Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ13S0eOGtH/

Some of the fats we eat nourish cancer while others help our immune systems kill it. Oncologists at the Yale School of Medicine report in the American Association For Cancer Research journal that, for pancreatic cancer in a mouse model, the fat in olive oil accelerates cancer growth while fish oils slow that growth.

Mice fed diets rich in oleic acid develop pancreatic tumors faster than mice on other diets. This was unexpected because oleic acid has long been considered heart-healthy and is commonly found in olive oil, peanuts, lard, and certain sunflower and safflower oils.

On the other hand, omega-3 fats found in fish oil had the opposite effect. Mice fed fish-oil-enriched diets experience about a 50 percent reduction in disease compared with mice eating a standard-fat diet. The researchers find that omega-3 fats make cancer cells more vulnerable to a natural self-destruct process called ferroptosis. Monounsaturated fats like oleic acid appeared to protect cancer cells from that process.

The team also finds that higher ratios of monounsaturated fats to polyunsaturated fats are linked to greater pancreatic cancer burden, while lower ratios are associated with less cancer development. A side note: the tumor-promoting effects of oleic acid are much stronger in male mice than in female mice.

This study was conducted in mice, not humans, and more research is needed before any dietary recommendations can be made. However, the findings may eventually help people at higher risk for pancreatic cancer understand how specific dietary fats influence disease development and progression.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#PancreaticCancer #CancerResearch #YaleMedicine #Omega3 #HealthNews

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ12lZrsF0g/

Ever hear of the thymus? Most people haven’t. But Mass General Brigham scientists now report in the journal Nature that this tiny immune-system organ may be one of the strongest hidden predictors of longevity, disease risk, and even cancer treatment success.

The radiology researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze CT scans from more than 25,000 adults to create a “thymic health score” based on the organ’s size, structure, and composition. People with healthier thymuses had about a 50% lower risk of death from any cause, a 63% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and a 36% lower risk of developing lung cancer. The data shows that smoking, chronic inflammation, and higher body weights were associated with poorer thymus health.

Looking at a subgroup of more than 1,200 cancer patients receiving immunotherapy, those with healthier thymuses had a 37% lower risk of cancer progression and a 44% lower risk of death compared with patients who had poorer thymic health.

Your immune system plays a much larger role in healthy aging than many people realize. Understanding how the thymus changes over time could eventually help doctors identify disease risks earlier and develop new strategies to support immune health as we age.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#Longevity #ImmuneSystem #HealthyAging #CancerResearch #MedicalResearch

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ12A89B8Oj/

Occidental College and the University of California, Irvine ophthalmologists are developing a futuristic alternative to LASIK that promises to correct your blurry vision without cutting, burning, or removing any eye tissue.

This novel process called electromechanical reshaping or EMR uses tiny electrical pulses and a special 3D printed contact mold to reshape eye tissues. By sending a very low electrical current through the custom platinum contact lens on the cornea, its molecular bonds loosen enough to permit a strategic tissue reshaping.  Once the current is turned off, the cornea stiffens again and locks into the new form that better focuses images on the retina.

This technique successfully corrects the nearsightedness of rabbits eyes in about one minute. The rabbits’ corneal cells remain alive and healthy. Additional animal studies are currently underway to test the procedure for correction of farsightedness, astigmatism, and corneal clouding due to chemical damage. Much research lies ahead before it can undergo clinical trials.

Though the LASIK procedure has helped millions of people, it does permanently remove some corneal tissue and has sometimes leads to dry eyes, glare, halos, or other complications. This new approach might potentially preserve more of the eye’s natural strength while reducing cost and invasiveness.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#VisionCorrection #LASIK #EyeHealth #MedicalInnovation #FutureMedicine

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ11YIRNMh_/

You may have fatty liver disease and not even realize it. University of California, San Diego hepatology researchers, those scientists who specialize in liver research, now say that a new experimental treatment could help stop the damage before it leads to liver failure, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and/or the need for a difficult to obtain liver transplant.

They report in The Lancet that an experimental drug called ION224 suppresses a liver enzyme that allows the liver produce and store excessive fat, a process that drives inflammation, scarring, and long-term damage. They drug halts the destructive process rather than merely managing symptoms.

The investigators conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial involving 160 adults with so-called MASH, a severe form of fatty liver disease linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes which can progress silently. The participants received monthly injections of ION224 over 51 weeks. 

Patients receiving the highest dose showed the best results, with about 60% of participants experiencing meaningful improvements in liver health compared with those controls receiving a placebo. The drug was well tolerated with no serious side effects linked to the treatment.

More than 100 million Americans are believed to have some form of fatty liver disease, and many don’t know it until significant damage has already occurred. A treatment that directly targets liver fat accumulation offers a new way to slow, halt, or potentially reverse disease progression. This therapy is still experimental and must successfully complete larger Phase 3 randomized, trials before it can receive regulatory approval and become available to your medical team.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#FattyLiverDisease #LiverHealth #MASH #MedicalResearch #HealthyAging

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ10vrZOclh/

Gently heating the back of the eye, the retina, by just a few degrees using near-infrared laser light can prevent the devastating loss of vision as the result of dry macular degeneration. This the finding by Finnish and Swedish neuroscientists in pig and mouse studies published in the journal Nature Communications.

