Ketan Mahajan

Health experts have been saying that added sugar content that is found in pre-packaged foods and drinks is increasing the number of people who are dealing with severe health conditions. Many people are at risk of death as well due to higher consumption of added sugar. Now, a study that has been done by experts from Massachusetts General Hospital has shown that cutting down added sugar content from packaged foods and beverages might have some long-term health benefits. The authors of the study have created a model to identify the effects of reducing added sugar content in 15 kinds of packaged foods and beverages. They have observed dietary data that have been taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They have combined the findings with the policy that has been proposed by the US National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative (NSSRI). The NSSRI is an association of more than 100 organizations and health officials across the country. The NSSRI comprises the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science, and Policy from Tufts University, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The results of the new study have been reported in a journal known as Circulation.

The findings of the study have shown that cutting down the amount of added sugar from packaged meals by 20 percent and reducing the content of added sugar in packaged drinks by 40 percent can prevent nearly 2.48 million events of cardiovascular issues such as strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrests. The authors of the study have said that these fractions of reduction in the amount of added sugar will halt nearly 490000 deaths linked to cardiovascular ailments. It will prevent around 750000 events of diabetes as well. The authors of the study have said that these reductions will also save nearly $4.28 billion in healthcare revenue as well in the next ten years. These cutbacks in the amount of added sugar will save around $118 billion in revenue over the life span of the adult population, said the experts. Another study as well has shown that eating ultra-processed foods like sweetened beverages, sodas, and fast foods each week is linked to an elevated risk of heart issues. This study has been done by the European Society of Cardiology. Experts from Greece have said that each highly processed food item that is eaten during the week can shoot up people’s odds of being diagnosed with a cardiovascular issue by 10 percent within 10 years. The authors of the new study have said that health officials should execute public health programs and nutrition policies to promote better food choices among people. A certified dietician, Sarah Koszyk has said that it is hard to keep a tab on companies that make processed foods; however, people can control what they eat. She has said that people should closely check the nutrition label present on the product to find out where the sugar is being sourced from in the food.

Sarah Koszyk is a sports nutritionist as well. She has claimed that not all sugars are made equally. Sugars that are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, starches, and dairy products are natural sugar. Natural sugar accounts for the total sugar that is found on a nutrition label. Koszyk has said that all these foods except dairy foods have dietary fiber as well. As per the experts, dietary fiber is a kind of carbohydrate that encourages satiety and offers health benefits linked to the heart. The authors of the study have said that if people are buying dried fruits, they should opt for a product that has a nutrition label, which mentions fruits only. Additional ingredients of sugar that are mentioned in the nutrition label contribute to the content of added sugar that is not good for the overall health. Health experts have said that as sweet stuff is called by numerous names, the content of added sugar is hard to be identified in packaged foods. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has claimed that cane juice, dextrose, corn syrup, fruit nectars, lactose, maltose, maple syrup, fructose, glucose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, and high-fructose corn syrup are kinds of added sugar only. Dr. Sarah Koszyk has said that moderation and frequency matter the most when it comes to eating low sugar or reduced sugar items as the amounts of sugary items can still make a difference if people start eating them more often. She has said that stevia and monk fruit are good options for people who want to add some sweetness to their coffee or tea, as they are plant-based substitutes for sugar. These alternatives will help people maintain their glycemic index and promote low to no calorie consumption. Experts have said that one tablespoon of powdered stevia is equal to one cup of sugar.

A report shows that millions of people in the US have been delaying their dental appointments due to the fear of COVID19 infection. Experts say this situation might lead to increased fees for patients, job loss, and fewer family practices. Since the pandemic has hit the United States this spring, all the dental clinics have been temporarily shut down except for emergency appointments. It has thrown hundreds of thousands of American people out of work. Now, when 99.9 percent of dental clinics have reopened again, however, the number of patients coming in remains 20 percent lower than usual day. This data has been released by the American Dental Association (ADA). Although the dentists have been taking all the safety measures to protect themselves and patients from coronavirus, they do not think this situation will improve any time soon.

