PAIN
Migraine surgery reduces headache days, reports Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: For patients with chronic migraine, nerve decompression surgery effectively reduces the number of headache days – the outcome measure preferred by neurologists – along with other measures including the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks, reports a study in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®
Pain Relief: New Approaches to How We Live with Pain: On June 4, the TED Radio Hour on NPR was dedicated to new approaches to pain management including combinations of vibrations, ice, and distraction.
Painful truth about knee osteoarthritis: Why inactivity may be more complex than we think: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of pain and joint stiffness. And while physical activity is known to ease symptoms, only one in 10 people regularly exercise. Researchers have found that people with knee OA unconsciously believe that activity may be dangerous to their condition, despite medical advice telling them otherwise.
Positive Family Relationships May Protect Against Pain in Older Adults: Family support may protect against pain incidence and persistence among aging African Americans, according to a study published online May 20 in the Journals of Gerontology Series B.
Confronting trauma alleviates chronic pain among older veterans: A new study led by UCLA Health and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms. Published in JAMA Network Open on June 13, the study compared the newer therapy, known as emotional awareness and expression therapy, or EAET, to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, in treating chronic pain as well as mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among older veterans. The study found that 63% of veterans who underwent EAET reported at least a 30% reduction in pain – a clinically significant reduction -- after treatment compared to only 17% of veterans who underwent cognitive behavioral therapy. Pain reduction was sustained among 41% of EAET participants six months after treatment compared to 14% of CBT patients. Additionally, EAET patients reported greater benefits for addressing anxiety, depression, PTSD and life satisfaction.
Is there a link between increased headaches and hotter temperatures for individuals with migraines?:As temperatures rise, so do chances for migraine attacks, according to a new study. These findings from the study, which looked at use of Fremanezumab and whether it could prevent headaches caused by temperature increases, will be presented at the American Headache Society’s 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, June 13-16 in San Diego, California. Researchers cross-referenced 71,030 daily diary records of 660 migraine patients with regional weather data and found that for every temperature increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit daily, there was a 6% increase in occurrence of any headache. However, during the time periods of Fremanezumab treatment the association completely disappeared.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Study shows Cannabis terpenes may relieve chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain: A University of Arizona Health Sciencesstudy published in the journal PAIN found that Cannabis sativa terpenes were as effective as morphine at reducing chronic neuropathic pain and a combination of the two analgesics further enhanced pain relief without negative side effects.
Patients report significant symptom reduction within a single integrative medicine encounter:Researchers have found that patients seeking outpatient integrative health and medicine (IHM) care experience clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms of pain, anxiety, and stress after just one treatment. Patients often seek outpatient IHM modalities such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage to address their pain, anxiety, and stress. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health
Retraction notice of previously press released research: The research “Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials,” published in the open access journal BMJ Open in 2022, has been retracted. This research was press released in November 2022 under the title of “Acupuncture can relieve lower back/pelvic pain often experienced during pregnancy. Following publication of the research, various issues concerning its design and reporting methods came to light, none of which was amenable to correction, prompting the decision to retract.
FDA ACTION
• Approved Onyda XR (clonidinehydrochloride) for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Accelerated approval to repotrectinib (AUGTYRO, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) for adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion, are locally advanced or metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and that have progressed following treatment or have no satisfactory alternative therapy.
• Granted traditional approval to selpercatinib (Retevmo) for adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and who are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate).
• Approved Iqirvo (elafibranor) oral tablets for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults who have an inadequate response to UDCA, or as monotherapy in patients unable to tolerate UDCA. PBC is a rare autoimmune disease in which the small bile ducts in the liver become injured and inflamed and without treatment are eventually destroyed.
• approved Arexvy, a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Adjuvanted, for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in individuals 50 through 59 years of age who are at increased risk for LRTD caused by RSV.
• approved imetelstat (Rytelo, Geron Corporation), an oligonucleotide telomerase inhibitor, for adults with low- to intermediate-1 risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia requiring four or more red blood cell units over 8 weeks who have not responded to, have lost response to, or are ineligible for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
• Approved mRESVIA (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine) for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in individuals 60 years of age and older.
• approved lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi, Juno Therapeutics, Inc.) for adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least two prior lines of systemic therapy, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi).
