Study shows heavy drinking raises the risk of undesired pregnancy; cannabis use does not

A new study has found that, among women with a high desire to avoid becoming pregnant, those who drank heavily had a 50% higher risk of becoming pregnant than those who drank moderately or not at all. In contrast, participants who used cannabis were no more likely to have an undesired pregnancy than participants who did not use cannabis.

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Study shows young adults who use high strength cannabis do not ‘titrate’ to less risky levels of use

A new study published in Addiction has found that young adults in the US do not “titrate” when using strong cannabis. In other words, they do not use less cannabis to compensate for the stronger potency. In fact, it’s the opposite: young adults who report using strong cannabis also typically use it more frequently and in higher quantities than young adults who use weaker forms of the drug.

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Study finds animal-based fats fuel tumor growth in obese mice, plant fats do not

Obesity elevates the risk of at least 13 major cancers, including those of the breast, colon and liver. It also impairs immune responses that target tumors and are stimulated by cancer immunotherapies. But it has long been unclear whether these effects stem from the sheer adiposity—or mass of fat—in people living with obesity or from the specific dietary fats they consume.

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Beta-HPV can directly cause skin cancer in immunocompromised people, research reveals

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have shown for the first time that a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) commonly found on the skin can directly cause a form of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) when certain immune cells malfunction.

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Efforts underway to end race-based assessments of lung function

A multi-institutional team, including physicians and researchers who successfully proposed updates to national guidelines, share important next steps for reevaluating how occupational impairment is determined.

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Tirzepatide Proves More Effective Than Semaglutide – Results of Surmount 5 Trial

SURMOUNT-5 was a 72-week, Phase 3b, multicenter, randomized, open-label,
comparator-controlled
study
that evaluated the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide 15 mg or MTD (10 mg or 15 mg)
compared
with semaglutide 2.4 mg or MTD (1.7 mg or 2.4 mg) in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one
obesity-related complication, excluding diabetes. All participants received lifestyle intervention with
reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

The primary
endpoint
was the mean percentage change in body weight from baseline to Week 72. Tirzepatide
showed
superior mean body weight reduction (-21.6%) compared to
semaglutide (-15.4%). Key secondary endpoints included achieving ≥10%, ≥15%, ≥20%, and ≥25% weight
reduction—1 in 3 patients on tirzepatide achieved ≥25% weight loss vs
1 in
5 with semaglutide.

Tirzepatide also led to greater reductions in waist circumference, systolic and diastolic BP, HbA1c,
triglycerides,
and non-HDL cholesterol.
The most common adverse
events
were gastrointestinal, mostly mild to moderate.

Overall, tirzepatide demonstrated superior efficacy in weight and metabolic
improvements
compared to semaglutide in adults with obesity or overweight and comorbidities.

THERAPEUTIC INDICATION1:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

MOUNJARO® is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently
controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise

• as monotherapy when metformin is considered inappropriate due to
intolerance or contraindications

• in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of
diabetes.

For study results with respect to combinations, effects on glycaemic
control and the populations studied, see sections 4.4, 4.5 and 5.1.

Weight management

MOUNJARO® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and
increased physical activity for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance,
in adults with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of

• ≥ 30 kg/m² (obesity) or

• ≥ 27 kg/m² to < 30 kg/m² (overweight) in the presence of at least one
weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea,
cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes mellitus).

*SURMOUNT-5 was a 72-week, Phase 3b, multicenter, randomized,
parallel-arm, open-label, comparator-controlled study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of
Tirzepatide 15 mg or MTD (10 mg or 15 mg) compared with Semaglutide 2.4 mg or MTD (1.7 mg or 2.4
mg) in adults with Obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) or overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m²) with at least one
Obesity-related complication (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia), excluding diabetes.** The study
included a 2-week screening period. Mean baseline weight was 112.7 kg for Tirzepatide MTD (10 mg
or 15 mg) and 113.4 kg for Semaglutide MTD (1.7 mg or 2.4 mg). Participants in both the
Tirzepatide and Semaglutide treatment arms received lifestyle intervention, including a
reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Treatments were administered QW
subcutaneously as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical
activity
1.

