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MorningMed is the best way to keep up with the world of health and medicine through curated round-ups, useful insights and other practical resources.

The article calls for honesty regarding President Biden's age-related challenges, criticizing some supporters' attempts to downplay concerns about his cognitive abilities. It highlights various arguments made by pundits and Democratic aides, noting contradictions and suggesting that addressing Biden's age issue directly could mitigate public anxiety. The piece also discusses potential strategies, including greater visibility for Vice President Harris and a more partisan framing of the 2024 election, while emphasizing the dangers of Biden's opponent, Donald Trump.

A deadly meningitis outbreak in Mexico caused by contaminated epidural anesthesia led to severe brainstem damage in affected patients, resulting in strokes and increased brain pressure. Despite the outbreak's rarity, experts caution that similar fungal outbreaks may occur in the future, emphasizing the importance of thorough medical histories and caution when seeking medical treatment abroad, particularly in regions with potential drug quality issues.

The rise of weight-loss medications offers hope in the battle against obesity, yet concerns persist regarding their safety, side effects, and affordability. Lifestyle medicine presents a comprehensive approach, focusing on healthy habits to prevent and manage chronic diseases, contrasting with the medication-centered model. While medications may play a role, combining them with lifestyle changes, improving medical education, and fostering supportive environments is key to addressing obesity's root causes and promoting long-term health.

US senators and pharmaceutical CEOs engaged in a hearing on the disparity in drug prices between the United States and other nations, with medications often priced significantly higher in the US. The CEOs argued that the US health system prioritizes patient choice and rapid access to innovative drugs, while senators criticized the lack of government regulation and the role of intermediaries like pharmacy benefit managers in driving up costs. Medicare has initiated negotiations with drugmakers over the prices of high-cost medications, aiming to address the issue of exorbitant drug prices in the US compared to other countries.

Pickleball-related injuries, particularly bone fractures, have surged by 200% over the past two decades as the sport's popularity grows rapidly, with soft tissue injuries like sprains and knee damage also common. Factors contributing to the rise include increased participation and potential lack of preparation among players, especially concerning mechanics and form, emphasizing the need for informed participation, proper warm-up, and understanding how to fall safely to mitigate risks, particularly for older individuals prone to bone-thinning conditions.

The recent attention on President Joe Biden's memory issues, highlighted in a report by special counsel Robert Hur, has sparked discussions among neurologists about cognitive changes associated with aging. Biden's struggles to recall certain details, such as timeframes and names of acquaintances, have raised concerns among some observers.

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Toby Keith, a beloved figure in the country music scene, has recently passed away, leaving fans and the music industry in mourning. However, his death has also brought attention to an important health issue: stomach cancer. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of stomach cancer, Toby Keith’s battle with the disease, and what can be learned from his experience.

The threat of fungal infections is growing, but the development of new drugs to combat them is a complex challenge compounded by the need for new fungicides in agriculture. The denial of applications for new antifungal drugs like olorofim by regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlights the hurdles in bringing novel treatments to market.

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Is There a Doctor in the House?

A 35-year-old woman comes to the office for follow-up of chronic pelvic pain. The patient has had deep pelvic pain since undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy and radiation therapy for treatment of cervical cancer 5 years ago. She reports constant, severe aching pain; she rates the pain at its maximum as a 10 on a 10-point scale. The pain worsens during intercourse. All subsequent cancer follow-up has been negative. Medical history otherwise is unremarkable. The patient has taken oxycodone for her pain for 3 years, but she now reports that the oxycodone only partially relieves her pain. She requests either an increased dose of oxycodone or a change in her prescription to controlled-release morphine, which was recently given to her by a friend. She has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for the past 15 years. She does not drink alcoholic beverages. BMI is 18 kg/m2. She appears lethargic. She is oriented to person, place, and time but speaks slowly with slurred speech. Vital signs are normal. Examination of the skin shows no abnormalities. Pupils are pinpoint and react sluggishly.

Urine toxicology screening is positive for diazepam, methadone, and oxycodone. The patient returns to the office 1 week later to discuss these results. Which of the following is the most appropriate opening remark?

Researchers at the University of Toronto's Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research have identified nearly one million new exons in the human genome using a method called exon trapping, shedding light on the "dark genome." These newly discovered exons, found mainly through random mutation, challenge existing models of gene regulation and may have implications for understanding disease mechanisms and improving tools like SpliceAI for predicting splicing patterns.

A study from Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and Thayer School of Engineering published in Cell Reports Medicine sheds light on how antibodies combat herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, offering potential insights for treating neonatal herpes. Led by David Leib and Margaret Ackerman, the research highlights the importance of antibody effector functions beyond neutralization and reveals differences in antibody requirements between HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections, informing future vaccine design and potential antibody based therapies for neonatal herpes. The study underscores the need for new treatment approaches, especially for severe neonatal infections, where current antiviral drugs have limited efficacy.

Researchers have utilized human retinas grown in a petri dish to uncover how an offshoot of vitamin A influences the creation of specialized cells responsible for enabling humans to perceive millions of colors, a trait not shared by dogs, cats, and other mammals. Published in PLOS Biology, the findings enhance comprehension of color blindness, age-related vision decline, and diseases related to photoreceptor cells, revealing that retinoic acid, rather than thyroid hormones as previously thought, directs the formation of specific color-sensing cells in the human retina. This groundbreaking research sheds light on the development of therapies for vision-related ailments, including macular degeneration, by elucidating the intricate connections between photoreceptor cells and the nervous system.

The development of the first 3D-printed brain tissue by a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists marks a significant breakthrough with profound implications for neuroscience and the treatment of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Published in Cell Stem Cell, the innovative printing method differs from traditional approaches by layering brain cells horizontally in a softer "bio-ink" gel, allowing neurons to grow and communicate like in typical brain tissue. This precision technique enables the study of complex brain networks, offering insights into various neurological conditions and advancing research on brain development, neurodegenerative disorders, and more.

Thank you for reading! More next week,

My best wishes for a productive and idea-filled week ahead. Thanks for your ongoing efforts to improve the lives of the patients we all serve. Please send any news, comments, suggestions and ideas to hello@morningmed.email.

Quiz answer: The correct answer is A) ""I am concerned that you are abusing pain medicine. I would like for you to consider a substance abuse treatment program."

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