Blog Articles

The nation’s largest dental association is changing its recommendations regarding the use of lead aprons and thyroid collars during dental x-rays. The American Dental Association (ADA) will no longer advise the use of these protective measures due to advancements in x-ray technology. With more focused x-ray beams, there is reduced concern about radiation exposure to other body parts, and the aprons and collars can sometimes obstruct dentists from obtaining necessary images. Dr.

Scientists from Moderna have acknowledged potential toxicity risks associated with the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology used in their COVID-19 vaccine. Published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, the paper highlights challenges in efficiently addressing these risks. The toxicity concerns relate to lipid nanoparticle structural components, production methods, route of administration, and proteins produced from complexed mRNAs. The paper emphasizes the need for techniques to mitigate these risks.

Generic medicines: FDA-approved generics are equivalent to brand-name drugs in safety and efficacy. Dietary supplements: Vitamins, minerals, and herbs are not FDA-approved for treating or preventing diseases. Compounded drugs: The FDA does not approve drugs created through compounding. E-cigarettes: No e-cigarette has FDA approval as a smoking cessation aid. Facilities: The FDA does not approve facilities, including medical product companies or healthcare providers. Waterproof sunscreen: No sunscreen is truly waterproof; water resistance indicates duration.

Philips Respironics, facing severe backlash over its handling of the 2021 recall of millions of sleep apnea machines, has agreed to halt sales of its respiratory devices in the United States. The recall was prompted by a defect in the devices where industrial foam could break apart, releasing potentially toxic particles and fumes into patients’ masks.

The latest 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine has shown an overall effectiveness of 54% against symptomatic cases in adults, according to a study by CDC researchers. The vaccine also demonstrated efficacy against the JN.1 variant, which became predominant in January.

B. Braun Medical, Inc. has issued a Class I recall, the most serious type, for its Infusomat Space Large Volume Pump, Wireless, and Infusomat Space Large Volume Pump, Non-Wireless BATTERY PACK. The recall, identified by the FDA, is categorized as a correction rather than a product removal. The affected devices, used in healthcare facilities for delivering fluids and medications, pose a serious risk of injury or death due to faulty occlusion alarms.

An upcoming FDA advisory panel meeting will address the need to enhance the accuracy of pulse oximeters, with a particular focus on patients with darker skin. The increased use of pulse oximeters during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored limitations and risks associated with the technology, especially for individuals with darker skin pigmentation. The committee aims to discuss strategies to improve premarket studies, considering skin pigmentation, race, and ethnicity.

The article highlights a tragic incident at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, where a new mother, Sungida Rashid, died due to internal bleeding just days after giving birth. The hospital faced a critical shortage of medical devices, specifically embolism coils, as their inventory had been repossessed due to unpaid bills.

A recent cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial conducted by Joanna Klopotowska, PhD, PharmD, at Amsterdam University Medical Center, demonstrated a 12% decrease in high-risk drug combinations in ICUs by tailoring potential drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts. The study involved nearly 10,000 ICU patients, revealing a mean reduction from 35.6 to 26.2 administered high-risk drug combinations per 1,000 drug administrations per patient.

The FDA has issued a warning to dialysis giant Fresenius following a prolonged investigation into potentially harmful chemicals in its hemodialysis machines. The warning letter, posted in December, criticized Fresenius for its slow response to the issue, citing a lack of corrective action for almost two years after learning of the problem.