Credits: Canva
Quademic 2025: Hospitals in the United States are dealing with a surge in patients admission, the reason is the quademic it is dealing with at this moment. This has led to an influx of patients. It is all caused by seasonal infections, including common flu, Covid-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that dominate the winter season in the US. This year, norovirus also joined the list, which has further increased the load on the healthcare.
The healthcare company founded in academics M Health Fairview, confirmed that their hospitals are overflowing due to the quademic.
The hospitals of M Health Fairview's volume is up by 30% and as a results, patients are being treated in the hallways and in alternative care areas. There is also a longer wait time and shortages for resources that are required to treat these emergencies. This has also impacted other life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks and strokes, as the healthcare resources and caregivers are occupied with the surge in seasonal cases.
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Common cold and flu: The common cold and influenza (flu) are perhaps the most well-known illnesses that peak during the fall. As temperatures drop and humidity levels fluctuate, viruses that cause colds and the flu become more active. The flu, in particular, can be more severe than a common cold, leading to complications such as pneumonia, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, coughing, fever, and body aches.
Covid-19: As per the World Health Organization, Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with this virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment, However, there could be some cases of seriously ill patients who may require medical attention. It is also because of the other existing medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, or older age.
The best way to protect against this virus is by following social isolation form those who are infected, using mask to prevent droplets from infecting others when you cough or sneeze and to wash your hands for 20 seconds frequently.
RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus: As per the Centers of Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects nose, throat and lungs. Though symptoms are similar to the viruses like flu or COVID-19, the disease in itself is different. It also peaks during the winter season, especially between December and January.
However, the main difference between RSV and other respiratory illness, above mentioned is that RSV can cause pneumonia or bronchiolitis, especially for those who are over the age of 50 or with an existing heart or lung disease.
Norovirus: It is a number 1 cause of foodborne illness in the US and this happens when virus gets into the food and then it accidentally enters your mouth. These particles are from faeces or vomit from infected people, or can be transmitted via contaminated food and water. It could also spread by touching unclean surfaces like door handles or cutlery.
For most people, having norovirus is unpleasant, but mild and recovery could be made in 1 to 2 days. However, it could be more serious for babies, older people and anyone with any existing health condition.
Credit: AI
A new experimental menopause drug has shown promising results in reducing hot flashes, with the company reporting an 83% reduction in moderate-to-severe episodes in a mid-stage clinical trial.
Shares of Canadian biotechnology company AbCellera surged nearly 40% on Monday after it announced positive results for ABCL635, an experimental non-hormonal treatment for moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.
The Phase 2 study involved 92 women. After four weeks, women who received a single 600-mg dose of ABCL635 experienced an 83% reduction in the frequency of moderate-to-severe hot flashes, equivalent to 8.8 fewer episodes per day from baseline. The placebo group reported a 33% reduction, or 3.5 fewer episodes per day.
The treatment also improved the severity of symptoms, sleep and women's overall assessment of their improvement, according to the company.
The most commonly reported side effects, however, included headache, fatigue and reactions at the injection site.
ABCL635 takes a different approach from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It is a non-hormonal antibody treatment that targets the neurokinin 3 receptor, or NK3R, a protein involved in the brain's regulation of body temperature.
During menopause, falling estrogen levels can disrupt the activity of a group of brain cells known as KNDy neurons. This can make the body's temperature-control system overly sensitive, triggering hot flashes. By blocking NK3R signaling, ABCL635 is designed to help restore that balance.
Also read: Lifestyle Genetics And Hormones: Understanding The Interplay Of Risk Factors For Ovarian Cancer
One of the drug's potential advantages is its dosing. ABCL635 is being developed as a long-acting, once-monthly injection, rather than a daily pill.
AbCellera's chief medical officer Sarah Noonberg said the approach could appeal to women already accustomed to self-injecting medicines and could potentially improve adherence compared to daily dosing.
When the Phase 2 programme began, Noonberg said: “Menopausal symptoms can have a profound impact on quality of life,” adding that the company wanted to assess whether ABCL635 could offer women a safe and effective non-hormonal alternative.
However, the drug is still experimental and has not been approved for clinical use. AbCellera said additional 12-week trial data are expected later this year, which will provide a better picture of how long the benefits last and how the treatment performs over a longer period.
The drug development comes as non-hormonal menopause treatments are gaining popularity. FDA-approved options already include drugs targeting neurokinin pathways, including Astellas' Veozah and Bayer's Lynkuet, giving women alternatives when hormone therapy is unsuitable or not preferred.
Hot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms, are among the most common symptoms of menopause. The Menopause Society says up to 80% of women experience hot flashes or night sweats at some point during the menopause.
A hot flash can begin suddenly, often as an intense wave of heat across the face, neck and chest. It may be followed by sweating, chills, dizziness, anxiety or racing heartbeat. When these episodes happen during sleep, they are known as night sweats.
