HealthNews

Trump cuts to science advisory boards have long-lasting consequences, researchers say

Netia McCray remembers her excitement at joining the federal advisory panel on COVID long in 2025. Netia McCray was diagnosed during the first days of the Pandemic. Symptoms such as shortness of breathe, fatigue and heart palpitations had become an inescapable but frustrating part of her life.
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McCray (36), a COVID sufferer for many years, hoped that by joining the group of experts, doctors and researchers who advise on this disease she could “channel her experience into something which would benefit me and so many others in my community,” McCray says. She felt that her work could help millions of Americans who suffer from a crippling condition.
McCray was only on the committee a few short months before she got an email stating that it had been terminated “effectively immediately.”
According to an analysis of news in Nature, McCray’s group was one of over 100 federal science committees terminated by the second Trump Administration. Public Citizen reports that as of March this year, over a quarter (25%) of healthcare committees in the United States have been closed.
McCray, who is a member of this group of experts that no longer meets to discuss some of the toughest and most urgent issues in health and science within the United States, has been impacted. It is difficult to measure the losses associated with the dissolution of these groups, but advocates and participants say that the effects will be felt across all federal agencies for many years.
Rare team of experts with cross-functional expertise
McCray, who is a pediatrician at Children’s National Hospital, Washington D.C., and runs a non-profit that helps high school students find STEM opportunities, joined Dr. Alexandra Yonts on the committee. Yonts was eager to join the group as she was one of only a few specialists in the nation who specializes long COVID. Her patients often come from far away to see her. There are frustratingly few choices for her.
Yonts says, “We need to develop new therapies.”
This group was joined by 12 other experts, including those from the fields of public health, critical care, and pulmonology. They worked together to brainstorm new ideas.
The committee has never met.
The American Government
Since the early days of American government, they have relied upon a system that gathers outside experts with a variety of different backgrounds to provide advice on complicated issues. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) was passed by Congress in 1972. These committees consist mainly of volunteers and are drawn from a wide range of fields.
The list of issues these committees will be exploring today is extensive and includes everything from public health and astrophysics, to biomedical and medical research. They can provide advice on topics such as which vaccinations to give to children, when to screen for cancer and how to best prevent asteroids hitting Earth.
Michael Abrams is a researcher for Public Citizen and a former member of these committees. He describes them as an important connective tissue to facilitate a good government.
Union of Concerned Scientists, a group of researchers and scientists that advocates for the termination of advisory committees in science agencies has now counted 150 such groups being terminated by 2025.
White House officials did not answer questions about why certain committees had been dissolved, but stated in a press release that they were “found to be redundant or unnecessary” and/or ineffective.
Outside science advocacy groups are concerned that important science and research issues will be ignored and locked away within federal agencies without their involvement. The advisory committees provide a variety of perspectives and independence that is impossible for any one group to have, says Russ Paulsen. He’s the President and CEO at the advocacy science group Research!America.
The committees that have been terminated include those devoted primarily to managing and maintaining U.S. fisheries resources, planning NASA’s future space science missions and astrophysics and reducing infections preventable in hospitals.
Real world experience is the best substitute
Hilary Babcock says that people with experience in the healthcare sector, such as infectious disease researchers, can offer a valuable perspective to federal officials, like those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by helping to translate theory into reality. Babcock served on the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) before its termination.
Babcock says, “They do not need to be told what literature shows.” They don’t work in healthcare or hospitals, and so don’t understand how to translate findings from the literature into guidelines.
Babcock, her co-workers and I were tackling many problems in our work as a committee. One of them was the drug resistant fungus Candida Auris.
Candida auris is able to live on surfaces of healthcare facilities, causing deadly infections. In recent years, the number of cases has risen dramatically as doctors have been unable to effectively treat this infection.
Some antifungal drugs can be resistant to the fungus and spread from patient-to-patient. Babcock is concerned that without the committee’s work, the fungus will not receive the attention it needs. “The CDC has some interim guidelines on Candida auris, but they are not updated,” says Babcock.
To eradicate the fungus, you need to use specific disinfectant methods.
Scott Roberts is an infectious diseases doctor from Yale who has seen patients with Candida auris in the U.S. He worries that, without a federal committee offering best practices for treating this fungus, doctors will have to rely on a patchwork protocol, particularly those working at small or rural hospitals. He says that patchwork could allow the fungus spread.
Roberts says that the loss of a federal advisory panel on this issue will only make it worse.
Checks for authority
Other members of advisory groups claim that these groups provide important controls on the authority of government officials.
Carrie Wolinetz worked for many years with advisory panels as an employee of the National Institutes of Health. Now, Wolinetz works in the healthcare industry as a policy advocate and adviser.
They would raise real-world problems that I, from the government perspective, would have not thought about.
Juan Meza is a professor of mathematics and applied math at the University of California Merced. He has been on a variety of advisory boards throughout his career. Meza remembers a time when he was a member of Advisory Committees at the Department of Energy.
We had a lot of freedom to refuse because we thought that being independent was our job. Meza says, “We’ve got to do what we believe is right.” He adds that leadership did follow their advice, but reluctantly.
Kelly Holley Bockelmann, an astrophysics professor who worked until recently at Vanderbilt University, believes that committees are important for creating transparency within government. Holley-Bockelmann was a member of the Astrophysics Advisory Committee, which ended in 2003.
Holley-Bockelmann says, “There were times when we provided expertise but it wasn’t listened to. But we still felt that it was important to record it.”
NASA officials wrote in a press release that the termination of their astrophysics panel was a “restructuring” and they had combined several committees to form one. In the statement, NASA asserts it “has been committed to continue to engage the science community through a variety different ways.”
Others who are involved in NASA’s ecosystem, however, say that the former structure of committees was a great way to collect information from all stakeholders.
Amanda Hendrix is the CEO of Planetary Science Institute, and a former NASA Advisory Council member. She says that the committees enabled the leaders of the space agency to “hear from the community almost directly.”
She says that the advisory group has historically set NASA’s priorities and encouraged the agency to explain why it made investments in future years.
Hendrix says it’s rare for the American government to have a tool that allows such accountability and transparency into decisions.

