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Mounjaro weight loss jab 'game changer', says Oxfordshire GP

Mounjaro weight loss jab 'game changer', says Oxfordshire GP

BBC News12 hours ago

A GP has told the BBC that patients have already enquiring about prescriptions for the "game changer" weight loss drug Mounjaro, after it became available at surgeries in England earlier this week.Dr Rachel Ward, who is a doctor in Didcot, Oxfordshire, said most people who had been in touch were ineligible for the jabs under strict under NHS guidelines.The weekly injection makes you feel full so you eat less, and can help people lose 20% of their body weight.Rebecca Clapcott, from Christchurch in Dorset, accesses the injection privately and said it had been "like some sort of magic".
Ms Clapcott, whose mother died of obesity related health issues, said she had always previously overeaten - partly due to her ADHD."For me its a constant food noise that goes on in the back of my head - my whole life, I've never been able to wait till I'm hungry," she said."I know what's healthy to eat, I know a body doesn't need however many calories I was eating, but I was unable to stop myself.""For whatever reason, Mounjaro has stopped that."The mum of four said she had lost about three stone (19kg) since starting on the injections four months ago.She said it "doesn't make you lose weight", but "gives you a willpower of iron".
Dr Ward, who lives in Newbury, said: "I have got many patients who have been really really successful [using Mounjaro] - people who have struggled with their weight all of their life and it has really been an absolute game changer for them."The GP warned that "unfortunately" very few people would meet the criteria to receive a prescription for the jab on the NHS.People with a BMI of 40 or over (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) and who suffer from four out of five weight related conditions are currently eligible."Already we had people contacting us about getting Mounjaro via their GP, who are not qualifying," Dr Ward said.The jab could be an "opportunity to turn your lifestyle around" she said, adding: "Don't just think that you're going to be able to use the drug and make no other changes, because it wont work in the long term."
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CDC vaccine report cites study that does not exist, says scientist listed as author
CDC vaccine report cites study that does not exist, says scientist listed as author

The Guardian

time3 hours ago

  • The Guardian

CDC vaccine report cites study that does not exist, says scientist listed as author

A review on the use of the preservative thimerosal in vaccines slated to be presented on Thursday to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) outside vaccine committee cites a study that does not exist, the scientist listed as the study's author said. The report, called Thimerosal as a Vaccine Preservative published on the CDC website on Tuesday, is to be presented by Lyn Redwood, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense. It makes reference to a study called Low-level neonatal thimerosal exposure: Long-term consequences in the brain, published in the journal Neurotoxicology in 2008, and co-authored by UC Davis professor emeritus Robert Berman. But according to Berman, 'it's not making reference to a study I published or carried out.' Berman said he co-authored a similarly named study in a different journal – Toxicological Sciences – that came to different conclusions than those suggested by Redwood. 'We did not examine the effects of thimerosal in microglia … I do not endorse this misrepresentation of the research,' he said. Reuters is the first to report on the inaccurate citation from Redwood's planned presentation. The meeting has become increasingly controversial after the US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, just weeks ago abruptly fired all previous 17 members of the expert panel and named eight new members, half of whom have advocated against vaccines. Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, founded the Children's Health Defense. Both Republican senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Democratic senator Patty Murray of Washington state said the meeting on 25 and 26 June should be postponed. The summary of the presentation suggested that there are enough thimerosal-free flu vaccines and that all pregnant women, infants and children should receive only those shots. It was not clear if the new advisory panel would be asked to vote on such a move. Redwood's presentation was in contrast to a separate report posted by CDC staff on the CDC website on Tuesday that says evidence does not support a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Kennedy has long pushed a link between vaccines and autism contrary to scientific evidence. Redwood could not be immediately reached for comment. An HHS spokesperson said the study being referenced was the Toxicological Sciences study Berman said was being misrepresented. The CDC's briefing material reviewed some studies on neurodevelopmental outcomes and vaccines that contain thimerosal, which has long been used in the US in multi-dose vials of medicines and vaccines to prevent germs from growing in them. According to the CDC report, 96% of all influenza vaccines in the US were thimerosal free during the 2024-25 flu season. It also added that the number of pregnant women receiving a thimerosal-containing flu vaccine has decreased over time, with only 0.3% of doses given in 2024 containing thimerosal. Kennedy wrote a book in 2014 claiming that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, causes brain damage. On Monday, Cassidy, who heads the US Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions, called for the meeting to be delayed, saying it should not take place with a relatively small panel and without a CDC director in place. Murray, a senior member and former chair of the Help Committee, has also called for the fired panel members to be reinstated or the meeting be delayed until new members are appropriately vetted.

