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What We’re Reading: Biden to Boost Care Worker Compensation; Social Media Hype Drives Weight Loss Drug Demand; Reducing Fatigue From Long COVID
President Joe Biden signs order to boost care worker compensation and support caregivers; social media adds are fueling weight loss medication demands; an investigational metabolic modulator has been shown to mitigate fatigue in patients with long COVID.
Biden Signs Executive Order to Boost Compensation for Care Workers
President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Tuesday addressing issues in child care and long-term care in the United States, according to The Hill. The order focuses on boosting compensation for care workers, supporting family caregivers, and expanding affordable care options through 50 directives to federal agencies. It also includes provisions to improve access to home-based care for veterans, increase pay and benefits for Head Start teachers and staff, and streamline processes for American Indian and Alaska Native communities to access child care.
Social Media Drives Demand for Weight Loss Medications, Triggering Regulatory Concerns
Social media ads, which can include misinformation, have driven up the demand for weight loss drugs, according to CBS News. Although doctors have expressed concerns about inappropriate use and unreliable sources for the drug, regulatory systems have limited tools to curb misleading advertising from prescribers on social media. Simultaneously, pharmaceutical companies are leading campaigns to raise awareness of obesity without mentioning their drugs. Overseas regulators have also been active in auditing and removing some instances of unethical advertising.
New Metabolic Modulator Shows Promise in Reducing Fatigue in Patients With Long COVID
AXA1125, an investigational metabolic modulator, has shown promising results in reducing physical and cognitive fatigue in patients with long COVID, according to researchers at the University of Oxford. The phase 2 pilot study included 41 adults with fatigue-dominant long COVID who received either AXA1125 or placebo orally for 4 weeks. AXA1125 was associated with a significant reduction in fatigue scores and improved mitochondrial health, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for patients with long COVID, although further research is needed in larger trials.
LLMs Show Promise, But Challenges Remain in Improving Inefficient Clinical Trial Screening
July 31st 2025Large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 may offer a solution to the costly and inefficient process of manual clinical trial screening, which is often hindered by the inability of structured electronic health record data to capture all necessary criteria.
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Trends in Insulin Out-of-Pocket Costs and Use Disparities, 2008-2021
July 31st 2025Given trends in cost and use, insulin out-of-pocket cost reduction policies would be more efficient if they targeted members in high-deductible health plans with savings options and low-income patients.
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Proposed SNAP Cuts Could Threaten Prevention for Cognitive Decline, Dementias
July 30th 2025Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may slow cognitive decline in older adults, highlighting the importance of food assistance in combating Alzheimer disease and dementia risks.
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