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TOPLINE:

Combined exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) is significantly associated with an increased risk for obesity in adults, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD) showing the greatest contribution.

METHODOLOGY:

• Recent evidence has shown that environmental contaminants, particularly dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, may be linked to an increased risk for obesity as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
• Researchers evaluated the relationship between mixed exposure to nine types of dioxins and DL-PCBs and obesity or obesity indices in 852 adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2004.
• They chose nine chemicals for analysis: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD); 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PnCB); PCB28; PCB66; PCB74; PCB105; PCB118; and PCB156.
• General and abdominal obesity were present in 34% and 53.9% of participants, respectively.
• Multiple statistical approaches were employed to evaluate the association of exposures to dioxins and DL-PCBs with obesity. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the potential role of A1c in this association.

TAKEAWAY:

• Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that a single exposure to higher concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD; 3,3’,4,4’,5-PnCB; PCB74; PCB105; and PCB118 was associated with an increased risk for general and abdominal obesity (P for trend < .001 for all). A stratified analysis by sex found that except for PCB28, PCB66, PCB74, and PCB156, all chemicals were linked to increased general and abdominal obesity risk in both men and women.
• Combined exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs was positively associated with the risk for obesity, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD showing the greatest contribution.
• When considering obesity indices, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 3,3’,4,4’,5-PnCB; PCB74; PCB105; and PCB118 were significantly associated with body mass index and waist circumference.
• A1c levels significantly mediated the association between mixed exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs and obesity (P < .05), with mediation proportions of 6.94% for general obesity and 5.21% for abdominal obesity.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our findings suggested that dioxins and DL-PCBs may be independent risk factors for obesity,” the authors wrote. “The hazards of dioxins on obesity should be emphasized, and additional studies are desirable to elucidate the potential mechanisms for dioxins on obesity in adults.”

SOURCE:

This study, led by Zhao-Xing Gao, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University and Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, both in Hefei, China, was published online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional nature of this study prevented the establishment of causal relationships between dioxins or DL-PCBs and obesity. This study relied on a small sample. Replacing chemical concentrations below the limit of detection with fixed values may have introduced bias.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and Research Fund of Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Combined exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) is significantly associated with an increased risk for obesity in adults, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD) showing the greatest contribution.

METHODOLOGY:

• Recent evidence has shown that environmental contaminants, particularly dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, may be linked to an increased risk for obesity as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
• Researchers evaluated the relationship between mixed exposure to nine types of dioxins and DL-PCBs and obesity or obesity indices in 852 adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2004.
• They chose nine chemicals for analysis: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD); 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PnCB); PCB28; PCB66; PCB74; PCB105; PCB118; and PCB156.
• General and abdominal obesity were present in 34% and 53.9% of participants, respectively.
• Multiple statistical approaches were employed to evaluate the association of exposures to dioxins and DL-PCBs with obesity. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the potential role of A1c in this association.

TAKEAWAY:

• Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that a single exposure to higher concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD; 3,3’,4,4’,5-PnCB; PCB74; PCB105; and PCB118 was associated with an increased risk for general and abdominal obesity (P for trend < .001 for all). A stratified analysis by sex found that except for PCB28, PCB66, PCB74, and PCB156, all chemicals were linked to increased general and abdominal obesity risk in both men and women.
• Combined exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs was positively associated with the risk for obesity, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD showing the greatest contribution.
• When considering obesity indices, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 3,3’,4,4’,5-PnCB; PCB74; PCB105; and PCB118 were significantly associated with body mass index and waist circumference.
• A1c levels significantly mediated the association between mixed exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs and obesity (P < .05), with mediation proportions of 6.94% for general obesity and 5.21% for abdominal obesity.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our findings suggested that dioxins and DL-PCBs may be independent risk factors for obesity,” the authors wrote. “The hazards of dioxins on obesity should be emphasized, and additional studies are desirable to elucidate the potential mechanisms for dioxins on obesity in adults.”

SOURCE:

This study, led by Zhao-Xing Gao, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University and Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, both in Hefei, China, was published online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional nature of this study prevented the establishment of causal relationships between dioxins or DL-PCBs and obesity. This study relied on a small sample. Replacing chemical concentrations below the limit of detection with fixed values may have introduced bias.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and Research Fund of Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Combined exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) is significantly associated with an increased risk for obesity in adults, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD) showing the greatest contribution.

METHODOLOGY:

• Recent evidence has shown that environmental contaminants, particularly dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, may be linked to an increased risk for obesity as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
• Researchers evaluated the relationship between mixed exposure to nine types of dioxins and DL-PCBs and obesity or obesity indices in 852 adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2004.
• They chose nine chemicals for analysis: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD); 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PnCB); PCB28; PCB66; PCB74; PCB105; PCB118; and PCB156.
• General and abdominal obesity were present in 34% and 53.9% of participants, respectively.
• Multiple statistical approaches were employed to evaluate the association of exposures to dioxins and DL-PCBs with obesity. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the potential role of A1c in this association.

TAKEAWAY:

• Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that a single exposure to higher concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD; 3,3’,4,4’,5-PnCB; PCB74; PCB105; and PCB118 was associated with an increased risk for general and abdominal obesity (P for trend < .001 for all). A stratified analysis by sex found that except for PCB28, PCB66, PCB74, and PCB156, all chemicals were linked to increased general and abdominal obesity risk in both men and women.
• Combined exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs was positively associated with the risk for obesity, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD showing the greatest contribution.
• When considering obesity indices, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD; 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD; 3,3’,4,4’,5-PnCB; PCB74; PCB105; and PCB118 were significantly associated with body mass index and waist circumference.
• A1c levels significantly mediated the association between mixed exposure to dioxins and DL-PCBs and obesity (P < .05), with mediation proportions of 6.94% for general obesity and 5.21% for abdominal obesity.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our findings suggested that dioxins and DL-PCBs may be independent risk factors for obesity,” the authors wrote. “The hazards of dioxins on obesity should be emphasized, and additional studies are desirable to elucidate the potential mechanisms for dioxins on obesity in adults.”

SOURCE:

This study, led by Zhao-Xing Gao, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University and Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, both in Hefei, China, was published online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional nature of this study prevented the establishment of causal relationships between dioxins or DL-PCBs and obesity. This study relied on a small sample. Replacing chemical concentrations below the limit of detection with fixed values may have introduced bias.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and Research Fund of Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Higher levels of environmental metals in urine are associated with poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk for dementia, new research suggests.

METHODOLOGY:

• This multicenter prospective cohort study included 6303 participants from six US study centers from 2000 to 2002, with follow-up through 2018.
• Participants were aged 45-84 years (median age at baseline, 60 years; 52% women) and were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease.
• Researchers measured urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, tungsten, uranium, and zinc.
• Neuropsychological assessments included the Digit Symbol Coding, Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument, and Digit Span tests.
• The median follow-up duration was 11.7 years for participants with dementia and 16.8 years for those without; 559 cases of dementia were identified during the study.

TAKEAWAY:

• Lower Digit Symbol Coding scores were associated with higher urinary concentrations of arsenic (mean difference [MD] in score per interquartile range [IQR] increase, –0.03), cobalt (MD per IQR increase, –0.05), copper (MD per IQR increase, –0.05), uranium (MD per IQR increase, –0.04), and zinc (MD per IQR increase, –0.03).
• Effects for cobalt, uranium, and zinc were stronger in apolipoprotein epsilon 4 allele (APOE4) carriers vs noncarriers.
• Higher urinary levels of copper were associated with lower Digit Span scores (MD, –0.043) and elevated levels of copper (MD, –0.028) and zinc (MD, –0.024) were associated with lower global cognitive scores.
• Individuals with urinary levels of the nine-metal mixture at the 95th percentile had a 71% higher risk for dementia compared to those with levels at the 25th percentile, with the risk more pronounced in APOE4 carriers than in noncarriers (MD, –0.30 vs –0.10, respectively).

IN PRACTICE:

“We found an inverse association of essential and nonessential metals in urine, both individually and as a mixture, with the speed of mental operations, as well as a positive association of urinary metal levels with dementia risk. As metal exposure and levels in the body are modifiable, these findings could inform early screening and precision interventions for dementia prevention based on individuals’ metal exposure and genetic profiles,” the investigators wrote.

 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Arce Domingo-Relloso, PhD, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City. It was published online in JAMA Network Open.

 

LIMITATIONS:

Data may have been missed for patients with dementia who were never hospitalized, died, or were lost to follow-up. The dementia diagnosis included nonspecific International Classification of Diseases codes, potentially leading to false-positive reports. In addition, the sample size was not sufficient to evaluate the associations between metal exposure and cognitive test scores for carriers of two APOE4 alleles.

 

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Several authors reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health and consulting fees, editorial stipends, teaching fees, or unrelated grant funding from various sources, which are fully listed in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Higher levels of environmental metals in urine are associated with poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk for dementia, new research suggests.

