Men switched at birth uncover hospital mix-up after DNA test decades later

Two North Dakota men are suing a local hospital after discovering they were switched at birth nearly four decades ago, a revelation brought to light by a surprise result from a direct-to-consumer genetic test.

The men joined Fox & Friends on Thursday to discuss their journey.

The mix-up was uncovered two years ago when Kyle Bylin received an at-home DNA test as a gift. Bylin says he was shocked when the results showed no genetic match to anyone in the family that raised him.

TWO FAMILIES SUE NORTH DAKOTA HOSPITAL ON ALLEGATIONS BABIES WERE SWITCHED AT BIRTH

"It was absolutely mind-blowing," Bylin told Fox & Friends. "We knew the DNA trail didn’t make sense, but to find out you’ve been switched at birth is a huge revelation."

Instead, the data pointed to a biological aunt, leading Bylin to her nephew, Jeremy Morrison. Subsequent DNA testing confirmed that Morrison and Bylin had been raised by each other’s biological families.

"[My parents] will always be my parents. A DNA test isn’t going to change 38 years of memories overnight," Morrison said.

Morrison recalled having long-standing doubts while growing up, noting that he often made light of the physical differences between himself and the woman who raised him.

MELINDA FRENCH GATES SAYS IT TOOK 3 DOCTORS TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM

"I kind of had a feeling inside that I was adopted or, you know, she stole me or something like that," Morrison said. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’d change what happened, he added.

"It’s a little bit of nature, a little bit of nurture, and you end up with the life that you have," he said when asked if he’d go back and undo the switch.

SISTERS IN VIRAL VIDEO REVEAL TRUTH OF 'EERIE' FAMILY PHOTO THEY DISCOVERED AT RENTAL HOME

The emotional toll of the discovery has weighed heavily on both men as they grapple with the realization that their upbringings were altered.

"Do I feel like I lost the ability to truly connect with my biological parents? Absolutely," Bylin said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The two men filed a lawsuit against Unity Medical Center alleging emotional distress caused by negligence and medical malpractice, claiming the facility robbed them of the lives they were meant to live.

Unity Medical Center denied responsibility for the incident, asserting that an internal review yielded no evidence showing hospital personnel were at fault. However, the medical center did not dispute that the swap occurred.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families," the hospital said in a statement.

"While we deeply sympathize with the men and their families, we have found no evidence to support claims that Unity Medical Center or its staff were responsible for what occurred."

Although both Bylin and Morrison have since met their respective biological parents, the two men have yet to meet each other in person.

"There are no plans in the works right now," Morrison said. "I grew up with his entire family. And he grew up with my entire family," he added, as the reason the two men "don’t feel like" they need to meet.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Despite the legal battle and the lingering disruption to their lives, both men said they are focusing on moving forward and making the best of their circumstances.

"We’re just trying to raise awareness of this situation," Bylin added.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/zgrRLkN

Read More

FDA to review 7 popular peptides touted for weight loss, healing and longevity

The Food and Drug Administration is taking a closer look this week at seven unapproved peptide substances that have surged in popularity for their purported health benefits.

At meetings scheduled for July 23 and 24 at the FDA’s White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland, the FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee will consider whether to recommend adding seven peptide substances to the agency’s 503A Bulks List, which would allow them to be used in certain compounded prescription drugs.

Although these peptides are not FDA-approved, they are widely available through wellness clinics, compounding operations and gray-market online sellers.

THINKING ABOUT PEPTIDES? DOCTORS REVEAL KEY DOS AND DONT'S AS 'WILD WEST' MARKET GROWS

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced support for expanding access to certain peptide therapies, while FDA reviewers have raised concerns about the limited evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of the seven substances under consideration.

According to Reuters, consumer demand is likely to "remain strong" despite the outcome, as peptides have surged in popularity for weight loss, muscle building, performance enhancement, chronic disease management and even wound repair.

FDA documents show that the following seven peptides are under review.

