Tag Archives: Health

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you know that Pfizer is intending to publish data on the fourth Covid injection in the near future, while also working on a vaccination for all variants?

Leave a comment

According to Pfizer’s CEO, the business is developing a vaccine that will protect against all coronavirus types. In addition, Pfizer is preparing to submit data to the FDA for a fourth Covid injection and additional vaccinations. A Covid vaccination has been administered to about 81.4 percent of the US population aged five and above. According to Pfizer’s CEO, the business is developing a vaccine that will protect against all coronavirus types. Pfizer intends to submit data for a fourth Covid injection to the Food and Drug Administration shortly.

The statements came two years after the World Health Organization designated Covid a pandemic. Due to the omicron wave, the number of persons vaccinated against Covidroids in the United States has declined dramatically since peaking in January of this year. Since then, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have given at least one vaccination dose to 81.4 percent of the American population aged five and above. “I believe the most pressing challenge for all of us is how to keep ahead of the virus,” said Ian Bourla, CEO of Pfizer.

Reference
What’s new in coronavirus: Pfizer is preparing to submit …. https://newyorklatestnews.com/whats-new-in-coronavirus-pfizer-is-preparing-to-submit-data-to-the-fda-about-children-aged-5-11-years/291946/

Social Justice

Did you know that blood pressure medications may help to prolong the life of patients with pancreatic cancer?

Leave a comment

7 March 2022 – New study reveals that everyday blood pressure drugs may extend the lives of individuals with pancreatic cancer, a notoriously difficult-to-treat illness with dismal survival rates.

Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings.

These medications, referred to as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, work by relaxing veins and arteries and enabling the heart to pump blood more freely. These drugs have been found in animal studies to reduce the development of pancreatic cancer. Numerous tiny human investigations imply the same phenomenon, but the sample sizes were insufficient to make firm conclusions. The new study analyzed data on 3.7 million persons in Italy and discovered 8,158 cases of pancreatic cancer reported between 2003 and 2011. The research, published in the journal BMC Cancer last month, discovered that most of these individuals died within about six months after diagnosis. Patients who received ARBs after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer had a 20% decreased risk of death compared to identify patients who did not get ARBs. ARB users showed a 28% decreased risk of death in a smaller cohort of individuals who had cancer surgery. Patients with pancreatic cancer who used ACE inhibitors had a 13% decreased risk of death during the first three years after diagnosis, but this effect diminished with time. “ARBs and ACE inhibitors should still be considered experimental therapies for pancreatic cancer,” research investigator Scott Keith, Ph.D. of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, warns. Timothy Pawlik, MD, Ph.D., also warns against drawing definitive conclusions from this research. “While the statistics are intriguing, they are not definitive,” adds Pawlik of Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Because the research is retrospective, it is prone to selection and treatment bias. Additionally, the data were taken from an administrative health care database, which is known for its lack of detailed clinical information “he emphasizes. Additionally, Pawlik emphasizes that research on the effects of blood pressure drugs on cancer risk and outcome is inconsistent. Numerous prior research shows that ACE inhibitors and ARBs may protect against some types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer, while other data reveal a probable relationship between ACE inhibitors and an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer.

Reference
Blood Pressure Meds May Prolong Life in Pancreatic. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/news/20220307/blood-pressure-meds-for-pancreatic-cancer?fbclid=IwAR0N3j-_pDSVcFXu7OajXAyv0dazqfaFh9hTGGzm9T_99iRsRUB7lSMYsZs
Diabetes Report Card 2019 | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/reports/reportcard.html

Social Justice

Could Wine Consumption with Dinner Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Leave a comment

Consumption of alcohol in moderation may have some health benefits, including improvements in glucose metabolism.

Алик Фатхутдинов / Getty Images

A study published in October 2015 discovered that moderate wine consumption significantly reduced cardiometabolic risk in people with type 2 diabetes. For more than a decade, the study followed 312,388 healthy current drinkers who did not have type 2 diabetes. Consuming wine with dinner was associated with a 14% lower risk of type 2 diabetes when compared to drinking alcohol alone. Wine’s flavonoids and other antioxidants (ethanol can act as an antioxidant) can help protect the heart and blood vessels from alcohol’s damaging effects.

Due to the majority of participants being white, it is unknown whether the findings are applicable to other populations. Alcohol consumption is associated with both short- and long-term health risks, including motor vehicle accidents, violence, sexual risk behaviors, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, liver disease, depression, suicide, and alcohol abuse. The more a person drinks, the greater the risk to his or her health. The risk of developing certain cancers and other health problems increases even at very low levels of alcohol consumption — less than one drink daily — for some cancers and other health problems. According to the CDC, moderate alcohol consumption can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

For women, “moderate” drinking is defined as one glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage per day; for men, it is defined as up to two glasses per day. A standard drink in the United States contains 0.6 ounces (oz) or 1.2 tablespoons of pure alcohol. That is the typical amount found in a 12-ounce beer with a 5% alcohol content.

