California Sues Hospital for Denying Patient an Emergency Abortion

The state said that despite a doctor’s recommendation and state law, a Catholic hospital declined to provide an abortion because fetal heart tones were present.

…In a statement, the hospital said, “Providence is deeply committed to the health and wellness of women and pregnant patients and provides emergency services to all who walk through our doors in accordance with state and federal law. We are heartbroken over Dr. Nusslock’s experience earlier this year. This morning was the first Providence had heard of the California attorney general’s lawsuit, and we are currently reviewing the filings to understand what is being alleged.” California, which also accuses the hospital of violating state laws concerning civil rights and business conduct, is seeking a preliminary injunction immediately stopping the hospital from following its policy while the case proceeds. NYT.

Breast cancer deaths in the US continue to fall, but new report warns of rise in cases among women younger than 50

Despite a continuous decline in the rate of breast cancer deaths in the United States, the incidence of the disease has increased, especially among younger ages, and significant racial disparities remain, according to a new American Cancer Society report… “There is a slightly higher increase in the rate of breast cancer diagnosis for women who are under age 50 versus those that are above age 50,” she said. “These are things that we are watching to try to understand.” CNN.

Breast Cancer Continues to Rise Among Younger Women, Study Finds

Death rates are declining among U.S. women with breast cancer. But the disease is turning up more often in women under age 50.

Rates of breast cancer — the second leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. women — climbed by 1 percent a year from 2012 to 2021, and even more sharply among women under age 50 and among Asian American/Pacific Islander women of all ages, according to an American Cancer Society report published on Tuesday. NYT.

This Disease Can Damage the Liver for Years Without Being Detected

Four in 10 people are thought to have a potentially serious liver condition known as MASLD. Reversing it is possible if you catch it early.

…Cirrhosis can occur in the late stages of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, which happens when fat builds up in the liver and can lead to inflammation and scarring. MASLD, which was known until recently as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is estimated to affect nearly 4 in 10 people worldwide. It is the fastest-growing reason that people require liver transplants in the United States. NYT.

How ‘obesity first’ health care is transforming medicine

Doctors are increasingly addressing obesity as the root cause of other illnesses.

Health care is undergoing a major paradigm shift. Some clinicians are shifting away from treating chronic conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, back pain and fatigue — long the bread and butter of primary-care medicine — and toward targeting their common root cause: obesity. WashPost.

Time-restricted eating linked to greater blood sugar control and fat loss

… Participants were randomly divided into two groups; the first group received healthy lifestyle and nutritional advice, such as following the Mediterranean diet. They were instructed to maintain their usual eating patterns and any prescribed medications. The second group received the same nutritional guidance but was also instructed to follow a personalised 8 to 10-hour eating window….The results showed that, compared to the group receiving only standard nutritional guidance, the TRE group experienced a greater reduction in weight, with a larger proportion of the weight loss coming from fat. MedicalNewsToday.

Flu deaths in children hit new record as vaccination rates decrease: CDC

There were 200 pediatric flu-related deaths in the 2023-2024 season.

The number of kids dying from influenza in the 2023-2024 season has set a new record for a regular flu season, after one new death was reported last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There were 200 pediatric flu-related deaths in the 2023-2024 season, compared to the previous high of 199 during the 2019-2022 season. ABCNews.

Doctors issue stark warning as Louisiana reclassifies abortion pills

Officials class mifepristone and misoprostol as ‘controlled substances’ – which medics say could imperil women’s lives

Two common abortion pills are, as of Tuesday, classified as “controlled substances” in Louisiana, due to a first-of-its-kind law that medical professionals warn will endanger the lives of women by restricting medication used to treatpostpartum hemorrhage and other conditions. … Although the drugs are typically used in US medication abortions, they are also regularly used in an array of other circumstances, such as to help with miscarriage management, treat ulcers and soften the cervix during labor and other procedures. Guardian.

Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda draws concern over possibility of international spread

WHO currently deems the risk of spread to nearby countries as high, but global spread low

…Most of the cases detected to date — over 70% — have been in health professionals who work in two hospitals in the capital city, Kigali, which is home to 1.7 million people. Kigali is also a regional and international travel hub; flights from the city go to destinations in about 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. STAT.