Are you allergic to summer?
Are you allergic to summer?

Times

time4 hours ago

  • Times

Are you allergic to summer?

You know how it is — you wait all year for some decent weather and then two heatwaves come along in quick succession. Worse, when the sun is out in full force you remember that it's not always as pleasurable as you'd imagined it would be. 'We see a lot of rashes, reactions and heat-related illness at this time of year,' says Dr Dan Baumgardt, a GP and senior lecturer in the school of physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience at the University of Bristol. 'Some of these are related to seasonal temperature changes and some are due to changes in exposure to products, fabrics and chemicals that are more common in the warmer months.' The impact of hot weather can prove fatal, and the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) recently warned people to keep tabs on the colour-coded warnings it jointly issues with the Met Office. For the coming weekend, these have tilted back into red for the southeast of the country, with temperatures expected to surpass 30C. 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Sunscreen reactions are mostly a reaction to specific chemical ingredients in a product. 'Among the most common irritants are chemical UV filters such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene and PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid),' Laftah says. 'These reactions can present as allergic contact dermatitis or photoallergic dermatitis, where UV light activates an allergic response to a compound in the sunscreen.' • Our kids got into a pickle with suncream. So we invented a solution Symptoms Irritant contact dermatitis is more common in people with underlying skin conditions such as eczema. It causes redness and a mild stinging sensation at the site of application. It can sometimes take 24 hours to appear. An itchy, blistering rash where you apply the sunscreen could indicate an allergy to one of the chemicals in the product. Photoallergic dermatitis usually appears on the face, arms, back of hands, chest and lower neck, and may resemble eczema or sunburn. How to treat and avoid it 'Switching to mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are less likely to cause irritation or reactions, is a good idea,' Laftah says. 'Avoid fragrances and preservatives in sunscreens which may also contribute to these reactions.' Reactions can be more severe if sunscreen is used with some medications or other topical creams and lotions, so check what you are using. Margaret Kelman, head of clinical services for Allergy UK, says that some people develop rashes on exposure to sand at the beach. 'It can be down to the fact that sand is drying and abrasive or a combo of sand and seawater and a reaction to sunlight,' she says. General debris and insects in the sand can also cause problems. 'Abroad there are parasites and creatures such as sand flies can lead to bites and rashes,' Baumgardt says. Symptoms Skin can become inflamed, sore and itchy. How to treat and avoid it 'Apply moisturiser as well as SPF to provide an extra barrier and wash or shower as soon as you get back home,' Kelman says. 'Sit on a beach towel and wear longer or more protective beach clothes.' If skin flares up, over-the-counter topical steroids might be needed. Chlorine is added to pools as a disinfectant to keep them clean and safe for swimming. In itself, chlorine is not an allergen but it can have a drying effect on the skin, potentially exacerbating dermatitis and eczema. 'Chlorine can also irritate the lungs in people with asthma,' Kelman says. 'Eyes can be irritated by the chemicals.' • 24 of the best baby and child-friendly hotels in the UK Symptoms Itchy red skin or hives (itchy bumps), difficulty breathing and sore, red eyes are all signs of chlorine irritation. How to treat and avoid it 'If your skin is affected, put on moisturiser in addition to sunscreen before getting in the pool, shower as soon as you get out and then reapply,' Kelman says. 'Wear goggles to protect your eyes from the chlorine and use your inhaler when needed if you have asthma and are spending more time in or near swimming pools.' Pollen-induced hay fever affects as many as 13 million people in the UK — the majority of whom are allergic to grass pollens in the summer months. Symptoms Sneezing, coughing, a runny or blocked nose, as well as red, itchy or watery eyes. How to treat/avoid it 'Speak to a GP, who will help to create a treatment plan,' Kelman says. Options include antihistamines such as fexofenadine, nasal steroid sprays such as Nasonex (both available on prescription) and sodium cromoglicate eye drops (such as Opticrom). Nasal saline washes such as the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit (£21.99, are also worth trying. 'They can be useful to help rinse allergens that may be present in the nasal passages,' Kelman says. Government weather health alerts: Allergy UK:

Anti-vaxxer who ‘encouraged daughter to refuse chemo' defies belief – but toxic views are still spreading far and wide
Anti-vaxxer who ‘encouraged daughter to refuse chemo' defies belief – but toxic views are still spreading far and wide

The Sun

time6 hours ago

  • The Sun

Anti-vaxxer who ‘encouraged daughter to refuse chemo' defies belief – but toxic views are still spreading far and wide

WHAT kind of parent potentially sacrifices their child's health on the altar of their own, ill-informed beliefs? Step forward notorious conspiracy theorist Kate Shemirani, who stands accused by her two estranged sons of causing their sister's death by encouraging her to refuse chemotherapy. 8 8 Paloma Shemirani was diagnosed with 'treatable' non-Hodgkin lymphoma two years ago. But, despite being told she had an 80 per cent chance of recovery via chemo, she refused it and died just months later at the age of 23. Kate and husband Faramarz claim she 'died as a result of medical interventions' but now Paloma's brothers Sebastian and Gabriel have told BBC 's Panorama a different story. 'My sister has passed away as a direct consequence of my mum's actions and beliefs,' says Sebastian. Gabriel, who started legal action to try to ensure that Paloma got the right treatment while she was still alive, adds: 'I wasn't able to stop my sister from dying. "But it would mean the world to me if I could make it that she wasn't just another in a long line of people that die in this way.' To that end, the brothers are lobbying for social media companies to take stronger action against those who peddle medical misinformation. TikTok recently banned Kate Shemirani's profile. But she still has a sizeable social media following for her conspiracy theory views that her sons say started when her and her husband listened to recordings claiming that the US terror attack on 9/11 was staged. Then, in 2012 when Kate was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had the tumour removed through conventional surgery but credited alternative therapies for her recovery. Paloma's school friend Chantelle says: 'Paloma spoke about her mum curing herself and she believed sunscreen could cause cancer.' Son of anti-vax nurse being probed by cops for comparing NHS medics to Nazis slams 'arrogant' mum So when doctors found a mass in Paloma's lung, it perhaps explains why her mother's influence was so great that the young woman decided against conventional treatment. Indeed, Paloma's boyfriend Anders Harris alleges that, after visiting her daughter in hospital, Kate texted him to ask that he help prevent her from consenting to chemo. Kate, a former 'nurse' in a Botox clinic (injects neurotoxin but says no to vaccines? — go figure) was struck off in 2021 for sharing anti-vaccine and anti- lockdown content online. We're all adults and can agree with or ignore such content. But when a parent influences their child against the conventional medicine that could save their life, it defies belief. In the UK, if parents refuse medical treatment for a sick child (either through religious or other beliefs) and that decision puts them at risk, the law can intervene to act in the best interests of the minor and ensure the necessary treatment takes place. But Paloma was an adult clearly influenced by a mother who put her own beliefs before her daughter's best interests. And sadly, the law is a lot murkier and slower in clamping down on people like Kate Shemirani who, God forbid, charges cancer patients £195 for a consultation. WOMEN ON SIDE OF J.K. 8 SIR Stephen Fry has turned on 'friend of mine' JK Rowling, suggesting she's been 'radicalised' over trans issues and has 'very strong, difficult views' that, to him, make her 'a lost cause'. He was publicly backed by barrister Jolyon Maugham, who posted: 'Really creditable this . . . I've spoken to so many of JKR's once friends who now despair at her privately but won't do so publicly . . . ' The Harry Potter author responded to him with: 'It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me.' Touché. As for her being a 'lost cause', this is not an opinion shared by the majority of women who believe she is simply standing up for the rights of biological females, including, as she puts it, 'being able to speak about our own bodies as we please'. And I'm afraid that Stephen and Jolyon's declarations come across as just another couple of entitled men telling women what they should be thinking and feeling. FAILING ON A.I. 8 TECHNOLOGY Secretary Peter Kyle was called a 'bit of a moron' by Sir Elton John on national television but says it's not the first time he's been described as such. Mr Kyle, who has acute dyslexia, says: 'The first person I ever recall calling me that word 'moron' was a teacher and that was in front of school friends. 