Proposed use: Ulcerative colitis

Proposed forms: Oral capsules, nasal spray, injections, transdermal cream, rectal suppository

Proposed use: Wound healing

Proposed forms: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection

SECRET TO WEIGHT LOSS MAY BE HIDING IN YOUR GUT, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

Proposed use: Wound healing and inflammatory condition

Proposed forms: Cream and gel

Proposed use: Obesity and osteoporosis

Proposed forms: Subcutaneous injection

Proposed use: Cerebral ischemia (shortage of blood flow and oxygen to the brain), migraine and trigeminal neuralgia (chronic pain condition in the face)

Proposed form: Intranasal spray, subcutaneous injection

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Proposed use: Opioid withdrawal, chronic insomnia, narcolepsy

Proposed form: Subcutaneous injection

Proposed use: Insomnia

Proposed form: Subcutaneous injection

Performance medicine and peptide expert Dr. Alex Tatem, a board-certified urologist and member of Rugiet's Medical Advisory Board, will testify at this week's FDA hearings.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Indiana-based Tatem said that every product up for review is "exciting," as each targets a different problem faced by patients.

"BPC-157 or TB-500 are compounds that can help facilitate healing after injury and have been shown in multiple studies to be incredibly safe when administered — which is interesting when you compare that to the over-the-counter options that we use now for aches and pains, like ibuprofen," he said.

Although ibuprofen is available over the counter, the FDA warns that it can cause serious side effects — including stomach bleeding, kidney damage and cardiovascular complications — especially when used at high doses or for long periods.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Tatem claimed that millions of BPC-157 doses have been administered and that relatively few adverse events have been reported. 

"There is no other drug on the market that had that sort of safety record," Tatem said. "And it's not because of any magic — it's because these are natural substances that our bodies make and are familiar with, so that's what gives them this incredible safety profile."

The FDA, however, has publicly stated that there is not enough evidence from human clinical trials on the safety or efficacy of these drugs. FDA reviewers have also cautioned that a peptide’s similarity to a naturally occurring substance does not eliminate potential risks.

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel cautioned that these substances "need careful study."

According to the doctor, RFK Jr. told Siegel in their latest interview that he believes "not all peptides are created equal, whereas some are helpful, others may not be and need further study."

"I agree with that," Siegel told Fox News Digital. "I’m concerned about the impact some may have on the kidneys. I would like to see rigorous clinical trials before approval. I am not convinced the data is fully there yet."

Tatem said he expects the hearings to be a "hard-fought battle," but hopes committee members will consider what he described as real-world data from tens of millions of doses administered between 2014 and 2023. The data showed adverse event rates of "well under 0.1%," he added.

If the committee recommends inclusion, the FDA would still need to complete its review and rulemaking process before formally adding any of the substances to the 503A Bulks List.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

That list includes active ingredients that state-licensed pharmacies are legally permitted to use for compounding prescription drugs, Tatem said.

He also suggested that the FDA could place some substances under a more permissive enforcement category temporarily while the rulemaking process continues. (The agency has not announced that it intends to do so.)

"Ultimately, what we would hope is, before the end of the year, patients would be able to go to their doctor, work through maybe a telehealth provider, and then be able to get a prescription for this under monitored medical supervision," he said.

"The most important thing to take away is that your voice matters, because this committee is just issuing a recommendation to the FDA. The FDA can take it or leave it," Tatem noted. "Everything that happens afterward is still anyone's guess."

Tatem encourages people to reach out to their local representatives to request access to "safe, regulated peptides made here in the United States of America."

Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA and ibuprofen product manufacturer Haleon for comment.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/QKhg2VM

Read More

CDC reveals massive behind-the-scenes public health operation that kept FIFA World Cup fans safe

FIRST ON FOX: The World Cup tested not only the players on the pitch, but the Trump administration's large public health operation to safeguard the public as fans from all over the world moved across the United States.

Amid the fandom, as 11 American cities hosted 39 teams and 78 matches, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operated largely behind the scenes to detect emerging threats and to respond to public health emergencies.

"Readiness is not only measured by how we respond to emergencies, but by the work we do every day to prevent them," acting CDC Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"The FIFA World Cup demonstrated the strength of CDC’s partnerships, preparedness and commitment to protecting the health of every community we serve."

