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U.S. COVID-19 Markers Show More Declines
COVID-19 activity continued to decline in many areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest updates. Test positivity for COVID-19 was 13.5% last week, down from 14.9% the week before. Hospitalizations continue to decline but remain highest in seniors, followed by adults ages 50 to 64 and children younger than age 4 years. Full Access: CDC
Long-Term Use of Muscle Relaxant Medications for Chronic Pain – A Systematic Review
In this systematic review of 44 studies including 2,482 participants, researchers found that muscle relaxants may be more beneficial than placebo for treating trigeminal neuralgia, painful cramps and neck pain, but for fibromyalgia, low back pain, and other syndromes, they did not appear to be beneficial. These findings suggest that long-term use of muscle relaxants may only be beneficial for certain syndromes; clinicians should consider deprescribing if pain-related goals are not met. Full Access: JAMA
Roflumilast Cream, 0.15%, for Atopic Dermatitis in Adults and Children
In two phase 3 randomized clinical trials of 1337 individuals with AD, significantly more patients treated with once-daily roflumilast cream, 0.15%, achieved Validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis success at four weeks than patients treated with vehicle cream. Roflumilast was well tolerated with low rates of adverse events in both trials. Roflumilast cream, 0.15%, may address several unmet needs and substantially improve the treatment landscape for patients with AD. Full Access: JAMA
Public Health Investigating Unprecedented Cluster of Locally Acquired Dengue Cases – Residents Urged to Take Steps to Prevent Ongoing Transmission
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two additional cases of locally acquired dengue in residents of the City of Baldwin Park. These residents have no history of travel to areas where dengue is endemic prior to their symptoms. This now brings the total number of cases of locally acquired dengue in L.A. County in 2024 to three, which is an unprecedented number of locally transmitted cases for a region where dengue has not previously been transmitted by mosquitoes. Public Health initially reported a confirmed case of locally acquired dengue on September 9, 2024. Full Access: LA County Public Health