A study shows that the expenditure on dental care will go down by 38 percent in 2020. It says that 46 percent of dentist groups have said that the volume of their patients has reduced by 15 percent than usual levels in the first week of October. The study shows that nearly 15 to 20 percent of patients have confessed that they will not visit their dentists until there is a proven treatment or a vaccine for COVID19. The Chief Economist of ADA projects, Marko Vujicic has said that a large section of people is very cautious about the pandemic and it is difficult to make people return to usual activities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has earlier said that oral health check-ups, dental cleanings, and preventive care will be delayed until there is a sufficient decline in the rate of COVID19 transmission. The ADA has strongly opposed the WHO’s stand and said that dentists are taking many safety measures to reduce the risk of infection.

Dentists have been maintaining safety standards by using N95 masks, surgical masks, disposable gowns, air purifiers, cleaning solutions, temperature checks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. They have been forcing patients as well to wait in their cars until their appointments start. Experts from the dental industry have said that there is no documented proof of COVID19 cases stemming from a dental care facility. The ADA officials have said that if the situation remains the same for a few more months, dentists will consider raising their fees. They have said that they will raise the fee for insured patients too. Dentists might consider privatizing their practices as well, said the officials from ADA. The organization has revealed that a dentist spends an additional $15 to $20 per patient due to the safety measures taken for COVID19 prevention.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report saying that the number of Hispanic people dying due to COVID19 is growing rapidly. Minorities in the United States have been majorly hit by the global pandemic. The number of death among them is still on the rise, said the experts. As per the data, Hispanic Americans have made up 16.3 percent of COVID19 deaths in the US in the month of May. In August, the proportion has gone up to 26.4 percent. Reports show that more than half of the US deaths due to the pandemic include white Americans; however, the number of black and Hispanic people who have lost their lives amid the pandemic is higher than their share of the population. The rise in deaths among Hispanic people might be due to the shift of the epidemic from the northeast to the south and west regions. South and west regions are highly populated with black and Hispanic people.

The CDC suggests that black and Hispanic people are highly prone to the virus and they are more likely to die due to the infection. As per the data fetched from Johns Hopkins University, 217000 people have lost their lives due to COVID19 so far. Around 8 million people have been infected with the virus. Although the pandemic has confirmed that it does not differentiate in infecting the people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, and genders, however, it does not hit all these groups equally either. Nearly 114411 people have died due to COVID19 between May and August. Reports say that 49 percent of them have been black and Hispanic people. Nearly 51.3 percent of them have been white people. Experts have said that the proportion of white people dying will be more than three quarters if the virus would have hit the people of all races equally. Black people make up only 13 percent of the US total population; however, they account for 19 percent of people who have died due to COVID19 in the US. Latinx and Hispanic people contribute to 18 percent of the population in the US, but they make up for more than 24 percent of deaths in the last four months.

The shift of COVID19 outbreak from northeast to south and west regions has been instrumental in increasing the death toll among minorities. With overwhelming cases in New York City and tri-state area under control, other regions of the country, which have fewer cases and do not require aggressive measures, have started to see a surge in deaths and further infection. South region has seen only 23 percent of COVID19 deaths in May; however, the share of deaths across the region has increased by threefold and reached up to 62 percent. The share of deaths in the west region as well has increased from 10.4 percent to 21.4 percent. As per the experts, the geographic shift of the outbreak might be due to the difference in the implementation of community mitigation efforts across the nation. The authors of the study have said that ethnic disparity among the descendants of south and west has increased in the months of May and August. It might be another reason for the rising deaths among black and Hispanic people.

