Summary

Trent Russell, a former health care worker, was sentenced to two years in prison for illegally accessing and altering the medical records of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before her death.

Russell, who worked as a transplant coordinator, was convicted of accessing Ginsburg’s health data in 2019 and allegedly posting false information online claiming she had died.

Although he denied responsibility, even blaming his cat for accessing the files, the judge condemned his actions as “despicable,” highlighting Ginsburg’s vulnerability due to her age and public profile.

Summary

As U.S. consumers face high costs for weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, some are turning to online pharmacies for cheaper alternatives, risking exposure to counterfeit medications.

Customs and FDA officials warn that these counterfeit products, often seized at ports, may contain harmful substances like antifreeze or incorrect active ingredients.

Despite FDA efforts to shut down illicit sites, many continue to operate or redirect users.

Experts urge consumers to only buy from reputable pharmacies and check for signs of counterfeits, such as misaligned labels or low-quality packaging.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.vg/post/927978

oral phenylephrine:

"three large, carefully designed studies were conducted—two by Merck for the treatment of seasonal allergies and one by Johnson & Johnson for the treatment of the common cold. All three found no significant difference between phenylephrine and a placebo."

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.vg/post/927980

Summary

Donald Trump’s re-election, with prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by his side, signals potential shifts in U.S. health policy that could weaken support for vaccines and public health agencies.

Kennedy, who endorsed Trump after ending his independent campaign, is expected to influence health policy significantly and has recommended vaccine skeptic Dr. Joseph Ladapo for a top health role.

Conservative proposals like Project 2025 aim to reduce the CDC's authority on vaccine recommendations, potentially fueling vaccine hesitancy and leading to the resurgence of preventable diseases, experts warn.

Summary

A new study in Circulation suggests even five minutes of vigorous daily exercise—like running, biking, or brisk walking—can modestly lower blood pressure, while 20 minutes can significantly reduce heart disease risk.

Analyzing nearly 15,000 people, researchers found that small activity increases led to slight but beneficial drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Experts say that starting with short bursts of activity, as little as five minutes, is manageable and effective for cardiovascular health, emphasizing that any exercise—even brief—is beneficial.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.vg/post/924583

Summary

Novo Nordisk provided updates on its next-generation obesity and diabetes drug, CagriSema, a potential successor to Ozempic and Wegovy.

CagriSema combines semaglutide with an amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist, promising enhanced weight loss and blood sugar regulation.

Early trials showed 15.6% weight loss over 32 weeks, and executives are optimistic larger trials could show up to 25% weight loss.

Results from late-stage trials are expected by mid-2025.

Summary

Community health workers are spreading across the US, including in rural areas, to address barriers to healthcare and improve access to preventive care.

These workers assist vulnerable populations, including immigrants, rural residents, and low-income families, by providing support with tasks such as arranging medical appointments, understanding bills, and promoting healthy lifestyle choices.

Medicare has been reimbursing community health worker services since January, and advocates hope more state Medicaid programs and private insurers will follow suit.

cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/19765205

Summary

A new study links PFAS "forever chemical" exposure in young adults to reduced gut health, which researchers suggest may drive kidney disease later in life.

PFAS exposure is already associated with kidney disease, but this research finds that disruptions in gut bacteria and metabolites caused by PFAS contribute to up to 50% of kidney function decline over four years.

The study calls for reducing PFAS in the environment and explores potential treatments, including drugs and dietary interventions, to mitigate gut health impacts and prevent kidney disease progression.

Worldwide cancer rates and deaths are projected to increase by 77% and 90% respectively by 2050, according to Australian and international researchers who say lower-income countries will be hardest hit.

The team used data on 36 cancer types across 185 countries to project how incidence rates and deaths will change over the coming decades. They say a tripling of cancer cases and subsequent deaths in low- and middle-income countries will drive the rise, while higher-income countries will still see an increase in cancer, albeit much smaller.

Looking at 2022 data, the researchers say Australia has the highest cancer survival rate among high-income countries, and other countries could reduce their cancer death rates in the future by emulating aspects of the Australian healthcare system.

Summary

38-year-old Massachusetts spa owner Rebecca Fadanelli faces federal charges for posing as a nurse and administering thousands of doses of counterfeit Botox, Sculptra, and Juvederm obtained from China and Brazil.

She reportedly performed over 2,700 procedures, amassing nearly $1 million in client payments.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned of health risks from counterfeit Botox, citing adverse reactions in several states, including blurred vision and respiratory issues.

Fadanelli’s court appearance is scheduled for November 14.

Summary

A new study reports that one-third of the 318,000 identified beauty product ingredients lack toxicological profiles, while 45 “high hazard” chemicals are commonly used.

The report aims to address this by creating a centralized repository of hazard data and a chemical grading system to promote transparency and encourage companies like Ulta Beauty and Sephora phase out dangerous substances and adopt safer alternatives.

Summary

Data brokers are selling Americans’ location data, allowing invasive tracking, especially of women visiting abortion clinics, posing serious privacy risks.

Reports reveal tools like Babel Street’s Locate X, intended for government use, have enabled unauthorized tracking without proper vetting. With the rollback of Roe v. Wade, such surveillance amplifies threats to women’s rights.

Solutions proposed include voting for privacy-supportive candidates, enforcing data broker regulations, implementing state-level data protections, and enacting federal privacy laws. Additionally, Google should improve Android’s privacy settings to prevent tracking and protect users’ data.

Summary

The CDC now recommends a second dose of the 2024-25 Covid vaccine for high-risk groups, including those over 65 and with weakened immune systems, six months after their first dose.

Experts, such as Dr. Ashish Jha and immunologists Akiko Iwasaki and E. John Wherry, support this guidance, highlighting that while the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are effective, the virus’s rapid mutation and year-round presence necessitate more frequent boosters for at-risk populations.

California lawsuit demands Carefree and parent company Edgewell remove chemicals or add warning label

Carefree menstrual pads are contaminated with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, which presents a threat to the reproductive health of women using the products, a new lawsuitfiled in California state court alleges.

The suit demands Carefree and its parent company, personal care product giant Edgewell, remove PFAS from the products or put a warning label on its packaging.

The exposure is potentially a “big health problem”, said Vineet Dubey, an attorney representing Ecological Alliance, a consumer advocacy group which brought the suit.