As a pediatrician I am very familiar with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In infants and young children RSV infection results in a sometimes frightening seasonal illness called bronchiolitis. The virus affects the smallest airways, called the bronchioles, and results in wheezing and trouble breathing. There is no effective antiviral medication, only supportive treatment. The illness is especially severe in premature infants. In June 1998 one of the first monoclonal antibody drugs palivizumab was approved as a preventative measure given to premature infants at high risk for severe infection. In July 2023 another monoclonal antibody drug named nirsevimab-alip was approved for […]
Author: Mike Woods
New Alzheimer’s Drugs Proven to Work
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disease that is the most common cause of dementia. It causes progressive destructive and irreversible changes in the brain. A common feature is the accumulation of a protein called amyloid-β in the form of plaques and tau tangles. Both are thought to cause brain cell death. Although among the most likely candidates, they have not yet been shown to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. In a blog from 2 years ago a newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s disease named aducanumab was discussed. At the time I thought the medication had not been proven to […]
Science vs Politics Part II: The Preventive Care Mandate
Mifepristone: Science vs Politics discussed the ruling of a Federal District Judge in Texas on Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA that banned the use of mifepristone for abortions. After many challenges, including the current administration, this ruling was mitigated by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which provided a compromise ruling that allowed the use of mifepristone, but only until seven weeks after conception; down from the previous ten weeks limit. This ruling only affected a small number of people. A different conservative Federal District Judge in Texas has now made a ruling on Braidwood Management v. […]
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Has Ended
The Federal Government declared a COVID-19 public health emergency in January of 2020 and decreed many changes in healthcare and healthcare insurance to help people better cope with the pandemic. The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 provided $6.7 billion for the federal and state governments to respond to the COVID epidemic in the United States. An additional $1.6 billion was included to contribute to the international response. The majority of the funds were used to control the virus in the form of research into treatment and prevention measures; keeping track of all aspects of the […]
Mifepristone: Science vs Politics
The overruling of Roe v. Wade made a personal medical decision even more of a contentious political battle. Despite the majority of the population being in favor of abortion rights, far-right politicians and judges are intent on passing legislation and making rulings to empower state and federal governments to make these decisions for their citizens. The usurpation of the right of people who can become pregnant to make their own decisions about their healthcare and well-being has gotten even more political with a new ruling from an extremist federal judge in Texas. While the original focus of the abortion […]