Latest news with #StonyBrookMedicine
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gender-affirming care funding at risk in new bill
NEW YORK (PIX11) — The future of gender affirming care for some transgender people is up in the air as lawmakers in Washington, D.C., consider President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' An amendment added to the bill would prohibit federal Medicaid funding from being used for gender-affirming care for not only minors, but also transgender adults. More Local News David Kilmnick, with the LGBT Network, tells PIX11 News the bill also proposes removing gender transition coverage for people who use health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Micah Schneider, a trans person who works for the LGBT Network, says there is so much fearmongering and misunderstanding about gender affirming care. Schneider said, 'Gender affirming care is literally anything that makes you feel good in your skin. Hair implants for cis gender men; gender affirming care. Breast augmentation; gender affirming care.' Schneider tells PIX11 News, 'We're just every day normal folk trying to live our lives.' Dr. Jennifer Osipoff, a pediatric endocrinologist at Stony Brook Medicine, said gender affirming care includes everything from counseling to hormone therapy to puberty blockers. Osipoff said, 'I am hopeful that insurance will continue to pay for these therapies, that is one of the things that I do discuss now, that I never did before with my patients, because they want to know the worst case.' She adds: 'I don't fault families at all for trying to think of a solution, because they're literally trying to keep their child healthy, happy, and alive.' Gender affirming surgery is only performed on individuals 19 and above at Stony Brook Medicine. The FBI issued an official statement via 'X' on June 2nd stating, 'Help the FBI protect children. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care. Report tips of any hospitals, clinics, or practitioners performing these surgical procedures on children at 1-800-CALL-FBI or click here. The CDC reports that it is rare that gender affirming surgery is ever performed on minors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does the Measles Vaccine Wane in Immunity?
Is it just us, or is anyone feeling déjà vu lately? Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the US has trouble containing another virus, largely due to misinformation. While it's not another COVID strain, it's a little disorienting to fight off a virus the US beat before: Measles. Recent numbers report 301 cases across 15 states and two confirmed deaths. A measles infection is one of the world's most contagious diseases, but unlike COVID, scientists are not scrambling to create a vaccine. We already have one—and it works. Measles vaccination is estimated to have saved 60 million lives between 2000 and 2023. And if you break down who has been infected so far, 95% have been in the unvaccinated population. That said, you would expect the government's leading medical experts to urge people to vaccinate. The official measles response, though, has been confusing. , the Secretary of Human and Health Services, recommended that people get vaccinated, but he also made conflicting and misleading statements about the measles vaccine. Many infectious disease experts and doctors have made it clear they disagree with RFK's vaccine skepticism. The measles vaccine does not wane in immunity. It's quite the opposite. Here are the facts. Related: Vaccination remains the safest and most effective method for preventing measles infection. One dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is 93% effective against measles, and two doses are 97% effective. The current two-dose MMR vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine. It's a weakened or altered form of the virus that cannot cause infection. Exposure to the weakened virus allows the body's immune system to recognize and train an immune response against it. , a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, says that, unlike COVID, the measles virus is not expected to dramatically mutate into a deadlier virus that renders the current vaccine obsolete. , a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, says only a small percentage of vaccinated people experience breakthrough infections. Of the current cases in the US, 3% of people with one dose of the MMR vaccine have gotten sick with measles, while only 2% of people vaccinated with two doses have been infected. Despite the infection, Handel emphasizes that measles symptoms are less severe compared to unvaccinated people. Related: In a Fox News interview earlier this month, RFK downplayed the vaccine's effectiveness. He even theorized that waning immunity from the vaccines was partly to blame for the measles outbreak. 'When you and I were kids, everybody got measles, and measles gave you … lifetime protection against measles infection. The vaccine doesn't do that. The vaccine is effective for some people for life, but for many people, it wanes,' Kennedy told Hannity, according to CNN. He even claimed that the measles vaccine causes deaths every year, a claim that is absolutely, demonstrably false. Now keep in mind that RFK has long been skeptical of vaccines. He's wrongly claimed a link between vaccines and increased autism rates (the two studies he used to back up his claim are widely discredited). With the claim of waning immunity from the measles vaccine, RFK may be referring to the first measles vaccine—one that has been discontinued for decades. The original measles vaccine used from 1963 to 1967 was one dose and an inactivated vaccine. This uses a killed version of the virus, but it proved not to be as protective as a live attenuated vaccine. This vaccine was quickly replaced with the two-dose measles vaccine used today, which provides high protection against the virus. Both Handel and DiJohn agree that the population that received this earlier measles vaccine or is unsure of their vaccination status should get a booster shot. The current two-dose measles vaccine provides lifetime immunity and is the best way to protect yourself against measles, says DiJohn. People who have received the measles vaccine as children continue to show high antibody levels. If you're nervous about waning immunity, Handel says you can ask your doctor for a blood test to check for antibodies that protect against measles. Related: Measles is a respiratory virus transmitted through the air. It infects immune cells in the respiratory tract and spreads to other tissues and organs via the lymphatic system. Measles presents symptoms similar to a cold, such as a runny nose, cough, and watery eyes. One of the telltale signs of measles is a rash that spreads throughout the body and small white spots inside the mouth known as Koplik spots. Measles is highly contagious, and people can get sick from breathing the same air as an infected person. 'One case of measles is estimated to cause about 15 to 20 additional cases,' says Handel. 