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Friday, December 1, 2017
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Welcome to December, everyone! Here's what you need to know about health and medicine today. When you're done reading, take our
quiz to test your knowledge of the week's news.
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Trump pledges to donate part of his salary to fight the opioid crisis
President Trump has pledged to donate his $100,000 third-quarter salary to HHS to help fight the opioid crisis. We’re not sure yet how it'll be used, but here’s what Trump’s donation
could buy:
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44 auto-injectors of naloxone:
Kaleo, the pharmaceutical company that makes the auto-injector that revives opioid users who have overdosed, sells its product as a two-pack with a list price of $4,500.
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735 doses of naloxone nasal spray:
GoodRx lists the price of Narcan nasal spray at $135 with a free coupon at Costco, Walgreens, and Kroger Pharmacy.
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100 doses of Vivitrol:
The monthly injectable of extended-release naltrexone can cost about $1,000 per shot.
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A year’s worth of methadone treatment for 21 patients:
According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, the average cost of methadone maintenance runs about $4,700 per patient for a full year.
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On World AIDS Day, celebrating huge gains in treatment access
Health officials say they’re hopeful this World AIDS Day about the progress that’s been made in expanding access to HIV treatment. A new UNAIDS
report finds that in June 2017, nearly 21 million people had access to antiretroviral therapy that helps to suppress the HIV virus and prevent transmission of the disease. That’s a huge jump from the 685,000 people who
had access to the treatment in 2000. And with more pregnant women able to access treatment, new HIV infections among children have fallen dramatically. Another promising sign: The NIH just launched a large clinical trial in sub-Saharan Africa to test whether
an experimental HIV vaccine regimen is safe and effective at preventing HIV infection.
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NIH expands its lab work
hunter prepares for a day at the office. (nih / twitter)
The NIH, in its long tradition of public service, set up a livestream of puppies yesterday while talking about mental health and patient care. Puppies play a critical role at the NIH Clinical Center, where
there are roughly 1,000 animal therapy sessions every year. The agency says there’s evidence that playing with animals can decrease a patient’s blood pressure, anxiety, and loneliness, among other benefits. Clinical psychologist Rezvan Ameli also led a mindfulness
session — emphasizing that there’s a need for focus — while therapy puppies played in the background. If you’re in need of some Friday stress relief, you can watch the video
here.
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Synthetic cannabinoids are growing common — and could pose health risks to police
Law enforcement officers have reported that they’ve felt symptoms of drug exposure after raiding illegal labs and processing evidence. Occupational health officials investigated those reports and in a
new
report, say they found synthetic cannabinoids in the air and on surfaces during raids, and picked up the chemical in urine tests of agents after the raid. Those officials say law enforcement officers need to consistently
use protective equipment and good hygiene practices to prevent unintentional exposure. It’s not clear yet whether there’s a certain level of exposure required to cause harm.
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Inside STAT: Brain organoids get cancer, too
Dr. Howard Fine estimates he’s treated some 20,000 patients with glioblastomas in his 30 years as an oncologist, “and almost all of them are dead.” He can rattle off dismal stats, like the scores of failed
clinical trials testing experimental drugs for the brain cancer. “My stance as an old man in this field is, someone has to start doing something different,” he says. He thinks that might involve tiny versions of the human brain, known as brain organoids. Fine
is one of the few scientists using the organoids to study brain cancer, and says he's discovered they can get cancer too, which could open a new door for personalized medicine. STAT’s Sharon Begley has more here.
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Most homes are full of things that might make you sneeze
A new
analysis finds that more than 90 percent of homes have at least three detectable allergens. The data — collected by dusting and testing thousands of U.S. homes — looked at mold, dust mites, cats, dogs, and other common
allergens. The allergens hiding in a home varied from one part of the country to the next. High levels of dust mites were more common in the South, Northeast, and areas with a humid climate that helps mites thrive. If you’re looking to stave off a sneeze attack,
experts recommend vacuuming carpets and washing sheets in hot water every week, leaving humidity levels low, and keeping pets out of bedrooms.
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Scientists are hitting the red carpet this weekend
The red carpet is being rolling out for scientists this Sunday at the Breakthrough Prizes, a flashy event that doles out millions of dollars for research achievements each year. The Breakthrough Prize
— launched in 2012 by leaders from Facebook, Google, and 23andMe — comes with a $3 million award and a shiny trophy shaped like a DNA coil. The event gives science the Hollywood treatment: Morgan Freeman is hosting, Wiz Khalifa is performing, and Kerry Washington
and Ashton Kutcher are presenting. You can watch the ceremony live Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on National Geographic.
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What to read around the web today
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Parents wait in limbo as policymakers struggle to save Children's Health Insurance Program.
Texas Tribune
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More and more Americans are learning basic first aid for gunshot wounds.
Slate
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How a Houston hospital restores patients with severe brain injuries.
Houston Chronicle
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Thanks for reading! More tomorrow,
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