COVID-19
Saltwater Gargling May Help Avoid COVID Hospitalization: Gargling and nasal rinsing with saltwater several times a day appeared to be associated with significantly lower COVID-19 hospitalization rates in a small, randomized, double-blind, controlled study. The findings were presented in a poster at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Meeting.
Long COVID and Mental Illness: New Guidance: Long COVID can exacerbate existing mental health disorders or cause new-onset psychiatric symptoms, but mental illness does not cause long COVID, experts say. The consensus guidance statement on the assessment and treatment of mental health symptoms in patients with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as long COVID, was published online in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
New Tests May Finally Diagnose Long COVID: A new preprint study suggests that the elevation of certain immune system proteins are a commonality in long COVID patients and identifying them may be an accurate way to diagnose the condition.
New COVID Variant JN.1 Could Disrupt Holiday Plans: No one planning holiday gatherings or travel wants to hear this, but the rise of a new COVID-19 variant, JN.1, is concerning experts, who say it may threaten those good times. The good news is recent research suggests the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine appears to work against this newest variant. Medscape
PAIN
Want to Avoid a Knee Replacement? Strengthen Your Quads and Hamstrings to Lessen Joint Pain: Having strong thigh muscles may reduce the need for total knee replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis. In particular, having stronger quadriceps muscles compared to the hamstrings muscles may be beneficial. The quadriceps can be strengthened with specific exercises such as squats and lunges, or with activities like yoga and Tai Chi. The study was presented Nov. 27 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Certain migraine medications may be more effective than Ibuprofen: A new study draws data from nearly 300,000 people using a smartphone app to help people make decisions about their medications. The study found that certain migraine medications like triptans, ergots and anti-emetics may be two to five times more effective than ibuprofen for treating migraine attacks, according to new research published in the November 29, 2023, online issue of Neurology®
Common headaches tied to neck inflammation: Researchers have identified objective evidence of how the neck muscles are involved in primary headaches, according to a study being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The findings could lead to better treatments.
Both acupuncture and massage can benefit those with cancer-related pain: A multicenter, randomized clinical trial has found that both treatments not only reduce musculoskeletal pain but also lead to improvements in feelings of fatigue, insomnia, and patients’ quality of life. Over the study period, acupuncture reduced the worst pain score by an average of 2.5 points; massage reduced the worst pain score an average of 3 points, a difference that was not significant. Many patients also felt better with regard to their fatigue, sleep, and overall quality of life. They also used less pain medication over time. The researchers say efforts should focus on raising awareness about the effectiveness of these approaches, as well as expanding coverage for these treatments. Read more in JAMA Network Open.
Does stem cell transplantation benefit patients with knee osteoarthritis?: The review and meta-analysis, which is published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, included 16 studies involving 875 patients with knee osteoarthritis (441 in the stem cell transplantation group and 434 in the control group). Stem cell treatment was associated with significant reductions in patient-reported pain from the third month onwards. The most significant pain relief at different postoperative months came from fat-derived and umbilical cord–derived stem cells. A patient’s own fat-derived stem cells resulted in better pain alleviation compared with those from other donors. Also, a patient’s own fat-derived stem cells led to the most effective recovery of knee joint function.
Psychiatric Disorders May Reduce Response to CGRPs for Migraine: Patients with migraine are less likely to respond to CGRP monoclonal antibody (mAb) preventive treatments if they have certain psychiatric disorders, a new study shows. Italian researchers report that patients with an anxiety disorder or those with avoidant, dependent, or obsessive-compulsive behaviors are more likely to be nonresponders to these new therapies. 17th European Headache Congress
Spinal cord stimulation reduces pain, improves balance in people with lower limb amputation: Pressure sensors on the insole of a prosthetic foot triggered electrical pulses that were then delivered to a participants’ spinal cord. Researchers found that this sensory feedback also improved balance and gait stability. Nature Biomedical Engineering.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
1 in 8 older adults use cannabis products, suggesting need to screen for risks: More older Americans use cannabis now than before the pandemic, with 12% saying they’ve consumed a THC-containing substance in the past year and 4% saying they do so multiple times a week, according to a new study of people aged 50 to 80. Those who drink alcohol at risky levels have a much higher rate of cannabis use. The new findings, published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research suggest a need for more education and screening of older adults for cannabis-related risks.
Cannabis use disorder increasing among veterans with psychiatric disorders: Research published today in The American Journal of Psychiatry finds that during a period of increasing cannabis use in the U.S., the prevalence of cannabis use disorder is disproportionally increasing among veterans with psychiatric disorders, especially those with more severe psychiatric disorders.