HealthNews

In This ‘Quasi-Medical Space,’ Sexual Assaults and Death

Americans who travel abroad in search of psychedelic healing can sometimes find something much more dangerous. The New York Times explains how loosely-regulated clinics across Latin America have coincided with deaths, abuses, and allegations of ibogaine and other potent substances. Some patients have died from heart problems and organ failure. Others report being told to stop taking psychiatric medications, mix dangerous drugs or take prescription pills before they are properly screened. In a JAMA study of 50 clinics, fewer than 50% had trained medical personnel on their staff. Only 10% were equipped with emergency training. The Times highlights claims of sexual abuse and exploitative marketing, such as a Florida woman alleging she was raped in Mexico by a medical professional.
According to reports, patients have been videotaped or sold services when they are still intoxicated. Amy McGuire is the head of Baylor’s Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy and the co-author on the JAMA Report. She says, “We are seeing these for-profit companies pop up in the quasi-medical sector without any safeguards.” The real danger is in that area. As US demand and interest grow, experts warn that a boom in an unregulated, overseas industry can cause serious harm and lead to repercussions. This is what psychedelics supporters fear. Jesus Alonso Olamendi, the head of the Legal Defense Program at the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service, says that the substance itself isn’t the issue. It’s not the substance that is the problem, but the abuse of substances or the unethical treatment of patients who are impaired. You can read the full article here.
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HealthNews

More than 400 Floridians diagnosed with Cyclospora amid lettuce-linked outbreak

Health officials are continuing to track an outbreak of Cyclospora infection in Florida, which is linked to the recalled iceberg lettuce.
Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is one of several states that have reported cases.
All recalled icebergs lettuce that was connected with the outbreak have been taken off the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
According to new CDC statistics, women are responsible for 56% (or all) of the Cyclospora cases reported in the United States.
The parasite Cyclospora can lead to intestinal disease. The symptoms can be diarrhea, cramps in the stomach, fatigue, and nausea.
Experts in health say that Cyclospora is more prevalent during the warmer months. The season typically ends around fall.
Officials continue to urge consumers to check for recalled food products and follow the safety guidelines.

