Drug institute warns that Trump-shaped ecstasy pills contain potentially fatal ingredient

A respected drug treatment and mental health center in the Netherlands issued a warning against taking ecstasy pills that are shaped like President Donald Trump’s head, saying they could be fatal.

The Trimbos Institute warned in a "red alert" that the pills contain a high concentration of PMMA, also known as para-methoxymethamfetamine, which is similar to ecstasy’s active ingredient MDMA, but is slower acting.

The slow onset could encourage users to take more and potentially overdose.

The institute shared a photo of two of the pills, of which one was green on the front and one was yellow and they were red and blue on the back.

POLICE SEIZE COCAINE BRICKS WITH STICKERS OF NORWEGIAN SOCCER STAR ERLING HAALAND ALL OVER THEM

The pills had a likeness of Trump’s face on the front and the name "Trump" and letter "NL" on the back.

"Absolutely do not use these pills," the institute urged.

In 2018, Indiana State police seized orange Trump-shaped ecstasy pills in an operation targeting small-time drug traffickers.

Those pills also had Trump’s face on the front and "great again" written on the back, an apparent reference to his Make America Great Again slogan.

In 2017, German police also seized thousands of Trump-shaped ecstasy pills, which also appeared to be orange, that had an estimated street value of nearly $46,000.

There have yet to be any reports of overdoses or deaths due to the drug, Spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press.

GERMAN POLICE SEIZE THOUSANDS OF 'TRUMP' ECSTASY TABLETS

"We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood," she said.

The clinic said that the pills had recently been handed in to some of their centers where they test drugs before people take them.

While ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, hundreds of thousands of people use the drug every year, according to the government.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/d0r2QBX

Read More

‘Quiet quitting’ in marriage: The subtle signs a spouse has emotionally checked out

"Quiet quitting," a workplace term for doing only the minimum required, has also been used to describe a pattern in some marriages.

In relationships, the informal term refers to spouses who remain together while reducing their emotional effort, communication or involvement in the relationship.

Couples may continue managing day-to-day responsibilities, such as household tasks and parenting, even as one partner becomes emotionally and physically disengaged, relationship experts say.

‘NO CONTACT’ ON THE RISE: NEARLY 2 IN 5 AMERICANS CUT TIES WITH LOVED ONES

Discussion of the term has gained traction on social media, with users sharing videos and posts about remaining in a marriage while feeling checked out.

Licensed marriage and family therapist Lisa Brookes Kift, of Marin Therapy and Counseling in California, told Fox News Digital that a noticeable absence of friction can be an early warning sign.

"It’s a myth that an absence of arguing in a relationship automatically means the relationship is healthy," Kift said. "Many are conflict-avoidant and rather than address their feelings, opt to sweep them under the rug, which over the long term erodes the foundation of emotional safety."

Kift said a person’s attachment style — patterns of seeking closeness and support in relationships — can influence how they respond to marital distress.

CUT OFF BY YOUR ADULT CHILD? PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCHER REVEALS WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO NEXT

"An avoidant style may be more able to stay in their own lane — on their own island — to ride it out, because they are most comfortable resourcing in themselves," she said.

Those with a more secure attachment style are less likely to stay in that dynamic, as they may be more inclined to give a partner the benefit of the doubt and believe problems can be worked through, the expert noted.

These patterns can be shaped, in part, by early experiences involving trust, worthiness and whether a person’s emotional needs were met, according to Kift.

"What did they learn about whether their needs would be met? Whether the most important people to them could be trusted? That they were lovable for who they were and not what they did?" Kift asked.

When adult relationships appear to repeat those early disappointments, partners can lose hope, she added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"I’ve seen quite a few people in my therapy practice who have taken this stance, where there have been failed attempts to get emotional and other needs met, leading to hopelessness," Kift said.

Kift identified several early signs that a partner may be becoming emotionally disengaged.

