Category: Health

Pharmaceutical company AbbVie has taken the federal government to court, demanding updated rules for a drug discount program that serves low-income patients.

The 340B program mandates that pharmaceutical companies provide medications at steep discounts to qualifying healthcare facilities that treat disadvantaged communities.

AbbVie contends the current rules contain gaps that permit hospitals and medical centers to obtain discounted drugs for patients who have little to no connection with their facilities, or even request multiple discounts for identical prescriptions.

According to the pharmaceutical giant, these regulatory weaknesses have converted a program designed as a “safety-net” into a discretionary revenue stream for hospitals.

AbbVie is pushing for stricter requirements where 340B discounts would only be available when healthcare providers are actively treating a patient’s particular medical condition and have conducted a comprehensive examination within the past year.

This legal challenge represents the most recent development in an ongoing dispute between pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare institutions over the multi-billion dollar 340B initiative.

Previous lawsuits, which have seen varying degrees of success, have contended that state regulations conflict with federal 340B legislation. For years, drug companies have maintained that the extensive use of contract pharmacies within the 340B framework creates opacity and increases the likelihood of inappropriate discounting.

AbbVie’s case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, differs from earlier litigation by directly challenging federal law and requesting a patient definition that could significantly limit 340B program access.

Do you find yourself lingering in your vehicle after reaching your destination, whether that’s your workplace, home, or the grocery store?

Perhaps you spend a few minutes or even half an hour there, checking your phone, singing along to music, or simply gazing ahead without purpose.

Browse social media platforms and you’ll discover numerous posts from individuals questioning why they engage in this same pattern: reaching their destination and then remaining seated in their vehicle. Some deliberately arrive early to create this time. Others extend their stay well beyond when they’ve completed parking.

This practice has become so widespread that it’s evolved into its own type of routine, which people are more frequently acknowledging and discussing on digital platforms.

Research offers several explanations for this phenomenon. Whether inside a vehicle, standing on a walkway, or positioned outside an entrance, these momentary delays serve as transitions between different segments of the day. While comprehensive studies on this topic remain limited, mental health professionals indicate this practice can provide benefits — provided certain considerations are kept in mind.

“A lot of times we’re just going 100 miles an hour,” said Jenny Taitz, a clinical psychologist who runs her own practice in Beverly Hills. “But if we can literally stop, like slow down, take a step back, observe, proceed mindfully, maybe like a few minutes to reset between activities, it kind of gives you an ability to be intentional.”

Short periods of solitude can assist in emotional regulation when transitioning between activities — such as leaving workplace tensions behind before entering your home environment.

“By taking a brief little break, you can at least take a moment to relax and prepare before moving forward,” said psychologist Anthony Vaccaro with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Vaccaro sits in his parked car for a few minutes after arriving home from work, turning up the speakers to listen to just one more song.

Individuals pursue these intervals to reflect, readjust, and shed negative feelings. Choosing a vehicle for this purpose makes logical sense because “it’s an in-between space,” according to psychologist Thuy-vy Nguyen with Durham University in England and founder of Solitude Lab, which studies how being alone affects and rejuvenates us.

Vehicles provide an atmosphere where individuals maintain complete authority over their surroundings, including climate and audio selections.

Researchers indicate that incorporating short decompression periods throughout and after work hours can enhance mood, increase concentration, and elevate energy.

However, regarding vehicle-based breaks, the effectiveness of this pause depends entirely on how those minutes are utilized.

“If you’re in your car scrolling and thinking about something that’s upsetting to you or ruminating, you know, in your head spiraling, the parked car is not a reset. It’s the stressor,” said Taitz.

Using your mobile device can direct your focus toward screen content, potentially making relaxation more challenging to achieve.

For those who have developed this vehicular routine, consider how you’re utilizing these moments. Spend time controlling your breathing pattern, enjoying familiar music, or creating a basic strategy for your next interaction — whether that involves feeling more relaxed, displaying greater patience, or maintaining better concentration. Brief pauses can alter your mental condition.

“You could change your blood pressure in five minutes,” Taitz said, referring to simple techniques like slowing your breathing or relaxing your body.

There exists a distinction between beneficial resets and problematic avoidance. When these parking lot breaks cause tardiness for significant appointments or social gatherings, or when exiting the vehicle feels challenging, they might create more problems than solutions — or suggest deeper issues require attention.

“It’s really about why you’re doing it, and whether it’s interfering with other aspects of your life. That’s really what’s going to determine whether this is a good or bad behavior for you,” Vaccaro said.

Vehicle decompression extends beyond stress relief. The enormous amount of daily information people process makes quiet moments even more necessary and beneficial.

“We’re always juggling so much, not taking a lot of time to slow things down,” Taitz said. “Trying to find those moments can allow for things to be happier and more joyful and fulfilling.”

Consider this practice as preparation rather than procrastination.

Pharmaceutical company Insmed announced Tuesday it will halt development of a medication intended to treat a painful inflammatory skin disorder following unsuccessful clinical trial results.

The experimental treatment, known as brensocatib, failed to achieve its primary objective of reducing painful nodules in individuals suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa during mid-stage testing, according to company officials.

“While we are disappointed in the results, we hope that insights gained from this study will contribute to the broader scientific understanding of HS,” stated Martina Flammer, Insmed’s Chief Medical Officer.

Company representatives noted that the medication demonstrated acceptable safety profiles during testing, with no unexpected adverse reactions identified. The pharmaceutical firm intends to share the trial findings at an upcoming scientific conference.

This marks the second setback for brensocatib this year, as Insmed previously abandoned its development for treating chronic sinus conditions in December following another unsuccessful trial.

Despite these failures, brensocatib continues to maintain U.S. approval under the brand name Brinsupri for treating non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, a persistent respiratory condition that causes permanent damage to lung airways.

A Ferndale, Michigan company has announced a voluntary nationwide recall of a chocolate product after discovering it contains undisclosed prescription drug ingredients.

Nalpac has pulled DTF Sexual Chocolate from the market after testing revealed the presence of sildenafil and tadalafil, both pharmaceutical compounds typically found in prescription medications. The company had purchased and redistributed the product before the contamination was discovered.

The recall affects all units of the chocolate product that were distributed nationwide. Consumers who have purchased this item are advised to stop using it immediately due to the presence of these undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients.

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced Tuesday the nationwide rollout of a stronger formulation of its popular weight-loss medication Wegovy throughout American pharmacies.

The enhanced version, marketed as Wegovy HD, contains 7.2 milligrams of the active ingredient and received regulatory clearance through the FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher program in March.

Previously, the maximum approved strength of the weight-loss injection was limited to 2.4 milligrams.

According to the pharmaceutical manufacturer, patients can obtain the stronger formulation through traditional pharmacies nationwide, the company’s NovoCare Pharmacy network, and approved telehealth services.

Patients paying out-of-pocket for Wegovy HD will face monthly costs of $399, though those with commercial insurance coverage may reduce their expenses to just $25 monthly through the manufacturer’s discount program, the company stated.

In March, Novo Nordisk announced plans to introduce a reduced-price subscription service for American patients purchasing Wegovy without insurance assistance, providing significant cost reductions as the company works to compete with rival Eli Lilly in the expanding obesity treatment marketplace.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Health officials in Bangladesh have launched an urgent vaccination drive to combat a deadly measles outbreak that has claimed the lives of more than 100 children in less than four weeks.

Working alongside the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, Bangladesh’s government started immunizing children between 6 months and 5 years old in 18 districts with the highest risk on Sunday. The vaccination effort will roll out across the entire country in stages beginning next month, according to a collaborative announcement.

UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, expressed grave concern about the rapid increase in infections, noting the severe threat to the nation’s youngest population. “This resurgence highlights critical immunity gaps, particularly among zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, while infections among infants under nine months, who are not yet eligible for routine vaccination, are especially alarming,” Flowers stated.

Health data from the South Asian country of over 170 million residents shows more than 900 confirmed measles cases among 7,500 suspected infections reported since March 15.

According to WHO, measles spreads easily through the air and triggers fever, breathing problems, and a distinctive skin rash. The disease can lead to serious complications or death, particularly in young children.

Health experts emphasize that immunization is essential for controlling measles transmission, but WHO guidelines indicate 95% population vaccination coverage is necessary to halt the disease’s spread.

During parliamentary questioning Monday, Bangladesh’s Health Minister Sardar Mohammed Sakhawat Husain attributed the current crisis to poor management and mistakes by former administrations.

The minister pointed to failures by the previous administration under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, saying their inadequate vaccine stockpile decisions created shortages affecting measles and six additional disease vaccines.

Bangladesh’s measles immunization program faced disruption during recent political turmoil. Hasina was removed from power during mass protests in 2024, followed by Yunus’s interim leadership before an elected government took control after February elections.

Health officials are urging parents to seek hospital care immediately when measles is suspected.

“They should avoid taking medicine from shopkeepers unnecessarily. If a child has a fever, especially high fever — 101, 102, 3, 4 (Fahrenheit, or higher than 38.3 Celsius) — they should not rely on medicine from local shops,” explained F. A. Asma Khan, deputy director of Dhaka’s Infectious Diseases Hospital.

“Instead, they must take the child to a hospital as soon as possible, because our medical officers are capable of providing proper basic treatment,” she added.

Bangladesh has achieved significant immunization improvements since launching a comprehensive vaccination program in 1979, increasing fully vaccinated children from merely 2% to 81.6%.

However, UNICEF cautioned last year that despite Bangladesh’s substantial progress in expanding vaccine coverage, significant inequalities remain throughout the country.

Rising medical expenses and reduced government assistance for commercial fishing operations have prompted the creation of a mobile healthcare initiative targeting Vietnamese fishermen in Galveston, Texas.

The temporary clinic operates without charge, addressing healthcare needs within this specific maritime community as traditional support systems continue to diminish.

Medical specialists treating obesity across the nation report that patients beginning weight-loss treatment are increasingly drawn to pill-form medications due to their affordability and ease of use, according to interviews with seven physicians in the field.

Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy became available in January, and Eli Lilly’s newly-approved Foundayo enters the market this week, creating competition in what experts predict will become a $100 billion annual obesity treatment industry within the next ten years.

The Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk first introduced injectable Wegovy in 2021. Both the pill and injection forms contain semaglutide, the same active component found in diabetes medication Ozempic.

Since receiving approval three months ago, the tablet version has attracted patients seeking lower costs and simpler administration, physicians report.

Dr. Christina Nguyen, who practices obesity and family medicine in Atlanta, explained that tablets offer several advantages: they don’t require refrigerated storage, provide discretion, and eliminate needle use.

“One person said I’d rather stay fat than ever use a needle. That’s a true fear,” she said.

Lilly’s Foundayo tablets, containing the active compound orforglipron, will start shipping Monday.

All seven medical professionals interviewed have begun prescribing oral Wegovy, with three reporting that approximately 10% of their patients now receive the pill form.

Most patients choosing pills are beginning GLP-1 treatment for the first time rather than switching from injections, and haven’t yet reached maximum dosages, doctors noted.

Dr. Stefie Deeds, who specializes in internal and obesity medicine in Seattle, said the oral option is “expanding access to people who are not sure that an injectable is something they would feel comfortable doing on themselves, might be leery of needles, and they’re excited to have an option that is easier and more familiar to take.”

Physicians typically avoid switching patients from injections to pills if the injectable treatment is working effectively.

Dr. Louis Aronne, who directs the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medical College, explained: “The patients we see who are taking medicines, whether it’s Wegovy or (Lilly’s) Zepbound, we’re not telling them to switch to oral Wegovy if they’re doing well.” Aronne has provided consulting services to Lilly, participated in orforglipron clinical trials, and serves on advisory boards for both companies.

Zepbound, which contains tirzepatide, has demonstrated weight reduction of 20% or more in clinical studies, making it the preferred choice for severe obesity cases, particularly complex situations.

“For somebody who is in the lower end of the weight spectrum, people who are more likely to be seen by primary care physicians, they would be more likely to use the orals,” Aronne noted.

Clinical trials showed Foundayo achieved 12% body weight reduction while oral Wegovy resulted in approximately 14% weight loss.

Multiple physicians expressed enthusiasm for Lilly’s orforglipron approval, anticipating greater flexibility in patient treatment options.

Oral Wegovy requires specific timing: patients must take it on an empty stomach with minimal water, waiting 30 minutes before consuming food, beverages, or other medications. Foundayo can be taken at any time without dietary or fluid restrictions.

Nguyen indicated that if Lilly’s pill matches oral Wegovy’s pricing, “most likely everyone will go with the orforglipron.”

Novo spokesperson Liz Skrbova stated that company surveys suggest most patients wouldn’t find the timing requirements disruptive.

Clinical research has also identified additional health benefits from semaglutide, including reduced cardiovascular risks.

Dr. Michael Weintraub, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health, expressed caution about the new Lilly medication: “I can’t guarantee that this totally different type of molecule is going to carry the same benefits.”

A Lilly representative said the company continues studying Foundayo and noted that many clinical trial participants showed improved cardiovascular risk markers.

Cost remains the primary consideration for patients selecting GLP-1 medications, according to all physicians interviewed.

Pills offer financial advantages, with both oral Wegovy and Foundayo starting at $149 monthly for initial doses, compared to $299 for Zepbound and $349 for Ozempic and injectable Wegovy.

Insurance coverage restrictions for GLP-1 medications require doctors to spend considerable time helping patients navigate affordability options. When insurance covers treatment, patient costs may drop to $25-50 monthly.

Dr. Catherine Varney, an obesity medicine physician and associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine who participates in Lilly’s speakers bureau and advisory board, said: “I feel more like a financial planner these days than a physician.”

Despite lower-cost pill options, Varney and colleagues worry that weight-loss medications remain financially out of reach for many Americans.

“This still is a market for upper-middle-class and above,” Varney concluded.

Women experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and sleep difficulties during menopause are facing an overwhelming wave of product advertisements promising relief.

The surge in frank discussions about menopause and the transitional phase beforehand, known as perimenopause, coincides with intensified marketing campaigns powered by social media platforms. Women encounter countless face creams, serums, light therapy devices, nutritional supplements, and various gadgets all claiming to address menopausal symptoms.

“The marketing has gotten very, very aggressive. It’s pervasive,” said Dr. Nanette Santoro, an OB-GYN professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz.

Medical experts like Santoro emphasize that women should consult healthcare providers about scientifically-backed treatments before investing in expensive products with grand promises that may prove ineffective or potentially harmful.

“It really pays to be very, very, very skeptical,” Santoro said.

During menopause, declining estrogen and progesterone levels can trigger various symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood fluctuations, vaginal dryness and sleep disturbances in some women.

Dr. Angela Angel, an OB-GYN with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, noted a shift in how patients approach menopause discussions. Previously, physicians would inquire about symptoms during routine annual checkups for women around age 50. Now, patients are scheduling dedicated appointments to discuss these concerns.

Many patients arrive having already experimented with products they discovered online. “They’re coming to see me because it’s not effective or because it’s caused some other side effect,” Angel said.

Angel’s hospital recently launched a physician-led menopause support group, with an upcoming session dedicated to helping women navigate the marketing bombardment at participants’ request.

The marketplace includes everything from wristbands and rings marketed for hot flash relief to specialized cooling blankets and bedding.

Santoro advises patients to “balance what you’re going to spend over whether this might help you.”

“If it’s a bracelet that’s going to cost you $20, it’s not a big expenditure. It might provide some improvement,” Santoro said. “Things that are not well tested might still work but if you want something that works — come back, I’m not going anywhere and I’ll give you evidence based treatment.”

While dietary supplements haven’t demonstrated effectiveness for hot flashes in rigorous scientific studies, Santoro notes many are affordable with minimal risk of harm. She stresses that patients should inform their doctors about any online products they wish to try for proper monitoring or medical guidance against potentially problematic options.

Medical professionals point out that most over-the-counter items marketed specifically for menopausal women, including supplements, shampoos, and skincare products, contain identical ingredients to regular versions of these products.

Some marketed products may cause unwanted reactions.

Dr. Monica Christmas, director of the menopause program at the University of Chicago Medicine, explains that menopausal symptoms vary dramatically among women. While some experience few or no symptoms, others face severe impacts from multiple issues. She emphasizes that seeking professional medical guidance remains paramount.

Physician-prescribed hormone therapy can effectively address symptoms, as can non-hormonal prescription medications. However, some women cannot use hormone therapy due to specific medical histories.

“Not everybody needs hormone therapy, not everyone is a candidate for hormone therapy, not everybody should be on hormone therapy,” Angel said.

Regular physical activity and nutritious eating habits provide significant benefits, doctors emphasize. These lifestyle changes can promote weight loss, which research links to reduced hot flashes and night sweats.

Santoro recommends avoiding alcohol for those experiencing hot flashes, as it can intensify these episodes.

“Many of the symptoms actually get better over time, so sometimes it really is just a matter of lifestyle modifications and self-care and getting through this most tumultuous time frame,” Christmas said.

Brandi McGruder, a 49-year-old Dallas school librarian, recognized her perimenopause symptoms during a birthday dinner last year. She felt extremely cold entering the restaurant but was overheated within 20 minutes.

McGruder scheduled a doctor’s appointment and received an estrogen patch prescription that provided relief. While she notices advertisements targeting women her age, she chose to consult her physician first.

Though McGruder dislikes how symptoms remind her of aging, she’s learning to accept this life stage. Her recommendation: “Laugh. It’s OK. Reach out to others experiencing what you are going through, don’t take it so serious.”

Skin changes occur both from natural aging and menopause-related collagen and hyaluronic acid loss, which reduces skin thickness, explained Dr. Melissa Mauskar, a dermatologist and associate professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Mauskar recommends prescribed retinoids or over-the-counter retinol products, which boost collagen production and minimize wrinkle appearance.

Quality drugstore moisturizers work well, she advises. Look for products containing ceramides, which maintain skin hydration.

“But you don’t want to have anything that has too many additive ingredients — just because it’s natural and a botanical does not mean it’s better,” Mauskar said. “A lot of those actually are contact allergens that can make people more sensitive.”

Ingestible collagen supplements are heavily marketed to women, but Mauskar warns that research results are inconsistent and consuming collagen “doesn’t mean that it’s going to make its way to your skin and plump up your face” despite product claims. Light therapy masks won’t cause harm and some studies suggest potential benefits, but won’t produce overnight results. Any improvements would require consistent daily use over many years.

Sun damage causes most wrinkles patients develop, making consistent sunscreen application essential at every age.

“I think there’s a lot of new fancy things coming out and targeted to perimenopause, menopause patients,” Mauskar said, “but sometimes the tried and true things that we at least have the science for I think still are my kind of gold standard for my patients.”

As the holiday season approached in 2025, Julie Hart found herself trapped in a cycle of overthinking. Years of wrestling with a persistent issue had left her second-guessing every decision and dwelling on past choices throughout each day.

While traditional weekly therapy seemed like an option, Hart chose to explore single-session counseling instead. This approach offered just one hour to address her concerns, and the results exceeded her expectations.

“It helped me get unstuck, is how I would describe it, in a very positive, meaningful and effective way,” said Hart, who lives in Springfield, Virginia.

Mental health professionals report that Hart represents a growing trend of individuals choosing focused, one-time counseling over the extended commitment typically associated with conventional therapy.

This therapeutic approach delivers exactly what its name suggests: a single hour-long meeting where a mental health professional guides clients toward practical solutions for specific challenges. The goal isn’t to eliminate problems entirely, but to equip people with useful techniques for managing them.

“Those strategies made all kinds of sense,” Hart explained. “But you can’t identify them when you’re in it.”

While this concept isn’t revolutionary—even Sigmund Freud provided such services—its popularity has surged as mental health care access becomes increasingly challenging, according to Jessica Schleider, a psychology professor at Northwestern University who directs the Lab for Scalable Mental Health.

Traditional therapy costs have climbed to hundreds of dollars monthly, and even individuals with insurance coverage or financial means face extensive waiting periods for appointments.

“Even if we doubled miraculously the number of trained mental health professionals overnight, we still wouldn’t come anywhere close to meeting the need for mental health support,” Schleider explained.

Additional obstacles include work schedules that prevent people from attending regular weekly appointments.

Statistics reveal that most therapy clients attend only one session anyway, as many begin treatment but don’t return for follow-up visits, Schleider noted.

“It’s a really elegant solution to get people support they need at the moment that need arises,” she said.

Sharon Thomas, a psychologist who oversees single-session therapy at Washington, D.C.’s Ross Center, emphasizes that both therapist and client begin with clear expectations: “That the client will be able to have meaningful change in their life, and that we’ll see an improvement in both their self-efficacy and a decline in their symptoms in just one visit.”

Instead of conducting comprehensive evaluations of a client’s history and current situation, therapists concentrate on one particular issue. Sessions conclude with clients receiving written action plans outlining steps to address their concerns.

“Not everyone wants to discuss childhood trauma,” Thomas noted. “It’s very much focused on what the client wants to focus on in that moment.”

Arnold Slive, a psychology professor at Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas who helped establish walk-in single-session therapy centers in Canada during the 1990s, believes most people can gain value from this approach. Whether dealing with immediate stressors like workplace conflicts or ongoing issues such as anxiety, clients can find relief.

Slive emphasizes that therapists must still evaluate suicide risk, and individuals with severe mental health conditions may require traditional therapy or medication.

“It’s not meant to replace all those other things that mental health professionals do, but it can help people feel better,” Slive said.

This approach assumes every client possesses inherent strengths to tackle their problems. Single sessions often appeal to people who question whether conventional therapy suits their needs.

“It’s like putting a toe in the water,” Slive described.

Research supporting single-session interventions has expanded significantly, with Schleider noting that studies have “blossomed in the past five or 10 years to where this has become a more well-established form of mental health support.”

Her laboratory analyzed 415 clinical trials and discovered that single-session methods typically decreased mental health symptoms across various conditions, including depression and anxiety, for people of all ages.

Months after her session, Hart continues to feel improvement and reports increased confidence knowing she can return if needed.

“I left feeling so optimistic,” Hart said.

Rising medical expenses and reduced government assistance for commercial fishing operations have prompted the creation of a mobile healthcare clinic serving Vietnamese fishermen in Galveston, Texas.

The pop-up medical facility offers free healthcare services to members of the Vietnamese fishing community who face barriers to accessing traditional medical care.

TSAKANE, South Africa — At 84 years old, Gladys Khoza had been unable to clearly see the faces of her loved ones due to severe vision issues.

That changed when Khoza became one of 133 patients who received their sight back through an intensive series of free cataract operations performed by volunteer doctors at two South African medical facilities during two recent weekends.

“Wow!” Khoza exclaimed with joy as medical staff removed her post-surgery bandage the following day, revealing a world she could see clearly once again.

When the nurse inquired, “Can you see me?” Khoza responded with a wide smile, “Very well.”

Within South Africa’s government healthcare system, patients often endure years-long delays for these routine 15-20-minute procedures. Medical officials noted that some participants selected from hospital waiting lists had been seeking treatment since 2019.

The clouding of the eye’s natural lens, known as cataracts, represents a widespread condition typically linked to aging and stands as the primary cause of preventable blindness worldwide. The surgical solution involves implanting an artificial replacement lens.

For Khoza, who described complete vision loss in one eye from cataracts and ongoing problems with the other, this straightforward procedure represents a dramatic improvement in daily living.

“I just wanted to be able to see,” she explained. Following almost twelve months of waiting, her cherished activities — observing family members, studying her Bible, and enjoying nighttime television dramas — have returned to her life.

Dr. Tebogo Fakude, among the volunteer surgeons who donated their time at two regional medical centers near Johannesburg, shared that his own mother experienced blindness, making vision restoration “beautiful.”

“It’s beautiful because it alleviates depression,” Fakude explained, noting that patients also experience relief from feeling like a burden to others.

According to World Health Organization data, more than 2 billion individuals worldwide experience vision difficulties. For half of these cases, the conditions could have been avoided or patients remain waiting for medical intervention.

Approximately 100 million people globally suffer from cataracts, with half still requiring surgical access, WHO reports indicate. Throughout Africa, this percentage increases to 75% of affected individuals lacking surgical treatment, based on research published in March by the Lancet medical publication.

Surgical delays pose a major challenge in South Africa, where public hospitals provide care for more than three-quarters of the nation’s 62 million residents. Resource constraints force medical facilities to prioritize emergency cases and critical operations over elective procedures.

The Health Department’s surgical marathon initiative launched on Mandela Day in 2023 to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the nation’s first Black leader. The program has evolved into a collaborative effort between public and private sectors, occurring multiple times annually to expand healthcare access.

Ministry officials have committed to utilizing these surgical marathons to eliminate treatment backlogs. Previous events have focused on prostate conditions, cleft palate repairs, and gastrointestinal problems.

Cataract treatment became the most recent priority. Fakude reported that approximately 300,000 new diagnoses occur annually throughout South Africa.

