Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Exploring MDMA for PTSD, new STD prevention, and a pioneering pig kidney transplant

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Exploring MDMA for PTSD, new STD prevention, and a pioneering pig kidney transplant · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Good morning listeners.
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  Welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow, where we bring you the latest
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  medical and health news from around the globe.
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  I am your host, Chi-Ming Chiu Chow Chow, and today we have some fascinating topics lined up
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  for you.
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  We will delve into the potential of the psychedelic drug MDMA as a treatment for PTSD.
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  Explore new guidelines for using antibiotics as a morning after pill against STBs discuss how
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  to improve your health without hitting the gym through NEA and look into the recent news about
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  a transplanted pig kidney being removed from a patient.
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  So grab your coffee and let's get started.
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  Our first story today focuses on the psychedelic drug MDMA.
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  Which is currently facing a panel from the food and drug administration in its bid to become a
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  groundbreaking treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.
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  Commonly known as PTSD.
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  This is a significant moment as it could pave the way for other psychedelics.
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  Such as LSD and psilocybin to be reviewed for their medical potential in the coming years.
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  On Tuesday, A panel of advisors to the Food And Drug Administration voted overwhelmingly
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  against the overall benefits of MDMA when used to treat PTSD.
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  The vote was 10 to 1, with the panel citing several concerns, including flawed study data,
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  questionable research conduct, and significant drug risks such as potential heart problems,
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  injury, and abuse.
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  Doctor Melissa Decker.
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  Barone, a psychologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs expressed her concerns by
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  stating, it seems like there are so many problems with the data.
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  Each one alone might be okay, but when you pile them on top of each other, there are just a lot
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  of questions I would have about how effective the treatment is.
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  This sentiment was echoed by other panel members who scrutinized the research submitted
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  on MDMA.
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  1 of the major issues highlighted was the lack of diversity among the study participants.
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  The vast majority of patients were white with only 5 black patients receiving MDMA.
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  This raised questions about the generalizability of the results.
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  The fact that this study has so many white participants is problematic because I do not
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  want something to roll out that only helps this one group, said Elizabeth Jonette Grant, the
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  group's patient representative.
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  The panel also brought attention to allegations of misconduct in the trials.
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  These allegations include a 2018 report of apparent sexual misconduct by a therapist and
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  her husband while treating a patient.
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  Lycos Therapeutics, the company behind the study, stated that it had previously reported
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  the incident to the food and drug administration and regulators in Canada where
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  the therapist is based.
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  Lycos is essentially a corporate spin off of the multidisciplinary association for
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  psychedelic studies or maps which funded the studies.
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  Despite the negative vote, Lycos Therapeutics remains committed to working with the food and
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  drug administration to address the panel's concerns.
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  While we are disappointed in the vote, we are committed to continuing to collaborate with the
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  FDA with their ongoing review of our drug application over the coming weeks.
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  The company stated, the food and drug administration is expected to make its final
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  decision by August 11th.
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  The overwhelmingly negative panel ruling could also affect financial investments in the
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  fledgling psychedelic industry.
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  Many startup companies have emerged in recent years to study psychedelics like psilocybin and
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  ketamine for conditions such as depression and addiction.
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  However, these companies have struggled to raise funds and the panel's decision on MDMA
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  could further derail these efforts.
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  MDMA is unique among psychedelics because it does not cause the visual hallucinations
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  commonly associated with other drugs in its class.
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  Instead, it triggers feelings of intimacy connection, and euphoria, which can help
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  patients process their trauma and let go of disturbing thoughts and memories when used to
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  enhance talk therapy.
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  However, the panel struggled with the reliability of the results reported by Lycos
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  given the difficulties of objectively testing psychedelic drugs Almost all patients in the 2
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  key studies were able to guess whether they had received MDMA or a placebo, which is contrary
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  to the blinding approach generally required for high quality drug research.
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  I am not convinced at all that this drug is effective based on the data I saw.
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  Said Doctor Rajesh Narendra, a university of Pittsburgh psychiatrist who chaired the panel.
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  During the meeting, nearly 3 dozen public speakers addressed the panel.
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  Including veterans who said they benefited from MDMA therapy, medical professionals who advised
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  against its use, and journalists and independent researchers who detailed the
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  allegations of misconduct in the trials.
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  The meeting concluded with several expert encouraging Lycos and the food and drug
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  administration to continue studying psychedelics for PTSD, citing the field's
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  potential to help patients.
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  I think this is a really exciting treatment, and I am encouraged by the results to date,
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  said Doctor Paul Holzheimer, of the VA's National Center for PTSD.
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  But from a safety and efficacy standpoint, I feel it is still premature.
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  Now let's move on to our next story.
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  US health officials have announced a significant update in the fight against
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  sexually transmitted diseases.
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  On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention finalized its endorsement of using
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  the antibiotic doxycycline as a morning after pill to prevent infections such as chlamydia,
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  gonorrhea, and syphilis.
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  This marks the first new prevention tool against sexually transmitted infections in
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  decades, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions.
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  The new guideline is specifically aimed at gay and bisexual men and transgender women who had
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  a sexually transmitted disease in the previous year.
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  And are at high risk of getting infected again.
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  Studies have shown that doxycycline is effective in this group, but there is not
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  enough evidence to extend the recommendation to other populations at this time.
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  This treatment is referred to as Doxy PEP, short for Doxycycline post exposure
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  prophylaxis.
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  Doctors can now prescribe a single dose of 200 milligrams of doxycycline to be taken within 3
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  days of unprotected sex.
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  The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention emphasized that the pills should only be taken
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  once per 24 hours.
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  They also recommended that doctors reassess the regimen with patients every 3 to 6 months to
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  ensure its continued effectiveness and safety.
