HEALTH SECRET

Lightning struck a beach in the northern coastal town of Isabela during inclement weather Monday, injuring three children, one seriously, Puerto Rican police said. http://dlvr.it/T7VHxn

People with disabilities account for 13% of all pregnancies in Ontario, but a new report shows that this population was more likely to experience pregnancy complications such as emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and preterm birth. http://dlvr.it/T7TxpB

A meta-analysis of over 730,000 individuals indicates that high broccoli consumption is linked to lower cancer prevalence, though more robust research is needed to confirm its chemopreventive properties. http://dlvr.it/T7Thqv

As GLP-1 drugs become more popular, Nestlé has launched a new line of frozen food items targeting people on these medications. Image Provided by Nestlé * Nestlé is launching a new frozen food brand, targeted towards people taking GLP-1 medications. * Experts said that processed food cannot replace natural, whole foods. This food line can act as a supplement but should not be the only food source. * Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is important alongside consuming these products. 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. The food line will contain essential nutrients, with products such as sandwich melts, pizzas and frozen bowls with whole grains or pasta.  “I appreciate that Nestlé is providing a foo...

Researchers found that a ketogenic diet significantly improves both metabolic and psychiatric health in individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, with notable reductions in weight, waist circumference, and mental illness severity. http://dlvr.it/T7RdKR

Researchers analyzed nationwide data from Germany to evaluate trends and outcomes in hospitalized cases of high- and low-flow priapism, finding increased hospitalizations for ischemic priapism and reduced cases linked to sickle cell disease. http://dlvr.it/T7RB9T

Researchers found that healthy plant-based diets reduce the risk of gout, while unhealthy plant-based diets increase the risk, especially among women. http://dlvr.it/T7RB4T

Researchers investigated the diversity of Gardnerella species in the vaginal microbiomes of pregnant women, finding an association between higher Gardnerella richness and increased risk of preterm delivery. http://dlvr.it/T7R9yk

Researchers found that emergent phenomena (EP) from practices like meditation and mindfulness are common and can lead to both positive and negative outcomes, highlighting the need for better clinical support. http://dlvr.it/T7R9sc

There's an old joke that mosquitoes are like family: They are annoying, but they carry your blood. http://dlvr.it/T7PmvH

Running is a great form of exercise that has numerous benefits for our health. For instance, people who consistently run at least an hour a week throughout their lives tend to live three years longer and have fewer chronic illnesses, compared with people who don't do any exercise. http://dlvr.it/T7NVQK

A team of experts in multiple sclerosis (MS) research recommends a structured approach to the study of mechanisms of exercise training for improving outcomes for multiple sclerosis (MS). http://dlvr.it/T7NDKD

New research reveals which U.S. states have the highest and lowest obesity rates. halbergman/Getty Images * A new report shows which ten states have the highest obesity rates in the U.S. * Many of these states also ranked low for public health and overall healthcare. * Other factors that influence obesity rates include poverty, culture, and education. * The internet can provide people with many resources to aid in weight loss. People are considered to be overweight if their weight exceeds what is deemed to be normal for a person of their height. More specifically, a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2 defines the condition of being overweight, while those who have a BMI of 30 or greater are classified as having obesity. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that as of 2017-2018, 42.4% of adults in the U.S. are living with obesity. Further, 9.2% met the criterion for severe obesity — having a BMI of grea...

Specific nutrients in foods commonly associated with the Mediterranean diet can help slow brain aging. J. Anthony/Stocksy United * New research has found that nutrients found in the Mediterranean diet may slow cognitive decline.  * A nutrient profile of fatty acids, anti-oxidants, carotenoids, vitamin E, and choline was found to promote healthy brain aging.  * Experts say these nutrients can protect against cellular damage, neutralize free radicals, and promote attention and memory.  * Foods like fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and leafy greens are important for brain health.  A new study has found that specific nutrients similar to those found in the Mediterranean diet may play a crucial role in slowing down brain aging. Using blood biomarker analysis, brain imaging, and cognitive assessments, the study published in Nature Publishing Group Aging concluded that a diet rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, carotenoids, vitamin E, and choline could promote healthy ...