Healthcare organizations report that South Africa faces a backlog exceeding 240,000 individuals awaiting cataract procedures. In Gauteng province, the country’s most densely populated region where this surgery marathon occurred, over 35,000 residents suffer from cataract-induced blindness.

The World Health Organization describes cataract surgery as “one of the most cost-effective medical procedures” and a significant method for restoring personal independence, dignity, and life opportunities.

Throughout the three-day surgical marathon at Pholosong Regional Hospital, medical teams brought new patients into the operating room approximately every half hour. Calming gospel music played through speakers to maintain surgeon morale.

Using microscopic equipment, the eye specialists created small incisions for each operation, extracted the clouded lens, and installed an artificial replacement. At certain points, two surgeons operated simultaneously on different patients to accelerate progress. They successfully completed 60 procedures during the marathon’s final weekend.

Molefe Mokoena, age 72, expressed anticipation about regaining his self-sufficiency after living with cataracts for four years.

“I want to see my great-grandchildren,” he stated. “I want to drive my car, and I’m happy about this.”

A Pennsylvania-based grocery chain announced a voluntary product recall on April 2, 2026, affecting chocolate confections that may pose serious health risks to allergy sufferers.

Karns Foods has pulled its Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups from shelves after discovering the treats contain peanuts that were not listed on product labels. The recall covers approximately 8-ounce packages of the chocolate items.

The company issued the recall from its Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania headquarters, warning that individuals with peanut allergies could experience severe or potentially fatal reactions if they consume the mislabeled products.

Customers who purchased the affected chocolate raspberry cups are advised to check their packages and avoid consumption if they have peanut sensitivities.

The University of Mississippi has created a specialized center dedicated to addressing gambling issues among college students as concerns mount over increasing addiction rates on campuses nationwide.

Daniel Durkin, who established the Center for Collegiate Gambling at Ole Miss, recently sat down with NPR’s Juana Summers to discuss the growing problem of student gambling and the concerning uptick in gambling-related addictions affecting young adults.

The new initiative represents one of the first comprehensive efforts by a major university to directly confront what experts are calling an emerging crisis in higher education as sports betting and online gambling become more accessible to students.

A California dairy company has agreed to pull several varieties of raw cheddar cheese from shelves following a federal investigation into an E. coli outbreak, after initially resisting calls for a recall.

Raw Farm, located in Fresno, California, announced Thursday it would voluntarily withdraw more than half a dozen types of cheddar cheese produced from unpasteurized milk. The affected products have expiration dates ranging from May 2026 through September 2026.

The popularity of raw milk products has grown significantly in recent years, driven by social media promotion and backing from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. Unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk hasn’t undergone heat treatment that eliminates harmful bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, listeria and campylobacter.

Federal health officials launched their investigation last month after reports emerged of E. coli poisoning among consumers who had used the company’s products. The Food and Drug Administration had previously asked the company to issue a recall.

During a facility inspection conducted last week, FDA investigators did not discover any positive E. coli test results in the company’s current product samples, according to an agency update.

The dairy company emphasized this finding in Thursday’s recall announcement and stated it was issuing the recall “under protest” while seeking to establish “a path forward.”

“This voluntary recall is limited to Raw Farm-brand cheddar cheese, and no other products are being voluntarily recalled,” the company said.

Federal regulations give the FDA power to mandate product recalls when there’s reasonable concern about serious harm or fatalities, though companies must first be given the chance to comply voluntarily.

According to FDA reports from last week, the outbreak has affected nine individuals, including children.

Health investigators interviewed eight victims, with seven confirming they had consumed Raw Farm products. Two people reported drinking the company’s milk in 2025, while five others said they consumed or were served Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese in 2026.

Laboratory analysis of E. coli samples from the affected individuals reveals closely matching genetic patterns, suggesting victims in this outbreak “share a common source of infection,” federal officials stated.

Federal law prohibits interstate commerce of unpasteurized milk for human consumption. Individual states maintain varying rules governing raw milk sales, with some permitting retail store sales while others restrict sales to farm locations only. Certain states permit “cowshare” arrangements where consumers purchase milk from specific animals, while others limit consumption to farm owners, workers or “non-paying guests.”

CREIGHTON, Neb. (AP) — The Saint John family settled in Creighton, Nebraska, specifically because of its local medical facility.

Rick and Jane Saint John have a child with nonverbal autism and epilepsy requiring frequent medical visits — sometimes three times weekly. The town’s critical access hospital became essential to their lives when Jane fell critically ill with bacterial pneumonia three years ago. Medical staff told her that delaying treatment by just one more day would have caused organ failure.

“And if we had had to drive the hour to the Yankton (South Dakota) hospital,” Rick Saint John said, his voice breaking with emotion, “it could have cost her her life.”

The family was stunned to learn that Avera Creighton Hospital now confronts serious financial challenges. A massive $50 billion federal program designed to revolutionize rural healthcare appears unlikely to provide meaningful assistance. This reality is dawning on millions of rural Americans who discover no financial rescue is coming for their community hospitals.

Rural medical facilities nationwide face potential shutdowns following years of financial struggles. These difficulties intensified last summer when the Trump administration implemented significant Medicaid reductions, cutting reimbursements that hospitals have traditionally relied upon to balance their budgets.

Public opposition to these funding reductions led Republican legislators to establish $50 billion in new rural health funding, though critics argue this money targets innovative healthcare delivery methods rather than supporting hospitals currently under financial strain.

“It won’t pay to keep the lights on. And it won’t turn the lights back on once they’ve been turned off,” said Dr. Ben Young, an infectious disease specialist and policy expert with public health advocacy group Wellness Equity Alliance.

Healthcare concerns in rural America mirror nationwide anxieties about medical access and escalating treatment costs amid rising living expenses — issues that may influence this year’s midterm elections significantly.

The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, included in President Donald Trump’s tax-and-spending legislation last year, was promoted by Republicans as assistance for rural area hospitals. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described it last summer as the “biggest infusion in history” for rural hospitals and promised it would “restore and revitalize these communities.”

Medical facilities and healthcare industry analysts warn that while this funding — distributed as $10 billion annually across all states over five years — provides some assistance to struggling rural hospitals, it won’t prevent their closure. The amount falls far short of the $137 billion that rural hospitals anticipate losing over the coming decade, according to health research nonprofit KFF. Millions face losing Medicaid coverage due to new work requirements taking effect in 2027 — changes the Trump administration claims will target fraudsters rather than eliminate eligible participants.

Program administrators explain the new $50 billion fund aims to transform rural healthcare through technology, workforce development, and other innovations rather than simply supporting failing rural hospitals or preserving current operations. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz stated in a December video that it “gives states the tools to design solutions that last, not Band-Aids that fail.”

The White House reinforced this message Wednesday, explaining the fund supports “big ideas” for long-term rural healthcare access improvements.

“Decades of mismanagement by career politicians in Washington have left rural communities with limited care options,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said.

State funding applications reveal diverse proposals. Some applications focus on improving emergency medical services and modernizing rural facilities, while others aim to enhance school lunch nutrition, expand fitness programs, strengthen telehealth services, and implement AI-driven patient monitoring technologies.

Avera Creighton Hospital CEO Theresa Guenther maintains her facility doesn’t face immediate closure but acknowledges that Medicaid reductions will create difficulties — a concern echoed by most rural hospitals.

“Medicaid cuts will have an impact to us, and we — as well as many others — will have to figure out what that looks like moving forward,” she said. Her hospital seeks funding from the $50 billion program to help manage patients’ chronic conditions like diabetes and cover workforce expenses.

Nebraska received $218 million for the rural health grants’ initial phase, planning to allocate approximately $90 million toward healthier school food options, healthcare worker recruitment, and mobile sensors for remote monitoring of chronically ill rural patients, among other initiatives. For rural critical access hospitals at closure risk, the state offers $10 million to “right size” them by eliminating inpatient care where bed occupancy typically remains low.

Republican state Sen. Barry DeKay emphasizes the importance of hospitals like Creighton’s despite low occupancy rates. The hospital serves his district; his own mother received life-extending treatment there after hip replacement surgery. He worries that Medicaid reductions could harm all rural hospitals statewide.

“I’ll try to be working as hard as I can to get as much money to rural hospitals — whether it’s in my district or any other rural district in the state,” he said.

Rick Saint John admits limited knowledge about Nebraska’s federal fund usage but believes the money should help hospitals like Creighton’s maintain full operations.

“The hospital is very important to this community, and for more than just medical care,” he said, noting potential job losses if the hospital reduces services or closes.

The funding program faces criticism from hospital organizations over an issue becoming significant for 2026 voters.

The Colorado Hospital Association sent a December letter to state lawmakers, accusing them of disregarding rural hospital input during the application process.

The Nebraska Hospital Association, which supported Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer’s 2024 reelection campaign based on her rural healthcare advocacy, has criticized both the cuts and the $50 billion fund. Fischer supported last summer’s Medicaid reductions.

These and other state efforts to restrict Medicaid spending communicate “that access to health care is not a priority,” the organization stated.

Some Republican state legislators nationwide have expressed concerns about portions of the fund and sought methods to assist struggling rural hospitals.

Under mounting pressure, several rural states are implementing independent solutions.

Wyoming passed legislation allowing rural hospitals to file Chapter 9 bankruptcy, typically reserved for financially distressed municipalities to reorganize debts and repay creditors while receiving legal protection.

In North Dakota, during a special session to distribute the state’s federal rural health funding, the Republican-controlled Legislature approved an unrelated measure designed to rescue a rural hospital with a low-interest loan up to $5 million through the state-owned bank.

The plan hopes to maintain hospital operations in a vast rural region where it employs 5% of the surrounding county’s population, according to hospital board member Matt Hager.

Young, the Wellness Equity Alliance expert, anticipates difficult times ahead for rural hospitals.

“I am not optimistic in the short term,” he said. “Because these hospitals are facing immediate financial shortfalls, are barely financially operating currently, and they need operating support now.”

With Easter approaching, families across the region are preparing to color eggs for holiday celebrations and egg hunts. Food safety experts emphasize the importance of following proper guidelines to ensure decorated eggs remain safe for consumption.

According to specialists, eggs have impressive longevity when handled correctly. “Stores usually do turn over eggs pretty quickly, so the recommendations is you should consume eggs three to five weeks after you purchase them,” explained Kara Lynch, a food safety educator with Michigan State University Extension.

Allowing eggs to age slightly before hard-boiling actually provides benefits, as older eggs peel more easily due to air pockets that develop between the shell and egg over time.

While egg processors sanitize eggs before retail sale, thorough cooking remains essential for reducing foodborne illness risks, particularly salmonella contamination. Kimberly Baker, associate extension specialist at Clemson University, notes that this bacteria occurs naturally in chickens’ digestive and reproductive systems.

For proper preparation, place eggs in a saucepan with water and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, cover the pan, remove from heat, and allow to sit for approximately 12 minutes. The yolk should be firm throughout for safety, though overcooking may cause green discoloration around the yolk’s exterior.

Don Schaffner, food science department chair at Rutgers University, outlined two cooling approaches following the boiling process.

The first method involves immediately running cold water over the eggs to lower their temperature, after which they can be colored right away or refrigerated until decorating time. Alternatively, eggs can air-dry and cool naturally at room temperature.

“You’ve boiled the egg, you’ve gotten rid of any bacteria that might be in the egg. And now you’ve air-cooled it, right? So it’s going to cool more slowly, it’s probably going to cook more,” Schaffner noted. “But most importantly, you don’t have to worry about any bacteria from the water getting internalized into the egg.”

Both artificial and natural food coloring are acceptable provided they carry food-grade labeling, in accordance with updated FDA guidelines on dye regulations.

Dye penetrating through the shell poses no safety concerns. “Eggs kind of naturally have their own abilities to absorb only so much,” Baker observed.

During the decorating process, Baker recommends keeping eggs in ice baths to maintain cool temperatures. Eggs should stay at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent contamination.

Hard-boiled eggs that weren’t air-cooled should not exceed two hours at room temperature, including decorating and egg hunt time combined. In warmer conditions, Lynch suggests reducing this timeframe to one hour.

Properly stored hard-boiled eggs remain fresh in refrigerators for approximately one week.

Careful handling prevents cracking, which creates entry points for harmful bacteria that cannot be eliminated once eggs are fully cooked.

“We don’t want to be putting them in the soil or in lawns where pets have gone to the bathroom,” Baker cautioned.

Before peeling decorated eggs, rinse them with cool water and wash hands thoroughly as a precaution against any contaminants picked up during hiding or hunting.

For extended outdoor egg hunts exceeding the two-hour safety window, experts recommend substituting plastic eggs for real ones to eliminate food safety risks.

“If it’s an outdoor Easter egg hunt at any time, I would say go with the plastic eggs and be safe,” Baker advised. “And use your dyed Easter eggs as your centerpiece on your table or your buffet, and enjoy them that way.”

Couples preparing for marriage in India are turning to weight-loss medications as a quick solution to shed pounds before their wedding ceremonies, creating a new market for diabetes drugs repurposed for cosmetic use.

Medical facilities across India are capitalizing on this trend by offering specialized treatment plans. New Delhi’s Klarity Skin Clinic promotes a “Mounjaro bride” service, while other wellness centers have incorporated weight-loss injections into comprehensive pre-wedding makeover packages that traditionally focused on skincare and hair styling.

Through social media marketing, Klarity advertises “guided nutrition, Mounjaro and smart workouts” designed to help future brides prepare for their wedding day. The clinic declined to provide comments when contacted.

Medical professionals across the country report a surge in requests from engaged individuals seeking prescription weight-loss medications before their ceremonies. Eight physicians interviewed confirmed they’ve received numerous inquiries from brides-to-be and some grooms about obtaining these drugs. Most specifically request Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which became the first GLP-1 medication available in India for treating both diabetes and obesity. Doctors note it has gained more popularity than Novo Nordisk’s competing drug Wegovy.

“Over the last few months, over 20% of the queries we’ve received for obesity injections are from to-be brides, who also openly give us a timeline on how soon they are getting married,” explained Rajat Goel, a bariatric surgeon working at Hindivine Healthcare in New Delhi.

Goel emphasized that he only provides prescriptions to patients who meet medical criteria, refusing to prescribe the medications purely for appearance-related reasons.

Indian wedding celebrations represent major cultural events for families with sufficient resources, deeply rooted in tradition and social customs. Family-arranged marriages remain common, often accompanied by expectations regarding physical attractiveness and economic standing.

A 26-year-old Mumbai finance professional named Aditi sought medical consultation in November for a weight-loss prescription after traditional diet and exercise methods proved insufficient for her goals.

“When I see the result, I feel happy,” Aditi shared regarding her 22-pound weight reduction using Mounjaro before her February wedding ceremony. “If I am not happy, I don’t feel confident. I did not want to feel that way at the time of the wedding.”

Aditi represents one of six brides and one groom who discussed their pre-wedding weight-loss drug usage, though all requested anonymity due to social stigma. They described feeling pressured by society to achieve a specific appearance for their wedding day, with most discontinuing the injections shortly after their ceremonies.

Both Novo and Lilly introduced their obesity medications to the Indian market during the previous year. Industry analysts project this market will reach approximately $852 million by 2030. Mounjaro sales experienced significant growth following its launch, becoming the top-selling medication in the world’s most populated country.

Indian pharmaceutical companies began producing less expensive versions of Novo’s medication last month after the patent protection for semaglutide, the drug’s active component, expired, making treatment more accessible to consumers.

These medications are designed for adults meeting obesity classifications or those who are overweight with related health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep disorders.

“Mounjaro has been approved by regulators for specific medical indications and is intended to be used only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional,” Lilly stated in their official response.

The most affordable Mounjaro injection pen costs approximately $140 monthly in India, while the strongest dosage reaches about $275 per month.

Novo, which recently reduced Ozempic and Wegovy prices for the second time, currently sells the lowest Wegovy dosage for roughly $61 monthly and the highest concentration for approximately $175.

Novo emphasized that it discourages self-medication with semaglutide or any usage outside approved medical guidelines.

Health experts predict India could have more than 440 million overweight or obese residents by 2050, representing one of the globe’s largest concentrations, according to research published in The Lancet.

Akshitha, who married in Hyderabad last year, credited the medications with helping her lose 33 pounds, bringing her weight to 167 pounds before her wedding. She explained that a family physician recommended trying the injections when she expressed concerns about her weight.

“There’s so much chaos before the wedding, with all the planning and preparation. I knew I would not get time to go to the gym and be on a diet. That’s when these drugs looked like a better option,” she explained, adding she might consider using them again following a future pregnancy.

As local pharmaceutical companies introduce cheaper weight-loss medications to the market, India’s drug regulatory authority has expressed concerns about improper usage and increased oversight of unauthorized sales and marketing.

“We understand the curiosity, but this cannot be a quick fix,” stated Dr. Swati Pradhan, who founded the obesity and metabolic wellness clinic Live Light.

Dr. Pradhan reported prescribing the injections to only select engaged women who qualified medically and demonstrated additional health concerns, while requiring lifestyle modifications for lasting results.

For Priya, a 27-year-old technology worker from Bengaluru, weight-loss medications became her response to body-shaming from potential grooms’ families.

“I’ve had men and their families reject my proposal because of my weight. I was told I was fat,” Priya revealed.

She initially used Novo’s oral semaglutide, which received approval in India for diabetes treatment, as an off-label weight-loss solution and lost more than 26 pounds before transitioning to injectable Mounjaro.

Her search for a marriage partner continues.

Federal authorities detained eight individuals Thursday in connection with healthcare fraud schemes worth $50 million across the Los Angeles region.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, five cases focused on hospice facilities in Glendale, Artesia, Tarzana and Simi Valley that allegedly submitted Medicare bills for patients who weren’t terminally ill and didn’t meet hospice care requirements. Two additional arrests occurred in Idaho and Los Angeles for allegedly defrauding a West Coast labor union’s healthcare programs. An eighth person was taken into custody in Los Angeles for allegedly falsifying immigration medical paperwork.

The current administration has targeted California, particularly the Los Angeles region, as part of its nationwide anti-fraud campaign, claiming the Democratic-controlled state isn’t doing enough to prevent improper spending.

During a press conference announcing the charges, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, appointed by Trump, described California as the “kingdom of fraud.”

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded that the state has already taken aggressive action against hospice fraud, pointing out that Newsom enacted legislation in 2021 to halt new hospice licensing due to fraud concerns. The office also noted that the state has canceled over 280 hospice licenses within two years and currently has 300 providers under investigation.

“Glad the federal government is finally stepping up to do their part,” Newsom posted on X.

The administration has spotlighted fraud nationwide across federal benefit programs including Medicare and Medicaid. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing an anti-fraud task force headed by Vice President JD Vance, which held its inaugural meeting last week. While most efforts have concentrated on Democratic-led states, Republican-controlled Florida was also requested to provide additional information about their methods for identifying, preventing and addressing Medicaid fraud.

“We are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for criminals who defraud American taxpayers,” Essayli stated in announcing the California charges.

Dr. Mehmet Oz announced during a press conference that federal officials “took out” 221 hospices over the past 10 weeks. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which Oz oversees, did not immediately respond to requests for additional details about those actions. CMS certifies hospice providers to accept patients with government-subsidized health insurance.

“We’re going to review every single hospice in California,” Oz declared.

In January, Oz posted a social media video outside an Armenian bakery in Los Angeles, claiming that approximately $3.5 billion in hospice and home care fraud had occurred in the city and “quite a bit of it” was operated by “the Russian Armenian mafia.” This prompted a civil rights complaint from Newsom’s office, which accused Oz of targeting Armenians with “baseless and racially charged allegations.”

Oz’s agency also revealed plans for a new, publicly accessible hospice scoring system using care metrics to better identify potentially fraudulent facilities.

The most significant Medicare fraud case announced Thursday involved an Artesia-based hospice facility whose owner filed over $9 million in fraudulent hospice claims to Medicare and received more than $8.5 million in payments, according to prosecutors.

The owner compensated beneficiaries and marketers for referring supposed hospice patients to her business. One couple reported they were each offered $300 monthly to enroll in hospice care despite not requiring it, and they received unnecessary items including nutritional shakes, over-the-counter vitamins and wheelchairs, prosecutors stated.

Another individual charged in a separate hospice fraud case is currently incarcerated in Seattle after being convicted in a previous hospice fraud case in December 2024. Her husband was arrested as a co-defendant Thursday morning.

Authorities also filed charges against a Los Angeles nurse who used a Tarzana hospice center to submit more than $3.8 million in claims, receiving approximately $3.4 million from Medicare. She remains at large.

Court dates have not been scheduled and it was not immediately known whether any of those arrested have obtained legal counsel.

A California-based dairy company has initiated a voluntary product recall following a request from federal health officials.

RAW FARM announced it is pulling certain cheese batches from distribution after the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory regarding the products. The federal agency’s initial notice did not specify particular batch numbers or expiration dates for the affected items.

The dairy producer stated it is recalling the identified cheese batches as well as any products manufactured before those specific production dates. The company is cooperating fully with the FDA’s request for the voluntary removal of these items from the market.

Federal health officials have not yet released additional details about the specific reasons behind the recall advisory or the potential health concerns that prompted the action.

Sixteen major pharmaceutical companies have reached agreements with the Trump administration to align American prescription drug costs with prices charged in other developed countries, securing three-year exemptions from import tariffs in return.

The pharmaceutical manufacturers have committed to implementing “most-favoured-nation” pricing strategies, offering medications directly to patients via a newly established government website called TrumpRx.gov, and pledging substantial investments in U.S. operations.

Last July, President Trump sent correspondence to leaders of 17 major pharmaceutical corporations, requiring them to align their U.S. drug pricing with the lowest rates available in other developed countries. Sixteen companies have publicly confirmed their participation in these arrangements.

PFIZER

In September, the pharmaceutical giant committed to reducing prescription medication costs for American consumers, offering discounts reaching 85% through the TrumpRx.gov platform.

The company stated that most of its primary care medications and select brand-name drugs, including the rheumatoid arthritis treatment Xeljanz, dermatitis medication Eucrisa, and post-menopausal osteoporosis drug Duavee, will feature average price reductions of 50%, with potential savings reaching 85%.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

In January, the healthcare corporation agreed to reduce medication prices for American consumers, including offerings through the TrumpRx.gov website.

The company has not revealed specific agreement details, including information about adjusted pricing or covered medications.

ASTRAZENECA

The British-Swedish pharmaceutical company committed in October to lowering prescription drug costs for American patients, providing discounts up to 80% via TrumpRx.gov.

NOVO NORDISK

The Danish diabetes and weight-loss medication manufacturer agreed in November to decrease pricing for its semaglutide products, including Wegovy and Ozempic, for American consumers through Medicare, Medicaid, and direct-payment options.

Monthly costs for Ozempic and Wegovy will drop from $1,000 and $1,350 respectively to $350 when purchased via TrumpRx.

The company will also supply commonly prescribed insulin medications, including NovoLog and Tresiba, at $35 monthly through TrumpRx.

ELI LILLY

In November, the Indianapolis-based company agreed to provide Medicare recipients with its weight-loss medications Zepbound and orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, for no more than $50 monthly, plus additional reductions for cash-paying patients through LillyDirect.

Zepbound multidose pens will cost $299 monthly at the lowest dosage, with higher doses priced up to $449, while Foundayo will start at $149 monthly for the lowest dose via LillyDirect.

The company will also make Emgality, a migraine medication, available at $299 per pen, and Trulicity, a diabetes treatment, at $389 monthly through TrumpRx.

ABBVIE

The Illinois-based pharmaceutical company agreed in January to lower medication prices through Medicaid and expand direct-to-consumer availability via TrumpRx for treatments including Humira and Synthroid.

BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB

In December, the company announced it will supply its popular blood-thinner Eliquis to Medicaid recipients at no cost as part of its Trump administration agreement.

The company also committed to donating more than seven tons of active pharmaceutical ingredients for Eliquis production.

GILEAD SCIENCES

In December, the biopharmaceutical company stated it will offer selected treatments for HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 at reduced prices for Medicaid recipients.

The company committed to pricing future medications equally with other major developed nations and making its hepatitis C treatment, Epclusa, available at discounted cash prices through TrumpRx and its own patient program.

EMD SERONO

In October, the German pharmaceutical unit and Trump administration announced the company would sell fertility treatments, including Gonal-f, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide, directly to patients with an 84% combined discount off list prices when all three are used for IVF procedures.

The company committed to offering all new U.S. drug launches at prices matching those charged in other developed nations.

MERCK

In December, the American pharmaceutical company announced it will sell diabetes medications Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR — which face generic competition next year — directly to consumers at approximately 70% below list prices.

If approved, the company’s experimental cholesterol medication enlicitide will also be available through direct-to-consumer channels, including TrumpRx.

ROCHE

In December, the Swiss company’s Genentech division stated it would reduce prices for many medications under Medicaid to levels comparable with those in other wealthy nations.

