Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Vitamin B1 Research, ADHD Device Review, and WHO Withdrawal Impacts

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Vitamin B1 Research, ADHD Device Review, and WHO Withdrawal Impacts · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, where we bring you the latest in medical and health news from around the globe.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host, and today we're diving into an interesting discovery about a
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  common vitamin that might influence your digestive health.
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  A large international study has highlighted the potential role of vitamin B1, also known as
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  thiamine, in regulating gut motility, which is the process that moves food through the
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  digestive system.
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  This research, led by Professor Mauro D’Amato from LUM University and CIC bioGUNE, involved
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  analyzing genetic and health data from over 268,000 individuals of European and East Asian
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  descent.
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  Participants in the study reported how frequently they went to the bathroom, and this
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  was used as a practical measure of gut motility.
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  The findings pointed strongly towards vitamin B1 metabolism as a key factor influencing this
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  process.
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  Dr.
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  Cristian Diaz-Muñoz, a postdoctoral researcher involved in the study, explained that they used
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  genetics to map out the biological pathways that regulate the pace of the gut, and vitamin
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  B1 stood out significantly alongside other established mechanisms.
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  By scanning millions of genetic markers, the researchers identified 21 genetic regions
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  associated with bowel movement frequency, some of which were previously unknown in the context
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  of digestive function.
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  Many of these genetic signals were related to known digestive pathways, such as bile acid
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  metabolism and nerve signaling, which are essential for the rhythmic contractions of
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  intestinal muscles.
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  Interestingly, the study found two specific genes that help transport and regulate vitamin
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  B1 in the body, showing a strong connection with stool frequency.
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  The research also included dietary data from nearly 100,000 participants in the United
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  Kingdom Biobank, revealing that individuals consuming higher amounts of vitamin B1 tended
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  to have more frequent bowel movements.
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  However, this effect varied based on genetic differences, indicating that genetic makeup
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  plays a role in how the body processes thiamine.
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  Despite these intriguing findings, the study, published in the journal Gut, does have its
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  limitations.
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  Frequency of bowel movements is an indirect measure of gut motility and doesn't capture
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  other factors like stool consistency or discomfort, which are also important in
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  assessing digestive health.
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  Moreover, the study relied on self-reported dietary data, which can be imprecise, and
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  genetic associations do not establish cause and effect.
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  It's also important to note that the results don't conclusively show that taking vitamin B1
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  supplements will alter bowel habits, nor do they fully establish the biological pathway by
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  which thiamine might affect digestion.
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  As always, if you're experiencing digestive issues, it's best to consult a healthcare
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  professional for personalized advice.
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  Let's delve into a recent study that questions the effectiveness of a device cleared by the
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  United States Food and Drug Administration for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
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  Disorder.
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  This device, known as the Monarch external trigeminal nerve stimulation system, was
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  initially cleared back in 2019 for children aged seven to twelve who are not on
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  prescription ADHD medication.
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  The device works by delivering low-level electrical stimulation to branches of the
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  trigeminal nerve at night, which theoretically sends signals to parts of the brain involved in
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  ADHD.
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  However, a new study conducted in England suggests that this external trigeminal nerve
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  stimulation device might not be as effective as initially thought.
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  This phase IIb trial included one hundred fifty children and adolescents, some of whom were on
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  long-term ADHD medication.
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  The study found that after four weeks of nightly use, there were no significant
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  differences in ADHD symptom improvement between those using the real device and those using a
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  sham device.
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  The results were published by Dr.
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  Katya Rubia and her colleagues from King's College London in the journal Nature Medicine.
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  While most secondary outcomes showed no significant differences between the real and
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  sham groups, one exception was the Mind Excessively Wandering Scale total scores at
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  week four, which slightly favored the real stimulation.
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  However, the overall findings did not support the use of trigeminal nerve stimulation as an
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  effective treatment for ADHD.
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  Interestingly, the sham group showed a numerical reduction in ADHD symptoms at week
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  one, which conflicts with earlier pilot studies that suggested a benefit of the real device
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  over the sham.
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  The study highlights some important differences from past research.
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  Unlike the initial study, which was limited to non-medicated children aged eight to twelve,
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  this trial included a broader age range of eight to eighteen years and included children
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  who were already on medication.
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  The mean age of participants was twelve point six years.
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  The researchers also noted a high rate of missing data from teacher ratings, which made
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  it difficult to assess behavioral changes in school settings.
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  Adverse effects reported during the trial included headaches and sleep disturbances, but
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  these were similar in both the real and sham groups, and no serious adverse events were
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  reported.
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  Despite the lack of significant findings in this study, it's worth noting that the device
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  has been dispensed over one thousand times in the United States since its initial clearance.
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  The Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing the findings of this study.
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  The findings suggest that a larger confirmatory trial may be necessary to truly understand the
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  potential benefits or limitations of this device.
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  The next-generation Monarch 2.0 system, which was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration
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  in January 2024, is set to launch soon, and it will be interesting to see if it addresses some
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  of the limitations identified in this study.
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  In a significant development, the United States has completed its withdrawal from the World
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  Health Organization, marking the end of its seventy-eight-year commitment to the global
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  health agency.
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  This decision, announced by President Donald Trump, has been finalized despite ongoing
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  concerns about its implications for global health initiatives and America's own public
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  health security.
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  The withdrawal isn't entirely seamless, as the United States still owes over one hundred
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  thirty million dollars to the World Health Organization.
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  This financial obligation remains unsettled, and Trump administration officials are still
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  navigating the complexities of lost access to international health data, which could
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  potentially hinder early warnings of new pandemics.
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  Public health experts are particularly worried about the repercussions of this decision.
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  Lawrence Gostin, a renowned public health law expert, has described the withdrawal as the
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  most ruinous presidential decision in his lifetime.
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  The World Health Organization plays a pivotal role in coordinating responses to global health
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  threats, providing technical assistance, and setting guidelines for numerous health
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  conditions.
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  The U.S.
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  exit could potentially cripple efforts in areas such as polio eradication, maternal and child
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  health programs, and viral threat research.
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  Historically, the United States has been a major contributor to the World Health
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  Organization, both financially and in terms of expertise.
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  On average, it has contributed over six hundred million dollars annually through member dues
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  and voluntary contributions.
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  However, the Trump administration cited the World Health Organization's mishandling of the
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  COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement necessary reforms as reasons for the
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  withdrawal.
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  The decision to withdraw also means the United States will cease participation in World Health
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  Organization committees and technical groups, potentially affecting the global flu
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  information-sharing system that guides vaccine decisions.
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  This system has been crucial in ensuring Americans are well-prepared in the face of
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  emerging outbreaks, with quick access to vaccines and treatments.
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  As the United States navigates this new landscape, the Trump administration emphasizes
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  that it is working to establish direct public health relationships with other countries to
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  compensate for the loss of the World Health Organization's intermediary role.
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  However, experts doubt the feasibility of creating such agreements on a large scale,
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  particularly with countries that have had strained relations with the United States.
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  The withdrawal from the World Health Organization is not just a financial and
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  logistical challenge, but it also raises questions about the United States' role in
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  global health leadership.
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  As the world continues to face complex health challenges, the absence of the United States in
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  a coordinated international response could have far-reaching consequences.
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  That wraps up our episode for today.
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  Thank you for tuning in to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Stay informed and stay healthy.
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  Until next time, take care.