• Accelerated approval to selpercatinib (Retevmo, Eli Lilly and Company) for pediatric patients two years of age and older with the following: This is the first FDA approval of a targeted therapy for pediatric patients < 12 years of age with RET alterations.
• Approved first generics of Entresto (sacubitril and valsartan) tablets, indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adult patients with chronic heart failure, and for the treatment of symptomatic heart failure with systemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction in pediatric patients aged one year and older.
• Approved Bkemv (eculizumab-aeeb) as the first interchangeable biosimilar to Soliris (eculizumab) to treat certain rare diseases.
PREVENTION
Exercise
Counting Steps or Watching the Clock for a Longer Life? A new analysis of data from the Women's Health Study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggested that step count could be a useful metric. For some, such a recommendation might be easier to follow. However, there are no well-founded recommendations for step counts, partly due to a lack of scientific evidence linking steps with mortality and cardiovascular diseases. The often-cited 10,000 steps per day originated from a marketing campaign in Japan in the 1960s. Participants who engaged in more than the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week had a 32% lower mortality risk than those who were the least physically active. Women with > 7000 steps per day had a 42% lower mortality risk than those with the lowest daily step count. Women in the top three quartiles of physical activity outlived those in the lowest quartile by an average of 2.22 months (time) or 2.36 months (steps). The survival advantage was independent of body mass index.
Vigorous exercise may preserve cognition in high-risk patients with hypertension: People with high blood pressure have a higher risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, but a new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests that engaging in vigorous physical activity more than once a week can lower that risk. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association
USPSTF Recommends Exercise to Prevent Falls in Older Adults: Exercise interventions are recommended to help prevent falls and fall-related morbidity in community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older who are at increased risk of falls, according to a new recommendation statement from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (JAMA. 2024 Jun 4. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.8481).
Diet/Nutrition
Nestlé Launches Frozen Food Line for People Using GLP-1 Drugs: GLP-1 drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity with more and more people turning to these medications to help manage weight loss and diabetes. To target this new group of consumers, Nestlé has created a new frozen-food brand, Vital Pursuit that will launch in the fall of 2024.
Intermittent Fasting with Protein Pacing More Effective for Weight Loss: New research has found that intermittent fasting with protein pacing is more effective than calorie restriction for gut health and weight loss. The studyTrusted Source published in the journal Nature Communications compared the effects of intermittent fasting and protein pacing with heart-healthy calorie restriction on gut microbiota remodeling and metabolomic profiles.Intermittent fasting with protein pacing involves limiting meals to certain times and evenly spacing protein intake throughout the eating window.
Pro-Inflammatory Diet May Raise Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Pro-inflammatory foods can lead to chronic inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Now, scientists have linked them with a biomarker normally found in heart failure patients. Red meat, seed oils, white flour, and other highly processed foods are significant pro-inflammatory foods. Eating too much of these things, which is common in the standard American dietTrusted Source, isn’t good for your health. In a large observational study of nearly 11,000 Americans, those who ate more pro-inflammatory foods had larger amounts of the biomarker in their blood, indicating the potential for CVD in the future. The studyTrusted Source was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Too Much Sodium Can Make Atopic Dermatitis Worse: A new study in JAMA DermatologyTrusted Source suggests a link between sodium intake and the risk of developing atopic dermatitis. The study also found that higher levels of sodium were linked to an increase in the severity of symptoms.
Mediterranean Diet Can Lower Mortality Risk for Women, What to Know: A new study showed higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was linked with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. The findings were published in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source on May 31. Researchers looked at health information from 25,315 women, which included blood samples, biomarker measurements, and dietary data between 1993 and 1996. These women were followed up for 25 years. Results showed a 23% decrease in all-cause mortality risk, which may be partially explained by cardiometabolic risk factors. These include biomarkers of inflammation, insulin resistance, metabolism, and body mass index (BMI).
Poppi Prebiotic Soda May Not Be as Good for Your Gut as It Claims: Prebiotic soda brand Poppi, beloved by celebrities, is being sued on claims of consumer fraud and “false and misleading claims.” The class action lawsuit alleges that the brand’s claims that the drink is good for health are untrue. They say the drink, billed as a “better for you” soda, does not provide meaningful prebiotic effects.
