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For the Win: College Student Powerlifts Past Breast Cancer

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LaShae Rolle, 27, is a competitive powerlifter capable of squatting 441 pounds, benching 292 pounds and deadlifting 497 pounds. Last year, breast cancer tried to derail Rolle’s dreams of going up against the best of the best. But Rolle steamrolled her cancer, keeping up an intense strength training program throughout her treatment. And then she wrote a paper about it. Rolle, a pre-doctoral fellow in public health sciences at the University of Miami, made herself the focus of a first-of-its-kind study documenting elite-level strength training while undergoing chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiation treatment. The study challenges long-held notions that cancer patients should stick to low- or moderate-intensity exercise, according to her report in the journal Lifestyle Medicine. “Strength training has been central to my identity as both an athlete and a rising lifestyle oncology researcher,” Rolle said in a news release. “During cancer, it became a way to stay connected to who I am and to feel in control of my body and mind.” By the end of treatment, Rolle had kept herself in contention, retaining nearly all the strength she’d built prior to her cancer diagnosis, results show. “I’m proud I kept going,” she said. “Modifying my sessions around chemotherapy cycles helped me keep training safely, and physically, it gave me moments of normalcy even when everything else felt uncertain.” Previous studies have shown…  read on >  read on >

FDA Upgrades Recall on 160,000+ Bottles of Thyroid Medication

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upgraded a recall of a commonly prescribed thyroid medication due to what it described as “subpotent” active ingredients. The recall of more than 160,000 bottles of levothyroxine sodium, which went into effect June 20, was upgraded to a Class II recall on July 23. Class II recalls occur when use of the drug poses a moderate public health risk, according to the FDA. The recall was initiated because the medication content of the recalled pills is “below the approved specification,” according to the New York-based television network NTD. No other details were available about the recall, including whether anyone has become ill from the weak pills. Levothyroxine sodium is used to treat a sluggish thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to heart problems and high cholesterol, among other issues, according to the Mayo Clinic. The recalled drugs are manufactured by India-based Intas Pharmaceuticals for North Carolina-based Accord Healthcare, NTD reported. They total 160,630 bottles and come in various doses, strengths, and packages, including: Lot D2400536; expiration date, Feb. 28, 2026 Lot D2300325; expiration date, Jan. 31, 2026 Lot D2400679; expiration date, Feb. 28, 2026 Lot D2300087; expiration date, Dec. 31, 2025 Lot D2300092; expiration date, Dec. 31, 2025 Lot D2400722; expiration date, March 31, 2026 Lot D2300104; expiration date, Dec. 31, 2025 Lot D2300076; expiration…  read on >  read on >

FDA Approves First Cream for Treating Chronic Hand Eczema

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(HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed off on the first-ever cream specifically approved for treating chronic hand eczema (CHE). CHE is a common condition marked by redness, itching and cracking on the hands and wrists. Anzupgo (delgocitinib cream) is approved for adults with moderate-to-severe CHE who can’t use topical steroids or who don’t respond well to them. “The approval of Anzupgo reinforces our commitment to investing in difficult-to-treat skin conditions to deliver new treatments to patients where the need is greatest,” Christophe Bourdon, CEO of LEO Pharma, maker of Anzupgo, said in a news release. Unlike atopic dermatitis, which is the most common form of eczema, CHE is rare and debilitating. It affects about 10% of the U.S. population and lasts for more than three months or recurs at least twice a year, according to the National Eczema Association. Anzupgo works by blocking the effects of JAK enzymes, which trigger the inflammation that can kickstart a hand eczema flare. Genetics and exposure to irritants and allergens are contributing causes of this form of eczema. People who are most at risk work in industries such as cleaning, hairdressing and health care, where they are more likely to come into contact with and react to chemicals. Studies show that the condition can take a dramatic toll on a person’s quality of life and mental well-being. A Detroit dermatologist welcomed the…  read on >  read on >

FDA Approves First Cream for Treating Chronic Hand Eczema

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(HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed off on the first-ever cream specifically approved for treating chronic hand eczema (CHE). CHE is common condition marked by redness, itching and cracking on the hands and wrists. Anzupgo (delgocitinib cream) is approved for adults with moderate-to-severe CHE who can’t use topical steroids or who don’t respond well to them.   “The approval of Anzupgo reinforces our commitment to investing in difficult-to-treat skin conditions to deliver new treatments to patients where the need is greatest,” Christophe Bourdon, CEO of LEO Pharma, maker of Anzupgo, said in a news release.  Unlike atopic dermatitis, which is the most common form of eczema, CHE is rare and debilitating. It affects about 10% of the U.S. population and lasts for more than three months or recurs at least twice a year, according to the National Eczema Association.  Anzupgo works by blocking the effects of JAK enzymes, which trigger the inflammation that can kickstart a hand eczema flare. Genetics and exposure to irritants and allergens are contributing causes of this form of eczema. Folks who are most at risk work in industries such as cleaning, hairdressing and health care, where they are more likely to come into contact with and react to chemicals.  Studies show that the condition can take a dramatic toll on a person’s quality of life and mental well-being. A Detroit dermatologist welcomed the FDA’s…  read on >  read on >