Frequent hot flashes can repeatedly interrupt sleep, leaving women irritable and fatigued the next day. Poor sleep can then affect concentration, mood and daily functioning, creating a cycle in which one menopause symptom amplifies another.
Credit: X
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking major changes to the country’s childhood vaccination recommendations, including a proposal to split the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots.
The order follows his long-standing view that some vaccines should be given separately over different medical visits.
The order, signed on August 10, calls for childhood vaccines to be administered at separate medical visits whenever possible and narrows the federal recommendations to vaccines against 11 core diseases.
It also directs federal health agencies to develop a plan for separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, which are currently not available as individual shots in the US.
Trump described the move as establishing “gold-standard” childhood vaccine recommendations and repeatedly raised the topic of vaccine and autism during the signing ceremony.
However, medical experts and lawmakers have opposed the move, saying that the proposed changes are not supported by new scientific evidence.
The MMR vaccine currently protects children against three diseases with a combination shot. Under existing CDC guidance, children receive two doses, generally at 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years.
The CDC says two doses of measles-containing vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles.
He recently increased pressure on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to identify the cause of autism, something Kennedy had pledged to do with new research unveiled last year.
At a Cabinet meeting last month, Trump asked, "How are you doing on the autism research?" Kennedy replied, "We will have an answer for you."
Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the announcement could create unnecessary uncertainty for families.
“Science about vaccines and their efficacy has not changed,” Racine said.
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One of the biggest hurdles in implementing tis proposal is that individual measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available in the US.
Dr. Elizabeth Mack, a pediatric critical care physician, questioned how such a system would work.
“We don't have a system that supports this,” she said, raising questions about additional appointments and insurance coverage.
Merck, which manufactures the MMR vaccine, also said there is no published scientific evidence showing a benefit from splitting the combination vaccine. More injections and additional appointments could instead increase the chances of delayed or missed vaccinations.
Also read: Dr. Erica Schwartz Confirmed As CDC’s First Permanent Director In Nearly A Year
Doctors are particularly concerned about separating the vaccines and keeping them too far apart. When children need multiple visits to receive protection against different diseases, there can be longer periods during which they remain unprotected.
Public health experts warn this could become especially problematic during outbreaks of diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.
The order also seeks to encourage states to reconsider vaccination requirements for schoolchildren, although states retain authority over school vaccine schedules.
The latest order follows earlier efforts by the Trump administration to overhaul the federal childhood vaccine schedule. In January, Kennedy’s Health and Human Services Department attempted to remove several vaccines from routine childhood recommendations.
That move was challenged in court and blocked by a federal judge. The new executive order seeks to reinforce the administration’s approach while that legal battle continues.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and chairman of the Senate health committee, also criticised the latest move. “I’m a doctor. This executive order is wrong,” Cassidy said. “The President does not have the expertise to make these changes.”
Credit: Canva/Eli Lilly
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorized Eli Lilly’s orforglipron, marketed as Foundayo, for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
With the approval, the UK has become the first country in Europe to authorize Lilly’s once-daily GLP-1 tablet. It is also the second oral GLP-1 weight-loss medicine authorized in the UK after Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.
“As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication, and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review,” said Julian Beach, MHRA Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access.
Orforglipron is a prescription-only pill and is authorised for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults with:
Unlike injectable GLP-1 medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, Foundayo is taken as a once-daily tablet. It can be taken at any time of day, with no restrictions on food or water.
Treatment starts at 0.8 mg and is gradually increased through 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg, with at least one month at each dose level. Patients should follow the dosing instructions provided with the medicine.
Although Foundayo has been authorized for use in the UK, it is not currently available through the NHS. The NHS availability will depend on established processes, including assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The MHRA urged people to buy the prescription only GLP-1 medicines from a registered pharmacy, with a prescription from a doctor. Buying GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers carries serious health risks.
Orforglipron is Eli Lilly’s first oral GLP-1 medicine for weight management, marketed as Foundayo. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April this year.
The medicine is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the action of glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation.
By activating GLP-1 receptors, orforglipron helps reduce hunger and food cravings and increases feelings of fullness. Along with diet and lifestyle changes, this can support weight loss.
In people with type 2 diabetes, it also helps lower blood glucose levels. Unlike some oral GLP-1 medicines, orforglipron does not require patients to take it on an empty stomach or avoid food and water around the time of dosing.
A recent clinical trial led by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian showed that Foundayo may be help prevent rebound weight gain caused by GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
The ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial included people who had previously taken tirzepatide or semaglutide and whose weight loss had plateaued.
Foundayo is not approved for use in children. Its safety information also includes a warning about the potential risk of thyroid tumours, including thyroid cancer.
Patients should seek medical advice if they develop symptoms such as:
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