HealthNews

Research Suggests Muscles Lower Risk of Infection

Your biceps may be doing more than helping you lift groceries—they could be helping you dodge infections, too. A study of more than 458,000 adults in the UK suggests that people with lower muscle mass face a greater chance of contracting infections, especially respiratory illnesses and sepsis, a dangerous overreaction to infection, the Washington Post reports. “Our results support the concept that skeletal muscle health is closely linked to immune resilience and infection susceptibility,” said co-author Jinbo Chen of Central South University in Changsha, China.
Researchers sorted participants into three groups for the study, which was published in MedScience: normal muscle, low muscle (pre-sarcopenia), and low muscle plus weakness (sarcopenia). Both low-muscle groups saw more infections than those with healthier muscles, even after accounting for age, income, and other health issues. Younger adults with sarcopenia were hit hardest, hinting that early muscle loss may signal deeper health problems. Scientists say chronic inflammation, poor nutrition, and weakened immune responses that often accompany sarcopenia may help explain the pattern.
One expert listed warning signs for loss of muscle mass for Newsweek: taking longer to climb stairs, struggling to open jars or carry luggage, walking more slowly, finding it tougher to get out of a chair without using your arms. The study can’t prove that losing muscle causes infections, but experts say it adds to evidence that muscle is central to “immune resilience.” For now, the advice is that regular strength training—about two full-body sessions a week—along with vaccinations, good hygiene, and managing chronic conditions may help keep both muscles and infections in check, even well into older age.
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HealthNews