The company also agreed to offer influenza treatments through TrumpRx.gov and its own direct-patient program.

NOVARTIS

In December, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant committed to launching new medications in the United States at prices comparable to other developed countries.

The company also agreed to make multiple sclerosis drug Mayzent and cancer treatments Rydapt and Tabrecta available through its direct-patient platform and TrumpRx.gov.

AMGEN

The biotechnology company stated it will add cholesterol medication Repatha at $239 monthly, migraine treatment Aimovig, and arthritis drug Amjevita at $299 monthly to its direct-patient program, representing 60% to 80% reductions from list prices.

SANOFI

In December, the French pharmaceutical company committed to providing lower-cost medications via TrumpRx and other direct-patient platforms, with average savings of approximately 70% on treatments for infections, heart conditions, and diabetes.

The company also agreed to align Medicaid pricing for several medications with rates in other high-income countries.

GSK

In December, the British pharmaceutical company agreed to make most inhaled respiratory treatments and other medications available to patients through a direct-patient platform with savings reaching 66%.

The company also committed to reducing prices for certain Medicaid medications and launching new drugs with a “more balanced pricing approach” across developed nations.

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM

In December, the German pharmaceutical company stated it would make its medications available through TrumpRx.gov at discounted rates.

REGENERON

In April, the biotechnology company indicated it expects to announce an agreement with the Trump administration “in the near future.”

Among the 17 major pharmaceutical companies that received correspondence from President Trump in July, it remains the only one that has not finalized such an agreement.

Two major federal agencies revealed Thursday their plans to begin tracking microscopic plastic particles and pharmaceutical compounds in America’s drinking water systems, marking the initial phase of evaluating potential health dangers and developing new safety regulations.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. celebrated the joint initiative as an achievement for President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which has focused on reducing recommended childhood vaccinations and encouraging whole food consumption in updated nutritional standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency will now add these microscopic plastics and pharmaceutical substances to its sixth Contaminant Candidate List, triggering testing and surveillance requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act while securing research funding that could lead to future regulations if these materials pose threats to public water supplies.

Environmental advocates and MAHA supporters have previously criticized Zeldin and the EPA for not adequately responding to their concerns about microscopic plastics and for failing to implement stricter pesticide regulations.

Kennedy’s supporters and his “MAHA” movement played a significant role in Trump’s 2024 election victory.

Last year, seven state governors from locations including New Jersey and Michigan, along with 175 environmental and public health organizations, submitted a legal petition demanding the EPA include microscopic plastics on its monitored contaminants registry. Officials update this registry every five years.

These tiny plastic fragments have been found throughout the environment, from human tissue to water supplies to ocean floors and Arctic ice formations. Research studies have connected them to cancer risks and reproductive system damage.

During Kennedy’s 2024 Democratic primary campaign, he promised to address plastic contamination, including manufacturing processes. He subsequently supported Republican nominee Trump, whose administration recently advised nations to reject proposals limiting plastic production in a potential United Nations pollution control agreement.

Pharmaceutical substances contaminate water sources through incorrect disposal methods and human biological waste.

“By placing microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time ever, EPA is sending a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family,” Zeldin said in a statement.

Officials will also establish human health safety standards for 374 pharmaceutical compounds requiring monitoring.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced Thursday that its three-drug cancer treatment has demonstrated remarkable success in delaying disease advancement among liver cancer patients during a major clinical study.

The company reported that patients receiving a combination of Imfinzi, Imjudo, and lenvatinib alongside standard liver cancer procedures experienced significantly longer periods without their cancer progressing compared to those who received only conventional treatment.

The study focused on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of liver cancer that cannot be surgically removed. Researchers compared the new drug combination against transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), a standard procedure where doctors inject chemotherapy directly into liver tumors and then cut off their blood supply.

According to the trial results, the experimental treatment achieved what researchers called “statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement” in preventing disease progression. Early analysis also suggested patients lived longer overall when receiving the combination therapy.

The treatment protocol involved giving patients an initial dose of Imjudo, followed by regular Imfinzi injections and lenvatinib pills, administered before and during the TACE procedure.

Susan Galbraith, a senior executive at AstraZeneca, stated the findings demonstrate that beginning this treatment regimen earlier, combined with TACE and lenvatinib, could lead to even better patient outcomes.

Financial analysts are optimistic about the combination’s commercial potential. JP Morgan and Citi analysts both project the Imfinzi-Imjudo pairing could generate peak annual revenues of approximately $11.3 billion, exceeding current market predictions of $10.6 billion.

This positive news follows AstraZeneca’s announcement last week about another experimental drug showing promise for chronic lung disease patients, which boosted the company’s stock price by nearly 4 percent.

A crucial federal advisory committee responsible for determining which preventive healthcare services Americans receive at no cost has been effectively shut down by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., causing significant delays in updating vital cancer and heart disease screening protocols, according to healthcare professionals.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, consisting of 16 members, has not convened for more than 12 months. Officials have cancelled three scheduled meetings in succession and have failed to appoint replacements for five volunteers whose terms ended in December.

Created in 1984, this committee establishes which medical procedures and treatments—including routine cancer screenings and HIV prevention measures—must be covered without charge by health insurance providers. The panel also has authority to recommend against making certain tests or treatments routine.

Dr. Alex Krist, a family medicine doctor at Virginia Commonwealth University who previously led the preventive care committee, explained the consequences of the panel’s absence: “commercial insurances can choose or not choose to cover these new preventive services.”

The American Cancer Society emphasizes that detecting cancer early both saves lives and reduces costs, though initial expenses can be substantial. Recent research shows that lifetime mammography costs for a typical American woman average approximately $7,000.

The committee typically releases about 22 preliminary and final recommendations each year, but managed only seven in the previous year. No recommendations have been published this year.

Several important guideline updates remain stalled, including recommendations for prostate cancer screening, genetic testing for breast cancer-related mutations, and preventive medications for individuals at elevated breast cancer risk.

Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, stressed the importance of expert oversight: “We have to rely on a trusted group of experts who have really weighed the benefits and risks and are looking at overall population health and doing no harm. Patients do trust these as well.”

Medical organizations, despite occasional disagreements with the panel’s decisions, have appealed to Congress to “protect the integrity” of the task force. Nineteen senators wrote to Kennedy last month, requesting his support for the committee’s mission.

The decision to disable the task force reflects President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to restructure federal health oversight.

Joseph Antos, senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative research organization, noted: “The current administration would not only like to cut back on regulation, they would definitely like to cut back on required benefits under the Affordable Care Act.”

A 2025 Supreme Court decision regarding HIV prevention insurance coverage confirmed that the Health Secretary maintains control over the preventive care panel.

In 2023, the committee recommended preventive drug treatment for high-risk individuals to prevent HIV infection, but this guidance has not been expanded to include Gilead Sciences’ newer bi-annual injection, Yeztugo.

Consequently, patient expenses for Yeztugo vary by individual insurance plans, UnitedHealthcare, America’s largest health insurer, confirmed via email. The company noted that its commercial policies provide older HIV prevention drugs at no patient cost.

Cervical cancer screening recommendations remain in preliminary status. Following regulatory approval of the first home-based pap smear test last year, a separate federal agency intervened to mandate insurance coverage beginning in 2027.

Additional recommendations awaiting review include screening protocols for problematic alcohol consumption and depression, plus whether vitamin D supplementation prevents fractures and falls in elderly patients.

Heart disease specialists recently recommended that adults with high long-term cardiovascular risk begin cholesterol-reducing therapy at age 30 rather than the current standard of 40.

These guidelines could impact millions of Americans, but without federal task force endorsement, insurers have no obligation to cover expanded testing or treatment options, according to America’s Health Insurance Plans trade association and UnitedHealthcare.

Virginia Commonwealth’s Dr. Krist summarized the uncertainty: “Primary care is kind of struggling with what we should do. The task force is meant to be objective.”

For families dealing with diabetes, the monthly cost of insulin can create significant financial stress. Two-year-old Bain Brandon from Mississippi requires insulin to survive due to Type 1 diabetes, and despite having health insurance, his family still faces substantial expenses.

His mother, 29-year-old Marlee Brandon, spent $194 last week on a one-month supply of insulin vials and a three-month supply of backup pens for her toddler. While they can manage the current costs, she expresses concern about what lies ahead.

“One day, Bain will be an adult, and he won’t be able to be on our insurance anymore,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how much and how expensive it is.”

Now, a bipartisan coalition of senators hopes to address this financial burden through the INSULIN Act, which would establish a $35 monthly cap on insulin costs for Americans carrying private insurance. Senators Jeanne Shaheen of Maine, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Susan Collins of Maine, and John Kennedy of Louisiana introduced the legislation last week. The proposal would additionally launch a pilot initiative to deliver more affordable insulin to uninsured individuals across 10 states.

This effort builds on previous success from 2022, when similar legislation became part of the Inflation Reduction Act, successfully establishing a $35 monthly insulin cap for Medicare recipients.

The current proposal represents the latest attempt by lawmakers from both political parties to control insulin pricing, though it encounters several obstacles, including budget concerns and competing legislative priorities. However, with Trump returning to the White House and Republicans controlling Congress, the measure presents a potential opportunity for bipartisan cooperation on healthcare affordability during a time when medical costs concern voters across party lines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 8.1 million Americans depend on insulin. This includes over 2 million individuals with Type 1 diabetes who face life-threatening consequences without consistent insulin access. The medication also helps manage glucose levels for people with other diabetes types.

Insulin pricing varies dramatically across different insurance plans. While some privately insured patients pay minimal amounts or nothing, others face monthly costs reaching hundreds of dollars, in addition to expenses for diabetes pumps, blood glucose monitors, and other necessary supplies.

Beyond the 2022 Medicare legislation, more than half of U.S. states have enacted their own insulin copay limits, typically ranging from $25 to $100 monthly for patients with state-regulated insurance plans.

Major insulin manufacturers including Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk have implemented various cost-reduction measures, combining approaches such as lowering list prices, capping patient expenses, and expanding affordability programs.

However, coverage gaps remain significant. Matthew Fiedler, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on Health Policy, notes that approximately 57% of Americans with private insurance participate in self-insured plans that fall outside state regulation. This exempts them from state cost-cap legislation. Additional patients lack insurance entirely or struggle to access manufacturer savings programs.

“It puts the onus on the patient, I think, to try to navigate and get the cost down,” said Dr. Leslie Eiland, an adult endocrinologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who supports the latest legislation through the Endocrine Society.

Oliver Bogillot, Sanofi’s head of general medicines for North America, stated that “no one should struggle to afford their insulin” while highlighting the company’s savings program that includes uninsured individuals. Novo Nordisk spokesperson Flavia Brakling emphasized that expanding affordable medicine access remains a priority and noted the company hasn’t increased list prices for its insulin products for 2026.

Chanse Jones, representing PhRMA, the leading pharmaceutical trade association, argued that pharmacy benefit managers and insurers create access and affordability obstacles for patients even as manufacturers work to expand availability.

“We look forward to working with policymakers to ensure middlemen don’t stand between patients and their medicines,” he said.

Despite bipartisan backing for the new INSULIN Act, similar legislation has previously appeared promising before ultimately failing. In 2022, the House approved a $35 monthly insulin cap for privately insured Americans, but the Senate didn’t pass the measure. Another attempt to include such provisions in that year’s Inflation Reduction Act failed when Republicans opposed it, citing Senate rule violations.

Breana Glover, a 23-year-old Houston restaurant server, relocated from California to Texas specifically to reduce living expenses and better afford the high medical costs associated with her Type 1 diabetes.

Managing payments for insulin and related supplies requires careful budgeting. To afford her $50 copay for four insulin vials, she restricts her carbohydrate consumption, allowing her to use less insulin daily and extend each supply.

Glover described a $35 monthly cap as a “small step towards everything becoming even more accessible,” which would also help her cover essentials like groceries and gasoline.

Manny Hernandez, CEO of The Diabetes Link, a national nonprofit serving young adults with diabetes, expects the legislation would particularly benefit younger patients who often struggle to obtain quality health insurance or any coverage when they cannot access plans through their parents.

Hernandez expressed encouragement following recent meetings with Republican Congress members from his home state of Florida, though he worries other priorities might overshadow the bill, as has occurred previously.

“There’s many distractions and there’s many important things going on,” he said. “But I don’t lose hope.”

The nation’s primary disease surveillance agency has temporarily suspended diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox, and numerous other infectious diseases, officials announced this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a roster of over 24 different types of testing that are currently unavailable to the public.

While the CDC has previously suspended certain laboratory services, this represents the largest number of tests ever halted simultaneously, according to Scott Becker, who leads the Association of Public Health Laboratories. The reasoning behind the extensive suspension remains unclear, Becker noted.

Federal health officials described the suspension as temporary, citing “a routine review to uphold our commitment to high quality laboratory testing,” according to a government spokesperson.

“We anticipate some of these tests will be available through CDC labs again in the coming weeks. In the meantime, CDC stands ready to support our state and local partners to access the public health testing they need,” stated Andrew Nixon from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC’s parent agency.

The agency’s laboratory functions faced criticism during the COVID-19 pandemic and underwent subsequent evaluation by a review committee. Becker said the CDC has been assessing its testing capabilities since 2024.

However, staffing challenges could also contribute to testing suspensions, he explained.

The testing halt follows a significant reduction in CDC personnel over the past year through job cuts, retirements, departures, and expired temporary positions. Workforce levels dropped by 20% to 25% based on various calculations, affecting operations throughout the agency, including laboratory divisions.

Laboratory units focusing on poxviruses and rabies experienced approximately 50% staff reductions, while the CDC’s malaria division suffered even deeper cuts, according to the National Public Health Coalition, a group formed by former and current CDC employees following the workforce reduction.

The suspended testing includes both routine infections with available commercial alternatives, such as Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus responsible for chickenpox and shingles, as well as more unusual pathogens like parasitic worms causing “snail fever” and the virus behind “sloth fever.”

Certain specialized state laboratories, including facilities in New York and California, possess capabilities to fill gaps while CDC testing remains suspended, Becker said.

He described the suspensions as “concerning, only if it’s permanent.”

A New York-based grocery chain has pulled peeled garlic products from its shelves after discovering they may pose a serious health threat to consumers.

Tops Friendly Markets, headquartered in Williamsville, New York, announced the voluntary recall of Christopher Ranch Peeled Garlic and Garland Fresh Peeled Garlic across all product codes. The company took action after determining the items could harbor Clostridium botulinum bacteria due to improper storage temperatures.

The dangerous bacteria can develop when products are not maintained at appropriate cold temperatures during storage and transport. Clostridium botulinum produces toxins that cause botulism, a potentially fatal illness that affects the nervous system.

Customers who purchased either brand of peeled garlic from Tops locations are advised to discard the products immediately and not consume them. The recall applies to all varieties and packaging sizes of both Christopher Ranch and Garland Fresh peeled garlic items.

The Food and Drug Administration is monitoring the recall as part of its ongoing food safety oversight. No illnesses have been reported in connection with these products at this time.

Medical researchers have developed precise virtual copies of patients’ hearts that allow doctors to test treatments for dangerous irregular heartbeats before performing actual procedures on the real organ.

The groundbreaking approach targets ventricular tachycardia, a challenging heart rhythm disorder that triggers approximately 300,000 deaths annually in the United States and serves as a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest.

Johns Hopkins University researchers conducted a small initial study using this digital twin technology, with FDA approval to guide treatment for 10 patients. The findings were published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, though larger studies will be necessary to validate the approach.

The research represents part of a growing trend where doctors explore how digital twin technology, previously used in aerospace and manufacturing, could revolutionize medical care.

Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger, a cardiac specialist at the University of Miami not connected to the research, worked with earlier versions of similar technology 15 years ago and commended the new developments. “This is what we envisioned,” he said.

While physicians have traditionally relied on 3D models for disease simulation and technique practice, Hopkins biomedical engineer Natalia Trayanova explained that genuine digital twins can forecast how actual organs will respond to various treatments. Her laboratory creates vibrant, interactive models using advanced MRI scans and additional patient data.

“We treat the twin before we treat the patient,” Trayanova said. “Did it work? And if it did, are there new things that arise” that will require more or different care?

Ventricular tachycardia occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, creating an extremely rapid heartbeat as electrical signals become trapped in the heart’s lower chambers, preventing proper blood circulation throughout the body.

“You see this heart that is basically quivering,” Trayanova said.

While medications can provide some relief, the primary treatment involves ablation procedures where physicians guide catheters to the heart and destroy problematic tissue. However, this process often requires trial-and-error methods, with patients enduring lengthy periods under anesthesia as doctors identify optimal treatment locations. Multiple ablation procedures are frequently necessary, and many patients require backup defibrillator implants.

Trayanova’s digital heart replicas display colorful patterns on computer screens, with blue, green, yellow and orange hues illustrating electrical wave movement through healthy heart regions before becoming trapped on damaged tissue in a circular pattern resembling hurricane swirls.

“It allows me to recreate the functioning of the patient’s organ and then predict what is the best way to ablate,” she said.

The technology identifies problematic areas where electrical waves repeatedly impact tissue. Virtual ablation testing reveals whether targeting specific regions resolves the issue or creates additional arrhythmias requiring treatment. “Then we poke it again,” she explained.

Researchers developed personalized ablation plans for all 10 study participants. Cardiologists transferred these targets to their mapping systems and focused exclusively on predetermined locations rather than searching independently.

After more than one year, eight patients showed no arrhythmias while two experienced only single brief episodes during recovery periods, surpassing the typical 60% success rate, according to Dr. Jonathan Chrispin, a Hopkins cardiologist who led the study. Eight patients also discontinued their anti-arrhythmia medications.

Perhaps most significantly, cardiologists may be able to minimize tissue damage by focusing on “specifically the areas that we think are critically important,” Chrispin said. “We could potentially make these procedures shorter, safer, more effective.”

The Hopkins research team plans to expand their digital twin studies to include additional hospitals and has initiated trials using the technology for atrial fibrillation, a more common irregular heartbeat condition. Other research groups are investigating digital twin applications for cancer treatment.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to Eli Lilly’s new weight loss medication, introducing another pill option to a market currently led by injectable treatments and creating heightened rivalry with Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy product.

The pharmaceutical giant’s new drug, orforglipron marketed under the brand name Foundayo, is taken once daily and works by copying the hunger-reducing GLP-1 hormone that’s also targeted by Lilly’s popular injection tirzepatide, which is marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes treatment and Zepbound for weight management.

Financial analysts are weighing in with their perspectives on the new approval.

Equisights Research analyst Parth Talsania noted the competitive advantages of the new medication. “Absence of dosing restrictions (for Foundayo) is a clear adherence lever and should support stronger conversion among new-to-therapy patients,” Talsania said. “For Novo, the risk is not immediate share loss but incremental pressure on patient starts and pricing as Lilly expands access points. Overall, in a nutshell, we believe Lilly’s early approval of orforglipron strengthens its competitive positioning in GLP-1s.”

J.P. Morgan analyst Chris Schott expressed optimism about Lilly’s market position. “With this approval, we see the company (Lilly) well positioned with multiple potential sources of upside to numbers over the next several years,” Schott said. “We anticipate strong uptake of Foundayo… (but) expect inital Foundayo volumes to ramp more slowly relative to Oral Wegovy with a more significant inflection in 2H26/2027+. As such, we expect a solid initial volume ramp, but one that may trend below that of Oral Wegovy.”

Citi analyst Geoff Meacham highlighted the drug’s user-friendly features despite entering the market after its competitor. “Despite launching second behind Novo’s Wegovy pill, we think Foundayo’s superior ease-of-use more than offsets its 2.2% efficacy deficit and positions it to eventually capture the lion’s share of this rapidly expanding market. Crucially, the earlier-than-expected approval enables full participation in the upcoming broad Medicare access volume ramp,” Meacham said. “Clean safety label and crucially, no food restriction requirements that, altogether, underpin our 2026 $2.8 billion forecast.”

UBS analyst Michael Yee acknowledged market uncertainties while remaining positive about Lilly’s prospects. “There is some debate on how LLY’s oral market share will play out given consensus for oral Wegovy has moved up from (about) $800 million earlier this year given a solid launch so far. But all this bodes well for LLY,” Yee said.

Scotiabank analyst Louise Chen predicted international market success, stating: “We expect orforglipron to be more popular in most markets outside the U.S.”

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Carter Gould focused on competitive dynamics and market entry strategy. “While it’s unclear how broad commercial access will be ‘out of the gate’, or how it will ramp in those first few months, we see this as seizing some of the attention on the pricing front from Novo, and helping drive conversations and conversion,” Gould said.

Federal health authorities gave the green light Wednesday to a new daily weight-loss medication from Eli Lilly, marking the second oral drug available for treating obesity and related health conditions.

The Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked approval for orforglipron, a GLP-1 medication that functions similarly to popular injection treatments by copying a natural hormone that regulates hunger and satiety.

The medication will be sold under the brand name Foundayo and is scheduled to reach pharmacies on Monday. Eli Lilly announced that insured patients could access the drug for as little as $25 monthly using the company’s discount program. Those paying out-of-pocket will face costs ranging from $149 to $349 per month based on dosage strength.

This oral option joins Novo Nordisk’s pill version of Wegovy, which has generated over 600,000 prescriptions across the United States since receiving approval in December.

The FDA cleared Eli Lilly’s medication through a new initiative designed to accelerate drug approval timelines. Officials completed their review of the company’s submission in just 50 days.

During clinical testing involving more than 3,000 obese adults, those receiving the maximum 36-milligram dose of orforglipron shed 11.2% of their body weight — approximately 25 pounds on average — over a period exceeding 16 months. In contrast, participants given a placebo lost only 2.1% of their weight, or fewer than 5 pounds, according to findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Neither oral medication from Lilly nor Novo Nordisk achieved the weight reduction seen with injectable versions. Lilly’s Zepbound injections produce an average 21% weight loss, while Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy averages around 15%.

While both once-daily pills offer ease of use, orforglipron provides greater flexibility as a small-molecule GLP-1 drug with no dietary restrictions. The Wegovy pill requires specific timing — taken with minimal water on an empty stomach in the morning, followed by a 30-minute wait before consuming food or beverages.

Study participants taking orforglipron also experienced better waist measurements, blood pressure readings, triglyceride levels, and cholesterol numbers, researchers reported.

Digestive problems and other side effects caused 5% to 10% of orforglipron users to stop treatment, compared to nearly 3% in the placebo group.

Research from KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization, shows roughly one in eight Americans have tried injectable GLP-1 medications. However, many more struggle to afford the expensive shots.

The Indianapolis-based Lilly’s new pill will be part of a Trump administration agreement to reduce costs for GLP-1 drugs.

Chef Tammy Brawley showcased a nutritious and adaptable meal option during a recent episode of Real Virginia, the weekly television show produced by Virginia Farm Bureau.

The colorful vegetable bowl recipe centers around roasted seasonal produce and can be customized with various ingredients to suit individual tastes.

Nutritious Vegetable Bowl Recipe

Ingredients needed:
2 cups brown or red rice
2 cups peeled, diced sweet potato
2 cups sliced roasted mushrooms
kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 cups frozen yellow corn
¼ cup pickled red onions
lime wedges for serving
Cilantro Lime Dressing

Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees and preparing the rice following package directions.

Cover two small rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil. Place the diced sweet potatoes on one sheet and sliced mushrooms on the other. Drizzle each vegetable with olive oil and season with kosher salt and pepper. Roast until they develop a golden-brown color, approximately 15-20 minutes. Sweet potatoes may require additional cooking time.

Using a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the frozen corn until it becomes slightly charred.

Arrange the cooked rice on a serving platter and add the roasted vegetables on top. Finish with pickled onions and serve alongside the Cilantro Lime Dressing.

Chef Brawley notes this recipe offers flexibility, encouraging cooks to substitute vegetables based on preference or add ingredients like black beans or feta cheese.

Quick Pickled Red Onions

Ingredients:
1 large red onion
½ cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
½ cup water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1–2 tablespoons sweetener (sugar, honey, maple syrup or agave)

Slice the red onion into thin pieces and place them in a glass jar.

Using a small saucepan, mix together vinegar, water, sweetener and salt. Cook over medium heat while stirring until the salt and sugar completely dissolve, which takes about one minute.

Pour the heated mixture over the onions in the jar. Allow the jar to remain at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until the onions develop a bright pink color.

Close with a lid and store in the refrigerator. The onions are ready to consume after one hour but taste best after sitting for a full day. They remain fresh for up to one week.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Add the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, maple syrup, coriander and salt to a food processor and pulse until combined. While the blade continues running, slowly add the olive oil and process until the mixture becomes smooth.

The American Medical Association has clarified its stance on gender transition surgeries for minors after appearing to reverse course earlier this year. In February, the nation’s largest physician organization seemed to signal that such surgical procedures should only be performed on adults, not children. However, following advocacy from LGBTQ groups, the AMA has now issued a clarification stating it is maintaining its existing policy that endorses these surgeries for patients younger than 18.

