hobbies linked to lower depression levels among older people: Having a hobby is linked to fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of happiness, self-reported health and life satisfaction among people aged 65 and over, and this holds true across 16 countries on three continents, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, aimed to see if the benefits of hobbies were consistent in different national settings, and looked at data from 93,263 people aged 65 or over who had enrolled in five existing longitudinal studies in England, Japan, United States, China and 12 European countries.
People who are in good shape take fewer mental-health related medication: “We find that people who are in better shape fill fewer prescriptions for anxiety and depression medications,” The research group based its work on the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). Since 1984, 250,000 Trøndelag residents have voluntarily contributed their health data to this comprehensive research project. The data are available to researchers, who can use the data to estimate people’s fitness levels, among other things.
Poor lifestyle of over 60s linked to heightened risk of nursing home care: Over 60s with the unhealthiest lifestyles are significantly more likely to require admission to a nursing home than their peers with the healthiest lifestyles, suggest the findings of a large population study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Physical inactivity, smoking, poor diet and sleep disorders between the ages of 60 and 64 seemed to be particularly influential: they were associated with a more than doubling in the risk of admission, the findings show. Modifiable lifestyle risk factors are associated with the development and progression of several long term conditions, such as diabetes and dementia. But it’s not clear whether these lifestyle factors, separately or combined, might influence the subsequent need for nursing home care.
Healthy Habits That Can Help Reduce Your Depression Risk: In a new studyTrusted Source published in the journal, Nature Mental Health, researchers identified seven healthy lifestyle factors that are protective against depression. The seven factors investigated were: smoking, diet, exercise level, sleep, sedentary behavior, social connectedness and alcohol consumption. Of the seven lifestyle factors observed, healthy sleep had the greatest impact on depression risk, decreasing it by 22%. “Never smoking” and frequent social connection followed, with 20% and 18%, respectively. Having a healthy diet, consuming alcohol in moderation, regular physical activity, and low-to-moderate sedentary behavior also lowered depression risk.
Is Living Like a Mediterranean Better Than the Mediterranean Diet? In a study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers found that adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle by middle-aged individuals living in the United Kingdom reduced all-cause and cancer-related mortality by 29% and 28%, respectively. The Mediterranean lifestyle includes a variety of factors, including diet, eating habits, and rest. The study suggests that the health benefits can be replicated outside the Mediterranean.
Taking Medication For High Blood Pressure May Lower Your Dementia Risk: In a new meta-analysis, published Sept. 12 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, researchers found that older adults with untreated high blood pressure were 42% more likely to develop dementia during the study period compared to healthy older adults. This was true even among 70- and 80-year-olds.
Are Tobacco and Cannabis Users More Likely to Have Depression and Anxiety? Researchers are reporting that people who use tobacco and cannabis tend to have higher rates of depression and anxiety. Experts note that people who experience depression and anxiety tend to use substances such as tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol.
They add that a person can become more dependant on a substance to improve their mental outlook. PLOS ONETrusted Source
Cancer screening may not extend life: The University of Oslo study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found current evidence does not substantiate the conventional wisdom that cancer screening extends lifetime. The only exception found was colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy. The randomised clinical trial saw the 2.1 million enrolled participants followed for at least nine years. It studied six commonly used cancer screenings: mammography screening for breast cancer; colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer; computed tomography screening for lung cancer in smokers and former smokers; and prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer. Scientists then compared screened patients to those who had not undergone screening. After checking in for almost a decade, the only screening test which resulted in significant lifetime gain was sigmoidoscopy, which extended life by 110 days. There was no significant difference in the other conditions. ‘Faecal testing and mammography screening did not appear to prolong life in the trials, while estimates for prostate cancer screening and lung cancer screening are uncertain,’ researchers concluded.
TREATMENTBariatric Surgery Linked to 25% Drop in Cancer Risk: The study, published in ObesityTrusted Source found that bariatric surgery is associated with a significantly lower risk of cancer and reduced cancer mortality, especially among women.
Heart Attack Patients Who Take Daily Aspirin Have Lower Risk of New Attacks, Stroke: In a study being presented at the ESC Congress 2023, the researchers found that those who didn’t consistently take the medication had a greater risk of having a subsequent heart attack, stroke, or death when compared with those who took it on a regular basis. Additionally, a studyTrusted Source appearing in JAMA reports that despite what we know about the benefits of aspirin, less than half of heart attack and stroke patients worldwide are taking it.