'In the old days before vaccines, if a kid in a classroom got measles virtually, so did every other kid in the class,' explains DiJohn.'It has a tremendous potential for causing epidemic spread.' The neurological and respiratory complications of measles make it dangerous to humans, and there is a risk of death. A small percentage of people develop pneumonia with measles or secondary bacterial pneumonia afterward. There is also a risk of brain swelling called encephalitis, which can lead to blindness and deafness. A decade after a measles infection, people have reported issues with their immune systems. Handel said the weakened immune system can cause people to lose immunity to infections they were once protected against. In rare situations, the immunosuppression caused by the measles virus can induce a fatal neurological disorder called SSPE. Bottom line: measles vaccines are effective and have already prevented millions of infections. In DiJohn's words, it's better to be vaccinated than to face a potentially life-threatening disease. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry? Up Next"Measles Cases and Outbreaks." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2023." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "Measles Vaccination." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. David DiJohn, MD, professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Andrew Handel, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Medicine "Kennedy downplays immunity from vaccination as measles outbreak grows." CNN. "RFK Jr. Falsely Claims Measles Vax Causes Deaths 'Every Year.'" MedPage Today. "Vaccines and Autism." Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Vaccine Types." U.S. Department of Human and Health Services. "Measles." World Health Organization. "Measles Symptoms and Complications." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis." National Library of Medicine.
Gulf Insider
13-03-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
High-Dose Vitamin D May Slow Progression Of MS-Like Neurological Disorder
A new clinical trial has found that high doses of vitamin D may significantly slow the progression of a neurological disorder known as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). It is a condition that may look like multiple sclerosis (MS) and may precede MS. Both MS and CIS are caused by inflammation and damage to the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, the protective layer that surrounds nerve fibers, leading to communication issues between the brain and the rest of the body. Currently, there is no cure for either condition. The research, conducted across 36 MS centers in France, aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on patients experiencing early signs of the disease. Recently published in JAMA Network, the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study enrolled 303 participants aged 18 to 55 with low vitamin D and MRI results typical of CIS, a condition that often precedes MS. CIS is characterized by a single episode of neurological symptoms lasting at least 24 hours. These can include vision problems, numbness/tingling, weakness, coordination issues, and bladder/bowel problems. Patients were treated with either 100,000 international units of vitamin D or a placebo every two weeks for a period of 24 months. The primary outcome measured was the occurrence of disease activity, defined as either a relapse of symptoms or new nerve damage shown on an MRI scan. The findings revealed that only 60.3 percent of participants receiving vitamin D had symptom relapses or further nerve lesions on MRI, compared to 74.1 percent of those receiving the placebo. Also, the average time between relapses or further lesions were detected was longer for those taking vitamin D—432 days compared to 224 days for those on placebo. Researchers primarily observed a reduction in detected nerve lesions. There was not a significant difference in the rate of relapses between the two groups, meaning that vitamin D did not prevent the return of symptoms. Click here to purchase Vitamin K2/D3 on its own, or buy Ultimate Omega 3 and receive a bottle of K2/D3 for free. These results make high-dose vitamin D a candidate for further studies evaluating add-on therapy in the therapeutic strategy for managing MS, noted the study authors. Vitamin D exerts its effects primarily by calming down the immune system. It affects immune cells' activity and reduces inflammation in the central nervous system, potentially promoting neuroprotection and regrowth of myelin, fatty tissue that gets destroyed in CIS and MS. The researchers noted that serious adverse events were low and comparable between both groups, with no significant side effects directly related to vitamin D treatment. These findings hold promise for low-risk interventions that could potentially alter the course of the disease, Dr. Patricia K. Coyle, director of the MS Comprehensive Care Center at Stony Brook Medicine, told The Epoch Times. 'This is a study that looked at high dose oral vitamin D therapy in first attack, very early relapsing MS, and it showed a decrease in damage to the central nervous system,' she said. 'This would set the stage for saying that potentially this might be a treatment, a valuable treatment.' When you take vitamin D, 'you're going to absorb more calcium.' The concern is someone potentially developing an abnormally high level of calcium in the blood and the complications linked to that—such as kidney stones, gastrointestinal upset, and cardiac issues—which are all based on having a toxic, very high level of calcium that can be measure in the blood, she added. 'They didn't really see any direct calcium related toxicity at all in the study, suggesting that this particular cohort, on the pulse high dose oral vitamin D, were tolerating it very well,' Coyle said. 'This suggests that that was pretty safe.' She emphasized this could especially benefit people who live in regions where access to conventional MS treatment is limited. Conventional MS drugs fight the disease by blocking inflammation or certain immune cells from causing further damage. While the trial's primary outcome was achieved, Coyle said that the absence of a documented clinical benefit, despite MRI observations, is 'a little bit odd.' She suggested this may indicate the need for further research, explaining that if patients had less nerve lesions as detected by MRI, they should also have less relapses in neurological symptoms. 'This is not the end of the story,' Coyle added, pointing out that the current findings warrant additional studies to explore the full potential of high-dose vitamin D in MS management. 'But it's giving a rationale for saying this high dose therapy may decrease damage to the central nervous system,' she said. 'Which is something we always want with MS, so it certainly justifies doing further studies to try to document this benefit.' Also read: The Drug Warnings You May Never See – Until It's Too Late
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why is the flu so bad this year?
