Month: April 2024

Brain Stimulation Shows Promise for Alleviating Depression and Anxiety

By UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: Click through for the full post…

A University of Florida study indicates that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effectively alleviates depression and anxiety in older adults, offering a noninvasive, drug-free treatment alternative.

A noninvasive brain stimulation treatment improved depression and anxiety symptoms among older adults in a new University of Florida-led study.

Improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms were greatest among patients who reported higher symptom levels before treatment. Among participants who experienced moderate to severe state anxiety — or anxiety associated with stressful situations or events — the treatment benefits persisted at a one-year follow-up.

The findings, published in the journal Brain Stimulation, suggest the treatment, known as transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS, holds promise as a noninvasive, drug-free option to treat depression and anxiety symptoms, which affect 1 in 4 older adults.

“Depression and anxiety can impact our overall mental health, cognitive function and ability to function independently as we age,” said the study’s senior author Adam Woods, Ph.D., the associate dean for research and a professor of clinical and health psychology at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and co-director of UF’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research. “Often, front-line treatments involve medication and/or therapy, which can both be effective. However, there is also a pressing need for accessible and noninvasive options that can be deployed in people who are either nonresponsive to pharmaceutical treatment, unable to access or participate in clinic-based intensive treatment programs, or for a variety of other reasons.”

Probiotics Plus Vitamin D Improve Schizophrenia Symptoms

From Neuroscience News: Click through for the full post…

Summary: A new study suggests probiotics with vitamin D might improve cognitive function in people with schizophrenia. The study involved 70 adults who took either a placebo or the supplements daily for 12 weeks. Those on the supplements showed improvement in a cognitive function test, but not in overall disease severity.

Key Facts:

  • Probiotics + vitamin D may improve cognitive function in schizophrenia.
  • MoCA scores (cognitive test) increased in the probiotic group.
  • PANSS scores (disease severity) showed no significant change.

Source: Wiley

6 Signs of Complex PTSD | CPTSD

From MedCircle: Click through for the full post…

In this video, MedCircle host, Kyle Kittleson, sits down with clinal psychologist, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, to discuss the 6 signs of cPTSD that both patients and supporters should be aware of. Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as, PTSD can be a challenge but Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as, CPTSD can be especially difficult to treat. When you’ve endured repeated trauma over a long period of time – whether that’s wartime, child abuse, sexual assault, or more – you may find that you’re experiencing dissociations, distortions of perspective, or emotional instability, in addition to invasive flashbacks. These are all signs of cPTSD.

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The First Prescription Digital Therapeutic Authorized for the Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Symptoms

From Otsuka: Click through for the full post…

In a landmark clinical study, this innovative adjunctive treatment delivered via smartphone app reduced depression symptoms in participants on antidepressant medication with no treatment-related adverse events.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Co. Ltd. (Otsuka) and Click Therapeutics, Inc., (Click) announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Rejoyn™ (developed as CT-152), the first prescription digital therapeutic authorized for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms as an adjunct to clinician-managed outpatient care for adult patients with MDD age 22 years and older who are on antidepressant medication. Rejoyn is intended to reduce MDD symptoms.

Rejoyn is a six-week treatment program designed to help enhance cognitive control of emotion through a combination of clinically-validated cognitive emotional training exercises for the brain and brief therapeutic lessons. Unlike wellness apps, the Rejoyn app is a medical device authorized by the FDA for prescription by a healthcare professional.

“Rejoyn represents a novel and exciting adjunctive treatment option to address major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms that complements the current standard of care,” said John Kraus, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer at Otsuka. “While traditional approaches are often effective, many are left with only a partial response to treatment. Otsuka has a long, unwavering commitment to addressing the unmet needs of people living with mental illnesses and the clearance of Rejoyn is an example of delivering on that promise. We are deeply grateful to the trial participants, clinicians, and everyone at Otsuka and Click Therapeutics, who helped Rejoyn reach this important milestone.”

HHS Cracks Down on Care Facilities for Failure to Turn Over Medical Records

by Kristina Fiore: Click through for the full post…

Office for Civil Rights fines two facilities that stalled on giving access for more than 100 days.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has settled two cases involving healthcare facilities that failed to provide timely access to medical records.

OCR announced settlements with Essex Residential Careopens in a new tab or window in New Jersey (doing business as Hackensack Meridian Health, West Caldwell Care Center) and Phoenix Healthcareopens in a new tab or window in Oklahoma (doing business as Green County Care Center).

Both care facilities failed to provide medical records to a patient’s personal representative within 30 days as mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), OCR stated.

“It is unacceptable for a healthcare provider to delay or deny requests to release medical records for months, and we are calling on providers everywhere to be compliant to help empower patients,” OCR director Melanie Fontes Rainer, JD, said in a statement.

On Monday, OCR announcedopens in a new tab or window that West Caldwell Care Center (WCCC) — a skilled nursing facility that provides long-term care and rehabilitation services — would have to pay a $100,000 penalty for not providing timely access to patient records.

According to the agency’s notice of final determination, Peter Lindsay requested a copy of his mother’s medical records from WCCC via email. His request was denied on April 22, 2020, and an administrator asked for a copy of his power of attorney, medical proxy, or similar document signed by his mother, Lois Lindsay, establishing him as her representative.

Peter Lindsay sent the power of attorney via email on April 23, 2020, but still didn’t receive any records. He filed a complaint with OCR on May 19, 2020, alleging WCCC and its parent company failed to give him access to his mother’s medical records, even after providing proof of his status as her representative.