METHODOLOGY:

• This multicenter prospective cohort study included 6303 participants from six US study centers from 2000 to 2002, with follow-up through 2018.
• Participants were aged 45-84 years (median age at baseline, 60 years; 52% women) and were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease.
• Researchers measured urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, tungsten, uranium, and zinc.
• Neuropsychological assessments included the Digit Symbol Coding, Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument, and Digit Span tests.
• The median follow-up duration was 11.7 years for participants with dementia and 16.8 years for those without; 559 cases of dementia were identified during the study.

TAKEAWAY:

• Lower Digit Symbol Coding scores were associated with higher urinary concentrations of arsenic (mean difference [MD] in score per interquartile range [IQR] increase, –0.03), cobalt (MD per IQR increase, –0.05), copper (MD per IQR increase, –0.05), uranium (MD per IQR increase, –0.04), and zinc (MD per IQR increase, –0.03).
• Effects for cobalt, uranium, and zinc were stronger in apolipoprotein epsilon 4 allele (APOE4) carriers vs noncarriers.
• Higher urinary levels of copper were associated with lower Digit Span scores (MD, –0.043) and elevated levels of copper (MD, –0.028) and zinc (MD, –0.024) were associated with lower global cognitive scores.
• Individuals with urinary levels of the nine-metal mixture at the 95th percentile had a 71% higher risk for dementia compared to those with levels at the 25th percentile, with the risk more pronounced in APOE4 carriers than in noncarriers (MD, –0.30 vs –0.10, respectively).

IN PRACTICE:

“We found an inverse association of essential and nonessential metals in urine, both individually and as a mixture, with the speed of mental operations, as well as a positive association of urinary metal levels with dementia risk. As metal exposure and levels in the body are modifiable, these findings could inform early screening and precision interventions for dementia prevention based on individuals’ metal exposure and genetic profiles,” the investigators wrote.

 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Arce Domingo-Relloso, PhD, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City. It was published online in JAMA Network Open.

 

LIMITATIONS:

Data may have been missed for patients with dementia who were never hospitalized, died, or were lost to follow-up. The dementia diagnosis included nonspecific International Classification of Diseases codes, potentially leading to false-positive reports. In addition, the sample size was not sufficient to evaluate the associations between metal exposure and cognitive test scores for carriers of two APOE4 alleles.

 

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Several authors reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health and consulting fees, editorial stipends, teaching fees, or unrelated grant funding from various sources, which are fully listed in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Higher levels of environmental metals in urine are associated with poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk for dementia, new research suggests.

METHODOLOGY:

• This multicenter prospective cohort study included 6303 participants from six US study centers from 2000 to 2002, with follow-up through 2018.
• Participants were aged 45-84 years (median age at baseline, 60 years; 52% women) and were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease.
• Researchers measured urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, tungsten, uranium, and zinc.
• Neuropsychological assessments included the Digit Symbol Coding, Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument, and Digit Span tests.
• The median follow-up duration was 11.7 years for participants with dementia and 16.8 years for those without; 559 cases of dementia were identified during the study.

TAKEAWAY:

• Lower Digit Symbol Coding scores were associated with higher urinary concentrations of arsenic (mean difference [MD] in score per interquartile range [IQR] increase, –0.03), cobalt (MD per IQR increase, –0.05), copper (MD per IQR increase, –0.05), uranium (MD per IQR increase, –0.04), and zinc (MD per IQR increase, –0.03).
• Effects for cobalt, uranium, and zinc were stronger in apolipoprotein epsilon 4 allele (APOE4) carriers vs noncarriers.
• Higher urinary levels of copper were associated with lower Digit Span scores (MD, –0.043) and elevated levels of copper (MD, –0.028) and zinc (MD, –0.024) were associated with lower global cognitive scores.
• Individuals with urinary levels of the nine-metal mixture at the 95th percentile had a 71% higher risk for dementia compared to those with levels at the 25th percentile, with the risk more pronounced in APOE4 carriers than in noncarriers (MD, –0.30 vs –0.10, respectively).

IN PRACTICE:

“We found an inverse association of essential and nonessential metals in urine, both individually and as a mixture, with the speed of mental operations, as well as a positive association of urinary metal levels with dementia risk. As metal exposure and levels in the body are modifiable, these findings could inform early screening and precision interventions for dementia prevention based on individuals’ metal exposure and genetic profiles,” the investigators wrote.

 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Arce Domingo-Relloso, PhD, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City. It was published online in JAMA Network Open.

 

LIMITATIONS:

Data may have been missed for patients with dementia who were never hospitalized, died, or were lost to follow-up. The dementia diagnosis included nonspecific International Classification of Diseases codes, potentially leading to false-positive reports. In addition, the sample size was not sufficient to evaluate the associations between metal exposure and cognitive test scores for carriers of two APOE4 alleles.

 

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Several authors reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health and consulting fees, editorial stipends, teaching fees, or unrelated grant funding from various sources, which are fully listed in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

December 31, 2024

This transcript has been edited for clarity. 

I’m Tamaan K. Osbourne-Roberts, family medicine physician and lifestyle medicine physician, here to discuss GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) contraindications — the skinny on when not to prescribe. 

It can be hard not to think of GLP-1 RAs like Ozempic and Mounjaro as silver bullets, long-awaited miracle drugs that we should probably be putting in the water. And it’s true they have the potential to help a lot of people. 

However, there are definitely groups of patients who should not take these drugs or should take them with caution. They include the following: 

Patients with a family history of certain cancers. Given that GLP-1 RAs can increase the risk for thyroid cancer, patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 should not take these drugs.

Gut motility issues. Since one of the primary mechanisms of action for these drugs is to slow down the gut, patients with gastroparesis — diabetic or otherwise — or other gut motility issues should avoid these drugs. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease also should not use GLP-1 RAs. 

Pancreatitis. These medications can increase the risk for serious pancreatitis on their own, so use in patients who have had pancreatitis already is not recommended.

Renal impairment. An eGFR [estimated glomerular filtrationrate] below threshold, typically around 30 mL/min per 1.73 m², excludes GLP-1 RAs for some patients. Be certain to check the threshold for individual medications before prescribing. 

And finally, pregnancy. These drugs generally should not be used in pregnancy, and people of childbearing age with the ability to become pregnant should use contraception while taking these medications.

GLP-1 RAs are great medications and have the potential to revolutionize obesity medicine, but like all drugs, it’s important to use them safely. Knowing when not to prescribe them is an important step in ensuring patient safety and will help ensure they are available for those who need them.

Tamaan K. Osbourne-Roberts, MD, MBA, Denver, Colorado, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

December 31, 2024

This transcript has been edited for clarity. 

I’m Tamaan K. Osbourne-Roberts, family medicine physician and lifestyle medicine physician, here to discuss GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) contraindications — the skinny on when not to prescribe. 

It can be hard not to think of GLP-1 RAs like Ozempic and Mounjaro as silver bullets, long-awaited miracle drugs that we should probably be putting in the water. And it’s true they have the potential to help a lot of people. 

However, there are definitely groups of patients who should not take these drugs or should take them with caution. They include the following: 

Patients with a family history of certain cancers. Given that GLP-1 RAs can increase the risk for thyroid cancer, patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 should not take these drugs.

Gut motility issues. Since one of the primary mechanisms of action for these drugs is to slow down the gut, patients with gastroparesis — diabetic or otherwise — or other gut motility issues should avoid these drugs. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease also should not use GLP-1 RAs. 

Pancreatitis. These medications can increase the risk for serious pancreatitis on their own, so use in patients who have had pancreatitis already is not recommended.

Renal impairment. An eGFR [estimated glomerular filtrationrate] below threshold, typically around 30 mL/min per 1.73 m², excludes GLP-1 RAs for some patients. Be certain to check the threshold for individual medications before prescribing. 

And finally, pregnancy. These drugs generally should not be used in pregnancy, and people of childbearing age with the ability to become pregnant should use contraception while taking these medications.

GLP-1 RAs are great medications and have the potential to revolutionize obesity medicine, but like all drugs, it’s important to use them safely. Knowing when not to prescribe them is an important step in ensuring patient safety and will help ensure they are available for those who need them.

Tamaan K. Osbourne-Roberts, MD, MBA, Denver, Colorado, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

December 31, 2024

This transcript has been edited for clarity. 

I’m Tamaan K. Osbourne-Roberts, family medicine physician and lifestyle medicine physician, here to discuss GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) contraindications — the skinny on when not to prescribe. 

It can be hard not to think of GLP-1 RAs like Ozempic and Mounjaro as silver bullets, long-awaited miracle drugs that we should probably be putting in the water. And it’s true they have the potential to help a lot of people. 

However, there are definitely groups of patients who should not take these drugs or should take them with caution. They include the following: 

Patients with a family history of certain cancers. Given that GLP-1 RAs can increase the risk for thyroid cancer, patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 should not take these drugs.