CONGO TEAM MUST ISOLATE TO ENTER UNITED STATES FOR WORLD CUP AMID EBOLA OUTBREAK

In total, the FIFA World Cup hosted 48 teams across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with more than 5 million tickets sold.

An estimated 6.5 million fans from around the world converged in the three host countries, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and, possibly, germs. Overlapping with Independence Day celebrations, large gatherings were common, as well as the backdrop of concurrent international disease activity, including the Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks.

Infectious disease can easily spread in large crowds, and experts were already looking at wastewater, a possible uptick in hospital visits and social media for any signs of a potential outbreak.

Diseases like measles are always a top concern. As of July 16, there were 2,260 confirmed measles cases in the U.S., according to the CDC.

"The matches drew the world's attention. The work that kept them healthy did not — and that was the point," the CDC said in a news release Sunday.

FBI BOSS KASH PATEL DETAILS HOW AGENCY AND PARTNERS SECURED RECORD-SHATTERING FIFA WORLD CUP

The CDC's effort included a World Cup data dashboard that provided health departments with real-time data on disease trends across multiple cities as fans and teams traveled throughout the tournament, as well as around-the-clock health operations at U.S. ports of entry in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to monitor international passengers.

The agency also deployed its experts to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, wastewater surveillance and preparedness planning in host cities.

In all, the agency coordinated across a broad network, including multiple CDC divisions, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force.

WHITE HOUSE ADDRESSES GROWING PARASITE OUTBREAK AFTER MORE THAN 400 AMERICANS SICKENED

In March, the CDC released guidance providing health officials with a framework for preparing for a broad range of threats, including biological, chemical, radiologic/nuclear, environmental and mass casualty incidents.

The guidance encouraged every jurisdiction to approach the tournament through a risk-based lens, recognizing that travel between venues connects communities far beyond the host cities.

The tournament is over, but the work is not. The same preparedness, surveillance and partnerships that supported the World Cup are part of CDC's readiness and response mission every day of the year, continuing through the close of the activation on July 31 and well beyond.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/y1zS8ts

Read More

Experts reveal how to avoid deadly Legionnaires' disease as NYC outbreak kills 5

As New York City continues to investigate an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that has claimed multiple lives and sickened dozens of people, doctors say there are ways people can reduce the risk of exposure.

As of July 21, there have been five deaths and 82 diagnoses linked to the Upper East Side outbreak, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Eight patients remain hospitalized.

Health officials said no new cases had been reported in the previous six days, suggesting the source of exposure has likely been eliminated, although the investigation remains ongoing.

NYC LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE OUTBREAK KILLS FOURTH VICTIM; 76 CASES REPORTED

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia that is typically spread by tiny water droplets containing Legionella bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Common sources of infection include contaminated building water systems, such as cooling towers (large structures that remove heat from water used in building cooling systems), hot tubs or plumbing. Cases have also been reported on cruise ships and in spas. It is not generally spread from person to person, according to the CDC.

"We get infected when it gets aerosolized in the water droplets, usually, and we breathe those droplets in," Dr. Dana Mordue, associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology at New York Medical College, told Fox News Digital.

NYC HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN CENTRAL PARK VISITORS AFTER LEGIONNAIRES’ OUTBREAK GROWS ON UPPER EAST SIDE

"You can also get infected if you have water that's been contaminated, and you aspirate it and swallow it into your lungs, but most often you get it from air droplets that are contaminated from various types of water sources."

Although it is possible to contract Legionnaires’ in the home, outbreaks are almost always linked to exposure to water droplets coming from a water system in a "commercial-type building," according to Mordue.

"The good news is you usually don't get it from the types of cooling systems that we have in our cars or our homes. But if you don't clean your humidifiers, technically any water source can get contaminated with Legionella."

The most widespread symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches, according to the CDC. Some people may also experience diarrhea, nausea and confusion.

Symptoms typically begin two to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria, although they can appear later. The illness often requires treatment with antibiotics.

"The mortality rate is not particularly high for this disease if you are immune-competent and young and healthy," said Mordue.

Risk is higher for older adults, smokers and people with compromised immune systems, "a lot of the same risk factors you might see for COVID," the doctor noted.