Artificial Sweetener Xylitol Linked to Increased Stroke, Heart Attack Risk: Xylitol, the zero-calorie sugar substitute used in processed foods like peanut butter, gum, baked goods, and candies, has been linked to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study has found. The report, published in the European Heart Journal , suggests the sweetener might impair the body’s clotting abilities.
Garlic consumption may help improve cholesterol, blood sugar: A new review and meta-analysis of existing studies set out to find how garlic may impact certain aspects of health. The scientists were interested in how garlic consumption can affect cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels. The scientists found an association between the garlic intervention and lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The researchers believe garlic has the potential to become a therapeutic option for people with lipid and glucose metabolism disorders. Nutrients.
Planetary Health Diet linked to lower risk of death from cancer, heart disease: The Planetary Health Diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables as well as protein from plant-based sources. In a new study, researchers said the diet can lower the risk of premature death by 30%. They added that the diet also has environmental benefits for the planet. In their study, researchers say the Planetary Health Diet reduced the risk of every major cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and lung disease for research participants. The research is published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A dark side to dark chocolate? New study finds very minimal risk for kids from metals in chocolates:Chocolate lovers may have been alarmed by a 2023 Consumer Reports finding that some dark chocolate brands could contain harmful levels of lead and cadmium. However, a new study by Tulane University published in Food Research International has found that dark chocolate poses no adverse risk for adults and contains nutritionally beneficial levels of essential minerals. The study sampled 155 dark and milk chocolates from various global brands sold in the United States and tested for the presence of 16 heavy metals ranging from the toxic (lead and cadmium) to the essential (copper, iron, zinc).
Can diet help with advanced breast cancer? All indications are positive: Results of a small study showed that a whole-food, plant-based diet followed by women with stage 4 breast cancer improved several measures of health, including levels of cancer growth factors in their blood.
Study links key nutrients with slower brain aging: A new study suggests better nutrition might help prevent cognitive decline. Working with a group of 100 cognitively healthy participants aged 65 to 75, a research team combined neuroscience with nutritional science to identify a specific nutrient profile linked with better performance on cognitive tests. Nutrient biomarkers identified via blood tests revealed a combination of fatty acids, antioxidants and carotenoids, and two forms of Vitamin E and choline -- very similar to the Mediterranean diet -- in the systems of those who showed slower than expected brain aging in MRI scans and cognitive assessments. Nature Publishing Group Aging
Plant-Based Ultra-Processed Foods May Raise Your Risk of Heart Disease and Early Death:Research publishedTrusted Source this week in the journal The Lancet Regional Health — Europe has found that plant-based ultra-processed foods are linked with heart disease and early death. More than 118,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69 answered questions about their diet. The information was later linked to hospital and mortality records on the development of cardiovascular risk factors. The study found that ultra-processed foods made from plants increased the risk of cardiovascular disease by 5% and the risk of early death by 13%. On the flip side, each 10% replacement of plant-based ultra-processed foods with fresh, frozen, or minimally processed plants lowered the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 7% and the risk of dying from heart disease by 13%.
Sleep
Getting more sleep leads to increased gratitude, resilience and flourishing: A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that healthy sleep has a positive impact on gratitude, resilience and flourishing in adults. Results show that subjective sleepiness and mood disturbances improved with earlier bedtimes that extended sleep by an average of 46 minutes per night and worsened with later bedtimes that reduced nightly sleep by an average of 37 minutes. Measures of flourishing, resilience and gratitude significantly improved across the week with sleep extension and significantly worsened with sleep restriction. Sleep-extended participants also wrote twice as much on their gratitude list as the other participants in the study. Gratitude, Flourishing, and Prosocial Behaviors Following Experimental Sleep Restriction and Sleep Extension
Low-dose aspirin reduces inflammation caused by sleep loss: A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that low-dose acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin, can reduce inflammatory responses to sleep restriction. Results show that compared with placebo, preemptive administration of low-dose aspirin during sleep restriction reduced pro-inflammatory responses.
Most sleep tips shared on TikTok are supported by scientific evidence: A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that most sleep tips shared on TikTok are supported by empirical evidence. The research findings show that of 35 unique sleep tips shared in popular videos, there was empirical support for 29. Only six sleep tips were unsupported by scientific evidence.
Study links sleep apnea treatment and happier, healthier relationships: A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting demonstrates that when individuals with obstructive sleep apnea use their positive airway pressure machine more regularly, it benefits their relationship with their partner. Results show that greater adherence to PAP therapy was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of relationship conflict. Higher sleep efficiency among patients also was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction as reported by both the patient and their partner.