Hot dogs are among the ultra-processed foods that expert say should be limited in a person’s diet. Anastasia Dobrusina/Getty Images * New research suggests a possible connection between ultra-processed foods, stroke, and cognitive decline. * Ultra-processed foods include chips and many frozen meals. * Experts say that the next step is further research to explain this connection more deeply and determine which foods create the most risk.  New research published in the journal Neurology is reporting an association between regularly eating ultra-processed foods and the risk of cognitive decline as well as stroke. The study was based on data across two cohorts, 14,175 in a cognitive decline group and 20,243 in a stroke group. All of the study participants were 45 years old or older. Dr. Gary Small, the chair of psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Health and a former longtime faculty member at the University of California Los Angeles, said that the research isn’t...

The federal government in 2020 and 2023 changed who it said could safely donate organs and blood, reducing the restrictions on men who have had sex with another man. http://dlvr.it/T7LHXp

Extreme weather events have hit parts of Africa relentlessly in the last three years, with tropical storms, floods and drought causing crises of hunger and displacement. They leave another deadly threat behind them: some of the continent's worst outbreaks of cholera. http://dlvr.it/T7KtQP

Researchers reviewed the benefits, practicalities, and harms of masks and masking, finding that masks are effective in reducing respiratory disease transmission despite some adverse effects, and emphasized the need for improved public understanding and policies. http://dlvr.it/T7KXnP

Inadequate access to simple elective surgery in developing countries is storing up future health problems for patients and may create a spiral of future health complications putting more people's lives at risk, a new study reveals. http://dlvr.it/T7KXTg

Nicotine pouches are gaining popularity on social media as a cheap alternative to weight loss drugs, but medical experts warn the trend can pose significant health risks. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images * Nicotine pouches are being used as an alternative to weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. * Nicotine is a known appetite suppressant but has many health risks. * Risks of oral nicotine products include gastro discomfort, tooth decay, and certain types of cancer. * Experts say you can naturally suppress your appetite with lifestyle tweaks . Instagram and TikTok users are promoting the use of Zyn brand nicotine pouches as an appetite suppressant in a trend that has been called “O-Zyn-pic” — a low cost alternative to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Content creators are claiming the $5 doses of flavored nicotine have helped them lose up to 30lbs. However, while nicotine may help reduce appetite, health experts are raising concerns about ...

Pelvic pain is common, affecting 15% of women of reproductive age. Pinpointing its cause, whether it's endometriosis, ovarian cysts or musculoskeletal issues, can be a challenge. http://dlvr.it/T7HhHD

What should the medicine of the future look like? A team of scientists writing in Frontiers in Science lays out a bold vision for precision approaches to understanding, preventing, and treating diseases, driven by revolutionary technologies and new interdisciplinary collaborations between researchers and other health sector professionals. http://dlvr.it/T7HHBz

A trio of new studies suggest that people who use GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may be more likely to develop ‘stomach paralysis’ (gastroparesis). SeventyFour/Getty Images * New research presented this week highlights a link between drugs like Ozempic and a condition known as gastroparesis, so-called stomach paralysis. * The studies found that patients who take GLP-1 drugs were more likely to develop the condition. * Despite the name, experts contacted by Healthline reiterated that gastroparesis is an expected and reversible effect of GLP-1 drugs. Are you more likely to develop gastroparesis, so-called stomach paralysis, if you’re taking an obesity or diabetes medication like Wegovy or Ozempic? A trio of studies presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024 examined real-world patient data to better understand the prevalence of certain gastrointestinal side effects, including gastroparesis, among patients taking popular weight loss and diabetes medications. ...

The FDA has approved biosimilars for macular degeneration treatment. recep-bg/Getty Images * The FDA approved two biosimilars for Eylea (aflibercept), a drug used to treat age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions. * Biosimilars Yesafili and Opuviz work the same way, and have similar safety and efficacy, as Eylea. * The biosimilars’ manufacturers have not yet revealed the launch date and list prices for the drugs. The Food and Drug Administration approved two interchangeable biosimilars to Eylea (aflibercept), a brand name drug used to treat age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions. Biosimilars are generic copies of name-brand biologic drugs and get their name from their similarity in structure and function to their counterparts. Biosimilars Yesafili (aflibercept-jbvf, from Biocon Biologics) and Opuviz (aflibercept-yszy, from Biogen and Samsung Bioepis) work the same way as Eylea ...

