Medical Bulletin 18/September/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

FDA approves new and updated indications for temozolomide

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved updated labeling for temozolomide under an initiative aimed at updating labeling information for older oncology drugs to ensure information is clinically meaningful and scientifically up-to-date. This is the second drug to receive a labeling update under this pilot program. The first drug that received approval under Project Renewal was capecitabine.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma patients have a high risk of developing subsequent cancers, suggests study

A recent cohort study published in JAMA Dermatology found that patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma or MCC had an increased risk of subsequently developing solid and hematologic cancers. This increased risk may be associated with increased surveillance, treatment-related factors, or shared etiologies of the other cancers with MCC.

Cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. It typically develops on sun-exposed areas of the skin and often appears as a painless, firm, flesh-colored or bluish-red nodule. This type of cancer is associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Reference: Eid E, Maloney NJ, Cai ZR, et al. Risk of Multiple Primary Cancers in Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A SEER-Based Analysis. JAMA Dermatol. Published online September 13, 2023. DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.2849

1 in 4 people is undoing the benefits of healthy meals by unhealthy snacking

A quarter of people are undoing the benefits of healthy meals with unhealthy snacks, which increases the risk of strokes and cardiovascular disease. The findings, published in the European Journal of Nutrition by researchers from the School of Life Course & Population Sciences and ZOE, detail the snacking habits of 854 people from the ZOE PREDICT study.

Researchers found that half of the participants did not match the healthiness of their meals to their snacks and vice versa. This difference has a negative effect on health measures, such as blood sugar and fat levels, and addressing this could be a simple diet strategy to improve health.

Reference: European Journal of Nutrition, DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03241-6