Many hospitals have been treating severe COVID19 patients with blood plasma of recovering patients due to the absence of an effective and approved treatment. Doctors believe that blood plasma extracted from recovering patients carry antibodies, which fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although plasma has not shown any advantage during the randomized trials, however, some small studies claim that it might help reduce the severity of the disease. A new study has found that the levels of antibodies reduce quickly in the blood of COVID19 patients during recovery. Experts have said that the levels of antibodies keep decreasing as the body of the patient starts clearing the virus and its symptoms. A new study has been done by experts from the American Society for Microbiology.

Experts have said that if the convalescent plasma is effective in the treatment of COVID19 disease it should be taken within a precise window of time after recovery. Nevertheless, recovering patients are not allowed to donate blood until at least 14 days after their symptoms have been reduced. Doctors need to give this much time to the patient’s body to clear out the viral infection. Dr. Andres Finzi, a professor at the University of Montreal, Canada has said that the ability of plasma to eliminate the viral particles is slowing down during the first weeks after recovery. Some of the past studies have found that the antibodies, which fight against the virus, start acting in full force, 2 or 3 weeks after the onset of the symptoms. A previous study, which has been done by Dr. Finzi and his team, has shown that the capacity of plasma to fight the infection has reduced between 3 to 6 weeks after symptoms have started showing. Around 100 patients have been included in this study.

In a new longitudinal study, experts have taken blood samples of 31 people who have been recovering from COVID19 infection. These blood samples have been taken at a one-month interval. They have observed levels of immunoglobulin, which fight against the virus’s spike protein. Experts have examined the ability of the antibodies to eliminate the virus. They have seen a variation in the levels of antibodies among the patients. There has been a consistent signal in the levels of antibodies. As per the study, the levels of immunoglobulin G, A, M has rapidly reduced between six and ten weeks after symptoms have started showing. During the same time, the capacity of the antibodies to kill the virus has also gone down.

Two new studies have revealed that there is a link between people with O blood type and lower chances of being diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection. These studies have shown that people with O blood group, who have been diagnosed with COVID19, will have milder symptoms than others. Experts have not been able to find out the cause and effect of the statistical link in the study. One study has been published in Denmark and another study with the same findings has been released in Canada. However, experts have said that there is a need for further studies for more substantial conclusions. Experts have said that the O blood group plays a significant role in people’s susceptibility to COVID19 infection.

The study published in Denmark has revealed that only 38.4 percent of people with O blood type have tested positive for COVID19 out of 7422 Danish people. The study has reported that people with blood type O make up only 41.4 percent of nearly 2.2 million of the untested population. People with blood type A contribute to 44.4 percent of people who have been diagnosed with the disease. They make up 42.2 percent of people who have not been tested yet. The Canadian study has analyzed 95 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. The study shows that people with A and AB have required a ventilator as compared to 61 percent of people with blood type O and B. People with blood type O and B have stayed only for 9 days in the intensive care as compared to those with A and AB blood groups, who have spent nearly 13.5 days in the intensive care.

Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, the author of the Canadian study has said that authorities need to conduct more study to consider this as a definitive marker. It is uncertain whether this link is a certain kind of protection for O blood type people or some kind of vulnerability linked to other blood groups. Experts have said that the findings of the study should not change the way people have been taking their daily lives so far. Both studies have been published in the Journal of Blood Advances.

A national study has shown enough evidence that child care centers are not liable for spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus even in communities where largely the infection is quite high. This study has been published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It has been touted to be the largest research, which has been done on the transmission of the COVID19 in child care programs in the US. The study has been led by Professor Walter Gilliam. The lead author of the study has said that the findings of the study are very encouraging and it will provide relief to the child care providers and families, who have been relying on them.

The study has analyzed around 57335 child care providers, which accommodate almost 4 million children in two-thirds of counties in the US. Experts have revealed that people who have been working during the first three months of the pandemic are no more prone to fall sick as compared to those who have not been working. Experts have said that there is no link between people working in child care centers and catching the virus. The study has clearly mentioned that child care providers are not at a higher risk of COVID19 if they have stayed at home. Earlier reports have shown that adults are at a greater risk of contracting the virus than children. Such findings have helped the experts to come up with a measuring stick for the spread of the virus in these child care centers.

