Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8dE74Rp4K/

Meta-analyses of new cancer drugs and the clinicians conducting them are twice as likely to report positive results when these studies and authors are funded by the companies manufacturing these medications.  Investigators at UC-San Francisco report these findings after evaluating 93 meta-analysis studies.

Eighty-one percent of the 21 studies with pharma-funded authors and 78% of the pharma funded studies reported positive results compared with only 48% of those studies or authors without pharma funding.  Furthermore, those studies and authors with non-industry funding showed the lowest percentages of positive findings and the highest percentages of equivocal or frankly negative conclusions about the tested drugs.

The bottom line: the funding sources of studies and investigators could affect the outcome of the studies.  They shouldn’t but they could.  As with all scientific studies, the credibility gold standard is confirmation by subsequent investigations. 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2806376

#funding #pharma #metaanalysis #credibility #oncology

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8cAjORhXJ/

From Boston and New York City come optimistic reports about the latest CoVid subvariant BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola.  

Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess virologist Dr. Dan Barouch reports that the blood from 66 Americans with CoVid immunity from monovalent vaccines, bivalent boosters, or recent CoVid XBB infections could effectively neutralize BA.2.86 pseudovirus test microbes as well as other circulating and legacy CoVid variants.  

Meanwhile, NY City’s Columbia University virologist Dr. David Ho demonstrated similar results adding that the blood samples from those who experienced a recent XBB infection were most lethal to the BA.2.86subvariant.

That’s good news since both the Moderna and Pfizer booster vaccines, planned for distribution later this month, code for XBB antigens.  They are arriving just in time, as the immunity we gleaned from last January’s bivalent boosters is now wearing out.  Be sure to get your CoVid boosts as soon as they are available.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/03/health/covid-new-variant-pirola-early-lab-results

#CoVid #ba286 #pseudovirus #immunity #vaccines #booster

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8S-PwR4es/

The percentage of children born with gaps in their palates who had close to normal speech in kindergarten was about 40% higher when their palates were repaired at 6 months of age rather than waiting until their first birthdays.  From European pediatric reconstructive surgeons comes another ground-breaking study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

A total of 558 infants at 23 centers in Europe and South America participated. Half were randomly assigned to have their palatal repairs at 6 months and the remainder had them at one year of age.  Speech analysis for both groups was completed at 5 years of age.  Significant air escape during speaking, so called velopharyngeal insufficiency, occurred in 8.9% of the 6 month repair group compared with 15% of the 12 month repair group.  The infants who underwent earlier repair were also 20% more likely to be babbling by a year of age. 

This study argues for earlier cleft palate repairs and demonstrates that such may be accomplished safely.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2215162

https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo007163/full/?query=surgery&cid=DM2281982_Non_Subscriber&bid=1775976595

#cleftpalate #timing #velopharyngealinsufficiency #babbling #infancy #nejm

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8R7-3xfvo/

Those with controlled HIV infections and undetectable virus levels enjoyed a 34% lower incidence of cardiovascular disease when treated with the blood cholesterol lowering agent pitavastatin.  This game-changing multisite study headed by Harvard Medical School researchers was just published in the New England Journal.  The Journal also published an excellent video that summarizes these remarkable results.

Of the 7769 HIV-infected subjects taking continuing antiretroviral therapy who participated in this Phase 3, randomized, double-blinded study, nearly 88% had undetectable virus.  Half received pitavastatin 4mg daily and half received placebo.  

At study termination in about 5 years, the incidence of major cardiovascular events was 4.81/1000 person-years in the pitavastatin group vs. 7.32/1000 person-years in the placebo group.  The risk of cardiovascular death was 35% lower for the pitavastatin group.  The statin use was associated with 31% drop in LDL cholesterol levels.

Previous studies have proven that HIV infections are associated with higher risks of significant and deadly cardiovascular disease.  This significant trial with pitavastatin shows that the reduction in such disease among the HIV-infected is significantly greater than predicted by the reduction in LDL cholesterol alone.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2304146

https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo007185/full/?query=infectious-disease&cid=DM2281992_Non_Subscriber&bid=1776619427

#hiv #cardiovascular #heart #pitavastatin #ldlcholesterol #nejm

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8QkLpR3nX/

Pregnant women exposed to phthalates during their first trimester give birth to boys who suffer from neurodevelopmental problems.  Israeli neuroscientists studied 158 mothers and their children beginning at 11 to 17 months of gestation finishing at 23 to 30 months of age.  At study entry, urine levels of phthalates were measured.  At 2 years of age, the children underwent neurologic and cognitive testing.