Gut motility issues. Since one of the primary mechanisms of action for these drugs is to slow down the gut, patients with gastroparesis — diabetic or otherwise — or other gut motility issues should avoid these drugs. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease also should not use GLP-1 RAs. 

Pancreatitis. These medications can increase the risk for serious pancreatitis on their own, so use in patients who have had pancreatitis already is not recommended.

Renal impairment. An eGFR [estimated glomerular filtrationrate] below threshold, typically around 30 mL/min per 1.73 m², excludes GLP-1 RAs for some patients. Be certain to check the threshold for individual medications before prescribing. 

And finally, pregnancy. These drugs generally should not be used in pregnancy, and people of childbearing age with the ability to become pregnant should use contraception while taking these medications.

GLP-1 RAs are great medications and have the potential to revolutionize obesity medicine, but like all drugs, it’s important to use them safely. Knowing when not to prescribe them is an important step in ensuring patient safety and will help ensure they are available for those who need them.

Tamaan K. Osbourne-Roberts, MD, MBA, Denver, Colorado, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

A rare coin-shaped headache long viewed as a primary headache disorder frequently has underlying causes, according to new research, and clinicians should refer people who present with it for imaging.

First described in 2003, nummular or coin-shaped headache comprises an intermittent or constant pain limited to a rounded region between 1 and 6 cm in diameter. Classed as a primary headache by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), it usually occurs in the parietal, or top rear, region of the head.

Despite nummular headache’s classification as a primary disorder, studies have linked some cases of coin-shaped headache to cranial or intracranial lesions. Now, a group of Spanish researchers has revised 20 years’ worth of cases, representing the largest series to date, and found a wide variety of causes, some of which, they say, had not been reported before in connection to this headache type.

For their research, published online in Headache, Antonio Sánchez-Soblechero, MD, and colleagues at the University Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Spain, looked at clinical and imaging findings from 131 patients (67% women, median age at onset 52) seen from 2002 to 2022 at their center, seeking to identify any differences among primary and secondary or symptomatic coin-shaped headache cases. All patients underwent cranial MRI, CT, or both.

Altogether, 26% of the nummular headaches (n = 34) were found associated with trauma, vascular malformations, cranial bone disorders, neoplasia, arachnoid cysts, hypertension, aneurysm, or skin disorders including, in one case, a psoriasis plaque. Hypertension, aneurysm, and psoriasis were not previously described as causes of this headache, the authors said.

The definition of a nummular headache includes that secondary causes need to be excluded, according to the ICHD-3. The study authors proposed that “definite” secondary cases should meet ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria for nummular headache as well as for secondary headache, while “probable” cases meet all criteria for the former and all but one of the criteria for the latter. In their study, eight patients met the proposed criteria for “definite,” while the rest were deemed “probable” secondary cases.

Headache symptoms remained similar regardless of etiology, Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues found, but coin-shaped headaches deemed to have secondary etiologies were significantly more likely to be associated with previous headache, remote head trauma, and longer symptom duration. The authors described treatments, including surgical interventions, for cases with secondary causes.

Preventive treatment was more effective in patients with determined causes for their headaches, Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues found, with 72% seeing their monthly headache days halved, compared with just 30% of patients in whom a cause was not identified.

“The presence of any previous headache or remote head trauma may suggest a diagnosis of symptomatic nummular headache; however, as certain nummular headache might be an early symptom of intracranial mass lesions, neuroimaging is necessary. Finding the cause of nummular headache is essential to offer the most effective targeted treatment,” the investigators wrote in their analysis.

 

Primary Headache or Secondary?

In an interview, neurologist and headache specialist Nina Riggins, MD, PhD, of VA Palo Alto Health Care in California, praised the new findings as underscoring the importance of a thorough clinical approach.

“What this study shows is applicable to many primary headache disorders, whether migraine or cluster or nummular,” Riggins said. “Secondary headache can look like all of these headache types.”

Understanding what should be done to rule out secondary causes of headache is key for the correct diagnosis, she said. “In cases of coin-shaped headache, one should do a detailed neurological exam, consider imaging, check blood pressure, do blood work, and consider exams to exclude autoimmune psoriasis and other disorders as appropriate.”

Despite the inherent limits of its retrospective, single-center design, the study by Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues is “extremely helpful in emphasizing that we should not dismiss [nummular headache] because it’s a little area of 1-6 centimeters,” Riggins said. “We absolutely have to make sure that we have ruled out secondary causes.” And while it would be useful to have evidence from prospective studies of nummular headache, “with such a rare headache, it’s hard. That’s why it’s so precious to have a study like this one, with 131 patients.”

Riggins acknowledged that the study emphasized the challenges of classifying and diagnosing nummular headache. The ICHD, last revised in 2018, “is a living, breathing document,” she said. “The idea is that as we learn more about headache disorders over time, this may mean changing some primary headaches to secondary, but we are clearly not there with this research: Most participants did not have a secondary cause for their coin-shaped headache.”

For now, Riggins said, “I think it’s best to keep classification straightforward for primary and secondary headache. It’s helpful for my day-to-day clinic life to have this neat division in place. But we do have to exclude secondary headache whenever possible in order to say that this is primary headache.”

Sánchez-Soblechero and coauthors disclosed no financial conflicts of interest related to their findings. Riggins disclosed consulting work for Gerson Lehrman Group, receiving research support from electroCore, Theranica, and Eli Lilly, and serving on advisory boards for Theranica, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

A rare coin-shaped headache long viewed as a primary headache disorder frequently has underlying causes, according to new research, and clinicians should refer people who present with it for imaging.

First described in 2003, nummular or coin-shaped headache comprises an intermittent or constant pain limited to a rounded region between 1 and 6 cm in diameter. Classed as a primary headache by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), it usually occurs in the parietal, or top rear, region of the head.

Despite nummular headache’s classification as a primary disorder, studies have linked some cases of coin-shaped headache to cranial or intracranial lesions. Now, a group of Spanish researchers has revised 20 years’ worth of cases, representing the largest series to date, and found a wide variety of causes, some of which, they say, had not been reported before in connection to this headache type.

For their research, published online in Headache, Antonio Sánchez-Soblechero, MD, and colleagues at the University Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Spain, looked at clinical and imaging findings from 131 patients (67% women, median age at onset 52) seen from 2002 to 2022 at their center, seeking to identify any differences among primary and secondary or symptomatic coin-shaped headache cases. All patients underwent cranial MRI, CT, or both.

Altogether, 26% of the nummular headaches (n = 34) were found associated with trauma, vascular malformations, cranial bone disorders, neoplasia, arachnoid cysts, hypertension, aneurysm, or skin disorders including, in one case, a psoriasis plaque. Hypertension, aneurysm, and psoriasis were not previously described as causes of this headache, the authors said.

The definition of a nummular headache includes that secondary causes need to be excluded, according to the ICHD-3. The study authors proposed that “definite” secondary cases should meet ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria for nummular headache as well as for secondary headache, while “probable” cases meet all criteria for the former and all but one of the criteria for the latter. In their study, eight patients met the proposed criteria for “definite,” while the rest were deemed “probable” secondary cases.

Headache symptoms remained similar regardless of etiology, Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues found, but coin-shaped headaches deemed to have secondary etiologies were significantly more likely to be associated with previous headache, remote head trauma, and longer symptom duration. The authors described treatments, including surgical interventions, for cases with secondary causes.

Preventive treatment was more effective in patients with determined causes for their headaches, Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues found, with 72% seeing their monthly headache days halved, compared with just 30% of patients in whom a cause was not identified.

“The presence of any previous headache or remote head trauma may suggest a diagnosis of symptomatic nummular headache; however, as certain nummular headache might be an early symptom of intracranial mass lesions, neuroimaging is necessary. Finding the cause of nummular headache is essential to offer the most effective targeted treatment,” the investigators wrote in their analysis.

 

Primary Headache or Secondary?

In an interview, neurologist and headache specialist Nina Riggins, MD, PhD, of VA Palo Alto Health Care in California, praised the new findings as underscoring the importance of a thorough clinical approach.

“What this study shows is applicable to many primary headache disorders, whether migraine or cluster or nummular,” Riggins said. “Secondary headache can look like all of these headache types.”

Understanding what should be done to rule out secondary causes of headache is key for the correct diagnosis, she said. “In cases of coin-shaped headache, one should do a detailed neurological exam, consider imaging, check blood pressure, do blood work, and consider exams to exclude autoimmune psoriasis and other disorders as appropriate.”

Despite the inherent limits of its retrospective, single-center design, the study by Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues is “extremely helpful in emphasizing that we should not dismiss [nummular headache] because it’s a little area of 1-6 centimeters,” Riggins said. “We absolutely have to make sure that we have ruled out secondary causes.” And while it would be useful to have evidence from prospective studies of nummular headache, “with such a rare headache, it’s hard. That’s why it’s so precious to have a study like this one, with 131 patients.”