Telehealth mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement vs usual care in individuals with opioid use disorder and pain: In this randomized clinical trial of 154 individuals with chronic pain in methadone treatment for an opioid use disorder, relative to usual care, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) plus usual care demonstrated efficacy for decreasing drug use, pain, and depression and increasing methadone treatment retention and adherence. Participants receiving MORE attended eight weekly, 2-hour telehealth groups that provided training in mindfulness, reappraisal, and savoring in addition to usual care. JAMA Psychiatry
Yoga Linked to Seizure, Anxiety Reduction in Epilepsy: A 3-month yoga program that integrates deep breathing, meditation, and positive affirmations is associated with a significant reduction in seizure frequency, anxiety, and self-perceived feelings of stigma in people with epilepsy, a new study shows. published online in Neurology.
Yoga nidra might be a path to better sleep and improved memory: Practicing yoga nidra -- a kind of mindfulness training -- might improve sleep, cognition, learning, and memory, even in novices, according to a pilot study. After a two-week intervention with a cohort of novice practitioners, the researchers found that the percentage of delta-waves in deep sleep increased and that all tested cognitive abilities improved. PLOS ONE
FDA ACTION
• Approved belzutifan (Welireg, Merck & Co., Inc.) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma
• Approved the PulseSelect Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) system for cardiac electrophysiological mapping (stimulation and recording) and to treat atrial fibrillation (Afib) using electrical pulses to ablate cardiac tissue.
• Approved eflornithine (IWILFIN, USWM, LLC) to reduce the risk of relapse in adult and pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma
• Approved two milestone treatments, Casgevy and Lyfgenia, representing the first cell-based gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) in patients 12 years and older. Additionally, one of these therapies, Casgevy, is the first FDA-approved treatment to utilize a type of novel genome editing technology, signaling an innovative advancement in the field of gene therapy.
• Accelerated approval to pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca, Eli Lilly and Company) for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL)
• Approved Ogsiveo (nirogacestat) tablets for adult patients with progressing desmoid tumors who require systemic treatment.
PREVENTION
Exercise
Intense Exercise May Lead to Colds: Studies show that the risk for acute respiratory infections is lower in people who exercise regularly. Physically active people are also less likely to suffer severe outcomes from COVID. However, a new study indicates that very vigorous exercise may lead to these infections by triggering immune changes that increase risk.
Walking Faster Linked to Decreased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A new study shows that walking at a speed of 4 or more km an hour (about 2.5 mph) is linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings were published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Exercise May Help Treat and Prevent Postpartum Depression, Study Finds: A large study spanning 11 countries suggests that regular bouts of moderate-intensity exercise may help treat and prevent postpartum depression. The study authors say aerobic exercise like swimming, cycling, jogging, and dance were more effective for reducing postpartum depression than standard care. Experts caution that exercise should not replace first-line treatment for severe postpartum depression, such as psychotherapy and antidepressants. PLOS ONE.
Researchers caution diabetes patients' use of fitness video games: The authors of a new study are warning people with type-1 diabetes to use fitness video games with caution. The study has found that 'exergames' can change people's perceptions of how fatigued they are -- which is potentially harmful for those with the condition. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Vigorous physical activity linked to reduced Alzheimer's related deaths: A group of researchers recently published a study in the Lancet Healthy Longevity, suggesting that participating in vigorous physical activity can help lower dementia mortality rate compared to moderate physical activity. For participants who participated in vigorous physical activity, scientists could identify a minimal amount of 40 minutes per week and an optimal amount of 140 minutes per week for reducing Alzheimer’s disease-related death.
Exercise may improve pain and fatigue in people with metastatic breast cancer
New study shows exercise can boost brain health: The research, detailed in the paper "Exercise-Related Physical Activity Relates to Brain Volumes in 10,125 Individuals," was published this week in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Diseaseand shows being physically active is related to increased size of brain areas important for memory and learning. The study looked at MRI brain scans from 10,125 people. Bottom line- "Our research supports earlier studies that show being physically active is good for your brain. Exercise not only lowers the risk of dementia but also helps in maintaining brain size, which is crucial as we age."
Diet/Nutrition
Omnivore vs. Vegan: Which is the Better For Your Heart Health? The report, published in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Sourceon found that those who ate a healthy vegan diet experienced greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, fasting insulin, and body weight compared to the twins who ate an omnivorous diet.