The U.S. is in the midst of its first 'high severity' flu season in seven years. Since October, there have been at least 37 million infections, 480,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. As of last week, 98 children have died from influenza, the CDC reported. In some states, flu surges have been so bad that schools and entire districts have had to close down. The U.S. has also seen the highest rate of doctors visits for flu-like illnesses overall — which include influenza, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — in 15 years. While flu activity has slowed in recent weeks, experts warn that the season isn't over yet. 'We may have months of disease and illness in front of us,' said Dr. Susan Donelan, an infectious disease doctor and medical director of health care epidemiology at Stony Brook Medicine in New York. Although experts don't know exactly why the flu seems so bad this year, they say several factors may be to blame. Two types of influenza A viruses — H1N1 and H3N2 — have dominated this year's flu season, according to the CDC. Some experts, including Donelan, say these strains tend to spread more quickly and cause more severe disease, which could explain this season's intensity so far. H3N2, specifically, is known for mutating more frequently than other influenza strains, which can 'make it more difficult for our bodies to recognize that particular virus even if we've been in contact with it or immunized against it before,' said Taj Azarian, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of genomics at the University of Central Florida. 'As a result, we can be more susceptible to getting sick.' By default, those mutations could also make flu vaccines — which are formulated months before the beginning of the season they're intended for — less effective, said Robert Bednarczyk, an epidemiologist and associate professor of global health at Emory University in Atlanta. However, data released Thursday by the CDC suggests this season's vaccine's effectiveness is on par with previous years. Early estimates from this season found that children and teens who were vaccinated and later got the flu were 63%-78% less likely to be hospitalized; vaccinated adults were 41%-55% less likely to be hospitalized because of the flu, according to the CDC report. The vaccine is 'overall a very good match' this year because it protects against all three strains that are circulating, said Dr. Inessa Gendlina, an infectious disease doctor with the Montefiore Health System in New York. Flu vaccines reduce the odds of severe illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths — yet vaccination rates have fallen since the Covid pandemic, according to the CDC. This alarming trend, experts say, could help explain why this flu season is so severe. While vaccination rates among adults are similar compared to this time last year — around 45% — CDC data shows, the difference among children 'is most striking,' Azarian said. As of Feb. 15, about 46% of kids had received a flu shot; about 51% were vaccinated by this time last year. Overall, flu vaccination coverage dropped 8 percentage points from about 63% to 55% from the pre-pandemic 2019-2020 season to the 2023-2024 season. 'That's a pretty significant drop,' Azarian said. The steps we took to prevent Covid infection, such as wearing masks and social distancing, may have weakened our immunity to the flu — another potential reason influenza is hitting us so hard this year, Gendlina said. 'We've been masking quite a bit in the last five years, which prevents influenza spread. So we don't have as much immunological memory going from year to year as we've had in the past,' she said. 'Not having that memory isn't in our favor in terms of how this influenza season pans out.' Now that fewer people are wearing masks, respiratory viruses like influenza are free to spread, Gendlina said. Although flu activity is decreasing, experts say there's no telling when this flu season might end or whether there will be another surge in cases. That means there's plenty of time to get a flu shot if you haven't yet, Donelan said. In fact, national wastewater samples are showing a 'steady increase' in influenza B concentrations, according to Amanda Bidwell, the scientific program manager at WastewaterSCAN. It's too early to say if we've hit a peak with this strain, she added. Gendlina said the threat of a new wave is reason enough to get vaccinated if you haven't already. Even if you've already had the flu this year, it's still a good idea to get vaccinated if you haven't gotten the shot, Donelan said. Because there are three flu viruses spreading right now, you can still get sick with either of the other two. Donelan said people should talk to their doctors about their personal risks of a severe infection. In some cases, she said, people might be able to get a prescription for the antiviral medication Tamiflu ahead of time so they have it if they do catch the virus. (Tamiflu must be taken within two days of feeling sick.) In the meantime, stay home when ill, wash your hands frequently, and wear a mask if you want to protect yourself and others when in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces, Azarian said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
28-02-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Why is the flu so bad this year?
