Health/Fitness « Weekly Gravy

The arthritis drug tocilizumab doesn’t help hospital patients with severe COVID-19, according to a new study that contradicts earlier research suggesting that it might aid recovery. In fact, patients receiving tocilizumab had a higher risk of death, so the trial was halted early. Tocilizumab blocks a part of the immune system (interleukin 6) that can become overactive in some COVID-19 patients, and it was thought that the drug might help reduce inflammatory responses in patients. That theory was tested in this study, which included 129 adult COVID-19 patients, average age 57, at nine hospitals in Brazil. They had abnormal levels of at least two inflammation-related compounds in their blood and were receiving supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The patients were randomly selected to receive either tocilizumab plus standard care (65) or standard care alone (64). After 15 days, 18 (28%) of the patients in the tocilizumab group and 13 (20%) of those in the standard care group were on mechanical ventilation or had died. Eleven (17%) of the patients in the tocilizumab group died, compared with 2 (3%) in the standard care group. Due to the much higher death rate in the tocilizumab group, the trial was stopped early. In both groups of patients, deaths were due to COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure or multiple organ dysfunction. The findings were published Jan. 20 in the BMJ… read on > read on >

Menopause is known to bring a variety of unpleasant symptoms ranging from hot flashes to insomnia. Yet, for those who have a condition known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), it is much worse, researchers report. The new study examined the impact of POI, in which ovarian function stops and leads to menopause before the age of 40. The researchers investigated menopause symptoms in women with POI and compared them with the severity and prevalence of similar symptoms in women who experienced natural menopause. The study included nearly 300 women. The investigators found that women with POI experience a high prevalence of menopause symptoms, especially psychological and sexual symptoms. This included mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue and sexual dysfunction, such as vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and decreased libido. These symptoms are often more severe than those experienced by women who undergo natural menopause. “This study of Chinese women showed that those with POI had more prevalent menopause-related symptoms than women with menopause at the average age,” Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for the North American Menopause Society, said in a society news release. “It is important to note that, regardless of the prevalence or severity of symptoms, women with POI should receive hormone therapy at least until the average age of menopause unless there are contraindications to its use, in order to mitigate potential long-term… read on >

Want to get the most out of your COVID-19 vaccine? Make sure you get some good rest before you get your shot, sleep experts say. That’s because adequate sleep is an important factor in a strong immune system. “As COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed, it is of utmost importance that patients continue to prioritize their sleep to maintain optimal health,” American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) president Dr. Kannan Ramar said in an academy news release. “Getting sufficient, high-quality sleep on a regular basis strengthens your body’s immune system and optimizes your response to a vaccine.” Several studies have found an association between sleep and vaccination response. For example, a 2020 study in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that flu vaccines appear to be more effective in people who get a sufficient amount of sleep during the two nights prior to receiving the shot. Other studies have reported similar findings about patients’ response to vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Dr. Khurshid Khurshid is director of the UMMHC/UMMS Center for Neuromodulation at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Westborough, Mass. He said, “The role of sleep in boosting innate and acquired immune response is significant. All people, particularly health workers, should be aware of the immunity-boosting effects of sleep. Studies have shown that normal sleep after vaccination strengthens the immune response… read on > read on >

Marijuana addiction increases the risk of death by suicide, homicide and other causes (such as car crashes) in youth and young adults with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, a new study warns. For the study, the researchers reviewed data on nearly 205,000 young people, aged 10 to 24, in Ohio who were diagnosed with mood disorders from July 2010 through December 2017. Marijuana addiction (“cannabis use disorder”) was reported in more than 10% of people in the study. It was most common among those who were older, male, Black, and those with bipolar or other mood disorders, and a prior history of self-harm and previous mental health service use, including psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department visits. “We also found that cannabis use disorder was significantly associated with self-harm,” said study author Cynthia Fontanella, as well as “death by unintentional overdose and homicide.” She stressed however that the study couldn’t prove cause and effect. Fontanella is an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University, in Columbus. “Marijuana use and addiction is common among youth and young adults with mood disorders, but the association of this behavior with self-harm, suicide and overall mortality risk is poorly understood in this already vulnerable population,” Fontanella said in a university news release. “These findings should be considered as states contemplate legalizing medical… read on > read on >