Left unaddressed, the relationship could shift into what journalist Monica Corcoran Harel described on Oprah’s podcast as "parallel play" — a reference to toddlers playing side by side without meaningfully engaging with one another.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Repairing a marriage requires both partners to re-engage, Kift said, which can be difficult once one spouse has become deeply emotionally detached.

"If one has fully checked out, they will not be open to repair," she said, adding that hypervigilance — remaining on guard for hurt or disappointment — can make it difficult for a person to recognize positive changes in their partner.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

For couples willing to work on the relationship, Kift suggests starting with a conversation that feels safe and communicates care.

As one example, she suggested saying: "I know it may not have looked like it, but you and our marriage are very important to me. Can we find a time to sit down and talk?"

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/ox8ZEjS

Read More

Measles deaths may have been 'fabricated,' RFK Jr claims after coroner raises questions

Days after Pennsylvania health officials reported two measles deaths, a public dispute has emerged about whether other factors played a role in the fatalities.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the two "measles-associated" deaths on Tuesday, noting that both individuals were unvaccinated.

These were the state’s first measles-related deaths in 35 years, according to the release.

On Wednesday, the DOH revealed that one of the deaths was a newborn baby from Lancaster County. That confirmation came after the county coroner — physician Stephen Diamantoni — said the newborn died shortly after birth from a lacerated spleen and had tested positive for measles acquired before birth, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

FORMER CDC ADVISOR SAYS DECLINE IN KINDERGARTEN VACCINATIONS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT: 'KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON'

Diamantoni’s office was still investigating the newborn’s death, and the coroner said he was not aware of the other reported death, Axios reported.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health stated that not all deaths are referred to a coroner under state law.

The DOH says it uses the term "measles-associated" when laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles is present, even if a coroner or medical certifier does not identify measles as the immediate cause of death.

Measles can affect the spleen, potentially causing enlargement and, in rare cases, rupture, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst.

Pregnant women, newborns and young infants can face a higher risk of serious measles complications, the doctor noted.

Infants who are too young to receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can be especially vulnerable.

COMMON VACCINE LINKED TO 24% LOWER DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned whether Pennsylvania officials provided sufficient information to substantiate the two measles-associated deaths.

In a Wednesday post on X, after the coroner’s comments were made public, Kennedy alleged that Pennsylvania had not given the CDC relevant information and suggested the deaths could have been "fabricated."

"The announcement appears to have been premature, and the deaths may even have been altogether fabricated by one of the Governor's hopeful staffers," he wrote. "The Lancaster County Coroner says that it has no record of any measles deaths."

RFK also accused Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his office of "fearmongering, misinformation, finger-pointing and the weaponization of infectious disease fears for political gain."

Meanwhile, at a Tuesday press conference, Shapiro said the deaths showed the "real-life consequences" of misinformation about the measles vaccine.

In a subsequent X post, the governor claimed Kennedy had "stoked confusion amongst parents and others — and the result has been less protection from measles and more cases."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

In response to Kennedy’s comments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also spoke on X about the debate, expressing appreciation for RFK’s efforts to "clarify conflicting information" about the cause of the two reported deaths.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"CDC is working to determine what actually occurred," the agency wrote. "These discrepancies raise important questions, particularly because the Governor’s Office has not provided CDC with information relevant to the outbreak and has declined our offers of assistance."

"Under President Trump’s and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, CDC will follow the facts and tell the American people the truth."

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen disputed the CDC’s account, saying the two deaths were reported to the agency’s measles response team early Tuesday morning.

In an X post from the Pennsylvania Department of Health account, Bogen said she had reviewed the case investigations and that state epidemiologists had thoroughly investigated both deaths. She confirmed that both individuals tested positive for measles.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Meanwhile, Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons said he did not believe there was enough evidence to confirm the two deaths were caused by measles, citing information he said he received from the county coroner’s office, according to Local21 News.

Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.

"If the impact of measles on the immune system or stress on other major organs as a result of the disease leads to death, that would be a measles-associated death," he told Fox News Digital.