Telehealth company Hims & Hers announced they will begin selling off-brand GLP-1 drugs similar to Ozempic and Wegovy at a significantly lower price. FreshSplash/Getty Images * Hims & Hers is now selling compounded semaglutide for weight loss. * They are offering prices that are significantly lower than Wegovy and Ozempic. * This could be a boon for consumers since it fills a gap in supply. * However, people should be aware that compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved. * Compounded medications undergo less extensive testing than brand-name drugs. On May 20, 2024, Hims & Hers announced that it will now be selling a compounded version of Novo Nordisk’s popular diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Their compounded version of the GLP-1 drug semaglutide will be prescribed by a physician through their own telehealth platform. With low prices starting at $79 per month for its oral medication kits and $199 per month for injectio...

Extreme heat and extreme cold are both associated with increased risks of death from ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The researchers found that the link between extreme temperatures and stroke mortality was stronger in low-income countries than in high-income countries. http://dlvr.it/T7DgRb

Closed Loop Medicine Ltd., a leading TechBio company developing combination prescription drug plus software therapy products that deliver personalized dose optimization, today announced the appointment of Paul Johnson as an Independent Non-Executive Director. http://dlvr.it/T7DfpS

FG Trade/Getty Images * Radiofrequency-based ablation for atrial fibrillation appears more effective than previously shown in clinical trials. * Using real-world data, a new study found that the procedure eliminated atrial arrhythmias in more than 80% of participants at a one-year followup. * Radiofrequency-based ablation works by applying bursts of energy to tissue in the heart via a catheter. The subsequent formation of scar tissue disrupts the abnormal electrical signaling that causes AFib. A procedure to treat atrial fibrillation may be even more effective than previously demonstrated due to improved technology and modern interventions. Radiofrequency-based ablation (RF ablation) is the most common form of ablation used to treat atrial fibrillation. The process works by using a catheter to deliver bursts of radiofrequency energy to areas of the heart and creating scar tissue to block abnormal electrical pathways. The process has proven to be safe and e...

More than 1 in 5 adults in Canada did not have access to primary care, with large regional gaps in access, according to new research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. http://dlvr.it/T79bT1

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with type 2 inflammation may soon gain access to a new drug -; dupilumab -; that showed rapid and sustained improvements in patients in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine. http://dlvr.it/T79LGQ

A new study looks at how exercise is measured. Tom Werner / Getty Images * Step counts and minutes are both useful ways to measure physical activity, a new study suggests. * A greater number of steps per day or minutes of exercise per week are both associated with lower health risks, researchers found. * Move more, sit less is still a good overall goal, regardless of how you track the movement. Aiming for 7,000 or 10,000 steps a day is an easy way to increase your physical activity, which can decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions. But the current U.S. physical activity guidelines recommend that people measure their physical activity in minutes, rather than steps — specifically, at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.  So, is it really better to count the minutes you spend exercising instead of counting your steps?  A new stu...

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) 2024, featuring 15 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria grouped into critical, high and medium categories for prioritization. http://dlvr.it/T774Lr

In a new paper, researchers from clinical stage artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company Insilico Medicine ("Insilico"), in collaboration with NVIDIA, present a new large language model (LLM) transformer for solving biological and chemical tasks called nach0. http://dlvr.it/T7748c

A review in Nature Reviews Cancer emphasizes the necessity for cancer researchers to understand AI's potentials and limitations, detailing its applications and challenges in cancer research to aid non-computational biologists. http://dlvr.it/T773xc

A molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the basic unit of biochemical energy that fuels the activities of all cells. http://dlvr.it/T76qNs

The mental health benefits of being in nature have long been acknowledged, whether through activities like listening to birdsong or taking a walk in the park. http://dlvr.it/T76dm6

Aston University's Dr Cassie Screti joined the latest Aston Originals Health Matters podcast recorded for World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day to discuss a new online tool to help young people better manage Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). http://dlvr.it/T7592x