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Good morning. Significant changes were announced by the AP Stylebook on Friday, declaring “healthcare” as one word. The news sparked intense reactions within journalism circles. “Crying, screaming, throwing up,” was one reaction on STAT’s Slack channel, followed by “ihateit” from another. We are still processing our responses and will update you soon on our stance.
On the Covid landscape, six years later
In 2020 and 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 virus claimed an estimated 15 million lives worldwide. Six years on, the virus has largely become a political issue. In the past two winters, flu cases have outnumbered Covid cases. So, what has changed? STAT’s Helen Branswell consulted experts to explore the evolving Covid landscape, covering immunity, fatalities, booster shots, and more.
Virologist Vineet Menachery noted in an email, “The patterns indicate that new strains are relatively more capable of overcoming our immune responses, but the infection outcomes are more mild.” While some experts now view Covid as a less severe illness, opinions differ. More details can be found in the full article.
ICYMI: Psychedelics, and AI vs. doctors in Utah
Here are some notable updates from the end of last week and the weekend:
STAT’s Megan Molteni reported a scoop: Kristine Blanche, an integrative medicine doctor and the wife of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, has been named to an NIH advisory council. This is the first such appointment in over a year. On Saturday, Helen Branswell wrote about the death of Nancy Cox, a veteran of the CDC and a key figure in global flu research.
Last week, health tech startup Doctronic gained national attention by launching a pilot program in Utah to use AI for renewing prescriptions without clinician oversight. The Utah Medical Licensing Board, unaware of the pilot before its launch, requested the state to halt the program in a letter published Friday. More details are available from STAT’s Mario Aguilar.
Additionally, the FDA, as part of the Trump administration’s initiative to increase access to psychedelics, announced on Friday that it will expedite the review of drugs from three companies. Priority review vouchers were awarded to Compass’ psilocybin product for treatment-resistant depression, Usona’s similar medication for major depressive disorder, and an MDMA-like treatment for PTSD from Transcend. Further insights can be obtained from a trio of STAT reporters.
44%
This percentage reflects the NIH-funded research papers that analyze or report data by sex, according to a study published in Nature Communications Medicine. Since 2015, the NIH has set guidelines for considering sex as a biological variable in research design, analysis, and reporting. However, many studies have not adhered to these guidelines, making it challenging to determine if scientific findings apply equally to all genders. More information is provided by STAT’s Anil Oza and Annalisa Merelli.
A hat to treat depression?
For decades, scientists have used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to alleviate depression. Motif Neurotech aims to advance this technology with a baseball hat. The concept involves the hat activating a blueberry-sized device implanted in the skull, sending an electrical pulse to the brain each morning.
“Think of it like charging your phone,” explained Motif co-founder and CEO Jacob Robinson to STAT’s O. Rose Broderick. Their conversation delves into the science and Robinson’s thoughts on using this device for his children or enrolling them in clinical trials.
What’s the true risk for eating disorders with GLP-1s?
The potential link between GLP-1 weight loss medications and eating disorders remains a concern, with limited research addressing the issue. A study of medical records found that 1.28% of over 60,000 GLP-1 users were diagnosed with an eating disorder within two years.
In a perspective published in NEJM, physician Amanda Banks estimated that if one in eight Americans takes a GLP-1, over 420,000 could develop an eating disorder. She warned that “Physicians, trialists, regulators, policymakers, and drug developers are unprepared for this coming wave.” Banks emphasized the need for patient screening before prescribing these medications and called for more research on the risks and potential therapeutic uses of GLP-1s, given the biological overlap between obesity and anorexia.
$7,500
Upon reviewing an employment contract, psychiatric nurse practitioner Sarah Cady discovered a clause requiring her to pay $7,500 for each patient who left with her if she exited the practice.
This realization marked a turning point for Cady. In a new First Opinion essay, she reflected, “In too many private mental health practices, patients are treated not as autonomous human beings engaged in vulnerable therapeutic relationships, but as proprietary assets to be retained, priced, and controlled.” Many patients remain unaware of these practices. Cady shares her thoughts on what patients deserve within these dynamics.
What we’re reading
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While advising Kennedy, top aide had more than $25 million stake in wellness company, New York Times
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Menopause coverage bills meet mixed fates in state legislatures, News From the States
- I’m a fourth-year med student, but I only learned one historical example of medical racism, STAT
- The FTC is ramping up to target transgender rights, Wired
