Journal Watch September 2024

PAIN

Efficacy and safety of erenumab for nonopioid medication overuse headache in chronic migraine:  In this study, monthly, 140 mg erenumab injections safely and effectively achieved medication overuse headaches remission in patients with nonopioid chronic migraine and medication overuse headaches within 6 months. JAMA 

 

Cow slime can help disc herniation patients after surgery: Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a gel inspired by cow slime for patients suffering from disc herniation. By adding the mucin gel immediately after surgery, it is possible to create a protective barrier around the discs to prevent the immune system from attacking their nucleus pulposus. This keeps the discs intact and reduces the risk of further damage. Advanced Science

 

Abdominal fat linked to widespread chronic pain, especially in women: Excess abdominal fat is associated with widespread chronic pain, particularly in women, finds the first study of its kind, published in the open access journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

 

Sickle cell patients who receive lactated ringer’s solution for painful episodes experienced significant improvements compared to those who received normal saline: A new study by researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease, along with the Boston University Evans Center for Implementation and Improvement Science, has found that hospital-admitted patients who received the fluid Lactated Ringer’s, a solution used to replace water and electrolyte loss in patients with low blood volume or low blood pressure, rather than normal saline, had shorter hospital lengths of stay, fewer readmissions to the hospital, and fewer days of intravenous opioid medications for pain control.  JAMA Internal Medicine.

 

Brain scans reveal that mindfulness meditation for pain is not a placebo: A new study, published in Biological Psychiatry, has revealed that mindfulness meditation engages distinct brain mechanisms to reduce pain compared to those of the placebo response. The study, conducted by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, used advanced brain imaging techniques to compare the pain-reducing effects of mindfulness meditation, a placebo cream and a “sham” mindfulness meditation in healthy participants.

 

Texas A&M researchers discover that sustained neck exertions change the spine and muscles, causing pain For the first time, researchers show sustained exertions could disturb the neck’s mechanical structure and increase the risk of neck pain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

Drug may stop migraines before headache starts: When taken at the first signs of a migraine, before headache pain begins, a drug called ubrogepant may be effective in helping people with migraine go about their daily lives with little or no symptoms, according to a new study published in the August 28, 2024, online issue of Neurology®

 

Ultrasound devise shows promise for treating chronic pain: Researchers at the university’s John and Marcia Price College of Engineering and Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine have published promising findings about an experimental therapy that has given many participants relief after a single treatment session. They are now recruiting participants for a final round of trials. At the core of this research is Diadem, a new biomedical device that uses ultrasound to noninvasively stimulate deep brain regions, potentially disrupting the faulty signals that lead to chronic pain. The findings from a recent clinical trial are published in the journal Pain. This study constitutes a translation of two previous studies, published in Nature Communications

Engineering and IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, which describe the unique features and characteristics of the device and demonstrate its efficacy.

 

Pain identified as dominant symptom in long Covid Pain may be the most prevalent and severe symptom reported by individuals with long Covid, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in JRSM Open, analysed data from over 1,000 people in England and Wales who logged their symptoms on an app between November 2020 and March 2022. Pain, including headache, joint pain and stomach pain, was the most common symptom, reported by 26.5% of participants. The other most common symptoms were neuropsychological issues such as anxiety and depression (18.4%), fatigue (14.3%), and dyspnoea (shortness of breath) (7.4%). The analysis found that the intensity of symptoms, particularly pain, increased by 3.3% on average each month since initial registration.

 

Study finds no link between migraine and Parkinson’s disease: Contrary to previous research, a new study of female participants finds no link between migraine and the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The study is published in the August 21, 2024, online issue of Neurology®,

 

Cholecystectomy not always necessary for gallstones and abdominal pain:  

One-third of patients experience persisting abdominal pain five years after surgery JAMA Surgery

 

20 minutes of mindful breathing can rapidly reduce intensity of cancer pain: Twenty minutes of mindful breathing, which focuses a person’s attention on their breath, can rapidly reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of cancer pain and relieve the associated anxiety, suggest the findings of a small comparative study, published online in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 

 

New research finds scalable mindfulness interventions delivered via telehealth improve pain and well-being for veterans with chronic pain: Mindfulness-based interventions delivered via telehealth in a scalable format can improve pain and overall well-being among veterans with chronic pain, according to new research published today in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

 

 

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Cannabis and older adults: Poll shows current use patterns, beliefs and risks: Among people age 50 and up, 21% used cannabis in the past year and 12% partake at least monthly; signs of risky driving, potential addiction seen. This is according to new findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. The poll report focuses on use of cannabis products with psychoactive amounts of THC, not CBD-only products.

