Year: 2021

15: Dr. M. Listens

Another Explanation for Why Cloth Masks Reduce COVID-19 Severity

Rita Rubin MA

JAMA:  March 23/30  2021 Volume 325  Number 12 Page 1134

In this article on the HEALTH AGENCIES  UPDATE PAGE, Ms Rubin gives more good news and  justification for not only wearing a mask as prevention from COVID-19.but that they appear to be effective.  It seems that the NIH tested 4 types of masks and found that cloth masks did a good job with these infective particles..  It appears that that may be associated with the humidity that occurs with the cloth ones. Apparently there is increased humidity with the inhaled air that reaches the skin of the respiratory tract and in some way that helps the immune system.  

Dr. M Comments

Looks like a new drug may coming down the pipeline for those with Peanut allergies

.JAMA 3 March 2020  Volume 323 Number 9  page 817

There is a new drug being sold as Paliforzia that is geared toward youngsters subject to peanut allergies.  It will be an oral drug in powder form.  It will have to be supervised by a physician in the office just in case of a possible adverse reaction.  Clinical trials are in process.  A Rebecca Voelker MSJ, in the above referenced article, reported this .

JAMA NOTES

Dr. M.Listens

Saliva Tests Comparable With Nasal Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 Detection

Jennifer Abassi

JAMA  March 9, 2021  Volume 325  Number 10  Page 924

Miss Abassi is a  frequent contributor to this Magazine this is one of the topics in today’s page of Biotech Innovations

In this article she states that there have now been two analyses of the meta type that suggest that a nasal swab procedure may be just as useful yet more convenient and less difficult for a patient to detect SARS-Cov-2 infection..  Allegedly the source of the information was found in  a  JAMA INTERNAL MEDICINE publication written by authors from the Montreal’s McGill University and the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.  

Monthly Injection Approved for Patients with HIV

Rebecca Voelker MSJ

JAMA  March 2 2021  Volume 325  Number 9  Page 816

One of the Features of the JAMA  Magazine is their page dedicated to the Information coming from the FDA. In this issue, Ms Voelker is the writer and this article. once again tells of possible good news.  HIV is still an extremely serious malady to have and those afflicted, though no longer automatically looking at an immediately fatal condition, still have to deal with the difficulties that ensue with the current treatments.  

One of the topics in today’s main  article gives the information that the FDA has approved a new treatment that will allow an HIV patient to only take a single  injection once a month. This would be a MAJOR change from the current regimen that some undergo now.  I will not give the names of those new drugs here because that might be giving undue hope to some but any person so involved can see what those are by checking this info in the above issue of JAMA and speaking with their physician. .     

JAMA NOTE:

A year ago, the JAMA magazine ran an article about alcohol.. I repeat comments made on that article now to share a view that still may have relevance today. The topic remains controversial but this is another opinion cited at that time

JAMA 25 February 2020 Volume 322 Number 8

ALCOHOL – RELATED MORTALITY INCREASE MAY STILL UNDERESTIMATE THE TOLL

No specific author is given on this article but in essence it cites information from a study by individuals at the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAAA). This article says that between 1999 and 2017, alcohol related deaths increased almost 30 per cent. It also said that deaths with these substances along with or in combination with other drugs were the cause of approximately half of these deaths This was true for all but the youngest and oldest age groups………..Just another look at an old subject..

Dr. M. Listens.

Bisphosphonates  for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Kristine Ensrud MD

JAMA 5 January 2021 Vol 325 Number 1 pg 96

The patient page in this volume dedicates itself to a discussion on the drugs known as BISPHOSPHONATES.  These compounds can be found under various names such as alendronate. arisedronate, zolendronate, or ibandronate and are of particular importance to postmenopausal women.  This is because it is at that time of life that they are most susceptible to the condition known as OSTEOPOROSIS .  Osteoporosis is when the bones  are quite fragile and can break easily.

As usual, these drugs have both  beneficial and and harmful  properties.  On the good side, they can strengthen the bones and thus prevent fractures, some can be taken by mouth, and in  general they last a long time. However, on the bad side they require attention to how they are taken, when they are taken and if their calcium levels are up to par.  Some women also are at risk of suffering broken bones  anyway if taken for more than 5 years.