When a patient has both measles and another immediate cause of death, several considerations come into play when infectious disease specialists are determining whether the virus was a contributing factor.

"It has to do with whether the immediate cause of death is from measles itself, as in measles pneumonia, or due to damage to the immune system and secondary infections or other diseases that result," Siegel said.

Lancaster County is at the center of Pennsylvania’s current measles outbreak. As of Friday, the state had reported 424 confirmed cases and 73 hospitalizations.

Fox News Digital reached out to the involved government officials requesting comment.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/Sjlx7Qg

Read More

Common vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk in older adults

A recent study led by researchers at Brown University appears to strengthen the link between shingles vaccination and a reduced risk of dementia diagnoses in older adults.

The study, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, evaluated electronic health records and Medicare claims for more than 509,926 U.S. adults 66 and older who were admitted to skilled nursing facilities.

Individuals who received at least one dose of the recombinant shingles vaccine, commercially known as Shingrix, experienced a 24% relative reduction in dementia risk over a four-year period compared to people who did not receive the shot, the researchers found.

ALZHEIMER'S RISK MAY BE 35% LOWER WITH COMMON MENOPAUSE TREATMENT, STUDY FINDS

However, the findings show an association and do not prove that the vaccine directly prevents dementia, the researchers noted.

Dr. Ajeet Sodhi, a clinical neurologist and neuro-interventionalist in Orlando, Florida, noted that while the finding is "remarkable," it builds upon a growing foundation of scientific literature rather than standing alone.

"This is maybe the third or fourth study, and they all came to the same conclusion," Sodhi, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "It seems that by giving patients the shingles vaccine called Shingrix, in the next couple of years, we see a clinically significant decline in the development of dementia."

Researchers have proposed several possible explanations for the association, including the vaccine's role in preventing shingles and its potential complications. The virus has also been linked to vascular events such as stroke, which can contribute to vascular dementia.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Sodhi noted that recent medical literature continues to support larger cardiovascular benefits as well.

"In addition to the study that we're talking about today, there was a study published just this week that showed the shingles vaccine results in a clinically significant reduction in the incidence of both cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease," he told Fox News Digital.

"So that's heart attacks and strokes."

The neurologist emphasized that while the data shows a strong correlation, the vaccine is not currently classified as a direct therapeutic treatment for cognitive decline.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"It's not at this time considered a treatment," he noted. "This association is ... very, very suggestive, but we can't say one-to-one it proves that this treats dementia. And this finding, honestly, is kind of like icing on the cake."

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox, according to Mayo Clinic.

After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in nerve tissue near the brain and spinal cord, where it can reactivate decades later as a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The primary function of the vaccine remains the prevention of the severe nerve pain and rash caused by shingles reactivation.

Shingles can lead to severe complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia, a debilitating condition causing long-term nerve pain that persists after the rash clears, according to Cleveland Clinic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of Shingrix for adults 50 and older, as well as adults 19 and older who are or will be immunocompromised. The vaccine is FDA-approved to prevent shingles and related complications — not to prevent or treat dementia.

The study received funding from GSK, the maker of Shingrix; the authors stated that the company had no role in the study’s design, analysis or publication.

For individuals concerned about memory loss or family medical history, experts recommend consulting a doctor early.

"The common theme in all of this is the sooner you seek evaluation, the better it is for the treatment," Sodhi advised. "The treatment is more likely to work the earlier you are in the onset of the disease."

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

Read More

Popular weight-loss strategy shows surprising potential for chronic pain relief

Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity as a weight-loss strategy, but it could also unlock new ways to manage chronic pain by altering how the gut communicates with the brain.

A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, revealed that the timing of meals affects the gut-brain axis, which is a communication system linking the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that focuses on when meals are consumed, typically involving extended periods without food, according to health institutions.

DAILY EATING HABIT LINKED TO BETTER BRAIN HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Chronic pain, defined by Cleveland Clinic as pain persisting for longer than three months, is often accompanied by cognitive difficulties and anxiety.