 

Just 10 minutes of mindfulness daily boosts wellbeing and fights depression – study reveals: In a new study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, researchers from the Universities of Bath and Southampton have unveiled how just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness practice can improve wellbeing, ease depression and anxiety, and help people to be more motivated to improve their lifestyle – including healthier exercise, eating and sleeping habits. The research, which enrolled 1247 adults from 91 countries, demonstrates that brief daily mindfulness sessions, delivered through a free mobile app Medito, can have profound benefits.

 

FDA ACTION

• Approved FluMist for self- or caregiver-administration.

• Approved Miplyffa (arimoclomol), an oral medication for the treatment of Niemann-Pick disease, type C (NPC)

•  approved Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw) with carboplatin and pemetrexed for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 

•  approved Kisqali (ribociclib) with an aromatase inhibitor for the adjuvant treatment of adults with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative stage II and III early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence.

• approved Keytruda (pembrolizumab) with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy as first-line treatment of unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

• Cleared for marketing Apple Inc.’s Sleep Apnea Notification Feature (SANF), an over-the-counter software-only, mobile medical application that analyzes Apple Watch sensor data to identify patterns of breathing disturbances suggestive of moderate to severe sleep apnea and provide a notification to the user. 

• approved Tecentriq Hybreza (atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs) for subcutaneous injection for all the adult indications as the intravenous formulation of Tecentriq (atezolizumab, Genentech, Inc.), including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), melanoma, and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

• Authorized the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device, Hearing Aid Feature, intended to be used with compatible versions of the Apple AirPods Pro headphones.

• Granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for an updated version of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine that more closely targets currently circulating variants to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. 

• Approved a new indication for ACAM2000, to include the prevention of mpox disease in individuals determined to be at high risk for mpox infection. 

• Expanded the indications of the Insulet SmartAdjust technology, an interoperable automated glycemic controller previously indicated for the management of type 1 diabetes in individuals two years and older, to also include management of type 2 diabetes in individuals 18 years and older.

• Approved and granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2.

• approved Lazcluze (lazertinib) in combination with amivantamab for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations,

 

 

PREVENTION

Exercise

‘Weekend Warriors’ Get the Same Brain Health Benefits As Regular Exercisers: Weekend warriors — individuals who get most of their physical activity over one or two days in a week — gain similar brain health benefits as those who exercise more regularly. According to a new study, weekend warriors had reductions in risk for dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, and depression, which is comparable to a more traditional workout schedule. The study builds on previous research that has shown weekend warriors also experience significant cardiovascular health benefits. published August 21 in Nature AgingTrusted Source

 

Regular Exercise Could Help Make Your Belly Fat ‘Healthier.’ In a small study, people with overweight and obesity who exercised stored less damaging subcutaneous fat and less hormone-disrupting visceral fat. The study builds on a body of research promoting the benefits of exercise regardless of weight, though more research is required. Nature MetabolismTrusted Source 

 

General exercise as good as yoga for female urinary incontinence: A study of older women compared pelvic floor yoga to general muscle conditioning and found yoga was only slightly better at relieving bladder issues. Annals of Internal Medicine. 

 

Fear of hypoglycaemia remains a major barrier to exercise among adults with type 1 diabetes: Despite high use of continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy, fear of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) remains a significant barrier to physical activity and exercise for adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), according to new research to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). However, the findings suggest that if exercise and diabetes management are discussed in the clinic, this fear could be reduced. “Regular exercise can help individuals with diabetes to achieve their blood glucose goals, improve their body composition and fitness, as well as reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes which is higher in people with type 1 diabetes.