This mild heat activates the eye’s natural repair and cleanup systems in the retinal pigment epithelial layer. It boosts protective heat shock proteins and triggers the processes cells use to remove damaged proteins and waste.

Dry age-related macular degeneration affects millions of older adults and is one of the leading causes of blindness. About one-third of people over age 80 develop macular degeneration. The disease is marked by the buildup of fatty protein deposits called drusen, which can damage the retina and gradually destroy central vision.

Instead of waiting until vision is lost, the researchers hope that this treatment proactively strengthens vulnerable retinal cells during the early stages of the disease by helping them repair damage and remove toxic waste material. Phase one human clinical trials are now beginning in Finland that focus on safety before testing whether the treatment can slow or stop disease progression.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#MacularDegeneration #EyeHealth #VisionLoss #HealthyAging #MedicalResearch

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ10DVMBSUf/

For the first time in 20 years, the FDA has approved a new active sunscreen ingredient for use in the United States. Dermatologists applaud since it offers strong sun protection with fewer real and potential side effects than current chemical sunscreen ingredients.

The agent is bemotrizinol, branded as PARSOL Shield. It can now be used in sunscreen formulas at concentrations up to 6% and carries an FDA safety approval for adults but also for children 6 months of age and older. This agent already has a good track record as it has already been used safely in Europe for decades.

It provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB radiation, the types of radiation linked to skin aging, sunburns, and skin cancer. It has several advantages over older chemical sunscreen filters as it causes less skin irritation, remains stable in sunlight longer, and shows lower absorption into the bloodstream compared with existing chemical ingredients.

Better sunscreen options mean better protection, greater comfort, and more people actually using sunscreen regularly. Since about one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, improvements in sunscreen technology have a real impact on public health.

The references for this report are available on my website.

#Sunscreen #SkinCancerPrevention #Dermatology #SunSafety #HealthNews

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ1zfXYsAn2/

Two sprays of a nasal spray developed by Texas A&M University neuroscientists reverses some signs of brain aging. And the effect lasts for months. Their studies appear in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.

The nasal spray contains biological particles called extracellular vesicles which transport microRNAs. In mouse studies, this treatment reduces chronic brain inflammation, restores the  mitochondrial energy sources inside brain cells, and improves memory and recognition abilities. The therapy appears to reactivate the brain’s natural repair systems and helps neurons recover their ability to process and store information.

This brain inflammation and declining cellular energy are linked to memory loss, brain fog, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. If future human studies confirm these findings, a simple nasal spray could someday become a noninvasive way to help maintain cognitive health as people age.

On the other hand, this therapy has not yet been tested in humans. When it is, controlled clinical studies are needed before it could become approved and acceptable therapy. 

The references for this report are available on my website.

#BrainHealth #HealthyAging #Neuroscience #DementiaResearch #Memory

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZdQ73yJ2vN/

Two lots of sensors originally designated as scrap and intended for destruction were stolen by a third party and sold into the market. Affected: lot 1725204004 has an increased risk of skin infection because the sensors may not have been properly sterilized; lot 1725069002 has an increased risk of sensor failure and may not provide accurate sensor readings.

These stolen sensors were traced to sales through Pharmsource LLC, a company that is not an authorized Dexcom distributor but supplies some independent pharmacies and durable medical equipment distributors in the US.

If you have Dexcom G7 sensors from affected lots, stop using the sensors and contact Dexcom Customer Support at 1-844-478-1600.

to request replacements.

References on my website. 

#MedicalDeviceAlert #DexcomG7 #DiabetesCare #ConsumerAlert #RecallNews

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DZdQVE0uaBa/

Affected: Single Pack products with sell-by dates of February 4, 5, 23, 24 2027; March 9, 10, 17, 18,24, 25, 2027; March 10, 2027;  and April 7, 8, 20, 21 2027; 2 Pack products with sell-by dates of February 3, 4, 24, 25, 2027; and March 10, 11, 18, 25 2027.

These contaminanted pizzas weresold nationwide at Costco, Walmart, Giant Landover, Grocery Outlet, Jewel, Kroger, Schnucks, Target, C&S, Bozzuto’s, Brookshire Grocery, Meijer, Food City, KeHe, Lipari, Publix, Merchants Dis Hickory, PDI/Hy-Vee, River Valley, SpartanNash, Supervalu, and UNFI.

Do not eat these recalled pizzas and return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Contact Champion Foods LLC by email at [email protected] for additional information regarding the recall.

References on my website. 

#FoodRecall #SalmonellaAlert #PizzaRecall #ConsumerAlert #RecallNews

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

Salmonella contamination can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems. Affected: TNVitamins lots 2507199 with expiration September 2027, 2512-304 with expiration February 2028, 2793 with expiration February 2028, and 2748 with expiration July 2027; Doctor’s Pride lots 2507199 with expiration September 2027 and 2748 with expiration July 2027.

These recalled products were sold through Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, Target, and the company websites.

You should dispose of these contaminated products and do not eat, sell, or serve them. Request a refund by completing a recall form provided by the company. For more information and the refund form,, contact Total Nutrition Inc. by email at [email protected].

References on my website.

#SupplementRecall #SalmonellaAlert #FoodSafety #ConsumerAlert #RecallNews