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The Hill
a day ago
- Health
- The Hill
California study finds ER visits spiking with heat, but overall deaths falling from lack of cold
Californians are poised to become sicker in a future marked by climate-fueled warming, but they may also be less likely to die from temperature-related events as extreme cold days become rarer, a new study has found. Emergency room visits in California increased in a linear fashion as daily temperatures escalated over the course of a recent decade, from 2006 to 2017, according to the study, published on Wednesday in Science Advances. But neither hospital admissions or related-death exhibited the same unbending climb. Although extreme heat and extreme cold alike cause more people to die, illness rates tend to increase as the weather becomes hotter, and they tend to be lower in colder conditions, the study authors explained. In other words: Emergency visits are still likely to surge as the planet warms, but temperature-related deaths as a whole may decline thanks to the ongoing disappearance of extreme cold days. The researchers — led by Carlos Gould at the University of California San Diego — analyzed 123 million zip code-level emergency department visits, 45 million such hospital admissions and 2.9 million county-level death records between 2006 and 2017. They also compiled daily temperature records from 1,500 zip codes in 56 California counties for the same period. Over time, they observed that the zip codes experienced an increase in emergency room visits: from an average of 1,936 per 100,000 people every month to 2,531 in 2017. During the same window, both hospitalization rates and deaths showed a U-curve for temperature — exhibiting unsurprising increases during extreme cold and hot periods. The scientists calculated an increase in emergency department visits California due to changes in temperatures by 2050 — an additional 0.46 percent, or 1.5 million excess visits, in comparison to today. At that point, related hospitalizations and deaths will both likely decline, by 0.18 percent and 0.43 percent, respectively, or 244,000 fewer hospitalizations and 53,500 fewer deaths, according to the study. By 2100, the researchers projected a 0.76 percent increase in emergency department visits, a 0.38 percent decline in hospital admissions and a 0.77 plunge in deaths due to temperature changes. As far as economics are concerned, the scientists calculated that by 2050, emergency room visits would cost California an additional $52 million, while temperature-related death costs would decrease by $30 billion and hospitalization costs by $53 million. Going forward, the researchers called for further analysis into the morbidity and mortality — illness and death — impacts of temperature variation within populations, noting that specific effects may differ considerably among age groups. 'A very broad range of morbidity outcomes will likely be affected by a warming climate and that future increases in heat extremes will increase both morbidity and mortality,' the authors stated. And with a much warmer future likely ahead, the researchers questioned just how long the decreases in death related to cold could truly outweigh the increases related to excessive warmth. 'Our results suggest that beneficial impact of declining cold extremes for mortality — an expected substantial benefit of climate change in much of the world — will be offset, at least partially, by increases in morbidity at those temperatures,' they added.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Ominous empty harbors: Why water recedes right before a tsunami
As the risk of tsunami waves from an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia continues for the western coast of the United States, the National Weather Service is warning people not to return to areas where water appears to have receded. Weather gauges at Port San Luis, on the central coast of California, showed 'a rapid and damaging surge' of ocean water, moving from low tide to high tide within minutes, the weather service in Los Angeles said around 5 a.m. ET July 30. Powerful waves 'could return multiple times through the next 24 hours' in areas where the tide had pulled back, it said. More: Tsunami warnings, advisories issued on West Coast; What to do in threatened areas Tsunami waves arrived on the shores of Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska several hours after the July 29 earthquake, according to the weather service. No injuries and little damage were immediately reported. The rapid withdrawal of water from a shoreline is a common warning sign of an impending tsunami. It happens when the lowest part of the tsunami wave, known as the trough, reaches the coast first, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. As the water is pulled offshore, a larger section of the sea floor than is typical during low tide may become visible. Waves may rush in minutes later. Not all tsunamis act in the same way, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises. Tsunamis may arrive as a series of high-speed and receding waves. They can barrel onto the shore, like a wall of water, or appear as a fast-moving flood. The Weather Service advises those under a tsunami advisory to stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Thousands of people on the coast of Thailand died during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami after they wandered to look at the receding waves, only to be swept away as the water surged back. A 10-year-old British girl saved more than 100 people during that disaster when she alerted fellow beachgoers after she saw the waves begin to pull away, according to NOAA.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
OCs for Acne: Study Analyzes Information on TikTok