The medical organization’s latest statement represents a return to its previous position after what appeared to be a brief departure from supporting surgical interventions for minors seeking gender transition. Meanwhile, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has taken a different approach, recently announcing its opposition to performing gender transition surgeries on children and adolescents.

A federal grand jury has brought serious criminal charges against the former leader of Arkansas’s medical oversight board, alleging he orchestrated a scheme to illegally sedate psychiatric patients for financial gain.

Dr. Brian Hyatt, who previously served as chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board, faces federal kidnapping and drug distribution charges stemming from his alleged actions at a Springdale psychiatric facility. Prosecutors claim Hyatt administered powerful sedatives to patients without proper medical reasons, keeping them hospitalized longer to maximize insurance reimbursements.

The indictment, handed down in early March and made public Monday, details alleged misconduct at Northwest Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit spanning from 2018 to 2022. During this period, Hyatt’s medical company held a contract to deliver psychiatric care at the facility.

Seven additional healthcare workers face related charges in connection with the alleged scheme. Some staff members are accused of staying silent about the misconduct to protect their jobs, according to the indictment. These employees allegedly falsified medical documentation, using standard template notes rather than accurate patient assessments to hide the lack of proper treatment.

The charges against other workers include more direct involvement in patient abuse. Federal prosecutors allege at least one employee deliberately broke a patient’s collarbone while physically restraining her to force compliance with unneeded procedures. Additional staff members allegedly employed threats and physical violence to coerce patients into accepting unnecessary treatments while preventing victims from reporting the abuse.

Those convicted could face life imprisonment, along with up to five years of court supervision and fines reaching $250,000.

As of Monday evening, no legal representation had been publicly identified for Hyatt or the seven co-defendants. The Arkansas State Medical Board has not responded to requests for comment regarding the charges.

The American Heart Association issued fresh dietary recommendations Tuesday that highlight the importance of consuming vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while encouraging people to choose plant-based proteins instead of meat and switch from full-fat to low-fat dairy products.

The guidance comes as President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this year unveiled federal dietary recommendations encouraging Americans to increase protein consumption from both animal and plant sources, while promoting full-fat dairy products.

The heart association’s approach differs significantly from the federal government’s endorsement of beef tallow and red meat consumption. Instead, the AHA advocates for plant-based protein sources including legumes, nuts, and seeds, selecting fat-free or low-fat dairy options, and when eating red meat, choosing lean portions while avoiding processed varieties and keeping serving sizes small.

The Trump administration, along with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, has concentrated on eliminating synthetic dyes, chemical additives, ultraprocessed foods, and reducing sugar and seed oil consumption.

The heart association’s recommendations also encourage Americans to select unsaturated fat sources, steer clear of ultraprocessed foods, and reduce added sugar consumption in both drinks and meals.

The organization advised people to cook with little to no salt and restrict alcohol consumption.

The dietary guidance states that children should start following heart-healthy eating patterns beginning at age one.

As the country’s oldest and largest volunteer organization focused on combating heart disease and stroke, the AHA updates its dietary recommendations approximately every five years to support cardiovascular wellness.

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is introducing a new subscription-based pricing model for patients who purchase their weight loss drug Wegovy without insurance coverage, providing monthly cost reductions of nearly 30% compared to standard pricing as the company works to expand market access and compete with rival Eli Lilly in the rapidly expanding obesity medication sector.

The competitive landscape for self-paying obesity drug customers is intensifying as both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly pursue direct-to-consumer sales strategies and partner with telehealth companies to attract patients, discourage use of compounded alternatives, and promote long-term treatment adherence – despite concerns that aggressive price reductions could impact profit margins.

Industry experts and financial analysts suggest Novo Nordisk may be at a disadvantage in this pricing competition, having implemented steeper cost cuts than Lilly in an effort to boost prescription numbers that have fallen behind Lilly’s competing medication Zepbound.

Starting Tuesday, the subscription program will be accessible through telehealth services such as Ro, WeightWatchers and LifeMD, allowing qualifying self-paying customers to purchase three-, six- or twelve-month medication supplies at set monthly rates, with extended plans providing greater savings. Additional telehealth providers including Hims & Hers and Sesame are expected to participate shortly, according to Novo Nordisk.

The Danish manufacturer underwent significant changes last year, including CEO replacement, substantial workforce reductions, and appointment of new U.S. division leadership, as part of efforts to strengthen its competitive position against Lilly, which rapidly established direct consumer sales channels.

Ed Cinca, who serves as Novo Nordisk’s senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions, explained that consumers are seeking “easier and clearer ways of facilitating payment” for obesity treatment options.

“We’re seeing the patient evolving into the consumer of health,” Cinca stated, noting that individuals paying directly want straightforward budgeting options, transparent pricing, and simplified methods to continue their treatment regimens.

The subscription structure sets Wegovy injection pen costs at $329 monthly for three-month plans, $299 for six-month options, and $249 for twelve-month subscriptions – representing savings of 6% to 29% below the current $349 monthly standard price.

Wegovy pill form pricing will be $289, $269, and $249 monthly respectively, offering approximately 3% to 17% reductions from the standard $299 monthly cost.

Eli Lilly’s direct-pay pricing for Zepbound begins at $299 monthly for the 2.5 mg dosage, $399 for 5 mg, and $449 for 7.5 mg and higher strengths through its “Self Pay Journey Program.”

Lilly’s competing oral obesity medication awaits U.S. Food and Drug Administration review, with company officials anticipating second-quarter approval. Previous reports indicated potential April approval timing.

Market competition has escalated as both pharmaceutical companies attempt to direct patients toward their branded, FDA-approved medications and away from less expensive compounded alternatives.

Zach Reitano, chief executive of telehealth company Ro, which partners with Novo Nordisk, observed that both Novo and Lilly are exploring innovative customer outreach methods, resulting in reduced drug prices and lower distribution expenses.

“They’re following the exact same path that you’d normally see in other consumer industries,” Reitano commented.

Novo Nordisk is increasingly relying on telehealth partnerships and direct distribution methods to connect with self-paying patients, representing a departure from conventional insurance-based channels and traditional physician office visits.

In November, Novo Nordisk reduced Wegovy’s standard monthly self-pay cost to $349 from $499, approximately a 30% decrease, following introduction of a temporary $199 starter-dose promotion.

Jon Stanley counts himself lucky compared to many people battling bipolar disorder. Following a severe manic episode nearly four decades ago that left him unclothed in a Manhattan delicatessen, believing electrical currents were surging through the ground beneath him, he finally found a medication combination that worked.

Many patients endure much longer journeys to find effective treatment. Mental health care like his was described as “more art than science” by doctors at the time, the retired attorney recalls. Physicians would cycle through different medications hoping something would prove effective. This challenging experience motivated his deceased parents, Ted and Vada Stanley, to contribute hundreds of millions during their lives toward research for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia treatments.

Their charitable mission lives on through a fresh commitment to a biomedical partnership dedicated to understanding these conditions and developing new therapies. The Stanley Family Foundation revealed an additional $280 million donation to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute this month, pushing their total support for the Massachusetts-based organization beyond $1 billion.

This commitment demonstrates their confidence in the institute’s collaborative methodology and Jon’s dedication to fulfilling his billionaire retailer father’s vision for using the wealth generated from his collectibles business.

“He said he wanted his ‘Manhattan Project,’” Jon remembered. “And so, the only question was: who was gonna be Oppenheimer?”

The Broad Institute began operations in 2004 to address disease research by combining expertise from MIT, Harvard, and additional researchers. It has drawn notable philanthropists including original donors Eli and Edythe Broad, plus former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his spouse Wendy.

The Stanley family’s contributions have been directed almost entirely to the Broad Institute — an extraordinary concentration of resources to a single organization. This unexpected new funding supports seven more years of research into how these disorders emerge. Through cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology, researchers aim to speed development of new treatments, explains Ben Neale, co-director of the Broad Institute’s Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research.

“We’ve made major discoveries of genes that dramatically increase the risk of developing these illnesses,” Neale stated. “We know we only have a small fraction of what is out there to be discovered.”

Jon was raised along Connecticut’s coastline as his father’s consumer products business, MBI, achieved greater success. The wealth “kept getting bigger,” he noted. However, his father made clear early on that he planned to donate most of their fortune.

Their philanthropic focus crystallized when Jon developed bipolar disorder at age 19. His first manic episode occurred during a London educational program while he was a Williams College student. He entertained fantasies of earning millions by establishing student housing for Americans studying overseas. Instead, he quickly exhausted his funds, swinging from mania into depression.

His condition deteriorated further upon returning to his Massachusetts liberal arts campus. During a New York City visit, he alarmed his girlfriend with paranoid remarks about secret agents tracking him. After wandering Manhattan for three days without money, he ended up in a delicatessen where he felt phantom electrical shocks attacking his body.

“So, I did the logical thing: I took my clothes off. And that’s how the cops found me,” Jon explained.

He spent six weeks in a psychiatric facility in 1987, sometimes placed in the “rubber room.” Lithium, which had already been prescribed, proved ineffective alone. Adding an anticonvulsant medication called Tegretol provided the solution.

Neither medication was originally designed for bipolar treatment. Doctors also lacked the genetic knowledge of the disease available today — including its shared risk factors with schizophrenia, an understanding advanced by the Broad Institute.

Jon’s parents were determined to change this situation.

Yet Jon emphasized his father didn’t “just start writing checks everywhere.”

His parents initially established the Stanley Medical Research Institute. As Ted grew older, Jon said he chose to direct nearly everything to the Broad Institute. Ted had grown frustrated with traditional academic research models where professors piece together grants, working independently on similar projects within a funder’s scope. He preferred concentrating all resources in one place.

“We give all the money to Broad and they’re all looking at the one problem,” he explained. “It’s much more like a wartime economy.”

His father committed $825 million total. But stock market investments for his charitable funds performed better than anticipated, creating additional money to donate.

Jon, serving as one of three Stanley Family Foundation trustees, had no hesitation about Broad receiving more funding. He views it as his duty to pursue “what my dad would want if he was here.”

“He didn’t think he needed all that he made,” Jon said. “But he was very interested in making more so he could give it away. So, who am I to overrule what he thought?”

While mental illness research funding might seem substantial, experts warn that combined government, private industry, and philanthropic support remains inadequate compared to the burden these diseases create.

Federal funding provided over $2 billion annually for mental health research from 2019-2024. However, studies indicate schizophrenia alone costs the United States more than $300 billion yearly — partly due to fragmented care systems that fail to treat patients proactively enough, according to Sylvie Raver, a senior director at the Milken Institute’s Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration.

Raver noted declining support for serious mental illness research at the National Institutes of Health. Current funding tends to be compartmentalized and doesn’t necessarily address the needs of affected families like the Stanleys.

“When you marry capacity, like what the family has, and understanding and personal resonance with the topic, like they have as well, philanthropy is really primed to do exciting things,” said Raver, who oversees brain disease and mental health portfolios.

Pharmaceutical companies, another research funding source, must balance shareholder profit obligations with bringing products to market. Neale noted that private industry’s struggles developing effective drugs has dampened their interest in this field.

These represent “some of the most difficult problems in all of medicine,” he acknowledged.

“We don’t even understand where the fundamental pathology is, the thing that’s giving rise to the illness,” he said.

Neale hopes nonprofit researchers will energize the broader field. His objective for the coming decade is launching clinical trials for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder treatments. Falling short would mean “we will have failed.” His team will also recruit sufficient numbers of bipolar patients carrying genetic variants to determine whether their mutations are significant.

The more they demonstrate what’s achievable, Neale said, the more participants they’ll attract to their mission.

Jon, a founding board member of the Treatment Advocacy Center nonprofit, has enough experience to temper his excitement about potential breakthroughs. His family’s trust in the Broad Institute comes not from its achievements, but its methodology.

“It’s not just shaking a test tube and seeing if it turns blue or red,” Jon said. “They’ll notice things and analyze the data in a way that, even if it doesn’t work, they’ll learn something.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has withdrawn its legal action against a patient who occupied a hospital room for several months following her official discharge, citing that the woman has finally departed the facility.

The medical center had initiated court proceedings earlier this month, seeking a court order to remove the patient from room 373 and requesting authorization for the county sheriff’s department to provide enforcement assistance if needed. The woman had been formally released from medical care in early October.

Monday’s scheduled court hearing was called off after hospital officials submitted paperwork to voluntarily dismiss the case with prejudice.

Hospital representative Sarah Cannon confirmed Monday that the legal matter is now closed because the patient “is no longer at TMH.”

In their court filing, hospital administrators argued that the woman’s continued presence was pulling resources away from caring for other patients who needed medical attention.

The legal documents revealed that the patient had been receiving medical care at the facility before doctors determined she no longer required intensive hospital services, leading to her discharge order on October 6. Hospital staff made multiple attempts to arrange her departure by working with her family members and even providing transportation options.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck announced Monday that its experimental oral medication achieved impressive results in advanced clinical testing, slashing harmful cholesterol levels by 64.6 percent.

The company revealed the late-stage trial outcomes as it searches for its next major commercial breakthrough in the competitive pharmaceutical market.

The oral treatment represents a significant development in cholesterol management, potentially offering patients a new option for controlling dangerous cholesterol levels that contribute to heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.

Texas OB-GYN Dr. Jacquelyn Means understood the challenges ahead when she became pregnant in her late thirties.

“It is definitely harder on your body. You just feel a lot more fatigued. There are certain complications to watch out for,” explained Means, who welcomed her first child at 37 and her second at 39. “It’s usually going to be fine, but there are things to be aware of.”

Means represents a growing trend across America. Federal statistics reveal that 21% of all U.S. births in 2023 involved mothers aged 35 or older, a significant jump from the 9% recorded in 1990. This “advanced maternal age” category does present elevated health risks for both mothers and infants.

Expectant mothers in this age group face higher chances of developing conditions such as elevated blood pressure and obesity, along with increased susceptibility to pregnancy-related complications. These women also experience higher rates of cesarean deliveries and are more likely to carry twins or babies with certain genetic conditions.

However, medical professionals emphasize that while these risks exist, they remain relatively small and shouldn’t cause excessive concern. Most older mothers experience normal pregnancies, and healthcare providers offer strategies to minimize risks throughout the entire process.

“Moms over 35 can still have a healthy pregnancy and a happy baby,” stated Dr. Michael Warren, who serves as chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

According to Dr. Ashley Zink, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the University of Texas Southwestern, preparing your body for pregnancy is comparable to “building your baby’s first home.”

This preparation includes maintaining established healthy practices such as consuming nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and eliminating harmful habits like tobacco use.

“Make sure those good health habits that you’ve established over the course of your life are still in place,” Warren emphasized. “If you have chronic diseases, make sure those are well-managed. Make sure you’re getting regular preventive medical care.”

Zink stressed the importance of optimal health because pregnancy demands as much physical endurance as running a marathon.

“Your volume of blood expands; it’s harder work for your heart,” she explained. “And just the discomforts of pregnancy — all kinds of things — are a little bit better tolerated if you’re in good physical condition.”

Medical professionals recommend scheduling a pre-conception appointment to address health issues, treat conditions that could impact pregnancy, and ensure current vaccinations.

Healthcare providers also advise obtaining an early pregnancy ultrasound to measure fetal development, confirm delivery dates, and detect multiple pregnancies.

Women beyond age 35 typically produce elevated levels of hormones that stimulate egg production, and may also rely on fertility treatments to conceive. Both factors increase the probability of multiple births, which elevates the risk of complications including early delivery.

Older expectant mothers might also benefit from non-invasive blood screening tests that detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and trisomy conditions. Stanford Medicine Children’s Health data indicates Down syndrome risk increases from approximately 1 in 1,250 for women conceiving at 25 to about 1 in 100 for those conceiving at 40.

When screening results suggest potential issues, physicians may recommend more detailed diagnostic procedures. These include amniocentesis, which involves extracting a small sample of amniotic fluid, or chorionic villus sampling, where placental cells are collected for analysis.

Zink also suggests older patients consider requesting a specialized ultrasound around 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy.

“It shows us if the placenta is still doing a good job,” she noted. “Do you have normal fluid? Do you have normal growth?”

Late-pregnancy ultrasounds can also identify fetal abnormalities.

“We know that when women are pregnant later in life, there’s an increased risk of birth defects,” Warren said, particularly heart-related defects.

The risk of stillbirth also increases slightly, though it remains quite low overall.

“As the delivery date gets closer,” Warren advised, “it’s so important to be mindful for those cues like fetal movement. Can you still feel the baby moving and kicking?”

Cesarean section rates climb with maternal age, with March of Dimes data from 2022-2024 showing 48% of births to women 40 and older involved surgical delivery. C-section procedures carry significantly higher risks of maternal complications including infection and excessive bleeding compared to vaginal births.

Medical indications for surgical delivery include chronic conditions that make vaginal birth dangerous, such as diabetes or hypertension. Labor complications, including delivering unusually large babies often associated with gestational diabetes, also necessitate C-sections.

Placental complications that can cause dangerous bleeding are also more common among older mothers. While these issues remain relatively rare, placental abruption affects roughly 1 in 100 pregnancies overall.

Means delivered both children naturally but experienced placenta-related complications and developed gestational diabetes during both pregnancies.

Following her daughter’s birth in 2023, retained placental tissue required removal and she needed treatment for postpartum bleeding. A week after her son’s birth last year, severe hemorrhaging required hospital treatment.

“So both of my babies tried to kill me a little bit,” she said with humor. “Once I got past all those bleeding issues, I’ve been fine … And both my kids are super healthy, so I’m thankful for that.”

A mother from California who lost her newborn son to a devastating birth defect fifteen years ago now finds hope in a groundbreaking new law that could prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedy.

This past January, California implemented the nation’s first mandate requiring manufacturers to fortify corn masa flour with folic acid, a vital B vitamin. The regulation targets tortillas and other traditional foods commonly consumed in Latino households.

The initiative addresses the alarmingly high occurrence of neural tube defects among Hispanic babies, the same type of condition that took the life of Andrea Lopez’s son Gabriel Cude after just ten days.

“It’s such a small effort for such a tremendous impact,” expressed Lopez, age 44, who resides in Bakersfield and now practices law while raising two daughters. “There is very little that I wouldn’t do to spare anybody this heartache.”

Alabama will implement comparable legislation this June, while Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Oregon are advancing similar proposals. According to the Food Fortification Initiative, an organization dedicated to combating nutritional deficiencies, four additional states including Delaware, Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have demonstrated “active interest” in pursuing this public health measure.

“All women and children in the United States should have access to folic acid and have healthy babies,” stated Scott Montgomery, who directs the advocacy organization.

The United States has mandated folic acid supplementation in enriched wheat products, white breads, cereals and pasta for nearly three decades.

Extensive scientific studies demonstrate that the 1998 mandate reduced severe birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly by approximately 30 percent, preventing roughly 1,300 cases annually. Medical professionals consider this achievement among the most significant public health victories of the previous century.

However, corn masa flour, a dietary cornerstone for Latino families, remained exempt from the original fortification mandate — leaving rates of spina bifida and anencephaly persistently elevated within this population.

Federal authorities permitted voluntary folic acid addition to corn masa products in 2016 but stopped short of requiring it. Research conducted in 2023 revealed that only one in seven corn masa flour products contained folic acid, while no corn tortillas included the vitamin.

Hispanic women experience the highest rates of neural tube defects during pregnancy across the nation. California statistics indicate Hispanic mothers face twice the risk compared to white or Black women.

State Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, who championed the 2024 legislation, believes California’s new requirements and substantial market influence could drive nationwide adoption.

“You have to be the first oftentimes to get the ball rolling,” he explained. “So, I’m glad other states have taken up that mantle.”

California’s leadership and advocacy pressure have already prompted industry changes.

Gruma Corporation, which owns Mission Foods and Azteca Milling, has engaged with fortification efforts for nearly twenty years. Azteca introduced folic acid to select varieties of Maseca, its primary corn masa flour brand, beginning in 2016.

Currently, 97 percent of the company’s domestic retail products include folic acid supplementation. The remaining products will receive fortification before July, according to a Gruma statement.

Mission Foods launched its fortification program in 2024, now incorporating folic acid into all branded and private label corn tortillas sold domestically.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy organization promoting fortification, reports that major producers’ actions have encouraged smaller manufacturers to adopt similar practices.

Jim Kabbani, who leads the Tortilla Industry Association, acknowledged initial industry concerns about flavor impact and labeling costs. However, he now anticipates widespread adoption of fortified products by tortilla manufacturers.

“I think overall the train has left the station and it will be more and more states,” he predicted.

Public health professionals welcome the increasing support.

“The science is clear: Folic acid fortification works,” declared Vijaya Kancherla, an epidemiology professor at Emory University who directs the Center for Spina Bifida Prevention. “It’s safe. It’s proven. And it’s cost-effective.”

This perspective conflicts sharply with opponents, including some high-ranking government officials, who view food supply fortification as excessive government interference.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized California’s legislation in a social media post last year, writing: “This is insanity. California is waging war against her children — targeting the poor and communities of color.”

A Kennedy spokesperson declined to elaborate on these remarks.

Social media platforms contain numerous claims alleging folic acid fortification is “toxic” or that individuals with specific genetic variations called MTHFR cannot properly metabolize the vitamin.

Medical experts and advocates confirm these assertions are false.

“What’s truly insane is that our nation’s top health official is spreading false claims and frightening people into avoiding a nutrient that’s proven to prevent birth defects and save babies’ lives,” responded Eva Greenthal, CSPI’s senior policy scientist.

Dr. Jeffery Blount, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who works to prevent neural tube defects domestically and internationally, emphasized that folic acid “has never been shown to harm individuals or populations” at fortification levels.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarifies that “people with the MTHFR gene variant can process all types of folate, including folic acid.”

Ironically, Kennedy’s own federal dietary guidelines endorse fortification. Supporting documentation recommends pregnant women consume folate-rich foods like leafy vegetables, beans and lentils, while acknowledging that folic acid from fortified foods or supplements remains “critical” before conception and during early pregnancy for preventing neural tube defects.

“Folic acid fortification of corn masa flour could help prevent” neural tube defects, the CDC website confirms.

Neural tube defects impact approximately 2,000 American babies annually, developing during the initial weeks following conception when the structure forming the spine and brain fails to develop correctly.

This timing often precedes women discovering their pregnancies. With more than 40 percent of U.S. pregnancies being unplanned, many women lack pregnancy preparation, noted Dr. Kimberly BeDell, medical director of a spina bifida rehabilitation clinic at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, California.

“Even women’s best efforts in going to an OB right away and starting prenatal vitamins, it’s just too late,” BeDell explained.

Incorporating folic acid into corn masa, similar to other grain fortification, ensures the nutrient reaches the broader population requiring it, she added.

At 28 years old and expecting her first child, Andrea Lopez remained unaware of folic acid’s importance or its potential absence from her diet.

A mid-pregnancy ultrasound revealed her baby had anencephaly, a fatal condition preventing proper skull development.

Lopez continued the pregnancy to term, and Gabriel survived ten days. She says the grief never subsides, noting Gabriel would be a high school freshman today. She endorses California’s corn masa fortification law and finds the delayed implementation “mind-boggling.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to go through this,” she said. “He’s the love of my life. I have two little girls that survived, but he’s my first born. He is my only son.”

A teenager riding an electric bicycle struck Janet Stotko at approximately 25 mph during her evening walk, sending the Minnesota woman crashing to the pavement unconscious and bleeding in her neighborhood.

The 2024 collision almost claimed Stotko’s life as she was rushed to emergency care suffering from serious brain trauma, a fractured face and damaged eardrum. Following two days on life support, three weeks of hospitalization and brain surgery, she made a remarkable recovery that amazed her medical team.

During a follow-up appointment, she recalled her physicians saying, “Wow, we can’t believe you’re here.”

Stotko is now advocating for tougher e-bike regulations to prevent similar incidents from happening to others.

While electric bicycles provide a practical, environmentally friendly and affordable transportation option compared to automobiles, their growing popularity has sparked safety debates. Research from the University of California, San Francisco revealed that e-bike related injuries among riders nearly doubled annually between 2017 and 2022, while a UC San Diego study documented a 300% spike in injuries among riders under 18 from 2019 to 2023.

Federal regulations classify most electric bikes as non-motorized vehicles similar to regular bicycles, meaning operators don’t need licenses or insurance and helmet use isn’t mandatory. However, individual states have implemented varying and often more restrictive requirements.

Medical professionals are demanding new legislation and stronger enforcement of current rules, prompting officials across the country to take measures.

Understanding e-bike safety requirements is essential for riders and those around them.

Most states use a three-category system for electric bicycles: Class 1 models feature motors that activate during pedaling with top speeds of 20 mph; Class 2 versions include throttles reaching 20 mph maximum without pedaling; and Class 3 bikes offer pedal assistance up to 28 mph.

