Dorothy Brooks
VerifiedArticles by Dorothy Brooks
Ivonescimab Beat Imfinzi Regimen on Survival in China Bile Duct Cancer Trial, Akeso Says, as Details Await ESMO
An experimental antibody called ivonescimab, combined with chemotherapy, helped patients with advanced biliary tract cancer live longer than the standard pairing of Imfinzi and chemotherapy, its developer Akeso reports. The 682-patient Phase 3 trial, HARMONi-GI1, was conducted in China. The company has not released how much longer patients lived.
Ivonescimab Beat Imfinzi Regimen on Survival in China Bile Duct Cancer Trial, Akeso Says, as Details Await ESMO
An experimental antibody called ivonescimab, combined with chemotherapy, helped patients with advanced biliary tract cancer live longer than the standard pairing of Imfinzi and chemotherapy, its developer Akeso reports. The 682-patient Phase 3 trial, HARMONi-GI1, was conducted in China. The company has not released how much longer patients lived.
Ground Beef and Strawberries Cost More as New Federal Diet Advice Puts Protein at Every Meal
The average price of ground beef rose 7.4%, and strawberries climbed 10.4% between September 2025 and September 2026, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data. A pound of ground beef averaged about $6.79 in September, up from about $6.32 a year earlier. Those are some of the foods federal officials are urging Americans to eat more of.
Ground Beef and Strawberries Cost More as New Federal Diet Advice Puts Protein at Every Meal
The average price of ground beef rose 7.4%, and strawberries climbed 10.4% between September 2025 and September 2026, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data. A pound of ground beef averaged about $6.79 in September, up from about $6.32 a year earlier. Sign up to read this article Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you. Email is required Email is already registered. Please sign in instead. Start reading
Plane Passenger Blacked Out After Takeoff, and Scans Found Air Bubbles Lodged in His Brain Arteries
About 20 minutes after his commercial flight took off, a 59-year-old man suddenly lost consciousness. The aircraft descended and returned to its departure airport. When doctors scanned his head, they found something more often linked to diving accidents or hospital procedures: air bubbles lodged in several arteries of his brain. The source was in his chest. Imaging showed a giant bulla, a large air-filled space, occupying the upper lobe of his right lung.
Plane Passenger Blacked Out After Takeoff, and Scans Found Air Bubbles Lodged in His Brain Arteries
About 20 minutes after his commercial flight took off, a 59-year-old man suddenly lost consciousness. The aircraft descended and returned to its departure airport. When doctors scanned his head, they found something more often linked to diving accidents or hospital procedures: air bubbles lodged in several arteries of his brain. The source was in his chest. Imaging showed a giant bulla, a large air-filled space, occupying the upper lobe of his right lung.
India-Made Toothpaste Recalls Topped 4 Million Units Twice in Under 18 Months as Kids' Brands Join the List
The 4.3 million-tube toothpaste recall now reaching families is at least the second recall of toothpaste made by an Indian manufacturer to top 4 million units in less than 18 months. In spring 2025, the FDA posted an update on a recall of 4,617,316 toothpaste tubes and sachets from Kenil Healthcare Private Limited of India, also for deviations from current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) rules, The Healthy reported.
India-Made Toothpaste Recalls Topped 4 Million Units Twice in Under 18 Months as Kids' Brands Join the List
The 4.3 million-tube toothpaste recall now reaching families is at least the second recall of toothpaste made by an Indian manufacturer to top 4 million units in less than 18 months. In spring 2025, the FDA posted an update on a recall of 4,617,316 toothpaste tubes and sachets from Kenil Healthcare Private Limited of India, also for deviations from current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) rules, The Healthy reported.