The CDC shares the following measures to prevent the spread of Legionnaires’ disease.

For anyone who may have been exposed and developed symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical care, doctors say. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of severe illness.

"If you have certain risk factors, particularly advanced age, get help as quickly as you can," Mordue advised.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/yMCpR24

Read More

Pancreatic cancer vaccine shows promise in first human trial, preventing disease in high-risk patients

A new vaccine for the prevention of pancreatic cancer has shown promise in an early study at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

A phase 1 trial published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, tested an experimental vaccine called mKRAS-VAX in 20 people, according to a press release.

Participants had an inherited risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, along with an abnormality detected in imaging, typically a pancreatic cyst. These individuals had not been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

NEW PANCREATIC CANCER PILL NEARLY DOUBLES SURVIVAL TIME IN BREAKTHROUGH TRIAL

Four injections were administered to participants during weeks one, three and five, along with a booster at week 13.

The vaccine targeted six common mutations of KRAS. Changes in this gene drive more than 90% of PDACs.

The vaccine triggered a mutant KRAS-targeted immune response in 18 of the 20 participants (90%). On average, immune activity increased about 18-fold, although responses varied. Half of participants responded to all six KRAS mutations included in the vaccine.

Researchers also found the vaccine generated two types of T cells — one to attack abnormal cells and another to provide longer-term immune memory.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The vaccine appeared to be safe, with participants experiencing only injection-site reactions and temporary flu-like symptoms.

While the phase 1 trial was designed primarily to evaluate safety rather than effectiveness, after about 16.5 months of follow-up, no participants had developed pancreatic cancer. At the same time, 37.5% of vaccinated participants experienced shrinkage or disappearance of the pancreatic cysts that had put them at increased risk for the disease.

Study co-author Neeha Zaidi, MD, associate professor of oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, commented that the long-lasting response of this vaccine is "particularly noteworthy when assessing for possible interception of cancer, which requires long-lasting immunity."

"In addition, the vaccine was safe and well-tolerated, supporting its use in larger cancer interception studies," she said in the press release. "Overall, this study represents the first proof of concept for the use of vaccines for interception of pancreatic cancer in human patients."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Co-author Michael G. Goggins, MD, professor of pathology, medicine and oncology and the Sol Goldman Professor of Pancreatic Cancer Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, also commented on the findings.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"We observed evidence of stability or regression of the pancreatic cysts in association with the induction and durability of KRAS-specific T-cell responses," he said in the release. "However, larger studies are needed to demonstrate that this effect was in fact due to the vaccine."

The authors noted the study was limited by its small sample size and because it was not designed to determine clinical efficacy.

Fellow senior author Elizabeth Jaffee, MD, deputy director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, commented that prevention and interception "save lives and reduce the morbidity associated with cancer development and progression."

"This is especially important for cancers whose early-onset frequency is increasing and for which we do not have effective methods for early detection," she added in the release.

Jaffee noted that this research highlights the need for more funding to support developing strategies for preventing cancer in high-risk individuals.

"More studies are needed to find the best vaccine approaches, the best targets and the ideal timing for vaccination," she said.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/87LNfWx

Read More

Michelin-star chef reveals what's replacing hospital food Americans love to hate

"Hospital food" has long been synonymous with packaged, ultraprocessed meals — despite the fact that hospitals are meant to promote healing.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Michelin Star chef Geoffrey Zakarian shared his initiative to improve what is served in U.S. hospitals, following the concept that "food is medicine."

For the last three years, Zakarian said he’s been working on changing hospital food — most notably at Tampa General, which is a $4 billion nonprofit, 1,000-bed public hospital.

RFK HAILS FIRST US HOSPITAL TO PROMISE HEALTHIER MEALS: 'WE HAVE A TEMPLATE'

On Thursday, July 16, Tampa General Hospital CEO John Couris signed the "Make Hospital Food Healthier" pledge during a news conference attended by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Zakarian.

The pledge commits the hospital to serving more nutritious, minimally processed meals to patients, building on Zakarian's menu overhaul.

