Positive case of Mpox identified in Milwaukee resident

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) announced on Sunday, Jun 4, a positive case of Mpox was identified in a Milwaukee resident. 

MHD says they are in contact with the individual who is currently isolating and following the recommended guidance, and notified all close contacts.

To date, there have been 37 positive cases of Mpox in the City of Milwaukee — and the first identified case of Mpox in the city since March 20, 2023.

MHD said in a news release, this new positive case serves as a reminder that the Mpox outbreak is not over. Public health officials urge individuals to remain cautious and take appropriate precautions. Anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can get Mpox through close, personal contact with someone who has symptoms of Mpox. However, data suggests that the virus has primarily spread among social networks of gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men through intimate contact. Risk is especially high for same-gender-loving men who have multiple or anonymous sexual partners.

Mpox is a viral infection, with symptoms that can include a painful and uncomfortable rash or sores which may look like pimples or blisters, often accompanied with flu-like illness. Mpox symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus. Mpox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Most people with Mpox recover in two to four weeks.

There is no treatment approved specifically for Mpox, so prevention is the best medicine. To prevent the spread of Mpox, individuals should follow the following recommendations:

  • Prioritize receiving the two-dose JYNNEOS mpox vaccine. The vaccine is the strongest defense against contracting mpox. JYNNEOS vaccines are available at the MHD health clinic and other local

Opinion | A middle ground on masking in health-care settings

You’re reading The Checkup With Dr. Wen, a newsletter on how to navigate covid-19 and other public health challenges. Click here to get the full newsletter in your inbox, including answers to reader questions and a summary of new scientific research.

Should hospitals and other health-care facilities maintain mask requirements, even though they have long been dropped in virtually all other settings?

This is a highly contentious issue. Some prominent experts have argued that the downsides of hospital mask mandates outweigh benefits, while others advocate changing the paradigm of medical care to sustain universal masking for the foreseeable future.

Last month, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a new policy that, in my view, achieves a sensible middle ground: Masks are no longer required in most clinical settings but are still mandated in areas that serve high-risk patients. That latter category includes dialysis clinics, transplant and chemotherapy units, and urgent-care and emergency departments. The VA guidance is also clear that patients with covid should still mask and that patients can request health-care personnel to mask for their protection.

I spoke with VA Undersecretary for Health Shereef Elnahal to better understand how he and his team came to this compromise.

Elnahal told me he prioritized two key factors. The first was to protect the most vulnerable veterans, which is why the mandate remains in places that treat large numbers of high-risk patients.

The second was veteran preference. “We got a lot of feedback from veterans’ families and caregivers about why we were still requiring masking post-public health emergency” in some settings, such as medical and surgical units for less severe health issues and outpatient care. The clear input that he and other VA leaders received is that veterans and their families did not want continued

New blood biomarker may predict risk of cognitive decline

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A new study suggests that astrocytes, a type of brain cell, are important for connecting amyloid-β with the early stages of tau pathology. Karyna Bartashevich/Stocksy
  • Reactive astrocytes, a type of brain cell, could help scientists understand why some people with healthy cognition and amyloid-β deposits in their brains do not develop other signs of Alzheimer’s, such as tangled tau proteins.
  • A study with over 1,000 participants looked at biomarkers and found that amyloid-β was only linked to increased levels of tau in individuals who had signs of astrocyte reactivity.
  • The findings suggest that astrocytes are important for connecting amyloid-β with the early stages of tau pathology, which could change how we define early Alzheimer’s disease.

The accumulation of amyloid plaques and tangled tau proteins in the brain has long been considered the primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Drug development has tended to focus on targeting amyloid and tau, neglecting the potential role of other brain processes, such as the neuroimmune system.

Now, new research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that astrocytes, which are star-shaped brain cells, play a crucial role in determining the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Astrocytes are abundant in brain tissue. Alongside other glial cells, the brain’s resident immune cells, astrocytes support neurons by providing them with nutrients, oxygen, and protection against pathogens.

Previously the role of astrocytes in neuronal communication had been overlooked since glial cells do not conduct electricity like neurons. But the University of Pittsburg study challenges this notion and sheds light on the critical role of astrocytes in brain health and disease.

The findings were recently published in Nature Medicine.

Previous research suggests that disruptions in brain processes beyond amyloid burden, such as increased brain inflammation, may play a crucial role in initiating the pathological sequence

Residents vow to keep fighting as Minden, Ont., emergency department closes

Patrick Porzuczek watched in disbelief  Thursday morning as the “emergency” and “H” signs were removed outside the hospital site in Minden, Ont., signifying the closure of its emergency department.

“It was extremely emotional for me because over the last six weeks this is what we’ve been fighting for — to keep that blue H and that ’emergency’ sign up,” said Porzuczek, one of the main organizers of public campaigns to save the ER. “Seeing those signs down, my heart breaks.”

READ MORE: Ontario renews summer ER staffing funding for 1 more year

June 1 marked the closure of the emergency department in Minden and with it a consolidation of services at the hospital in Haliburton, 30 kilometres north. In late April, Haliburton Highlands Health Services gave six weeks’ notice of the closure – citing ongoing severe staffing challenges as the main reason – to prevent further ER closures at one or both sites.

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She reported that in 2022 there were 20 reportable near-miss emergency department closures at the Haliburton site due to physician shortages — but none in Minden.

“The pressure on our staff is absolutely tremendous — it’s not something that was sustainable,” HHHS president and CEO Carolyn Plummer said at a Haliburton County council meeting on April 27.

Plummer on Thursday declined an interview with Global News Peterborough noting the “whole team is focused on making the transition to one ED site a success.” The board has stated no job losses will occur with the consolidation.

“The organization may have updates to share on the other side of the transition, and if so, such updates (will) be provided to media,” she stated.


Top: A sign outside the Minden hospital site on May 31, 2023. Bottom: A sign as of June 1, 2023.

The

How it can raise a person’s risk of heart disease

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Blood tests can be a useful tool for measuring proteins linked to heart disease. Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images
  • Researchers say one-third of people with type 2 diabetes may have undetected cardiovascular disease.
  • In a new study, the researchers reported that many people with type 2 diabetes had elevated levels of two proteins associated with heart disease.
  • They said the study results emphasize the need for medical professionals to check for cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

One-third of people with type 2 diabetes had elevated levels of two protein markers, compared to 16% of those without diabetes, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers analyzed health information and blood samples from 10,300 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

That survey collected the data from 1999-2004.

The study participants had not reported any history of cardiovascular disease when they enrolled.

The researchers honed in on two protein markers – troponin T and N terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide – that are used to measure injury and stress to the heart and are routinely used to diagnose a heart attack and heart failure.

Elevated levels of these proteins in the bloodstream might be early warning signs of changes in the structure and function of the heart, which could increase the risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease, and early death.

After analyzing the blood samples as well as mortality statistics collected from the National Death Index, the scientists reported that:

  • One-third of people with type 2 diabetes had elevated levels of the two protein markers, compared to 16% of those without diabetes.
  • In people with type 2 diabetes, elevated levels of the protein markers were associated with an increased risk of all-cause

How face masks can help avoid inhaling wildfire smoke


As wildfires continue to burn in several provinces, smoky skies across parts of the country are prompting recommendations from health officials to wear face masks to avoid inhaling harmful smoke.


Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told reporters on Wednesday morning that he was feeling the impacts of the smoky air and encouraged people, especially those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, to wear an N95 mask.


“So, for all of these people, including others that may want to protect themselves against the bad consequences of bad quality air, wearing an N95 mask is the recommended procedure by health authorities,” Duclos said on Wednesday.


He noted while wearing a mask is a personal choice, he still recommends Canadians wear one if they’re outdoors, as the air quality is among the worst in the world.


“But we also know that these consequences will be worse, as the extent of the bad air quality continues. We are told by firefighters and other health officials that, unfortunately, the situation will continue for a few more days.”


WHY INHALING WOOD SMOKE IS HARMFUL


As of Wednesday evening, several major cities across the country are reporting a moderate- to high-risk on the Air Quality Health Index including Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto and Ottawa. What’s especially harmful about the current air quality in most regions are the extremely small particles—called fine particulates—that can travel into the lungs when we breathe, explains Joe Fida, CIO of Canadian air purifier company Blade Air.


“It is generally not healthy because it can cause inflammation, swelling—there’s a lot of very adverse effects from it and the other problem is that they stay airborne for a very long time,” Fida told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Wednesday.


Fida explains these fine particulates, known

Chic Pickleball Clothes for Women: A Guide to the Shopping Fashion’s Latest Sports Craze

Is pickleball the new tennis? If Moda Operandi has anything to say about it, the answer is yes. So much so that the e-commerce retailer is offering a pickleball paddle and pickleballs as a part of its new Club Moda summer capsule collection. And they’re not the only ones who are leaning into the fashion side of the sport. In recent months, Norma Kamali started selling her own pickleball dress, while Alice + Olivia and Nike have also dipped their toes in pickleball merch. Pickleball has been declared America’s fastest-growing sport, according to a 2022 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

But what does pickleball fashion look like? The idea of pickleball itself may be camp, and its fashion interpretation even more so. After all, it’s a low-risk, low-impact sport that was previously mainly enjoyed by an older crowd before its recent spike in popularity. In dressing for pickleball, one could theoretically wear the same kind of outfit as one might for tennis, but getting a little bit more specific makes it all the more fun. Think the Yuppie aesthetic combined with ’90s New England prepsters or a sporty Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Or, on the other hand: lots of color, as professional pickleball players like Anna Leigh Waters often gravitate towards neon pinks and electric greens.