Maternal phthalate exposure during the first trimester was associated with developmental and behavioral deficits by 2 years of age, but only in the male children.  The children of mothers with high versus lower phthalate exposures had reduced personal-social skills, were more likely to internalize problems, were more anxious, and expressed more somatic complaints.

So where do pregnant moms pick up these phthalates?  They are prominently featured in soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and personal care products.  Ladies, please, please, avoid using these during your pregnancies. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161813X2300102X?via=ihub

https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html

#phthalates #pregnancy #firsttrimester #boys #developmental #social #anxiety

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8PBj_RUGi/

Smoking e-cigarettes is associated with as much as a 32% higher risk of adolescent asthma.  This the conclusion of a Texas A&M public health school study of 32,885 high school students aged 13-17 years.  About 9% of the teens lived in Texas.

The numbers reveal a significant association of asthma development in those teens who have never smoked any combustable substances before.  Those most at risk lived in Texas with the one-third higher risk.  The average risk for all American kids is 18%.

That’s bad news since about 60% of teens report constant e-cigarette smoking, and that smoking is more consistent in boys and in those with a history of depression.

While some studies show that e-cigarettes can help tobacco smokers quit the habit, this study underscores the fact that these nicotine vaporizers are far from safe as they spew volatile organic compounds, irritating particulate matter, carcinogens, heavy metals, and toxic flavoring chemicals.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009174352300275X

#ecigarette #smoking #asthma #teens #boys 

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CwgMgIGrCEl/

Recall by: FDA; David Oppenheimer and Company LLC

Problem: All one-pound clamshells of Zespri organic green kiwifruit y have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  This bacterium causes serious disease in the very young, older, frail individuals, and in those with weakened immune systems. Listeria also triggers miscarriages and premature births.

Sold: At stores in FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, and WI. 

Actions:  Return this product to the place of purchase for a refund.  For additional information, call David Oppenheimer and Company, LLC at 1-866-698-2580 or send an email to [email protected].

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/david-oppenheimer-and-company-i-llc-voluntarily-recalls-organic-green-kiwifruit-due-possible-health

#zespri #kiwi #listeria #infection #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CwgLkfKpBuH/

Recall by: FDA; Real Kosher Ice Cream

Problem: Soft serve on the go ice cream soft ice cream and sorbet are contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.  This bacterium causes serious disease in the very young, older, frail individuals, and in those with weakened immune systems. Listeria also triggers miscarriages and premature births.

Sold: At grocery and convenience stores as well as canteens in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WV.

Actions: Return these products to the place of purchase for a refund.  For more information, call the Soft Serve on the Go team at: 1-845-668-4346 or via the email [email protected].

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/real-kosher-ice-cream-recalls-soft-serve-go-cups-because-possible-health-risk

#softserveonthego #icecream #sorbet #listeria #infection #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CwgK3FmRAr4/

Recall by: FDA; Unilever

Problem:  Knorr Sopa Soup Mix products contain undeclared egg.  Those with egg allergies could develop severe allergic reactions should they consume this product. Affected are products with a Best if Used by Date of 7/6/2024.

Actions:  Return these products to the place of purchase for a refund.  For additional information and a refund, visit knorrsoparecall.com.  To get the refund, submit a photo of the container with the UPC and Best if Used by Date in the pic.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/unilever-us-voluntarily-recalls-select-knorr-sopa-soup-mix-products-due-potential-undeclared-egg

#knorr #sopa #soup #egg #allergies #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CwgJO9FLrO4/

Recall by: FDA; Nestle USA.

Problem: NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” Bars are contaminated with wood chips.  The batches implicated have codes 311457531K and 311557534K.

Actions:  Return this product to the place of purchase for a refund. For additional information, contact Nestlé USA by phone at 1-800-681-1678

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nestle-usa-announces-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-nestler-toll-houser-chocolate-chip-cookie

#nestles #chocolatechip #cookiedough #woodchips #recall