Riggins acknowledged that the study emphasized the challenges of classifying and diagnosing nummular headache. The ICHD, last revised in 2018, “is a living, breathing document,” she said. “The idea is that as we learn more about headache disorders over time, this may mean changing some primary headaches to secondary, but we are clearly not there with this research: Most participants did not have a secondary cause for their coin-shaped headache.”

For now, Riggins said, “I think it’s best to keep classification straightforward for primary and secondary headache. It’s helpful for my day-to-day clinic life to have this neat division in place. But we do have to exclude secondary headache whenever possible in order to say that this is primary headache.”

Sánchez-Soblechero and coauthors disclosed no financial conflicts of interest related to their findings. Riggins disclosed consulting work for Gerson Lehrman Group, receiving research support from electroCore, Theranica, and Eli Lilly, and serving on advisory boards for Theranica, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

A rare coin-shaped headache long viewed as a primary headache disorder frequently has underlying causes, according to new research, and clinicians should refer people who present with it for imaging.

First described in 2003, nummular or coin-shaped headache comprises an intermittent or constant pain limited to a rounded region between 1 and 6 cm in diameter. Classed as a primary headache by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), it usually occurs in the parietal, or top rear, region of the head.

Despite nummular headache’s classification as a primary disorder, studies have linked some cases of coin-shaped headache to cranial or intracranial lesions. Now, a group of Spanish researchers has revised 20 years’ worth of cases, representing the largest series to date, and found a wide variety of causes, some of which, they say, had not been reported before in connection to this headache type.

For their research, published online in Headache, Antonio Sánchez-Soblechero, MD, and colleagues at the University Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Spain, looked at clinical and imaging findings from 131 patients (67% women, median age at onset 52) seen from 2002 to 2022 at their center, seeking to identify any differences among primary and secondary or symptomatic coin-shaped headache cases. All patients underwent cranial MRI, CT, or both.

Altogether, 26% of the nummular headaches (n = 34) were found associated with trauma, vascular malformations, cranial bone disorders, neoplasia, arachnoid cysts, hypertension, aneurysm, or skin disorders including, in one case, a psoriasis plaque. Hypertension, aneurysm, and psoriasis were not previously described as causes of this headache, the authors said.

The definition of a nummular headache includes that secondary causes need to be excluded, according to the ICHD-3. The study authors proposed that “definite” secondary cases should meet ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria for nummular headache as well as for secondary headache, while “probable” cases meet all criteria for the former and all but one of the criteria for the latter. In their study, eight patients met the proposed criteria for “definite,” while the rest were deemed “probable” secondary cases.

Headache symptoms remained similar regardless of etiology, Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues found, but coin-shaped headaches deemed to have secondary etiologies were significantly more likely to be associated with previous headache, remote head trauma, and longer symptom duration. The authors described treatments, including surgical interventions, for cases with secondary causes.

Preventive treatment was more effective in patients with determined causes for their headaches, Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues found, with 72% seeing their monthly headache days halved, compared with just 30% of patients in whom a cause was not identified.

“The presence of any previous headache or remote head trauma may suggest a diagnosis of symptomatic nummular headache; however, as certain nummular headache might be an early symptom of intracranial mass lesions, neuroimaging is necessary. Finding the cause of nummular headache is essential to offer the most effective targeted treatment,” the investigators wrote in their analysis.

 

Primary Headache or Secondary?

In an interview, neurologist and headache specialist Nina Riggins, MD, PhD, of VA Palo Alto Health Care in California, praised the new findings as underscoring the importance of a thorough clinical approach.

“What this study shows is applicable to many primary headache disorders, whether migraine or cluster or nummular,” Riggins said. “Secondary headache can look like all of these headache types.”

Understanding what should be done to rule out secondary causes of headache is key for the correct diagnosis, she said. “In cases of coin-shaped headache, one should do a detailed neurological exam, consider imaging, check blood pressure, do blood work, and consider exams to exclude autoimmune psoriasis and other disorders as appropriate.”

Despite the inherent limits of its retrospective, single-center design, the study by Sánchez-Soblechero and colleagues is “extremely helpful in emphasizing that we should not dismiss [nummular headache] because it’s a little area of 1-6 centimeters,” Riggins said. “We absolutely have to make sure that we have ruled out secondary causes.” And while it would be useful to have evidence from prospective studies of nummular headache, “with such a rare headache, it’s hard. That’s why it’s so precious to have a study like this one, with 131 patients.”

Riggins acknowledged that the study emphasized the challenges of classifying and diagnosing nummular headache. The ICHD, last revised in 2018, “is a living, breathing document,” she said. “The idea is that as we learn more about headache disorders over time, this may mean changing some primary headaches to secondary, but we are clearly not there with this research: Most participants did not have a secondary cause for their coin-shaped headache.”

For now, Riggins said, “I think it’s best to keep classification straightforward for primary and secondary headache. It’s helpful for my day-to-day clinic life to have this neat division in place. But we do have to exclude secondary headache whenever possible in order to say that this is primary headache.”

Sánchez-Soblechero and coauthors disclosed no financial conflicts of interest related to their findings. Riggins disclosed consulting work for Gerson Lehrman Group, receiving research support from electroCore, Theranica, and Eli Lilly, and serving on advisory boards for Theranica, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Gout patients who take colchicine at the start of urate-lowering therapy have a lower risk for cardiovascular events than those who do not receive prophylaxis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Retrospective cohort study of 99,800 patients (mean age, 62.8 years; 74.4% men; 85.1% White) newly diagnosed with gout between January 1997 and March 2021 who initiated urate-lowering therapy.
• Gout flare prophylaxis, defined as a colchicine prescription for 21 days or more, was prescribed to 16,028 patients for a mean duration of 47.3 days at a mean daily dose of 0.97 mg.
• Patients who received colchicine prophylaxis and 83,772 patients who did not receive prophylaxis were followed for a mean of 175.5 and 176.9 days, respectively, in the intention-to-treat analysis.
• The primary outcome was the occurrence of the first cardiovascular event (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke) within 180 days of initiation of urate-lowering therapy.

TAKEAWAY:

• The risk for cardiovascular events was significantly lower with colchicine prophylaxis than without it (weighted hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94).
• The risk for a first-ever cardiovascular event was significantly lower with colchicine prophylaxis than without it (adjusted HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62-0.97).
• The findings were similar regardless of analytical approach, and the intention-to-treat analysis did not show an increased risk for diarrhea with colchicine.

IN PRACTICE:

“The findings support consideration for the use of colchicine in people with gout and cardiovascular diseases,” the authors wrote. 

“The observed beneficial effect of colchicine concerns a huge group of patients worldwide. In addition, it is conceivable that, if a cardiovascular risk reduction is indeed confirmed, a strong argument arises to recommend the prescription of a course of colchicine to all [flaring] patients with gout, independently of their preference for urate-lowering therapy in general or urate-lowering therapy with or without colchicine prophylaxis more specifically,” experts wrote in a linked commentary.

SOURCE:

Edoardo Cipolletta, MD, Academic Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Nottingham City Hospital, University of Nottingham, England, led the study, which was published online in The Lancet Rheumatology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Because of the retrospective nature of the data extraction from a prospective database, the study had variations in follow-up and data completeness. Potential surveillance bias could have been introduced because patients with prior cardiovascular events were included in the study, and patients’ adherence to prescribed medications could not be verified.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by the Foundation for Research in Rheumatology. Some authors reported receiving consulting fees, lecturing fees, and travel grants from various pharmaceutical companies and other additional sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Gout patients who take colchicine at the start of urate-lowering therapy have a lower risk for cardiovascular events than those who do not receive prophylaxis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Retrospective cohort study of 99,800 patients (mean age, 62.8 years; 74.4% men; 85.1% White) newly diagnosed with gout between January 1997 and March 2021 who initiated urate-lowering therapy.
• Gout flare prophylaxis, defined as a colchicine prescription for 21 days or more, was prescribed to 16,028 patients for a mean duration of 47.3 days at a mean daily dose of 0.97 mg.
• Patients who received colchicine prophylaxis and 83,772 patients who did not receive prophylaxis were followed for a mean of 175.5 and 176.9 days, respectively, in the intention-to-treat analysis.
• The primary outcome was the occurrence of the first cardiovascular event (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke) within 180 days of initiation of urate-lowering therapy.

TAKEAWAY:

• The risk for cardiovascular events was significantly lower with colchicine prophylaxis than without it (weighted hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94).
• The risk for a first-ever cardiovascular event was significantly lower with colchicine prophylaxis than without it (adjusted HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62-0.97).
• The findings were similar regardless of analytical approach, and the intention-to-treat analysis did not show an increased risk for diarrhea with colchicine.

IN PRACTICE:

“The findings support consideration for the use of colchicine in people with gout and cardiovascular diseases,” the authors wrote. 

