Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Senator Bernie Sanders on Wegovy Costs, Canada's Screening Guidelines, and Bird Flu Outbreak

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Senator Bernie Sanders on Wegovy Costs, Canada's Screening Guidelines, and Bird Flu Outbreak · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chiao.
• 0:04
  I am your host, Doctor Chi-Ming Chiao.
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  As always, we bring you the latest and most important medical and health news from around
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  the world using the power of artificial intelligence to keep you informed and healthy.
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  Today, we have a packed docket with stories ranging from groundbreaking treatments for
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  kidney disease.
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  To the potential economic impacts of weight loss medications and even the role of
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  artificial intelligence in answering your health questions.
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  So let's get started.
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  In today's first segment, we will be discussing some very promising news about medications that
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  many of you may have already heard of ozempic and Wigovey.
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  These medications, known primarily for their use in managing type 2 diabetes and aiding in
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  weight loss, could have another significant benefit.
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  A recent study suggests that they may also be effective in treating chronic kidney disease.
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  This study led by researchers from the University of New South Wales in Sydney,
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  Australia was conducted between June 2019 May 2021.
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  It included over 3500 participants from 28 countries who were suffering from both type 2
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  diabetes.
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  And chronic kidney disease.
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  What makes this study particularly interesting is the dosage used.
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  The participants were given a small weekly dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in both
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  Ozempic and Wagavi.
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  Just 1.0 milligrams per week.
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  This is notably less than what is typically prescribed for weight loss or diabetes
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  management.
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  The results were quite remarkable.
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  Over a median follow-up period of 3.4 years, the researchers found that this small dose of
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  semaglutide reduced the likelihood of major kidney events by 24%.
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  In addition to its renal benefits, the medication also showed cardiovascular
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  advantages.
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  Participants were 18% less likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular
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  events while on semaglutide.
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  So why does semaglutide have such a beneficial effect?
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  According to doctor Brett Osborne, a neurologist and longevity expert in Florida who
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  was not involved in the study, The medication works by improving glycemic control, which is
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  crucial for managing diabetic nephropathy or kidney disease caused by diabetes.
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  Additionally, semaglutide lowers inflammation, particularly within the blood vessel lining,
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  which reduces blood vessel damage, and improves blood flow through the kidneys.
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  This combination of effects offers substantial renal and cardiovascular protection for
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  patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
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  Doctor Mark Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langoni Medical Center, and a
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  Fox News medical contributor also weighed in on the study.
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  He described the findings as very important.
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  And highlighted that the metabolic effects of semaglutide help reduce inflammation, overcome
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  insulin resistance, and improve insulin function and glucose metabolism at the cellular
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  level.
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  According to doctor Siegel, These benefits could have broader implications for all
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  patients with kidney failure or those at risk for it.
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  The study findings were announced at the European Renal Association Congress in Sweden
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  and Novo Nordisk, the Denmark based company that makes Ozempic and Wengovi has been
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  enthusiastic about the results.
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  Michael Raidan, the executive medical director for diabetes at Novo Nordisk, stated that this
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  study highlights their drive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people
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  living with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
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  However, for this potential treatment to become widely available, there are still hurdles to
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  overcome such as supply shortages, and the need for regulatory approval.
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  Of getting these results into clinical practice.
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  He noted that the challenge lies in making the drug accessible to those who would benefit from
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  it.
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  Those who would potentially live longer without the need for dialysis, heart attacks, or
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  strokes if they take this medication.
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  This study not only opens up new avenues for treating chronic kidney disease, but also
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  underscores the broader potential of semaglutide and improving human health.
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  That wraps up our first segment for today.
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  Stay tuned as we pivot to our next topic where we will discuss the economic implications of
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  wide spread use of Wagavi in the United States.
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  You will not want to miss it.
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  In this next segment, we turn our focus to the economic implications of WEgovy, a medication
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  that has been making headlines for its effectiveness in weight loss.
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  However, It is not all good news.
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  According to a new report by Senator Bernie Sanders, widespread use of Wigoby could have
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  dire financial consequences for the United States health system.
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  The report, which was released earlier this week, highlights the potential risks associated
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  with the high cost of Wegave, Wiegavi, also known by its generic name Samaglutide, is
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  produced by the Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, It is the same active ingredient
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  found in Ozempic, but Wagavi is specifically dosed and marketed for weight loss.
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  While its effectiveness in helping people lose weight has been widely praised, the cost of the
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  medication is raising significant concerns.
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  According to Sanders's report, the list price for Wagavi is approximately $300 per month.
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  This is substantially higher than many other weight loss medications currently available on
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  the market.
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  Sanders argues that if even fraction of the estimated 100,000,000 Americans who are obese,
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  where to begin using WEGovy, the financial burden on the health system would be
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  unsustainable.
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  He points out that the cost could potentially run into the 100 of 1,000,000,000 of dollars
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  annually, which would strain both public and private health insurance programs.
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  Senator Sanders has long been an advocate for more affordable health care and prescription
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  drug prices.
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  In his report, he calls for immediate action to address the high cost of Wagavi.
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  Sanders suggests that Novo Nordisk should lower the price of the medication to make it more
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  accessible to the millions of Americans who could benefit from it.
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  He also urges the United States government to consider measures such as price negotiations
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  and importation of cheaper drugs from other countries to alleviate financial strain.
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  However, not everyone agrees with Sanders' assessment.
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  Some experts argue that the long term health benefits of weight loss medications like Wagavi
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  could offset the initial high costs.
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  Doctor Caroline Opovian a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co director of
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  the Center for Wait Management And Wellness at Brigham And Women's Hospital, believes that
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  investing in effective weight loss treatments could ultimately reduce health care costs in
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  the long run.
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  She points out that obesity is a major risk factor for a multitude of chronic conditions,
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  including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.
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  By addressing obesity, we could potentially lower the incidence and severity of these
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  conditions, thereby reducing overall health care expenditures.
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  Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk has responded to the report by emphasizing the value that Wengavi
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  provides.
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  In a statement, the company highlighted the clinical benefits of the medication, noting
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  that it has been shown to help patients lose a significant amount of weight and improve their
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  overall health.
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  Novo Nordisk also pointed out that they offer patient assistance programs to help those who
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  may not be able to afford the medication at its list price.
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  The debate over the cost of Wengoby is likely to continue as more people seek effective
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  treatments for obesity.
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  While the financial implications are a serious concern, It is clear that there is also a
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  pressing need for effective weight management solutions.
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  As with many issues in health care, Finding a balance between cost and benefit will be key to
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  addressing this challenge.
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  That concludes this segment on the economic implications of Gregory.
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  Stay with us as we move on to our next topic.
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  Why Canada is not lowering its breast cancer screening guidelines to 40 despite expert
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  pushback?
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  You will want to hear this.
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  Canada's guidelines for routine breast cancer screenings will remain unchanged despite
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  mounting pressure from medical experts who have labeled them as dangerous.
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  The Canadian task force on preventive health care released its updated guidelines Thursday,
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  recommending that people in their forties should not get routine mammograms, but can
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  request 1 if they want.
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  The current guidelines set by the task force are to begin routine breast cancer screening at
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  age fifty.
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  Doctor Ike Miller, a family physician, and member of the Canadian task force on preventive
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  health care emphasized that the first and most important recommendation coming out of this
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  guideline is that breast cancer screening is a personal choice and that people deserve
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  information so that they can make the right choice for them.
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  She stated during a media briefing on Thursday, we recommend that women between the ages of 40
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  74 are provided with information about the benefits and harms of screening to make a
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  decision that aligns with their values and preferences.
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  Doctor Miller added that this information should cover factors like family history, race,
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  or ethnicity, and breast density.
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  If someone is aware of these factors and wishes to be screened, they should be offered
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  mammography every 2 to 3 years.
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  The task force said it holds firm on its position not to lower the recommended age due
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  to concerns of overdiagnosis and unnecessary biopsies.
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  However, the new breast screening guidelines released today by the Canadian task force on
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  preventive health care are being described as dangerous and harmful to Canadians, according
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  to Jenny Dale, executive director of dense breast Canada.
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  In an email to global news, Dale expressed disappointment in the recommendations stating
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  the guidelines should reflect the latest evidence and prioritize spend these guidelines
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  and use modern science to save lives.
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  Doctor S Paula Goran, a Vancouver based radiologist, shared similar concerns.
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  She stated there is good evidence that when breast cancers are detected earlier through
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  screening, there is less need for harsh debilitating treatments such as mastectomy,
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  ancillary dissection, and chemotherapy.
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  Doctor Goran added that she is deeply concerned that Canadians will continue to face
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  unnecessary later stage breast cancer because of these guidelines.
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  The news comes more than a month after the Canadian task force was urged by many medical
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  professionals to lower the current guidelines for breast cancer screening from 50 to 40,
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  calling them outdated and flawed.
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  Speaking at a media conference on April 15th, Doctor Martin Yaffe, the co director of the
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  Imaging Research Program at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.
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  Warned that the problem is that women and their doctors are receiving dangerous guidance on
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  breast cancer screening from the Canadian task force preventive health care.
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  He emphasized that much of the death and suffering could have been avoided if Canadian
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  screening guidelines had been based on modern scientific evidence.
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  The Canadian Cancer Society also expressed disappointment by the new breast screening
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  guidelines specifically the lack of a recommendation to lower the start age to
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  systematically screen for breast cancer nationwide.
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  On May 9th, the Canadian Cancer Society released a statement urging all provinces and
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  territories to begin breast cancer screening at age forty for those at average risk of the
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  disease.
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  Despite the recommendations of the task force, it is ultimately the provinces and territories
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  that decide when screening should begin.
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  Many have already lowered the beginning age to forty.
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  For instance, Ontario announced in October 2023 that it would be lowering the starting age for
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  screenings to 40.
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  While British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon have had the
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  starting age at 40 for decades.
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  New Brunswick recently changed its beginning age to 40 for screenings.
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  Additionally, a United States task force recently changed its recommendations to age
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  forty.
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  Sherry Wilcox, a forty six year old lawyer from Toronto, and a breast cancer survivor,
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  expressed disappointment over the task force's decision not to lower the screening age to 40.
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  Wilcox shared her personal story explaining that despite her insistence at age forty, her
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  doctor advised against it.
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  I was told by my then family physician that because I had no family history and because I
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  hadn't yet reached the age of fifty, it just didn't make any sense.
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  She told global news.
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  4 years later, she felt a lump on her breast.
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  And after pushing for another mammogram and then a biopsy, She was diagnosed with an
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  aggressive form of breast cancer.
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  Wilcox underwent a double mastectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy.
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  She is now cancer free, but remains concerned that her aggressive cancer could return at any
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  time.
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  Because of her experience, Wilcox wants Canadians to be aware of their right to request
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  a mammogram.
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  She firmly believes that had she received 1 at 40, her cancer might have been less aggressive
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  or she may have needed less treatment.
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  Wilcox believes that placing the burden on patients to request a breast screening from
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  their doctor is harmful.
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  Doctors are busy.
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  And when the task force says it's not recommended for women age forty to forty nine,
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  That'll be what doctors rest their eyes on, she said.
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  There are a lot of women out there who will have trouble convincing their physicians that
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  screening is for them and people trust their physicians.
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  Positions are in a position of power.
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  Wilcox said the task forces decision will result in more women being denied early
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  screening, leading to later detection of more advanced cancers and subjecting them to more
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  chemotherapy, radiation, and aggressive surgeries.
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  These mammograms can catch cancer years before they can be felt.
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  This is not news.
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  It's not controversial, she said.
• 15:30
  Google has recently launched a new feature called AI, overviews that uses generative
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  artificial intelligence.
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  A type of machine learning technology trained on information from across the internet.
• 15:43
  This feature produces conversational answers to some search questions in a matter of seconds.
• 15:49
  While this may sound promising, it has raised eyebrows particularly when it comes to
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  answering health related questions.
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  In the weeks since AI overviews was introduced, users have encountered a wide array of
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  inaccuracies and odd answers on various subject However, the stakes are particularly high when
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  it comes to health questions, while the technology could potentially guide people
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  toward healthier habits or necessary medical care, it also has the potential to provide
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  inaccurate information.
• 16:23
  This is especially concerning because the AI can sometimes fabricate facts.
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  If its answers are influenced by websites that are not grounded in science, it might offer
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  advice that contra medical guidance or even poses a risk to one's health.
• 16:40
  For instance, the system has already been shown to produce bad answers seemingly based on
• 16:45
  flawed sources.
• 16:47
  When asked, how many rocks should I eat?
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  AI.
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  Overviews told some users to eat at least one rock a day for vitamins and minerals.
• 16:58
  This erroneous advice was scraped from the onion, a satirical website.
• 17:03
  Such incidents highlight the critical importance of scrutinizing the sources of
• 17:07
  information.
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  Especially in health related contexts.
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  Doctor Karen Deep Singh, chief health artificial intelligence officer at University
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  of California San Diego Health, Emphasize that you cannot trust everything you read.
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  In health, the source of your information is essential.
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  This sentiment underscores the risks associated with relying on AI generated health advice
• 17:31
  without adequate verification.
• 17:34
  Chi-Ming Boudaraju, a Google senior director of product management, who helps lead work on AI
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  overview.
• 17:42
  Stated that health searches had additional guardrails, but she declined to describe those
• 17:47
  in detail.
• 17:48
  She mentioned that searches deemed dangerous or explicit or that indicates someone is in a
• 17:53
  vulnerable situation, such as with self harm, do not trigger ai Ching, summaries.
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  However, the lack of transparency about these guardrails raises further questions about the
• 18:05
  reliability and safety of the information provided.
• 18:09
  Take the question.
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  Is chocolate healthy?
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  Google's AI generated answer pulls up information from research on heart health,
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  mental health, and more.
• 18:19
  The search results page lists health benefits, including inflammation and heart health of
• 18:24
  eating chocolate.
• 18:26
  Answers to health questions like this often draw from reputable sources.
• 18:30
  For example, 3 search result boxes show articles published in sources like Johns
• 18:35
  Hopkins Medicine and medical news today.
• 18:38
  However, in this case, the response also cites VINCI, an Italian chocolate and gelato company,
• 18:43
  and an article titled is dark chocolate good for weight loss.
• 18:48
  A similar search is chocolate healthy for you.
• 18:51
  Generated an answer from sources including the website of a company called Zoey, which sells
• 18:58
  at home gut intelligence tests, and a nutritional app.
• 19:02
  This example illustrates how commercial interests can sometimes infiltrate AI generated
• 19:08
  health advice potentially skewing the information provided to users.
• 19:14
  The introduction of AI overviews by Google Certainly marks a significant development in
• 19:19
  the use of artificial intelligence for disseminating health information.
• 19:24
  However, it also underscores the necessity for critical evaluation of the sources behind the
• 19:29
  information.
• 19:30
  While the technology holds promise, it is not without its pitfalls and users should remain
• 19:36
  cautious and seek verification from trusted medical professionals when it comes to health
• 19:41
  related advice.
• 19:43
  In our final segment today, we turn our attention to a concerning development in the
• 19:47
  United States involving bird flu.
• 19:50
  A third farmworker has been found to be infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu,
• 19:56
  raising alarms about a potential outbreak among dairy cattle.
• 20:00
  This latest case is particularly worrisome because the worker has exhibited respiratory
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  symptoms, including a cough, sore throat, and watery eyes.
• 20:10
  These symptoms generally increase the likelihood of transmission to other people
• 20:14
  according to federal officials.
• 20:17
  The first 2 infected individuals in this outbreak had only severe eye infections,
• 20:22
  possibly due to exposure to contaminated milk.
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  However, this third case marks the first time during this outbreak that respiratory symptoms
• 20:31
  have been observed.
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  All three individuals had direct exposure to dairy Chow.
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  And so far, there has been no evidence that the virus has spread to other people.
• 20:43
  Doctor Neerav Shah, the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control And
• 20:48
  Prevention, emphasized that the virus called H5N1, has not acquired the ability to spread
• 20:54
  among humans.
• 20:56
  This newest case does not change the centers for disease control and Provention's H5N1
• 21:02
  influenza risk assessment level for the general public.
• 21:05
  Doctor Shah stated during a news Chi-Ming.
• 21:08
  We should remain alert not be alarmed.
• 21:11
  Despite the reassurance from the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention, The presence of
• 21:16
  respiratory symptoms in the latest case does highlight the need for continued vigilance.
• 21:22
  The H5N1 virus is known for its potential to cause severe disease in humans, and any signs
• 21:28
  of increased transmissibility are taken very seriously by health authorities.
• 21:34
  The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention is working closely with local health
• 21:38
  departments and agricultural agencies to monitor the situation and prevent further
• 21:43
  spread.
• 21:44
  Measures include increased surveillance of farm workers and dairy cattle, as well as enhanced
• 21:50
  biosecurity protocols on farms.
• 21:53
  The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention is also urging farm workers to take preventive
• 21:58
  measures such as wearing protective gear and practicing good hygiene to minimize the risk of
• 22:04
  infection.
• 22:06
  Public health officials are also advising anyone who has had direct contact with dairy
• 22:10
  cattle to be vigilant for symptoms and to seek medical attention if they experience any signs
• 22:15
  of illness.
• 22:17
  While the current risk to the general public remains low, this situation underscores the
• 22:22
  importance of monitoring zoonotic diseases, those that can be transmitted from animals to
• 22:29
  humans.
• 22:31
  The H5N1 virus has historically been associated with poultry, but its presence in dairy cattle
• 22:37
  is a new and concerning development.
• 22:40
  In summary, the detection of bird flu in a third farmworker, especially one showing
• 22:45
  respiratory symptoms, is a reminder of the ever present threat of zoonotic diseases.
• 22:51
  As health officials continue to monitor the situation, it is crucial for those in direct
• 22:56
  contact with farm animals to adhere to recommended safety measures to protect
• 23:00
  themselves and others.
• 23:03
  That brings us to the end of today's episode.
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  Thank you for joining me on morning medical with Doctor Chow.
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  Stay informed.
• 23:10
  Stay healthy, and we will see you next time for more updates on the latest medical and health
• 23:14
  news from around the world.