Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Doctor's Social Media Promos For His Company's Cancer 'Breakthrough' May Violate Federal Rules
Stat: CEO's Promotion Of 'Breakthrough' Cancer Therapy Raises Questions
The emotional video tells of a patient with blood cancer who tries an experimental therapy involving “natural killer” cells. “NEW BREAKTHROUGH HELPS PATIENTS KILL CANCER” the banner headline declares as the patient, wiping away tears, covers her face with her hands and murmurs, “It’s really good news.” Billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong retweeted the video several times in recent days, amid a flurry of social media posts in which he vowed to “solve” cancer. But where the ordinary viewer might see an inspirational story, drug industry experts saw a likely violation of federal regulations. (Robbins, 3/27)
The New York Times: Going Under The Knife, With Eyes And Ears Wide Open
“Do you want to see your tendons?” Dr. Asif Ilyas, a hand and wrist surgeon, was about to close his patient’s wound. But first he offered her the opportunity to behold the source of her radiating pain: a band of tendons that looked like pale pink ribbon candy. With a slender surgical instrument, he pushed outward to demonstrate their newly liberated flexibility. (Hoffman, 3/25)
Stat: How One County Battled A Deadly Strain Of Tuberculosis
The drug-resistant TB had quietly spread for the better part of a decade among [Atlanta's] homeless population. Then in 2014, the stubborn strain turned fatal, killing at least three men and infecting dozens. The deadly “Atlanta strain” also cropped up in more than a dozen states nationwide. Alarmed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intervened with emergency aid. A multimillion-dollar effort to screen and treat vulnerable residents has worked: Officials announced this week that TB cases in Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta and and some of its surrounding suburbs, have dropped by nearly a third. They say the approach here can offer valuable lessons to other communities battling public outbreaks. (Blau, 3/24)
NPR: New Parents Get Baby Boxes To Encourage Safe Sleep
For Jernica Quiñones, the reality of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, hit close to home this year when a friend woke up on New Year's Day and discovered the lifeless body of her baby girl. That's why Quiñones' 4-month-old son, Bless'n, has spent a lot of his life so far sleeping in a cardboard box. (Pao, 3/26)
The Baltimore Sun: Study: African-Americans Don't Trust Flu Vaccine; Whites Don't Think Flu Is That Bad
The researchers found African-Americans worried about the safety of the shot more than the health risks of the flu. The findings are important as the medical community tries to improve vaccination rates. Fewer than half of Americans get the flu vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just 41 percent of African-Americans get vaccinated, compared with 47 percent of whites. The study, published in the journal Risk Analysis, included 800 white and 800 African-American participants. Researchers from the University of Georgia and the University of Pittsburgh also participated in the research. (McDaniels, 3/25)
NPR: Long-Term Impact Of Zika Virus In Puerto Rico Unknown
Micaela Delgado is a beautiful dark-eyed baby girl with a ready smile. She's eight months old. She's one of more than 1,000 babies already born in Puerto Rico to mothers with Zika. (Allen, 3/27)
NPR: Common Virus Can Cause Devastating Birth Defects
When Kathleen Muldoon had her second child everything was going smoothly. The delivery was short, the baby's APGAR score was good and he was a healthy weight. "Everyone said he was amazing," says Muldoon. But when a doctor noticed that Gideon was jaundiced, everything changed. (Neighmond, 3/27)
NPR: Breast-Fed Kids May Be Less Hyper, But Not Necessarily Smarter, Study Finds
Breast-feeding has many known health benefits, but there's still debate about how it may influence kids' behavior and intelligence. Now, a new study published in Pediatrics finds that children who are breast-fed for at least six months as babies have less hyperactive behavior by age 3 compared with kids who weren't breast-fed. (Aubrey, 3/27)
The Washington Post: A 10-Month-Old Girl Had A Parasitic Twin Protruding From Her Back — Until Surgeons Removed It
The examinations, X-rays and dry runs using a 3D model of her tiny spine all came down to this: A team of surgeons made a careful incision and, over the next six hours, systematically removed an extra pelvis, legs, feet and tiny toes that were protruding from her neck and back. Since birth, baby Dominique had been carrying her parasitic twin. (Bever, 3/25)
Kaiser Health News: Want To Live Past 100? Centenarians Share Secrets Of Knee Bends And Nips Of Scotch
Gertrude Siegel is 101 and hears it all the time. “Everyone says ‘I want to be just like you.’ I tell them to get in line,” she said. John and Charlotte Henderson, 104 and 102, often field questions from wannabes eager to learn their secrets. “Living in moderation,” he said. “We never overdo anything. Eat well. Sleep well. Don’t overdrink. Don’t overeat. And exercise regularly.” (Jayson, 3/27)