Many past studies have shown that child care centers are not the hotspot for the spread of the virus. However, experts have said that in the case of influenza, children might be the main spreader and schools might stand as major hotspots. Well, it is a different case for COVID19. The findings of the national study are constant with reduced rates of infection and transmission, which have been reported by more than 33000 licensed preschool and daycare centers in California. There have been only 657 children and 1000 providers who have fallen sick due to COVID19 since March. However, many experts have been opposing the findings of the study. They have said that the study has been done much before more cases have started coming up. However, the authors of the new study have said that people should not extrapolate their findings to K-12 schools, where containing the spread of the virus is quite difficult due to the extra size of the class and more group mixing.

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has announced that it will buy MyoKardia Inc. for USD 13.1 billion in cash in a deal. The move by the drug giant is aimed at expanding its offering of heart therapies. It will also reduce Bristol Myers’ dependency on cancer drugs. The deal comes after the largest pharmaceutical deal in history that the company clinched last year. According to a statement issued by the company, It will pay USD 225 a share for MyoKardia. With this deal, Bristol Myers will get access to MyoKardia lead product mavacamten. It is an experimental drug to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this disease, the muscle of the heart becomes abnormally thick.

Expanding the lineup to heart drugs would help Bristol Myers maintain a more diversified lineup of therapies. The company has so far emphasized the expansion of its oncology business of late. Eliquis, a blood thinner, has been the company’s top-seller, however, it is expected to face tough competition in the coming years. Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Caforio said that they have been trying to find different ways to strengthen the company. “This is a disease that has no treatment available at the moment and therefore the value is very significant. The deal can really be a multi-billion dollar asset,” he added.

Nearly a year ago, Bristol Myers closed a USD 74 billion deal with Celgene Corp. This placed the company in a better position in the increasingly competitive market for cancer therapies. But investors are concerned about the prospect of the company in the next half of the decade. Revlimid was the main drug that was obtained in the deal. It is expected to drop US patent exclusivity in 2027. Similarly, Eliquis is also expected to lose patent exclusivity in 2026. It is expected that an application for the approval of mavacamten will be submitted in the first quarter of the year 2021. The company’s executives said that this is too early to discuss such things.

Scientists have said that people who drink coffee before having their breakfast might be at a higher risk of irregular blood sugar levels. Having coffee as a way to wake up in the morning can harm people, said, the experts. On the other hand, they have said drinking coffee after breakfast can help in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. This study has come from the Center for Nutrition Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath. Experts have said that the blood sugar control goes for a toss when the first thing body gets is coffee in the morning especially after a disturbed sleep. Health experts have advised people to drink coffee after they eat something in the morning. They have said that it will improve the glucose levels in the blood.

The authors of the study have observed 29 men and women after three overnight trials. In the study, participants who have disrupted sleep a night before have been made to drink a sugary drink in the morning. The participants who have been waking up every hour for five minutes during their sleep have been given a sugary drink as the first thing in the morning in the second trial. During the third trial, volunteers have been made to drink a black coffee 30 minutes before a sugary drink, who have similar disrupted sleep a night before. Each of the men and women has got their blood sugar levels checked before having anything and after ingesting the first thing they had in the morning. Experts have found those participants who have had sugary coffee first, their blood glucose levels have increased by 50 percent after having the breakfast drink. On the other hand, people who have had a breakfast meal replacement drink; there has not been any negative effect on their blood sugar levels.

The early findings of the study have revealed that drinking coffee as the first thing in the morning can restrict the body’s ability to process sugar immediately. However, experts have said that there is a need for further study to determine the effect of caffeine as first thing in the morning on people’s metabolism. Scientists have said that we need to learn a lot about how sleep impacts our metabolism. It is still uncertain how much sleep disruption can harm people’s metabolism. This study has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.