This Vitamin Deficiency Can Cause Fatigue And Headache

The lack of this vitamin can cause fatigue, headaches and memory problems — drinking increases your risk
Alcohol is a major factor in the development of alcoholism, according to neurologists and dietitians.
Some people are so used to feeling tired or having headaches that they just accept it. This is not something anyone should tolerate.
The body uses fatigue and headaches to communicate that there is something wrong, like a lack of nutrition or rest. You may not be getting enough sleep, water or nutrition.
Folate is a nutrient that can be easily overlooked. If not treated, it may cause headaches, fatigue and memory issues. What doctors don’t want you to forget.
Anemia can be caused by a folate deficiency, which can result in a variety of problems.
It’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause of fatigue. You may immediately think about certain factors, like not eating enough iron or protein. You may not be getting enough folate. Fatigue is the main symptom, according to Dr. Nada Hindiyeh. She’s a neurologist at Haven Headache & Migraine Center and chief medical officer.
The production of healthy red blood cell is dependent on folate. Anemia can occur if you don’t get enough folate. This is because your body doesn’t deliver oxygen to the cells as effectively as it should. Hindiyeh, a HuffPost contributor, said that this is why many people feel weak and tired.
Hindiyeh explained the effects of not getting enough folate over time, which can include headaches and cognitive issues. Hindiyeh said that folate is not a cause of migraines or headaches. However, it can result in folate-deficiency, otherwise known as megaloblasticanemia.
When someone is anemic they can develop fatigue, weakness, and headaches. Hindiyeh explained that a headache is usually caused by anemia, rather than a vitamin deficiency.
A folate deficiency may also negatively affect brain health over the long-term, particularly when it comes memory. A 2022 European Journal for Clinical Nutrition study found that low folate is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and an important marker for dementia among older adults.
According to a study in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging published in 2020, Dr. Shivang Joshi, assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Massachusetts, and vice president of Association of Migraine Disorders, many people who have a folate deficit also suffer from low vitamin B12 levels. This is associated with cognitive decline and memory issues.
Folate plays a role in normal brain functions, and a severe lack of it has been linked to cognitive problems. Hindiyeh said, “Memory is complex.”
The folate deficiency was just one of many possible causes for memory loss, she explained. Hindiyeh said that a folate deficit is not the first thing she would look at if someone had memory issues, but it can certainly be an important factor.
What is the most common cause of folate deficiencies?
The good news is that both neurologists have told HuffPost it’s rare to suffer from a folate shortage.
Joshi stated that it is difficult for Americans to be folate-deficient because many of their foods have been fortified.
Foods rich in folate include vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, fish, dairy, meat and poultry, as well as nuts, seeds, and beans. Both doctors agreed that people who are deficient in folate may also be deficient other nutrients.
Some people may still be at risk of a deficiency in folate, even though folate is abundantly available. Sophia Guillot is a registered Dietitian with TeamNutrition. She told HuffPost people with alcohol abuse disorder have a higher chance of having a deficiency in folate because alcohol inhibits its absorption.
Joshi added that alcohol could also affect vitamin B12 absorption. This can lead to headaches, fatigue and memory issues. He stressed that it is not a result of drinking one or two glasses of alcohol regularly. It’s more a sign that you are chronically abusing alcohol.
Hindiyeh said, “Chronic alcohol abuse can affect folate in multiple ways.” Alcohol consumption reduces folate absorption and affects the way that body stores it. People who consume alcohol heavily also tend to be less nourished. These factors increase the likelihood of a deficiency when they are combined.
Guillot says that if you suffer from a health condition which can interfere with nutrient intake (e.g. celiac or inflammatory intestinal disease), your risk of folate deficiencies is also higher. Guillot said that pregnant women have an increased need for folate to help support cell division and DNA synthesis.
You can easily make sure that you get enough folate.
National Institutes of Health suggests that US non-pregnant adults consume 400 micrograms of equivalent dietary folate per day.
The term “dietary folate equivalents” is used because only certain percentages folate can be bioavailable if consumed as a form other than whole food, explained Kelsey Kunik. She’s a dietitian registered with Graciously Nourished.
If you take the folic supplement without food or with fortified products, only 50% of it will be absorbed.
Most Americans aren’t deficient in folate. If you experience fatigue, headaches, and memory issues regularly, and want to determine if your folate level is the cause, you can ask your doctor for a test. The simple blood test determines the amount of folate in your blood.
“Eating a varied diet helps ensure sufficient folate intake,” registered dietitian Amy Brownstein told HuffPost. Folate is found in many foods including dairy products, animal and plant-based foods. Black-eyed beans, boiled vegetables and breakfast cereals fortified with folate are the best sources. “Adding one serving of folate-rich foods to your diet can help you meet your folate requirements.”
Brownstein explained that women trying to conceive or who are currently pregnant can gain the most benefit by taking folate supplements. She said that folate was especially important in early pregnancy, when the spinal cord of the child is developing.
Brownstein stated that “incorporating foods rich in folate or taking multivitamins containing folate can help meet the needs.” It’s important to consult your doctor prior to taking any supplements, particularly if you suffer from any health issues. Health experts HuffPost spoke with said that it is unlikely to consume too much of folate through natural foods, but supplements containing folate should not be taken in excess.
It is uncommon, but a folate deficiency can occur. This can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Consult your doctor if you experience fatigue, headaches, or memory issues. You can then pinpoint the cause, which is the first step in feeling more energetic and focused.
The original version of this article appeared in HuffPost.

HealthNews

What is postpartum psychosis?