Light-Up Princess Costumes Sold on Amazon Recalled Over Easy-to-Reach Button Batteries as Families Prepare for Halloween
Parents pulling Halloween costumes out of closets this week have one more item to check. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Oct. 22 announced a recall of CIYTI Light-Up Princess Costumes because children can easily reach the button cell batteries inside the crown, wand, and remote control. The recall is small. CPSC says about 94 costumes were sold on Amazon from February through June 2025 for between $21 and $35, and no incidents or injuries have been reported.
Light-Up Princess Costumes Sold on Amazon Recalled Over Easy-to-Reach Button Batteries as Families Prepare for Halloween
Parents pulling Halloween costumes out of closets this week have one more item to check. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Oct. 22 announced a recall of CIYTI Light-Up Princess Costumes because children can easily reach the button cell batteries inside the crown, wand, and remote control. The recall is small. CPSC says about 94 costumes were sold on Amazon from February through June 2025 for between $21 and $35, and no incidents or injuries have been reported.
Cencora Agrees to Take Controlling Stake in American Oncology Network in $2.4 Billion Deal Spanning 21 States
Drug distributor Cencora has signed a definitive agreement to acquire American Oncology Network (AON), a physician-led network of more than 350 cancer care providers in 21 states, in a deal that values AON at $2.4 billion, the companies announced on Oct. 21. For patients getting chemotherapy, infusions, or other treatment at an AON-affiliated practice, nothing changes yet.
Cencora Agrees to Take Controlling Stake in American Oncology Network in $2.4 Billion Deal Spanning 21 States
Drug distributor Cencora has signed a definitive agreement to acquire American Oncology Network (AON), a physician-led network of more than 350 cancer care providers in 21 states, in a deal that values AON at $2.4 billion, the companies announced on Oct. 21. For patients getting chemotherapy, infusions, or other treatment at an AON-affiliated practice, nothing changes yet.
Rural Hospitals Took a Bigger Share of 2026 Layoffs as Closures Slowed, With 720 at Risk of Closing
Rural hospitals are making up a larger share of hospital layoffs this year even as fewer of them shut their doors, according to a Becker's Hospital Review analysis published Oct. 21. Of 68 hospital workforce reductions the outlet tracked from January through mid-October 2026, 10, or about 15%, involved rural hospitals or systems, compared with fewer than 10% during the same period of 2025. The shift matters for the roughly one in five Americans living in rural areas.
Rural Hospitals Took a Bigger Share of 2026 Layoffs as Closures Slowed, With 720 at Risk of Closing
Rural hospitals are making up a larger share of hospital layoffs this year even as fewer of them shut their doors, according to a Becker's Hospital Review analysis published Oct. 21. Of 68 hospital workforce reductions the outlet tracked from January through mid-October 2026, 10, or about 15%, involved rural hospitals or systems, compared with fewer than 10% during the same period of 2025. Sign up to read this article Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
H1N1 Flu Season Starts Early on the West Coast, With October Hospital Rates Highest in Over a Decade Original
Flu season is arriving early, and this year it started in an unusual place. The CDC's latest FluView report, published Oct. 23 with data through the week ending Oct. 17, shows flu activity still low nationally but rising on several measures since late August or early September. Of the flu viruses subtyped by public health labs that week, 99.2% were influenza A(H1N1).
H1N1 Flu Season Starts Early on the West Coast, With October Hospital Rates Highest in Over a Decade
Flu season is arriving early, and this year it started in an unusual place. The CDC's latest FluView report, published Oct. 23 with data through the week ending Oct. 17, shows flu activity still low nationally but rising on several measures since late August or early September. Of the flu viruses subtyped by public health labs that week, 99.2% were influenza A(H1N1). Sign up to read this article Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Supplement Makers Get Final FDA Guidance on Identity and Safety Evidence Before Selling New Dietary Ingredients
The FDA has finalized guidance describing the identity and safety information supplement companies should submit before selling products that contain a new dietary ingredient. In a constituent update announcing the final guidance on Oct. 19, the agency called the notification process its "only opportunity to evaluate the safety of NDIs in dietary supplements" before they reach consumers. That description is the key point for shoppers.
