Desiccated thyroid extract compared with levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study

November 3, 2025
| No Comments
| Endocrine Health, Medications - General Pharmaceuticals

Comment: This is a well-designed, double-blind, crossover trial putting DTE and levothyroxine head-to-head. The top line findings, that the primary outcomes for the whole group weren’t different, is a great start for substantiating that at the least Natural Desiccated Thyroid is equivalent to levothyroxine. However the secondary findings, although in a sub-group population are very […]

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Levothyroxine and lung cancer in females: the importance of oxidative stress

November 1, 2025
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| Cancer, Endocrine Health, Medications - General Pharmaceuticals

Comment: While this ecological study is, as detailed in the appraisal, deeply flawed and certainly cannot be used to draw any causal conclusions, it raised a provocative, hypothesis-generating question. Further studies have substantiated that there are links between levothyroxine use and cancer. The proposed mechanism—oxidative stress—is biologically plausible. We know that thyroid hormones are powerful […]

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Levothyroxine use and the risk of breast cancer: a nation-wide population-based case-control study

November 1, 2025
| No Comments
| Cancer, Endocrine Health, Medications - General Pharmaceuticals

Comment: While this is an observational study and cannot prove causation, the findings are nonetheless concerning, especially as it’s not the only study showing an association of levothyroxine use and cancer. A nation-wide study identifying a 24% increase in the odds of breast cancer associated with levothyroxine use (AOR 1.24) warrants serious attention from the […]

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Risk of cancer in long-term levothyroxine users: Retrospective population-based study

October 30, 2025
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| Cancer, Endocrine Health, Medications - General Pharmaceuticals

Comment: This is an important, large-scale population study, even with the weaknesses of the study design. An adjusted odds ratio of 1.50 for any cancer is a significant signal that cannot be easily dismissed, particularly given the strong associations noted for brain (AOR 1.90) and breast (AOR 1.24) cancers. While the authors rightly point out […]

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RSV Vaccine Effectiveness Against Hospitalization Among US Adults Aged 60 Years or Older During 2 Seasons

October 29, 2025
| No Comments
| Miscellaneous

Comment: A critical takeaway from this real-world data is the apparent lack of protection for oncology patients. The finding for the immunocompromised subgroup—which includes many patients with active cancer or on immunosuppressive therapy—is stark. A vaccine effectiveness of 30% that is not statistically significant (95% CI, -9% to 55%) means we cannot conclude there is […]

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Fish Oil and Peri-operative Bleeding: Insights from the Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation (OPERA) Randomized Trial

October 27, 2025
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| Miscellaneous

Comment: This study is a critical piece of evidence that directly challenges a long-standing piece of medical dogma. For decades, we have routinely advised patients to stop fish oil supplements before surgery, fearing an increased risk of bleeding. This was solely based on hypothesis. This robust analysis of the OPERA trial not only debunks that […]

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Association of Skipping Breakfast with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

October 24, 2025
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| Cardiovascular Health, Diet & Nutrition, Metabolic Health

Comment: I am in general not a fan of intermittent fasting as my experience is it puts the body in a state of stress, which may give short term gains, but longer term negative outcomes. This is a study showing that skipping breakfast increases metabolic syndrome, including blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids and central […]

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