Med Student Killed; Puberty Blocker Data Go Unpublished; Alzheimer’s Trial Inquiry

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Health news and commentary gathered by MedPage Today staff

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MedPage Today Staff

October 24, 2src24

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A medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center was fatally shot at a cancer walk in Memphis, the suspected killer her ex-boyfriend. (CBS News)

Former U.K. nurse Lucy Letby lost her bid to appeal her conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl in her care. (AP)

An artificial intelligence algorithm is contracted out to facilitate prior authorization request denials for insurance companies. (ProPublica)

Advisors helping to create the next federal dietary guidelines didn’t express an appetite for major changes, citing insufficient evidence. (STAT)

U.S. intelligence did not back Israel’s claim that Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, is hiding a Hezbollah bunker filled with cash. (Reuters)

An updated analysis challenged a prior observation that Black babies had better survival under Black doctors. (STAT)

What happened to a U.S. study suggesting puberty blockers did not improve mental health in children with gender distress? (New York Times)

Over 2 years, obesity treatments did not reduce other medical costs, an analysis of U.S. health insurance claims showed. (Reuters)

Pharmacy closures across the country may be due in part by underpayments by pharmacy benefit managers. (KFF Health News)

Patients shared anecdotes of “breast implant illness,” a possible autoimmune dysfunction that’s not an official medical diagnosis. (Guardian)

In New York City, 1,5srcsrc unionized nurses at Northwell threatened to go on strike on November 4. (Gothamist)

New York officials are scrambling to expand testing and treatment for syphilis in response to mounting cases of congenital syphilis. (The City)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture may have let pushback from state and industry officials cause it to relax an emergency order designed to prevent the spread of bird flu among the nation’s dairy cattle last year. (Reuters)

A New York Times investigation showed Eisai did not disclose to lecanemab (Leqembi) trial participants whether they had a genetic profile that made them particularly susceptible to brain bleeding or swelling if they received the investigational Alzheimer’s drug. (New York Times)

The family of a deceased inmate sued a Philadelphia jail for failing to provide insulin and other care for his diabetes before he died of ketoacidosis. (AP)

In the quest for a superbug that could combat climate change, a biotech company is recruiting volunteers to record the microbial growths that are thriving in various home appliances. (ABC7)

Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, is losing Dartmouth Health’s labor and delivery services ahead of its planned sale to healthcare behemoth HCA Healthcare. (WMUR)

A former Massachusetts doctor was sentenced to 12 years in prison for child rape and child porn convictions. (WHDH)

Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B said she’s hospitalized with a medical emergency and will not perform at ONE MusicFest. (AP)

Actress Olivia Munn revealed her mastectomy scars in an advertising campaign for Skims underwear. (USA Today)