>> New insight on mammogram frequency
>> Intervention recs for obese kids
>> Gene therapy approved
>> Where morning sickness comes from
>> Medications gone awry
>> Are you getting the mental health care you need?
The Med & Mic™ 12.11.23 – 12.15.23
A medical news blog post
from the author of “Scoop, MD”
This Week In Medical News
In screening and prevention news…
For breast cancer survivors 50 and older, those who had mammograms every two or three years had equal survival at six years as those who had mammograms every year. The UK study of more than 5,200 women was presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and has not yet been published. (Source: AP, C. Johnson, 12.8.23)
The United States Preventive Services Task Force says doctors should step in to help children with high BMIs manage their weight with intense behavioral interventions. The government panel does not recommend medications or surgery. The draft guidelines are available online for four weeks for public comment. (Source: CNN, J. Christensen, 12.12.23)
In medical advancement news…
The FDA has approved two treatments for sickle cell disease which involve genetically modifying a patient’s own stem cells. The new therapy is $2.2 million per patient and can span many months. (Source: NBC News, B. Lovelace and M. Kopf, 12.8.23)
Researchers have found a hormone called GDF15 as the reason for morning sickness during pregnancy. The hormone produced by the fetus surges during the first trimester, leading to nausea and vomiting. This discovery presents a potential opportunity for a treatment. (Source: The Guardian, 12.13.23)
In drug warning news…
A consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, has petitioned the FDA to require a stronger warning about the risk of a potentially fatal muscle-paralyzing disease with Botox injections. The group cites 5,400 reports of deaths, life-threatening events, and other serious side effects from January 1989 to March 2021 from the toxin-based wrinkle treatment. (Source: Reuters, L.Leo, 12.13.23)
Poison control centers have experienced an influx of calls because of accidental overdoses of injectable weight loss drugs. From January to November, 3,000 calls came in, a 15-fold increase since 2019. Some people had to go to the hospital for nausea and vomiting and required IV fluids. There is no specific antidote. (Source: CNN, B. Goodman, 12.14.23)
In mental health news…
The FDA has been asked to review MDMA, the active ingredient in the psychedelic street drug ecstacy, as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Two studies have shown reduced PTSD symptoms with MDMA compared to placebo. If the FDA approves MDMA for PTSD, the drug will have to get a new schedule designation. Currently, it’s a schedule 1 drug, indicating no accepted medical use. (Source: CNN, B. Goodman, 12.12.23)
In a report commissioned by the mental health advocacy group, Inseparable, two-thirds of Americans diagnosed with a mental health condition were unable to access treatment in 2021. Only one out of three people with insurance who visited the emergency department or hospital received follow-up care within a month of discharge. The report also said the average out-of-pocket cost for an hour-long psychotherapy session in 2021 was $174. (Source: NPR, R. Chatterjee, 12.13.23)
Click the follow button to keep up on the medical news of the week.
For more about preparing for media interviews, read “Scoop, MD: the Doctor’s Guide to Media Interviews and Opportunities” on Amazon Kindle Vella.
Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis, or the advice of your own physician. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.
Comments