Higher-speed models, sometimes called e-motos, can hit 40 mph without any pedaling required. Many states regulate these like motorcycles, banning them from sidewalks and bike paths, though some areas lack specific rules for these ultra-fast models.

John Maa, a general surgeon at MarinHealth Medical Center in Northern California, explains that higher speeds naturally result in more severe injuries.

“It’s Newton’s principles, right? Force equals mass times acceleration, and also kinetic energy is mass times velocity squared,” Maa said.

Regulations covering speed restrictions, helmet mandates and other e-bike rules are evolving quickly, with legal requirements varying significantly between jurisdictions.

New York City established a 15 mph speed cap for all electric bikes in October, while Florida legislators recently approved legislation limiting e-bike speeds to 10 mph when within 50 feet of pedestrians. Connecticut enacted an October law mandating helmets for all e-bike users, with non-pedal bikes having batteries exceeding 750 watts requiring driver’s licenses.

“We were not only hearing from manufacturers and riders, but we were hearing from concerned citizens trying to share the road with these new electric bikes and e-scooters, and also law enforcement who really needed some clear policies set into place,” said Christine Cohen, the Connecticut state senator behind the legislation.

The marketplace includes many vehicles that straddle the boundary between traditional e-bikes and motorcycle-like machines, with manufacturers not always clearly identifying these differences.

Understanding a bike’s performance capabilities and legal riding areas requires checking maximum speed, motor power output, and whether pedaling is required versus throttle-only operation. Models falling outside the three-class system may face motor vehicle laws, potentially prohibiting use on shared paths where slower e-bikes are permitted.

“The first thing we always tell people is familiarize yourself, read the manual, look at some videos, look at your specific model,” said Charles DiMaggio, an injury public health researcher and professor at New York University’s medical school.

Purchasing from local bicycle retailers rather than online sources can provide valuable assistance, allowing customers to ask questions, test ride equipment and understand local regulations.

Medical facilities and organizations including the American College of Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons have demanded stricter policies while providing safety guidance.

Helmet use remains their top recommendation. Additional suggestions include defensive riding around vehicles, installing front and rear lighting, wearing reflective clothing in low light conditions, and avoiding riding while impaired by substances. Experts also warn against modifying e-bikes for increased speed.

Maa suggests e-bike operators consider motorcycle helmets that protect the neck area to prevent spinal damage. He also recommends parents ensure children master traditional bicycle riding before transitioning to electric models.

“Make sure they’re comfortable, they understand the rules of the road, they’re able to navigate turns, understand the flow of traffic, the use of bicycle lanes,” Maa said.

Following her accident, Stotko addressed her local city council in Hastings, Minnesota, sharing her experience to advocate for stronger regulations. Officials responded by lowering maximum e-bike speeds to 15 mph on city trails, banning e-bikes from sidewalks and establishing fines.

Local police cited the 14-year-old rider for underage e-bike operation, but no charges were filed related to Stotko’s injuries.

“It’s really about taking accountability and ownership of owning an e-bike and operating one,” she said.

A Wisconsin-based food manufacturer has pulled 144 cases of cream cheese spread from shelves after discovering the product contains almonds that weren’t properly listed on the packaging.

Schreiber Foods, Inc., headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, announced the voluntary recall of their Honey Almond Cream Cheese Spread due to the labeling oversight. The company warns that individuals with almond allergies or sensitivities could experience severe, potentially life-threatening reactions if they eat the affected product.

The recall specifically involves undeclared tree nuts in the form of almonds, which pose a significant health hazard to those with related food allergies. Consumers who have purchased this product and have almond allergies are advised to avoid consumption and dispose of the item immediately.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While Shaquoiya Stewart cradled one of her 6-month-old twins, Shanille Bowens held the other during their regular check-in visit. Between watching the babies gaze at each other, Bowens posed the question she regularly asks the mothers in her care: “Do you think there’s anything you need more support with?”

Bowens works as a doula, offering emotional and physical assistance to families throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period — services that were once considered exclusive to wealthy families who could pay out of pocket. Today, doula services are entering the mainstream healthcare system.

Healthcare providers who were previously hesitant about doulas now recognize how these professionals enhance the work of physicians and nurses. With expanding insurance benefits, families across different economic backgrounds can now access this type of care.

According to the National Health Law Program, over 30 states now provide doula reimbursement through Medicaid programs or are working toward such coverage, representing a significant jump from just 14 states in late 2022. Private insurance companies are following suit, including major provider UnitedHealthcare, which introduced a new doula benefit this year. Families paying privately can expect costs that vary significantly but may reach beyond $2,000.

These policy shifts stem from growing evidence demonstrating that these certified, non-medical specialists can dramatically enhance maternal and infant health outcomes. Healthcare experts believe expanding doula access offers a cost-effective strategy for addressing maternal mortality, which disproportionately affects Black mothers like Stewart at rates exceeding three times those of white women.

“Doulas can benefit everybody,” explained Sierra Hill, who coordinates maternal care access for Minnesota’s health department. “And that’s especially true for our communities that are facing a lot of inequities and health disparities.”

Stewart, who receives Tennessee Medicaid benefits, credits Bowens with guiding her through pregnancy anxiety with her twin boys, managing blood pressure complications during delivery, navigating her cesarean section, and coping with postpartum depression.

“I felt safe. It didn’t feel like I was just by myself,” explained Stewart, a 35-year-old single mother raising four children. “She was like my homegirl.”

Data from a 2006 survey by the Childbirth Connection, now part of the National Partnership for Women & Families, showed only 3% of American women received doula care during labor. Researchers estimate this percentage has increased two to three times since then.

More than twenty years ago, when Bowens was expecting her first of six children, a counselor suggested she work with a doula.

“I’m like, ‘A doula, what is that?’” Bowens remembered.

The positive experience Bowens had with her own doula inspired her to pursue this career path. Beyond answering maternal questions and linking families to community resources, Bowens assists her clients in understanding the healthcare system and speaks up for their needs.

“Oftentimes, we become friends with our clients – lifelong friends. We help connect them with resources in the community,” explained Bowens, who established Naturally Nurtured Birth Services. “We cater to them … so it looks different for each client.”

This personalized support proves particularly valuable for mothers from disadvantaged communities.

Studies comparing two groups of socially disadvantaged mothers revealed that those working with doulas experienced four times fewer low birth weight babies, half the rate of birth complications, and significantly higher breastfeeding initiation rates. Additional research published recently found that Medicaid beneficiaries who used doulas had 47% fewer cesarean sections, 29% fewer preterm deliveries, and attended postpartum appointments 46% more frequently.

The postpartum appointment finding holds special significance, noted April Falconi, a Carelon Research scientist who helped author the recent study. Over half of maternal deaths happen during the postpartum period, often due to infection and severe bleeding.

These positive outcomes prompted Minnesota to pioneer Medicaid doula coverage in 2014. Ten years later, the state enhanced this benefit, permitting Medicaid recipients up to 18 doula sessions without requiring prior approval, more than doubling the previous allowance.

“The return on investment is huge,” Hill emphasized.

While doulas don’t need mandatory licensing, states establish qualification requirements for Medicaid reimbursement, and many practitioners pursue certification through private organizations.

Naturally Nurtured participates in a Memphis pilot program where UnitedHealthcare covers doula services through a Tennessee Medicaid initiative. Members receive these services at no cost.

Meanwhile, UnitedHealthcare commercial plan members with doula benefits receive reimbursement for this care. A growing but still limited number of other private insurance plans also include doula coverage.

“I see doulas becoming more and more integrated and accepted by all within the health care system,” said Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson, chief medical officer at UnitedHealth Group.

This acceptance now extends to hospital physicians and nurses.

Dana Morrison, who leads Doulas of Duluth in Minnesota, acknowledged there “was definitely” pushback from medical teams when she started a decade ago. This resistance existed nationwide, often arising when doulas advocated for approaches that differed from medical professionals’ preferences. Limited integration meant doulas lacked opportunities to establish trust with doctors and nurses.

Currently, Aspirus St. Luke’s hospital partners with Doulas of Duluth through a grant-funded initiative, offering patients scholarships to hire doulas through the organization.

Mallory Cummings, a nurse who coordinates doula services at Aspirus St. Luke’s, reports that birth team members now welcome and value doulas. “What it really comes down to is everyone’s knowledge of what a doula is,” she explained.

During a recent afternoon visit at the Memphis doula center, Mary Bey relaxed in a comfortable chair, holding her sleeping daughter Ca’Mya. Bowens sat nearby, recording notes on her computer.

Following discussions about nursing and sleep patterns, they addressed how Bey, age 39, has been experiencing frequent crying episodes since delivery.

“What brings it on?” Bowens inquired.

“I’ll be scared and I’ll just be so protective and treat her like she’s just glass,” Bey responded.

Bey carries emotional trauma from a previous loss. Before welcoming her daughter last December, she endured a stillbirth, with Bowens providing support throughout that difficult experience.

“She was there when I had to push him out. She was there after, when I was healing. She came to the house. She brought groceries,” recalled Bey, a single mother of four who connected with Bowens through the same pilot program as Stewart.

When Bey discovered she was pregnant again, she reached out to Bowens with a text: “Hey, can you still be my doula?”

Throughout the pregnancy, Bowens addressed all of Bey’s concerns and helped maintain her calm. She attended Bey’s planned cesarean section and provided support when medical staff monitored Ca’Mya for jaundice and what doctors briefly suspected was a cardiac issue.

When Bey later worried about a possible infection in her cesarean incision, Bowens recommended she seek medical evaluation. The infection was confirmed.

Bey believes she couldn’t have managed either pregnancy as successfully, both physically and emotionally, without her doula’s support.

“She makes you feel like she’s family,” Bey said. “She was a friend — my best friend — a cousin, an auntie, a sister. All of the above.”

A Pennsylvania woman facing the end of her life has made an extraordinary request of her closest friends – asking them to join her in creating the woven casket that will serve as her final resting place.

Maddie Christine Brokop, after receiving news of her terminal diagnosis, reached out to her circle of friends with the meaningful invitation to participate in weaving the burial container together. The collaborative effort represents her desire to have loved ones involved in preparing for her passing in a deeply personal way.

For many years, Noreen Vance has devoted herself to providing care for her adult sister who has Down syndrome. This long-term caregiving responsibility has profoundly transformed the dynamics and connections she shares with every member of her family.

The ongoing commitment to her sister’s care has reshaped how Vance interacts with and relates to her relatives, creating new patterns of communication and support throughout her extended family network.

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that Colgate-Palmolive cannot dismiss two class-action lawsuits that accuse the company of using deceptive packaging on children’s mouthwash products.

The lawsuits claim that Colgate’s marketing materials mislead parents into thinking their mouth rinse products are safe for children younger than 6 years old, despite federal health guidelines stating otherwise.

According to the legal complaints, federal health officials have advised against fluoride rinses for children under age 6 and recommend that kids between ages 2 and 6 should only use small, pea-sized portions of fluoride toothpaste due to potential harm if the fluoride is swallowed.

The plaintiffs argue that Colgate’s product packaging uses appealing bright colors and kid-friendly flavors like Bubble Fruit and Silly Strawberry, creating the impression that these rinses are appropriate for very young children to use freely.

U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood determined that typical consumers might struggle to understand appropriate age limits for the rinses, particularly because Colgate’s labels prominently display terms like “kids” or “children’s.”

Judge Wood rejected Colgate’s argument that parents would naturally understand the products are over-the-counter medications and would read the FDA-required warnings printed on the back of the packaging.

However, the judge reached a different conclusion regarding toothpaste claims, dismissing that portion of the lawsuit. She noted that toothpaste labels specifically direct parents to give children between 2 and 6 only pea-sized amounts.

“Viewed in context, the toothbrush with a full strip of toothpaste is there only to represent the act of toothbrushing,” Wood explained in her written decision.

The New York-based company and its legal representatives have not yet provided a response to requests for comment on Friday’s ruling.

Attorney Michael Connett, who represents the plaintiffs, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision and said similar cases have gained traction in recent years. “These rulings will hopefully send a wake-up call to manufacturers to stop promoting unsafe use of fluoride products,” he stated.

Colgate is not alone in facing such legal challenges. Other major oral care manufacturers including Procter & Gamble (which produces Crest), along with Perrigo and Sanofi, are defending similar lawsuits over their children’s fluoride product packaging.

Last September, Colgate reached an agreement with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to modify packaging for its Colgate, Tom’s of Maine, and hello toothpaste brands following a state investigation. Procter & Gamble entered into a comparable settlement in January.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced plans to extend a federal program that collects data from independent laboratories across the country.

Following requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and federal budget office rules, the agency is seeking to renew authorization for gathering information from state, local, and private labs that analyze food samples when illness outbreaks occur or when products are recalled from store shelves.

Officials say they are not proposing any modifications to the current data collection system. The existing authorization is set to end on August 31, 2026.

The program allows federal food safety officials to coordinate with outside laboratories during food safety emergencies and investigations into contaminated products that could pose health risks to consumers.

A Connecticut health supplement manufacturer has announced a voluntary product recall after discovering that certain dietary supplements may contain allergens not listed on the packaging.

Blueroot Health, based in Middletown, Connecticut, issued the recall notice on March 27, 2026, for two production batches of their Vital Nutrients Aller-C dietary supplements. The company warns that these products may contain egg, hazelnut, and soy ingredients that are not declared on the product labels.

The recall poses a serious health risk for individuals with allergies or severe sensitivities to these three allergens. Consumers who have purchased these supplements and have known allergies to egg, hazelnut, or soy are advised to discontinue use immediately.

The company has not yet provided details about how the undeclared allergens may have been introduced into the manufacturing process or the extent of distribution of the affected products.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Companies that manufacture dietary supplements are urging federal regulators to broaden the range of substances allowed in their products, potentially paving the way for expanded sales of peptides, probiotics, and other popular wellness compounds.

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration conducted a public forum to examine its established guidelines for supplement ingredients and consider whether to permit components not derived from traditional sources like food, vitamins, or herbs. Agency representatives listened to presentations from industry leaders, consumer protection groups, and researchers.

This marks the first such gathering since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assumed his role as the country’s leading health official last year. Kennedy has promised to “end the war at FDA” against dietary supplements, peptides, and similar products championed by his Make America Healthy Again initiative.

The Natural Products Association, a trade organization that has disagreed with FDA policies on certain emerging supplement components, requested Friday’s session. In a January correspondence, the group cited “the cost and uncertainty that arise when regulatory expectations are unclear.”

Here’s background on the matter:

Current FDA guidelines classify supplements as a food category, requiring most components to originate from plants, herbs, and other materials present in typical American diets.

This standard has created obstacles for manufacturers in recent years as contemporary wellness items frequently contain compounds never previously consumed as food.

Take peptides, for example — these are drug-like sequences of amino acids that celebrities and social media personalities have heavily promoted for muscle development and anti-aging benefits, despite limited scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.

Numerous specialized pharmacies and medical facilities distribute them through injections or intravenous treatments, while some supplement producers have started incorporating them into pills, gummy products, and powdered formulations.

According to FDA attorneys, such products technically breach agency regulations. Similar violations apply to specific probiotic varieties — bacterial products marketed to support digestive function and intestinal wellness.

Manufacturers contend that existing FDA legislation doesn’t explicitly require all components to originate from food sources.

“The hope of the meeting is that FDA is willing to open up its interpretation of what constitutes a dietary ingredient to allow dietary substances that aren’t already in food,” explained Robert Durkin, a former FDA supplements program official who currently provides consulting services to companies.

Should the agency refuse to revise its definition, the industry might pursue legal action. A 2024 Supreme Court ruling diminished federal agencies’ power to interpret legislation and create regulations based on their own preferences.

Kennedy recently expressed strong support for peptides, informing podcast host Joe Rogan that he has personally utilized them for injury treatment. He also committed to relaxing FDA restrictions on injectable peptide production, which currently faces federal safety limitations.

Several Kennedy associates and supporters advocate for these substances, including Gary Brecka, who describes himself as a “longevity expert” and markets peptide injections, patches, and nasal applications through his online platform.

Dr. Mark Hyman, another Kennedy associate, markets numerous dietary supplements through his website, including products claiming to contain peptides.

Two former health advisors from Kennedy’s presidential campaign also maintain industry connections.

Calley Means, currently serving as a senior advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services, helped establish an online service that enables consumers to purchase supplements and wellness products using tax-exempt health funds.

Dr. Casey Means — his sister and President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general — earned hundreds of thousands of dollars endorsing supplements, probiotics, and related merchandise, according to financial disclosure documents.

Unlike its rigorous drug approval process that verifies safety and effectiveness, the FDA doesn’t conduct similar reviews for dietary supplements. The agency doesn’t even maintain a comprehensive registry of available products.

With approximately 100,000 or more supplements currently sold, manufacturers bear legal responsibility for ensuring product safety and honest marketing, the FDA states. Supplements cannot claim to cure specific illnesses or medical conditions.

The 1994 legislation granting FDA authority over the industry also freed supplement makers from nutrition labeling standards that require companies to provide scientific backing for health assertions.

Instead, supplement producers may make broader statements, such as claiming their products maintain or enhance general health and wellness.

Some former agency officials believe this framework was problematic.

“It sanctioned unauthorized, implied health claims,” stated Mitch Zeller, who handled supplement matters at the FDA during the 1990s. “There are all manner of claims being made on supplement labeling or in advertising that are carefully worded to avoid making a drug or treatment claim.”

Companies may also assert their products enhance bodily structure or function, such as bone strengthening. Items making general or specific assertions must include a disclaimer: “This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA.”

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced Friday that their eczema medication demonstrated sustained effectiveness in a comprehensive post-marketing research study, providing patients with relief from chronic itching for as long as four years.

The medication, known as Ebglyss, received U.S. approval in 2024 and requires monthly injections to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, a condition characterized by severe itching and skin inflammation.

The treatment is designated for adults and children aged 12 and above who suffer from moderate-to-severe eczema and cannot effectively use topical medications applied to the skin.

According to Lilly’s findings, most participants in the research achieved nearly complete skin healing and significant itch reduction after receiving continuous treatment for up to four years.

The company reported that Ebglyss maintained its established safety record during the study’s initial year, with no unexpected adverse effects discovered regardless of how frequently patients received doses.

Researchers plan to extend the study for one additional year of treatment observation.

Previously, Lilly published findings from a separate clinical trial demonstrating that Ebglyss maintained effective results when administered every four to eight weeks. The pharmaceutical company has forwarded this information to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking potential modifications to the drug’s labeling requirements.

AstraZeneca announced Friday that their investigational breathing medication demonstrated significant success in decreasing severe episodes for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during two major advanced clinical trials.

The pharmaceutical company reported that tozorakimab achieved its primary objective in both studies, successfully lowering the yearly occurrence of moderate-to-severe COPD episodes compared to inactive treatment in the main study group of previous smokers and across all participants.

Both current and past tobacco users with different degrees of respiratory damage and varying white blood cell levels participated in the research, according to the company.

COPD represents a long-term medical condition that limits air passage and creates difficulty breathing. Although cigarette smoking serves as the primary cause, exposure to vapors, industrial chemicals, and workplace particles can also trigger the disease’s development.

The experimental medication falls under the monoclonal antibody treatment category, functioning by mimicking natural immune responses and blocking interleukin-33, a protein that contributes to inflammatory processes.

According to AstraZeneca, their medication could potentially decrease inflammation and break the harmful pattern of mucus problems that may intensify COPD symptoms in patients. The World Health Organization ranks this respiratory disease as the fourth most common cause of death globally.

The pharmaceutical company plans to share comprehensive results from both clinical trials at a future medical conference.

This development follows AstraZeneca’s September announcement that their asthma medication Fasenra did not successfully decrease symptom worsening in COPD patients during a different advanced study.

Health authorities are investigating an E. coli outbreak that has affected nine individuals, including several young children, with cases linked to unpasteurized dairy products manufactured by Raw Farm, a dairy operation based in Fresno, California.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that two additional cases in California have expanded the outbreak, which was initially disclosed on March 15. California now accounts for seven of the total cases, while Texas and Florida each report one illness. More than half of those affected are children under age 5, with three patients requiring hospitalization and one developing a serious kidney complication.

Health officials confirm no fatalities have occurred in connection with this outbreak.

The popularity of unpasteurized milk products has grown significantly in recent years, driven by social media promotion and advocacy from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. Unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk retains harmful bacteria including E. coli, salmonella, listeria and campylobacter that the pasteurization process eliminates.

Cases emerged between September and mid-February. Among eight patients interviewed by investigators, seven confirmed consuming products bearing the Raw Farm label, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Two individuals in 2025 reported drinking the company’s raw milk, while five people in 2026 consumed or were served the company’s unpasteurized cheddar cheese.

Laboratory analysis of E. coli samples from affected patients reveals closely matching genetic patterns, confirming that outbreak victims “share a common source of infection,” FDA officials stated.

Federal regulators previously recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw milk cheddar cheese from retail shelves, but the company declined to comply. Testing of Raw Farm products has not detected E. coli contamination, the agency reported.

Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, along with other Congressional Food Safety Caucus members, has called on the FDA to exercise mandatory recall powers to remove Raw Farm products from stores. Federal officials have not indicated whether they plan to take such action.

Regulatory inspectors from the FDA and state health departments have conducted facility evaluations at Raw Farm locations. The CDC is advising consumers to “consider not eating this cheese while the investigation continues.”

Federal health regulators have given the thumbs up to a new insulin treatment designed to help adults with type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels.

Novo Nordisk announced Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for their insulin injection called Awiqli. The medication is specifically intended for adult patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who need help managing their glucose levels.

The pharmaceutical company’s announcement came on Thursday following the federal agency’s decision to clear the treatment for use in the United States.

A groundbreaking California court decision this week held Meta and YouTube accountable for causing mental health damage to young users, marking the first successful lawsuit of its kind focused on social media addiction.

The landmark ruling has energized medical professionals and child advocates who believe it could trigger sweeping reforms across the social media industry.

“I am excited about the outcome of the litigation, in part because we’ve had basically seen these platforms sort of go unregulated for many years … and they didn’t really consider, that much, the effects on children,” Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, told The Associated Press.

Mental health professionals view this legal milestone as an ideal time for families to reassess their approach to social media usage. Here’s expert advice for parents on discussing social platforms with their children and implementing protective measures.

Countless families now grapple with screen time conflicts, concerns about online dangers, and the challenge of getting children to stop endless scrolling as part of managing today’s digital childhood environment.

Despite years of available articles, studies, podcasts and social media content offering screen time guidance, specialists emphasize that simply communicating with children remains the most effective parental strategy.

Inquiring about what children find appealing online, which content creators they follow, their interaction patterns, and their feelings about various apps can provide valuable insights into their digital experiences and prove more effective than imposing strict regulations.

Jenny Radesky, the division director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, said the best way to begin conversations is with open-ended questions and “leaving space for teens to share their opinion.”

“By listening as a parent, it lets you peek under the hood to understand how your child is thinking about things. It’s way easier to solve a tricky problem when you really understand your child’s perspective, instead of just trying to force a new limit,” Radesky said.

Radesky recommends starting discussions by asking children about content they encounter — material they find amusing, engaging, disturbing, interesting or annoying. Parents can then explore whether their child encounters unwanted content and discuss solutions like adjusting their feed, viewing only friends’ posts, or taking platform breaks.

However, establishing social media boundaries requires individualized approaches. Radesky suggests structuring guidelines around a child’s wellness and requirements rather than restrictions that may seem punitive, helping children learn healthy social media habits.

“As the parent, you know your kid best,” Radesky said. “You’ve seen their anxious days. You’ve seen those days when they’re out of control. You know what really grabs their attention and what calms them down. So think of all of your solutions centered around who your kid is.”

Professionals recommend implementing timers, establishing device-free areas, or taking multi-day social media breaks as effective strategies.

“It helps teens be more intentional about getting what they want out of their phone or out of that social media site — not it turning into this mindless, ‘Oh, I’ve got nothing else to do so I’ll just keep scrolling,’” Radesky said.

Understanding each child’s particular requirements, usage habits, and difficulties remains essential for developing effective solutions.

Does social media disrupt their sleep schedule? Keep devices downstairs overnight. Do they scroll continuously for hours? Use 20-minute timers as reminders to disconnect. Do they browse out of boredom? Plan weekly family activities as alternatives.

Parents frequently wonder about the appropriate age for children to begin using social media platforms.

Most major social media companies require users to be at least 13 years old, mainly because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act that limits data collection from younger users. Yet enforcement remains weak since verifying ages during app registration proves difficult.

Some states have also enacted laws preventing children — sometimes up to age 16 — from creating accounts without parental approval.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against social media use before age 13; “That doesn’t mean you need to start an account at age 13. Many kids benefit from waiting longer,” Radesky said.