'So I wouldn't say it hurt, but it was very humiliating.' Hmmm. Conflating a school bullying experience with Elton's comment seems disingenuous. It had nothing to do with his dyslexia and everything to do with the Government's failure to protect young creatives from having their content used for free by AI tech companies. SUCH A HARDY TARDI 8 AT first sight, I thought it was the latest Pixar creation for another Monsters Inc sequel. But no, turns out this, er, cute little creature is real and can be found in damp environments such as moss, lichen and wet leaves. It's called a tardigrade and, according to science author Alex Riley in his new book Super Natural: How Life Thrives in Impossible Places, it can endure the most brutal of conditions that would kill a human in seconds. Hot planet, cold planet, war, flood, famine, you name it – the 'water bear', or 'moss piglet' as it's known, can sustain the lot. Apparently, it can even withstand one of Rachel Reeves' unedited Budget announcements. LITTLE THREAT AT 90 TWO serving Metropolitan Police officers and one former one are to face a gross misconduct hearing after a 90-year-old woman with dementia was 'red-dotted' with a taser which thankfully wasn't discharged. But she was handcuffed and put in a spit hood after refusing to drop the 'kitchen utensils' she was brandishing at a carer in her South London home. A complaint has now been lodged by her family over use of force and alleged discrimination due to her age, race, sex and disability. The incident follows that of two officers who, despite a jury finding them unanimously not guilty, still face gross-misconduct proceedings over the use of a pepper spray and taser on a 92-year old amputee who had threatened staff with a butter knife at a care home in East Sussex. It later transpired that he was delirious as a result of a urinary tract infection. Look, the police do a tough job that many of us wouldn't dare sign up for. But common sense must surely dictate that an obviously distressed and delirious nonagenarian is going to present little to no threat to anyone? EVERY country has its 'pests' that patrol urban streets looking for scraps. 8 For the UK, it's mostly foxes and seagulls. In Australia, it's white ibis, otherwise known as 'bin chickens'. It's monkeys in Thailand and brown bears in Canada. And I'll never forget being in the Galapagos Islands and seeing large sea lions undulating their way along the street looking for food. Now there's been an exceptionally rare sighting of a pod of killer whales just five miles south of Plymouth. How long is it before we see Free Willy foraging in Asda's bins? RIFT-HEALING LIZ HAS THE EX FACTOR 8 I HAVE met Elizabeth Hurley several times and we once spent a weekend away together with mutual friends. During that trip, she taught me how to stand in photos, that the Mach 3 razor is a must for tackling armpit hair and spent some of her downtime looking for a new tractor for her farm. In other words, she's as uncomplicated and straightforward as they come. Which is perhaps why, after years of the Cyrus family not speaking following the demise of his 30-year marriage to her mum Trish, Miley and her father Billy Ray have seemingly reconciled after he started dating Elizabeth. Indeed, the four of them (the other attendee being Elizabeth's son Damian) went for a cosy dinner in London at the weekend. 'At first it's hard, because the little kid in you reacts before the adult in you can go, 'Yes, that's your dad, but that's just another person that deserves to be in his bliss and to be happy,' says 32- year-old Miley. Good for her. And well done Elizabeth, whose enduring friendships with her exes is also a testament to her admirable people skills.

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