Big chains limit peds drugs

CVS, Kroger, and Walgreens are limiting sales of some kids’ meds due to shortages.

• CVS: a two-product limit on all children’s pain-relief products (in person or online)
• Kroger: a two-product limit on all children’s pain-relief products
• Walgreens: six-product limit on kids’ fever reducers per online transaction

Reading dem bones

You know that kid who always seems to be breaking a bone? Maybe people should be paying more attention, because — as Kiwi researchers found — “[P]eople who broke a bone more than once in their childhood had more than double the odds of breaking a bone as an adult.”

One broken bone isn’t a problem, but multiple fractures during childhood seems to be a warning sign about future osteoporosis. (In women, in particular, multiple childhood fractures is connected to lower hip-bone density in their 40s.)

Why is this? They don’t know. It’s not about demographics, risky behavior (“Hold my juice box!”) or even playing sports.

• • •

Flu patch aces trial

A flu vaccine patch just passed its phase 1 trial with flying colors, as Massachusetts-based Vaxess said it’s microneedle patch was 90 percent effective against the flu. Patients wear the patch for about five minutes, after which the microneedles remain in the skin and dissolve slowly, releasing their “payloads.” And because the needles are so small, no only did the volunteers not feel pain, Bill Gates’s microchips can’t be delivered with the technology.

Subjects will be monitored for six months to be sure they don’t turn into mindless zombies, after which the company expects to start further trials.

Are we still talking about this?

Following their groundbreaking meta-analysis proving the earth is round, Duke and Vanderbuilt medical researchers are excited to report that no, ivermectin provides no benefit for Covid symptoms.

“[T]here does not appear to be any role for ivermectin in treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially considering other available options with proven reduction in hospitalizations and death.”

• • •

Prozac and preemies

If there’s a condition with an unknown cause, you can probably get away with saying, “It’s probably inflammation.” (Or, possibly, gut bacteria.)

The latest: Why do antidepressants like Prozac increase the risk of preterm birth? According to Yale/UMass pediatrics researchers, it’s inflammation — specifically, inflammation of the human fetal membrane. That causes water to break early and thus a preemie.

You want the science? Sure thing:

Prozac increases the activity of inflammation regulator p38-MAPK. The extra activity increases interleukin 6, leading to the ol’ cytokine storm^* … and inflammation.

So, could anti-interleukin 6 drugs be the answer? You know the drill: More research is needed.

^* Small storm — category 2

Statins and osteoporosis

High doses of statins increase osteoporosis risk — and now it’s been proven. The connection was sort-of known after a 2019 Austrian study, but now those same researchers say they’ve effectively proven that it’s real.

Between the previous analysis (which showed the statin-osteoporosis relationship) and now this current study of mice (which showed the cause and effect), they’re confident in saying that “people taking high dose statins were four to six times more likely to develop osteoporosis.”

Recommendation: Prescribers should consider alternatives, like PCSK-9 inhibitors, in patients taking high statin doses.

Interleukin plot twist

The good thing about science is that it’s always updating and correcting itself. The bad thing is that it can be really embarrassing when you find you got something completely backwards.

In this case, the something is the protein interleukin 37. Wikipedia describes it as “an anti-inflammatory cytokine important for the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production.”

But now Irish geneticists say that description may be completely backwards. Interleukin 37, they say, isn’t anti-inflammatory. It’s pro-inflammatory.

“Interleukin-37 has an unexpected function as an immune-activating molecule” — unexpected because “previous studies suggested that this interleukin instead served as an “off switch” for the immune system.”

(That discovery is actually a side note to their research, which is studying an interleukin receptor in the skin that responds to three four different “alarm” molecules.)

I never did trust armadillos

To keep its title of “World’s Most Depressing Magazine,” the Atlantic sometimes has to dig deep for a new angle on a story. Case in point: The new thing to worry about is [insert drumroll here] armadillo Covid.

No joke. “[E]ven when there are so many other pandemic concerns, animal COVID can’t be ignored.”

Holidays of doom

It’s that time of year again — time for everyone and his mother to release a list of holiday deathtraps for kids and pets. If you feel the need, Rutgers has you covered — and the first item is a sign of the times: “Give guests a safe space (locked up is best) to keep potentially dangerous items, including marijuana edibles, medicines, vaping/nicotine products and hand sanitizers.”