The Many Faces of Parkinson’s: Symptoms, Treatment, and How To Manage It

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About 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) each year – one person every six minutes. While most people associate PD with tremors and stiffness, the condition is far more complex than these symptoms and may affect more than just movement. An estimated 1 million people in the United States are living with this disease, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. As the population continues to age, prevalence of PD is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030 – making it the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. What is PD? PD is a neurodegenerative disorder that mostly affects dopamine-producing neurons in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a chemical that is essential for movement and coordination. As dopamine levels drop, a variety of symptoms may gradually emerge and worsen over time. There is currently no cure for PD, but there are many treatment options for symptoms and maintaining a high quality of life. Symptoms of PD PD may cause a variety of symptoms, usually falling into two categories: motor (movement-related) and non-motor symptoms. Motor symptoms may include: Tremors  Slowed movements (bradykinesia)  Muscle stiffness (rigidity) Non-motor symptoms may include: Anxiety Depression Sleep disorders Fatigue Constipation Double vision Loss of smell Sleep disorders Every person’s experience with PD is unique, and no two people experience the same exact symptoms…  read on >  read on >

The Many Faces of Parkinson’s: Symptoms, Treatment, and How To Manage It

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About 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) each year – one person every six minutes. While most people associate PD with tremors and stiffness, the condition is far more complex than these symptoms and may affect more than just movement. An estimated 1 million people in the United States are living with this disease, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. As the population continues to age, prevalence of PD is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030 – making it the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. What is PD? PD is a neurodegenerative disorder that mostly affects dopamine-producing neurons in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a chemical that is essential for movement and coordination. As dopamine levels drop, a variety of symptoms may gradually emerge and worsen over time. There is currently no cure for PD, but there are many treatment options for symptoms and maintaining a high quality of life. Symptoms of PD PD may cause a variety of symptoms, usually falling into two categories: motor (movement-related) and non-motor symptoms. Motor symptoms may include: Tremors  Slowed movements (bradykinesia)  Muscle stiffness (rigidity) Non-motor symptoms may include: Anxiety Depression Sleep disorders Fatigue Constipation Double vision Loss of smell Sleep disorders Every person’s experience with PD is unique, and no two people experience the same exact symptoms…  read on >  read on >

Lab Experiments Show Why Wrinkles Form

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The struggle to tame wrinkles is an age-old conflict, with people using any number of lotions, creams and treatments to try and smooth their skin. Now, researchers say they know exactly why skin wrinkles. “This is no longer just a theory,” senior researcher Guy German, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University in upstate New York, said in a news release. “We now have hard experimental evidence showing the physical mechanism behind aging.” Lab experiments show that aging skin stretches, contracts and buckles under pressure, eventually forming wrinkles, according to findings being published in the October issue of the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. Essentially, wrinkles occur when a person’s skin stretches in one direction and then contracts in the other, researchers found. The research team gave a person’s favorite hoodie as an example. After years of wear, it will get stretched out in different places, and so will that person’s skin. For the study, researchers stretched tiny strips of skin from people ages 16 to 91, simulating the natural forces working on skin every day. When skin is stretched in one direction, it contracts in the other, researchers said. But the contraction gets bigger with age, resulting in the formation of wrinkles. “If you stretch Silly Putty for instance, it stretches horizontally, but it also shrinks in the other…  read on >  read on >

Lab Experiments Show Why Wrinkles Form

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The struggle to tame wrinkles is an age-old conflict, with people using any number of lotions, creams and treatments to try and smooth their skin. Now, researchers say they know exactly why skin wrinkles. “This is no longer just a theory,” senior researcher Guy German, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University in upstate New York, said in a news release. “We now have hard experimental evidence showing the physical mechanism behind aging.” Lab experiments show that aging skin stretches, contracts and buckles under pressure, eventually forming wrinkles, according to findings being published in the October issue of the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. Essentially, wrinkles occur when a person’s skin stretches in one direction and then contracts in the other, researchers found. The research team gave a person’s favorite hoodie as an example. After years of wear, it will get stretched out in different places, and so will that person’s skin. For the study, researchers stretched tiny strips of skin from people ages 16 to 91, simulating the natural forces working on skin every day. When skin is stretched in one direction, it contracts in the other, researchers said. But the contraction gets bigger with age, resulting in the formation of wrinkles. “If you stretch Silly Putty for instance, it stretches horizontally, but it also shrinks in the other…  read on >  read on >

You Might Not Need As Many Daily Steps As You Think, Review Argues

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Walkers don’t need to march 10,000 steps a day to gain substantial health benefits, a comprehensive new evidence review has concluded. Instead, getting just 7,000 steps a day appears to be most effective in reducing a person’s risk of death and chronic illness, researchers reported today in The Lancet Public Health. Results show that anything above 7,000 steps tends to produce diminishing returns, researchers found. “Therefore, 7,000 steps per day might be a more realistic and achievable recommendation for some, but 10,000 steps per day can still be a viable target for those who are more active,” concluded the research team led by Melody Ding, an associate professor at the University of Sydney School of Public Health. For the study, researchers pooled data from dozens of prior studies involving more than 160,000 adults, representing what they called the “largest and most comprehensive” review of daily steps and major health outcomes to date. Results showed that 7,000 steps a day, when compared to 2,000 steps, dramatically improved people’s health, including: 47% lower risk of death from any cause 25% lower risk of heart disease 14% lower risk of type 2 diabetes 38% lower risk of dementia 22% lower risk of depression 28% lower risk of falls Most benefits tended to plateau beyond 7,000 steps, researchers found. For instance, overall risk of death fell only 10% more…  read on >  read on >