Reference

Drinking Wine With Dinner May Reduce the Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/drinking-wine-with-dinner-may-reduce-the-risk-for-developing-type-2-diabetes/?fbclid=IwAR1vhW1NY0gNHUYhZR8_n-HQy0HklRtRh6PETI7KQkqwAyQP0sy4maIstmw

Social Justice

Do you believe that COVID is still here?: Immunocompromised individuals express worry following the repeal of mask regulations

Leave a comment

While the majority of the country is eager to shed their masks, a sizable portion of the populace is unable to do so.

Credit: Tatiana Ayazo

According to many, the most challenging aspect of being immunocompromised is convincing others. Durk Carlisle, 41, of Redlands, has recently discovered that wearing a mask attracts attention. “Now that I’m wearing the mask, I enter a building and notice that people are staring at me oddly. They are still unaware that I have a liver disease and hence regard me as being too cautious “‘He stated. However, you cannot be too cautious as a liver transplant recipient. Carlisle received a new transplant last year after his liver was devastated by an inflammatory condition. He is now on anti-rejection medication. “Anti-immunosuppressive medications are required to suppress the immune system. However, it also impairs the immune system’s ability to fight off infections such as COVID “Dr. Michael de Vera, Loma Linda University Health’s Chief of Transplant Surgery, stated. Around 3% of Americans are transplant recipients, and millions more suffer from comorbid illnesses that increase their risk. “Diabetes. Obese patients with heart disease and underlying pulmonary problems “As de Vera stated. Doctors encourage immunocompromised patients to use caution in crowded circumstances and to exert as much control as possible. “I want to underline the importance of vaccination. It lowers the danger of developing severe COVID, and the other option is to continue wearing a mask “As de Vera stated. Carlisle has had vaccinations and boosters. He understands why people are tired of masks, but cautions against forgetting how many lives are at stake. “They could transmit it on to another person, who could then pass it on to someone who is immunocompromised. And, unwittingly, they may cause a fatality as a result of their failure to wear a mask “Carlisle explained.

Reference

‘COVID is still here’: Immunocompromised people express fears as mask mandates are lifted.https://abc7.com/immunocompromised-immune-system-covid-mask/11614945/?fbclid=IwAR0oOE_RJaaPJ8ydo8Qj60ii7sAKi8xPWXoxNLdvGHTTEmS4MlgCKU0TaFY

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

The extremely infectious omicron variation

Leave a comment

BA.2 is a strain of the extremely infectious omicron variation that seems to spread 30 percent more readily than the original. The danger is that dissemination will drastically increase in the not-too-distant future.

Thousands of people test positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. daily, and a small but growing fraction of them are for the more contagious omicron variant BA.2.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

BA.2 has already been discovered from coast to coast, accounting for 3.9 percent of all new infections in the United States. Although BA.2 does not seem to make patients worse than the original omicron, it may result in more severe disease and death if the drop in new cases is slowed. According to a new study, one of the remaining COVID-19 antibody therapies may be less efficient against BA.2. This virus seems to be a little better at avoiding the immune system than the last one. Because the virus is still present, we must take every precaution to safeguard ourselves.

Reference

More contagious version of omicron spreads in U.S., fueling worries.https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/21/1081810074/omicron-ba2-variant-spread?fbclid=IwAR12RMhI8BpQY_BZt4fNkJK5XZcj1SZMTmcM1Eu0iOPjE9G38hN_ohB1mWk

Diet, disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Leave a comment

Vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, few large, higher-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to corroborate this. A recent RCT examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation in Finland. It found no association between vitamin D and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer. There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with nearly all primary chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and mortality.

It looked at data from 2,495 people, including those with no cardiovascular disease or cancer history. To provide further evidence of the relationship between vitamin D, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, the researchers behind the present study conducted the Finnish Vitamin D Trial. Despite the large doses, the study failed to see any effect of the supplementation on lowering the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] and cancer. Those who might benefit from the vitamin D supplementation — i.e., those with low serum vitamin D levels — are a small minority in the trials. Prof. Karani: “High-dose vitamin D supplementation may modestly reduce the risk of cancer death, but not overall cancer incidence.” Dr. Virtanen states, So far, there is no evidence that [Vitamin D] supplementation could prevent [SARS-CoV-2] infection. Still, it is well-documented that those, especially with the severe form of COVID-19, have low serum vitamin D levels.

It is also possible that this is a consequence of the [SARS-CoV-2] infection rather than the cause because it is known that acute infection leads to lower serum vitamin D levels. In addition, many of the COVID-19 patients are overweight or obese or have a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, which is associated with lower serum vitamin D levels, explained Dr. Virtanen. “It is challenging to obtain vitamin D from food intake alone unless that food is fortified with vitamin D. It would be essential to explore whether vitamin D supplementation can decrease the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] and cancers, as that would make a strong case for mandatory vitamin D fortification or promotion of fortified foods in the population.

