Cross another treatment off the list

Ivermectin was Yet Another Drug being pushed as a Covid-19 treatment. And it’s Yet Another Drug that — after an actual study — turns out not to be effective. It’s not that it doesn’t suppress SARS-CoV-2, it’s that “effectively inhibiting the coronavirus may require extremely high, potentially unsafe doses.”

The FDA has gone so far as to issue an update on the drug: “Taking ivermectin for this purpose is dangerous and can cause serious harm.”

And while we’re on the subject…

After weeks of Covid-19 cases dropping, the U.S. hit a plateau — and that might be bad news. It could be a harbinger of a fourth wave of the virus, and one fueled by variants. Luckily, Georgia’s caseload was flat week to week. The two states with the biggest jump: Texas and Mississippi.

Irish for a day

Time to let off a little steam and hang out with folks are all also burning the candle on both ends.

GPhA’s Academy of Employee Pharmacists presents … an (almost) St. Patrick’s Day Meet & Drink (and Eat): March 15, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Here’s the twist: It includes a FREE virtual cooking show with Chef Tony Lassic showing us how to make bangers & mash, chocolate Guinness mousse, and a Drunken Leprechaun cocktail to wash it all down.

We’ll send you the recipes and ingredient lists ahead of time, so you can enjoy a taste of Ireland at home. All you have to do is register — but extra credit for anyone dressed as a leprechaun.

Maybe not Mad Sweeney

You kiss your mother with that mouth

We’re learning every day how important all our various microbiomes are. So when you read that “Vaping Changes Your Oral Microbiome,” you need to take pause.

A study out of an Ohio State University found, among other things, that the bacteria in the mouths of e-cig users were not only stressed, they were stressed to the point of “secret[ing] toxins that destroy host cells and prevent other bacteria from colonizing.”

Scientists also know that the oral microbiome is associated with chronic diseases that affect other parts of the body. When something disrupts the balance of microbes in the oral microbiome (a disturbance called dysbiosis), those microbes release large amounts of toxins, triggering inflammation. As part of the inflammatory response, blood vessels become leaky, allowing the bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream.

Raise a glass for the pharmacists ‘down inside’

Retail pharmacists have been having it rough, for sure. But take a moment to think of your brethren in critical care settings. With hospitals still seeing record use rates and ICUs being filled, “it may not be a surprise that about 60% of critical care pharmacists reported feeling burned out in a recent national survey.”

(Shout-out to UGA assistant professor Susan Smith, PharmD, who was quoted in the article.)

The word is “chutzpah”

As part of the Cares Act, Congress gave tax breaks to companies that were hit hard by the pandemic. But some companies, it seems, are trying to use that law to get tax breaks for the losses they incurred not from Covid, but from the opioid settlement.

Yep, that’s right. They’re trying to claim the billions they had to pay for their roles in the opioid crisis as pandemic losses. And Congress ain’t having it.

Spinal cord, heal thyself — take 2

Genetic engineers have found what may be a key to allowing the body to repair spinal cord damage: “Putting a protein into overdrive.”

Researchers at the University of Texas and Indiana University figured out that, after a spinal-cord injury, cells called NG2 glia start acting like immature neurons (with the help of a protein called SOX2). In effect, NG2 can regenerate neurons — just not enough to actually heal the spinal cord.

Hmm, said the researchers. What if they tweaked those NG2 cells to produce more SOX2? You know, just to see. Bingo. Those cells went into overdrive.

[M]ice with this manipulation produced tens of thousands of new mature neurons. Further investigation showed that these neurons integrated into the injured area, making the new connections with existing neurons that are necessary to relay signals between the brain and body.

Certifiable

Apparently some companies like to show a picture of the FDA logo with their products, or even an “FDA Registration Certificate,” and the agency isn’t happy.

Unauthorized use of the FDA logo is bad enough. Worse is trying to trick people by saying you’re registered with the FDA as if it means you have an approved product. Any chucklehead can register, but that doesn’t mean their snake oil treats anything.