China's Tianwen-2 Probe To Collect Samples From An Earth Quasi-Moon
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People may start to regain weight within weeks of discontinuing weight loss drugs, study finds
Patients put on weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may start regaining weight within weeks of discontinuing them, a new study finds. The research review, published on Tuesday in the journal BMC Medicine, assessed data from 11 previous clinical trials, involving nearly 2,500 people, and found a broad trend of patients regaining lost weight after their medication courses concluded. At least six drugs have so far been approved for treating obesity in adults – orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, and phentermine-topiramate. Six of the 11 clinical trials covered in the review focused on semaglutide, the active ingredient of Ozempic and Wegovy. While a growing body of research shows that prolonged use of these anti-obesity drugs can lead to significant weight loss in adults, preliminary studies indicate weight regain after their discontinuation. 'The long-term change of weight after discontinuation of AOMs is still lacking systematic evaluation,' the new review notes, referring to anti-obesity medications. Initially given to patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, semaglutide is now sold off-label as a quick fix for weight loss. Researchers, including from the Peking University People's Hospital in China, have now found that while semaglutide and similar medications could lead to significant weight loss in use, a weight rebound could start barely eight weeks after their discontinuation. Representational. A pharmacy owner speaks with a customer at a pharmacy in Pristina (AFP via Getty) In the review, researchers analysed data from 1,574 participants in treatment groups and 893 in control groups across 11 clinical trials, which measured weight change by tracking body weight and BMI after stopping medication. Researchers controlled for contributing factors, including medication type, presence of diabetes, and presence or absence of lifestyle changes like diet or exercise. The analysis found that the weight rebound continued for an average of 20 weeks after discontinuation before plateauing. 'Significant weight regain occurred eight weeks after discontinuation of AOMs and was sustained through 20 weeks,' they write in the review. Participants experienced significant periods of weight regain at eight, 12, and 20 weeks after stopping the drugs, the study found. The weight rebound seemed to depend on factors like the type of medication taken and the consistency of lifestyle change. For instance, patients who completed a 36-week treatment of weight-loss drug tirzepatide regained almost half the weight previously lost after switching to a placebo. The review calls for more studies with longer follow-up periods to further assess potential factors linked to weight change after halting treatment with such drugs.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
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Everyone's talking about the Perseid meteor shower – but don't bother trying to see it in Australia or NZ
In recent days, you may have seen articles claiming the 'best meteor shower of the year' is about to start. Unfortunately, the hype is overblown – particularly for observers in Australia and New Zealand. The shower in question is the Perseids, one of the 'big three' – the strongest annual meteor showers. Peaking in the middle of the northern summer, the Perseids are an annual highlight for observers in the northern hemisphere. As a result, every year social media around the world runs rife with stories about how we can enjoy the show. For an astronomer in Australia, this is endlessly frustrating – the Perseids are impossible to see for the great majority of Australians and Kiwis. Fortunately, there are a few other meteor showers to fill the void, including a pair that will reach their peak in the next seven days. What are the Perseids? Every year, Earth runs into a stream of debris laid down over thousands of years by comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle. The comet swings around the Sun every 133 years or so, shedding dust and debris each time. Over the millenia, that material has spread to create a vast stream. Earth starts to run into debris from Swift–Tuttle in mid-July, and takes six weeks to pass through the stream. When the dust and debris hit Earth's atmosphere, the resulting meteors create bright streaks in the sky – a meteor shower. For most of that time, the dust we encounter is very widely spread, and so few meteors are seen. Around August 12, Earth reaches the densest part of the Perseid stream and the shower reaches its peak. The Perseids aren't even the 'best' meteor shower Comet Swift–Tuttle last passed through the inner Solar System in 1992. With the comet nearby, Earth encountered more dust and debris, making the Perseids the best meteor shower of the year. In the decades since, the comet has receded to the icy depths of the Solar System, and the peak rates for the Perseids have fallen off. The 'best' (most abundant) meteor shower of the year is now the Geminids. However, for people in the northern hemisphere, the Perseids are still well worth looking out for. The curse of the spherical Earth All meteor showers have a 'radiant"– the point at which meteors seem to originate in the sky. This is because, for a given shower, all the debris hitting Earth comes from the same direction in space. The debris from comet Swift–Tuttle crashes towards Earth from above the north pole, and at an angle. As a result, for people at a latitude of 58 degrees north, the Perseid radiant would be directly overhead in the early hours of the morning. If a meteor shower's radiant is below the horizon, you won't see any meteors – Earth is in the way, and all the dust and debris is hitting the other side of the planet. It's exactly the same reason you can't see the Sun at nighttime. Given the location of the Perseid radiant, it will never rise for observers south of 32 degrees. This means anyone below that line will never see any Perseids. In theory, anyone north of 32 degrees south latitude can see the Perseids – but there are other complications. The higher a shower's radiant is in the sky, the more meteors you will see. This is why the Perseids can't put on a great show for people in Australia. Even in the far north of Australia, the Perseid radiant remains low in the sky at its highest. For most Australians, the Perseids will be a spectacular disappointment. Look for these meteor showers instead If you're keen to see a meteor shower from Australia or New Zealand, it's best to cross the Perseids off your list. Fortunately, there are other options. Every May, Earth passes through debris left behind by comet 1P/Halley, creating the Eta Aquariid meteor shower – only visible in the hours before dawn. For Australian observers, that's the second best shower of the year. At the end of July each year, two minor meteor showers reach their peaks: the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids. This year, they peak on 29 and 30 July, with the best views coming in the hours around midnight. It's a perfect time to head out to a dark sky site and relax under the stars – the centre of the Milky Way is high overhead in the evening sky, and these two showers provide some added fireworks to make the sky extra special. Then, in December, comes the true "best shower of the year' – the Geminids. Reaching a peak on 14 and 15 December, the Geminids always put on a spectacular show. Unlike the Perseids, it can be seen from all across our island continent and in Aotearoa. If you really want to see a great meteor shower, skip the Perseids and plan to head somewhere dark this summer, to spend a couple of nights relaxing under the stars. This article is republished from The Conversation. It was written by: Jonti Horner, University of Southern Queensland Read more: Astronomers have spied an interstellar object zooming through the Solar System Astronomers have discovered another puzzling interstellar object − this third one is big, bright and fast After 50 successful years, the European Space Agency has some big challenges ahead Jonti Horner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
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China's Tianwen-2 Probe To Collect Samples From An Earth Quasi-Moon
The Tianwen-2 probe is being prepped for launch at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The probe will "collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 and conducting an exploration of comet 311P," according to China Central Television. Credit: | footage courtesy: China Central Television (CCTV) | edited by Steve Spaleta Solve the daily Crossword
