Nonprescription Weight Loss Products Used by 1 in 10 Adolescents Worldwide: New Meta-Analysis
Use of nonprescribed weight loss products was higher among girls than boys globally and led by diet pills, followed by laxatives and diuretics, a meta-analysis found.
Early Breastfeeding May Reduce Risk of Childhood Obesity, Regardless of Mother's BMI: NIH Study
Each additional month of breastfeeding beyond 3 months correlated with a significantly lower child BMIz, especially for mothers identified as overweight or obese.
Fibrosis Screening Results May Motivate Behavior Change in Adults at Risk of Liver Disease: Danish Study
Screening for fibrosis in persons at risk of ALD and MASLD led to sustained improvements in lifestyle, eg, reduced alcohol consumption, weight loss, and increased exercise.
Ustekinumab Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis Safe, Effective at 4 Years: UNIFI-LTE
More than half of adults with moderate to severe UC maintained clinical and endoscopic remission at 4 years; nearly all no longer required corticosteroids, authors reported.
FDA Review Suggest No Link Between GLP-1RAs and Suicidal Thoughts but Surveillance Will Continue
While the FDA's preliminary evaluation has not surfaced evidence of a link, the agency says it "cannot definitively rule out that a small risk may exist," and so will continue research.
Dupilumab Reduces Nighttime Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance in Severe T2 Asthma
Use of dupilumab also eliminated the need for use of a rescue inhaler in more than one-third of treated patients and the number of inhalations needed for others.
COPD Exacerbations May Increase Risk of Severe CV Events by More Than 15-Fold: Cohort Study
The risk of severe CV events, including leading to death, was greatest in the first week following an exacerbation but remained significantly elevated 1 year later.
Elinzanetant Meets Safety, Efficacy Endpoints in Phase 3 Studies Of Menopausal VMS
The novel nonhormonal compound significantly reduced vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbance while improving quality of life, according to findings.
Maternal Cannabis Exposure Linked to Placental Dysfunction-Related Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Cannabis use during pregnancy, particularly continued use beyond the first trimester, was associated with SGA birth, still birth, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, authors reported.
Hospitalization for COVID-19 vs for Influenza Linked to More, More Severe Long-Term Outcomes: Study
After hospital discharge, persons who had COVID-19 remained at greater risk of death and myriad adverse health outcomes compared with those who had seasonal flu.
NAFLD Linked to Adverse Outcomes Regardless of BMI, New Research Suggests
Individuals with "lean NAFLD" may be at similar risk of NASH, cirrhosis, nonliver cancer, and death as as those with NAFLD and overweight or obesity, authors say.
Older Adults with New Onset Migraine 3 Times More Likely to Have Motor Vehicle Accident
Older adults with a history of migraine, in contrast, were at no greater risk of an automotive crash than those without prevalent migraine, according to new study results.
Eli Lilly Open Letter Warns Against Use of Tirzepatide for "Cosmetic Weight Loss"
In an open letter to the public, Lilly decries use of tirzepatide products Mounjaro and Zepbound for nonmedical purposes and warns of counterfeit formulations.
GI Symptoms May Be Characteristic of a Multiple Sclerosis Prodrome, Study Suggests
Physician visits for gastritis, duodenitis, and esophageal disorders were more than 40% higher in MS patients 5 years before diagnosis than for controls.
Statin Use May Reduce VTE Risk in Perimenopausal Women Taking Exogenous Hormones
While not eliminated, study authors found risk of VTE reduced roughly by half in women taking vs not taking a statin when initiating hormone therapy.
EPA, DHA May Have Protective Effects in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Higher serum levels of the omega-3 fatty acids were associated with slowed disease progression and longer transplant-free survival in a new study.
Patient Health Beliefs, Priorities, and Fears for 2024: National Survey Highlights
Plans for changes in health behavior, fear of high drug prices and a switch in health plans, and a role for AI in clinical medicine are some of the topics probed.
New SARS-CoV-2 Variant Fastest Growing Strain in US: CDC
Infections with the JN.1 Omicron descendent have doubled since mid-November and now comprise 1 in 5 cases of COVID-19 in the US.
CDC: "Leverage All Available Tools" to Increase Flu, RSV, COVID Vaccination
Vaccination against all 3 cocirculating viruses are lower than this time last year and hospitalizations are up across age groups, according to a CDC Health Advisory.
FDA Grants Priority Review to Merck BLA for Investigational 21-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine
If approved the 21-valent shot would be the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine indicated specifically for adults.
Obesity Medicine Certificates Increase 40% from 2022 to 2023, says ABOM
The American Board of Obesity Medicine says annual first-time certificates now exceed those for cardiology, pulmonology, and medical oncology.
Primary Care and Physiatry: When One Leads to the Other, Sooner is Better than Later
Physiatrist Dr Espiritu McKay works closely with primary care clinicians in getting performing artists back to work and stresses that early referral can make a big difference.
Physical Rehabilitation for Performing Artists is Sometimes a Negotiated Plan, says Physiatrist Dr Espiritu McKay
The injured dancer needs to perform on closing night; the physiatrist may need to securely tape an ankle in exchange for a promise that this performance will be the last for a while.
Two Vaccines Against RSV in Older Adults Approved One Month Apart: It Happened in 2023
First-ever vaccines against RSV in older adults, from GSK and Pfizer, won FDA approval in 2023. This brief slide show highlights the year's headline news about both.
Exemption Rate from School Vaccination for Kindergartners Unprecedented in 2022-23: CDC Report
Nonmedical exemptions from required school vaccinations accounted for more than 90% of the increase, according to the published data.
Physiatrist Treats Performing Artists, a Population She Knows from Personal Experience
Tracy Espiritu McKay, DO, a former musical theater performer, can almost feel her patient's pain. She highlights treatment challenges and says early referral after injury is key.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Year of Infant Protection Breakthroughs
The world's first maternal vaccine against RSV in neonates and infants was approved in August. This brief slide show highlights the clinical trials that made history.
Long COVID is Still Real and Patients Still Need Validation, Especially for Mental Health Symptoms: Author Interview
Speaking about treating mental health symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection, Dr Abby Cheng reiterates the importance of validating the patient's experience.
The Devil is in the Long COVID Details When Assessing Mental Health Symptoms, Says Dr Abby Cheng
Is the patient's low energy related to long COVID-related depression, post-exertional malaise, both? The differential diagnosis is all about nuance, says physiatrist Cheng.
Tirzpatide for Chronic Weight Management Now Available in US Pharmacies, Lilly Announces
The dual GIP/GLP-1 mimetic is available by prescription for adults with obesity or overweight with comorbidities and Lilly is offering a savings card program.