🧬 Weekly Medical Radar – June 29, 2025
Good news for Type 1 Diabetes, and lowering heart disease deaths
1. Stem‑Cell “Cure” for Type 1 Diabetes
At the ADA meeting, Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Zimislecel (VX‑880)—a stem-cell–derived islet-cell therapy—was shown to restore insulin production in 12 participants with severe T1D. After one infusion, all saw reduced insulin needs and no hypoglycemia. 10 of 12 became insulin-free at 1 year, and the other two used much less. Findings were published in NEJM
2. A 50‑Year Win Against Heart Disease
A Journal of the American Heart Association analysis using CDC data from 1970–2022 shows:
🫀 66% dropin heart disease mortality (761→258 per 100k)
89% reduction in acute MI deaths (354→40 per 100k)
81% decline in ischemic heart disease deaths (693→135 per 100k)
But—an 81% increase in deaths from other heart diseases (68→123), driven by arrhythmias (+450%), heart failure (+146%), and hypertensive heart disease (+106%)
This is a public‑health victory—yet a reminder to address non-ischemic conditions.
3. COVID Vaccines: Not Done Yet
A study in JAMA Network Open (Link-Gelles R, Rowley EAK, Irving SA, et al. Estimated 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(6):e2517402. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.174024. ) examined 2023–24 boosters vs. newer Omicron strains (XBB, JN.1). Results:
24% fewer ER/Urgent Care visits
29% fewer hospitalizations
48% fewer ICU admissions/deaths
- Protection persisted up to 299 days, with peak effect (~68%) during the first 2 months
Salt Usage Sparks Liver Woes
A UK Biobank cohort study published in European Journal of Nutrition found a direct link between self-reported frequency of adding salt and increased risks of:
Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Cirrhosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) —more salt = more liver damage.
5. Hypertension in the Over‑85 Crowd
From the 2022–23 National Health Interview Survey: Among Americans aged 85+, the top chronic conditions are:
Hypertension: 66.9% overall (68.9% women; 63.7% men)
Arthritis: 55.9%
High cholesterol: 46.5%
Lesson: Home BP monitoring is essential. I trust Withings devices (BP cuff, scale, watch) for reliable data.
6. Sleep Apnea by Race/Sex
Annals of the American Thoracic Society reports age >50 brings high OSA prevalence, with patterns varying:
Black women showed more REM-related respiratory events
Mexican American women had higher oxygen saturation during sleep
Conclusion: Personalized screening matters.
7. The Gassy Majority
Neurogastroenterology & Motility found:
81.3% of adults experienced flatulence
60.5% heard stomach rumbling
58.0% belched
38–48% reported bloating, distension, gas symptoms
We’re all full of it—it’s normal.
8. Neonatal Mortality: Mixed Story
A JAMA Pediatrics research letter shows U.S. neonatal mortality has largely declined—especially for respiratory distress and emphysema—but fetal malnutrition and slow growth deaths rose (+1.91% annually). RSV protections are credited for declines.
9. Alcohol‑Related Liver Deaths Double
A JAMA Network Open study tracked alcohol-associated liver disease mortality from 1999–2022:
436,814 deaths
Rate doubled from 6.71 → 12.53 per 100k
More rapid rises among women, adults 25–44, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations (from 25.21 → 46.75 per 100k)
10. Air Pollution = Pneumonia Risk
An 18-year Danish cohort study (Annals of the American Thoracic Society) shows low-level air pollution exposure correlates with higher hospitalizations for pneumonia and acute lower respiratory infections .
What’s Next
Science is winning, and “Functional Medicine” has nothing for us but supplements
Have a great week