DOACs reduce dementia risk in Asian AFib patients compared to traditional blood thinners: The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) was associated with a reduction in dementia risk compared to traditional blood thinners—like warfarin—in atrial fibrillation patients, particularly in Asian patients. ACC.org.
Which is better—casts or surgery—for older adults with arm fractures? A recent study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research found that cast immobilization is as effective as surgery for treating older patients with bone fractures near the wrist. The study included 276 patients aged 70–89 years who suffered a distal radius fracture that didn’t penetrate the skin and that was treated conservatively or surgically between August 2018 and January 2022. Cast immobilization was used on 213 patients, whereas the other 63 had plates or pins placed during different types of surgery.
Study reveals winning combination for sports-related shoulder injuries: Starting a robust exercise program sooner after surgery could prevent patients with dislocated shoulders from sustaining a repeat injury and help them return to sport faster. “Our analysis found those who embarked on a robust exercise program after surgery were twice as likely to avoid a recurrent injury than those who used exercise alone to recover from their injury.” British Journal of Sports Medicine
This Common Cold Medication Won't Help Nasal Decongestion, Here's What Will: A key component in many over-the-counter decongestants called phenylephrine is not effective, according to a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel. Phenylephrine is an ingredient found in Sudafed PE, Vicks Nyquil Sinex Nighttime Sinus Relief and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion. The panel stated that research doesn’t prove that the nasal decongestant works when taken orally at suggested doses. They agreed that conducting additional studies to test higher doses of the decongestant would not be useful. A stuffy nose and sinus congestion, associated with viral infections are best managed with supportive care. Additionally, some at-home remedies can be helpful in relieving symptoms. Drinking plenty of water, a gentle sinus massage and over the counter medications like Zyrtec and Claritin are also effective at reducing runny nose and sinus congestion. Nasal sprays have been found to be effective for reducing symptoms of nasal congestion. Pseudoephedrine is still a very effective agent for reducing the symptoms of stuffy nose and sinus congestion. Healthline
New approach in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Previous studies suggest that fatty liver disease that is not caused by excessive alcohol consumption is closely related to the gut microbiome, and microbiota-directed foods could be an effective non-pharmacological intervention to deal with NAFLD. Against this background, the researchers conducted a clinical nutritional study with patients affected by the disease. "We found out that the participants in the study benefited from a resistant starch diet, as the accumulation of fat in the diseased liver was reduced. Furthermore, we observed an increase in certain types of bacteria in the gut of the participants; these bacteria positively influenced fat reduction and transport in the liver. In addition, reduced NAFLD and inflammation biomarkers indicate an alleviation of liver damage.” Resistant starch belongs to the dietary fibres and is found, for example, in bread, pasta, and legumes. It consists of indigestible fibres, and thus, has a prebiotic effect in the gut. Cell metabolism
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Medicare Names 10 Drugs Subject to Price Negotiations: In a move aimed at lowering out-of-pocket health care costs for millions of older Americans, the federal government announced on August 29 the first 10 drugs subject to price negotiations between Medicare and drugmakers. As part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed into law last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin negotiating a maximum fair price for popular drugs used to treat diabetes, blood clots, heart failure, and other conditions.
Pharmacy Discount Cards Could Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs by Millions: Prescription drug cards could help you save a lot of money on drug costs, according to a new report published September 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The report shows that out-of-pocket (OOP) payments through insurance are often greater than what people might pay when using a pharmacy discount card program. The study’s findings applied to two discount drug programs: Amazon Prime and GoodRx Gold. The team looked at 20 commonly prescribed generic medications, including several popular types of drugs such as antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, statins, and others. Altogether, it was estimated that the out-of-pocket cost savings with these two pharmacy discount card programs would total about $969 million and $1.83 billion, respectively, with most of the savings coming from 90-day prescriptions.
Household Cleaning Products Emit Chemicals Associated with Heart Disease, Cancer: A study recently published in the journal Chemosphere has found that many cleaning products — including commonly used items such as air fresheners, multipurpose cleaners, and glass cleaners — are capable of emitting hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, some types of cleaning products had lower levels of VOCs than others. “Green” cleaning products, which purport to be safer for the environment, had fewer VOCs than conventional ones. Additionally, those that were fragrance-free had lower levels. Experts say steps like using low-VOC products or making your own homemade cleaners can reduce exposure. It also helps to buy products that are certified as being safer by the EPA and other groups.