For Moda Operandi’s Club Moda summer collection, for example, the retailer partnered with 24 established and emerging designers—including Brandon Maxwell, Jil Sander, Rosie Assoulin, House of Aama, and The Frankie Shop—to design pieces 70 exclusive styles, such as little pleated skirts, striped wool crepe mini dresses and more, alongside the aforementioned pickleball set created in collaboration with the pickleball gear brand Recess. “One of my favorite summer destinations is Nantucket; for our capsule with Moda, we transformed some of our

Department of Health employees push back on mandatory agency training from Utah institute

The Washington Federation of State Employees is calling on the state Department of Health to cancel its contract and funding for mandatory DOH employee training that some say perpetuates workplace issues and creates an uncomfortable work environment.

In a news release, WFSE provided a web link to a petition that is now circulating among DOH employees asking the agency to discontinue the training.

Patrick Sugrue, the director of communications for WFSE, told McClatchy Monday that the petition has already been signed by over 200 current DOH employees, and that the number of petitioners is growing fast as they put pressure on DOH publicly.

The “Outward Mindset” training is provided by the Arbinger Institute, based in Utah. The website for the institute says that by using the communication training framework, “participants learn the difference between inward and outward mindsets.”

Participants who take the course will be able to “assess the extent to which they are working with an inward mindset,” “change their mindsets to become more outward,” “hold themselves more fully accountable,” and “address and resolve conflicts,” according to Arbinger’s website.

Employee concerns

Current and former DOH employees told McClatchy otherwise.

“It is on the surface such a necessary thing. Yes, we should all get more skills on how to better relate to people. But the problem is the underlying foundation of it and how it gets weaponized,” said Rachelle Martin, a current DOH employee speaking in her capacity as a WFSE member.

Martin, who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, said there was familiarity in the training because it pushes the idea that “all of your problems are your fault,” similar to the church she was brought up in.

“If you have a problem, the first thing you’re supposed to do is really sit with ‘what have I done

Assembly of First Nations seeks strategy to address gaps in federal health-care policies

First Nations leaders are wrestling with what the future of Indigenous health care should look like as they piece together legislation meant to deal with multiple health crises, as well as the legacy of colonialism and racism.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) held a National Health Legislation Forum in Toronto this week where discussions revolved around new health legislation for First Nations, the cause of polarizing debate.

Conversations ranging from whether or not First Nations health should become enshrined into Canadian Law, how new health legislation would parallel recent child welfare legislation, and how new legislation may address health crises in Indigenous communities coast-to-coast.

One case mentioned multiple times was that of Joyce Echaquan, a 37-year-old Atikamekw mother of seven, who on Sept. 28, 2021, died of heart failure in a Quebec hospital. She initially entered the hospital with stomach pains, but according to her last words in a Facebook livestream days later, and spoken in her Atikamekw language, “they are overdosing me on drugs.”

With discriminatory taunts against Joyce from hospital staff heard in the background of her livestream, the coroner investigating concluded that racism was a contributing factor in Echaquan’s death.

However, it’s not just racism in hospitals that’s driving the conversation. Vice Chief David Pratt of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), who also sits on the AFN leadership table, said there are too many issues to address that are at crises status in First Nations communities across Canada.

In opening remarks, Pratt pointed out how the long-standing alcohol crisis in Indigenous communities has now escalated into a crystal-meth crisis. “Communities are forced to fund their own crystal meth recovery programs using their limited source revenue, and it’s a situation that should not be the case,” he said.

He also explained how an existing “status

A New Balance Between Health Care Privacy and Artificial Intelligence

A scholar highlights problematic ways that artificial intelligence and health privacy interact.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize health care, the need to protect personal health data has become increasingly crucial. But intervening attempts to protect personal health data may also slow health care AI development.

Society can establish a new balance between technological progress and data protection to protect personal health data without disrupting innovation. In a recent article, law professor W. Nicholson Price II explores the complex relationship between increased privacy protections and health care AI, offering a unique perspective on achieving a balance that may allow for both AI innovation and personal privacy.

AI-created privacy problems are rapidly evolving. Price discusses a new AI-created privacy issue: AI’s ability to find patterns in seemingly disconnected data may unintentionally reveal information never meant to be revealed. Price illustrates this problem through a real-world example of a large corporation whose AI analyzed shopping habits to infer pregnancy status—an observation unlikely to be made by human analysts.

Price also demonstrates how AI weakens mechanisms, such as deidentification, used to protect medical data to establish AI’s impact on medical privacy. Deidentification, Price points out, is a commonly used method of protecting medical privacy by removing identifiers from private information. The governing legal rule for health data privacy, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), only oversees identifiable health information and carves out a safe harbor for deidentified information.

By stripping the listed identifiers, users of health data can avoid HIPAA oversight. And AI is capable of doing just that. With enough computing power, AI can reidentify anonymous data. It can also make sophisticated guesses about a person’s non-health data.

AI has reduced the effectiveness of this deidentification, argues Price. He notes that researchers have used AI to

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