Aspirin Alone Gets the Job Done for Clot Prevention After Joint Surgery
Aspirin and Clot Prevention An aspirin-only approach to postoperative prophylaxis after arthroplasty was as effective and safe as upfront rivaroxaban (Xarelto), according to the EPCAT III randomized trial. Aspirin-only prophylaxis met noninferiority criteria for preventing symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE), compared with rivaroxaban then aspirin after total hip or total knee arthroplasty, reported investigators led by […]
Novel Alzheimer’s Drug Targeting Tau Shows Promise in Mid-Stage Trial
Daranersen and the CELIA Trial The tau-targeting agent diranersen did not meet the primary endpoint of the phase II CELIA trial, but that isn’t stopping the drug from moving forward. Study Findings The placebo-controlled study is the first to show a cognitive benefit and a reduction in tau pathology in people with early Alzheimer’s disease, […]
Kids Born in COVID Lockdown May Have Diminished Executive Function
Children born during England’s COVID lockdown appeared to have markedly lower executive function than expected for their age, interim results of a cross-sectional observational study showed. Among more than 200 4-year-olds born from March to June 2020, executive function was lower than pre-pandemic norms on two caregiver-reported scales (Global Executive Composite [GEC], Cohen’s d=-0.47; Emergent […]
CDC alerts clinicians to rising cyclosporiasis cases
Clinical takeaway: Consider Cyclospora infection in patients with prolonged or relapsing watery diarrhea during the May–August cyclosporiasis season—even without international travel—and specifically request Cyclospora stool testing, as routine ova and parasite (O&P) exams may miss the diagnosis. CDC has issued a Health Alert Network advisory after receiving reports of 1,645 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases […]
ACP pushes for stronger safeguards on dietary supplements
Clinical takeaway: Ask patients specifically about dietary supplement use and counsel them that supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or effectiveness before reaching the market. Be alert for potential drug-supplement interactions, particularly in patients taking multiple prescription medications. More than half of US adults use dietary supplements, and many mistakenly believe these […]
Sam Neill’s Cause of Death; RFK Jr.’s Polio Shot Plan; Female Hair-Loss Pill
Sam Neill’s Cause of Death Sam Neill’s cause of death was pneumonia, as reported by his agent. The actor, known for his role in “Jurassic Park,” had been in remission from a rare lymphoma following CAR T-cell therapy. RFK Jr.’s Polio Vaccine Plan Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly considering the elimination of […]
America Tried Permanent Daylight Saving Time but It Didn’t Last. Could It Work Now?
It’s an idea whose time, as it were, may have come — again. The twice-yearly changing of the clocks in the U.S. could be a thing of the past if legislation currently in Congress that calls for permanent daylight time makes it through. But even as annoying as some find the back-and-forth of the time […]
CDC Director Nominee Pressed on Vaccines at Senate Hearing
Nominees for the positions of CDC director and assistant secretary for preparedness and response (ASPR) faced tricky questions and some frustration Wednesday from senators on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, asked ASPR nominee Sean Kaufman about his suggestion in a […]
Nerve Stimulation for Sleep Apnea Linked to Some Long-Term Heart Benefits
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have some longer-term cardiovascular benefits, but its effects in the short term painted a different picture, according to a retrospective cohort study. For adults without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, HGNS was not associated with diabetes diagnosis within 2 years (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.61-1.85), but was […]
Trump Officials Want to Make Testosterone Easier to Prescribe. Is That a Good Idea?
Officials under President Donald Trump want to make it easier for men to get a prescription for testosterone, the latest shift in a decades-long debate over the benefits and risks of replacing the hormone that affects sex drive, mood, and other health factors. The move, backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other […]