Meghan Cliffel, a mother of two in New York City ten years ago was back at work. She was working in December 2015 eight months after having her second daughter: “I was under a great deal of stress at work and didn’t feel like me, but I looked good,” she explained. It wasn’t till Friday, the 4th December 2015 that things changed dramatically for me.
Cliffel claims that she started to think she was “surveilled” on this day. She said, “And I’m just totally lost, in this terrifying, deluded reality where I think the whole city is trying to kill me, from that day on.”
She began to have hallucinations. Cliffel recalled: “The television starts to shift, and the image is a relative’s face. He then says, if she thinks that she will get out alive, there’s another thing in store for her.”
Colin remembers that the following morning, Meghan’s crisis affected the entire family. “I felt as if I were interacting with an entirely different person,” said Colin. Her behavior during those 12 intense hours was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was like an epic battle, where she tried to rescue the girls, who were happily playing in our bedroom. I had to literally stand with my back against our bedroom’s door, to stop Meghan. Then, she turned around, and was trying to reach our apartment’s door because she threatened to climb to the top. “I’d say that she is a puncher like Mike Tyson. She came out with a bang and, you see, hit me twice.”
Colin dialed 911 and Meghan spent two weeks at Bellevue Hospital where Lithium was prescribed. Two months after she was diagnosed, Meghan learned that the mental disorder is postpartum psychosis.
Veerle B. Bergink is a psychiatrist at the School of Medicine in Mr. Sinai. She has studied postpartum psychosis for over 20 years. It should not be confused with postpartum depressive disorder, she says. Bergink describes postpartum psychosis as a “psychiatric crisis” with extreme symptoms: “Manias, racing thoughts or psychosis or losing reality or depression with psychotic characteristics, feeling so depressed that everything you do is wrong, or even a combination of all these.” These symptoms usually occur within the first few months of delivery.
Bergink responded, “Unfortunately suicide is the leading cause of death for mothers with postpartum mental illness.” Infanticide is very rare.”
Lindsay Clancy’s trial, which captivated the nation, was centered on postpartum psychosis. Clancy’s three children were killed by her in January 2023, neither the defense or the prosecution denied this.
Sprague argued that “the issue” was whether Clancy knew right from wrong at the moment she killed Cora and Dawson, as well as Callan. She also questioned whether Clancy could adapt her actions to meet the legal requirements.
Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington argued, however, that Clancy was legally insane because of her psychosis, which she had not been diagnosed with: “This woman suffered from psychosis when she entered that basement.” She did not have a motive. “She loved her children.”
The jury was unable to reach a decision after seven days of deliberation, leading to a mistrial.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition that is the subject of this trial, which affects 1 to 2 mothers per 1,000 babies born in the U.S. each year, could potentially impact up to 9,000 women annually.
Bergink stated, “It’s been around for thousands of year.” The ancient Greeks described it, and so have other cultures throughout history.
Bergink claims that there are less than 10 groups of researchers in the U.S. who study the disease. She said, “We do not know yet how to prevent this illness, as there are no funds for research.” If you can diagnose it, then we’ll be able to treat it. In our study, 98 percent of patients got better in a matter of weeks.
There is no known single cause of postpartum psychosis. The symptoms can change dramatically in a matter of hours or days, and the mothers can appear to be functioning intermittently. This can cause confusion for their families and doctors.
Jennifer Payne is a reproductive psychiatrist at University of Virginia School of Medicine and Vice Chair of Research. She said: “Postpartum Psychosis presents in a rarer form, and most psychiatrists are unaware of it.”
Payne hopes that the case of Lindsay Clancy, and its tragic outcome, will help educate both the public as well as the legal system on postpartum mental illness. Payne notes that there have been changes in nearly 25 years, since Andrea Yates’s murder trial for her five children when she was suffering from psychosis.
Payne stated, however, that “I do not think the legal system is well equipped to deal with cases of postpartum mental illness.” There is still a lot of stigma around maternal mental health, including psychiatric diagnoses.
Payne stated that she believes that “when it’s clear that the patient had postpartum paranoia and that they acted out of delusions, then that case shouldn’t progress into a trial for murder, but should be sent to mental health treatment.”
Meghan Cliffel, along with her husband Colin, decided three years after she recovered to have their third child. Meghan Cliffel said that the risk of a recurrence is one in three without medication. “I didn’t really want to take the medication because I thought I had done enough work for myself and my family. “Hard no,” was my husband’s response. After giving birth, in the hospital I started taking Lithium as a prophylactic. This continued for a full year. It was even better than my previous two. “I had so much joy when I did it again.”
The boy is six now. Cliffel decided to tell her story because of the media attention that has been given to the Lindsay Clancy trial. She said, “It is a serious illness.” There’s nothing to be ashamed of. And you can get better. This is an illness that’s difficult to treat and requires time and care. Take your time because it is a real and devastating disease.
You can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are in an emotional crisis or a suicide crisis. Call or text 988. Chat with 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by clicking here.
You can reach the NAMI Helpline, which provides information on mental health resources and supports, from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 10 pm. Call 1-800-950-6264 or send an email to info@nami.org.
More info on this:
Veerle Bergink is the director of Mount Sinai’s Women’s Mental Health Center in New York City.
Dr. Jennifer Payne is vice-chair of research, University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville (Va.), Charlottesville (Va.).
Postpartum Support International
meghancliffel.com (Official site)