- www.cbsnews.com New Mexico man awarded $412 million payout over botched penile injections: "A national record-setting case"
The man's attorneys said the punitive and compensatory damages total the largest amount to ever be awarded by a jury in a medical malpractice case in the U.S.
Summary
A New Mexico jury awarded $412 million in a medical malpractice case against NuMale Medical Center, marking the largest U.S. malpractice award to date.
The case involved a 66-year-old man who suffered irreversible damage from unnecessary penile injections prescribed under a scheme to exploit patients for profit.
Jurors found the clinic’s actions fraudulent, negligent, and in violation of the Unfair Practices Act.
The plaintiff’s attorneys hope the verdict deters similar misconduct. NuMale disputes the ruling and plans to appeal.
- www.vox.com America is incredibly polarized. It’s bad for our health.
Could RFK Jr.’s ascent change anything?
- www.theguardian.com Doctors hail first breakthrough in asthma and COPD treatment in 50 years
Results of trial of benralizumab injection could be ‘gamechanger’ for millions of people around the world
Summary
A new treatment for severe asthma and COPD, using the monoclonal antibody benralizumab, could revolutionize care after a 50-year stagnation in treatment methods.
A trial showed that a single high-dose injection during flare-ups was 30% more effective than standard steroid tablets, reducing hospital visits and improving quality of life.
The drug targets eosinophils, a cause of inflammation in many attacks.
Researchers highlight its potential safety, fewer side effects compared to steroids, and home-use feasibility, though experts stress the need for increased lung health research funding.
- vegnews.com Ditch Toxic Black Plastic and Use These Safer Kitchen Utensils Instead
New research suggests that utensils and toys made from recycled black plastic contain harmful toxins, here’s what to choose instead.
- www.nih.gov Liver-brain communication affects eating patterns and obesity
Disrupting the liver’s circadian clock genetically or with a high-fat diet altered eating patterns in mice.
At a Glance
> - Disrupting the liver’s circadian clock genetically or with a high-fat diet altered eating patterns in mice. > - The findings suggest new approaches to target obesity by modulating communication between the liver and brain.
- www.nih.gov How sleep leads to healing after heart attack
Scientists found that after heart injury, immune cells called monocytes travel to the brain and trigger a deep sleep that promotes recovery in both mice and people.
At a Glance
> - Scientists found that after heart injury, immune cells called monocytes travel to the brain and trigger a deep sleep that promotes recovery in both mice and people. > - The results highlight the importance of quality sleep after a heart attack, although more research is needed to better understand the underlying processes in humans.
- usrtk.org New scientific analyses underpin Mexico’s restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate due to health risks
A new scientific analysis prepared by CONAHCYT argues there are unacceptable health risks for Mexican people who consume GM corn and glyphosate.
> A new scientific analysis prepared by CONAHCYT, Mexico’s National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology, argues there are unacceptable health risks for Mexican people who consume genetically modified (GM) corn and glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide.
- apnews.com Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed COVID herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of Health
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
Summary
Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford health economist and co-author of the controversial Great Barrington Declaration, to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Bhattacharya, a critic of lockdowns and vaccine mandates, advocated for herd immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic, a stance widely criticized by public health experts.
His nomination, alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary, signals Trump’s intent to overhaul public health agencies.
Critics worry these appointments could undermine trust in public health, while supporters hail them as a challenge to the status quo.
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Thyroid medication prescribed to 23 million Americans may cause bone loss
www.newsweek.com Medication prescribed to 23 million Americans may cause bone lossLevothyroxine, the second-most-commonly prescribed medication for older adults in the U.S., has been linked to lower bone density.
Summary
Levothyroxine, a commonly prescribed thyroid medication, may increase bone loss in older adults, potentially leading to osteoporosis.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that older adults taking the drug—even with normal thyroid hormone levels—experienced greater bone density loss over six years compared to non-users.
This poses concerns, especially since some prescriptions may be unnecessary.
Experts recommend regular monitoring of thyroid function and assessing treatment risks versus benefits, particularly in aging populations prone to bone-related conditions.
- www.theguardian.com Irregular sleep pattern raises risk of stroke and heart attack, UK study finds
Variations in time a person goes to sleep and wakes up ‘strongly associated’ with higher risk of negative impacts
- www.nbcnews.com Biden proposes weight loss drug coverage for people on Medicare and Medicaid
The new rule would expand access to drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound for an additional 3.4 million Americans who use Medicare and another 4 million people enrolled in Medicaid.
Summary
The Biden administration proposed requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, reclassifying obesity as a chronic disease to expand access for millions.
This would reduce out-of-pocket costs, but federal spending could rise by $36 billion over a decade.
Critics, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, warn high drug prices could strain the system, while experts argue reduced obesity-related complications may lower long-term healthcare costs.
The plan faces a 60-day comment period, leaving its implementation uncertain under the incoming Trump administration.
- apnews.com New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants
People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV.
Summary
U.S. health officials announced a new rule allowing kidney and liver transplants from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients, expanding beyond prior research-only limits.
Effective Wednesday, the change aims to increase the organ donor pool and shorten wait times for all patients.
Research, including a New England Journal of Medicine study, confirms the safety of these transplants, showing similar survival and rejection rates compared to non-HIV donors.
The practice, first proven safe in South Africa in 2010, has led to 500 such transplants in the U.S. since 2013.
- theconversation.com Are seed oils really as harmful as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims?
Rapeseed oil, sunflower oil and other seed oils are perfectly healthy in moderation.
- www.nbcnews.com Dave Weldon, Trump's CDC pick, could bolster an RFK Jr. anti-vaccine agenda
Weldon served 14 years in Congress, where he was an outspoken critic of the CDC and its vaccine program.
Summary
Trump’s nomination of Dave Weldon to lead the CDC, alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary, raises concerns about U.S. vaccine policy.
Weldon, a former congressman and vocal vaccine safety critic, has pushed false claims linking vaccines to autism and sought to shift vaccine oversight away from the CDC.
Experts warn this leadership could undermine public trust in vaccines, disrupt the CDC’s immunization guidelines, and fracture state policies.
The stakes are high as the U.S. faces rising measles, whooping cough, and global health threats like H5N1 bird flu.
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Vaping has 'immediate' negative impact on the body's circulation, warns new study
www.dailyrecord.co.uk Vaping has 'immediate' negative impact on a body's circulation, warns new studyAmerican researchers have identified the acute effects of smoking cigarettes and vaping on vascular function - even without nicotine.
- elifesciences.org Beware of passengers
Tumor cells accumulate many mutations that do not aid tumor survival but may interfere with how their proteins work.
> Tumor cells accumulate many mutations that do not aid tumor survival but may interfere with how their proteins work.
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Thousands of chemicals from food packaging found in humans
news.mongabay.com Thousands of chemicals from food packaging found in humans, a major study revealsAt the end of a long day, you might sit down with friends or family to eat a bowl of hot noodle soup. A savory scent fills the air as you bring the broth to your lips. Whether that meal is homemade udon or canned chicken noodle soup, you will also unwittingly swallow chemicals that […]