Cocoa Extract May Help Reduce Risk of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Older adults who took a daily cocoa extract supplement for two years saw modest improvements in cognitive function, a new randomized clinical trial found. The benefits, though, were only seen in people who had lower diet quality at the start of the study. Those with healthy dietary patterns didn’t see a similar boost in cognition. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Stress Eating Comfort Food Can Increase Mental Health and Heart Disease Risks: A new study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found that eating high-fat foods prior to stressful events could have detrimental effects on endothelial function, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Eating more plants and less meat may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease: A comprehensive review of the evidence, published in The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, has identified what types of diet may increase a person’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, and which might have a protective effect. In ecological studies, the researchers found that meat consumption was most strongly correlated with increased numbers of people with Alzheimer’s. They concluded that meat consumption was the single most important dietary risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
Clinical trial demonstrates that the ketogenic diet is effective at controlling polycystic kidney disease:T he ketogenic diet proved to be effective at controlling polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in the first randomized controlled clinical trial of ketogenic metabolic therapy for PKD. Cell Reports Medicine, 2023
Eating Meals Earlier in the Day May Decrease Heart Disease Risk: A new study published Dec. 14 in Nature CommunicationsTrusted Source found that having later times for the first and last meals of the day was linked to a higher overall risk of cardiovascular diseases. This effect was stronger in women than men. They found that in the morning, “each additional hour in delaying the time of first meal of the day was associated with a higher risk of overall [cardiovascular disease.]” The researchers also found that “each additional hour in delaying the time of last meal was associated with an 8% increased risk of cerebrovascular disease.” They found people eating their last meal after 9 pm had a 28% higher risk of cerebrovascular disease compared to people who ate their last meal before 8 pm.
Chia Seeds May Help Lower Blood Pressure and Reduce Your Cancer Risk: Chia seeds have long been popular additions to “superfood” listicles and a new paper indicates support for keeping them there. The paper suggests that chia seeds may reduce blood pressure and cancer risks.
Sleep
Working night shifts causes sleep disorders in more than half of workers: New study shows that working night shifts favors development of sleep disorders, particularly in young adults with a lower education. Frontiers in Psychiatry
Objective sleep duration and all-cause mortality among people with obstructive sleep apnea: In this study of 2,574 participants with obstructive sleep apnea, compared with participants with objective sleep duration of at least seven hours, those sleeping less than seven hours had higher risks of all-cause mortality independent of apnea-hypopnea index. Further studies would be needed to investigate health benefits of extending sleep length among people with obstructive sleep apnea with short sleep duration. JAMA Open Network
Pulling an all-nighter? Don’t follow with an important decision: With little insight into the impact of a lack of sleep on risky decision-making at the neuroimaging level, researchers from the University of Ottawa and the University of Pennsylvania found a 24-hour period of sleep deprivation significantly impacted individuals' decision-making processes by dampening neural responses to the outcomes of their choices. In other words, people tend to exhibit reduced positive emotions in response to winning outcomes and diminished negative emotions when faced with losses after pulling an all-nighter compared to their well-rested baseline condition. Psychophysiology
20 minutes of exercise can boost your brain after a bad night’s sleep: A study, led by the University of Portsmouth, has found cognitive performance improves during a bout of moderate intensity exercise, regardless of a person’s sleep status or oxygen levels.
Other
These 7 Healthy Lifestyle Factors Could Lower Your Cancer Risk by 16%: New research published November 29 in Biomed CentralTrusted Source, a medical journal, found that individuals who adhered to lifestyle recommendations made by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) had lower risk of all cancers, as well as site-specific cancers like breast, colorectal, and ovarian. Limiting sugar, red meat, and processed food consumption are important dietary changes to make.
TREATMENT
Long-Term Use of ADHD Meds and CVD Risk: Longer cumulative use of medication to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a small, but statistically significant, increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), results of a large Swedish nested case-control study suggest. The increased risk was evident only for hypertension and arterial disease, was dose-dependent, and was higher for stimulant than nonstimulant ADHDmedications. The study was published online on November 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Statins Can Help Women With Breast Cancer, Study Finds: The studyTrusted Source, published in JAMA Network Open this month, found that the risk of dying was substantially lower in women with breast cancer whose cholesterol levels dropped after starting statins, which are commonly prescribed lipid-lowering medications.
Low-Dose Methotrexate Carries Higher Risk for Older Patients With CKD: The use of low-dose methotrexate among older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was associated with a significantly increased risk at 90 days for serious adverse events requiring a hospital visit, compared with starting treatment with hydroxychloroquine. published online in JAMA Network Open on November 27.
Ozempic and Wegovy Show Promise for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): A new case series that was published on November 27, 2023, in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, presents new evidence that semaglutide — commonly used for applications such as diabetes management and weight loss — may also be useful in the treatment of AUD.
Statins Lower Risk of Dying in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease: The study, published Dec. 6 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, supports previous research showing the benefits of statin use for primary prevention in people with chronic kidney disease.