While traditional treatments target inflammation or pain-signaling nerves, the new research suggests that meal timing may also influence chronic pain by changing gut bacteria and inflammation throughout the body.

Scientists at Zhengzhou University in China examined animal models during fasting cycles. They found that intermittent fasting strengthens the intestinal lining, which prevents inflammatory compounds from leaking into the bloodstream and reaching nervous system tissue.

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

Analysis of the gut microbiome found that fasting increased levels of a bacterium called Alistipes finegoldii. When researchers administered the live bacteria to animals that were not fasting, they saw similar improvements in pain and cognitive function.

POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DIET SHOWS SURPRISING IMPACT ON SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION

The researchers found that the bacterium produces compounds that the body can convert into hippuric acid, a chemical messenger linked to the observed benefits.

At the cellular level, hippuric acid acts on an inflammatory pathway called STING, short for Stimulator of Interferon Genes. When this pathway becomes overactive in the nervous system, it can fuel inflammation that worsens pain and interferes with brain function.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

The study demonstrated that hippuric acid turns down STING activity, quieting inflammatory signaling in the central nervous system and resolving behavioral symptoms.

Despite the findings, the research carries a few limitations, the research team acknowledged.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

First, observational and early-stage studies can identify a link between intermittent fasting and changes in gut-brain signaling, but they cannot prove that fasting directly causes those changes.

Also, individual responses to intermittent fasting vary based on each person's gut microbiome, underlying health conditions, daily nutrient intake and genetics.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

It can also be challenging for some people to adhere to fasting protocols, as strict eating windows may not be safe or feasible for everyone.

While fasting is not a cure for chronic pain, researchers said the findings could help guide future treatments that target the gut-brain connection.

They added that further trials will be necessary to establish specific dietary protocols tailored to individual patient needs.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/xhX3nFW

Read More

3 common factors may be secretly speeding up the aging process, expert says

Lifestyle habits and environmental exposures may affect processes involved in cellular health and biological aging.

That's according to functional medicine expert Dr. Will Cole, co-author of the upcoming book "Heal Your Cells," who believes modern lifestyle factors may contribute to cellular dysfunction, which can can influence inflammation, sleep and other processes tied to overall health.

"Our genetics haven't changed in thousands of years, but our world has changed dramatically in such a finite period of time," Pennsylvania-based Cole told Fox News Digital. "It’s the foods we're eating or not eating, it's environmental toxins that were never on the landscape before, it’s stress and trauma."

LONGEVITY EXPERTS REVEAL ‘FLICKER METHOD’ THAT COULD HELP YOU FEEL YEARS YOUNGER

Cole said these pressures may contribute to what he calls an "accelerated aging problem," in which biological age may differ from chronological age.

"Many people in their 20s, 30s and 40s have the cells of a senior citizen," he said. "That's common, [but] not normal."

Cole noted that people may normalize persistent symptoms, such as brain fog and fatigue, instead of discussing them with a health professional. Those symptoms are non-specific and can stem from a range of medical, lifestyle and mental-health factors.

EATING COMMON DAIRY FOOD EVERY DAY MAY SLOW BIOLOGICAL AGING, STUDY SUGGESTS

Cole said that, in some cases, changes tied to cellular dysfunction may begin years before a person receives a medical diagnosis — but that people often dismiss or push through early symptoms.

He identified the following three factors that can most disrupt cellular communication, creating "cellular noise" that may contribute to accelerated aging and disease.

Eating foods that "don’t love human body back" is the first agitator of cell health — particularly inflammatory foods, according to Cole.

Failing to stick to a consistent eating window — and instead eating over long stretches of the day without giving the body time to digest and fast — can also disrupt cellular balance, he said.

Cole cited certain environmental exposures, including pesticides, herbicides and PFAS — sometimes called "forever chemicals" — as potential concerns for overall health. The effects of an exposure depend on the substance, dose and duration of contact, experts say.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

He also pointed to infectious pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, and exposure to mold as factors that can affect health.