 

High-intensity interval training is more beneficial for older women than moderate exercise or resistance training alone, study shows HIIT combined with muscle strength exercises was the most efficacious in terms of reducing blood pressure and arterial stiffness, the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 

 

Study reveals best exercise for diabetes patients: The findings show that gender-specific differences are important when prescribing exercise for patients with type-1 diabetes, to avoid higher glucose decreases which can cause hypoglycemia episodes. “Our study showed that for male patients, interval exercise, such as short bursts of walking, is preferable when starting with low blood sugar levels. Conversely, continuous exercise, like running, is more suitable for those with higher initial blood sugar levels. These approaches can help prevent sudden blood sugar drops. “For female patients, both interval and continuous aerobic exercise appear to be effective starting points. We hope these findings show that gender-specific recommendations should be considered for aerobic exercise prescription, especially for men with irregular physical activity levels.” American Journal of Cardiology: 

 

Sleep

Sleeping In on Weekends May Lower Your Heart Disease Risk By 20%: Anew research analysis offers a comforting prospect: It may be possible to “catch up” on lost sleep from the typical workweek by sleeping in on weekends. In doing so, people may see their risk of heart disease reduced by up to 20%. Presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024 in London on September 1.

 

Why Good Sleep Habits Are Important For Adults With Overweight, Obesity: A recent study from researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) shows that people with overweight or obesity whose circadian rhythms are poorly aligned may experience negative metabolic effects.  The findings, published August 20 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggest these negative effects vary significantly between males and females. Realigning the body clock with sufficient sleep could help reduce the negative health implications of overweight and obesity, researchers say.

 

Health Experts Debunk 3 Popular Sleep Hacks: Try These Alternatives Instead: Many Americans turn to social media for sleep advice. A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that more than 30% of Americans have tried one of this year’s viral sleep trends. Experts share the ins and outs of these sleep trends and what you can do to get better sleep. Healthline 

 

Night Owls May Be at Greater Risk for T2D, Beyond Lifestyle: Night owls — individuals with late chronotypes — may be at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), beyond the risks conferred by an unhealthy lifestyle, research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2024 Annual Meeting suggested. In the study, night owls were almost 50% more likely to develop T2D than those who went to sleep earlier.

 

Diet/Nutrition

Eating 2 Slices of Ham a Day Could Increase Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes 15%: According to a new studyTrusted Source published in the September 2024 issue of The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology,eating red meat and processed meat was linked with a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research team also looked at poultry. However, it was less clear whether it increased people’s risk.

 

Dementia risk rises with any amount of alcohol use, new study suggests: There is no level of alcohol consumption that is not associated with a higher risk of dementia, suggests a new study, contrary to previous findings. The study, which appears in eClinicalMedicineTrusted Source, concludes there is a linear relationship between the amount of alcohol one consumes and the risk of developing dementia.

 

Eating the Right Fats May Help Patients Live Longer: A diet in which the primary source of fat is plant sources is associated with decreased mortality. Animal fat, on the other hand, is associated with an increased risk for death. These are the results of a study published in JAMA Internal Medicinethat followed more than 600,000 participants over two decades.

 

Early vs Late Fast Window: Is One More Effective? A daily 8-hour eating window controls blood glucose whether followed early or late in the day by people at risk for type 2 diabetes, showed a time-restricted eating (TRE) study presented at the 

 

Ultra-Processed Doesn't Always Mean Bad — Here's How to Tell: A new study out of The Lancet Regional Health — Americas looked at different types of ultra-processed foods and found that some were even linked with lower risks of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Researchers analyzed food questionnaires from three large groups of US adults, with most people in their review being White and female. The study found that sugary and artificially sweetened drinks, along with processed meats, were linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. But cereals, savory snacks, and yogurt and dairy-based desserts were linked to a lower risk of these diseases. Ultra-processed cereals and breads were also linked to a lower stroke risk.

 

Moderate Coffee Consumption Linked to Lower Risk of Heart, Metabolic Diseases: New research suggests consuming three cups of coffee or 200–300 mg of caffeine daily may reduce the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases compared to consuming little to none.

Caffeine may improve cardiometabolic health by lowering inflammation, but excess caffeine is associated with negative side effects. There are other ways to support cardiometabolic health, such as focusing on exercise and improving sleep quality. The findings were published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

 

Is a low-carb diet a nutritious diet? Yes, new study shows: A new study in Frontiers in Nutrition, demonstrated that well-constructed low-carb eating patterns can meet, and sometimes even safely exceed, people’s nutrient needs.