Novo Nordisk Stops Ozempic Kidney Trial After Early Signs of Success: Novo Nordisk said it will stop a trial studying Ozempic to treat kidney failure in diabetes patients ahead of schedule because it was clear from an interim analysis that the treatment would succeed. Novo said the trial would be halted almost a year early based on a recommendation from the independent data monitoring board overseeing the study. Independent monitors can recommend stopping a trial early if there is clear evidence that a drug was going to succeed or fail based on interim analyses. Medscape https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/997237
Testosterone Replacement Benefits Men With Type 2 Diabetes: Testosterone replacement therapy was associated with significant reductions in A1c at 1 and 2 years among men with type 2 diabetes, a multinational audit shows. Medscape
ACC/AHA Issue Updated Atrial Fibrillation Guideline: The American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) have issued the 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation. The new proposed classification, using four stages, recognizes AF as a disease continuum that requires a variety of strategies at different stages, from prevention, lifestyle and risk factor modification, screening, and therapy.
Light therapy may improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: Light therapy leads to significant improvements in sleep and psycho-behavioral symptoms for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. In the new study, researchers searched multiple research databases to identify all randomized controlled trials related to light therapy intervention for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Fifteen high-quality trials with available methods and relevant outcomes were selected for further analysis. The included trials were written in English, published between 2005 and 2022, and performed in seven countries. They included a combined 598 patients. The meta-analysis of all fifteen trials found that light therapy significantly improved sleep efficiency, increased interdaily stability (a measure of the strength of circadian rhythms), and reduced intradaily variability (a measure of how frequently someone transitions between rest and activity during the day). In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, light therapy also alleviated depression and reduced patient agitation and caregiver burden.
Deep brain stimulation shows promise for traumatic brain injury recovery: Scientists from Stanford University have published a study in the journal Nature MedicineTrusted Source suggesting deep brain stimulation may help improve cognition in people with moderate to severe TBI.
CAR T-Cell Therapy: A Cure for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases? CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which has transformed the treatment landscape for B-cell malignancies, is now showing great promise in at least three distinct autoantibody-dependent autoimmune diseases. A single infusion of autologous CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy led to persistent, drug-free remission in 15 patients with life-threatening systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, or systemic sclerosis, according to research presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.
Aspirin May Help Stop Aortic Aneurysm From Growing: While aspirin didn’t appear to impact the risk of rupture, major bleeding or death, the findings, published inJAMA Network OpenTrusted Source suggest that aspirin could be used to delay AAA progression in certain patients.
Antihypertensives Show Similar Long-Term Mortality Rates: Long-term data showed negligible differences in mortality among hypertensive adults treated with thiazide-type diuretics, calcium channel blockers, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in a review of nearly 33,000 individuals published in JAMA Network Open.
For Women on Hormone Therapy, Stains May Help Lower Blood Clot Risk: A new study finds women on hormone therapy who also take statins may decrease their risk of a serious blood clot. These findings may pave the way for new treatment methods for menopause symptoms among women previously thought not to be candidates for hormone therapy. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between statins, hormone therapy, and blood clot risk. JAMA CardiologyTrusted Source
Drug Combo Improved Survival For Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A new clinical trial found that atezolizumab, a monoclonal antibody medication, combined with carboplatin, a chemotherapy drug, may significantly improve survival in people with TNBC. JAMA Oncology
OTHER
Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines: To PSA or Not to PSA: The American Urological Association along with the Society of Urologic Oncology published updated guidelines. Recommendations include: using PSA as the screening test of choice.
repeating PSA in patients with newly elevated results before moving on to other test.
offering PSA screening every 2-4 years in patients aged 50-69 years.
offering baseline screening in those between 45-50 years of age.
US men die 6 years before women, as life expectancy gap widens: In a research paper, published Nov. 13, 2023, in JAMA Internal Medicine, the authors found the difference between how long American men and women live increased to 5.8 years in 2021, the largest it's been since 1996. The trend is being driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid overdose epidemic, among other factors.
CTE Common Among Young Athletes in Largest Brain Donor Study: The largest study to date of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in young athletes shows that 41% had the neurodegenerative disease, caused by repetitive head impacts (RHIs). Analysis of brain tissue from athletes who were exposed to RHIs and died before the age of 30 revealed neuropathological evidence of shrinkage of the brain and microscopic changes that indicate a breach of the blood–brain barrier. The case series also identified the first known American female athlete with CTE. Nearly all of those with CTE had a mild form of the disease and 71% played only at the amateur level in youth, high school, or college sports. published online today in JAMA Neurology.
Millions of Americans Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, CDC Survey Says: A new CDC survey shows around 4.3 million American adults have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Cases of chronic fatigue were more prominent among women than men and in those aged 50–69. Health officials suggest that long COVID may be a possible explanation for the recent surge in chronic fatigue cases. To manage chronic fatigue, experts recommend exercising, adopting healthy sleeping habits, and prioritizing their mental health.
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