Vax Conspiracy Film Hits Twitter; More Apnea Device Deaths; GSK Pulls Cancer Drug

— Health news and commentary from around the Web gathered by MedPage Today staff

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Morning Break over illustration of a syringe, Covid virus, and DNA helix over a photo of green vegetation.

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The anti-vax film "Died Suddenly," which claims COVID vaccines were designed to depopulate the world, premiered on Twitter. (Forbes)

Pediatric hospitalizations spiked up to 60% on Long Island as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surges continued. (CBS New York)

Two hospitals that provide most of Oregon's pediatric intensive care capacity moved to crisis standards of care. (The Oregonian)

Experts are concerned that Thanksgiving gatherings could accelerate a "tripledemic" of COVID, RSV, and influenza. (NPR)

The U.K. Health Security Agency highlighted pre-print evidence showing vaccination offered 78% protection against monkeypox.

The World Health Organization is planning to rename monkeypox as MPOX, three people with knowledge of the matter told Politico.

Caitlin Bernard, MD, MS, the Indianapolis doctor who provided abortion services to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio, testified she was the target of "threats and harassment" after Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita told Fox News his office was reviewing her conduct. (Indy Star)

Over half of Mississippi's rural hospitals are at risk of closing immediately or in the near future, according to the state's health officer. (AP)

Europe may be running out of doctors. (Politico)

NIH announced the launch of MakeMyTestCount.org, where people can anonymously report results of any brand of at-home COVID-19 test.

About 30% of U.S. clinical laboratories already have stopped using race-based equations of kidney function, in line with recent recommendations from the National Kidney Foundation/American Society of Nephrology Joint Task Force. (JAMA)

As of October 31, more than 90,000 medical device reports involving Philips Respironics breathing and sleep apnea machines were reported to the FDA, including 260 reports of death.

The FDA alerted healthcare professionals about compatibility problems with prefilled glass syringes -- including some filled with naloxone -- and Luer-activated valve connectors with internal pins.

The agency also warned the public not to buy or use JACK'D sexual enhancement liquid or capsules after a lab analysis confirmed the products contain sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra.

A jury rejected a lawsuit by the widow of a former college football player who said the NCAA failed to protect him from repeated head trauma that led to his death. (NPR)

Metabolic syndrome may be a modifiable risk factor for gout, a study of over 1 million men suggested. (Arthritis & Rheumatology)

Persistent asthma was linked to an increased buildup of carotid artery plaque. (Journal of the American Heart Association)

GSK is withdrawing belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma from the U.S. market after the drug's phase III confirmatory trial failed to meet FDA's accelerated approval requirements.

  • Judy George covers neurology and neuroscience news for MedPage Today, writing about brain aging, Alzheimer’s, dementia, MS, rare diseases, epilepsy, autism, headache, stroke, Parkinson’s, ALS, concussion, CTE, sleep, pain, and more. Follow