SEATTLE — Discussions about acne and acne treatments are popular on social media, especially on TikTok. But as with much of the health information found on the internet and social media in particular, accuracy can vary considerably, depending on its source. A study presented in a poster session at the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) 2025 Annual Meeting looked at how social media may influence young women and their families, with regards to acne treatment with oral contraceptives (OCs). The researchers found that most TikTok content on this topic is not created by healthcare professionals (HCPs), although the videos created by HCPs and non-HCPs had similar levels of engagement among viewers. But what stood out in the non-HCP videos were frequent discussions about acne flare-ups when OCs were discontinued, or 'post-pill acne.' 'We were exploring how young adults and adolescents are using TikTok and other social media for health driven information,' said the study's first author Hong-An Nguyen, third-year medical student at the University of California, San Diego. 'We decided to look at oral contraceptives that are widely prescribed for acne and what was being said about side effects.' Nguyen told Medscape Medical News that they were particularly interested in seeing the difference in perspective between medical providers and non-providers. 'We didn't find much of a difference except for the topic of post-pill acne, and we further explored that due to its frequent mention across videos,' she said. 'There's limited clinical recognition of that being an issue when you look in the [medical] literature, but it was a big concern on social media.' In 2024, TikTok reported 170 million monthly active users in the US, with the majority being young women. Many teens receive health information — both actively and passively — on this platform. However, concerns have emerged that exaggerated claims about side effects may be discouraging the use of OCs and could influence decision-making in teens with acne. Nguyen and colleagues noted that even though OCs are a common treatment for acne, it is unclear how their use is portrayed on TikTok. To better understand the influence of social media on decision making, they analyzed TikTok videos referencing both acne and OCs. Popularity of Post-Pill Acne Discussions Using two newly created TikTok accounts, they identified 147 unique videos: 17 were created by self-identified HCPs (including six dermatologists and two OB-GYNs), three physician associates, four nurses, and two pharmacists, and 130 were created by non-HCPs. Videos were analyzed for user engagement (views, likes, and comments) and perceptions of OC use, categorized as positive (emphasized perceived benefits or success stories), negative (emphasized side effects or adverse experiences over potential benefits), or neutral (presented information or personal experiences without expressing a clearly favorable or unfavorable stance). Views per video ranged from 1109 to 7.6 million (mean 346,335), with an average of 13,191 'likes,' and comments ranging from 0 to 3958 (mean 171). Less than 10% of HCP videos mentioned 'post-pill acne' compared with nearly 60% of non-HCP videos — a significant difference ( P < .001). Overall, 60% of videos expressed negative perceptions of hormonal therapy for acne, while 16% were positive, and 24% had neutral content. Referring to their findings, Nguyen commented, 'as providers, we need to see what the perceptions are on social media and what people are concerned with before they come to our office.' Approached for an independent comment by Medscape Medical News , Luke Johnson, MD, associate professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, noted that 'it is worth knowing that some of our patients are looking to social media for healthcare and skincare advice.' In addition, he said, 'I am concerned about the amount of misinformation — intentional or not — that's out there. and I am concerned by the fact that most people don't seem to care much about the source of their information.' One benefit of social media is that it could potentially bring previously unknown issues associated with a treatment to the attention of healthcare providers, Johnson, who is also co-host of the dermatology podcast Dermasphere, pointed out. 'We know that many types of oral contraceptive pills can improve acne, so it makes sense that acne could appear when someone stops one of these medicines,' he added. The study was independently supported. Nguyen reported having no relevant financial relationships. Johnson reported having no disclosures.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Scuba diving generates up to $20B annually, with conservation benefits: Study
The global scuba diving industry generates between $8.5 billion and $20.4 billion each year, while also providing widespread marine conservation benefits, a new study has found. The diving sector supports up to 124,000 jobs across 170 countries on an annual basis, contributing to both ocean ecology and local communities, according to the study, published Friday in Cell Reports Sustainability. 'Scuba diving is pretty unique because it makes you spend time underwater,' co-author Fabio Favoretto, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said in a statement. 'You can sail or surf above a dead ocean, but scuba divers notice if there are no fish,' added Favoretto, who also runs the Atlas Aquatica Project, part of a U.N.