Evening exposure to blue-enriched light can interfere with circadian timing for some people, while a consistent sleep-wake schedule and daytime light exposure may support healthy sleep and cellular health, Cole added.

Cole also pointed to chronic stress, unresolved trauma and a lack of social or spiritual connection as factors that could be linked to more cellular noise.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Some observational research has linked religious or spiritual involvement with lower levels of certain inflammatory markers and better health outcomes, although such studies cannot prove that faith itself causes those effects.

"That's something that's not talked [about] a lot in the biohacking world," Cole said. "What's your relationship with God and how does that show up in the cells on a somatic level?"

"The research shows that people who have a ‘faith walk’ tend to live longer, healthier, more youthful, vibrant lives."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Cole said a person may find similar benefits through any belief system or community that "shifts your state," as well as through a connection to nature.

Modern stressors may affect the body in ways that are not always immediately visible, Cole noted.

"The cell becomes confused and doesn't know how to function well and doesn't know how [to] repair itself," he said. "We just need to give our body a fighting chance to hear through the noise."

He added that addressing physical, mental-emotional and spiritual well-being may help reduce what he calls "epigenetic noise."

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/O4TEy0c

Read More

FDA approves once-daily pill for deadly cancer after patients' survival rates nearly double

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a new cancer treatment pill on Wednesday.

Rasonque, manufactured by Revolution Medicines in California, is an inhibitor for the most common type of pancreatic cancer. The tablet, which is taken once daily, targets multiple forms of a protein called RAS that drives tumor growth.

In a press release, the FDA called Rasonque a "new treatment option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer," noting that the agency approved it more than six months ahead of its review deadline.

CANCER TREATMENT DELAYS SURGE ACROSS US AS DOCTOR WARNS SYSTEM ‘NEEDS FIXING IMMEDIATELY’

"Today’s approval provides a critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer. It is our fundamental duty to deliver more cures and meaningful treatments to patients as quickly as possible," said Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas, J.D., in a press release.

"I am immensely proud of the dedicated FDA scientists whose fast, thorough review and relentless commitment made this groundbreaking milestone a reality," he added.

The authorization is for adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer that either did not respond to at least one prior treatment or could not receive certain combination drug therapies.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains one of the deadliest forms of oncology in the U.S., accounting for up to 95% of the roughly 67,000 annual pancreatic cancer cases identified by the National Cancer Institute.

PATIENTS REMAIN CANCER-FREE NEARLY 3 YEARS AFTER RECEIVING EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOTHERAPY

While the disease makes up only 3.2% of total cancer diagnoses, it causes a disproportionately high number of cancer deaths because it is often found late and can spread quickly.

The new drug was approved after a randomized, open-label trial of 500 patients with pre-treated metastatic disease. Patients taking Rasonque achieved a median overall survival of 13.2 months, nearly double the 6.7-month survival rate seen in the standard chemotherapy control group.

"This drug showed unprecedented results in an area of high unmet need," said Angelo de Claro, M.D., director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Regulators accelerated the medication's path to market by granting it Priority Review, Orphan Drug status and a Breakthrough Therapy designation.

Additionally, the filing was evaluated using the FDA commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot program to speed up access to critical public health treatments.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Ahead of the official green light, the agency issued a "safe to proceed" letter in May, opening an expanded access protocol that allowed patients to receive the drug before final approval.

Safety profiles show that the most frequent adverse events linked to Rasonque included rash, diarrhea, mouth sores (stomatitis), nausea, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal pain, fluid retention (edema), reduced appetite and bleeding (hemorrhage).

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"Today’s landmark approval is the most significant advance we have seen in the fight against pancreatic cancer, a devastating disease," said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., chief scientific and medical officer of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN).

"I believe this drug will transform how pancreatic cancer is treated, giving people the opportunity for more time with loved ones, the possibility of a better quality of life, and optimism that continued research may lead to even greater advances."

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/qc0Ah6P

Read More