Healio (1/11, Friedman) reports, “Substance use disorders are more prevalent among survivors of certain types of cancer, according to study results.” Approximately “4% of cancer survivors had substance use disorders…but they occurred significantly more in” survivors of “esophageal and gastric cancers and head and neck cancers.” Meanwhile, survivors of “cervical cancer or melanomas also had moderately higher rates.” The findings were published in JAMA Oncology.

Related Links:

— “Substance use disorder varies among survivors depending on type of cancer,” Josh Friedman, Healio, January 11, 2024

MedPage Today (1/11, Putka ) reports that many patients receiving “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)…experienced long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, or functional impairment, a meta-analysis found.” The data indicated that “fully 41% of…patients” receiving ECMO “had neuropsychiatricsymptoms at 6 months or longer follow-up, with pain or discomfort (52%), sleep disturbance (37%), and anxiety (36%) as the most common symptoms.” Meanwhile, “long-term follow-up at 6 months and beyond also showed the secondary outcomes of neurocognitive impairment in 38% and functional impairment in 52%.” The findings were published in Neurology.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (1/11, Herpen) reports, “Combination behavioral and pharmaceutical therapy improved functionality and daytime symptoms of insomnia, while addition of a second treatment provided further benefits for the condition, according to research.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Psych, med therapies improved daytime insomnia symptoms, functionality,” Shenaz Bagha, Healio, January 11, 2024

The New York Times (1/10, Hoffman ) reports, “Often sold as a dietary supplement and promoted by retailers as a mood booster and focus aid, tianeptine,” popularly known as gas-station heroin, “is among a growing, unregulated class of potentially addictive products available in gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops and across the internet.” The drugs “often originate in other countries, including Indonesia and Russia, where they are commonly used,” although the FDA “has not approved them as medicines in the United States.” Notably, “at least nine states have banned or severely restricted tianeptine, including Florida, Michigan and Ohio.”

Related Links:

— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

HealthDay (1/10, Thompson ) reports, “A bout of depression can trigger a bump in body weight among people struggling with obesity, a new study has found.” Notably, “people who had an increase in symptoms related to depression experienced an increase in their weight a month later,” researchers found. The findings were published in PLOS One.

Related Links:

— “Vicious Cycle: Depression and Weight Gain Often Go Together,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 10, 2024