Beyond platform registration, growing numbers of parents, teachers, and technology specialists advocate delaying smartphone access until children mature. Some families have embraced the “Wait Until 8th” initiative, committing to withhold smartphones until eighth grade, typically around ages 13 or 14.

Regarding social media behavior, experts stress that parents must demonstrate positive examples.

“The most powerful thing that parents can do is actually model good behaviors, because kids sometimes respond more to what they see than what they’re told,” Vidal said.

While phone use sometimes becomes necessary, professionals suggest parents explain their device usage around children. Rather than mindless browsing, parents might be checking work messages, researching dinner recipes, or handling bills.

Ultimately, if parents want children to modify their social media habits, they should collaborate together. Vidal recommended using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ family media plan — a complimentary online resource that generates personalized social media recommendations.

“This is not just a problem that teens experience. The designs are in everyone’s feeds and everyone’s social media,” Radesky said. “So try to make a change together.”

A California-based food distributor has announced a recall of organic black bean products after discovering they contain pesticide residues.

Falcon Trading Company, Inc., headquartered in Royal Oaks, California, is pulling three specific organic black bean items from store shelves. Company officials say they’re recalling every lot number of these products because the beans are distributed in bulk containers where different production batches can become combined.

The recall affects all quantities of the three identified organic black bean varieties. Since retailers typically display these products in open bulk bins, customers may have purchased beans from mixed lots, prompting the company to take the broader precautionary step.

The Food and Drug Administration has been notified of the recall action. Consumers who have purchased organic black beans from Falcon Trading Company are advised to check their products and dispose of any items covered by this recall notice.

Chef Tammy Brawley recently showcased a nutritious vegetable bowl recipe on Real Virginia, the weekly television program produced by Virginia Farm Bureau.

Nutritious Vegetable Bowls

2 cups brown or red rice
2 cups peeled, diced sweet potato
2 cups sliced roasted mushrooms
kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 cups frozen yellow corn
¼ cup pickled red onions, recipe follows
lime wedges for garnish
Cilantro Lime Dressing, recipe follows

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Prepare rice following package instructions.

Cover two small rimmed baking sheets with foil. Place diced sweet potatoes on one sheet and sliced mushrooms on the other. Drizzle each vegetable with olive oil and season with kosher salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown, approximately 15-20 minutes, with sweet potatoes potentially requiring additional time.

Using a medium skillet over medium heat, cook frozen corn until it becomes charred.

Arrange rice on a serving platter and add the roasted vegetables on top. Finish with pickled onions and serve alongside Cilantro Lime Dressing.

*Chef’s tip: This adaptable recipe welcomes substitutions – swap vegetables according to preference, or incorporate black beans, feta cheese, or other desired ingredients.

Fast Pickled Red Onions

1 large red onion
½ cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
½ cup water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1–2 tablespoons sweetener (sugar, honey, maple syrup or agave)

Slice the red onion into thin pieces and place them in a glass jar.

Using a small saucepan, mix vinegar, water, sweetener and salt. Warm over medium heat while stirring until salt and sugar completely dissolve (approximately 1 minute).

Add the heated brine to the jar containing the onions. Allow the jar to remain at room temperature for 30-60 minutes minimum, or until onions become bright pink.

Cover with a lid and store in refrigerator. Ready for consumption after 1 hour but taste best after 1 day, staying fresh for up to one week.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

2 cups fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Using a food processor, combine cilantro, garlic, lime juice, maple syrup, coriander and salt, then pulse to mix. While the blade operates, slowly add olive oil and process until the mixture becomes smooth.

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — A vacant piece of land situated between a fire department and soccer field near Albuquerque will soon house a federal healthcare facility that Native American communities were promised more than three decades ago.

This month, Santa Ana Pueblo Governor Myron Armijo guided representatives from the U.S. Indian Health Service and Department of Health and Human Services through the site where patients will access services ranging from kidney dialysis and diabetes treatment to eye care.

“This will definitely change the game for healthcare in our area,” Armijo said.

Construction on the 235,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the IHS operating the center that provides medical care to Native Americans. Community leaders expect the new center will ease the burden on the overwhelmed Albuquerque Indian Health Center, a federal facility constructed nine decades ago where patients report appointment waits stretching for months.

The Albuquerque location was part of more than 60 medical facilities the agency marked for replacement in 1993 because of their deteriorating condition and inadequate capacity for growing patient populations. Seven projects from that original list remain incomplete, scattered throughout Arizona and New Mexico. IHS leadership plans to replace the Albuquerque facility with two new centers in the metro area, including the Santa Ana Pueblo location.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced $1 billion in February for these long-overdue construction projects, with $22 million designated for the Santa Ana Pueblo facility. Agency estimates indicate $8 billion is required to finish all outstanding projects from the 1993 priority list, which federal law mandates must be completed before the IHS can pursue other major building initiatives.

A.C. Locklear, who leads the nonprofit National Indian Health Board, characterized the $1 billion as the largest single financial commitment any administration has made toward updating these deteriorating facilities. However, he emphasized this also demonstrates the federal government’s failure to meet its legal obligation to provide proper healthcare to tribal communities.

“It’s a drop in the bucket in terms of what’s needed to modernize these facilities,” Locklear said.

The IHS provides medical services to 2.8 million Native American and Alaska Native patients through 21 hospitals and 78 smaller healthcare centers across the country. These facilities average approximately 40 years old, with one-third rated in “poor” physical condition according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office assessment.

Theresa Nelson, a 62-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, understands these challenges firsthand after beginning to use the Albuquerque Indian Health Center following retirement when she lost private insurance coverage.

“It felt like going back in time,” she said, describing outdated equipment from X-ray machines to examination rooms and lobby seating.

Nelson explained the facility depends on a complicated referral network for treatments and diagnostic tests that were readily available through private healthcare providers. She has waited eight weeks for IHS approval of a 3D mammogram referral, technology the Mayo Clinic reports is standard at most American medical facilities.

The Indian Health Service maintains that appointment delays at the Albuquerque location are under 14 days for patients with established primary care relationships. However, Nelson and fellow patients describe going years without assigned physicians and waiting months for preventive healthcare visits.

Further west, the Gallup Indian Medical Center functions through a combination of temporary modular structures and partial renovations. The hospital, which began operations more than 60 years ago and appears on the 1993 replacement list, serves communities including the Navajo Nation. Tribal representative Vince James noted that ongoing construction and fragmented building design create navigation difficulties for elderly and disabled patients while hampering medical staff efficiency.

“These are Band-Aid fixes,” James said. “Eventually the GIMC campus will become unsafe.”

Senior HHS adviser Mark Cruz called on Congress to authorize special funding to complete the remaining construction projects currently in various planning and design phases.

Without additional appropriations, he warned it could require another four decades to work through the priority construction list.

“It’s really unacceptable that we’re still working off of that 33-year-old construction list,” Cruz said during his Santa Ana Pueblo visit.

Federal regulations require the Indian Health Service to finish the 1993 list before replacing medical facilities that have deteriorated since that time. This includes two hospitals approaching 90 years old in Montana and Minnesota. The agency also cannot construct new facilities to address patient demand that has expanded and shifted locations over recent decades.

“I can’t get to additional projects that have merit across Indian Country or Alaska because I have a statutory obligation to get through the 1993 list first,” Cruz said.

The IHS completed one project from its priority list in 2023 when Rapid City, South Dakota received its replacement facility. The substitution of the deteriorating Sioux San Hospital has proven “transformational,” according to Jerilyn Church, who heads the Great Plains Tribal Leader’s Health Board.

The renamed Oyate Health Center provides three times the space of the previous hospital and features significantly more advanced medical technology. Despite these improvements, patient demand at the new facility is already exceeding available capacity.

“That’s what happens when you work from a backlog,” Church said. “In the time between identifying the need and the money finally becoming available, the population grows.”

More than seven months have passed since a deadly shooting attack at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yet the federal agency’s damaged windows remain covered with paper as a stark reminder of the violence.

During a staff meeting on Wednesday, CDC employees questioned acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya about when the bullet-damaged window panes would finally be replaced.

“We’re working on that,” Bhattacharya responded, emphasizing it remains a top concern. A fellow CDC administrator confirmed that permanent window restoration efforts are currently in progress, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by The Associated Press.

Following the staff gathering, CDC leadership sent an email to workers explaining that repair work would commence this month. Officials noted that each window requires custom manufacturing, weather conditions affect installation timing, and the project remains on its planned timeline.

Last August, 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White unleashed more than 180 rounds of gunfire at the CDC campus, shattering approximately 150 windows. The bullets penetrated even “blast-resistant” glass panels and sent debris flying into multiple office spaces, according to internal agency documents.

CDC security personnel had initially confronted White before he drove to a nearby pharmacy and began his assault on the health agency’s buildings. Police officer David Rose arrived at the scene and lost his life in the incident. White also died during the confrontation. While no CDC staff members suffered physical injuries, many experienced terror during the attack.

White had attributed his depression and suicidal thoughts to receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.

Numerous CDC workers expressed disappointment with how U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. handled the aftermath. Kennedy, the political appointee who supervises the CDC and other federal health organizations, conducted only a brief weekend inspection of the damaged facility without attempting to connect with agency personnel.

Before President Donald Trump appointed him to lead federal health agencies, Kennedy had been a prominent figure in the anti-vaccination movement and has spread inaccurate information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations.

Bhattacharya revealed that he requested Kennedy’s approval to honor the fallen officer by renaming the CDC’s entrance roadway after Rose, and Kennedy has agreed to the tribute.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will remain in his role as acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while the White House continues its search for a permanent director, according to a health department official who spoke Wednesday.

The nation’s top public health agency has experienced significant leadership turnover since President Donald Trump dismissed Director Susan Monarez last August following her resistance to vaccine policy modifications proposed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Jim O’Neill, who served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, initially took over before being succeeded by Bhattacharya, the former National Institutes of Health Director, this past February.

“Dr. Bhattacharya will continue to oversee the CDC by performing the delegable duties of the CDC director,” the health department official stated. The spokesperson noted that Kennedy is collaborating with HHS chief counselor Chris Klomp and White House officials to identify candidates for the permanent position.

According to recent Washington Post reporting, approximately six individuals are under consideration for the director role, including former Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, Mississippi’s state health director Daniel Edney, and cardiologist Joseph Marine.

Federal health regulators announced Wednesday they have given the green light to a new treatment for a rare inherited disease developed by Denali Therapeutics.

This regulatory approval represents a milestone achievement for the pharmaceutical company, marking their inaugural FDA clearance in the United States.

Following the announcement, Denali’s stock price climbed 4.2% to reach $21.86 per share.

The newly approved medication, which will be sold under the brand name Avlayah, serves as an enzyme replacement treatment designed to combat Hunter syndrome. This uncommon inherited condition causes harmful accumulation of specific sugar compounds throughout the brain and other organs.

Hunter syndrome develops when patients lack sufficient amounts of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase, leaving their bodies unable to properly process large sugar molecules known as glycosaminoglycans.

Federal health officials project that more than half of Americans over 65 will require assistance with basic daily tasks like bathing, dressing, or eating at some point in their lives, with some studies indicating this figure could reach two-thirds.

Despite this likelihood, very few older Americans carry private long-term care insurance. According to AHIP, a health insurance industry trade group, just 3% to 4% of Americans over 50 maintain active extended care policies. Medicare, the primary health coverage for seniors, typically doesn’t cover ongoing nursing home or assisted living services.

With the youngest baby boomers nearing their mid-60s, many families are counting on personal savings, family caregiving, or Medicaid, the joint federal-state program for low-income individuals. However, the first two approaches often fall short, while Medicaid qualification for residential care remains challenging due to strict income and asset requirements.

Long-term care specialists suggest considering a deliberate approach, particularly for middle-class families with moderate resources: systematically reducing assets to achieve Medicaid eligibility for nursing home or assisted living coverage more quickly.

This approach is called a Medicaid ‘spend down’ strategy.

To achieve Medicaid qualification for nursing home coverage, families must systematically and openly utilize a family member’s resources for legitimate expenses. Examples include using remaining assets to prepay funeral costs or purchase burial arrangements.

While intentionally lowering income and savings for Medicaid qualification may seem overwhelming, the alternative of unplanned long-term care expenses can rapidly deplete savings regardless. Assisted living and nursing home expenses often reach thousands monthly, typically forcing families to exhaust resources before receiving assistance.

Genworth Financial’s 2024 research revealed that home health aides average approximately $78,000 annually, while semi-private nursing home rooms cost roughly $111,000. This contrasts sharply with the median retirement savings of $200,000 for Americans aged 65 to 74, according to Federal Reserve data. An unexpected extended nursing home stay would consume these savings within two years.

‘There’s a reasonably high likelihood that you’ll need nursing care for a period of their lives, and there’s a good chance you may need it for a long period of time,’ said Eric Carlson, director of long-term services and supports advocacy with Justice in Aging, a national nonprofit legal advocacy organization focused on older Americans. Carlson has worked on these issues for 35 years.

Medicaid qualification for long-term or skilled nursing care typically requires low incomes and minimal assets, with specific limits varying by state. Most states require monthly income below $2,800 to $3,000. Individual asset limits generally cap at $2,000, excluding certain property like primary residences, vehicles, and personal belongings.

Given Medicaid eligibility’s complexity, eldercare professionals strongly recommend working with specialized advisors to ensure proper asset utilization and avoid accidentally disqualifying assistance applicants from Medicaid access.

For instance, families should avoid simply transferring assets from the care recipient’s accounts to family accounts to appear financially eligible. Medicaid applications typically include a five-year ‘look back’ review, where officials examine assets and accounts for improper transfers. It’s crucial to document expenses related to senior care costs, including out-of-pocket nursing home payments, medical bills, and personal necessities. Applicants may also use remaining assets for mortgage payments or debt reduction.

‘People shouldn’t be doing ‘do it yourself’ financial planning in these matters. It can create significant problems with a person’s estate,’ Carlson said. ‘You don’t want to wait until the day nursing care is absolutely necessary to make these sorts of decisions.’

Since Medicaid operates as a joint state-federal program, states manage these programs differently. New York residents whose income exceeds Medicaid limits can still qualify through an ‘excess income’ or spend-down program, deducting medical costs like doctor visits, prescriptions, or home care from income until meeting eligibility requirements. Once reaching that threshold, Medicaid covers additional care for the remaining month.

Similar ‘medically needy’ programs operate in over 30 states, enabling people with substantial healthcare expenses to qualify despite initially excessive income.

Carlson suggests utilizing resources like Justice for Aging, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and other eldercare advocates in local communities to navigate these challenges. Cities and states also provide Medicaid liaisons to guide families through the application process.

For those still years away from requiring nursing care, establishing long-term care plans remains essential, especially since most Americans will likely need such services eventually. One option involves purchasing long-term care insurance, typically acquired by individuals or families in their late 40s or early 50s. Monthly policies costing a few hundred dollars could eventually cover care expenses reaching tens of thousands annually.

German lawmakers are set to vote Friday on legislation that would impose taxes on sugar-laden beverages and prohibit the sale of energy drinks to anyone under 16 years old, as officials seek stronger measures to address rising obesity rates and associated health problems.

The Bundesrat, Germany’s assembly of regional states, will consider the proposal that would launch the formal legislative process for these health-focused restrictions. While the measure doesn’t outline specific tax structures, it suggests using generated revenue to fund public health programs.

Daniel Guenther, who leads Schleswig-Holstein and spearheaded the initiative, explained the rationale behind the proposed levy. “Manufacturers should have an incentive to revise their recipes and reduce sugar content. So far they have had no such incentive,” Guenther stated.

The legislation also targets energy drinks specifically due to their concentrated levels of caffeine, taurine and sugar. “Energy drinks are not harmless, trendy beverages,” Guenther emphasized. “They can become a real burden, especially for young people.”

According to World Health Organization data, over 100 nations currently impose taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, including approximately half of European Union member countries like Belgium, France and Portugal. However, the EU lacks a unified policy, leaving individual governments to implement their own approaches.

Political support for the measure has grown beyond party lines, despite initial resistance from Guenther’s own conservative CDU party in February. Green Party representative Johannes Wagner endorsed the plan, arguing that beverage companies lack motivation to voluntarily reduce sugar content. “Anyone making profits from heavily sugared drinks must also contribute more to financing the resulting costs,” Wagner said.

Social Democrat Sabine Dittmar described the proposed tax as “sensible, necessary and long overdue,” advocating for a tiered system where beverages with higher sugar concentrations face steeper taxes than lower-sugar options.

Public opinion appears to favor stricter measures, with a February Forsa poll showing approximately 60% of Germans supporting taxes on high-sugar soft drinks.

Research from the Technical University of Munich in 2023 projected significant health and economic benefits from implementing a sugar tax similar to Britain’s model. The study estimated such a policy could decrease daily sugar consumption by 2-3 grams per person, prevent or postpone up to 244,000 type 2 diabetes cases over two decades, and generate savings of up to 16 billion euros ($17.3 billion) during that timeframe.

Industry representatives have pushed back against the proposal. Germany’s sugar industry association WVZ argues that imposing what they call a “punitive tax on sugar” might simply encourage manufacturers to substitute artificial sweeteners without delivering real health improvements.

WVZ Director General Guenter Tissen challenged the scientific basis for the policy. “A sugar tax creates the false impression that a single ingredient is to blame for the development of obesity. There is no scientifically reliable evidence for this,” Tissen said.

Federal health officials are reporting a substantial decrease in deaths among pregnant women nationwide, with maternal mortality rates falling by almost 20% since 2022, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The decline follows the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, which returned abortion regulation authority to individual states. According to a LifeNews.com analysis, “The improvement flatly contradicts repeated warnings from abortion advocates that protective pro-life laws would trigger a maternal health crisis by forcing women to carry high-risk pregnancies to term.”

The CDC data also indicates improvements in additional public health indicators during the same timeframe, suggesting broader positive trends in maternal care outcomes across the country.

Federal health regulators issued a warning Tuesday to biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong after he made misleading public statements about his company’s cancer treatment capabilities.

The Food and Drug Administration’s warning letter targets statements Soon-Shiong made on a podcast where he claimed his company’s bladder cancer medication could potentially treat, cure, or prevent various other cancer types.

The regulatory action focuses on promotional content for Anktiva, the primary product from ImmunityBio Inc., one of multiple biotech companies owned by Soon-Shiong, who also controls the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Following the FDA’s public warning, ImmunityBio’s stock price dropped more than 24% during Tuesday’s trading session.

Federal approval for Anktiva came in 2024, specifically for treating a challenging form of bladder cancer. ImmunityBio continues seeking regulatory approval to use the medication for additional conditions, including certain lung and pancreatic cancers.

The problematic remarks occurred during a January broadcast of The Sean Spicer Show podcast, which carried the title “Is the FDA blocking life-saving cancer treatments?”

During the interview, Soon-Shiong called his company’s medication “the most important molecule that could cure cancer.” The executive chairman and chief medical officer later stated that although regulatory approval covers bladder cancer, “it actually can treat all cancers.”

He also claimed during the episode: “We have the therapy to prevent cancer if you were exposed to radiation, and that’s Anktiva.”

FDA officials determined these statements breach federal drug marketing regulations by generating “a misleading impression” about the medication’s capabilities.

Regulators additionally noted the podcast failed to include required information about potential risks and adverse effects, which may include urinary tract infections, pain, chills and fever. Federal law mandates that drug promotional materials present balanced information about both benefits and risks.

The FDA warning, directed to ImmunityBio CEO Richard Adcock, raises comparable issues with a television commercial for Anktiva. Both the advertisement and podcast incorrectly label the company’s treatment as a “cancer vaccine,” according to regulators.

The agency has given the company 15 days to address these violations and provide written plans for correction. By Tuesday afternoon, the podcast link had been taken down from ImmunityBio’s website.

Sarah Singleton, a spokesperson for the Culver City, California-based company, stated in an email that ImmunityBio considers the FDA’s warning “very seriously” and intends to “work cooperatively with the agency to address the matters raised in the letter.”

The Trump administration’s FDA has increased enforcement actions against pharmaceutical companies and online pharmacies, including oversight of executive appearances on television programs and podcasts.

European health authorities announced Tuesday that a critical shortage of cancer medications manufactured by Baxter International will likely continue through the first quarter of 2025.

The affected drugs contain ifosfamide, a chemotherapy agent used alone or combined with other treatments for testicular cancer, small cell cancer, and cervical cancer. Baxter serves as the main supplier of this medication throughout the European Union.

According to the European Medicines Agency, the supply disruption stems from technical problems at one of Baxter’s contract manufacturing facilities, though specific details about the issue were not revealed.

Three brand-name medications are impacted by the shortage: Holoxan, Tronoxal, and Mitoxana. These products either contain ifosfamide as their primary active ingredient or include it in combination with other cancer-fighting drugs.

Production of ifosfamide-based treatments stopped completely in September, but manufacturing has since restarted at reduced capacity levels.

This marks the second cancer drug shortage from Baxter in recent months. European regulators previously warned in February about limited supplies of cyclophosphamide, another chemotherapy drug found in Endoxan, Sendoxan, and Genoxal, also expected to last until early 2025 due to manufacturing site problems.

The medication shortages occur as ongoing Middle East conflicts threaten global medicine distribution through disrupted air travel and blocked shipping lanes.

Baxter International has not yet responded to requests for comment about the supply issues.

Massachusetts has experienced a dramatic increase in abortion services, with state officials documenting close to 50,000 procedures completed in or facilitated by the state during 2024. This figure represents more than twice the approximately 24,000 procedures recorded in 2023.

The significant jump stems largely from Massachusetts clinics expanding their reach beyond state borders. Roughly 25,000 of the total procedures involved abortion medications shipped to patients residing in states with restrictive abortion policies.

This interstate provision of abortion services has sparked legal challenges, with multiple state attorneys general initiating court cases against out-of-state medical providers who distribute abortion medications in violation of their local regulations.

India’s health ministry announced Tuesday that drug regulators have strengthened oversight of unauthorized weight-loss medication sales and marketing following the recent introduction of lower-cost generic alternatives to Ozempic and Wegovy over the weekend.

Six or more Indian pharmaceutical companies, including major players Dr Reddy’s, Zydus and Sun Pharma, introduced various branded versions of the popular diabetes and weight-loss medications, offering prices as much as 70% below Novo Nordisk’s original products in certain instances. This followed the expiration of semaglutide’s patent protection last week.

Semaglutide serves as the primary active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy medications.

The patent’s expiration raised alarm about potential abuse and physician confusion as medication costs dropped dramatically.

According to the ministry’s announcement, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) performed inspections at 49 locations nationwide, encompassing pharmaceutical distributors, retail pharmacies, and weight-loss clinics.

The regulatory focus centered on detecting infractions involving unauthorized sales activities, inappropriate prescribing methods, and deceptive advertising practices, with violation notices issued to non-compliant organizations, the announcement stated.

“These drugs, when used without proper medical supervision, may lead to serious adverse effects and related health risks,” the statement said, noting concerns about their widespread availability through multiple distribution channels.

The CDSCO issued warnings to pharmaceutical manufacturers earlier this month against direct or indirect promotional activities for weight-loss treatments, including obesity education programs that might function as disguised marketing efforts.

Industry experts anticipated over 40 Indian drug manufacturers would introduce more than 50 branded versions following patent expiration, competing for market share in a sector projected to expand to 80 billion rupees ($852.62 million) by 2030 from approximately 15 billion rupees currently, based on Pharmarack research firm data.

A growing number of Americans are embracing weight loss medications, with both injectable and oral forms gaining widespread acceptance as tools for shedding pounds and improving overall wellness.

Recent survey data from health research organization KFF reveals that approximately one in eight adults across the United States are currently using GLP-1 medications.

The popularity surge is evident in prescription numbers, with Novo Nordisk reporting over 600,000 prescriptions filled for their new oral Wegovy formulation since the beginning of January alone. Health data firm Truveta’s preliminary analysis indicates that more than one-third of these users are first-time patients trying these medications.

However, medical professionals stress that simply taking medication won’t deliver optimal results without accompanying changes to daily routines, including nutritious eating patterns, regular physical activity, sufficient rest, and effective stress reduction techniques.

“The biggest mistake people make with GLP-1 medications is thinking the prescription is the treatment,” explained Dr. Katherine Saunders, who specializes in obesity medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and serves as co-founder of weight-loss treatment company FlyteHealth.

Research analyzing nearly three dozen studies demonstrates that while GLP-1 medications can produce weight reduction and health improvements independently, the results are more substantial and enduring when patients also implement lifestyle modifications.

Medical experts want patients to understand several key points about combining GLP-1 drugs with healthy behaviors:

While obesity contributes significantly to chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Dr. Jody Dushay, who practices endocrinology and obesity medicine at Harvard Medical School, emphasizes that overall wellness should take priority over scale readings alone.

“Health is what you eat, how much you move your body, what is your blood sugar, what is your blood pressure, what is your cholesterol,” Dushay explained. “All of those things are really important.”

