Endoscopy in a pill

Engineers in the Boston area (MIT, BU, and others) have developed a small pill that can diagnose possible bowel disease in real time, as a potential alternative to procedures that end in “-scopy.”

The pill contains engineered bacteria, a transmitter, and a battery. When the bacteria encounter nitric oxide (“a short-lived molecule that is associated with many inflammatory bowel diseases”) they glow, and at different levels depending on the nitric oxide concentration.

The pill electronics then convert that light into a wireless signal that can be transmitted through the body to a smartphone or other computer in real time as the pill travels through the gut.

Result: A way to detect an IBD without sticking anything anywhere. And why yes, they do call it a “game changer.”

A new flu vax

Moderna says its mRNA-based flu shot works better than traditional vaccines based on a late-stage trial that shows it’s safe and effective. The company is hoping to make the vaccine available for the 2024–25 flu season.

Loneliness, guts, and health

People who are lonely often get depressed, and people who are depressed often end up with a digestive disease — so found a team of University of Michigan gastroenterologists and hepatologists. People with a digestive disease are then more likely to say they have “poor or fair” overall health.

The worst part is that loneliness and being alone are different things; plenty of people “are socially connected, yet suffer from low psychological wellbeing and loneliness.”

The study’s conclusions were targeted toward gastroenterologists, but they apply to all healthcare providers:

“Being aware of the link between loneliness, depressive symptoms, and digestive diseases can really benefit your patients from a holistic perspective.”

ICYMI: Vaccines for everyone

CDC advisors recommended the new Covid-19 vaccines for everyone aged 6 months and older. “While the benefits appear to be greatest for the oldest and youngest people, the benefits of vaccination exceed the risks for everyone.”

That said…

Because the federal government is no longer buying and providing Covid vaccines, it’s up to insurers, including Medicare/-caid, to pay for them. But there is also the HHS Bridge Access program that will pay pharmacies and other providers to give the vaccines to the 25 million+ Americans without insurance.

CVS and Walgreens are the two chains providing the vaccines through that program, and other pharmacies can reach out to eTrueNorth, which is also participating.

What’s up with UGA CoP

UGA grads and others who might be interested: The UGA College of Pharmacy’s annual report, UGA Script, is out now with everything you might want to know about what the college has been up to.

Most importantly, starting on page 40 you can read about GPhA President (and UGA CoP 1992 grad) Joe Ed Holt and his philosophy of giving forward.

Keeping ferrets safe

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If you’re like most people, you’ve probably asked yourself “What drugs work best to treat ferrets with Covid-19 and also reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus?” Thankfully, Georgia State and Emory University researchers have that very answer: While both molnupiravir and paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) can help prevent severe Covid, “only molnupiravir efficiently blocked SARS-CoV-2 transmission.” The more you know.

The Long Read: Phages update

Bacteriophages, known since 1915, are a hot contender to fight antibiotic resistant infections. Forbes has an overview of some of the latest developments in harnessing these bug killers.

It takes just 2.5 weeks on average […] to find a phage that covers a bacteria we previously couldn’t cover. […] [T]heoretically, within just a few of months, the world has an answer available to a previously drug-resistant bacterial strain. By contrast, the development of a new antibiotic takes anywhere from eight to 20 years.