Study finds that better sleep is associated with lower loneliness: A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that better sleep health was associated with significantly lower total loneliness, emotional loneliness and social loneliness. While better sleep health was associated with lower total and emotional loneliness across ages, this association was stronger for younger adults. However, age did not moderate the association between sleep health and social loneliness.
The mind after midnight: Study shows disrupted sleep increases risk for suicide and homicide An analysis of 15 years of national data on suicides and homicides conducted by shows that nocturnal wakefulness is associated with death by both suicide and homicide, possibly driven by deficits in behavioral and emotional regulation. Nearly 19% of suicides and 36% of homicides occur at night. Suicide and homicide share little in common, but their highly concordant overnight risk patterns suggest a common feature: nocturnal wakefulness. Risk for Suicide and Homicide Peaks at Night: Findings From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 35 States, 2003–2017,
Vitamins
New Endo Society Guideline for Vitamin D: New Endocrine Society guidelines call for limiting vitamin D supplementation beyond the daily recommended intake to specific risk groups and advises against routine 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] testing in healthy individuals. The evidence-based document was presented on June 3, 2024 at the Endocrine Society annual meeting and simultaneously published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. It advises that people who may benefit from vitamin D supplementation include: Children aged 1-18 years to prevent rickets and to potentially lower the risk for respiratory tract infections Pregnant people to lower the risk for maternal and fetal or neonatal complications. Adults older than 75 years to lower the risk for mortality. Adults with prediabetes to lower the risk for type 2 diabetes. In those groups, the recommendation is for daily (rather than intermittent) empiric vitamin D supplementation
Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements May Help You Feel Less Angry and Irritable: New research has found that people who take omega-3 supplements like fish oil or who get enough omega-3 fatty acids from eating foods that contain them may be less prone to aggressive and violent outbursts. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that commonplace omega-3 supplements reduced aggression by 30%, regardless of age or gender. The meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials showed that omega-3 reduced both reactive aggression, which is behavior in response to a provocation, and proactive aggression, which is planned.
Melatonin May Cut Risk for Age-Related Eye Disease: Melatonin supplementation is linked to a reduced risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing its progression, suggesting potential as a preventive therapy. Researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, covering electronic medical records across the United States from December 2023 to March 2024. The retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 50 years. Use of melatonin was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing AMD, according to the researchers. In people with nonexudative AMD, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD. The findings were consistent across age groups, suggesting melatonin's benefits may extend to older populations at higher risk for AMD, the researchers reported. JAMA Ophthalmology
Other
8 Lifestyle Factors May Slow Aging, Reduce Risk of Death: A May 29, studyTrusted Source published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that heart-healthy behaviors and risk factor management can reduce people’s risk for heart disease and death from any cause, including heart disease and stroke, regardless of age. Further, these lifestyle habits — which the American Heart Association refers to as “Life’s Essential 8” — were associated with people having a younger biological age, meaning that their cells were healthier than might be expected for their chronological age. Life’s Essential 8 includes four behaviors: nightly hours of sleep; whether people smoke; how much physical activity they get and how well they eat. It also includes four clinical measurements: body mass index (BMI); blood sugar; cholesterol; and blood pressure
CDC Recommends Antibiotic for Use as 'Morning After Pill' to Protect Against STIs: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new recommendation for a common antibiotic, doxycycline, to help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The clinical guidelines, released on June 6Trusted Source, advise healthcare professionals to counsel LGBTQIA+ individuals who have had at least one case of syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea within the past year. Also referred to as the doxy PEP regime, the CDC recommends that one 200-milligram dose of doxycycline be taken within 72 hours after oral, vaginal, or anal sex without a condom or other barrier method. The guidelines also discuss the benefits and potential side effects of taking this antibiotic.
Feeling rough after your COVID shot? Congrats, it’s working! Headache, chills, tiredness may be evidence of a supercharged defense, according to UCSF-led study. The study, which appears online June 10 in Annals of Internal Medicine, is based on symptom reports and antibody responses from 363 people, who had the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines when they were first introduced. After the second dose of the vaccine, the researchers found that those with seven or more symptoms had nearly double the antibody levels of those who did not have symptoms. The participants were mainly in their forties to sixties and had not had the virus. About 40% of the people in the study also wore a device to monitor their temperature, breathing and heart rate. The researchers found that those whose skin temperature increased by 1 degree Celsius after the second dose had three times the antibody levels six months later, compared to those whose temperature did not increase. An absence of side effects does not mean the vaccine is not working. Some people without side effects had better antibodies than some people with side effects.”
