The New York Times (8/12, Jacobs ) reports, “The journal Psychopharmacology has retracted three papers about MDMA-assisted therapy based on what the publication said was unethical conduct at one of the study sites where the research took place.” The conduct in question involved “a sexual relationship” between “an unlicensed Canadian therapist who took part in the trial” and “a participant after the conclusion of the trial’s dosing sessions.” Multiple authors “are affiliated with Lykos Therapeutics, the drug company whose application for MDMA-assisted therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder was rejected last week by the Food and Drug Administration.” While Lykos “said the research in the retracted papers was not part of its application to the F.D.A.,” on Sunday the company “said that it disagreed with Psychopharmacology’s decision and that it would file an official complaint with the Committee on Publication Ethics.”

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

Healio (8/12, Mahoney) reports, “Suicide rates among U.S. preteens increased significantly from 2008 to 2022, with the greatest increases being among Hispanic preteens and girls, according to a study.” Investigators also observed “the rate of suicide remained highest among Black preteens from both 2001 to 2007 (4.94 per 1 million persons) and 2008 to 2022 (8.5 per 1 million persons).” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Suicide rates rise among preteens, with highest increases seen among Hispanic youth, girls,”Moira Mahoney, Healio, August 12, 2024

The AP (8/11) reports Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “said Sunday he will work to block a plan that would significantly cut the proposed budget of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warning that such a spending reduction could endanger the public.” Senate Democrats “said the proposal in a House bill includes a reduction of the CDC’s proposed budget by $1.8 billion, or about 22%,” which “would mean a major cut in programs designed to address firearm injuries and opioid overdose prevention.” Schumer “said such a reduction ‘would wreak havoc and chaos on food safety funding mechanisms and tracking operations at a core level,’” pointing “specifically to the CDC’s work on the ongoing listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that has killed at least three people and sickened more than 40 others.”

Related Links:

— “Schumer says he will work to block any effort in the Senate to significantly cut the CDC’s budge, AP, August 11, 2024

The New York Times (8/8, Glover-Smith ) says “a report published last week by an international commission focused on dementia prevention” found that “adults over age 65 who experience vision loss have a nearly 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia.” However, if the “vision problems are corrected, that risk drops dramatically.” The commission also “found that people with hearing loss have a 37 percent increased risk for developing dementia,” with more severe hearing loss leading to a higher risk. The findings led the commission to add “vision impairment to its list of 14 total modifiable risk factors for dementia,” which also includes “smoking, diabetes, social isolation and hypertension.” The report was published in The Lancet.

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

HCP Live (8/8, Derman) reports, “Nearly 1 in 10 patients with chronic pain treated with opioid analgesics experience dependence and opioid use disorder, a recent study found.” Investigators also observed “significant differences in the prevalence of dependence and opioid use disorder when examining the study setting,” with the greatest prevalence rates being seen in pain clinics and mixed settings. The findings were published in Addiction.

Related Links:

— “Opioid Pain Treatment Raises Dependence and Use Disorder Rates,”Chelsie Derman, HCP Live , August 8, 2024