Supplement Makers Get Final FDA Guidance on Identity and Safety Evidence Before Selling New Dietary Ingredients
The FDA has finalized guidance describing the identity and safety information supplement companies should submit before selling products that contain a new dietary ingredient. In a constituent update announcing the final guidance on Oct. 19, the agency called the notification process its "only opportunity to evaluate the safety of NDIs in dietary supplements" before they reach consumers. That description is the key point for shoppers.
Heavier Phone Use Past 10 at Night Linked with Teens Falling Asleep About 65 Minutes Later
On nights when teenagers used their phones after 10 p.m. more than they usually did, they fell asleep about 65 minutes later and slept about 20 minutes less, according to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics published on Oct. 19. The study tracked 425 U.S. teens and also found that phone use in the final minutes before sleep was linked with more time awake soon after falling asleep. For parents, the findings put numbers on a familiar bedtime argument.
Heavier Phone Use Past 10 at Night Linked with Teens Falling Asleep About 65 Minutes Later
On nights when teenagers used their phones after 10 p.m. more than they usually did, they fell asleep about 65 minutes later and slept about 20 minutes less, according to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics published on Oct. 19. The study tracked 425 U.S. teens and also found that phone use in the final minutes before sleep was linked with more time awake soon after falling asleep. For parents, the findings put numbers on a familiar bedtime argument.
Xocova Users Who Still Caught COVID Reported Fewer Severe Symptoms in Small, Exploratory Company-Sponsored Trial Analyses
People who still developed COVID-19 while taking Xocova after a household exposure had lower peak virus levels and were less likely to report severe symptoms than those taking a placebo, according to new exploratory analyses released by drugmaker Shionogi on October 21. The company, which sponsored the original trial, presented the findings at IDWeek 2026 in Washington, D.C. The new data address a question many families have as respiratory virus season ramps up.
Xocova Users Who Still Caught COVID Reported Fewer Severe Symptoms in Small, Exploratory Company-Sponsored Trial Analyses
People who still developed COVID-19 while taking Xocova after a household exposure had lower peak virus levels and were less likely to report severe symptoms than those taking a placebo, according to new exploratory analyses released by drugmaker Shionogi on October 21. The company, which sponsored the original trial, presented the findings at IDWeek 2026 in Washington, D.C. The new data address a question many families have as respiratory virus season ramps up.
Xocova Users Who Still Caught COVID Reported Fewer Severe Symptoms in Small, Exploratory Company-Sponsored Trial Analyses
People who still developed COVID-19 while taking Xocova after a household exposure had lower peak virus levels and were less likely to report severe symptoms than those taking a placebo, according to new exploratory analyses released by drugmaker Shionogi on October 21. The company, which sponsored the original trial, presented the findings at IDWeek 2026 in Washington, D.C. The new data address a question many families have as respiratory virus season ramps up.
Early Heart Rhythm Control After Stroke Tied to 44% Lower Risk of Another Stroke or Clot in AFib
People who survive a stroke while living with atrial fibrillation face a high risk of a second one. A study published in the journal Neurology on October 21 found that patients whose normal heart rhythm was restored within eight weeks of their stroke were less likely to be hospitalized again for a stroke or a blood clot elsewhere in the body over five years. Researchers at Kyoto University reviewed records for 14,355 people in Japan, average age 83, who had both an ischemic stroke and AFib.
Early Heart Rhythm Control After Stroke Tied to 44% Lower Risk of Another Stroke or Clot in AFib
People who survive a stroke while living with atrial fibrillation face a high risk of a second one. A study published in the journal Neurology on October 21 found that patients whose normal heart rhythm was restored within eight weeks of their stroke were less likely to be hospitalized again for a stroke or a blood clot elsewhere in the body over five years. Researchers at Kyoto University reviewed records for 14,355 people in Japan, average age 83, who had both an ischemic stroke and AFib.