“The observed beneficial effect of colchicine concerns a huge group of patients worldwide. In addition, it is conceivable that, if a cardiovascular risk reduction is indeed confirmed, a strong argument arises to recommend the prescription of a course of colchicine to all [flaring] patients with gout, independently of their preference for urate-lowering therapy in general or urate-lowering therapy with or without colchicine prophylaxis more specifically,” experts wrote in a linked commentary.

SOURCE:

Edoardo Cipolletta, MD, Academic Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Nottingham City Hospital, University of Nottingham, England, led the study, which was published online in The Lancet Rheumatology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Because of the retrospective nature of the data extraction from a prospective database, the study had variations in follow-up and data completeness. Potential surveillance bias could have been introduced because patients with prior cardiovascular events were included in the study, and patients’ adherence to prescribed medications could not be verified.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by the Foundation for Research in Rheumatology. Some authors reported receiving consulting fees, lecturing fees, and travel grants from various pharmaceutical companies and other additional sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Gout patients who take colchicine at the start of urate-lowering therapy have a lower risk for cardiovascular events than those who do not receive prophylaxis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Retrospective cohort study of 99,800 patients (mean age, 62.8 years; 74.4% men; 85.1% White) newly diagnosed with gout between January 1997 and March 2021 who initiated urate-lowering therapy.
• Gout flare prophylaxis, defined as a colchicine prescription for 21 days or more, was prescribed to 16,028 patients for a mean duration of 47.3 days at a mean daily dose of 0.97 mg.
• Patients who received colchicine prophylaxis and 83,772 patients who did not receive prophylaxis were followed for a mean of 175.5 and 176.9 days, respectively, in the intention-to-treat analysis.
• The primary outcome was the occurrence of the first cardiovascular event (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke) within 180 days of initiation of urate-lowering therapy.

TAKEAWAY:

• The risk for cardiovascular events was significantly lower with colchicine prophylaxis than without it (weighted hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94).
• The risk for a first-ever cardiovascular event was significantly lower with colchicine prophylaxis than without it (adjusted HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62-0.97).
• The findings were similar regardless of analytical approach, and the intention-to-treat analysis did not show an increased risk for diarrhea with colchicine.

IN PRACTICE:

“The findings support consideration for the use of colchicine in people with gout and cardiovascular diseases,” the authors wrote. 

“The observed beneficial effect of colchicine concerns a huge group of patients worldwide. In addition, it is conceivable that, if a cardiovascular risk reduction is indeed confirmed, a strong argument arises to recommend the prescription of a course of colchicine to all [flaring] patients with gout, independently of their preference for urate-lowering therapy in general or urate-lowering therapy with or without colchicine prophylaxis more specifically,” experts wrote in a linked commentary.

SOURCE:

Edoardo Cipolletta, MD, Academic Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Nottingham City Hospital, University of Nottingham, England, led the study, which was published online in The Lancet Rheumatology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Because of the retrospective nature of the data extraction from a prospective database, the study had variations in follow-up and data completeness. Potential surveillance bias could have been introduced because patients with prior cardiovascular events were included in the study, and patients’ adherence to prescribed medications could not be verified.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by the Foundation for Research in Rheumatology. Some authors reported receiving consulting fees, lecturing fees, and travel grants from various pharmaceutical companies and other additional sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

For over 200 years, researchers have been captivated by axolotl salamanders (Ambystoma mexicanum) and their remarkable regenerative abilities, seeking to uncover secrets that could revolutionize regenerative medicine, including the scarless healing of wounds.

“The axolotl salamander is the most studied animal ever in science for its neotenic ability to regenerate,” Jill S. Waibel, MD, dermatologist and researcher in Miami, Florida, said in an interview. Neotenic tissue retains a juvenile or immature state throughout an organism’s life. In the case of the axolotl, “it can regenerate limbs, part of its heart, even its brain.”

 

A 2019 review of several studies on the regenerative abilities of axolotls highlights the importance of gene activity in controlling its skin regeneration. Specifically, growth factors such as fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factor beta, and Wnt play a key role in guiding how the creature’s skin cells behave during healing and regrowth. The immune response , particularly the actions of macrophages and neutrophils, is also crucial in the early stages of regeneration, as these cells clear away dead tissue and kickstart the healing process.

After studying the axolotl for the past 8 years, including mapping its genetic makeup, Waibel and researchers at RegenX Science are developing a line of cosmeceutical and over-the-counter products containing urodele collagen extract derived from the creature’s neotenic tissue, without harming the animal. In axolotls, Waibel explained, damaged neotenic tissue “still thinks it’s in fetal mode, so if it injures its muscle, bone, nerves, collagen, or skin, everything will redevelop. After a few months in utero, that process stops in humans, but it never stops in the axolotl. The axolotl has scarless healing and immunity because of antimicrobial properties found in the neotenic tissue.”

RegenX scientists have developed a proprietary decellularization process that renders the urodele collagen extract safe and effective for use in humans. “We then harnessed a reservoir of bioactive peptides, which are small proteins that come from the axolotl, but they don’t contain any RNA or DNA that could confer the risk of any diseases or cancer,” she added.

According to Waibel, who is also subsection chief of dermatology at Baptist Hospital and past medical director of the Miami Cancer Institute’s Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Clinic, genetic analysis of the axolotl revealed genes that have not been seen in humans. The urodele collagen extract also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. “It decreases TNF [tumor necrosis factor] and IL [interleukin]–23 and stimulates regenerative pathways like FETUB (Fetuin-B), which is a gene involved in tissue regeneration,” she said. “We’re exploring these for some products.”

Institutional Review Board–approved human clinical trials at three US sites are nearly complete for evaluating an antiaging hydrating daily serum, an antiaging serum for damaged skin, and a restorative serum to be applied following cosmetic procedures, all containing the extract. The product furthest along is a “super gel” that contains properties of the urodele collagen extract.

In a proof-of-concept study using a third-degree burn model in two pigs, Waibel and colleagues at the University of Miami, found that 3 days after the injury was induced, application of the gel led to 92% reepithelialization of the pig’s skin, compared with only 54% in untreated skin.

Shortly after this study was conducted, a burn patient was referred to Waibel — 4 years after he was struck by lightning while fishing on a boat in Mississippi, an accident that resulted in the loss of his right arm and both legs. During a telemedicine consultation, Waibel noticed open ulcers on his chest. “What are those from?” she asked. “They’re from my accident 4 years ago,” he replied. 

After the man flew to Miami for an in-person evaluation, Waibel treated his ulcers with a fractional laser to debride the wound, then applied the gel as part of a proof-of-concept approach, testing its potential in a real-world patient setting. Within 3 weeks, the long-standing ulcerated area had healed completely, marking the first time a human was treated with the super gel.

Looking ahead, the million-dollar question, Waibel noted, is how much healing can be achieved in humans with formulations of axolotl-derived technology. “For example, can we help a spinal cord injury patient? That sounds like a science fiction movie, but there are proteins in genes in this animal that we have turned off that potentially can be turned on in a human,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”

 

Arisa E. Ortiz, MD, director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and current president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, who was asked to comment on this work, said that the use of urodele collagen extract derived from axolotl tissue “is an exciting innovation, especially given its unique properties like scarless healing and antimicrobial activity.” 

While the results from preclinical and proof-of-concept studies are promising, “a key limitation lies in understanding the extent to which these findings will translate to human applications,” Ortiz said. “Overall, this research contributes significantly to the fields of regenerative medicine and dermatology, offering hope for more effective treatments in the future.” 

 

Christine Ko, MD, professor of dermatology and pathology at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, who was also asked to provide her insights on the topic, said that, if researchers could replicate the axolotl salamander’s ability to regenerate its own limbs and organs, “medicine would be transformed. Rather than transplant another person’s organ with lifelong immunosuppression, a regenerative treatment could program a patient’s own body to create a needed organ. 

“On a simpler level,” she continued, “regenerating skin and its underlying structures could hasten wound healing and potentially even treat hair loss. This is not a pipe dream, as Waibel has successfully treated severe ulcers using a super gel containing urodele collagen extract. Urodele collagen is type XII collagen, important in the salamander’s capacity to heal and regenerate.”

Waibel disclosed that she is a scientific adviser to RegenX and is a member of the company’s board of directors. Ortiz and Ko reported having no relevant disclosures.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

For over 200 years, researchers have been captivated by axolotl salamanders (Ambystoma mexicanum) and their remarkable regenerative abilities, seeking to uncover secrets that could revolutionize regenerative medicine, including the scarless healing of wounds.

“The axolotl salamander is the most studied animal ever in science for its neotenic ability to regenerate,” Jill S. Waibel, MD, dermatologist and researcher in Miami, Florida, said in an interview. Neotenic tissue retains a juvenile or immature state throughout an organism’s life. In the case of the axolotl, “it can regenerate limbs, part of its heart, even its brain.”

 

A 2019 review of several studies on the regenerative abilities of axolotls highlights the importance of gene activity in controlling its skin regeneration. Specifically, growth factors such as fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factor beta, and Wnt play a key role in guiding how the creature’s skin cells behave during healing and regrowth. The immune response , particularly the actions of macrophages and neutrophils, is also crucial in the early stages of regeneration, as these cells clear away dead tissue and kickstart the healing process.

After studying the axolotl for the past 8 years, including mapping its genetic makeup, Waibel and researchers at RegenX Science are developing a line of cosmeceutical and over-the-counter products containing urodele collagen extract derived from the creature’s neotenic tissue, without harming the animal. In axolotls, Waibel explained, damaged neotenic tissue “still thinks it’s in fetal mode, so if it injures its muscle, bone, nerves, collagen, or skin, everything will redevelop. After a few months in utero, that process stops in humans, but it never stops in the axolotl. The axolotl has scarless healing and immunity because of antimicrobial properties found in the neotenic tissue.”

RegenX scientists have developed a proprietary decellularization process that renders the urodele collagen extract safe and effective for use in humans. “We then harnessed a reservoir of bioactive peptides, which are small proteins that come from the axolotl, but they don’t contain any RNA or DNA that could confer the risk of any diseases or cancer,” she added.

According to Waibel, who is also subsection chief of dermatology at Baptist Hospital and past medical director of the Miami Cancer Institute’s Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Clinic, genetic analysis of the axolotl revealed genes that have not been seen in humans. The urodele collagen extract also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. “It decreases TNF [tumor necrosis factor] and IL [interleukin]–23 and stimulates regenerative pathways like FETUB (Fetuin-B), which is a gene involved in tissue regeneration,” she said. “We’re exploring these for some products.”

Institutional Review Board–approved human clinical trials at three US sites are nearly complete for evaluating an antiaging hydrating daily serum, an antiaging serum for damaged skin, and a restorative serum to be applied following cosmetic procedures, all containing the extract. The product furthest along is a “super gel” that contains properties of the urodele collagen extract.

In a proof-of-concept study using a third-degree burn model in two pigs, Waibel and colleagues at the University of Miami, found that 3 days after the injury was induced, application of the gel led to 92% reepithelialization of the pig’s skin, compared with only 54% in untreated skin.

Shortly after this study was conducted, a burn patient was referred to Waibel — 4 years after he was struck by lightning while fishing on a boat in Mississippi, an accident that resulted in the loss of his right arm and both legs. During a telemedicine consultation, Waibel noticed open ulcers on his chest. “What are those from?” she asked. “They’re from my accident 4 years ago,” he replied. 

After the man flew to Miami for an in-person evaluation, Waibel treated his ulcers with a fractional laser to debride the wound, then applied the gel as part of a proof-of-concept approach, testing its potential in a real-world patient setting. Within 3 weeks, the long-standing ulcerated area had healed completely, marking the first time a human was treated with the super gel.

Looking ahead, the million-dollar question, Waibel noted, is how much healing can be achieved in humans with formulations of axolotl-derived technology. “For example, can we help a spinal cord injury patient? That sounds like a science fiction movie, but there are proteins in genes in this animal that we have turned off that potentially can be turned on in a human,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”

 

Arisa E. Ortiz, MD, director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and current president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, who was asked to comment on this work, said that the use of urodele collagen extract derived from axolotl tissue “is an exciting innovation, especially given its unique properties like scarless healing and antimicrobial activity.” 

While the results from preclinical and proof-of-concept studies are promising, “a key limitation lies in understanding the extent to which these findings will translate to human applications,” Ortiz said. “Overall, this research contributes significantly to the fields of regenerative medicine and dermatology, offering hope for more effective treatments in the future.” 

 

Christine Ko, MD, professor of dermatology and pathology at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, who was also asked to provide her insights on the topic, said that, if researchers could replicate the axolotl salamander’s ability to regenerate its own limbs and organs, “medicine would be transformed. Rather than transplant another person’s organ with lifelong immunosuppression, a regenerative treatment could program a patient’s own body to create a needed organ. 

“On a simpler level,” she continued, “regenerating skin and its underlying structures could hasten wound healing and potentially even treat hair loss. This is not a pipe dream, as Waibel has successfully treated severe ulcers using a super gel containing urodele collagen extract. Urodele collagen is type XII collagen, important in the salamander’s capacity to heal and regenerate.”

Waibel disclosed that she is a scientific adviser to RegenX and is a member of the company’s board of directors. Ortiz and Ko reported having no relevant disclosures.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

For over 200 years, researchers have been captivated by axolotl salamanders (Ambystoma mexicanum) and their remarkable regenerative abilities, seeking to uncover secrets that could revolutionize regenerative medicine, including the scarless healing of wounds.

“The axolotl salamander is the most studied animal ever in science for its neotenic ability to regenerate,” Jill S. Waibel, MD, dermatologist and researcher in Miami, Florida, said in an interview. Neotenic tissue retains a juvenile or immature state throughout an organism’s life. In the case of the axolotl, “it can regenerate limbs, part of its heart, even its brain.”

 

A 2019 review of several studies on the regenerative abilities of axolotls highlights the importance of gene activity in controlling its skin regeneration. Specifically, growth factors such as fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factor beta, and Wnt play a key role in guiding how the creature’s skin cells behave during healing and regrowth. The immune response , particularly the actions of macrophages and neutrophils, is also crucial in the early stages of regeneration, as these cells clear away dead tissue and kickstart the healing process.

After studying the axolotl for the past 8 years, including mapping its genetic makeup, Waibel and researchers at RegenX Science are developing a line of cosmeceutical and over-the-counter products containing urodele collagen extract derived from the creature’s neotenic tissue, without harming the animal. In axolotls, Waibel explained, damaged neotenic tissue “still thinks it’s in fetal mode, so if it injures its muscle, bone, nerves, collagen, or skin, everything will redevelop. After a few months in utero, that process stops in humans, but it never stops in the axolotl. The axolotl has scarless healing and immunity because of antimicrobial properties found in the neotenic tissue.”

RegenX scientists have developed a proprietary decellularization process that renders the urodele collagen extract safe and effective for use in humans. “We then harnessed a reservoir of bioactive peptides, which are small proteins that come from the axolotl, but they don’t contain any RNA or DNA that could confer the risk of any diseases or cancer,” she added.

According to Waibel, who is also subsection chief of dermatology at Baptist Hospital and past medical director of the Miami Cancer Institute’s Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Clinic, genetic analysis of the axolotl revealed genes that have not been seen in humans. The urodele collagen extract also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. “It decreases TNF [tumor necrosis factor] and IL [interleukin]–23 and stimulates regenerative pathways like FETUB (Fetuin-B), which is a gene involved in tissue regeneration,” she said. “We’re exploring these for some products.”

Institutional Review Board–approved human clinical trials at three US sites are nearly complete for evaluating an antiaging hydrating daily serum, an antiaging serum for damaged skin, and a restorative serum to be applied following cosmetic procedures, all containing the extract. The product furthest along is a “super gel” that contains properties of the urodele collagen extract.

In a proof-of-concept study using a third-degree burn model in two pigs, Waibel and colleagues at the University of Miami, found that 3 days after the injury was induced, application of the gel led to 92% reepithelialization of the pig’s skin, compared with only 54% in untreated skin.

Shortly after this study was conducted, a burn patient was referred to Waibel — 4 years after he was struck by lightning while fishing on a boat in Mississippi, an accident that resulted in the loss of his right arm and both legs. During a telemedicine consultation, Waibel noticed open ulcers on his chest. “What are those from?” she asked. “They’re from my accident 4 years ago,” he replied. 

After the man flew to Miami for an in-person evaluation, Waibel treated his ulcers with a fractional laser to debride the wound, then applied the gel as part of a proof-of-concept approach, testing its potential in a real-world patient setting. Within 3 weeks, the long-standing ulcerated area had healed completely, marking the first time a human was treated with the super gel.

Looking ahead, the million-dollar question, Waibel noted, is how much healing can be achieved in humans with formulations of axolotl-derived technology. “For example, can we help a spinal cord injury patient? That sounds like a science fiction movie, but there are proteins in genes in this animal that we have turned off that potentially can be turned on in a human,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”

 

Arisa E. Ortiz, MD, director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and current president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, who was asked to comment on this work, said that the use of urodele collagen extract derived from axolotl tissue “is an exciting innovation, especially given its unique properties like scarless healing and antimicrobial activity.” 

While the results from preclinical and proof-of-concept studies are promising, “a key limitation lies in understanding the extent to which these findings will translate to human applications,” Ortiz said. “Overall, this research contributes significantly to the fields of regenerative medicine and dermatology, offering hope for more effective treatments in the future.” 

 

Christine Ko, MD, professor of dermatology and pathology at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, who was also asked to provide her insights on the topic, said that, if researchers could replicate the axolotl salamander’s ability to regenerate its own limbs and organs, “medicine would be transformed. Rather than transplant another person’s organ with lifelong immunosuppression, a regenerative treatment could program a patient’s own body to create a needed organ. 