Efficacy estimand, mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) analysis,
modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population, (efficacy analysis set). Limitations of an
open-label study may be related to a bias in evaluation of the outcomes, efficacy and/or safety,
and analysis was not tested against a placebo-controlled comparison group
1.

‡Limitations of an open-label study may be
related to a bias in evaluation of the outcomes, efficacy and/or safety, and analysis was not tested
against a placebo-controlled comparison group.
1

SURMOUNT-1 Phase 3 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in
adults with Obesity (BMI of ≥30 kg/m²) or with Overweight (BMI of ≥27 kg/m²) with at least one
Obesity-related complication (e.g.,hypertension, dyslipidemia), excluding T2D. All participants
received lifestyle interventions, including a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical
activity.** All patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive placebo, or
tirzepatide at a dose of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg as an adjunct to lifestyle
intervention
4

p<0.001 vs baseline.
Mean % change in weight vs baseline (co-primary end point) at 72 weeks was -16.0% and -21.4% for
the 5 mg and 10 mg doses, respectively. Mean % change in weight vs placebo at 72 weeks was
-13.5%, -18.9%, and -20.1% for the 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg doses, respectively (p<0.001 vs
placebo, adjusted for multiplicity). Mean kg change in weight vs baseline at 72 weeks was -16.1
kg and -22.2 kg for the 5 mg and 10 mg doses, respectively. Mean kg change in weight vs placebo
at 72 weeks was -13.8 kg, -19.8 kg, and -21.2 kg for the 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg doses,
respectively (p<0.001 vs placebo, not adjusted for multiplicity).
2,4

# Adverse reaction development was not an endpoint for this study. Data
presented here should not be used to make inferences.

**”Obesity-related complications” are used as synonymic to “weight-related
complications and /or comorbidities”.

REFERENCES

1. Louis J. Aronne, M.D., et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide
for the Treatment of Obesity, N Engl J Med. 2025; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2416394

2. Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), India Prescribing Information. Updated March
2025.

3. Fisman EZ, Tenenbaum A. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2021;20(1):225.

4. Jastrebo_ AM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205–16.

Disclaimer:

This material (including any link) is intended solely for the use of the
recipient(s) and may contain confidential information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure,
copying, or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please
notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of the material. The information provided
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is being provided to healthcare professionals for their guidance and use. Nothing on this
website/microsite/material should be construed as giving medical advice or making
recommendations regarding any health-related decision or action.

Mounjaro®, KwikPen® and Lilly are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and
Company. To be sold by retail under prescription of Endocrinologist or Internal Medicine
Specialists only. For adverse events and safety reporting, please reach out to:
mailbox_in-gps@lilly.comFor any additional information related to Lilly products, please reach
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queries_in-medinfo@lilly.com. For further Information about Lilly and Lilly products please contact
us at the below address: Plot 92, Sector 32 Gurgaon, Haryana, 122001 India Ph.:
+91-124-4753000/01 |
www.lilly.com/in.

PP-TR-IN-0580 VoD SM-5 | 29th July 2025


Eli Lilly and Company. All rights
reserved.

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Sleep Problems Worsen Diabetes Distress in Type 2 Diabetes, finds study

According to a new research study, sleep impairment, particularly poor sleep quality, short sleep duration, and daytime dysfunction is significantly associated with increased diabetes distress in adults with type 2 diabetes, negatively impacting both disease management and mental well-being. The study was published in Diabetic Medicine journal by Hilde K. R. Riise and colleagues.

Diabetes distress is the emotional burden and frustration that individuals with diabetes can experience when attempting to control their disease. It differs from clinical depression but is linked to worse outcomes, such as diminished self-care and poor glycemic regulation. Sleep disturbances, also prevalent in individuals with T2D, have been suspected to contribute to heightened psychological stress. To investigate this, researchers employed answers to the HUNT4 sleep questionnaire, which gathered information on sleep problems such as snoring, sleep apnea, difficulty in falling asleep, nocturnal awakenings, early morning waking, excessive daytime sleepiness due to poor sleep, and restless legs. Diabetes distress was measured with the established PAID-5 questionnaire.

This cross-sectional study examined data on 1,954 adults with T2D who answered the HUNT4 survey. Sleep-related items were taken from the tested sleeping HUNT-Questionnaire, and the participants also indicated the average daily number of hours spent sleeping. Distress due to diabetes was assessed by the PAID-5 scale. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the relationship of different sleep issues and distress scores, controlling for demographic, clinical, and mental health covariates. Prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals were computed for each sleep impairment group.

Results

  • The findings revealed a distinct and uniform pattern: individuals who reported sleep impairments had greater diabetes distress scores.

  • Participants who slept ≤7 hours/night had an increased distress score: B = 0.6 (95% CI 0.2, 0.9).

  • Snoring correlated with increased distress: B = 0.6 (95% CI 0.1, 1.1).

  • They had a significantly larger increase in distress scores: B = 1.4 (95% CI 0.8, 2.2).

  • Waking up at night was also significantly associated: B = 1.1 (95% CI 0.6, 1.6).

  • Early morning waking had the same relationship: B = 1.2 (95% CI 0.7, 1.8).

  • The largest increase in distress was reported by those who had difficulty functioning during the day because they weren’t sleeping well: B = 2.6 (95% CI 1.7, 3.6).

  • Restless legs were also associated with distress: B = 0.8 (95% CI 0.2, 1.3).

  • These findings indicate that even ubiquitous and frequently-neglected sleep issues can have a very significant impact on the emotional load of T2D sufferers.

This research concluded that various forms of sleep impairment were all strongly related to greater diabetes distress levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. These findings emphasize the urgent importance of integrating sleep evaluation and treatment into overall diabetes care, given the potential for improving sleep health to be a major strategy for lowering diabetes-associated emotional distress.

Reference:

Riise HKR, Haugstvedt A, Igland J, et al. Diabetes distress and sleep impairment in type 2 diabetes: A population-based cross-sectional study-The HUNT Study, Norway. Diabet Med. Published online July 25, 2025. doi:10.1111/dme.70106

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Simple Blood Test Marker May Predict GI Cancer Risk:Study

A recent study involving 19,388 participants identified the platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) as a promising biomarker for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer risk. Individuals in the highest PHR quartile faced a 3.09-fold increased risk of GI cancers, with stronger associations seen in older adults, males, and obese individuals. A dose-response relationship was observed at PHR values of 3.2 and 4.5.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers, pose a significant global health burden. Despite advancements in diagnostic tools, early detection remains challenging, particularly in low-resource settings. Emerging evidence highlights the platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) as a novel biomarker integrating systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism. However, its association with GI cancer risk remains underexplored. This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2010 to 2018, comprising 19,388 participants, including 230 with GI cancers. PHR was calculated as the ratio of platelet count to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and categorized into quartiles. Weighted logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline analysis, and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the association between PHR and GI cancer risk, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical factors. Results: Elevated PHR was independently associated with an increased risk of GI cancers. Participants in the highest PHR quartile exhibited a significantly higher risk (adjusted OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 2.16-4.43) compared to the lowest quartile. A dose-response relationship was observed, with two critical inflection points at PHR values of 3.2 and 4.5. Subgroup analyses revealed stronger associations among older adults, males, and obese individuals. The findings suggest that PHR may reflect the dynamic balance of systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism, contributing to tumorigenesis. This study identifies PHR as a promising, cost-effective biomarker for early detection and risk stratification of GI cancers. Its integration into screening programs could improve precision medicine strategies by identifying high-risk individuals for early intervention. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

Reference:

Tong Y, Lou X. Platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) as a predictive biomarker for gastrointestinal cancers: evidence from NHANES. BMC Gastroenterol. 2025 Apr 27;25(1):302. doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-03860-9. PMID: 40289098; PMCID: PMC12036308.

Keywords:

Tong Y, Lou X. Platelet-to-high-density, lipoprotein, ratio, (PHR), predictive, biomarker, gastrointestinal cancers, evidence, NHANES, BMC Gastroenterology, Cancer screening; Dose-response relationship; Gastrointestinal cancers; Lipid metabolism; NHANES; Platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR).

