Former FDA Chief Says COVID-19 Variant May Cause Surge In States With Low Vaccination
Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration, warned Sunday that an infectious variant of the coronavirus could lead to a new surge in COVID-19 infections in the fall, particularly in states with low vaccination rates. Gottlieb made the comments on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” saying that while the White House should […]
Lancet Menopause Series Wants to Change How Society Views ‘The Change’
Researchers warned against the “over-medicalization” of menopause in a four-paper series in The Lancet, and argued for a fresh approach that goes beyond the treatment of specific symptoms. The series focused on four areas for changing how we view menopause — ranging from healthcare providers adopting an “empowerment model” to support women; optimizing health after […]
Penis-Pump Company Chided by FDA
The FDA has warned a California company about its inappropriate off-label claims regarding several sexual devices including a “MegaVac” penis pump, an “Ultimate” penis extender, and a “Clitoral Enhancement System.” The agency claimed that the firm Dr. Joel Kaplan, a sexual enhancement device manufacturer founded by a namesake psychologist, violated the law by marketing the […]
FDA Warns Exosome Maker for Marketing Outside Its IND
The FDA has warned Kimera Labs that it can’t sell its exosome product for uses outside of its recently secured investigational new drug (IND) application. In a warning letter that was posted to the FDA’s website last September, then removed, and then posted again this month, the agency also told the Miramar, Florida-based company that […]
Probiotics for Preterm Infants Could Pose Serious Danger, FDA Warns
The FDA warned the public Thursday that certain probiotic products given to preterm infants in hospital settings are potentially dangerous. The agency also sent warning letters to Abbott Nutrition and Infinant Health, two makers of probiotic products that the FDA said violate federal laws. “Preterm infants who are administered a probiotic product are at risk […]
Experts on AI Tell Nurses: ‘You Need to Embrace This’
WASHINGTON — Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine certainly has advantages, but it’s not “magic,” experts warned, so it’s important for providers to understand the upside and downside of AI. “For the bedside clinicians, I think it’s important for them to … recognize that artificial intelligence is not some type of magic that just happens in […]
Turkey-Syria Quake Death Toll Could Top 20,000, WHO Official Says
A senior official at the World Health Organization warned Monday the death toll from the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria could rise “eightfold” as rescue efforts continue. Catherine Smallwood, WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, told the AFP injuries and fatalities linked to severe earthquakes often rise “significantly” in the week after the disaster. […]
Flu/COVID Co-Infections Potentially More Severe in Kids, CDC Says
The CDC warned that co-infections with COVID-19 and influenza can potentially cause more severe illness in children, and need to be tracked. Surveillance data from the 2021-2022 influenza season revealed that 6% of flu-related hospitalizations and 16% of flu-related deaths involved children co-infected with COVID-19, Katherine Adams, MPH, of the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues […]
Medical Groups Warn Of ‘Irreparable Harm’ To Patients In Confusing Post-Roe Era
The American Medical Association and three other major health groups warned Thursday patients across the nation could suffer “irreparable harm” due to the shattered legal landscape left in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In a statement, co-authored with the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists […]
Experts Warn of Physical, Mental Health Effects of Extreme Heat
Physicians warned of both the physical and mental health impacts of extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable populations, during an online briefing hosted by SciLine last week. “We know that about 30 deaths per year occur [among] … children left in cars,” said Perry Sheffield, MD, MPH, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai […]