Congress close to giving FDA authority over synthetic nicotine products

Lawmakers are within striking distance of closing the largest loophole in the FDA’s oversight of e-cigarette companies — a move that would likely put the biggest driver of youth vaping out of business. A draft of a government spending bill obtained by STAT’s Nicholas Florko includes new language that would give the FDA explicit authority to regulate so-called synthetic nicotine products. Made in a lab rather than extracted from tobacco plants, they currently are not regulated by the FDA. The biggest loser, if the policy becomes law, would likely be Puff Bar, the flavored-disposable vaping product that surged in popularity among teens after Juul announced it would stop selling flavored products. Read more.

Looser telehealth policies inspired by Covid emergency may be extended

Lawmakers are considering extending the more flexible telehealth policies put in place during the pandemic for five months after the end of the formal public health emergency, according to draft text obtained by STAT’s Rachel Cohrs. The flexibilities, which have transformed the telehealth landscape, allow older adults to get coverage under Medicare for telehealth visits in their home, access telehealth even if they lived outside of a rural area, and get coverage for some audio-only services. Lawmakers are also set to delay a requirement that older adults see a provider in person within six months of a telehealth appointment for mental health services. The text is not final, and could change by a Friday deadline. The extensions in the draft bill would apply only to Medicare patients, but private insurers often follow Medicare’s lead. Read more.

Cognitive decline was common in Covid survivors over 60, Wuhan study says

Covid is strongly linked to an array of neurologic symptoms, from dizziness to loss of smell to brain fog. A new study in JAMA Neurology that followed more than 1,400 people over 60 who survived being hospitalized for Covid in Wuhan, China, found that after a year, their cognitive impairment was higher compared to their uninfected spouses. In line with previous research linking Covid to a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia six months after infection, the new study says 3% of survivors had dementia and 9% had mild cognitive impairment a year later. After severe cases, that rose to 15% with dementia and 26% with mild cognitive impairment. “These findings imply that the pandemic may substantially contribute to the world dementia burden in the future,” the authors write.

Closer look: Nurses wield newfound clout, thanks to Covid

(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Since the start of Covid-19, nurses have been hailed as heroes. But two years into the pandemic, they want more than their neighbors banging on pots and pans. The nation’s roughly 4 million nurses are using the attention — and the accompanying political clout — to spotlight their sometimes-oppressive working conditions during the country’s health emergency and ongoing shortage of health workers. “It is back-breaking work, and this pandemic just put it out there for the world to see,” Jean Ross, a registered nurse in Minnesota and the co-president of National Nurses United, told STAT’s Lev Facher. “Finally, someone is at least attempting to listen to what we’ve been saying for a long time, and that’s very gratifying.” One big issue drawing lawmakers’ attention: travel nurses whose pay has increased dramatically during the pandemic. Read more.

Small study identifies a microbial signature for pancreatic cancer

The study was small and observational, but the stakes are high. Pancreatic cancer has a daunting prognosis, with fewer than 5% of people living more than five years after learning they have the most common form of the cancer, usually at an advanced stage. New research in Gut reports signals from the changing microbiome of patients at various stages of disease — signs that they hope could help with earlier diagnosis. Based on machine learning, they saw certain species of bacteria rose or fell in fecal samples from 57 cancer patients compared to healthy people. After the scientists accounted for risk factors such as smoking, drinking, obesity, and diabetes and validated their results against more than 5,700 samples in 25 other studies, the specific microbial profile stood up. A linked commentary cautions that more studies will be needed before counting on the microbiome's predictive value.

Not just body clocks, but organ clocks

It’s not so hard to grasp the difference between biological and chronological age. Some of us seem to defy time, like a centenarian setting track records, while others feel its passage more strongly. New research in Cell Reports says there are multiple, differing body clocks in our individual organs and systems, varying based on genetics and activity. The scientists collected blood and stool samples, facial skin images, and physical fitness test results from more than 4,000 20- to 45-year-olds in Shenzen, China, to analyze differences in metabolism, body composition, immune function, and other health indicators by organ and system. They used the same approach with a huge national dataset from the CDC. There were surprises: A more diverse gut microbiome predicted a "younger" gut but "older" (maybe overworked?) kidneys. The researchers hope their insights could lead to more specific treatment targets.

What to read around the web today

‘Why would I want that?’: My sister’s simple question reshaped my physician job search. STAT
Baby gets heart transplant with a twist to fight rejection. Associated Press
Gilead’s Dan O’Day is pharma’s most charming executive — but with his deals falling apart, charm may not be enough. STAT+
How did this many deaths become normal? The Atlantic
Even on his birthday, a Black funeral director can’t escape Covid deaths. Washington Post
Moderna will never enforce Covid-19 vaccine patents in poor countries. STAT+