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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is investigating Novo Nordisk's
diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss treatment Saxenda after three
cases of patients reporting suicidal thoughts or self-harm were flagged
by Iceland's health regulator. The investigation focuses on medicines
containing semaglutide or liraglutide, including Novo's obesity treatment
Wegovy. Novo Nordisk stated that it treats all reports of adverse events
seriously and that its safety monitoring has found no causal association
between the drugs and self-harming thoughts. The EMA will consider
whether the review should be extended to other GLP-1 receptor agonist
medicines.
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Dozens of cases of dangerous and potentially deadly viral sepsis in
babies across Europe have raised concerns among pediatric infectious
diseases experts in the United States. The World Health Organization
(WHO) confirmed at least 26 cases of infants infected with a rare type of
enterovirus, called echovirus-11, in countries including Croatia, France, Italy,
Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Eight of the infected babies have
died. While enteroviruses typically cause mild illness, they can severely
affect newborns whose immune systems are not mature enough to fight
off infection. Experts in the U.S. are urging pediatricians and families to be
aware of the potential for enterovirus infections, especially as viral activity
is expected to increase during the summer and early fall. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not have an active reporting
system for neonatal enteroviral disease, but they are monitoring any
changes in enterovirus transmission. Treatment for enterovirus infections
in newborns is limited to supportive care, and there is currently no
approved antiviral medication. Researchers are studying tissue samples to
better understand the disease and develop effective treatments.
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The study conducted by Portuguese researchers delves into the
relationship between coffee, caffeine, and brain activity. By analyzing MRI
scans of coffee drinkers, the researchers found that both coffee and
caffeine trigger decreased activity in a brain region associated with
resting state, indicating readiness to start the day. However, drinking
coffee specifically led to increased activity in brain regions linked to
memory, attention, and focus, whereas caffeine alone did not elicit the
same response. These findings suggest that factors beyond caffeine, such
as the sensory experience and ritualistic aspect of drinking coffee, may
contribute to the feeling of alertness reported by coffee drinkers. The
researchers caution that the study has limitations and is not meant to
influence coffee consumption habits, but rather to explore the underlying
brain mechanisms involved. Additionally, they highlight the potential
health benefits of coffee, including its antioxidant content and natural
compounds that may improve metabolism and overall well-being.
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In an op-ed for the American Journal of Nursing, Angelina Jolie, the actor
and humanitarian, has spoken out about racial disparities in healthcare
and how they have put her children of color at risk. Jolie, who has children
from different racial backgrounds, shared her concerns about
misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment due to the focus on white skin in
medical research and training. She highlighted the issue of detecting
bruises on darker skin colors and the lack of proper tools for documenting
them. Jolie also shared a personal experience when her daughter Zahara
was hospitalized, and a nurse's comment revealed the lack of
understanding about healthcare disparities. She emphasized the need for
new solutions to address racial disparities in healthcare, from technology
to improved diversity and representation in medical research and training.
Jolie's op-ed sheds light on the impact of systemic racism on health
outcomes and calls for change in the healthcare system.
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