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Supreme Court's Accidental Document Release Supports ER Doctors Performing Abortions
Finland starts giving bird flu vaccinations, and TMC institutions settle a $15 million lawsuit
The Sign Out
June 27, 2024
Health News
Supreme Court's Accidental Document Release Supports ER Doctors Performing Abortions
The Supreme Court admitted to accidentally posting a document related to an Idaho abortion case…again. The document hinted the court may dismiss the dispute, allowing emergency room doctors to perform abortions. The Biden administration argued that such medical care is required under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. 😬
Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented, while Justice Jackson criticized the delay in resolving broader issues. Justice Barrett highlighted procedural concerns.
The case underscores tensions between state abortion bans and federal emergency care mandates.
Health News
Finland Becomes First Country to Offer Bird Flu Vaccinations to Humans
Finland is set to become the first country to vaccinate humans against bird flu, starting next week. The initiative targets workers exposed to animals, with vaccines sourced through an EU procurement program.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare aims to mitigate risks, especially in fur farms, where recent outbreaks led to massive culling. This proactive measure demonstrates Finland's commitment to preventing potential human infections from the H5N1 bird flu strain.
Globally, H5N1 continues to circulate among bird populations, causing periodic outbreaks. The virus has also been found in mammals, such as sea lions and otters. Human infections remain rare, but are being monitored closely by health authorities due to the potential for severe illness.
Health News
Texas Medical Center Institutions to Pay $15M Settlement Over Concurrent Surgery Billing Claims
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, and Surgical Associates of Texas agreed to a $15 million settlement for improperly billing Medicare for concurrent heart surgeries.
The allegations involved surgeons running multiple operating rooms simultaneously and delegating critical tasks to unqualified residents, violating Medicare regulations. This case was initiated by a whistleblower lawsuit and marks the largest settlement involving concurrent surgeries, highlighting significant breaches in patient safety and Medicare compliance
Journal Gists
One Multivitamin A Day Does Not Keep The Doctor Away
Clinical Question: What is the association between long-term, daily multivitamin use and mortality in generally healthy adults?
Bottom Line: Daily multivitamin use did not demonstrate a protective effect against all-cause mortality. The study found that multivitamin users did not have a lower risk of mortality compared to non-users, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, sex, education level, smoking status, and other lifestyle factors. Read more at JAMA.
JAK Inhibition Unleashes Anti-PD-1 Therapy Potential
Clinical Question: How does the addition of the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib affect immune function and therapeutic responses in patients who initially do not respond to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy?
Bottom Line: In a phase 2 clinical trial for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, adding the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib after initial anti-PD-1 immunotherapy led to a significant 67% response rate among non-responders to anti-PD-1 alone. This combination improved immune function, particularly enhancing CD8 T cell plasticity and responses of exhausted and effector memory-like T cell clonotypes. Read more at Science.
More In Health News
What in the world is going on?
💻 Ransomware group claims to have hacked the Federal Reserve. The LockBit ransomware group has claimed responsibility for hacking the Federal Reserve, allegedly exfiltrating 33 terabytes of sensitive data. The group demands a ransom and threatens to release the data if not paid. Cybersecurity experts are skeptical of the claim, noting the lack of proof and viewing it as a possible publicity stunt. The Federal Reserve has not confirmed the breach UPI News has more.
🇰🇪 Protesters stormed Kenyan parliament over proposed tax increases. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets and stormed the parliament in Nairobi to protest against the Finance Bill 2024, which proposes significant tax hikes. The controversial bill includes higher taxes on essential items and fuels, intended to address national debt and fund development projects. Despite the government's concessions to remove some taxes, demonstrators continue to demand the bill's complete withdrawal, clashing with police who deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. WSJ has more.
👩🚀 Two astronauts stuck in space after Boeing’s spacecraft faces technical difficulties. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, on its first mission carrying astronauts, has faced another delay. Initially scheduled to return on June 18, the landing was postponed to June 22, then further delayed due to thruster and hatch operation checks. Despite the setbacks, NASA and Boeing aim to gather extensive data to ensure Starliner's readiness for future missions, including a six-month docked mission at the International Space Station (ISS). Read more at ABC News.
🇧🇴 Bolivian president survives failed coup attempt. Bolivian President Luis Arce survived an attempted coup led by rogue military units. The insurgents used armored vehicles to breach the presidential palace before the situation was controlled, and the leading general was arrested. Arce condemned the rebellion, urging Bolivians to defend democracy and restore order. Read more at Reuters.
In Case You Missed It…
What’s The Diagnosis?
A 30-year-old man presents to the clinic with a 2-week history of fatigue, joint pain, and a rash. He mentions that the rash started on his cheeks and has now spread to his nose. On physical examination, there is an erythematous, butterfly-shaped rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Laboratory tests reveal a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Rheumatoid arthritis
B) Systemic lupus erythematosus
C) Dermatomyositis
D) Psoriasis
E) Rosacea
Answer: B) Systemic lupus erythematosus
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