TREATMENT
If at First Tirzepatide Doesn't Succeed, Keep Trying: When using tirzepatide (Zepbound, Eli Lilly) to treat obesity, patience may pay off. New post hoc data from Lilly's SURMOUNT-1 trial of people with overweight or obesity but not diabetes suggest that the drug will almost always produce at least 5% weight loss eventually, even among slow responders. "Some obesity treatment guidelines suggest discontinuing anti-obesity medication (AOM) that fails to produce 5% or greater weight reduction within 12 weeks. Newer AOMs may take longer to achieve full weight-loss benefit given their recommended
Temporary Gut Liner Lowers Weight, A1c: Weight loss, glycemic control, fatty liver, and the need for insulin all showed improvement in patients with both refractory type 2 diabetes and obesity after a gut liner known as EndoBarrier (RESET, Morphic Medical, United States) was implanted for 1 year, showed data. Two years after the liner's removal, 80% of patients continued to show significant improvement, while 20% returned to baseline. Presenting results at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference (DUKPC) 2024
Most People on Popular GLP-1 Drugs Don't Use Them Long Enough to See Weight-Loss Effects: A new study finds most people may not stay on GLP-1 drugs long enough to see their effects. Research from Blue Cross Blue Shield finds 58% of people taking liraglutide or semaglutide stopped using the drugs within 3 months. The reason people stop using the drugs may vary. In some cases, people may be impatient. Other people may develop serious and uncomfortable side effects that lead them to stop using the drugs. Over half of people prescribed weight-loss drugs like Saxenda and Wegovy over the past decade stopped taking the medications too early to see any meaningful changes to their health, according to arecent study by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
GLP-1 Drug Semaglutide May Decrease Kidney Disease Risk: The findings, which were presented at the 61st ERA Congress Friday, suggest that receiving a weekly injection of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, may help prevent complications like chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease that often occur alongside obesity.
Statins are Effective Even for People Over Age 75: A new study finds even people over age 75 can get heart benefits from statins. Previously most clinical trials evaluating statins have not included people in this age group. Many major heart organizations, including the American Heart Association, recently suggested that doctors conduct personalized risk assessments with older patients to determine if statins should be used. The report, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine Monday, demonstrates that statins may help safely and effectively lower the risk of heart disease and death in adults 76 and up.
Getting an Epidural During Labor Drops the Risk of Severe Complications by 35%: Getting an epidural during labor is linked with a decrease in severe maternal morbidity in the first few weeks after delivery. These severe complications can include heart attack, heart failure, sepsis, and hysterectomy. The findings were published in The BMJTrusted Source
Surveillance is an Effective Way to Manage Some Types of Prostate Cancer, New Study Finds: For individuals with low-risk prostate cancer, an active surveillance model of care could be just as effective for long-term health outcomes as surgery. Results from the Canary PASS study show good health outcomes among patients taking part in active surveillance over nearly 10 years of follow-up. Prostate cancer is frequently slow-growing, leading to unnecessary treatment and medical costs. JAMATrusted Source.
UBC-developed oral insulin drops offer relief for diabetes patients: Researchers at the Li Lab have developed oral insulin drops that when placed under the tongue are quickly and efficiently absorbed by the body, potentially replacing the need for insulin injections.
Drug used to treat eczema may provide relief for patients with intensely itchy skin diseases: A drug approved to treat eczema provided significant improvement in the symptoms of patients with severe itching diseases that currently have no targeted treatments, according to a new study. The drug, abrocitinib, was found to cause minimal side effects during a small 12-week study. It was beneficial for those with an itching disease called prurigo nodularis as well as for those with chronic pruritus of unknown origin, a condition that causes chronic unexplainable itching symptoms. JAMA Dermatology
Immunotherapy Before Surgery Leads to Better Outcomes for People with Colon Cancer: A pair of immunotherapy drugs have shown impressive results in treating a subset of colorectal cancer known as mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer. DMMR colorectal cancer is characterized by genetic mutations which make it easier for the immune system to identify. The drugs resulted in a “major pathological response,” reducing tumor size to less than 10% in the vast majority of patients. New England Journal of Medicine
Chemo May Benefit Some Older Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Some vulnerable older patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer can benefit from chemotherapy, but only if they can tolerate enough cycles of treatment, according to results of the randomized phase 2 GIANT study.
Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms Much Lower Than Previously Thought: The incidence of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms appears to be much lower than was previously thought, results from a new meta-analysis of studies assessing this issue showed. After accounting for placebo effects, results showed that about 15% of patients who discontinue antidepressant therapy had true discontinuation symptoms, with severe symptoms occurring in about 2% of patients. "Considering all available data, we conservatively estimate that one out of every six to seven patients has truly pharmacologically-caused antidepressant discontinuation symptoms. This might still be an over-estimate, as it is difficult to factor in residual or re-emerging symptoms of depression or anxiety," the researchers concluded. The study was published online on June 5 in The Lancet.
Chronotherapy: Why Timing Drugs to Our Body Clocks May Work: Do drugs work better if taken by the clock? A new analysis published in this month's issue of The Lancet journal's eClinicalMedicine suggests: Yes, they do — if you consider the patient's individual body clock. The study is the first to find that timing blood pressure drugs to a person's personal "chronotype" — that is, whether they are a night owl or an early bird — may reduce the risk for a heart attack.
SGLT2s With Diuretics Improve Heart Failure Outcomes: Patients with acute heart failure on the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin who received diuretic therapy experienced rapid decongestion with shorter hospital stays, report investigators of the ENDORSE-HF trial. The results, presented at HFA-ESC 2023 showed that early initiation of dapagliflozin before hospital discharge was safe and improved diuresis and natriuresis while reducing the diuretic dose.
Bariatric surgery better for weight loss than GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic: Researchers say weight loss surgery is the best option for losing and sustaining weight loss. GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy help people lose weight, but the researchers said weight often returns when people stop taking the medications. Researchers reported that 10 years after bariatric surgery, many people still weighed 25% less than before their operation. The findings, which haven’t been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal, researchers completed systematic reviews of studies published between 2020 and 2024.
New study shows long-term effectiveness of gastric bypass in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity:Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a type of weight-loss surgery, kept type 2 diabetes in remission for up to 15 years and most of the weight off for up to 20 years in one of the largest long-term studies of patients undergoing the procedure. The study* was presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting.
Can statins help prevent cancer? New study offers clues: Statin medications help keep cholesterol levels within a healthy range, but researchers are interested in other uses for these medications. Inflammation is one risk factor for certain types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer. A recent study found that using the statin pitavastatin may assist in blocking a particular protein’s action to suppress chronic inflammation. The findings suggest that statin therapy could potentially prevent inflammatory-related cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer. Nature CommunicationsTrusted Source
New Analysis Finds Millions of People on Statins May Not Need Them: An analysis, published in JAMA Internal MedicineTrusted Source, investigates how statin usage would change using an updated equation. Currently, doctors use so-called Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) to help decide whether a patient needs statins. These equations take into account a range of factors that play a part in heart disease risk. Recently, experts designed a new, more accurate equation called Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events (PREVENT). Researchers found that millions fewer people would meet the criteria for statins, while many others who are not currently taking statins would become eligible.
OTHER
Tattoos May Be Risk Factors for Malignant Lymphoma: In the first large study of its kind, tattoos were found to raise the risk for malignant lymphoma by about 20% compared with no tattoos. Tattoo ink often contains carcinogens and, when applied to the skin, triggers an immunologic response. This study was a population-based case-control study of all incident cases of malignant lymphoma in Swedish adults (aged 20-60 years) in the Swedish National Cancer Register between 2007 and 2017 (n = 11,905). eClinicalMedicine.
Supreme Court Votes Unanimously to Preserve Access to Abortion Pill Mifepristone: On June 13, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the abortion pill mifepristone after weighing whether to restrict access. Restricted access to this medication would have had a ripple effect across dozens of states where the right to a safe and legal abortion is controlled by legislators. The Court’s decision followed a U.S. appeals court ruling to impose restrictions on the medication, challenging its FDA approval and safety. A large body of evidence confirms that mifepristone is safe and effective. FDA vs. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine
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