Author: sednime

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.

JAMA NOTES

Dr. M. Listens

Article on Alleged Illegal Practices of some Pharmaceutical Companies  

JAMA  November 17, 2020  Volume 324  November 19   Page 1995

In this issue three Doctoral Researchers hailing from the Colleges of Business at the University of Carolina at Charlotte, the San Francisco State University in San Francisco and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. reported on their study of the activities of many Pharmaceutical firms which they labeled as illegal and which incurred money fines.

The companies were financially penalized to an amount reported as allegedly totaling $33 Billion. This spanned the period from 2003 to 2016. The types of activities they considered in their study included , bribery, environmental violations. producing adulterated or unapproved drugs, kickbacks, monopoly etc.  Glaxo-Smith headed the list with 27 penalties, Johnson and Johnson was 2^nd with Bayer 3^rd on the list. There were 26 firms studied and 22 had received penalties for some type of infraction. Details of the study can be seen in the “Letters” on the pages in the article cited above.

JAMA NOTES

JAMA September 22/29 2020 Volume 324 Number 12 page 1125

COVID-19 and mRNA Vaccines – First Large Test for a New Approach

Jennifer Abbasi

This article offers new hope for the earlier release of a vaccine to combat the COVID-19 viral epidemic. In it she speaks of the progress on a new pathway using mRNA. This pathway has been in research for a while , perhaps as early as 2002 when the RSC ( Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) was first recognized. Since this new way to achieve results differs from the older track, it seems that it can be processed faster and does not have the same problems that have been encountered with vaccines using eggs or cells. The government program of OPERATION WARP SPEED has been a major help is traveling this new route. There is much optimism over this new approach.

LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING

LYRICS BY: JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

SCORE BY : J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON (BROTHER)

Lift ev’ry voice and sing,

Til earth and heaven ring

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty

Let our rejoicing rise,

High as the list’ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling seas.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has brought us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on ’til victory is won.,

Some time ago the FDA published the following article about IBS……. (Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome)……. A summary of it is included for your information and / or interest.

JAMA 16 July 2019 Volume 322, Number 3

NEWS FROM THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Feyza Sancar PhD

Cranial Nerve Stimulator for Adolescents With IBS

IBS is a chronic but sometimes painful disorder that often presents in childhood. This article speaks of a new device that is now on prescription for children between 11 and 18 years of age. Apparently it is similar to devices now available for use in opiate dependency cases. It is thought perhaps, that travel between the gut and brain is what ends up causing the stomach pain.

The power source for this device is by battery and the object is placed behind the ear and maintained for a few days. This is kept on for a few weeks. For this study there were no serious problems noted.