These medications function by influencing hormones throughout the digestive system and brain, which reduces digestion speed while affecting hunger signals and satiety sensations. This mechanism “levels the playing field,” according to Saunders, creating better conditions for establishing healthier behaviors like portion control and increased physical activity.

“Social media and advertising sometimes create the impression that these medications are a quick fix, but obesity is a complex, chronic, progressive disease” requiring continuous medical oversight, Saunders noted.

Research studies testing weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound incorporated organized lifestyle intervention programs alongside medication administration, with these comprehensive approaches recommended for every new patient.

This combined strategy produces not only meaningful weight reduction but also enhanced health indicators.

A study published in February examining more than 98,000 military veterans in the United States discovered that participants who used GLP-1 drugs while maintaining six to eight healthy lifestyle practices experienced a 43% reduction in risk for major cardiovascular incidents like strokes and heart attacks compared to those who avoided the medications and followed three or fewer healthy behaviors.

These lifestyle practices “can substantially amplify the benefits of modern medications,” observed Dr. Frank Hu, the study’s primary author and department chair for nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

To optimize GLP-1 benefits while minimizing adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and muscle deterioration, Dushay and fellow specialists provide targeted recommendations.

Preserve muscle mass by consuming 20 to 30 grams of protein with each meal through sources like fish, poultry, yogurt, and legumes. Increase fiber consumption and water intake to 8-12 cups daily. For patients experiencing heartburn or nausea, eliminate fried and spicy foods from meals and avoid lying down immediately after eating.

Target 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise weekly, or optimally around one hour daily. Include 30 minutes of resistance training two to three times per week through activities like weightlifting or resistance band exercises.

Prioritize adequate rest with seven to nine hours of sleep nightly for healthy adults. Implement strategies to minimize psychological and emotional stress.

Most importantly, maintain regular communication with healthcare providers regarding treatment progress. Medical experts point out that GLP-1 drugs can cause uncommon but severe adverse reactions.

“Someone really does need to keeping track of: What is the pace of your weight loss? What are your side effects? And not just mailing you a prescription every month,” Dushay emphasized.

Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and French company Valneva announced Monday that their experimental Lyme disease vaccine demonstrated over 70% effectiveness in advanced clinical trials.

The American drugmaker revealed plans to pursue U.S. regulatory approval for the vaccine, designated PF-07307405.

Currently, no approved vaccine exists to protect against Lyme disease, which spreads through bites from infected blacklegged ticks. The last available vaccine, GSK’s Lymerix, was pulled from the market in 2002 due to low consumer interest.

The Pfizer-Valneva vaccine demonstrated 73.2% effectiveness beginning 28 days following the fourth dose. Initially, the trial fell short of its primary objective because fewer Lyme disease cases occurred than researchers expected, creating limited data for analysis.

A subsequent planned analysis achieved the target threshold, showing 74.8% effectiveness. This result boosted Pfizer’s confidence “in the vaccine’s potential” as the company prepares “submissions to regulatory authorities.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Lyme disease symptoms include fever, headache, exhaustion, and a distinctive skin rash known as erythema migrans. Without treatment, the infection can affect joints, heart function, and the nervous system.

Healthcare providers can successfully treat most Lyme disease cases using several weeks of antibiotic therapy.

The CDC calculates that approximately 476,000 Americans receive Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment annually, while about 132,000 cases occur yearly across Europe, according to the pharmaceutical companies.

Valneva previously indicated it anticipates Pfizer will bring the vaccine to market during the latter half of 2027 following regulatory approval.

Two reproductive health facilities operated by Planned Parenthood in Indianapolis are set to permanently cease operations on April 3rd, according to the organization. Both clinics are situated within the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

The organization points to federal policies enacted under the Trump administration that limited taxpayer funding for abortion services as the primary factor behind these facility closures. Planned Parenthood, which operates as the country’s largest provider of abortion services, says these funding restrictions have made it financially unsustainable to maintain operations at these locations.

Separately, Indiana’s statewide prohibition on abortion procedures remains stalled in legal proceedings. A coalition of legal challengers argues that abortion access is integral to their religious beliefs and should therefore receive constitutional protection under First Amendment religious freedom provisions.

Multiple Indian pharmaceutical companies have introduced budget-friendly alternatives to the popular diabetes and weight-loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, following the expiration of key patent protections in India last week.

The patent covering semaglutide, the primary component in Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster medications, lapsed in India, opening the door for domestic manufacturers to introduce their own versions at significantly reduced prices—approximately 70% less than the original drugs.

Industry experts anticipate that more than 40 Indian pharmaceutical companies will introduce over 50 alternative versions of the medication as they compete for market share in the global obesity treatment sector, which analysts project will reach $100 billion in value by 2030.

These manufacturers are also planning international expansion into markets including Canada, Brazil, other Latin American countries, and Turkey.

Sun Pharmaceutical, India’s top revenue-generating drug company, introduced two semaglutide products: Noveltreat for weight management and Sematrinity for diabetes treatment. Noveltreat carries a weekly price range of 900 to 2,000 rupees ($9.58-$21.30), while Sematrinity costs between 750 and 1,300 rupees ($7.99-$13.84) weekly.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories from Hyderabad released Obeda for diabetes management in disposable pen format, with monthly costs around 4,200 rupees ($44.73) for either dosage strength.

Zydus Lifesciences introduced three branded versions—Semaglyn, Mashema, and Alterme—using reusable pen devices, with average monthly treatment costs of approximately 2,200 rupees ($23.43).

Torrent Pharmaceuticals developed both oral and injectable formulations under the names Sembolic and Semalix, with injectable versions starting at 3,999 rupees ($42.59) monthly.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals launched GLIPIQ in both vial and pen formats for diabetes, with vial costs ranging from 1,300 to 1,760 rupees ($13.84-$18.74) for monthly use.

Alkem Laboratories created three branded products—Semasize, Obesema, and Hepaglide—in pre-filled disposable pens, with pricing beginning at 1,800 rupees ($19.17) per month.

Eris Lifesciences introduced Sundae in vial format, priced starting at 1,290 rupees ($13.74) monthly. The company has partnered with Natco Pharma for commercial production of the medication.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Claire Jefferies sought a two-hour escape from overwhelming headlines about international conflicts and economic pressures, finding solace through an increasingly popular wellness activity called forest bathing.

“When I’m here, it’s almost like a protective bubble around me,” the human resources director explained while standing among oak trees and blooming magnolias at Raleigh’s J.C. Raulston Arboretum. “It provides a shield.”

During the Sunday morning gathering, certified forest therapy guide Shawn Ramsey used a small brass bell to bring together approximately twelve participants for guided meditation, breathing techniques, and natural connection activities.

“I invite you to really spend the next 10 minutes just exploring this area,” Ramsey instructed with her eyes closed. “Really focusing on your breath, on your footsteps. All the natural sounds around you. Maybe the manmade sounds, too. Thinking about the forest’s natural rhythm and how are part of that here in this urban, forested environment.”

This wellness approach draws from Shinrin-yoku, a Japanese practice that research shows can decrease stress levels, enhance mood, reduce blood pressure, and strengthen immune system function.

Despite the arboretum’s location within a bustling metropolitan area, Ramsey emphasized that disconnecting from daily pressures and reconnecting with natural environments offers identical therapeutic benefits. She guided participants through different garden areas, encouraging them to crush evergreen branches between their hands to experience the scent, or simply make physical contact with tree bark.

“You know, in this day and age, there’s a lot of stress and anxiety and chaos,” she observed. “And people are searching for ways to kind of cope with that.”

Transportation safety researcher Alan Mintz attended with a companion and needed gentle reminders to avoid discussing current events during the session.

“I think it’s important for people to take the opportunity to exist in natural spaces, both to unwind and relax, so that it can be easier to interact with other people,” Mintz reflected while standing beneath filtered sunlight streaming through the tree canopy. “And to take a moment to appreciate beautiful things. That way, hopefully, they can carry that forward and have more of an appreciation for other people and other cultures that they might be less experienced with.”

Jefferies also had to gently redirect a friend who began discussing news topics while walking under the swaying branches overhead.

“That focus back into spending time in nature and the healing power of that, and just remembering that we’re part of something bigger, that we’re all connected,” said the mother of a 9-year-old son. “And that what we do in our actions that we take really matter to the rest of the world. And so there’s no better place to see that than here, where you can see all of the interconnectedness and the ways that this plant life naturally supports one another. Doesn’t take more than they need.”

Seasonal allergies bring misery to millions of Americans each year as pollen from trees, grasses and weeds triggers uncomfortable symptoms including runny noses, watery eyes, persistent coughing and frequent sneezing.

The severity of allergic reactions depends on several factors including geographic location, specific allergens that affect you, and daily habits. Medical professionals note that climate change has extended allergy seasons and increased their intensity, though they also emphasize that treatment options have improved significantly in recent years.

Medical experts offer practical advice for managing allergy symptoms that may even allow sufferers to spend time outdoors comfortably.

Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America creates a list ranking the most difficult cities for allergy sufferers. Their assessment considers over-the-counter medication usage, pollen levels, and availability of allergy specialists.

The 2024 rankings place these five cities at the top: Boise, Idaho; San Diego; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Provo, Utah; and Rochester, New York.

Pollen consists of fine particles released by plants and trees during reproduction. Tree pollen dominates early spring, followed by grass pollination, then weed pollen in late summer and early autumn.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, problematic tree pollens include birch, cedar, cottonwood, maple, elm, oak and walnut varieties. Troublesome grasses encompass Bermuda, Johnson, rye and Kentucky bluegrass.

Monitoring pollen levels helps determine optimal times for outdoor activities. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology maintains tracking through counting stations nationwide, with data accessible on their website and through email alerts.

Prevention through reduced exposure remains the primary defense against allergies. Keep vehicle and home windows sealed, even during pleasant weather.

Dr. James Baker, a University of Michigan allergist, recommends wearing long sleeves outdoors to prevent pollen contact with skin and reduce allergic responses. “It also provides some sun protection,” he added.

Upon returning indoors, change clothing immediately and shower daily to eliminate all pollen, including from hair. For those unable to wash hair daily, covering it with hats or scarves when outside helps. Avoid bringing outdoor clothing into bed, as pollen will transfer.

Medical experts suggest rinsing eyes and nasal passages with saline solution to remove pollen particles. Face masks used during the pandemic can also provide allergy protection, though they won’t address eye-related symptoms.

Nasal sprays available without prescription rank among the most effective seasonal allergy treatments, according to specialists.

However, improper usage often causes nasal irritation, explains Dr. Kathleen May, an allergist at Augusta University in Georgia. She recommends directing the spray nozzle toward your ear rather than straight up the nostril.

Oral antihistamines including Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec provide benefits but may work more slowly since they’re ingested rather than applied directly, experts note.

When allergy symptoms significantly impact daily life by disrupting sleep or affecting work or school performance, consulting an allergist becomes advisable. Specialized medications can retrain the immune system to reduce overreactions to allergens.

Certain allergy remedies promoted on social media or by celebrities, such as consuming local honey to build pollen tolerance, lack scientific support.

Dr. Shyam Joshi from Oregon Health and Science University explains this occurs “because the flowers that bees pollinate typically don’t contain the airborne pollen that causes allergy symptoms.”

Climate change contributes to milder winters and extended growing periods, creating more opportunities for airborne pollen and resulting in prolonged, more severe allergy seasons.

The previous year marked one of the most intense allergy seasons recorded, especially throughout the southeastern United States.

Scientific research demonstrates that maintaining a positive outlook can extend your lifespan, boost professional achievements, and decrease the likelihood of developing chronic health conditions. NPR’s Life Kit program has compiled practical guidance to help people cultivate a more optimistic mindset.

The benefits of positive thinking extend beyond just feeling good, according to researchers who have documented measurable improvements in both physical health and career advancement among those who practice optimism.

Most young men from Generation Z have embraced betting as a common activity, placing wagers on everything from sporting events to pop culture outcomes and political races. This demographic is also confronting serious negative impacts from their wagering habits.

The widespread participation in betting among this age group spans multiple categories, with young men frequently placing bets on sports competitions, entertainment industry events, and electoral contests. Despite the popularity of these activities, members of this generation are simultaneously dealing with the harmful effects that can result from gambling behavior.

Medical professionals across the country are witnessing a troubling trend as parents increasingly decline standard preventive treatments for their newborns, extending beyond vaccine hesitancy to other routine medical interventions.

Dr. Tom Patterson, an Idaho pediatrician with nearly three decades of experience, recently observed that half of the newborns he examined on one particular day didn’t receive vitamin K injections – a standard treatment administered for decades to prevent potentially fatal bleeding disorders. On another recent occasion, more than 25% of babies missed this crucial intervention due to parental refusal.

“When you look at a child who’s innocent and vulnerable — and a simple intervention that’s been done since 1961 is refused — knowing that baby’s going out into the world is super worrisome to me,” Patterson explained.

Healthcare providers nationwide express alarm as skepticism driven by increasing anti-science attitudes and medical distrust spreads beyond vaccination debates to encompass other established, routine preventive treatments for infants.

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined over 5 million births across the country, revealing that vitamin K injection refusals nearly doubled from 2.9% to 5.2% between 2017 and 2024. Additional studies indicate parents who reject vitamin K shots are significantly more likely to also refuse hepatitis B vaccinations and eye ointments designed to prevent potentially blinding infections for their newborns. Birth vaccination rates have declined recently, with physicians confirming increased parental refusal of eye medications.

Dr. Kelly Wade, a Philadelphia neonatologist, acknowledged parental concerns while highlighting the confusion they face. “I do think these families care deeply about their infants,” Wade said. “But I hear from families that it’s hard to make decisions right now because they’re hearing conflicting information.”

Countless social media posts challenge medical recommendations for proven safe and effective treatments like vitamin K injections and eye ointments. Political developments have also influenced medical decision-making, with the Trump administration frequently challenging established scientific consensus. A federal advisory committee, whose members were selected by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – a prominent anti-vaccine advocate prior to his government role – voted to eliminate the long-standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B immunization immediately following birth. A federal judge temporarily halted all decisions from the restructured committee on Monday.

Dr. David Hill, a Seattle pediatrician and researcher, identified a common misconception linking anti-vaccine beliefs with resistance to other newborn protective measures: the false belief that natural approaches always surpass medical interventions.

“Nature will allow 1 in 5 human infants to die in the first year of life,” Hill explained, “which is why generations of scientists and doctors have worked to bring that number way, way down.”

Newborns naturally have insufficient vitamin K levels, creating vulnerability because their digestive systems cannot produce adequate amounts until they begin consuming solid foods around six months of age.

Dr. Kristan Scott from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who led the JAMA research, emphasized the importance of this intervention. “Vitamin K is important for helping the blood clot and preventing dangerous bleeding in babies, like bleeding into the brain,” Scott stated.

Prior to routine injections becoming standard practice, approximately 1 in 60 babies experienced vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which can also impact the digestive system. While this condition is now uncommon, studies demonstrate that newborns who don’t receive vitamin K shots face 81 times higher risk of developing severe bleeding compared to those who receive the treatment.

Hill has witnessed the devastating consequences firsthand. “I cared for a toddler whose parents had chosen that risk,” the Seattle physician recalled. The child suffered what was essentially a stroke as a newborn, resulting in severe developmental delays and ongoing seizures.

During a February gathering of the Idaho chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, physicians reported knowledge of eight fatalities from vitamin K deficiency bleeding within the state during the previous 13 months, according to Patterson, who serves as chapter president.

Infections prevented by other standard newborn treatments can also result in serious consequences. Erythromycin eye ointment provides protection against gonorrhea that may be transmitted during delivery and can potentially cause blindness without treatment. The hepatitis B vaccination prevents a disease that may result in liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis.

Even when pregnant women undergo testing for gonorrhea and hepatitis B, Dr. Susan Sirota, a Highland Park, Illinois pediatrician, notes that no test achieves perfect accuracy, and infections may occur after testing. Regardless of timing, mothers risk transmitting infections to their children.

Parents offer various explanations for declining preventive treatments, including concerns about potential complications and reluctance to cause newborn discomfort.

Dr. Steven Abelowitz, who founded Ocean Pediatrics in Orange County, California, encounters diverse reasoning. “Some will just say they want more of a natural birth philosophy,” Abelowitz observed. “Then there’s a ton of misinformation. … There are outside influences, friends, celebrities, nonprofessionals and political agendas.”

Abelowitz serves a community with roughly equal Republican and Democratic populations. “There’s more mistrust from the conservative side, but there’s plenty on the more liberal side as well,” he noted. “It’s across-the-board mistrust.”

Social media platforms amplify the problem, spreading false information and promoting unregulated vitamin K drops that medical professionals warn babies cannot absorb effectively.

Healthcare providers across multiple states report that parents who refuse vitamin K injections frequently decline other interventions as well. Sirota encountered a family in Illinois that rejected heel stick testing to monitor glucose levels for a baby at high risk for potentially life-threatening low blood sugar.

Treatment refusals aren’t entirely new. Wade has observed them for two decades in Philadelphia, but until recently, such cases were uncommon.

Twelve years ago, Dana Morrison, currently working as a Minnesota doula, rejected the vitamin K shot for her newborn son, choosing oral drops as an alternative. “It came from a space of really wanting to protect the bonding time with my baby,” Morrison explained. “I was trying to eliminate more pokes.”

Her daughter’s birth several years later presented complications, leaving the infant with a bruised leg. Morrison chose the vitamin K injection for her daughter. Looking back with current knowledge, she would have made the same choice for her son.

Medical professionals aim to change perspectives through individual conversations, beginning with respectful dialogue.

“If I walk into the room with judgment, we are going to have a really useless conversation,” Hill emphasized. “Every parent I serve wants the best for their children.”

When parents express doubts about vitamin K shots, Dr. Heather Felton focuses on addressing their specific worries. She explains the treatment’s purpose and the risks of refusing it. Most families ultimately choose to proceed with the injection, according to Felton, who hasn’t observed an increase in refusals.

“It really helps that you can take that time and really listen and be able to provide some education,” explained Felton, who practices pediatrics at Norton Children’s in Louisville, Kentucky.

In Idaho, Patterson frequently addresses misconceptions. Some parents agree to vitamin K shots once they learn the treatment isn’t a vaccine, for instance.

These discussions require significant time investment, particularly since hospital physicians typically encounter parents they haven’t previously treated in their practices.

However, doctors willingly dedicate this time if it might protect infant lives.

Patterson concludes each parental discussion with a personal appeal. “I end every discussion with parents with this: ‘Please understand at the end of the day, I’m passionate about this because I have the best interest of children in my mind and heart,’” Patterson shared. “I understand this is a hot topic, and I don’t want to disrespect anybody. But at the same time, I’m desperately saddened that we’re losing babies for no reason.”

When Elisabeth Bradley started college, she became motivated to begin strength training after following a woman’s fitness journey on social media, watching her progress one barbell at a time.

However, Bradley discovered she was the sole female in San Diego State University’s weight room.

“I felt like I stuck out a lot, and I just thought, ‘OK, I’m gonna look dumb,’” she says. Feeling overwhelmed by a space filled with grunting, muscular men, she relocated to the cardio section, reflecting the experience of numerous women who steer clear of free weights and strength equipment for different reasons.

As evidence grows regarding resistance training benefits, professionals believe several changes are needed in gym environments to attract more women.

Michelle Segar, a behavioral scientist at the University of Michigan who researches exercise patterns, explained that creating more welcoming environments and improving women’s familiarity with weights would encourage greater participation. Increased representation would then help more women stick with their routines.

The National Institutes of Health advises everyone — both men and women — to engage in resistance training a minimum of twice weekly. This encompasses various activities requiring physical force, including weight machines, resistance bands, or bodyweight movements like pushups and squats.

Research has shown resistance training helps prevent cardiovascular disease, enhances long-term mobility and reduces blood pressure, according to Brad Schoenfeld, an exercise science professor at Lehman College in New York City. Some studies indicate women may gain even greater benefits than men from weight training since it helps prevent osteoporosis and age-related muscle deterioration, conditions women face higher risks for developing, he explained.

“The bottom line is, resistance training is a cure for all sorts of issues,” Schoenfeld said.

Daisy Arauza, a 30-year-old mother of two from Menifee, California, currently does Pilates and cardio workouts at home using videos and online guides, and wants to purchase a gym membership to help with strength building and weight management.

However, she struggles with confidence issues and doesn’t feel knowledgeable enough about weights and proper gym behavior.

“I have a lot of self-consciousness because of how my body looks right now. When you think of the gym, you think about people that are already more fit. And so it feels like I have to make myself fit into this mold before I can feel comfortable being in a gym setting working out in front of other people,” she said.

A persistent stigma still exists around women lifting weights, Bradley noted. After years of being told that thinness is the ideal goal, some incorrectly assume strength training will create a bulky appearance.

Schoenfeld explained that most women shouldn’t worry about developing excessive muscle mass because gaining significant amounts is difficult for anyone — particularly women, who possess lower levels of testosterone, the muscle-building hormone. If someone dislikes their results, reducing training intensity is simple, he noted: “It’s very, very easy to lose muscle.”

Several months following her disappointing first experience, Bradley discussed her strength-training aspirations with a male weightlifter from her dormitory, who taught her bodybuilding fundamentals. This encouragement motivated her to establish Girl Gains, a female weightlifting organization that now operates dozens of chapters at universities nationwide.

“Other things get shoved down our throats, like Pilates and cardio and yoga, but they complement each other,” Bradley said. “Being stronger in the gym is going to help you progress in Pilates. Having muscle is going to help make you a faster, better runner.”

Women beginning strength training should receive empowering and realistic guidance, supporters emphasize.

While complementary introductory sessions can be helpful, superficial instruction from trainers in revealing clothing won’t be effective, Segar warned.

“Most women have tried to achieve the perfect body for decades, and it only leads to a sense of failure,” she said. Rather than concentrating on how exercise makes them feel, they’re worrying about others’ perceptions.

Women who discover community in weight rooms collaborate on personal goals, becoming stronger and challenging themselves, Bradley observed. “One of the things we always say is, ‘The gains look good on you.’”

Some women discover they can concentrate better on their workouts without men present.

At the women-only Goddess Gym in Peterborough, England, Charlie Sturgeon reported feeling happier than she did in co-ed facilities where she experienced “some quite weird experiences where people would just stare, pull faces, make comments. And here, with being women only, it just feels like there’s a sense of community.”

Some fitness centers attempt to accommodate women better by providing on-site childcare services.

Michelle Kozak of Phoenix, who has two young children, terminated her membership when her gym discontinued child care services.

She also feels uncomfortable with intense gym culture.

“I don’t want to make the gym my entire personality,” she said. “I just want to have some time to prioritize being healthy.”

Federal health authorities have announced the withdrawal of approximately 90,000 bottles of children’s ibuprofen from store shelves after customers discovered concerning foreign materials in the liquid medication.

The Food and Drug Administration published details about the recall involving Taro Pharmaceuticals’ Children’s Ibuprofen Oral Suspension on their website. According to the company’s information, this berry-flavored liquid medicine is designed for youngsters between 2 and 11 years old.

Federal officials explained in their announcement that the recall began this month following consumer complaints about “a gel-like mass and black particles in the product.” Health regulators have classified this recall as having a “remote” likelihood of causing severe harm or adverse health effects to users.

The recalled medication was produced in India by Strides Pharma Inc., a manufacturer that creates both generic medications and non-prescription drugs for companies across the United States and internationally. According to FDA documentation, Strides Pharma initiated the product withdrawal.

As of Friday morning, representatives from both Strides Pharma and Taro Pharmaceuticals had not provided responses to media inquiries about the recall.

A deadly meningitis B outbreak in Kent, England has claimed two lives and infected 29 people, creating widespread panic that has led to severe vaccine shortages and renewed debate over Britain’s immunization policies.

The crisis has prompted young adults across southeastern England and other regions to seek immediate vaccination, overwhelming pharmacy supplies and forcing government intervention to address the shortage.

Those who may have come into contact with infected individuals can receive both the vaccine and preventive antibiotics through the UK Health Security Agency via university locations, medical clinics, and family doctors.

However, private sector demand has skyrocketed as concerned citizens seek protection, creating unprecedented strain on available supplies.

“Pharmacies have been inundated with requests for MenB vaccines in recent days,” stated the National Pharmacy Association, which represents 6,000 independent pharmacies across Britain.

Major pharmacy chains Boots and Superdrug have both issued shortage warnings and established online waiting lists for the vaccine. Boots announced efforts to secure additional supplies while prioritizing high-demand areas, particularly Kent.

The government responded Thursday by releasing 20,000 meningitis B vaccine doses from NHS reserves to help alleviate private market shortages, though the National Pharmacy Association believes this won’t satisfy current demand levels.

Two vaccines are available: Bexsero, manufactured by British company GSK and used by the NHS, and Trumenba, produced by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Both cost approximately 200 pounds ($267) when purchased privately.