 

Can the MIND diet lower the risk of memory problems later in life?: People whose diet more closely resembles the MIND diet may have a lower risk of cognitive impairment, according to a new study. Results were similar for Black and white participants. These results do not prove that the MIND diet prevents cognitive impairment, they only show an association. The MIND diet is a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. It includes green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and collard greens along with other vegetables. It recommends whole grains, olive oil, poultry, fish, beans and nuts. It prioritizes berries over other fruits and recommends one or more servings of fish per week. Neurology 

Cutting out sugar and starch is as effective for IBS as current recommendations: Symptoms for patients with the gastrointestinal disease IBS improved as much by eating less sugar and starch as for those who followed FODMAP – the diet currently recommended to patients. The results, presented in a new study from Lund University in Sweden, also show that weight loss is greater and sugar cravings are reduced among those who follow the starch and sucrose-reduced diet. Nutrients 

 

Vitamins/Supplements

TikTok Loves These 6 Herbal Supplements, But They May Damage Your Liver: Numerous users on social media platforms like TikTok have espoused the benefits of herbal supplements, leading to a surge in their popularity. However, a new studyTrusted Source conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan found that six popular herbal supplements, including green tea extract, turmeric, and ashwagandha, are linked to liver risks. Furthermore, the researchers estimated that 15.6 million U.S. adults have taken at least one herbal supplement in the last 30 days that might be hepatotoxic or damaging to their liver.

 

High-Dose vitamin D3 does not provide benefit for metastatic colorectal cancer: A double-blind randomized phase 3 clinical trial led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers and conducted across several hundred cancer centers in the U.S. tested the addition of high-dose vitamin D3 to standard treatment for patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. No additional concerning side-effects or toxicities with the addition of high-dose vitamin D3 were found. However, the addition of high-dose vitamin D3 to standard treatment did not delay the progression of cancer more so than standard-dose vitamin D3, according to the team’s analysis after a median 20-month follow up. A potential benefit for high-dose vitamin D3 was observed for patients with left-sided disease (i.e., primary tumors that arise in the descending colon, sigmoid colon, or rectum) and requires further investigation. European Society for Medical Oncology

 

Targeted vitamin D supplementation strategies show promise in boosting cardiometabolic health: The comprehensive review analyzed 99 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 17 656 participants. The analysis revealed that vitamin D supplementation, with a median dose of 3320 International Units (IU) per day, was associated with favorable effects on various cardiometabolic risk factors, including reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and fasting blood insulin. Significantly, the researchers discovered that the benefits of vitamin D supplementation were most pronounced in specific groups: non-Western populations, individuals with baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 15.0 ng·mL−1, those with a body mass index (BMI) below 30 kg·m−2, and older individuals aged 50 years or above. Engineering

 

High-Dose Vitamin D Linked to Lower Disease Activity in CIS: High-dose oral cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) supplementation significantly reduces evidence of disease activity in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), results of a randomized, controlled trial suggest. In addition, cholecalciferol had a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated. "These data support high-dose vitamin D supplementation in early MS and make vitamin D the best candidate for add-on therapy evaluation in the therapeutic strategy for MS," said study author Eric Thouvenot, MD, PhD, University Hospital of Nimes, Neurology Department, Nîmes, France. The study was presented on September 19 at the 40th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) 2024.

 

Vitamin B is an effective cure for many intestinal patients with chronic fatigue: A new study reveals the link between gut bacteria and the effectiveness of vitamin B1 treatment for chronic disease in patients with intestinal inflammation. Half of the patients experienced significantly less fatigue after treatment. "We know that about half of the fatigued patients benefit from treatment with vitamin B1, but we haven't been able to find anything that distinguishes those who had an effect from those who did not. Now we know that it's especially the bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FP) that is the key," says Professor and Consultant Christian Lodberg Hvas, who is the lead author of the study. AARHUS UNIVERSITY

 