Peter Lindsay finally received a copy of the records on Dec. 1, 2020, as a result of an OCR investigation — 161 days after his initial request, the determination stated.

Late last week, OCR announced that Phoenix Healthcare in Oklahoma will pay $35,000 to settle claims that it didn’t provide access to patient medical records in a timely fashion.

The Science of Sleep: 10-Year Study Unlocks the Secret to Overcoming Insomnia

By BMJ: Click through for the full post…

Consistently exercising 2-3 times a week over the long term is linked to a lower current risk of insomnia as well as the ability to clock up the recommended 6-9 hours of shut-eye every night, suggests an international 10-year study published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

Regular exercise is associated with better overall health, and several studies have suggested that physical activity promotes better quality sleep and may improve symptoms of chronic insomnia, note the researchers.

But it’s not entirely clear how much gender, age, weight (BMI), overall fitness, general health, and exercise type contribute to this association, they add.

MI attorney general says there’s a dangerous new kind of scam

By Christopher G. Johnson: Click through for the full post…

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an alert this week — a new twist on a familiar scam that introduces an element of physical danger.

She pointed to a scam alert from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. That office said imposters are posing as agents, and demanding their targets meet them in person and hand over cash or gift cards.

The SSA OIG said in a statement, “This is the latest example of how scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to intimidate or pressure people into making hasty decisions that usually involve stealing their target’s hard-earned money,” said Inspector General Gail S. Ennis. “While our agents are out in the field, they will not ask you for money. I urge you not to respond to these kinds of requests.”

Nessel urged Michigan residents to be on alert for this new scam, saying consumers who suspect they’ve been the victim of this crime should report the scam to SSA OIG and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The SSA OIG offered this additional advice if you’ve been scammed:

  • Stop talking to the scammer.
  • Notify financial institutions and safeguard accounts.
  • Call the police and file a police report.
  • Report Social Security-related scams to SSA
  • OIG (oig.ssa.gov).
  • Report other scams to the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov).
  • Keep financial transaction information and the record of all communications with the scammer.

“Crisis”: Half of Rural Hospitals Are Operating at a Loss, Hundreds Could Close

By JAZMIN OROZCO RODRIGUEZ: Click through for the full post…

A new report paints a grim picture for small-town health care—especially in states that have not expanded Medicaid.

In a little more than two years as CEO of a small hospital in Wyoming, Dave Ryerse has witnessed firsthand the worsening financial problems eroding rural hospitals nationwide.

In 2022, Ryerse’s South Lincoln Medical Center was forced to shutter its operating room because it didn’t have the staff to run it 24 hours a day. Soon after, the obstetrics unit closed.

Ryerse said the publicly owned facility’s revenue from providing care has fallen short of operating expenses for at least the past eight years, driving tough decisions to cut services in hopes of keeping the facility open in Kemmerer, a town of about 2,400 in southwestern Wyoming.

South Lincoln’s financial woes aren’t unique, and the risk of hospital closures is an immediate threat to many small communities. ​“Those cities dry out,” Ryerse said. ​“There’s a huge sense of urgency to make sure that we can maintain and really eventually thrive in this area.”

A recently released report from the health analytics and consulting firm Chartis paints a clear picture of the grim reality Ryerse and other small-hospital managers face. In its financial analysis, the firm concluded that half of rural hospitals lost money in the past year, up from 43% the previous year. It also identified 418 rural hospitals across the United States that are ​“vulnerable to closure.”

Inhale at Your Own Risk: Even Brief Secondhand Smoke Exposure Increases Risk of Dangerous Heart Rhythm Disorder

By EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY: Click through for the full post…

According to research presented at EHRA 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), even minimal exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with a higher risk of a serious heart rhythm disorder. The study found that the risk of atrial fibrillation increases with the length of time exposed to passive smoking.

“The dangers of secondhand smoke were significant regardless of whether individuals were at home, outdoors, or at work, indicating that exposure universally elevates the risk of atrial fibrillation,” said study author Dr. Kyung-Yeon Lee of Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. “We should all make every effort to avoid spending time in smoky environments. The findings should also drive policymakers to further curb smoking in public areas and support smoking cessation programs to improve public health.”

Atrial Fibrillation: A Global Concern

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder worldwide. Symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. It is estimated that one in three Europeans will develop the condition during their lifetime. People with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a stroke than their healthy peers.

It is well-established that passive smoking is linked to coronary artery disease and premature death. However, the links between secondhand smoke and atrial fibrillation have been unclear. This study examined the association between secondhand smoke exposure and the long-term risk of incident atrial fibrillation. The study included adults aged 40 to 69 years who had used the UK National Health Service (NHS) for any reason and were enrolled in the UK Biobank. Current smokers and those with atrial fibrillation at baseline were excluded from the study.

US drug shortages hit all-time high, pharmacists warn

By Daniella Genovese: Click through for the full post…

Data shows that there are 323 active drug shortages.

Drug shortages in the U.S. are at an all-time high, and some of the medications in short supply are life-saving chemotherapy drugs and emergency medications stored in hospitals, pharmacists warn. 

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Utah Drug Information Service reported that there were 323 active drug shortages in the first quarter of the year, marking the most shortages since they have been tracking the data since 2001.

It surpassed the previous record of 320 shortages in 2014, according to the data.