-based marine biology initiative. The very act of diving, he explained, relies on the health of the ocean — thereby fostering a net 'positive for conservation because it makes divers allies.' Previous studies have suggested that improved conservation could raise dive revenue, by attracting people who are willing to pay higher prices for the experience, the authors noted. Some of that same research, they noted, has also shown that about 70 percent of all dives occur in marine protected areas — a testament to diver preference. While ocean-based tourism is a widely recognized contributor to the economy, the authors said that the specific role of scuba diving at global scale has long been a mystery. Co-author Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, a marine biologist at Scripps, previously focused solely on Mexico, finding in 2021 that the dive industry there produced $725 million annually for the country's economy — almost as much as the entire fishing sector. In the new study, the researchers expanded their reach to the entire world, compiling a list of more than 11,500 dive operators in 170 nations and using data from Google Maps and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. After validating their data with local sources, they conducted an online survey of 425 businesses across 81 countries. The authors then used the survey responses to calculate money spent on diving activities, as well as indirect funds spent on hotels, food and transportation by the world's estimated 9 million to 14 million annual recreational divers. They then used statistical modeling to extrapolate the figures to gauge approximate global impact. Ultimately, the analysis concluded that total spending amounts to between $8.5 billion and $20.4 billion, with between $900 million and $3.2 billion going directly to diving. Regarding workforce, the researchers observed that 80 percent of employees are local or national residents. Meanwhile, dive operators widely cited deep concerns about ecosystem degradation from other industries over the past decade, according to the study. Changes reported were related to biodiversity, species abundance, coral bleaching, pollution and water quality. 'We show that diving generates a lot of income, and it does this without degrading the environment like extractive industries such as fishing or mining,' Aburto-Oropeza said. 'We hope that showing the scale of the economic impact from this activity will encourage policies that invest in diving by increasing marine protections,' he added. Aburto-Oropeza and his colleagues positioned dive tourism as a model for a ' Blue Economy ' — an internationally recognized concept that shows how coastal communities can thrive while also protecting their resources. 'Unlike mass tourism operations that can harm local communities and marine environments, dive tourism, when managed well, can be economically viable, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable,' lead author Anna Schuhbauer, a fisheries scientist at the University of British Columbia, said in a statement. 'With a vested interest in healthy ecosystems and abundant marine life, dive operators are natural allies in conservation efforts,' Schuhbauer added.
Medscape
7 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Hemophilia B: Gene Therapy Shows 5-Year Success
TOPLINE: A single intravenous dose of etranacogene dezaparvovec gene therapy maintained factor IX (FIX) activity at 45.7 IU/dL after 5 years in patients with hemophilia B, eliminating the need for prophylaxis with no late-emergent safety events. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a phase 2b, open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial evaluating a single intravenous dose (2 × 10 13 genome copies/kg) of etranacogene dezaparvovec in three adult participants with severe or moderately severe hemophilia B (FIX ≤ 2%). genome copies/kg) of etranacogene dezaparvovec in three adult participants with severe or moderately severe hemophilia B (FIX ≤ 2%). Primary endpoint assessment measured FIX activity ≥ 5 IU/dL at 6 weeks, while secondary endpoints included bleeding frequency, FIX concentrate use, and adverse events over 5 years of follow-up. Participants were positive for preexisting adeno-associated virus serotype 5 neutralizing antibodies, with a mean titer of 25 at dosing, and received FIX recovery assessment before administration. Analysis included weekly FIX level assessments for 6 weeks, followed by biweekly until week 26, monthly until month 12, and twice-yearly up to month 60, along with quality-of-life assessments using Hem-A-QoL. TAKEAWAY: Mean FIX activity increased to 40.8 IU/dL (range, 31.3-50.2) at year 1 and was maintained at 45.7 IU/dL (range, 39.0-51.2) at year 5, with two participants achieving levels in the nonhemophilia range (≥ 40 IU/dL). Mean annualized bleeding rate decreased to 0.14 for the cumulative follow-up period over 5 years, with two participants experiencing no bleeds throughout the study period. All participants discontinued and remained free of FIX prophylaxis after treatment, with only one participant requiring episodic FIX replacement therapy for elective surgeries and two bleeding episodes. No clinically significant elevations in liver enzymes, requirement for steroids, FIX inhibitor development, thrombotic complications, or late-emergent safety events were observed in any participant over the 5-year period. IN PRACTICE: 'Five years after administration, etranacogene dezaparvovec was effective in adults with hemophilia B with a favorable safety profile. Participants are eligible to participate in an extension study for 10-year additional follow-up,' wrote the authors of the study. SOURCE: The study was led by Annette von Drygalski, MD, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego. It was published online in Blood Advances. LIMITATIONS: According to the authors, while the study demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety, the small sample size of only three participants limits the generalizability of the findings. The researchers noted that longer-term follow-up studies are needed, and all participants have enrolled in an extension study for an additional 10 years to further evaluate the durability and safety of the treatment. DISCLOSURES: The study was supported by CSL Behring. Drygalski disclosed serving as a consultant for BioMarin, Regeneron, Pfizer, Bioverativ/Sanofi, Sobi, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Spark Therapeutics, Takeda, Genentech, and uniQure and being a cofounder and member of the board of directors of Hematherix LLC. Additional disclosures are noted 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.
