Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Chronic Pain Breakthrough, Ontario Drug Site Closure, and New COVID Variant BA.3.2

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Chronic Pain Breakthrough, Ontario Drug Site Closure, and New COVID Variant BA.3.2 · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:02
  Chow.
• 0:03
  I'm your host, Dr.
• 0:04
  Chi-Ming Chow.
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  Today, we're diving into some fascinating developments in the world of health and
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  medicine, starting with a promising breakthrough in the treatment of chronic back
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  pain.
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  Chronic back pain is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, often leading to
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  a significant reduction in quality of life.
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  Traditional treatments have focused on managing symptoms rather than addressing the root cause,
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  but new research suggests that this might be about to change.
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  A recent study led by Dr.
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  Janet L.
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  Crane at Johns Hopkins University has found that a hormone commonly used for treating bone
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  loss, known as parathyroid hormone, could be key to addressing chronic back pain at its
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  source.
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  This hormone is naturally produced by the parathyroid glands and plays a crucial role in
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  regulating calcium levels and bone remodeling.
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  In cases of spinal degeneration, pain-sensing nerves often grow into areas of the spine where
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  they normally wouldn't be, causing discomfort and pain.
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  Dr.
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  Crane's research indicates that parathyroid hormone can reverse this nerve growth by
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  activating natural signals that repel these nerves from sensitive areas.
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  The study utilized animal models and found that after one to two months of parathyroid hormone
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  treatment, the vertebral endplates became denser and more stable.
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  This effect was attributed to the hormone's ability to stimulate bone-building cells, known
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  as osteoblasts, to produce a protein called Slit3.
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  This protein appears to play a critical role in preventing nerve infiltration into the spine.
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  Interestingly, patients who have been receiving synthetic versions of parathyroid hormone for
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  osteoporosis have reported unexpected relief from back pain, which this study helps to
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  explain.
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  The findings suggest that parathyroid hormone could shift the focus of back pain treatment
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  from symptom management to addressing the underlying pathology.
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  While the results are promising, researchers caution that further studies, including
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  clinical trials, are necessary to fully explore the hormone's potential as a treatment for
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  spinal degeneration.
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  They also note that the study focused primarily on the Slit3 protein, and more research is
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  needed to understand how other genetic and physiological factors might influence the
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  treatment's effectiveness.
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  This study was published in the journal Bone Research and offers a hopeful outlook for those
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  suffering from chronic back pain.
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  As always, we'll keep you updated on any further developments in this area.
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  Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones have made it clear that their
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  decision to close more supervised drug consumption sites will stand firm, despite
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  calls from prominent figures to reconsider.
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  Six former mayors of Toronto have recently penned a letter urging the provincial
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  government to reverse the closures, which have sparked significant debate and concern within
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  the community.
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  Just two weeks ago, the province announced that it would be withdrawing funding from seven
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  supervised consumption sites, with closures expected by mid-June.
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  This decision follows the previous year's shutdown of nine other sites, which the
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  government determined were too close to schools and daycares, raising concerns about safety.
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  Premier Ford, speaking at a news conference, emphasized his intent to prioritize community
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  safety, citing the presence of needles in public spaces as a danger to children and
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  families.
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  "I want to help these people, but I'm not going to sit back as you put these injection sites in
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  the middle of communities," Ford stated.
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  Health Minister Sylvia Jones reiterated the government's stance, highlighting a shift
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  towards what she described as an abstinence-based model known as homelessness
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  and addiction recovery treatment, or HART, hubs.
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  "We're not going to reverse," Jones said, underscoring the commitment to providing
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  treatment pathways rather than supporting what she referred to as the use of illicit drugs.
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  The province has already funded 28 new HART hubs, with nearly all operational, as part of
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  their strategy to transition away from supervised consumption sites.
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  However, this decision has not been without criticism.
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  Health-care workers, advocates, and even six former mayors have expressed deep concerns,
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  warning that the closures could lead to increased drug use and related deaths.
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  The former mayors, including notable figures like David Crombie and John Tory, argue that
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  the closures have already resulted in significant harm, pointing to an 82 percent
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  increase in non-fatal opioid overdose calls in Toronto following the initial site closures.
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  They assert that the decision lacks the desired positive impacts and has led to increased
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  public expenditures.
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  Data from Toronto Paramedic Services supports these concerns, showing a significant rise in
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  opioid overdose calls since the closures began.
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  While the province had seen a downward trend in such incidents from 2023 to early 2025, the
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  recent statistics suggest a troubling reversal.
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  The New Democratic Party leader, Marit Stiles, criticized the government's approach, calling
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  for decisions to be guided by empathy and evidence.
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  She warned that removing essential services without adequate replacements could exacerbate
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  the problem rather than solve it.
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  Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has proposed a compromise, suggesting that supervised
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  consumption sites could still play a role if integrated within hospitals or community
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  clinics.
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  Lee Fairclough, the Liberal mental health critic, emphasized harm reduction as an
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  evidence-based approach that should not be overlooked.
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  As this debate unfolds, the impact of these closures on public health and safety continues
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  to be a topic of intense scrutiny, with many advocating for a balanced approach that
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  addresses both community concerns and the needs of those struggling with addiction.
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  A new variant of COVID-19, known as BA.3.2, is spreading across the United States, according
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  to health officials.
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  This variant has been reported in at least twenty-three countries as of February eleventh,
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  based on a study published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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  The BA.3.2 variant has approximately seventy to seventy-five changes in the gene sequence of
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  its spike protein, which is a structure on the surface of the COVID-19 virus that helps it
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  enter human cells.
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  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been closely monitoring this variant
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  through its Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program.
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  It has been detected in nasal swabs from four travelers in the United States, clinical
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  samples from five patients, three airplane wastewater samples, and one hundred thirty-two
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  wastewater surveillance samples from twenty-five states, according to the Centers
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  for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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  The BA.3.2 variant began to rise in prevalence in September 2025 and was first confirmed in
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  the United States in June 2025 in a person traveling from the Netherlands.
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  The weekly detections of this variant increased to about thirty percent of cases identified in
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  Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands from November 2025 to January 2026.
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  One of the concerning characteristics of the BA.3.2 variant is its 'immune escape'
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  capability.
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  This means it has mutations that may help it partially evade existing immunity from vaccines
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  or previous infections.
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  While this could make infections more likely, experts suggest it does not necessarily lead to
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  more severe illness.
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  The study authors noted that BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically
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  distinct from the previous lineages that have circulated in the United States since January
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  2024.
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  The prevalence of this new variant might be even larger than current data suggests, as many
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  countries have limited genomic detection and surveillance capabilities.
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  Phylogenetic analyses have identified the emergence of two sublineages, BA.3.2.1 and
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  BA.3.2.2, indicating ongoing viral evolution.
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  The researchers emphasize the need for continuous genomic surveillance to monitor the
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  virus's evolution and assess its potential impact on public health.
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  With the BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein potentially weakening the protection from
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  vaccination or prior infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging
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  ongoing genomic surveillance to track the virus's evolution and evaluate its impact on
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  public health.
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  In Cuba, health-care workers are currently facing unprecedented challenges due to a United
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  States oil embargo that began in January.
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  This embargo has caused significant fuel shortages, skyrocketing food prices, and
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  widespread power outages across the country.
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  The situation is particularly dire for those working at Havana's Cardiology Institute, where
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  young health-care providers are feeling the strain both in their professional and personal
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  lives.
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  Jose Carlos, a thirty-one-year-old cardiology resident, shared his perspective on the current
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  crisis.
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  He described it as the most difficult period of his life.
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  "Since I was born, this is the most difficult time, without any doubt," he told CBC News.
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  The combination of energy shortages, lack of resources, and transportation issues has made
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  providing life-saving care extremely challenging.
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  Cuba has long been recognized for the quality of its health care system, often sending
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  medical teams abroad to assist other countries.
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  However, the ongoing embargo has severely impacted the national health system.
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  This includes delays in surgeries, medication shortages, and a lack of essential equipment
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  like pacemakers.
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  The situation is reportedly worse outside of Havana, where rural areas struggle even more
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  without adequate supplies and longer-lasting blackouts.
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  The embargo has also made daily life exceedingly difficult for health-care workers.
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  Public transportation has been crippled by fuel shortages, making it hard for workers to even
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  get to their jobs.
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  Jose Carlos mentioned that doctors' salaries, which are less than forty Canadian dollars a
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  month, are insufficient to cope with the rising cost of food and basic necessities.
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  Despite these challenges, many health-care workers remain committed to their roles.
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  Jose Carlos, for instance, is determined to stay in Cuba because his family is there.
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  Others, like Pablo, a twenty-seven-year-old cardiology resident, are contemplating leaving
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  the country in search of better opportunities.
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  Pablo expressed interest in working in countries like Spain, Italy, or even Canada,
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  citing concerns about the future under the current U.S.
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  administration and the Cuban government.
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  The situation has led to significant delays in critical procedures, such as stent placements,
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  which can now take one to three months.
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  These delays are compounded by the lack of resources and the transportation issues
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  affecting the delivery of medical supplies.
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  Dr.
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  Julio Cesar Rodriguez Cardona, a municipal general director of health in Havana,
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  highlighted the severe impact on patient transport, supply chains, and food availability
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  in hospitals.
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  The embargo's effect on electricity generation is another major concern.
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  With regular blackouts, maintaining vital services like intensive care units becomes
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  extremely challenging.
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  Dr.
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  Rodriguez Cardona noted the terrifying prospect of an intensive care room unable to keep
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  essential equipment running due to power failures.
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  The dedication of Cuban health-care workers is evident as they continue to serve their
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  patients despite these overwhelming obstacles.
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  Iriana, a twenty-four-year-old lab technician, mentioned that many patients consider them
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  heroes.
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  However, she also pointed out that the rising cost of living is forcing some of her
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  colleagues to leave the profession in search of better-paying jobs.
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  As Cuba struggles with the compounded effects of the U.S.
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  oil embargo and its own economic challenges, the resilience and commitment of its
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  health-care workers remain a beacon of hope for many Cubans.
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  The situation underscores the need for international dialogue and support to alleviate
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  the hardships faced by these dedicated professionals and the patients they serve.
• 13:28
  A recent landmark trial in the United States has resulted in a jury finding both Meta and
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  YouTube liable for contributing to social media addiction, marking a significant precedent in
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  legal accountability for tech giants.
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  This case, the first of its kind, was brought forward by a twenty-year-old woman who
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  testified that her early and excessive use of social media platforms exacerbated her mental
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  health issues.
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  The trial spanned over a month, with jurors deliberating for more than forty hours across
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  nine days.
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  This decision highlights the growing concerns around the impact of social media on mental
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  health, particularly among younger users.
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  The plaintiff argued that the addictive nature of these platforms played a substantial role in
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  her mental health struggles, which she has been battling since her teenage years.
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  This case reflects a broader societal debate on the role of social media in our lives and its
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  potential health implications.
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  Critics argue that platforms like Meta and YouTube have designed their services to
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  maximize user engagement, often at the expense of users' well-being.
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  The addictive features, such as endless scrolling and personalized content, are under
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  scrutiny for their psychological effects.
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  The implications of this ruling could be far-reaching, potentially opening the door for
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  more lawsuits against social media companies.
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  It also raises questions about the responsibility these platforms have in
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  safeguarding the mental health of their users.
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  With mental health issues on the rise globally, this trial emphasizes the need for a balanced
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  approach that considers both technological innovation and user safety.
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  As we conclude today's episode, it's clear that the intersection of technology and health
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  continues to present both challenges and opportunities.
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  From groundbreaking research in treating chronic back pain to the ongoing debate over
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  supervised consumption sites, and now this pivotal legal case, the landscape of health and
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  medicine is ever-evolving.
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  Thank you for joining us on this episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  We look forward to bringing you more updates and insights on the latest in health and
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  medicine.
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  Until next time, stay informed and take care.