Mailed Stool Kits Kept Colon Cancer Screening Higher at San Diego Clinics for Two Years Before Gap Faded
Mailing free stool test kits to patients at San Diego County community health centers kept colorectal cancer screening about 11 percentage points higher than at comparison clinics for two years, but the advantage shrank to a statistically insignificant 2.9 points in the third year, according to a randomized trial published Oct. 21, 2026, in JAMA Network Open. The trial missed its main goal, a lasting difference at three years.
Mailed Stool Kits Kept Colon Cancer Screening Higher at San Diego Clinics for Two Years Before Gap Faded
Mailing free stool test kits to patients at San Diego County community health centers kept colorectal cancer screening about 11 percentage points higher than at comparison clinics for two years, but the advantage shrank to a statistically insignificant 2.9 points in the third year, according to a randomized trial published Oct. 21, 2026, in JAMA Network Open. The trial missed its main goal, a lasting difference at three years.
Phoenix SARMs Seller Gets Four Months in Prison as Judge Shuts His Company and Orders $1.8 Million Forfeited
A Phoenix man who sold SARMs, lab-made chemicals that act like anabolic steroids, will spend four months in federal prison, and the company he ran has been ordered to close and pay $1.8 million. The Justice Department announced the sentence on Oct. 21, 2026, in a case involving SARMs smuggled from China and sold to U.S. buyers for at least five years. Jeffrey McIndoo owned and operated JeffMac Investments LLC, which did business as SARMS Pharm LLC. Judge Sharad H.
Phoenix SARMs Seller Gets Four Months in Prison as Judge Shuts His Company and Orders $1.8 Million Forfeited
A Phoenix man who sold SARMs, lab-made chemicals that act like anabolic steroids, will spend four months in federal prison, and the company he ran has been ordered to close and pay $1.8 million. The Justice Department announced the sentence on Oct. 21, 2026, in a case involving SARMs smuggled from China and sold to U.S. buyers for at least five years. Jeffrey McIndoo owned and operated JeffMac Investments LLC, which did business as SARMS Pharm LLC. Judge Sharad H.
Phoenix SARMs Seller Gets Four Months in Prison as Judge Shuts His Company and Orders $1.8 Million Forfeited
A Phoenix man who sold SARMs, lab-made chemicals that act like anabolic steroids, will spend four months in federal prison, and the company he ran has been ordered to close and pay $1.8 million. The Justice Department announced the sentence on Oct. 21, 2026, in a case involving SARMs smuggled from China and sold to U.S. buyers for at least five years. Jeffrey McIndoo owned and operated JeffMac Investments LLC, which did business as SARMS Pharm LLC. Judge Sharad H.
Memory Care Waits Average Nearly 18 Weeks at 150 U.S. Neurology Clinics, Longest at Specialized Centers
People who call a U.S. neurology clinic about memory problems are quoted an average wait of 17.9 weeks, roughly four months, for a first appointment, according to a telephone survey of 150 clinics in JAMA Network Open. The research letter, published Oct. 21 by researchers at Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix, found that specialized academic and research centers had the longest waits, averaging 21.1 weeks, compared with 15.6 weeks at community neurology clinics.
Memory Care Waits Average Nearly 18 Weeks at 150 U.S. Neurology Clinics, Longest at Specialized Centers
People who call a U.S. neurology clinic about memory problems are quoted an average wait of 17.9 weeks, roughly four months, for a first appointment, according to a telephone survey of 150 clinics in JAMA Network Open. The research letter, published Oct. 21 by researchers at Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix, found that specialized academic and research centers had the longest waits, averaging 21.1 weeks, compared with 15.6 weeks at community neurology clinics.
Ultomiris Wins Accelerated FDA Approval for IgA Nephropathy After Trial Showed 43% Greater Drop in Urine Protein
The Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to Ultomiris, also known as ravulizumab, to reduce protein in the urine of adults with primary IgA nephropathy who are at risk of disease progression, AstraZeneca announced Oct. 21. In a Phase III trial, the drug lowered urine protein 43.4% more than placebo after 34 weeks. It has not yet been shown to slow the loss of kidney function.
Ultomiris Wins Accelerated FDA Approval for IgA Nephropathy After Trial Showed 43% Greater Drop in Urine Protein
The Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to Ultomiris, also known as ravulizumab, to reduce protein in the urine of adults with primary IgA nephropathy who are at risk of disease progression, AstraZeneca announced Oct. 21. In a Phase III trial, the drug lowered urine protein 43.4% more than placebo after 34 weeks. It has not yet been shown to slow the loss of kidney function.
Families with Job-Based Insurance Now Pay $7,471 a Year Toward Premiums as Employers Brace for Steeper 2027 Increases
Workers with family coverage through their jobs now pay an average of $7,471 a year toward their health insurance premiums, up 9%, or $621, from last year. The figure comes from KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Oct. 22. KFF Health News noted that this is a faster jump than the 7.6% rise workers saw from 2024 to 2025. The total cost of a family plan, counting what employers pay, reached $28,303, up 5%.
Families with Job-Based Insurance Now Pay $7,471 a Year Toward Premiums as Employers Brace for Steeper 2027 Increases
Workers with family coverage through their jobs now pay an average of $7,471 a year toward their health insurance premiums, up 9%, or $621, from last year. The figure comes from KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Oct. 22. KFF Health News noted that this is a faster jump than the 7.6% rise workers saw from 2024 to 2025. The total cost of a family plan, counting what employers pay, reached $28,303, up 5%.
Families with Job-Based Insurance Now Pay $7,471 a Year Toward Premiums as Employers Brace for Steeper 2027 Increases
Workers with family coverage through their jobs now pay an average of $7,471 a year toward their health insurance premiums, up 9%, or $621, from last year. The figure comes from KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Oct. 22. KFF Health News noted that this is a faster jump than the 7.6% rise workers saw from 2024 to 2025. The total cost of a family plan, counting what employers pay, reached $28,303, up 5%.
DeSantis Credits Florida's S.A.F.E. Program for Nearly 60% Fentanyl Death Drop, but State Data Cannot Show Why
Fentanyl-caused deaths in Florida fell to about 2,000 in 2025, down from 4,962 in 2023, according to state figures from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission's 2025 annual drug report. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the numbers Oct. 20 in Orlando and credited the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication, or S.A.F.E., grant program, which launched in 2023 with state funding approved by the Legislature.
DeSantis Credits Florida's S.A.F.E. Program for Nearly 60% Fentanyl Death Drop, but State Data Cannot Show Why
Fentanyl-caused deaths in Florida fell to about 2,000 in 2025, down from 4,962 in 2023, according to state figures from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission's 2025 annual drug report. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the numbers Oct. 20 in Orlando and credited the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication, or S.A.F.E., grant program, which launched in 2023 with state funding approved by the Legislature.
Former New London Hospital Medical Chief Gets Prison for Signing Medicare Brace Orders for Patients He Never Examined
A former chief medical officer at New London Hospital in New Hampshire has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for signing orders for medical braces for Medicare patients he never examined, NHPR reported. Prosecutors had asked for 18 months. Dr. Steven Powell, 56, pleaded guilty to health care fraud in April 2023. U.S. District Judge Paul Barbadoro sentenced him on October 13, and he must report to prison on November 13.
