At a Glance

• Low sugar exposure in utero and in the first two years of life was associated with lower risks of diabetes and high blood pressure.
• The findings suggest that restricting sugar intake during this critical period could have lifelong health benefits.

Six-in-ten Americans say they will probably not get an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, according to an October Pew Research Center survey. Smaller shares say they probably will get an updated vaccine (24%) or have already received one (15%).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the updated vaccine to everyone ages 6 months and older ahead of the fall and winter months to help protect from severe disease and hospitalization.

Views of the updated vaccine are sharply divided across partisan lines, with Democrats and those who lean to the Democratic Party being more likely than Republicans and Republican leaners to say they will get the vaccine. The partisan divide is particularly large among adults ages 65 and older – one of the groups most at risk for severe illness.

At a Glance

• Teens who had bariatric surgery to treat severe obesity had sustained weight loss a decade later and fewer obesity-related health problems.
• The outcomes were better than similar treatments given to adults with obesity, suggesting that surgeries at an earlier age may lead to greater health benefits.

Summary

A nationwide IV fluid shortage, caused by Hurricane Helene’s damage to Baxter International’s North Carolina facility, is forcing hospitals to adopt conservation measures that could reshape patient hydration practices.

The facility, which supplies 60% of U.S. IV fluids, has resumed partial production but won’t reach full capacity soon.

Hospitals are rationing supplies, using alternatives like push medications, and re-evaluating hydration protocols to ensure care continuity.

While these strategies could permanently reduce IV fluid use, challenges include increased nurse workloads, patient monitoring risks, and strained resources amid respiratory virus season and year-end surgical demands.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group’s Optum subsidiary uses algorithms to identify patients and providers deemed to be receiving excessive mental health care, leading to reduced coverage and potential harm to patients.

Despite regulatory actions in some states, the company’s practices continue due to the lack of a unified regulatory oversight.

Mental health advocates argue that this fragmentation benefits insurance companies by allowing them to shift scrutinized practices to other jurisdictions.

Summary

Hospitals are reporting a rise in sexual assaults, with lean staffing, flawed hiring, and inadequate training cited as contributing factors.

In one case, Lenna Ray, 67, was repeatedly assaulted by nurse Hiram Bonilla over four hours at HCA Florida Citrus Hospital in 2021.

Despite her reports, hospital staff initially dismissed her claims, and evidence was later altered.

Bonilla was convicted and sentenced to 20 years, and the hospital settled a negligence lawsuit for $25 million.

HCA, the nation’s largest hospital chain, has faced criticism for prioritizing profits over patient safety.

Summary

Former CDC acting director Richard Besser criticized RFK Jr.‘s nomination as HHS secretary, calling his false claims linking vaccines to autism “cruel” and “extremely dangerous.”

Besser emphasized the importance of vaccines for individual and community health and warned against misinformation.

Deborah Birx, former White House coronavirus coordinator, stressed the need for a strong management team to navigate HHS’s complexity and reaffirmed the lack of scientific evidence connecting vaccines to autism.

RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine stance has drawn widespread condemnation from health experts, labeling him a threat to public health.

Summary

Exercise promotes neuron growth through both biochemical and physical effects.

Myokines, released by contracting muscles, stimulate neuron growth, while mechanical forces mimic muscle contractions and also promote neuron growth.

These findings suggest that exercise can be used as a therapeutic approach for nerve repair and mobility restoration.

Summary

Grimmway Farms has voluntarily recalled organic whole carrots and baby carrots sold at Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and other retailers due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), linked to an outbreak identified by the CDC.

Affected products, sold under various labels, include whole carrots (sold from Aug. 14–Oct. 23, 2024) and baby carrots with best-by dates from Sept. 11–Nov. 12, 2024.

Customers are advised to discard them.

STEC can cause severe illness, particularly in young children and the elderly. A prior E. coli outbreak was linked to onions in McDonald’s burgers.

Summary

Excessive alcohol use may accelerate the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from Scripps Research.

The findings suggest that inflammation, a common link between alcohol use disorder and Alzheimer’s, may play a role in this acceleration.

Limiting alcohol use is a controllable factor that could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Summary

Amanda Leeann Porter, 44, was arrested for allegedly impersonating a registered nurse at multiple Southern California hospitals, including Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

Without a nursing license and while on federal probation for fraud, Porter reportedly treated dozens of patients between April and May 2024 before her deception was discovered.

She now faces charges including identity theft, false impersonation, and grand theft.

Authorities allege she planned the offenses with sophistication but found no evidence patient care was compromised.

Summary

Oregon confirmed its first human case of avian influenza, linked to a poultry operation in Clackamas County.

The H5N1 strain has infected millions of birds and other animals, but poses a low risk to the public with mild symptoms and no evidence of person-to-person transmission

Summary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as head of the Department of Health and Human Services has reignited concerns over his vaccine-skeptic views.

Kennedy, who has previously promoted debunked claims linking vaccines to autism and criticized COVID-19 vaccines, is seen by experts as a “vaccine cynic” undermining trust in vaccine safety.

Health officials worry his leadership could worsen declining vaccination rates, already linked to rising measles and whooping cough cases.

Experts fear Kennedy’s influence may lead to unqualified leadership appointments at health agencies and deepen vaccine hesitancy among parents.

Summary

U.S. health officials confirmed the first case of a new form of mpox in a traveler who returned from eastern Africa.

Treated in Northern California, the individual is isolating at home with improving symptoms, and the public risk is deemed low.

This form of mpox, first identified in eastern Congo, spreads through close contact, including sexual transmission.

While endemic in parts of Africa, over 3,100 cases have recently been reported, primarily in Burundi, Uganda, and Congo.

Summary

Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as U.S. health secretary has sparked backlash, with critics labeling Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist, a “clear and present danger.”

Advocacy group Public Citizen warned the appointment could lead to a “public health catastrophe,” while physicians condemned Kennedy’s history of spreading vaccine misinformation, linking it to fatal outbreaks like the 2019 Samoa measles epidemic.

Kennedy has also promoted debunked health claims, including raw milk and ivermectin for COVID, prompting fears his leadership could undermine U.S. health infrastructure.

Summary

Some U.S. OB-GYNs are requiring pregnant women to prepay for maternity care, a shift from traditional billing after delivery. The practice, while legal, is criticized as unethical by patient advocates, adding financial and emotional stress during pregnancy.

Providers argue it ensures compensation amid rising maternity care costs and high-deductible insurance plans. Critics say it can lead to inflated estimates, complicate provider switches, and deter prenatal care. Refunds for overpayments often require patient advocacy, exacerbating stress.

Experts note the legal gray area and challenges in regulating such payment practices.

Summary

Opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. have declined to their lowest levels since 2020, with a reported 18% drop in fatalities from June 2023 to June 2024, per CDC estimates.

The decrease is attributed to factors like broader access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and improved primary prevention efforts, such as fewer high school students trying drugs.

However, overdose rates remain high, particularly among Native Americans and Black men, while new drug supply trends, including shifts linked to xylazine, may also be influencing the decline.

Experts caution against complacency, as nearly 100,000 people still die annually.

Summary

The FDA’s new rules for TV and radio drug ads, effective Nov. 20, require clearer, distraction-free presentations of risk information, using simple language without overwhelming visuals.

While aimed at improving consumer understanding, experts warn that companies may exploit certain requirements, such as on-screen text, to dilute risk awareness.

Amid these changes, drug promotion is increasingly shifting to social media influencers, often with little regulatory oversight.

A proposed bill in Congress seeks to close this loophole by mandating risk disclosures and transparency in influencer payments tied to drug promotions.