Low magnesium levels increase disease risk, new study shows: A new Australian study has identified why a diet rich in magnesium is so important for our health, reducing the risk of DNA damage and chronic degenerative disorders. Blood samples from 172 middle aged adults, found a strong link between low magnesium levels and high amounts of a genotoxic amino acid called homocysteine This toxic combination damages the body’s genes, making people more susceptible to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, gastrointestinal diseases, a range of cancers, and diabetes. Wholegrains, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and dark chocolate are all magnesium-rich foods, which help the body produce energy, build teeth and bones, regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and ensure that the heart, muscles and kidneys all work properly. European Journal of Nutrition

 

Other

Why Getting Your Flu and COVID-19 Shots at the Same Time Is a Good Idea This Year: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2024–25 influenza season guidelines recommend the annual flu shot for all individuals ages 6 months and older, with rare exceptions.  The recommendationsTrusted Source highlight two key updates: After more than a decade of quadrivalent formulations, this year’s flu shot is a trivalent vaccineTrusted Source that does not include an Influenza B/Yamagata component. The trivalent vaccine will target three flu strains: two influenza A viruses — H1N1 and H3N2 — and an influenza B/victoria virus. The B/Yamagata lineage has not been detected globally since March 2020, which suggests it may have been eliminated.  Flu shots for adult solid organ transplant recipients ages 18–64 on immunosuppressive medications will include HD-IIV3 (trivalent high dose inactivated influenza vaccine) and allV3 (trivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine). These high dose vaccines help boost immune response in older adults. Infectious disease experts say the optimal time to receive both the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccineTrusted Source is late September and during October.

 

Quitting Smoking Cuts Heart Attack Risk by Nearly 50%, Study Finds: Researchers report that people with coronary artery disease can reduce their risk of heart attack by 44% by quitting smoking. The risk for people with this condition increases by 8% for every year they continue to smoke. People who only reduce the amount they smoke don’t lower their risk when compared to people who continue to smoke, researchers say. Experts advise people both with and without coronary artery disease to stop smoking as soon as possible. These findings were presented on August 29 in London at the ESC Congress 2024

 

These Are the 3 Most Effective Ways to Quit Smoking, New Research Finds:  

A comprehensive new review published this month in Society for the Study of AddictionTrusted Source has revealed the top three most effective means to quit. Varenicline (Chantix) – An oral prescription medication used alongside education and counseling to stop smoking. CytisineTrusted Source – A plant-derived smoking cessation aid that has been used for decades in many European countries. Cytisine is not currently available in the USA, nor is it FDA-approved. E-cigarettes (with nicotine) – Evidence around e-cigarettes for smoking cessation remains somewhat controversial. The FDA has never approved an e-cigaretteTrusted Source for this purpose. Nonetheless, the present review did find that e-cigarettes were effective at helping people quit.

 

A healthy lifestyle may counteract diabetes-associated brain ageing: The study included more than 31,000 people between 40 and 70 years of age from the UK. Prediabetes and diabetes were associated with brains that were 0.5 and 2.3 years older than chronological age, respectively. In people with poorly controlled diabetes, the brain appeared more than four years older than chronological age. The researchers also noted that the gap between brain age and chronological age increased slightly over time in people with diabetes. These associations were attenuated among people with high physical activity who abstained from smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. "Diabetes, prediabetes, and brain aging: the role of healthy lifestyle"

 

Aspirin for CRC Prevention May Work Best in Adults With Unhealthy Lifestyles: Aspirin provides greater protection against colorectal cancer (CRC) in people with unhealthy lifestyles, particularly smokers with higher body weight, new data suggest.  published online in JAMA Oncology.

 

These Diabetes Drugs Could Help Lower Your Risk of Dementia, Parkinson’s: Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. According to a new study, certain diabetes medications may significantly reduce this risk. These drugs, called gliflozins or SGLT2 inhibitors, stop the kidneys from reabsorbing too much blood glucose to improve blood sugar levels. Although the results of the study are encouraging, the authors call for more research to confirm their findings. Neurology 

 

TREATMENT

AFib Risk: Potassium Less Necessary After Heart Surgery Than Previously Thought: Potassium supplementation is not needed as often as previously thought to prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib) after certain types of heart surgery. That’s the conclusion from researchers in a new study presented this weekend at the ESC 2024, the European Society of Cardiology annual conference held this year in London. The findings were published in JAMATrusted Sourceon August 31.