Reference

Vitamin D supplements, heart health, and cancer risk. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-d-supplements-heart-health-and-cancer-risk?fbclid=IwAR0anIA4BSbVWh-5gq1EcPeh0-2HN8CGkxNh4ZlnIESqCqFndScGFYXPraE

disease, drugs, Health, medications

Fast-spreading Omicron variant

Leave a comment

A fast-spreading Omicron variant that causes milder illness compared with previous versions of the coronavirus has fueled the view that COVID-19 poses less of a risk than in the past. For those who do have symptoms, a higher proportion experience very mild illness, such as the sore throat or runny nose without the breathing difficulties typical of earlier infections.

Covid-19 Testing

Omicron is the fifth highly significant variant of the original SARS-COV-2, and it remains to be seen if the ability of the virus to mutate further will slow down. In fully vaccinated and boosted individuals without underlying medical conditions, Omicron “will not do too much damage,” said David Ho, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University.

Reference

Explainer: Why you should still try to avoid catching Omicron. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/why-you-should-still-try-avoid-catching-omicron-2022-01-12/?fbclid=IwAR3Wu9sI6Yum4sL57_fv9qsSfqqGk6meKH7GIdZ2fc_GofHdUpGV9jQ7peo

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Omicron-specific vaccination

Leave a comment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron accounted for more than 95% of all new cases in the United States last week. The representative verified that the production of doses of the Omicron-specific vaccination has already commenced. Symptoms of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant: Recent investigations indicate that Moderna Pharmaceuticals is working on an Omicron-specific variant vaccination. Moderna anticipates initiating advanced clinical studies for the vaccine early this year but did not say when. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s senior medical advisor, has recommended that Americans obtain booster injections, which are 75% effective at avoiding symptomatic COVID-19 infection.
Stéphane Bancel, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Moderna, said last week that he expects the current vaccine’s protection to fade. Moderna said on Monday in a website update that although the pharmaceutical company’s first line of defense against Omicron is a third dosage of its current vaccine, it is also creating an Omicron-specific booster injection.
Reference
Pfizer says its vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-pfizer-omicron-variant-march/?fbclid=IwAR2AnmzLdZ_7a62wM76ClL4T8z0oQbad3cuHbuuqSLvSRSxV6SB6Ib1VSS4

Diet, disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Worldwide about a possibly more transmissible version of the coronavirus

Leave a comment

Concerns are growing worldwide about a possibly more transmissible version of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As fresh instances are verified, scientists are scrambling to learn more. President Biden said that the mutation is “cause for concern, not a cause for panic” California verified the first case in the United States; omicron has been discovered in 16 states. In three days, the number of new coronavirus cases in South Africa has tripled.
The positive rate for Omicron increased from 1% in early November to 22.4 percent on December 2. The omicron version most likely acquired genetic material from a human virus that causes the common cold. A public health expert argues it is “premature to panic” over the mutation, which the World Health Organization has designated (WHO). Public health authorities in the United States are redoubling their efforts to distribute immunizations to everyone, including boosters for people who have previously been vaccinated. Within 100 days, Pfizer and BioNTech plan to have a “tailor-made vaccine” for the variation.
Each time the virus crosses between persons, it might undergo several genetic alterations. According to public health specialists, there is a strong likelihood that the new type has already spread to a number of nations beyond those where cases have been recorded. Public health professionals are advising the public not to make hasty judgments. Certain initiatives are already being scrapped in the aftermath of Omicron. Google said that it would delay its required in-office work beginning Jan. 10 for the length of the epidemic. Additionally, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor suspended the city’s New Year’s Eve event.

Reference

What to know about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/26/faq-new-variant-omicron/

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Warning about the Johnson & Johnson

Leave a comment

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a fresh warning about the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccination. The majority of the instances are recorded within two weeks after vaccination, and the majority of the victims are males over the age of 50. The administration’s attempts to increase vaccinations in places where skepticism about coronavirus vaccines is strong and the vaccination rate is low might be hampered by the new warning.

According to a frequently asked question (FAQ), 60 to 120 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome occur at a rate of 60 to 120 cases each week. According to reports, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has been linked to a rare but “likely indicates a small possible risk” sickness. An early warning safety network established by the CDC and FDA was alerted to the syndrome after reports were filed with the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). A doctor warns that the United States’ immunization efforts have “hit a brick wall.”He argues that the government should force vaccinations.

Vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are now required by the FDA to include a warning about the dangers of coronavirus. Due to the difficulties at Johnson & Johnson’s Baltimore factory, approximately 75 million doses of the vaccine were thrown away. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are recommended for people 12 and older since the benefits of immunization substantially exceed the risks. A Boston man who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccination was the subject of a similar instance recounted in an editorial that appeared with the article.

Flu vaccination doses have regularly resulted in one or two more illnesses per 1 million doses delivered when there was an elevated risk. According to the group, there were examples of significant facial paralysis in the patients from England and India. Vaccine safety experts in Europe have advised that the AstraZeneca vaccine include a warning for Guillain-Barré.

Reference

FDA adds new warning on Johnson & Johnson vaccine related to rare autoimmune disorder. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/12/johnson-and-johnson-warning/