science
A new recipe for human reproduction
Mitalipov laboratory
In 2022, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University reported the birth of three healthy mouse pups from eggs created in the lab with DNA from the skin cells of adult mice. Since then, the team has been attempting to adapt their methods to create human embryos. If they're successful, it could open new avenues to treating infertility, preventing heritable diseases, and allowing same-sex couples to have genetically related children. But in a new research update, the team disclosed they've been mostly unsuccessful so far.
"It kind of partially works, and partially doesn't," said embryologist Shoukhrat Mitalipov, who is leading the research, acknowledging the technology requires refinement before it could move into clinical testing. Still, he's optimistic about the future, and he has reason to be — Mitalipov pioneered the technique behind three-parent IVF. Read more from STAT's Megan Molteni on the promise of in-vitro gametogenesis, and what science has achieved so far.
public health
The danger of multiple Covid infections for kids
Kids and teens who got Covid twice between January 2022 and October 2023 (dominated by the Omicron wave) were almost twice as likely to develop long Covid as compared to those who were infected once during that time. That's according to a study published yesterday in the Lancet Infectious Disease that analyzed data from 40 children's hospitals and more than 465,000 patients under the age of 21. After one infection, 904 children per million developed long Covid within six weeks. But among those who had a second infection, the rate rose to 1,884 per million.
The elevated risk after reinfection was consistent regardless of age, gender, race, weight, how serious the first infection was, and the patient's vaccination status. On that last one — the authors emphasize that the results still indicate the importance of vaccination for children, as it's the best way to prevent infection in the first place, as well as reinfections. (In the data, unvaccinated kids made up about three quarters of both first and second infections.) More research on the risks and consequences of long Covid is necessary.
In related news: Neither HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor his top deputy have signed off on ACIP's new Covid vaccine recommendations, leaving states unable to order vaccines for low-income children. Read more from STAT's Anil Oza and Chelsea Cirruzzo.
policy
Two unrelated FDA actions, explained
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced yesterday a new initiative to "increase voluntary compliance" from retailers selling illegal vape products, which have historically been underregulated by the agency. The initiative involves sending education materials to retailers on which products are legal, who can buy them, and FDA resources. It's part of a larger pattern by the Trump administration, which has continually demanded voluntary action from food companies, pharma, and hospitals — offering incentives for those who comply and promising harsh penalties for those who don't.
And one other thing, that I'm sorry to even bring up again: Screwworms. The FDA yesterday approved an injectable drug for cattle that prevents and treats New World screwworm infections. It's a rare infection in humans, so concerns about its spread mainly revolve around livestock. An outbreak in Central America has been traveling north, and as of earlier this week, the latest livestock infection was less than 60 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, per the New York Times. Read more on the basics.
No comments