“On a simpler level,” she continued, “regenerating skin and its underlying structures could hasten wound healing and potentially even treat hair loss. This is not a pipe dream, as Waibel has successfully treated severe ulcers using a super gel containing urodele collagen extract. Urodele collagen is type XII collagen, important in the salamander’s capacity to heal and regenerate.”

Waibel disclosed that she is a scientific adviser to RegenX and is a member of the company’s board of directors. Ortiz and Ko reported having no relevant disclosures.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Aggressive margin reduction with MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) led to a significantly lower incidence of late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities at 2 years compared with CT-guided SBRT in men with localized prostate cancer, new data showed.

METHODOLOGY:

• MRI-guided SBRT is known to reduce planning margins in prostate cancer and lead to less acute toxicity compared with standard CT-guided SBRT. However, the long-term benefits of the MRI-guided approach remain unclear.
• To find out, researchers conducted the phase 3 MIRAGE trial, in which 156 patients with localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive either MRI-guided SBRT with 2-mm margins or CT-guided SBRT with 4-mm margins.
• The MIRAGE trial initially reported the primary outcome of acute genitourinary grade ≥ 2 toxicity within 90 days of SBRT.
• In this secondary analysis, researchers evaluated physician-reported late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity, along with changes in various patient-reported quality-of-life scores over a 2-year follow-up period.

TAKEAWAY:

• Over a period of 2 years, MRI-guided SBRT was associated with a significantly lower cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 2 genitourinary toxicities compared with CT-guided SBRT (27% vs 51%; P = .004). Similar outcomes were noted for grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal toxicities (1.4% with MRI vs 9.5% with CT; P = .025).
• Fewer patients who received MRI-guided SBRT reported deterioration in urinary irritation between 6 and 24 months after radiotherapy — 14 of 73 patients (19.2%) in the MRI group vs 24 of 68 patients (35.3%) in the CT group (P = .031).
• Patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT were also less likely to experience clinically relevant deterioration in bowel function (odds ratio [OR], 0.444; P = .035) and sexual health score (OR, 0.366; P = .03).
• Between 6 and 24 months after radiotherapy, 26.4% of patients (19 of 72) in the MRI group vs 42.3% (30 of 71) in the CT group reported clinically relevant deterioration in bowel function.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our secondary analysis of a randomized trial revealed that aggressive planning for margin reduction with MRI guidance vs CT guidance for prostate SBRT led to lower physician-scored genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity and better bowel and sexual quality-of-life metrics over 2 years of follow-up,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study, led by Amar U. Kishan, University of California Los Angeles, was published online in European Urology.

LIMITATIONS:

The absence of blinding in this study may have influenced both physician-scored toxicity assessments and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes. The MIRAGE trial was not specifically designed with sufficient statistical power to evaluate the secondary analyses presented in this study.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by grants from the US Department of Defense. Several authors reported receiving grants or personal fees among other ties with various sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Aggressive margin reduction with MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) led to a significantly lower incidence of late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities at 2 years compared with CT-guided SBRT in men with localized prostate cancer, new data showed.

METHODOLOGY:

• MRI-guided SBRT is known to reduce planning margins in prostate cancer and lead to less acute toxicity compared with standard CT-guided SBRT. However, the long-term benefits of the MRI-guided approach remain unclear.
• To find out, researchers conducted the phase 3 MIRAGE trial, in which 156 patients with localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive either MRI-guided SBRT with 2-mm margins or CT-guided SBRT with 4-mm margins.
• The MIRAGE trial initially reported the primary outcome of acute genitourinary grade ≥ 2 toxicity within 90 days of SBRT.
• In this secondary analysis, researchers evaluated physician-reported late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity, along with changes in various patient-reported quality-of-life scores over a 2-year follow-up period.

TAKEAWAY:

• Over a period of 2 years, MRI-guided SBRT was associated with a significantly lower cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 2 genitourinary toxicities compared with CT-guided SBRT (27% vs 51%; P = .004). Similar outcomes were noted for grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal toxicities (1.4% with MRI vs 9.5% with CT; P = .025).
• Fewer patients who received MRI-guided SBRT reported deterioration in urinary irritation between 6 and 24 months after radiotherapy — 14 of 73 patients (19.2%) in the MRI group vs 24 of 68 patients (35.3%) in the CT group (P = .031).
• Patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT were also less likely to experience clinically relevant deterioration in bowel function (odds ratio [OR], 0.444; P = .035) and sexual health score (OR, 0.366; P = .03).
• Between 6 and 24 months after radiotherapy, 26.4% of patients (19 of 72) in the MRI group vs 42.3% (30 of 71) in the CT group reported clinically relevant deterioration in bowel function.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our secondary analysis of a randomized trial revealed that aggressive planning for margin reduction with MRI guidance vs CT guidance for prostate SBRT led to lower physician-scored genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity and better bowel and sexual quality-of-life metrics over 2 years of follow-up,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study, led by Amar U. Kishan, University of California Los Angeles, was published online in European Urology.

LIMITATIONS:

The absence of blinding in this study may have influenced both physician-scored toxicity assessments and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes. The MIRAGE trial was not specifically designed with sufficient statistical power to evaluate the secondary analyses presented in this study.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by grants from the US Department of Defense. Several authors reported receiving grants or personal fees among other ties with various sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Aggressive margin reduction with MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) led to a significantly lower incidence of late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities at 2 years compared with CT-guided SBRT in men with localized prostate cancer, new data showed.

METHODOLOGY:

• MRI-guided SBRT is known to reduce planning margins in prostate cancer and lead to less acute toxicity compared with standard CT-guided SBRT. However, the long-term benefits of the MRI-guided approach remain unclear.
• To find out, researchers conducted the phase 3 MIRAGE trial, in which 156 patients with localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive either MRI-guided SBRT with 2-mm margins or CT-guided SBRT with 4-mm margins.
• The MIRAGE trial initially reported the primary outcome of acute genitourinary grade ≥ 2 toxicity within 90 days of SBRT.
• In this secondary analysis, researchers evaluated physician-reported late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity, along with changes in various patient-reported quality-of-life scores over a 2-year follow-up period.

TAKEAWAY:

• Over a period of 2 years, MRI-guided SBRT was associated with a significantly lower cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 2 genitourinary toxicities compared with CT-guided SBRT (27% vs 51%; P = .004). Similar outcomes were noted for grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal toxicities (1.4% with MRI vs 9.5% with CT; P = .025).
• Fewer patients who received MRI-guided SBRT reported deterioration in urinary irritation between 6 and 24 months after radiotherapy — 14 of 73 patients (19.2%) in the MRI group vs 24 of 68 patients (35.3%) in the CT group (P = .031).
• Patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT were also less likely to experience clinically relevant deterioration in bowel function (odds ratio [OR], 0.444; P = .035) and sexual health score (OR, 0.366; P = .03).
• Between 6 and 24 months after radiotherapy, 26.4% of patients (19 of 72) in the MRI group vs 42.3% (30 of 71) in the CT group reported clinically relevant deterioration in bowel function.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our secondary analysis of a randomized trial revealed that aggressive planning for margin reduction with MRI guidance vs CT guidance for prostate SBRT led to lower physician-scored genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity and better bowel and sexual quality-of-life metrics over 2 years of follow-up,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study, led by Amar U. Kishan, University of California Los Angeles, was published online in European Urology.

LIMITATIONS:

The absence of blinding in this study may have influenced both physician-scored toxicity assessments and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes. The MIRAGE trial was not specifically designed with sufficient statistical power to evaluate the secondary analyses presented in this study.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by grants from the US Department of Defense. Several authors reported receiving grants or personal fees among other ties with various sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

What current events are keeping Americans up at night? The economy, gun violence, and hate crimes top the list, results from a newly released American Psychiatric Association (APA) survey showed.

Anxiety about international conflicts — namely, the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars — also remains high.

“While we like to stay informed, the news can also impact our mental health, and being mindful of that impact is important. If current events seem overwhelming it may be time to limit your news consumption,” APA CEO and Medical Director Marketa M. Wills, MD, MBD, said in a statement.

Survey results also revealed the election and the holidays were common sources of stress.

“Election stress is common, and it’s important to recognize that, as we’re spending more time with family around the holidays, we might need to have a strategy to manage our own mental health during these times,” Howard Liu, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, told this news organization.

“As with any difficult topic, we all have different levels of avoidance or desire to engage, and it’s okay to set boundaries based on past conversations with family. I think sometimes we get drawn into arguments that we don’t want to have or may not be productive for either side,” said Liu, who chairs the APA Council on Communications.

In line with trends throughout 2024, adults polled by the APA in November were most anxious about the economy (75%), gun violence (64%), and hate crimes (60%). The survey included 2200 US adults as part of the APA’s Healthy Minds monthly series.

Anxiety about international conflicts remained high in November at 57% — but was down from 65% in August.