Currently, British teenagers don’t receive routine meningitis B vaccination, unlike many other nations. The disease attacks protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis B represents one bacterial strain causing the condition, though other bacterial types and viral infections can also trigger meningitis. Warning signs include fever, drowsiness, and vomiting, with the disease potentially becoming life-threatening rapidly.

Britain has administered meningitis B shots to infants since 2015, as babies face the highest risk. Teenagers receive a different vaccine targeting other strains.

“I can understand people suddenly wanting the vaccine,” commented Brendan Wren, professor and co-director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Vaccine Centre, noting no harm comes from receiving the shot.

Nevertheless, Wren emphasized that antibiotics remain the optimal choice for those fearing exposure, as antibiotics work almost immediately while vaccine immunity requires a full month to develop from the two-dose series.

The outbreak has intensified discussions about expanding meningitis B vaccine access to teenagers, who represent the second-highest risk group.

“There is a gap in the NHS vaccination schedule… there’s a strong moral case for stepping in,” declared Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, Britain’s largest meningitis charity.

Following the Kent outbreak, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has requested the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to reassess meningitis B vaccine eligibility within the NHS system.

However, Streeting also stated that private vaccine purchases weren’t necessary, as at-risk individuals receive coverage through the UKHSA campaign.

Adam Finn, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Bristol and JCVI member for other vaccines, explained that healthcare intervention recommendations like vaccines rely on “cost-benefit” analyses.

While the 29 Kent cases represent an unusually high number, Finn suggested this alone wouldn’t likely alter JCVI’s position unless similar outbreaks follow.

He said the JCVI would “follow the evidence-based methods they always use to ensure that we all obtain the best value possible from the resources allocated to the NHS,” while acknowledging this approach cannot compensate for the suffering experienced by meningitis victims.

Federal health authorities gave the green light Thursday to a more powerful formulation of the widely-used weight-loss medication Wegovy, offering hope for enhanced results among patients seeking to shed excess pounds.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a 7.2-milligram weekly injection from Denmark-based pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. This represents a significant increase from the current maximum strength of 2.4 milligrams per dose.

The enhanced formulation received expedited consideration under the FDA’s accelerated assessment pathway. Officials completed their review within 54 days of accepting the application, according to an agency announcement.

Novo Nordisk plans to make the stronger dose available at American pharmacies beginning in April, with pricing details to be revealed at that time.

European health regulators had previously authorized the higher-strength version in February.

Research participants using the enhanced formulation, branded as Wegovy HD, achieved approximately 19% body weight reduction, equivalent to nearly 47 pounds, compared to roughly 16% weight loss or 39 pounds with the standard dose over a 17-month period.

Scientists developed the stronger version because while the existing 2.4-milligram injection proves effective for many patients, “some individuals do not reach their therapeutic goals” at the current strength, according to findings published in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

The FDA previously approved an oral Wegovy tablet in December, containing 25 milligrams of the active ingredient semaglutide to ensure proper absorption through the digestive tract.

Dr. Jody Dushay, who specializes in endocrinology and obesity treatment at Harvard Medical School, praised the approval of the stronger injection.

The enhanced dose “may be especially helpful for people” who tolerate the current version well but “have had suboptimal weight loss,” she explained via email. She noted it could also benefit individuals who don’t respond strongly to Eli Lilly’s competing obesity treatment Zepbound.

However, digestive issues including nausea, vomiting and constipation affected more than 70% of patients taking the higher dose, compared to over 60% using the standard strength and approximately 43% receiving inactive treatment, study data revealed.

Additionally, a condition causing uncomfortable skin sensations like burning, stabbing or electric shock-like feelings occurred in roughly 23% of higher-dose patients versus 6% taking the standard dose and under 1% receiving placebo treatment.

Severe complications were documented in nearly 7% of participants using the 7.2-milligram dose, compared to about 11% taking the 2.4-milligram version and roughly 5% receiving inactive treatment.

Dr. Dushay observed that jumping from 2.4 milligrams to 7.4 milligrams represents “quite a big jump,” particularly without an intermediate strength option.

“It will be important to see if in the real world, versus in a clinical study, side effects are any worse,” she cautioned.

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced Thursday that federal health regulators have given the green light to an increased strength version of its weight loss medication Wegovy.

The Food and Drug Administration’s approval covers the higher-dose formulation for helping patients shed excess pounds and keep the weight off over extended periods, according to the company’s announcement.

The enhanced dosage represents an expansion of treatment options for the popular weight management drug that has gained significant attention in recent years.

Priscilla Brown faces an impossible choice each day: take her full diabetes medication or have enough money for gas to get to work. The 48-year-old Orlando truck dispatcher sometimes reduces her insulin to just half or one-third of what doctors prescribed, trying to make it last longer.

“Sometimes I don’t even take my medicine,” Brown explained. “It’s so much with insurance, it’s crazy.”

Brown’s struggle reflects a nationwide crisis revealed in new research from KFF, a healthcare nonprofit. Their survey found that roughly 4 out of 5 Americans who renewed their Affordable Care Act insurance report facing steeper healthcare expenses this year, with approximately half describing their costs as significantly higher.

The primary driver behind these climbing expenses was the December 31st end of expanded tax credits that had helped reduce premiums for most marketplace participants.

The financial strain is forcing difficult decisions across the country. Among the 1,117 surveyed Americans who held ACA marketplace insurance in 2025 – including those who dropped or switched coverage – approximately 55% plan to reduce spending on groceries and essential household items to manage their medical expenses.

Congressional Democrats had pushed to maintain the pandemic-era subsidies last year but encountered resistance from Republican leaders. By January, efforts toward a bipartisan solution collapsed, leaving roughly 23 million ACA participants without assistance as they confronted increased premiums or difficult choices to cancel or downgrade their plans.

The February and March survey, which reconnected with participants from a previous year’s study to track their current insurance challenges, reveals how the ongoing congressional stalemate continues affecting ordinary Americans while many federal legislators have shifted focus to other issues.

Brown’s situation illustrates the dramatic change. Last year, she paid nothing for her health insurance premiums. Her current plan costs $17 monthly and includes a higher deductible.

This week, Brown discovered her medication refill would exceed $150 and “almost passed out.” She put only half a tank of gas in her car, saving money for her prescriptions.

The survey shows widespread anxiety about unexpected medical bills. Roughly three-quarters of people who had ACA coverage last year express significant concern about affording emergency treatment or hospital stays, while about half worry about routine doctor visits or prescription medications.

Most previous enrollees – about 70% – maintained ACA health insurance, though this includes roughly 30% who switched plans within the marketplace. Meanwhile, approximately 20% became eligible for employer-provided coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, or bought insurance outside the ACA marketplace, which typically offers less comprehensive benefits.

About 10% of last year’s participants dropped coverage entirely and now lack insurance, according to the poll.

Eric LeVasseur, a 63-year-old Seal Beach, California software developer, joined that uninsured group. When he discovered his mid-level silver plan would nearly triple to $1,200 monthly, “it was not something my budget could absorb,” he said.

Approximately 70% of returning ACA enrollees experiencing higher costs heavily blame health insurance companies, while just over half place significant blame on Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump, and pharmaceutical companies. About one-third heavily blamed Congressional Democrats or hospitals, while roughly 10% placed this level of responsibility on doctors or employers.

Survey participants who identified with a political party and experienced cost increases overwhelmingly blamed opposing party lawmakers.

James Mako, a Boca Raton, Florida engineer and political independent, holds the Republican Party responsible. His $500 monthly premiums were set to double for his silver-level ACA plan this year, forcing him to downgrade to a bronze-level plan with higher out-of-pocket costs.

Mako remains skeptical of Republican proposals to address the problem, such as directing funds into health savings accounts.

“I think they’re just sales gimmicks,” he stated. “The subsidies should be back.”

The KFF survey was conducted February 12 through March 2, 2026, among 1,117 U.S. adults who held Marketplace insurance in 2025, using samples from two probability-based panels. All participants had taken part in the 2025 KFF Marketplace Survey and were recontacted for this follow-up study. The margin of sampling error for the complete sample is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serving as the nation’s health secretary in the Trump administration, has been making sweeping statements about nutrition’s power to treat serious medical conditions as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

Beyond his basic message encouraging Americans to “eat real food” for disease prevention, Kennedy has made more dramatic assertions during recent public appearances. He has stated that dietary changes can “cure” conditions like schizophrenia and diabetes, and claimed people can eliminate bipolar disorder diagnoses through nutrition alone. Medical researchers are pushing back, saying these statements go far beyond what current scientific evidence supports.

“Food is medicine, and you can heal yourself with a good diet,” Kennedy declared during an appearance on comedian Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast in February.

While Kennedy’s emphasis on nutrition’s health benefits has gained some bipartisan backing, public health experts are concerned about his tendency to misinterpret scientific studies. They argue this pattern mirrors his controversial approach to vaccine research, which has drawn criticism from medical professionals.

Kayla Hancock, who leads a public health initiative at the advocacy organization Protect Our Care, characterized Kennedy’s approach as “incredibly careless and irresponsible” when discussing health matters.

Dr. Theresa Miskimen Rivera, who heads the American Psychiatric Association, expressed concern that Kennedy’s language might encourage patients to abandon proven medical treatments in favor of dietary interventions alone.

“The concern always is that people can have hope and they might interpret that as, ‘Well, I don’t need medication. I do not need treatment. I just need to follow the diet,’” Rivera explained.

During a February address at Tennessee’s state capitol, Kennedy referenced research by Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard Medical School scientist who documented two schizophrenia patients experiencing symptom improvement while following a ketogenic diet high in fats and low in carbohydrates.

Kennedy claimed that Palmer had “cured schizophrenia using keto diets.”

Palmer has disputed this characterization, telling The Associated Press that “as much as I wish we had cures for mental illness or other chronic diseases, it is important that we use more precise language.” Palmer said he prefers using the term “remission” rather than “cure.”

In the same Tennessee speech and later during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Kennedy mentioned research “where people lose their bipolar diagnosis by changing their diet.” He also claimed “there’s a big paper about to come out” demonstrating these results.

Kennedy’s representative Andrew Nixon said these statements were based on “a growing body of research,” including a UCLA study examining ketogenic diet effects on teenagers with bipolar disorder.

However, that UCLA research is still enrolling participants and won’t conclude until March 2027, according to federal records. Any published results would come months later.

Rivera emphasized that Kennedy’s assertions overstate existing evidence. She noted that studies examining ketogenic diets’ impact on mental health have been limited in scope, often lacking control groups for comparison.

“At this point, it’s premature. We cannot draw definitive conclusions,” Rivera stated. “There is not enough evidence to recommend a specific diet or as a standalone, without medication such as antipsychotics or mood stabilizers.”

Palmer acknowledged that research into dietary interventions for psychiatric conditions is expanding, with 20 controlled clinical trials currently investigating ketogenic diets for severe mental illness. Results from two studies are expected within the year.

While Palmer expressed enthusiasm about diet as a potential therapy for serious psychiatric disorders, he stressed the importance of medical supervision.

“I want to implore patients: Please do not stop your medications on your own,” he urged. “Please do not even try a ketogenic diet on your own as a treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.”

Kennedy’s podcast statement that “most diabetes can be cured through diet” has also faced scrutiny from medical professionals.

Dr. Willa Hsueh, an endocrinologist and researcher at Ohio State University, explained that Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition, cannot be treated through diet alone. While proper nutrition and exercise are crucial for managing Type 2 diabetes, she said using these methods alone to reverse the condition is challenging.

“The secretary is not wrong that it can work,” Hsueh acknowledged. “But it’s not common for people to cure themselves … by diet alone.”

Some medical experts have supported Kennedy’s diabetes claims. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist who directs the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, said proper nutrition could help “most individuals” with Type 2 diabetes reduce blood sugar levels, reverse symptoms, and potentially eliminate their need for medication.

“Whether you consider that a cure or remission, that’s medical speak, right?” Mozaffarian noted.

While acknowledging that Kennedy isn’t “always perfectly precise in the terminology and there could be risks to that,” Mozaffarian said he appreciates the high-level attention being given to diet’s role in managing chronic diseases.

“I’d rather exaggerate and get some attention and action than keep doing what we’re doing, which is have millions of Americans suffering from diet-related diseases,” Mozaffarian said.

Mark Gorton, who leads the Kennedy-affiliated MAHA Institute, said nutrition has been “an incredibly overlooked area in our medical system for decades,” though he wasn’t familiar with the specific studies Kennedy mentioned.

“I think to the extent that it is possible, we should be prioritizing focusing on diet and getting back to living healthy rather than taking sick people and medicating them forever, which is the current way our system works,” Gorton explained.

Kody Green, a mental health advocate living with schizophrenia, expressed support for healthy eating while emphasizing his need for psychiatric medications. He worried that Kennedy’s statements might discourage schizophrenia patients from trying treatments that already face stigma.

“For some people, maybe food can help with the issues they have, but schizophrenia is a very serious mental illness,” Green said. “Until further research is done, making claims like that can be really dangerous to people in my community.”

British health authorities announced Thursday that a meningitis outbreak affecting southeastern England remains uncontained, with officials confirming seven additional cases of the deadly disease.

The UK Health Security Agency reported the total confirmed cases has climbed to 27, impacting pupils at four educational institutions in Kent County plus one student in London. Two fatalities have been linked to the outbreak.

Dr. Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health at Kent County Council, addressed the situation during a BBC Radio interview, stating: “We are not in the position yet to say definitively that it’s been contained.” He emphasized that officials must first eliminate the possibility of secondary transmissions.

The victims include a 21-year-old University of Kent student and a teenager attending school in Faversham. Under normal circumstances, Britain typically records approximately 350 meningitis cases annually, or roughly one case daily, based on government data.

Medical professionals warn that meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia present with various warning signs including elevated body temperature, severe headaches, accelerated breathing patterns, fatigue, chills, nausea, and extremities that feel cold to the touch. Septicaemia may also produce a distinctive rash that remains visible when pressure is applied with a glass.

College and university students face heightened risk due to their close contact with fellow students in dormitory and classroom settings.

The UK’s leading pharmacy chain, Boots, reported experiencing “unprecedented demand” for meningitis B vaccinations, leading to supply shortages nationwide.

Despite the outbreak, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control maintains that the threat of invasive meningococcal disease to Europe’s general population remains “very low.”

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced Thursday that its experimental weight loss medication demonstrated significant improvements in blood sugar control during advanced clinical testing, as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the competitive obesity treatment market.

The booming weight loss drug industry has attracted numerous developers competing against established treatments like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Lilly’s own Zepbound. Companies are investing heavily in advanced therapies that could provide more effective, longer-lasting, or faster weight reduction results.

The experimental medication, called retatrutide, was evaluated in people with type 2 diabetes who struggled to manage their blood sugar through diet and exercise alone. Study participants had been living with diabetes for an average of two and a half years.

Throughout the 40-week study period, retatrutide lowered A1C levels—a standard measurement of blood sugar over time—by 1.7% to 2.0% on average across different dosages. In comparison, participants receiving a placebo saw only a 0.8% average reduction.

As an additional benefit, patients using the medication experienced weight loss averaging up to 16.8% of their body weight.

The company reported that adverse effects were consistent with what researchers typically observe in weight loss studies, primarily digestive problems including nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Earlier research showed retatrutide helped participants achieve an average weight reduction of 28.7%, surpassing the performance of Lilly’s successful medication Zepbound.

Administered as a weekly injection, retatrutide works by copying the function of the GLP-1 hormone, which plays a role in managing blood sugar levels, slowing digestion, and reducing hunger.

The medication targets three different hormone receptors—GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon—which has earned it the informal name “triple G.” These triple-action weight loss treatments are anticipated to achieve superior results compared to earlier medications by simultaneously suppressing appetite, controlling blood sugar, and boosting calorie expenditure.

Lilly is simultaneously working on orforglipron, a weight loss medication in pill form, which the company anticipates launching in the second quarter of this year pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.

A new study published in the World Happiness Report Thursday reveals that teenagers spending excessive time on social media platforms experience decreased mental wellbeing, with teenage girls facing the most significant impact.

The research comes as nations worldwide consider restricting children’s access to social platforms, following Australia’s groundbreaking decision in December to prohibit social media use for anyone under 16 years old.

The annual study analyzed information from Gallup polling data and additional research, with analysis conducted by an international research team headed by Oxford University in England.

While the study stopped short of proving a direct causal relationship, researchers combined multiple data sources including information from the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment to reach their conclusions about social media’s negative effects on youth happiness.

“The message coming through loud and clear is that we should try to put the social back into social media,” Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford Jan-Emmanuel de Neve, one of the editors of the World Happiness Report, told Reuters.

De Neve explained that content driven by algorithms, consumed passively, and dominated by influencers creates more harmful effects than platforms designed to foster genuine social connections between users.

The research specifically found that 15-year-old girls spending more than five hours daily on social platforms reported decreased life satisfaction when compared to peers who use these services less frequently, though researchers acknowledged the relationship between social media and mental health remains complicated.

Data from Gallup’s international polling revealed that young people under 25 in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have seen their life satisfaction scores plummet “dramatically” – dropping nearly a full point on a 10-point measurement scale during the past ten years.

Meanwhile, young people in other regions around the globe reported increased life satisfaction during this same timeframe.

Julie Ray, Gallup’s managing editor, suggested the disparity between English-speaking nations and other countries likely stems from broader societal factors affecting youth.

“Social support is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing, and previous research shows that in some countries younger people report feeling less supported, which may help explain the pattern,” she told Reuters by email.

Medical device manufacturer Stryker experienced a cyber attack last week that has resulted in surgical delays for certain patients, according to a report from Bloomberg News released Wednesday.

The digital security breach temporarily disrupted Stryker’s operations, specifically affecting their capacity to provide customized medical equipment and supplies. A company representative told Bloomberg that “as a result, some patient-specific cases have been rescheduled” due to the inventory delivery problems caused by the system outage.

When contacted by Reuters for additional details about the incident, Stryker had not yet provided a response.

A tortilla manufacturing company based in Mission, Texas has initiated a product recall for two sweet treats that contain hidden allergens not listed on their labels.

The recall from Mama Grande Tortilla Factory affects their Gorditas de Azucar and Doraditas de Azucar products, which were found to contain wheat and soy ingredients that weren’t disclosed on packaging.

Health officials warn that consumers with wheat or soy allergies face potential serious or life-threatening reactions if they eat these products. The undeclared allergens pose significant health risks for those with sensitivities to these ingredients.

The company is working to remove the affected products from distribution while investigating how the unlabeled allergens ended up in the sweet treats.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman occupying Room 373 at a Florida hospital has sparked an unusual legal battle by refusing to leave five months after doctors cleared her for discharge.

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare filed a lawsuit this month against the patient, claiming she has remained in her hospital room since receiving discharge papers last October. Hospital officials are asking a state judge to issue an injunction forcing the woman to leave and giving the county sheriff’s department authority to remove her if needed.

Hospital administrators say the woman’s extended stay is interfering with their ability to care for other patients who need the room.

“Defendant’s continued occupancy prevents use of the bed for patients needing acute care,” the hospital stated in court documents.

The lawsuit reveals that the woman was initially hospitalized for medical treatment before receiving an official discharge order on October 6, when doctors determined she no longer required intensive hospital care. Hospital staff have made multiple attempts to work with her family members to arrange her departure and even offered help with transportation to get required identification documents, according to the legal filing.

Rachel Givens, the hospital’s attorney, declined to provide additional details when contacted Wednesday. The hospital also did not respond to questions about what identification the patient needed. The court documents don’t specify her original medical condition, her hospital charges, or explain how she managed to remain at the facility for over five months after being medically cleared to leave.

The patient is representing herself in the case and no lawyer has been assigned to her. Attempts to reach her were unsuccessful, as phone numbers found in public records were no longer in service, and calls to her hospital room went unanswered.

A virtual court hearing regarding the lawsuit is set to take place at the end of this month.

Federal law requires hospitals that accept Medicare funding to provide emergency treatment to stabilize any patient who arrives at their emergency department with a medical emergency, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can investigate hospitals for violations of this requirement.

According to federal guidelines, patients may be discharged once medical staff determine that any additional care can be handled on an outpatient basis, “provided the individual is given a plan for appropriate follow-up care as part of the discharge instructions,” the federal agency states in its operations manual.

A groundbreaking research study has revealed that the coronavirus pandemic claimed significantly more lives than official records show during its first two years in the United States.

Researchers utilizing artificial intelligence technology determined that roughly 155,000 COVID-19 fatalities went unrecorded between 2020 and 2021, beyond the 840,000 deaths officially documented on death certificates during that period. This suggests approximately 16% of coronavirus deaths during those critical years were never officially counted.

The findings, released Wednesday in Science Advances journal, align closely with previous research on pandemic mortality rates. However, this new investigation went further by identifying specific patterns among the unreported deaths.

The study found that unrecorded fatalities disproportionately affected Hispanic individuals and other communities of color, particularly during the pandemic’s initial months. These deaths were concentrated in certain Southern and Southwestern states, including Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

“People on the margins continue to die at disproportionate rates because they can’t access care,” explained Steven Woolf, a researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University who was not part of the study team.

University of Minnesota researcher Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, one of the study’s authors, noted that while hospitals consistently tested patients for COVID-19, many individuals who became ill and died at home or in other non-hospital settings never received testing. This was especially common early in the pandemic when home testing options were scarce or unavailable.

The research also highlighted problems with America’s death investigation system. In many regions, elected coroners without specialized medical training handle death investigations, unlike trained medical examiners. Some studies suggest political beliefs may have influenced whether families sought COVID-19 testing or whether coroners pursued posthumous coronavirus testing.

“Our antiquated death investigation system is one key reason why we fell short of accurate counts, particularly outside of big metropolitan areas,” stated Andrew Stokes from Boston University, the study’s lead author.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention records, more than 1.2 million Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began in early 2020, with over two-thirds of those deaths occurring in 2020 and 2021.

The death count has been a source of ongoing controversy, with false social media claims suggesting COVID-19 fatalities were exaggerated. Former President Donald Trump amplified these disputes in August 2020 by sharing a post claiming only 6% of reported deaths were actually caused by COVID-19, which Twitter subsequently removed.

The researchers acknowledged that the pandemic caused additional deaths beyond direct COVID-19 infections, including people who died from other conditions because hospitals were overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, and individuals who died from drug overdoses due to isolation and reduced access to treatment services.

However, Stokes and his team specifically focused on deaths directly caused by coronavirus infection. They employed machine learning technology to analyze death certificates of infected patients who died in hospitals, then applied those patterns to evaluate certificates of people who died outside hospitals from conditions like pneumonia or diabetes.

Woolf described the team’s application of machine learning as “intriguing,” noting that scientists are still developing their understanding of the capabilities and limitations of such research methods.

CANTERBURY, England — Two people have died and 20 others have contracted meningitis in an alarming outbreak that has gripped the University of Kent and surrounding areas in southeast England since last Friday.

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the situation in Kent County “unprecedented” on Wednesday, citing the rapid emergence of so many cases within just days. The death toll includes one university student and one pupil from a local school in the area.

Health authorities reported five additional infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 20 confirmed cases. Officials are now distributing antibiotics and meningitis B vaccines to thousands of University of Kent students in Canterbury as a precautionary measure.

The disease affects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by viral or bacterial infections. When bacterial meningitis develops, it can trigger a dangerous blood infection known as meningococcal sepsis, often appearing as a distinctive rash. Without immediate medical attention, the condition can prove fatal or result in limb amputations.

Britain typically sees approximately 350 meningitis cases annually, making it relatively uncommon. However, the infection spreads easily in crowded living situations like college dormitories. University students face heightened risk because the bacteria can remain inactive in people’s nasal passages or throats, then transmit through coughing, intimate contact, or sharing beverages.

Medical experts believe many infected individuals attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury between March 5-7. Healthcare providers nationwide have received instructions to provide antibiotics to anyone who visited the nightclub during those specific dates, along with University of Kent students.

“This is so that anyone who has traveled home, or away from Kent, can easily access this important preventative treatment close to them,” officials stated.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has influenced local residents’ behavior, with many Canterbury area residents returning to mask-wearing and social distancing practices out of caution.

Medical teams have administered over 2,500 antibiotic doses, including treatments for Club Chemistry patrons. The meningitis B vaccination is also available, though most current university students wouldn’t have received it since it only joined Britain’s standard childhood immunization schedule in 2015. Some students may have obtained private vaccinations.

The U.K. Health Security Agency reports adequate vaccine supplies exist, but private pharmacies are experiencing difficulty securing doses for individuals seeking to pay out-of-pocket.

Case numbers may continue climbing since the infection’s incubation period extends up to two weeks. Researchers say it’s premature to determine whether this particular strain shows increased severity compared to others.

Despite student departures from Canterbury, Streeting expressed confidence the outbreak won’t spread nationally. “This is not currently a national incident,” he said.