Health

A Common Abortion Pill to Come Before the US Supreme Court

(CTN News) – In the United States, mifepristone is one of two medications used to terminate a pregnancy, and next year, the Supreme Court will hear a case involving this approach.

As a result of state bans or limits on abortions or efforts to curb them following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the demand for the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol has increased.

The only medicine now licensed for use in abortion is mifepristone, but conservative organizations have sued to get it de-approved or to undo measures that have made it more accessible.

A case that might restrict the use of the abortion pill mifepristone and prevent its mail-order availability is set to be heard by the Supreme Court in the spring.

Requiring in-person office visits to obtain a prescription and limiting the window of opportunity to use the medicine during pregnancy are two of the limits.

A more detailed analysis of the mechanisms of action and legal hurdles encountered by mifepristone and misoprostol is presented here.

HOW DO ABORTION DRUGS WORK?

The recommended intervals between taking the prescription drugs are several days.

First, the medication mifepristone is taken orally. The medicine widens the cervix and inhibits the action of progesterone, a hormone essential for maintaining a pregnancy.

After 24 to 48 hours, you should take misoprostol, a medication that is also used to treat stomach ulcers. When put between the teeth and gums or in the vagina, the pill is meant to disintegrate. Because of the cramping and contracting it induces in the uterus, bleeding and the expulsion of pregnancy tissue occur.

Although the effectiveness of the two-drug combination is marginally higher, misoprostol is occasionally administered alone. Countries that have outlawed mifepristone seem to have a higher prevalence of that practice.

HOW ARE ABORTION DRUGS ADMINISTERED?

Medications that cause abortion are legal up until the tenth week of a pregnancy.

Prior to taking the pills, patients may have pre-medication testing, such as an ultrasound or blood work, at their doctor’s office or clinic. The medications can also be ordered during telehealth appointments and sent by mail by some providers.

More than half of the abortions in the United States involve the tablets.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

The pills are safe and effective (up to 99% effective) when taken simultaneously, according to studies and real-use evidence.

Symptoms such as queasy stomach, loose stools, and vomiting are in no way guaranteed. While some bleeding is natural, severe bleeding seldom happens and needs medical intervention.

Major problems almost never arise. Since its approval over 20 years ago, about 5.9 million women have taken mifepristone, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The drug has been associated with 32 female fatalities, 2 of which were ectopic pregnancies (pregnancies that develop outside of the uterus).

Because many of the women who died were already dealing with other health issues or were on other medications, it is impossible to say if mifepristone was the sole cause of death.

Patients suspected of having an ectopic pregnancy or those who have an implanted intrauterine device (IUD) are not candidates for these drugs.

It is not advisable to utilize pregnancy tests immediately to ascertain the efficacy of a pharmaceutical abortion, according to Dr. Stephanie Rand, an OB-GYN from New York who is also an abortion specialist with the advocacy group Physicians for Reproductive Health.

This is due to the fact that the hormone associated with pregnancy can remain in the body for a number of weeks. According to her, the symptoms of success include bleeding with blood clots that comprise lighter colored tissue.

HOW MUCH DOES MEDICATION ABORTION COST?

price might be more than $500, though price varies by place and is comparable to abortion treatments. Different health insurance policies also cover the medications differently; some pay for them at a reduced cost or even don’t cover them at all.

Brand names for mifepristone and misoprostol include Mifeprex and Cytotec, respectively. You may get both of these medications as generics.

WHAT’S THE LEGAL STATUS OF MIFEPRISTONE?

Regardless of the legal issues, mifepristone is still fully approved. Since the drug’s clearance in 2000, the FDA and the Biden administration have stressed that several studies have verified the drug’s efficacy and safety.

Where a patient resides has a significant impact on access. Abortions, including pharmaceutical abortions, are illegal in 14 states at the present time. In addition, fifteen states have enacted legislation that restricts the distribution and prescription of mifepristone, for example by mandating an in-person consultation with a doctor.

However, because to lax regulation, some women in places that outright ban them can still get their hands on the tablets over the mail.

The current issue before the Supreme Court started in 2022 with a legal challenge by Christian conservatives who wanted to reverse the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone.

At first, they succeeded in getting the medicine pulled from shelves after a Texas judge ruled in their favor.

However, the drug’s approval remained unchanged after an appeals court issued a decision that would undo the FDA’s 2016 and 2021 decisions that loosened the drug’s access requirements.

Those alterations are on hold until the Supreme Court deliberates the matter.

HOW COULD THE SUPREME COURT’S RULING IMPACT ACCESS?

A possible end to the drug’s mail-order availability as of 2021 if the justices take the way of those who oppose abortion. It would also reduce the use window from 10 weeks to seven weeks, a reduction from the previously permitted 10 weeks in 2016.

Among other things, women would once again be required to see a doctor in person three times before they could acquire a prescription.

And it’s possible that women need a bigger dose of the medicine than what the FDA recommends. The reason behind this is that the FDA’s decision to allow a lesser dosage would likewise be nullified by a negative ruling.

By the end of June, the case should have reached a decision by the United States Supreme Court.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP