JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Historically, medical research has been male-dominated, leading to gender bias in disease understanding and drug responses. Women experience different symptoms and metabolize drugs differently. Despite progress, such as the NIH's Sex as a Biological Variable initiative, significant gaps remain, particularly in female-exclusive conditions like menopause and endometriosis. Funding inequities and challenges in translating research into practice exacerbate these issues.

US regulators will accept alternatives to horseshoe crab blood for drug quality assurance testing in November, easing industry reliance on the animal.

US FDA accepts NDA for LENZ Therapeutics' LNZ100 for presbyopia treatment, supported by Phase 3 CLARITY study data. Ocuphire Pharma acquires Opus Genetics, forming a key player in gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases. A study suggests 19% of dementia prevalence may result from correctable visual impairments. An optometrist shares experience in retina subspecialty. A new study finds higher glaucoma prevalence in the US than previously estimated.

The 2024 presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could significantly impact U.S. health care, particularly prescription drug costs, health coverage, and reproductive rights. Harris pledges to build on existing programs to make health care more affordable, while Trump aims to reduce federal health spending. Both candidates have different approaches to lowering prescription drug costs and expanding health coverage, with Harris supporting the Affordable Care Act and Trump advocating for state-level decisions on reproductive rights.

Johns Hopkins study finds arm position during blood pressure tests significantly affects accuracy, with lap support overestimating systolic pressure by 4 mmHg and unsupported arm by 7 mmHg. Correct position, as per AHA guidelines, is arm supported at mid-heart level on a desk or table.

A Johns Hopkins study estimates that thousands of lives could have been saved during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic if convalescent plasma had been used more broadly, particularly in high-risk outpatients and early hospitalized patients. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, estimates that between 16,476 and 66,296 lives were saved by using convalescent plasma in hospitalized patients, with potential to save between 37,467 to 215,614 more lives if used more widely. The therapy is relatively inexpensive and could be crucial in future infectious disease emergencies.

Newly updated COVID-19 vaccines, including mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech and the Novavax protein-based vaccine, are available across the U.S. The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older receive the updated vaccine, which targets the KP.2 strain of COVID-19. Vaccines offer protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and help prevent long COVID. Individuals at higher risk, such as the elderly and immunocompromised, should get vaccinated promptly. The vaccine is free for those with insurance and through certain programs for uninsured individuals and children.

Alfehaid et al. analyzed colchicine-related drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in COVID-19 patients, finding no increased risk of adverse events from potential DDIs. The study highlights the need for efficient screening and testing of DDIs using big data and clinical trial repurposing, emphasizing the importance of conservative prescribing and interaction checkers in clinical practice.