"We’ve changed the entire menu," the celebrity chef told Fox News Digital. "We've taken all seed oils out, sugar, maltodextrin. Anything bad in a box is gone. Anything good is brought in."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"We're serving mac and cheese. We're serving hanger steak and fries. We're serving chicken with couscous. We do all our protein shakes. No protein shakes in the box anymore. We do fruit shakes, smoothies, fresh sorbet," the chef listed. "So, you're eating like your grandmother's cooking for you."

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has also supported Zakarian in this mission, telling Fox News Digital that the chef has "revolutionized our thinking" around hospital food.

"How do we get the hospitals to do what [Zakarian] has been doing the frontier work on, get them to actually embrace food as part of the healing process?" he questioned. "Because most patients, and most doctors, know that the food in the hospital is not going to make you better."

Oz noted that while hospital food may provide some nutrients, it is generally not seen as contributing meaningfully to patients' recovery.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The biggest challenge to getting better food into hospital systems has been cost, Zakarian pointed out.

While "everything is fractionalized," what’s left over after paying for supplies is put toward food, which generally "ain’t much," he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"It's, like, $3.50 a person per plate, which is an extraordinarily small amount," the chef said. "You go to McDonald's and you spend 12 bucks for a happy meal, and we give you $3.50 in a hospital. So that's an unhappy meal as far as I'm concerned."

Instead of charging hospitals for each plate served, Zakarian's approach relies on a flat annual fee, saving money through a smaller, higher-quality menu.

"Yummy food, not just food to fill people up," he said. "Nutritious food, bioavailable food, food that's satiating."

"I'm cooking like I would cook in a restaurant. I'm cooking like my mother cooked for me. There's no difference."

The chef continued, "When you're lying in bed in a hospital gown, you feel alone, you feel exposed, you feel sick … When you have a fresh protein shake or a fresh healthy smoothie, or you can order steak frites ... that [makes] your day."

Freelance writer Teresa Mull contributed to this report.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/P4pc09u

Read More

Melinda French Gates says it took 3 doctors to diagnose the condition she was suffering from

Melinda French Gates is speaking out about the challenges of recognizing perimenopause, saying she didn't receive the proper diagnosis and treatment until after seeing three different doctors.

She shared her experience with journalist Norah O'Donnell's new podcast "Healthful," which will be released on Wednesday.

French Gates, now 61, said she was in her early 40s when she began experiencing menopause symptoms, noting that she "kind of couldn't believe it," as reported by CBS News.

LOW TESTOSTERONE? HEGSETH SPARKS CONVERSATION AS DOCTORS REVEAL WARNING SIGNS EVERY MAN SHOULD KNOW

Later, the philanthropist and businesswoman would learn that many OB-GYNs receive little formal training in menopause care, which she says underscores a broader gap in women's healthcare.

French Gates shared that she was lucky enough to know the signs, thanks to input from older friends.

"But it was kind of unbelievable to me that, even in this, you know, unbelievably privileged situation I'm in, where I feel like I can get some of the best healthcare, it took me three doctors to really diagnose what I was going through and to get the right treatments for where I was," she said during the interview.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"It wasn't because anybody was doing the wrong thing. It's because of what I now know, which is, only one-third of OB-GYNs in this country are trained in menopause."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Supporting her claim, a national survey published in the journal Menopause in 2023 found that only about one-third of U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs include a formal menopause curriculum.

More recently, a 2024 study found that OB-GYN, family medicine and internal medicine residents have low knowledge and low confidence in treating menopausal symptoms.

In a separate 2026 Kansas study, more than half of residents reported receiving fewer than five hours of menopause education — and the majority did not believe that residency fully prepared them to treat menopausal patients independently.

In a national survey of 2,000 women, only 25% said their healthcare provider had adequately informed them about perimenopause.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Additional training in this area could help, researchers claim, as knowledge scores increased from 61% to 79% among those who received a structured curriculum.

About 1.3 million U.S. women reach menopause each year, according to The Menopause Society. Most begin perimenopause in their 40s, although it can start earlier.

As perimenopause causes hormone levels to fluctuate, women can experience a range of symptoms. Some of the most common include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, vaginal dryness, brain fog and joint pain as hormone levels begin to fluctuate, according to Mayo Clinic.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/NF4zv5o

Read More