Health - Resources and discussion for everything health-related

Summary

A new study found that microplastics accumulate in human brains at much higher concentrations than in kidneys or livers.

Researchers analyzed postmortem tissue samples from 52 individuals and detected plastic particles in every sample. Surprisingly, brain concentrations were up to 30 times higher, despite the blood-brain barrier's protective role.

Comparisons with older samples show increasing plastic accumulation over time. Higher levels were also found in individuals with dementia, though causality remains unclear.

Scientists urge further research as plastic pollution and human exposure continue to rise.

Summary

Lung cancer diagnoses among never-smokers are increasing, with air pollution identified as a key factor, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype, accounted for up to 70% of lung cancer cases in never-smokers.

While lung cancer rates in men are declining, cases among women are rising.

Scientists urge further research into environmental causes and stress the need for targeted prevention strategies, including tobacco and air pollution control measures.

study in Nature Cell Biology finds that they play a previously little known role in gene regulation—a role that may influence some cancer cells’ responsiveness to different treatment types.

Prior to this study, some researchers thought the speckles—first discovered in the early 1900s—were “just kind of hanging out” in the nucleus, says lead author Katherine Alexander, a molecular and cell biologist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York. Speckles were known to contain RNA splicing machinery and other components needed for transcription and translation, but their behavior in the nucleus was not well understood. Alexander’s initial question was whether speckles are all the same from cell to cell or if there’s some variation—and what that may mean.

Summary

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law shielding doctors who prescribe abortion pills by allowing them to list healthcare practices instead of personal names on medication labels.

The move follows Louisiana’s indictment of Dr. Margaret Carpenter for prescribing abortion pills to a minor, marking a rare post-Roe criminal case.

Louisiana officials issued a nationwide arrest warrant, but Hochul refused to extradite Carpenter. Louisiana’s strict abortion laws impose severe penalties.

Hochul also plans further legislation requiring pharmacists to comply with doctors’ anonymity requests.

Summary

The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic has led to a surge in “natural alternatives” such as berberine, taurine, and green tea extract.

While these supplements may offer mild metabolic benefits, experts stress they lack the proven efficacy, regulation, and safety profile of prescription drugs.

Some ingredients, like berberine, can help with blood sugar control but do not directly mimic GLP-1 pathways.

Doctors warn consumers to consult healthcare providers before use, as supplements are unregulated and may interact with medications or cause side effects.

Summary

A peer-reviewed study found microplastics in 99% of seafood samples from Oregon, with shrimp containing the highest levels.

Most microplastics came from clothing fibers, highlighting plastic pollution’s widespread impact. Researchers warn microplastics can carry toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other health risks.

Contamination occurs as marine life ingests plastic-laden plankton. While seafood is a major source, microplastics are also found in other foods.

Experts urge policy changes, including reducing plastic use and mandating washing machine filters to curb pollution at the source.

Summary

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), once limited to diabetics, are now available over-the-counter, sparking interest among non-diabetics tracking wellness.

These devices provide real-time blood sugar data, helping users understand how diet, sleep, and stress affect glucose levels.

While some claim CGMs aid weight loss and prevent diabetes, experts caution that normal fluctuations are expected, and there's limited research on benefits for healthy individuals.

CGMs may help those with prediabetes or PCOS manage blood sugar. However, overuse could cause unnecessary anxiety about natural glucose variations.

Insurance at my last company was so low, I'm not certain what it cost. $50mo. I think? When I started it was $35.

Let's do math. $20 every 3-months for a copay to get the doctor to re-up my prescription, $10 for the pills, $30 total. Add in whatever my employer paid for my part over 3-months, add in the doctor's cash-price difference. You get the idea.

And I probably could have found a way to cut the prescription price in half, or less. Ideas? That company Mark Cuban started? (Looks like it's $8.23/90-days there, haven't dug in on total price.)

Just learned about direct primary care, may jump on that if my new job doesn't cover insurance, or it isn't worth it. Thoughts on that?

Obviously I'm an American. You don't know how sad that made me to type. It's humiliating.