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  Rates of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have been rising for years, particularly among
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  gay and bisexual men.
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  However, recent data suggests that the cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea stopped rising in 2022.
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  Despite this, the need for new prevention methods remains critical.
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  Innovation in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections is badly needed.
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  Said a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention.
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  The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention first released a draft version of these
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  guidelines in October, which underwent a public comment period before finalization.
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  Some changes were made to the proposed language, including clarifications that the
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  antibiotic pills should be taken only once for 24 hours and that the treatment regimen should
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  be reassessed regularly.
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  This new guideline represents a proactive approach to managing sexually transmitted
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  diseases, particularly in high risk groups.
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  It also underscores the importance of regular monitoring and reassessment.
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  To ensure that the treatment remains effective and safe over time.
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  The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention's endorsement of doxycycline as a
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  post exposure prophylaxis is a promising step forward in public health.
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  Our next topic is all about improving your health without ever stepping foot in a gym.
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  We are talking about ne8 or non exercise activity thermogenesis.
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  This concept credited to doctor James a Levine with the Mayo Clinic, emphasizes that everyday
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  activities such as household chores, shopping, and yard work can positively impact your
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  overall health.
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  Exercise is undeniably a major feasible due to busy schedules.
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  However, health experts stress that any form of movement is vital to counteract the negative
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  effects of prolonged sitting whether it is at the office or in the car.
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  Thomas Bradley, a personal trainer with fitness plus in Cape Girado, acknowledges the challenge
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  of incorporating more movement into our daily lives.
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  It could be tough because of the way we live Chow, with all the conveniences we have, it's
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  easier just to say, well, I can do it later, or I'll have someone come and do it for me.
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  Despite these conveniences, Bradley emphasizes the importance of taking the initiative to get
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  up and start moving.
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  You just have to take that initiative just to get up and start.
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  And once you start, then you see that you're accomplishing something And not only are you
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  keeping your house clean and doing some great yard work, you're getting healthier as you do
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  it.
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  Bradley said, Sometimes the prospect of getting fit can seem overwhelming, especially when
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  comparing different types of exercises.
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  Running might seem more effective than walking, but it takes time to build up to running.
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  Bradley advises starting with manageable steps.
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  Don't try to get in there and go all out all at once.
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  You gotta take baby steps.
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  Do a little bit, and then you do a little bit more.
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  And then the next thing you know, you're walking a mile.
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  He said, start slow and build up.
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  Consistency is key when it comes to integrating more movement into your life.
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  Small incremental changes can lead to significant improvements over time.
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  As Bradley puts it, once you see those improvements, it kind of gets in your system.
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  Like, oh, I can do this.
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  I can do more.
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  Many people find that once they have incorporated healthy habits into their routine,
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  they feel worse when they miss a workout, than they did before they started.
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  This is a testament to the positive impact that consistent movement can have on one's overall
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  well-being.
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  Our final story today revolves around a groundbreaking medical procedure that recently
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  took place at the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.
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  Surgeons removed a kidney from a genetically engineered pig that had been transplanted into
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  a critically ill patient.
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  This marks a significant step in the field of xenotransplantation.
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  Which involves the transplantation of animal organs into humans.
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  The patient, Lisa Posano, age fifty four, had been living with the pig kidney for 47 days
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  before it had to be removed due to inadequate blood flow caused by a heart pump she had also
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  received According to doctor Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langoni Transplant
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  Institute, the kidney itself showed no signs of organ rejection.
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  Lisa is in stable condition, and her left ventricular assist device is still functioning,
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  doctor Montgomery stated.
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  We are hoping to get Lisa back home to her family soon.
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  Lisa Posano is a true pioneer in the effort to create sustainable options for people waiting
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  for organ transplants.
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  In April, she became the second person to receive a kidney transplanted from a
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  genetically modified pig.
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  Her case was particularly complex as she suffers from both heart and kidney failure.
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  She received the pig kidney just 8 days after receiving a mechanical heart pump.
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  A device implanted in patients who need a heart transplant.
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  The shortage of human kidneys available from donors is a significant issue.
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  And Lisa's heart disease made her ineligible to receive a human kidney.
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  Remarkably, she is the 1st patient with a heart pump known to have received an organ transplant
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  of any kind.
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  Patients with kidney failure are usually ineligible for a heart pump due to the high
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  risk of death.
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  Lisa is a pioneer and a hero in the effort to create a sustainable option for people waiting
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  for an organ transplant.
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  Doctor Mun Montgomery added.
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  The first person to receive a kidney from a genetically engineered pig was Richard Slaman,
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  aged sixty two, who underwent the procedure in March at Mass General Brigham in Boston.
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  While he was well enough to go home 2 weeks after the surgery, He unfortunately passed away
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  within 2 months due to complex medical problems.
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  Significant strides have been made in recent years in the transplantation of organs from
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  animals into humans, thanks to technological innovations such as cloning and gene editing.
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  However, These procedures remain experimental, and so far, only patients who are so sick that
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  they are not eligible for a human organ and may die without treatment have been cleared to
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  receive animal organs.
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  The 2 transplants of pig kidneys this year were approved under the food and drug
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  administration's use or expanded access program for patients with life threatening conditions.
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  This program allows patients to receive experimental treatments when no other options
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  are available.
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  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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  Thank you for joining us as we explored these groundbreaking stories in the medical world.
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  From the potential of MDMA as a treatment for PTSD to new guidelines for using antibiotics
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  against sexually transmitted diseases to a improving health through everyday activities
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  and the pioneering efforts in xenotransplantation.
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  We hope you found today's episode both informative and enlightening.
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  Until next time, stay healthy and stay informed.
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  This is doctor Chi-Ming Ming signing off.