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What you need to know

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the use of Casgevy, the first CRISPR-based medicine, to treat transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia in individuals aged 12 and older. Casgevy, previously approved in December for the treatment of sickle cell disease, involves genetically modifying a patient's stem cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique, then transplanting the modified cells back into the body to enhance hemoglobin production and alleviate symptoms.
The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing significantly among individuals in their 30s and 40s, making it the deadliest cancer for men under 50 and the second deadliest for women under 50 (after breast cancer), according to the American Cancer Society. Even as overall cancer deaths in the U.S. continue to decline, colorectal cancer has become a leading cause of cancer death in younger adults. Experts are puzzled by the trend and suggest factors such as rising obesity rates, sedentary behavior, and unhealthy diets, or environmental factors affecting microbiomes and immune systems could be contributing to the rise.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending increased blood testing for PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." PFAS, found in various consumer products, have been linked to potential health effects such as higher cholesterol, lower birth weight, kidney and testicular cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and elevated liver enzymes.
The demand for cosmetic procedures, including Botox and fillers, among individuals in their 20s is reportedly rising. Younger people are seeking preventive treatments to address concerns about aging, with some undergoing procedures like Botox even before visible wrinkles appear. Social media is believed to play a significant role in shaping beauty standards and influencing younger individuals to pursue cosmetic interventions.
Apple is reportedly willing to remove the blood-oxygen sensor from certain watch models, including the Series 9 and Ultra 2, if the U.S. Court of Appeals doesn't grant it more leeway in a patent dispute with Masimo. Masimo obtained a favorable ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission in October, leading Apple to temporarily stop sales of the affected watch models. Apple has appealed the ruling, and if the stay is extended, the watches with the blood-oxygen sensors can continue to be sold. However, if the stay is not extended, Apple is prepared to redesign the watches without the blood-oxygen sensor.

Opinion

The "Chasing Life" podcast is launching a new season that focuses on body weight, exploring the intersection of medical and cultural perspectives. The season aims to navigate discussions around body positivity, the classification of obesity as a disease by the American Medical Association, and the impact of powerful medications designed to help with weight loss. The goal is to provide a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding body weight and health.

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Enter evalytics labs

In today’s fast-paced world, concerns about the physical activity levels of children have become more pronounced than ever before. With the increasing prevalence of sedentary activities and screen time, ensuring that children engage in enough physical activity is a growing concern. One area of interest in this regard is the frequency of recess in elementary schools. Does the number of recess periods impact children’s physical activity levels during school hours? This article explores a natural experiment conducted in Arizona (U.S.) elementary schools to assess the relationship between recess frequency and children’s physical activity.
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What to Watch For

Former President Donald Trump is promising to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as part of his presidential campaign. Trump criticizes the ACA, commonly known as Obamacare, and vows to fight for better healthcare. This promise to undo the ACA, which was one of Trump's policy goals during his presidency, is revived despite the law's increased popularity and usage. While Trump never presented his replacement plan, some policy changes, such as increased transparency in hospital prices, remain. The article notes the unpredictability of Trump's priorities in a potential second term, given his tendency to change positions on issues.

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Challenge Yourself
Is There a Doctor in the House?
Take our weekly quiz and see how you stack up against your peers
A 60-year-old man comes to the office because of a 1-year history of progressive left groin pain. The pain is worse with exercise and is relieved with rest. He says the pain is beginning to affect his ability to carry out his daily activities. He says, "It even hurts when I'm turning over in bed." He does not recall any trauma to the area. He also has had generalized mild stiffness of his joints during the past 3 years. He takes atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia and lisinopril for hypertension. Medical history is otherwise unremarkable. He does not smoke cigarettes. He drinks one alcoholic cocktail daily. He is 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall and weighs 68 kg (150 lb); BMI is 22 kg/m2 . Vital signs are temperature 37.4°C (99.3°F), pulse 82/min, respirations 18/min, and blood pressure 120/78 mm Hg. The patient walks with a slight limp and has difficulty changing position. Abduction of the left hip elicits pain. Physical examination of the patient's other joints discloses no abnormalities.

Which of the following is the most appropriate imaging study at this time?
A  CT scan of the hips
B  MRI of the hips
C  Radionuclide bone scan
D  Plain x-ray of the left hip


SURPRISING DISCOVERIES

Google Research and Google DeepMind's AI researchers have developed the rudiments of an AI-based diagnostic dialogue system called the Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE) to conduct medical interviews. Experimental in nature, the system demonstrated accuracy in diagnosing patients comparable to trained doctors and scored better in terms of bedside manner, addressing potential areas of improvement in doctor-patient interactions.
Wastewater testing is proven to be effective in detecting monkeypox (mpox) infections, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study revealed that wastewater testing has a 32% likelihood of detecting the presence of at least one person infected with mpox in a population ranging from thousands to millions, showcasing its potential for tracking various diseases, including those beyond COVID-19.
A series of three studies, part of the COSMOS trial, involving over 5,000 participants, indicates that taking a daily multivitamin may help protect against memory loss in older adults. The research found that compared to a placebo, taking a daily multivitamin slowed cognitive aging by about two years, benefiting both global cognition and the ability to recall memories in healthy older adults.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have successfully attached a pig liver to a brain-dead human body, externally conducting the liver's blood-filtering functions. The experiment represents a step toward potentially using pig organs to support failing livers in patients with liver failure, by creating an external "bridge" to perform the organ's blood-cleansing work, akin to dialysis for failing kidneys. The pig liver was attached to a device made by OrganOx, which is typically used to preserve donated human livers before transplantation.


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 D) "Plain x-ray of the left hip"

 
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