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Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Increased Parkinson’s Disease Risk: Study

A large-scale prospective study has found a significant link between high consumption of ultraprocessed foods and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers followed over 120,000 participants from the UK Biobank for 10.5 years and observed that diets rich in ultraprocessed foods were associated with a higher likelihood of developing prodromal Parkinson’s, incident Parkinson’s disease, and even Parkinson’s-related mortality (Grosso et al., 2025). Ultraprocessed foods — including packaged snacks, ready-to-eat meals, processed meats, and sugary beverages — are typically high in additives, refined sugars, saturated fats, and sodium. While these foods have already been linked to a range of health concerns, including obesity, diabetes, and dementia, this study adds new weight to concerns about their neurological impact.

Researchers controlled for lifestyle, genetic, and socioeconomic factors and still found a strong association between high ultraprocessed food intake and increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, particularly in men. The study also found that individuals with the highest consumption levels had up to a 50% increased risk of Parkinson’s-related death compared to those with the lowest intake. ultraprocessed foods, Parkinson’s disease, UK Biobank study, neurological risk, brain health, neurodegeneration, Parkinson’s mortality, dementia diet link, prospective cohort study, diet and brainThese findings suggest that dietary habits could play a key role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. While the study does not establish direct causation, it highlights the need for further investigation and public health measures that encourage diets rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.

Keywords: ultraprocessed foods, Parkinson’s disease, UK Biobank study, neurological risk, brain health, neurodegeneration, Parkinson’s mortality, dementia diet link, prospective cohort study, diet and brain

Reference:
Grosso, G., et al. (2025). Association between consumption of ultraprocessed foods and the risk of Parkinson’s disease: A prospective cohort study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/17/jnnp-2025-336045

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GUV Light Shows Modest Impact on Reducing Respiratory Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities: JAMA

Australia: Researchers have found in a new randomized clinical trial that germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light in common areas of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) did not reduce ARI incidence per zone per cycle, but did lead to a modest overall reduction in total acute respiratory infections (ARIs). GUV may serve as a supplemental infection control measure in such settings.

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine by Andrew P. Shoubridge and colleagues from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, evaluated whether GUV appliances could help lower ARI rates in older adult residents of LTCFs. Respiratory outbreaks in such facilities are associated with high hospitalization and mortality rates, and current infection control practices often do not adequately address airborne transmission.

The multicenter, double-crossover, cluster-randomized clinical trial involved four LTCFs in metropolitan and regional South Australia. Eight zones covering a total of 211,952 bed-days were assessed over 110 weeks between August 2021 and November 2023. Each facility was divided into two zones, which alternated between active GUV appliances and inactive controls in six-week intervention periods separated by washout phases.

The following were the key findings of the study:

  • A total of 596 acute respiratory infections (ARIs) were recorded during the study.
  • Of these, 79.7% occurred during the intervention or control periods.
  • The control group had an incidence rate of 4.17 infections per zone per cycle.
  • The GUV intervention group recorded 3.81 infections per zone per cycle.
  • The incidence rate ratio was 0.91, which was not statistically significant.
  • A secondary time-series analysis showed a mean reduction of 0.32 infections per week in the GUV group.
  • This reduction translated to a 12.2% overall decrease in ARIs throughout the study.

The findings suggest that while GUV did not significantly impact infection rates within individual study cycles, it contributed to a modest but meaningful decline in total ARI cases over time. According to the authors, this supports the potential role of GUV as an adjunct to existing infection control measures, particularly in settings with vulnerable elderly populations.

The study did have several limitations. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions affected study design, data collection, and diagnostic testing capabilities. Limited access to facilities prevented environmental sampling, and movement between intervention and control zones may have influenced outcomes. Additionally, many ARI cases were not confirmed through laboratory testing due to constrained diagnostic resources, and the results are specific to commercially available GUV devices used in the trial.

Despite these constraints, the research highlights the potential of GUV-based strategies to help mitigate airborne respiratory infections in long-term care environments. If proven cost-effective, integrating GUV with conventional infection control protocols could strengthen preparedness against seasonal outbreaks and emerging viral threats.

The authors emphasize the need for further research to optimize GUV deployment patterns and assess their impact across various facility layouts and infection prevalence levels.

Reference:

Shoubridge AP, Brass A, Crotty M, et al. Germicidal UV Light and Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infection in Long-Term Care for Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. Published online July 28, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.3388

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