 

Mounjaro, Zepbound Lowers Diabetes Risk By 94%, Eli Lilly Trial Shows: In a new clinical trial, the GLP-1 drug tirzepatide was effective in helping people maintain weight loss over a 3-year period. Researchers reported the resulting weight loss also lowered participants’ risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Experts agree these medications are effective, but encourage a long-term commitment to weight loss through a healthy diet and regular exercise. Officials at Eli Lilly made that announcement while unveiling the latest results of their 3-year SURMOUNT 1 clinical trial.

 

Does Ozempic, Wegovy Cause Suicidal Thoughts? Debate Over Safety Continues: A global study published on August 20 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source found a raised risk of suicidal ideation associated with semaglutide use, while a new study, published September 3 in JAMA Internal MedicineTrusted Source found no such link.

 

3-in-1 blood pressure drug may be more effective than current standard care: A new study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)Trusted Sourcehas found a new pill that combines low doses of three different anti-hypertensive medications surpassed a current high-quality standard care treatment plan starting with only one anti-hypertensive drug.

 

Type 2 Diabetes Drug Metformin May Help Reduce Viral Reservoir in People with HIV: The authors of the September 2024 studyTrusted Source, which was published in the journal iScience, state that in previous studies, when people took the drug for three months, there were improvements in immunity and reductions in inflammation. In the current study, they found that metformin increased the number of cells with the HIV virus while preventing the virus from leaving the cells. They note that these effects could be used to boost the effects of antiretrovirals.

 

Weekly Insulin Shots for Type 2 Diabetes May Be as Effective as Daily Shots: Eli Lilly’s once-weekly insulin injection is just as effective as daily insulin shots for managing A1C levels in diabetes, according to the latest results from two phase 3 clinical trials.  the new data builds on prior results released in May about the effectiveness of the company’s once-weekly shot during the QWINT-2 and QWINT-4 clinical trials. Those results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Lilly announced on Tuesday. They’re are also being presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2024.

 

Once-Weekly Insulin Looks Good in T2D, but Risk Seen in T1D: Eli Lilly's investigational once-weekly basal insulin analog efsitora alfa continues to show noninferiority to once-daily insulin in people with type 2 diabetes. However, in those with type 1 diabetes, there was an increased risk for hypoglycemia. The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. 

 

Can Ozempic Really Lower Your Risk of Severe COVID-19? According to a study published online on August 30, 2024, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people using 2.4-milligram semaglutide were less likely to have severe cases of COVID-19 when using this drug. They were also less likely to die from any cause, cardiovascular or otherwise. The study authors further noted that the reduced rate of non-cardiovascular deaths was mainly due to fewer people dying from infections.

 

Ozempic: GLP-1 Drugs May Help Prevent 34,000 Heart Attacks and Strokes Per Year: GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound are powerful tools for treating diabetes and aiding with weight loss, but a new study suggests these medications could also help prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke in millions of people, suggests New research. new research from Dandelion Health, a company specializing in “real-world data and clinical AI,” indicates that GLP-1 drugs could have broad implications for the heart health of millions of Americans, potentially preventing more than 30,000 heart attacks and strokes each year in the United States.

 

 Kessler Foundation scientists publish protocol for combining aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: The article, “Rationale and methodology for examining the combination of aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation on new learning and memory in persons with multiple sclerosis and mobility disability: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial,”was published online and will appear in print in Contemporary Clinical Trials

 

High-Dose Prescription Amphetamine Tied to Psychosis Risk: Teenagers and young adults taking high doses of prescription amphetamines may face a greater than fivefold increased risk of developing psychosis or mania, a new analysis suggests. The risk was highest with doses of ≥ 30 mg of dextroamphetamine, which corresponds to 40 mg of Adderall, investigators found. There was no association between new-onset psychosis or mania and past-month use of methylphenidate. The study was published online September 12 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. 

