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Good morning. A link was missing in yesterday’s issue. You can find Sarah Todd’s insightful piece on ultra-processed food research and policy here.
Ebola Update: Case Numbers, Pushback
Here’s a mix of Ebola-related news: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently processing numerous samples of suspected Ebola cases, leading to a significant reduction in the perceived scale of the outbreak. As of Wednesday, 363 cases were confirmed. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gheybreyesus mentioned during a press conference that there were 116 suspected cases, which, if confirmed, would increase the total to nearly 500, significantly less than previous estimates from last week. Meanwhile, Craig Spencer, an Ebola survivor and public health professor at Brown University, has reported concerns from the ground that many cases might still be undetected.
The CDC employees’ union, the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883, has voiced its opposition to a Trump administration plan to quarantine Americans exposed to Ebola in Kenya. However, Gheybreyesus refrained from commenting directly on the U.S. plan, stating, “They can do whatever they think is right for them.” He also acknowledged the U.S.’s strong efforts to contain the outbreak. — Helen Branswell
Trump to Remove Job Protections for Top NIH Officials
President Trump has issued an executive order to redefine roles within the civil service, facilitating the dismissal of federal employees by reclassifying them as political appointees. This move would impact many senior officials who manage the review and distribution of grants at the National Institutes of Health.
The proposal has drawn criticism from biomedical researchers and policy experts since it was first suggested this spring. STAT’s Anil Oza covers the latest developments.
New Hiding Spot for HIV Discovered by Scientists
HIV is known for its ability to evade the immune system by targeting T cells, specifically those with the CD4 protein, integrating its DNA into the host’s genome. While antiviral drugs can prevent replication, stopping medication allows the virus to resurge.
A potential cure focuses on targeting these latent HIV DNA reservoirs. Researchers have been exploring the use of CRISPR or immunotherapies to eliminate them. However, a new study by researchers in China, published in Science Translational Medicine, reveals that HIV can alter the identity of infected cells, switching off CD4 and expressing CD8 instead. This finding challenges the idea that T cell identity is permanent and broadens the scope of cells that need targeting to eradicate HIV DNA. — Megan Molteni
Understanding Male Puberty: A Knowledge Gap
While early puberty in girls is linked to higher risks of several health issues, research into male puberty timing and its health impacts is still in early stages. Early studies suggest similar negative health outcomes for males. Given men’s generally poorer health outcomes, some medical professionals see understanding puberty timing as a key to improving male health.
Anders Juul, a pediatric endocrinologist, notes that increased knowledge of male puberty timing could be vital for long-term male health. STAT contributor Ashleigh N. DeLuca discusses this research gap and future steps. Read more.
Senate Hearing on Gender Care: Recurrent Arguments
During a Senate health committee hearing focused on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, familiar political debates were revisited.
Senators and witnesses from both sides claimed the American Medical Association (AMA) supported their views. Sen. Bill Cassidy referenced an AMA statement terming evidence for surgery on trans minors as “insufficient,” while Sen. Bernie Sanders insisted the AMA supports affirming care. Officially, the AMA has a policy backing gender-affirming care, despite releasing a statement mentioned by Cassidy. The AMA later clarified they requested a correction from the New York Times, which the Times denied receiving.
Kurt Miceli, from the group Do No Harm, repeated claims that most children with gender dysphoria eventually lose those feelings. However, a recent literature review deemed such studies methodologically flawed. Detransitioner Chloe Cole shared her story of what she described as coercive medical treatment, advocating for bans on gender-affirming care and asserting that children aren’t born in the wrong body. Democratic senators expressed sympathy but suggested medical malpractice suits as a better avenue for addressing harm.
No transgender youth spoke at the hearing, but Sen. Tim Kaine addressed them directly, saying, “If you’re a trans kid watching this hearing, there is some intentional effort to make you feel bad about yourself. But you got a lot of people who love you.”
AI Scribes in Healthcare: Expanding to Patients
Over a quarter of U.S. medical practices utilize AI-based tools for listening and note-taking. Now, developers are creating apps for patients to help remember doctor’s advice and track health information across systems.
As Katie Palmer from STAT reports, while many patients already carry recording devices, these apps are attracting significant investment and raising concerns over data privacy when health information is stored outside a provider’s domain. Read more about these apps and the questions they pose.
What We’re Reading
Correction: The item on gender-affirming care has been updated to reflect the New York Times’ statement on the AMA media comment.
