Cancer News, Dementia Training that Works,, Stop Vertical Integration and More UPDATE

A free public service for a better community

Alan Unell Ph.D.

May 16, 2024

UPDATE - OOPS

I mis-typed the RESISTBO action code below - it is SIGN PNTQKP to 50409.

https://resist.bot/petitions/PNTQKP . Apologies

A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare

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Cancer News

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the way we treat cancer in recent years. Instead of targeting the tumor itself, immunotherapies work by directing patients' immune systems to attack their tumors more effectively. This has been especially impactful in improving outcomes for certain difficult-to-treat cancers. Still, fewer than half of all cancer patients respond to current immunotherapies, creating an urgent need to identify biomarkers that can predict which patients are most likely to benefit.

Scientists recently uncovered why cancer patients with ARID1A gene mutations are more likely to respond to immunotherapy, discovering ARID1A mutations invite cancer-fighting immune cells into tumors by triggering an antiviral-like response. Their findings could help improve cancer care and drug development for many cancer types, including endometrial, ovarian, colon, gastric, liver, and pancreatic cancers.

The new study, published in Cell on May 15, 2024, reveals that ARID1A mutation renders tumors sensitive to immunotherapy by inviting cancer-fighting immune cells into the tumor through an antiviral-like immune response. The researchers suggest this mutation and antiviral immune response could be used as a biomarker to better select patients for specific immunotherapies, like immune checkpoint blockade. (Science Daily)

Group Training to Treat Cognitive Decline

Solving a quiz as a group while moving around the room at the same time -- this combination is the basis of a new tool designed to prevent dementia. Researchers in Germany developed and evaluated it in the "go4cognition" project with industry partners and brought it to market maturity.

The new system is designed for groups of seven to ten people. It consists of six stations arranged around the room, each equipped with a tablet. The tablets display different tasks, such as listing German chancellors, memorizing series of numbers or planning a trip around the world to specific locations. In order to complete the tasks, a participant has to move to the relevant station and insert a baton fitted with a microchip into a specific device. Everyone has their own baton so individual performance can be measured.

The researchers tested the system with 30 volunteers aged between 60 and 89 who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, i.e. who showed moderate cognitive impairment in neuropsychological tests. The participants are not restricted in their everyday activities, but have an increased risk of developing dementia at a later stage.

The participants trained with the go4cognition system two days a week for six weeks. After completing the training, 70 percent of them were no longer diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. (Science Daily)

Treating Opioid Overdose Just Got Cheaper

Walgreens is set to offer a cheaper version of an important opioid reversal drug at its stores soon, according to a Wednesday press release. “Walgreens today announced it is expanding access to an over the counter, life-saving medication with the launch of Walgreens Brand Naloxone HCI Nasal Spray,” reads the press release from Walgreens’ parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance. (The Hill)

It should be available over the counter without a prescription in many states. Some states require training before sale. Ask at your pharmacy and they will tell you how to obtain one. If there is an addicted person in your sphere it is prudent to have it around.

Reversing Vertical Integration

Insurer ownership of clinical practices distorts US health care, enabling profit-taking from government funds, patients, and independent providers. A new report outlines policy and regulatory actions to reverse these trends, consistent with progressive Biden administration anti-trust philosophy and with single payer. (Health Justice Monitor)

The FTC and DoJ are pursuing some anti trust behaviors in the healthcare marketplace. The author identifies the way the that the government pays for healthcare as a part of the problem. Three policy recommendations are described to repair the system.

(1) Combat corporate consolidation and elevate the power and autonomy of clinicians and their patients. This could be done with strengthened antitrust enforcement and by prohibiting insurance company ownership of providers, similar to the New Deal era Glass-Steagall Act for banks.

(2) Use public utility regulation to foster healthy and fair competition. Currently not done at all.

(3) Use public funds more responsibly to build and deploy health care resources. This would make healthcare more available especially in medical deserts

Action

I know we all holler long and loud for universal single payer healthcare - but even if we had it some of the provisions above would not be addressed. Let’s ask our member of Congress and Senators to read the report and consider legislation to implement the recommendations. Here is a link to the report, https://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Medicare-Advantage-AELP.pdf and contact info for our representatives and senators is here.

Or use RESISTBOT to send this email by texting SIGN PNTQKPto 50409 on your cellphone.

”I am your constituent and there is so much wrong with our healthcare systems in the US. Part of the problem is that companies are incentivized to vertically integrate into near monopolies of networks to increase profits instead of delivering timely effective care. Universal Health care fixes some of the issues, like in HR 3421. Other consolidation issues require more anti-trust type attention. I’d like you or your staff to read this new report and consider implementing it’s recommendations to protect your constituents. Here is a link to the report by Hayden Rooke-Ley, https://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Medicare-Advantage-AELP.pdf. Thanks.”

Nature Fooling Nature

Not really healthcare but I always enjoy stories about how a species is set up to protect itself from prey. Today I read that when tiger beetles hear a bat nearby, they respond by creating a high-pitched, ultrasonic noise, and for the past 30 years, no one has known why. In a new study, scientists lay the mystery to rest by showing that tiger beetles use ultrasonic warning signals that mimic those of toxic moths. Just cool stuff.

Resources

Find My Elected Officials

Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website

Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List

Important Healthcare Resources

League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit

Organizations to Contact

National Nurses United Medicare4All

Physicians for a National Health Program

One Payer States

Healthcare Now

Reproductive Health

NARAL - Pro Choice America

Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion

Planned Parenthood

Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.

United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.

Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.