What your patients are reading: Week of September 9, 2024

September 13, 2024

New self-collection HPV test to arrive in doctors’ offices this month

This past May, FDA approved BD's self-swab HPV test for clinical use, allowing patients to self-collect samples in healthcare settings. The BD Onclarity HPV Assay test is now shipping to doctors’ offices with the aim of increasing HPV screening, especially in underserved areas, by offering a less intrusive option than traditional Pap smears. BD plans to seek approval for at-home use by year end. (Salzman & Kekatos, 2024)

Surgeon general and state leaders unite to combat social media’s impact on youth

A coalition of over 40 state attorneys general urged Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms, highlighting their potential risks to children’s mental health. This bipartisan initiative, supported by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, aims to address concerns that social media contributes to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among adolescents. “Young people across our country are struggling, and these addictive social media algorithms are only making this mental health crisis worse,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. The proposal seeks to complement ongoing legislative efforts to protect children from online harms and stimulate further research into the impact of social media. However, tech industry groups argue that such measures infringe on free speech and may face significant legal challenges. (Lima-Strong, 2024)

Botox for burping?

Since 2019, a procedure involving Botox injections into the upper cricopharyngeal muscle has provided relief for over a thousand patients who are unable to burp. The condition, known as retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction or “no-burp syndrome,” can cause significant discomfort, including bloating, pain, and excessive flatulence. Patients have described the condition as feeling like “an alien trying to escape” and experiencing pain akin to a heart attack that subsides with flatulence. Robert Bastian, the Illinois-based laryngologist who named the condition and developed the procedure, said that the cost varies substantially by location and is often not covered by insurance. “We hear that in Southern California it’s $25,000, in Seattle $16,000, in New York City $25,000,” said Bastian. Despite the procedure’s success, the medical community remains puzzled about its long-term efficacy and the underlying mechanisms. (Bichell, 2024)

Sources:

Salzman, S. and Kekatos, M. (2024, September 6). ABC News. Self-swab HPV test set to arrive in doctors' offices this month. https://abc7.com/hpv-self-swab-test/15271109/

Lima-Strong, C. (2024, September 10). The Washington Post. 42 state AGs endorse federal plan to add warning labels on social media. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/10/state-attorneys-endorse-social-media-warning-labels/

Bichell, RE. (2024, September 6). KFF Health News. Thanks to Reddit, a New Diagnosis Is Bubbling Up Across the Nation. https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cannot-burp-belch-syndrome-botox-esophagus-injection