The U.S. is in the midst of its first ' high severity ' flu season in seven years. Since October, there have been at least 37 million infections, 480,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. As of last week, 98 children have died from influenza, the CDC reported. In some states, flu surges have been so bad that schools and entire districts have had to close down. The U.S. has also seen the highest rate of doctors visits for flu-like illnesses overall — which include influenza, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — in 15 years. While flu activity has slowed in recent weeks, experts warn that the season isn't over yet. 'We may have months of disease and illness in front of us,' said Dr. Susan Donelan, an infectious disease doctor and medical director of health care epidemiology at Stony Brook Medicine in New York. Although experts don't know exactly why the flu seems so bad this year, they say several factors may be to blame. The circulating strains are more severe Two types of influenza A viruses — H1N1 and H3N2 — have dominated this year's flu season, according to the CDC. Some experts, including Donelan, say these strains tend to spread more quickly and cause more severe disease, which could explain this season's intensity so far. H3N2, specifically, is known for mutating more frequently than other influenza strains, which can 'make it more difficult for our bodies to recognize that particular virus even if we've been in contact with it or immunized against it before,' said Taj Azarian, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of genomics at the University of Central Florida. 'As a result, we can be more susceptible to getting sick.' By default, those mutations could also make flu vaccines — which are formulated months before the beginning of the season they're intended for — less effective, said Robert Bednarczyk, an epidemiologist and associate professor of global health at Emory University in Atlanta. However, data released Thursday by the CDC suggests this season's vaccine's effectiveness is on par with previous years. Early estimates from this season found that children and teens who were vaccinated and later got the flu were 63%-78% less likely to be hospitalized; vaccinated adults were 41%-55% less likely to be hospitalized because of the flu, according to the CDC report. The vaccine is 'overall a very good match' this year because it protects against all three strains that are circulating, said Dr. Inessa Gendlina, an infectious disease doctor with the Montefiore Health System in New York. Flu vaccination rates continue to drop Flu vaccines reduce the odds of severe illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths — yet vaccination rates have fallen since the Covid pandemic, according to the CDC. This alarming trend, experts say, could help explain why this flu season is so severe. While vaccination rates among adults are similar compared to this time last year — around 45% — CDC data shows, the difference among children 'is most striking,' Azarian said. As of Feb. 15, about 46% of kids had received a flu shot; about 51% were vaccinated by this time last year. Overall, flu vaccination coverage dropped 8 percentage points from about 63% to 55% from the pre-pandemic 2019-2020 season to the 2023-2024 season. 'That's a pretty significant drop,' Azarian said. We may have lost some immunity to the flu over the years The steps we took to prevent Covid infection, such as wearing masks and social distancing, may have weakened our immunity to the flu — another potential reason influenza is hitting us so hard this year, Gendlina said. 'We've been masking quite a bit in the last five years, which prevents influenza spread. So we don't have as much immunological memory going from year to year as we've had in the past,' she said. 'Not having that memory isn't in our favor in terms of how this influenza season pans out.' Now that fewer people are wearing masks, respiratory viruses like influenza are free to spread, Gendlina said. It's not too late to get a flu shot Although flu activity is decreasing, experts say there's no telling when this flu season might end or whether there will be another surge in cases. That means there's plenty of time to get a flu shot if you haven't yet, Donelan said. In fact, national wastewater samples are showing a 'steady increase' in influenza B concentrations, according to Amanda Bidwell, the scientific program manager at WastewaterSCAN. It's too early to say if we've hit a peak with this strain, she added. Gendlina said the threat of a new wave is reason enough to get vaccinated if you haven't already. Even if you've already had the flu this year, it's still a good idea to get vaccinated if you haven't gotten the shot, Donelan said. Because there are three flu viruses spreading right now, you can still get sick with either of the other two. Donelan said people should talk to their doctors about their personal risks of a severe infection. In some cases, she said, people might be able to get a prescription for the antiviral medication Tamiflu ahead of time so they have it if they do catch the virus. (Tamiflu must be taken within two days of feeling sick.) In the meantime, stay home when ill, wash your hands frequently, and wear a mask if you want to protect yourself and others when in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces, Azarian said.