Summary

5 years after the U.S. declared COVID-19 a public health emergency, the virus remains a persistent threat, continuing to claim thousands of lives.

COVID-19 is now integrated into daily life, with predictable seasonal peaks and ongoing high rates of illness and hospitalization.

Low vaccination rates, particularly for updated vaccines, contribute to severe outcomes, including the development of long COVID, which affects a portion of survivors.

Ongoing virus mutations necessitate annual vaccine updates and public health measures, as experts warn COVID-19 may become more severe in future outbreaks.

Summary

Texas has reported four measles cases in two weeks, including two in Lubbock—the first there in over 20 years. All cases involved unvaccinated individuals.

The outbreak coincides with a drop in Texas' kindergarten measles vaccination rate from 97% in 2020 to 94.3% in 2024. Health officials urge vaccinations to prevent further spread.

The trend reflects a broader decline in immunization rates, fueled by political debates over vaccine mandates. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as HHS secretary has further energized the vaccine choice movement.

Summary

A study found significantly higher levels of microplastics in placentas from premature births compared to full-term births, suggesting possible links between plastic pollution and preterm deliveries.

Researchers detected 50% more plastic in preterm placentas, with PET and PVC being the most prevalent.

While the study shows an association, not causation, microplastics are known to cause inflammation, which can trigger labor.

Experts call for further research and urgent measures to reduce human exposure to microplastics due to potential health risks.

Having difficulty getting pregnant? A new study shows air pollution may play a role.

A new study finds that those who limit coffee drinking to the morning have a lower risk of dying of heart disease and a lower overall mortality risk than those who drink coffee throughout the day.

Taken during the height of COVID-19. Rotech is a supplier of oxygen and respiratory equipment.

Highlighting is mine.

A movement to provide hospital-level care for sick patients in their own beds, in the comfort of familiar surroundings, is growing in the United States — a trend already embraced in some other countries

Recent blog posts by contrarian physicians have tried to defend Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr) as someone who will improve public health if confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary. They claim United States COVID19 policies and the mainstream media created the poor public health situation in the US, including vaccine hesitancy. These authors seem to think antivaccine sentiment did not exist before 2020, and that vaccine hesitancy has nothing to do with RFK Jr’s antivaccine nonprofit, which grew significantly during the pandemic.

On Sensible Medicine Dr. Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer, a Danish vaccine researcher, states that the high US mortality compared to other wealthy countries is possibly explained by “the higher use of pesticides such as glyphosate, additives in processed foods…ultra processed foods, seed oils, unequal access to health care, and overconsumption of medicines and vaccines.” He cites zero evidence to support this speculation but goes on to elaborate about vaccines as a possible explanation for poor health outcomes in the US.

Intentional deception

The crux of the piece centers on vaccines with Dr. Schaltz-Buchholzer claiming Danish children only receive 11 shots whereas American children receive 72 injections. This is a classic antivaccine trope and borders on intentionally deceptive. He is counting the Danish combination vaccines such as DTaP/IPV/Hib as one shot but counting the same US vaccines that are almost always given as a combination shot as individual shots — DTaP/IPV/Hib = 3 shots. He is counting oral rotavirus as an injection which it isn’t.

But best of all, he criticizes the inclusion of yearly COVID & flu vaccines for children in the US schedule, which are not required by schools and generally have less uptake. He makes a point to say the flu vaccine is completely unnecessary for children, which is not an accurate reflection of what studies show. Meanwhile he neglects to include that the Danish Pediatric Society and Danish Health Authority now recommend a yearly flu shot for children aged 2-6. He has such high praise for the Danish vaccine schedule but ignores many of the recommendations as we will find out later.

Summary

Medicaid payment portals across all 50 states are down following Trump’s freeze on federal funding, sparking fears of disrupted healthcare for 79 million Americans, including children and low-income families.

Senator Ron Wyden called the freeze a "blatant attempt" to strip healthcare access, warning of deadly consequences.

The Trump administration claims payments to providers are ongoing but has not explained the outages.

Critics, including healthcare experts, fear significant harm as broader funding freezes impact key programs like Head Start and research grants overseen by HHS.