Former New London Hospital Medical Chief Gets Prison for Signing Medicare Brace Orders for Patients He Never Examined
Dr. Steven Powell, 56, pleaded guilty to health care fraud in April 2023. U.S. District Judge Paul Barbadoro sentenced him on October 13, and he must report to prison on November 13. Under his plea agreement, he must repay $761,202.75 to Medicare. Sign up to read this article Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you. Email is required Email is already registered. Please sign in instead. Start reading
Seminole County Confirms Locally Acquired Dengue Case Near Orlando and Issues Its First Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory of 2026
The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has confirmed a locally acquired case of dengue and issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory, the county's first of 2026, WFTV reported on October 21. The department is working with Seminole County Mosquito Control on surveillance, prevention, and mosquito control. A locally acquired case means the person did not catch the virus while traveling.
Seminole County Confirms Locally Acquired Dengue Case Near Orlando and Issues Its First Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory of 2026
The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has confirmed a locally acquired case of dengue and issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory, the county's first of 2026, WFTV reported on October 21. The department is working with Seminole County Mosquito Control on surveillance, prevention, and mosquito control. A locally acquired case means the person did not catch the virus while traveling.
Overland Park Elementary Norovirus Outbreak Ends After 97 Illnesses as Johnson County Warns the True Count Is Higher
Johnson County health officials have declared a norovirus outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in south Overland Park after 97 people fell ill, KCTV5 reported on October 21. Of those, 95 cases were among students and staff inside the school, and two were among family members outside it, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Director Charlie Hunt said. Hunt said the true number is likely higher because norovirus is so contagious.
Overland Park Elementary Norovirus Outbreak Ends After 97 Illnesses as Johnson County Warns the True Count Is Higher
Johnson County health officials have declared a norovirus outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in south Overland Park after 97 people fell ill, KCTV5 reported on October 21. Of those, 95 cases were among students and staff inside the school, and two were among family members outside it, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Director Charlie Hunt said. Hunt said the true number is likely higher because norovirus is so contagious.
Fourth Active TB Case Tied to San Diego's Southwest High School in Two Years Prompts Free Campus Testing
San Diego County health officials reported a new case of active tuberculosis in a person associated with Southwest High School, the fourth person linked to the school to be diagnosed with active TB in the past two years. The county's Southwest High School TB notice says the possible exposure period ran from June 23, 2025, to March 6, 2026. The school is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District. People at highest risk have already been contacted.
Fourth Active TB Case Tied to San Diego's Southwest High School in Two Years Prompts Free Campus Testing
San Diego County health officials reported a new case of active tuberculosis in a person associated with Southwest High School, the fourth person linked to the school to be diagnosed with active TB in the past two years. The county's Southwest High School TB notice says the possible exposure period ran from June 23, 2025, to March 6, 2026. The school is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District. People at highest risk have already been contacted.
FBI and State Investigators Search NYC Adult Day Care Centers in Medicaid Fraud Probe of Over 100 Providers
Federal and state investigators searched social adult day care centers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and other locations on Tuesday, Oct. 20, as part of a months-long probe of more than 100 providers suspected of Medicaid fraud. The FBI joined a state-federal working group for the operation, FOX 5 New York reported. Authorities have not released a full list of the centers involved. Most providers under review have not been charged.
FBI and State Investigators Search NYC Adult Day Care Centers in Medicaid Fraud Probe of Over 100 Providers
Federal and state investigators searched social adult day care centers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and other locations on Tuesday, Oct. 20, as part of a months-long probe of more than 100 providers suspected of Medicaid fraud. The FBI joined a state-federal working group for the operation, FOX 5 New York reported. Authorities have not released a full list of the centers involved. Most providers under review have not been charged.
Toothpaste Recall Covers 4.3 Million Tubes, Including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Crayola Kids' Flavors Made in India
The FDA has classified a recall of more than 4.3 million tubes of fluoride toothpaste as Class II, including children's flavors sold in Barbie, Hot Wheels, My Little Pony, and Crayola designs. The classification appeared in the agency's Oct. 19 enforcement report, and the voluntary recall began Sept. 10, LiveNOW from FOX reported. The products were distributed nationwide. No illnesses or injuries linked to the toothpaste have been reported.
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