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News for December 13 — Fine-tuning the mRNA COVID Vaccines

Fine-tuning the mRNA COVID vaccines: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-67625180 . This UK study showed that in about 35% of cases, the mRNA used in COVID vaccines also results in the unintended production of harmless proteins. An easy fix eliminates this side effect. Incremental improvements in these vaccines and their targeting are welcome, especially as the technology will be …

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News for December 12 — What’s Causing Early American Deaths?

What’s causing American early deaths?: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4354004-this-is-bigger-than-covid-why-are-so-many-americans-dying-early/ . We know that the opioid crisis has been a major contributor to increased US mortality. However, this article indicates that those dying from opioids are not the young, insured, working population, which is also seeing excess mortality. This is an observation which demands research. These deaths are presumably …

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News for December 11 — Pandemic Surge in Eating Disorders

Pandemic surge in eating disorders: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-11/old-demons-new-stress-and-the-pandemics-surge-in-eating-disorders . As we know, the pandemic disrupted medical treatments as people stayed away from doctors and hospitals from fear of infection. But it also turns out that the disruption in people’s regular schedules caused some people stress which brought on other disorders. WSJ: An overlooked star in the science …

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News for December 10 — CVS Cost-plus Drug Pricing

CVS cost-plus drug pricing: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/10/business/cvs-drug-prices-consumers/index.html . As we all know, drug pricing is so complex that the transparency created by CVS’ new pricing structure may not deliver significant benefits to consumers. Another potential outcome is that it will help some and hurt others, depending on which drugs they take. WSJ: Abortion ban on Arizona Supreme …

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News for December 9 — The Future of Artificial Intelligence

The future of artificial intelligence: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/artificial-intelligence-united-states-future-76c0082e . Biden administration bypasses Congress to send emergency aid to Israel: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/08/politics/state-department-congress-tank-munitions-sale/index.html . This is the right thing to do, because Israel has only a limited time to eradicate Hamas, and delay works severely against them. Politically, this is a can of worms. The administration has tries to …

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News for December 8 — US COVID Hospitalizations Jump 17%

US COVID hospitalizations jump 17%: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-08/u-s-covid-19-hospitalizations-rise-as-new-variant-spreads . This likely comes from Thanksgiving travel. JN.1, a subvariant of BA.2.26, was responsible for over 21% of the new cases. December holiday parties and travel may further boost this wave. Breast cancer vaccine: https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/an-end-to-breast-cancer-norcal-company-develops-groundbreaking-vaccine-with-promising-future/ . WSJ: FDA approves sickle-cell anemia treatment: https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/fda-approves-worlds-first-crispr-gene-editing-drug-for-sickle-cell-disease-8c65fbb3 . Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks …

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News for December 7 — US Proposes Drug Patent Seizures

US proposes drug patent seizures: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-12-07/us-sets-policy-to-seize-government-funded-drug-patents-if-price-deemed-too-high . The idea is simple. If government money funded the patent development, the drug company should price the drug “reasonably”. Enforcement may prove difficult. WSJ: Texas judge allows medical abortion request: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/texas-judge-grants-pregnant-womans-request-for-abortion-3d1af51f . WSJ: Merck scraps lung cancer study: https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/merck-scraps-phase-3-keytruda-lynparza-lung-cancer-study-ecad6bb4 . The future of US inflation: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/the-most-important-debate-on-wall-street-is-inflation-licked-3662e2ff . …

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News for December 6 — Wastewater Sends Holiday COVID Warning

Wastewater sends holiday COVID warning: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/covid-cases-rise-winter-2023-21e9da23 . Ah, yes, it’s that time of year … (and no, I don’t believe COVID is seasonal). Boris Johnson defends COVID record: https://apnews.com/article/uk-covid19-inquiry-boris-johnson-coronavirus-00b50f366e3928ead7213a2da5f51f84 . At any other time in history, we would scoff at this defense. How could anyone be so woefully ignorant, incompetent, and uncaring? However, since …

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News for December 5 — Post-pandemic Learning Decline Unprecedented

Post-pandemic learning decline unprecedented: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-12-05/mathematics-reading-skills-in-unprecedented-decline-in-teenagers-oecd-survey . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/us-students-global-education-dd7424b2 . Alzheimer’s blood test nears market: https://www.foxnews.com/health/alzheimers-blood-test-could-hit-market-early-2024-researchers-say . Organ transplant maintenance testing at risk: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/12/05/biden-administration-changes-organ-transplant-tests-impact/71765171007/ . This decision is ridiculous from both a moral and a financial standpoint. One hopes it is reversed quickly to limit its adverse consequences. Fentanyl exposure syndrome in newborns: https://www.aol.com/news/doctors-may-identified-syndrome-newborns-110000210.html . …

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News for December 4 — Yale COVID Post-vaccination Syndrome Study

Yale COVID post-vaccination syndrome study: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2023/12/03/largest-long-vax-study-to-date-on-post-covid-19-vaccination-syndrome/?sh=3f71ed2a4eb6 . Given the millions of Americans who have received one or more COVID vaccinations, the risk of COVID PVS appears small. However, the number of respondents does suggest this is a real condition. The condition is ill-defined, as sufferers report a total of 96 symptoms, but a few symptoms …

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