Election anxiety remained high in mid-November but not as high as before the election. In August, 72% of Americans said they were anxious about the 2024 election. In November, just after the election, 50% reported anxiety over the election outcome.

“I think the anticipation of change can sometimes be worse than the change itself. So I think a lot of people are now taking the attitude of — let’s wait and see what actually happens,” said Liu.

Half the adults (50%) anticipate the same amount of stress as the 2023 holiday season, while almost one third expect more stress (28%), and one fourth anticipate less stress (23%).

When asked how the holidays generally affect their mental health, 38% said it has positive effects, and 21% said the opposite was true.

 

Anxiety About the Future

After a divisive election, most Americans were ready to avoid politics at holiday gatherings, results of a separate poll conducted by the American Psychological Association in late November showed.

That poll, which included 2000 US adults, showed that more than 7 in 10 (72%) said they wanted to avoid talking about politics with family and friends over the holidays.

In addition, nearly two in five adults (39%) reported they were stressed by the thought of politics being raised at holiday gatherings and would try to avoid family members they disagree with. Younger adults were significantly more likely than were their older counterparts to report they planned to avoid family over the holidays.

The future of the nation also weighs on the minds of many Americans.

Another poll conducted by the American Psychological Association in August prior to the 2024 US presidential election showed that 77% of respondents said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress for them.

In the postelection poll, more than one third of adults (35%) said they are more stressed about the future of the nation now than they were leading up to the election, and another third reported they are now less stressed (32%). A quarter of adults (24%) said their stress about the future of the nation was unchanged, and 9% said they were not stressed about the future of the nation then or now.

“There’s still clearly a lot of uncertainty, and there’s a lot of activity right now for the president-elect,” which can contribute to anxiety, C. Vaile Wright, PhD, psychologist, researcher and spokesperson for the American Psychological Association, told this news organization.

These data also show that many Americans have little or no trust in the government, with some wanting to leave the United States.

“It’s a reflection of the lack of strong leadership across the board in this country. We have a governmental system in place that does not seem to serve the people, but to serve corporations and maintenance of power. I think people are disillusioned with it and that creates a lack of trust and hopelessness,” Wright noted.

Liu and Wright reported no relevant disclosures.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

What current events are keeping Americans up at night? The economy, gun violence, and hate crimes top the list, results from a newly released American Psychiatric Association (APA) survey showed.

Anxiety about international conflicts — namely, the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars — also remains high.

“While we like to stay informed, the news can also impact our mental health, and being mindful of that impact is important. If current events seem overwhelming it may be time to limit your news consumption,” APA CEO and Medical Director Marketa M. Wills, MD, MBD, said in a statement.

Survey results also revealed the election and the holidays were common sources of stress.

“Election stress is common, and it’s important to recognize that, as we’re spending more time with family around the holidays, we might need to have a strategy to manage our own mental health during these times,” Howard Liu, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, told this news organization.

“As with any difficult topic, we all have different levels of avoidance or desire to engage, and it’s okay to set boundaries based on past conversations with family. I think sometimes we get drawn into arguments that we don’t want to have or may not be productive for either side,” said Liu, who chairs the APA Council on Communications.

In line with trends throughout 2024, adults polled by the APA in November were most anxious about the economy (75%), gun violence (64%), and hate crimes (60%). The survey included 2200 US adults as part of the APA’s Healthy Minds monthly series.

Anxiety about international conflicts remained high in November at 57% — but was down from 65% in August.

Election anxiety remained high in mid-November but not as high as before the election. In August, 72% of Americans said they were anxious about the 2024 election. In November, just after the election, 50% reported anxiety over the election outcome.

“I think the anticipation of change can sometimes be worse than the change itself. So I think a lot of people are now taking the attitude of — let’s wait and see what actually happens,” said Liu.

Half the adults (50%) anticipate the same amount of stress as the 2023 holiday season, while almost one third expect more stress (28%), and one fourth anticipate less stress (23%).

When asked how the holidays generally affect their mental health, 38% said it has positive effects, and 21% said the opposite was true.

 

Anxiety About the Future

After a divisive election, most Americans were ready to avoid politics at holiday gatherings, results of a separate poll conducted by the American Psychological Association in late November showed.

That poll, which included 2000 US adults, showed that more than 7 in 10 (72%) said they wanted to avoid talking about politics with family and friends over the holidays.

In addition, nearly two in five adults (39%) reported they were stressed by the thought of politics being raised at holiday gatherings and would try to avoid family members they disagree with. Younger adults were significantly more likely than were their older counterparts to report they planned to avoid family over the holidays.

The future of the nation also weighs on the minds of many Americans.

Another poll conducted by the American Psychological Association in August prior to the 2024 US presidential election showed that 77% of respondents said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress for them.

In the postelection poll, more than one third of adults (35%) said they are more stressed about the future of the nation now than they were leading up to the election, and another third reported they are now less stressed (32%). A quarter of adults (24%) said their stress about the future of the nation was unchanged, and 9% said they were not stressed about the future of the nation then or now.

“There’s still clearly a lot of uncertainty, and there’s a lot of activity right now for the president-elect,” which can contribute to anxiety, C. Vaile Wright, PhD, psychologist, researcher and spokesperson for the American Psychological Association, told this news organization.

These data also show that many Americans have little or no trust in the government, with some wanting to leave the United States.

“It’s a reflection of the lack of strong leadership across the board in this country. We have a governmental system in place that does not seem to serve the people, but to serve corporations and maintenance of power. I think people are disillusioned with it and that creates a lack of trust and hopelessness,” Wright noted.

Liu and Wright reported no relevant disclosures.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

What current events are keeping Americans up at night? The economy, gun violence, and hate crimes top the list, results from a newly released American Psychiatric Association (APA) survey showed.

Anxiety about international conflicts — namely, the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars — also remains high.

“While we like to stay informed, the news can also impact our mental health, and being mindful of that impact is important. If current events seem overwhelming it may be time to limit your news consumption,” APA CEO and Medical Director Marketa M. Wills, MD, MBD, said in a statement.

Survey results also revealed the election and the holidays were common sources of stress.

“Election stress is common, and it’s important to recognize that, as we’re spending more time with family around the holidays, we might need to have a strategy to manage our own mental health during these times,” Howard Liu, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, told this news organization.

“As with any difficult topic, we all have different levels of avoidance or desire to engage, and it’s okay to set boundaries based on past conversations with family. I think sometimes we get drawn into arguments that we don’t want to have or may not be productive for either side,” said Liu, who chairs the APA Council on Communications.

In line with trends throughout 2024, adults polled by the APA in November were most anxious about the economy (75%), gun violence (64%), and hate crimes (60%). The survey included 2200 US adults as part of the APA’s Healthy Minds monthly series.

Anxiety about international conflicts remained high in November at 57% — but was down from 65% in August.

Election anxiety remained high in mid-November but not as high as before the election. In August, 72% of Americans said they were anxious about the 2024 election. In November, just after the election, 50% reported anxiety over the election outcome.

“I think the anticipation of change can sometimes be worse than the change itself. So I think a lot of people are now taking the attitude of — let’s wait and see what actually happens,” said Liu.

Half the adults (50%) anticipate the same amount of stress as the 2023 holiday season, while almost one third expect more stress (28%), and one fourth anticipate less stress (23%).

When asked how the holidays generally affect their mental health, 38% said it has positive effects, and 21% said the opposite was true.

 

Anxiety About the Future

After a divisive election, most Americans were ready to avoid politics at holiday gatherings, results of a separate poll conducted by the American Psychological Association in late November showed.

That poll, which included 2000 US adults, showed that more than 7 in 10 (72%) said they wanted to avoid talking about politics with family and friends over the holidays.

In addition, nearly two in five adults (39%) reported they were stressed by the thought of politics being raised at holiday gatherings and would try to avoid family members they disagree with. Younger adults were significantly more likely than were their older counterparts to report they planned to avoid family over the holidays.

The future of the nation also weighs on the minds of many Americans.

Another poll conducted by the American Psychological Association in August prior to the 2024 US presidential election showed that 77% of respondents said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress for them.

In the postelection poll, more than one third of adults (35%) said they are more stressed about the future of the nation now than they were leading up to the election, and another third reported they are now less stressed (32%). A quarter of adults (24%) said their stress about the future of the nation was unchanged, and 9% said they were not stressed about the future of the nation then or now.

“There’s still clearly a lot of uncertainty, and there’s a lot of activity right now for the president-elect,” which can contribute to anxiety, C. Vaile Wright, PhD, psychologist, researcher and spokesperson for the American Psychological Association, told this news organization.

These data also show that many Americans have little or no trust in the government, with some wanting to leave the United States.

“It’s a reflection of the lack of strong leadership across the board in this country. We have a governmental system in place that does not seem to serve the people, but to serve corporations and maintenance of power. I think people are disillusioned with it and that creates a lack of trust and hopelessness,” Wright noted.

Liu and Wright reported no relevant disclosures.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.