 

Positive Airway Pressure Therapy Can Save Lives in Older Adults With Sleep Apnea: The utilization of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is associated with reduced rates of mortality and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in older adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with a greater utilization further reducing these risks.  published online on September 11, 2024, in JAMA Network Open

 

TYK2 Inhibitor Shows Promise for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: Zasocitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, at oral doses of ≥ 5 mg led to greater skin clearance than placebo over a period of 12 weeks, in a phase 2b study. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 53%-62% of patients in the zasocitinib groups compared with 44% in the placebo group. The most common were COVID-19, acne/acneiform dermatitis, and diarrhea. There were no reports of major adverse cardiovascular events, thromboembolic events, or opportunistic infections.  published online on August 21, 2024, in JAMA Dermatology

 

Time Antihypertensives Taken Doesn't Matter: New Trials: Two new trials have confirmed that time of day does not matter when it comes to taking antihypertensive medication. Medscape https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/time-antihypertensives-taken-doesnt-matter-new-trials-2024a1000g3z

 

Statins Linked to Improved Liver Health in MASLD: Statin usage in patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with a lower long-term risk for all-cause mortality, liver-related events, and progression of liver stiffness.  published online in Gut.

 

Hormone Therapy Can Benefit Women Into Their 80s: Hormone therapy (HT) can help women manage menopause symptoms into their 80s, and the reasons are varied, according to a retrospective analysis being presented at the annual meeting of The Menopause Society.

 

'Remarkable' Weight Loss Seen With Novel Oral Combination That Is Safe and Tolerable in Phase 1 Study: Amycretin, a dual pathway, oral weight loss drug, led to up to 13% body weight loss in participants with overweight or obesity according to phase 1, first-in-human study data presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2024 annual meeting.

 

 Hormone Therapy for Menopause Remains at Historic Lows Despite Effectiveness and Safety Profile:Less than 4% of American women aged 50-59 years use hormone therapy (HT) to treat menopausal symptoms today, approximately 10 times lower than the peak use of HT before the publication of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study that misguidedly cast doubt on the safety of HT. Though subsequent research has addressed the flaws of the WHI study and supports the use of HT in most menopausal women younger than 60 years, use of this therapy has never recovered, according to research presented at The Menopause Society 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago on September 12.

 

 

OTHER

Cellphones Not Linked to Brain Cancer Risk, WHO Review of 63 Studies Finds: A new review of previous research concludes that radiation from cellphones is not likely to increase a person’s risk of brain cancer. Their findings align with studies from the past decade that state that the incidence of brain cancers has not increased despite a large increase in the use of mobile devices. Experts say the causes of brain cancer are still somewhat of a mystery, but it appears wireless technology is not a risk factor. Environment International.

 

How the ‘Fridgescaping’ Trend Can Increase Your Risk of Food-Borne Illnesses: “Fridgescaping” is a new trend that has become popular on social media platforms like TikTok. It involves creating a theme in your fridge with decorative objects, flowers, and lights. Health experts say it could increase health risks if you aren’t careful. It can put you at risk for exposure to harmful microorganisms or chemicals. However, if safety is kept in mind, it can be helpful in keeping your fridge clean and tidy.Healhline 

 

Why Getting Your Flu and COVID-19 Shots at the Same Time Is a Good Idea This Year: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2024–25 influenza season guidelines recommend the annual flu shot for all individuals ages 6 months and older, with rare exceptions.  The recommendationsTrusted Source highlight two key updates: After more than a decade of quadrivalent formulations, this year’s flu shot is a trivalent vaccineTrusted Source that does not include an Influenza B/Yamagata component. The trivalent vaccine will target three flu strains: two influenza A viruses — H1N1 and H3N2 — and an influenza B/victoria virus. The B/Yamagata lineage has not been detected globally since March 2020, which suggests it may have been eliminated.  Flu shots for adult solid organ transplant recipients ages 18–64 on immunosuppressive medications will include HD-IIV3 (trivalent high dose inactivated influenza vaccine) and allV3 (trivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine). These high dose vaccines help boost immune response in older adults. Infectious disease experts say the optimal time to receive both the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccineTrusted Source  is late September and during October.

 

New study provides insight to why Covid vaccines hit some harder than others

From exercise to birth control, researchers found many factors contribute to vaccine side effects including stress and body mass index.  Journal of Agriculture and Food Research.

 

The Link Between Vision Impairment and Dementia in Older Adults: Addressing vision impairments could help with dementia prevention, as vision impairment is linked to 19% of dementia cases in older adults. published online on September 5 in JAMA Ophthalmology.