Trending News Today: Long-Term Aspirin Use May Reduce Cancer Mortality Risk

Long-term use of aspirin may reduce an individual’s risk of dying from cancer, reported The Washington Post. In a longitudinal study, investigators analyzed the association between various doses of aspirin and duration of usage with the overall mortality risks and mortality risk for cancer over an approximately 32-year period. The results of the study showed long-term aspirin use was associated with a lower risk of dying from various cancers, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. The findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 2017 annual meeting.

Emergency room physicians are turning towards the nasal passage as a drug delivery route because of its accessibility and does not require an IV. According to NPR, using the nose as a passage for steroids, such as Flonase and vaccines such as FluMist, has been a common practice for decades. Now, technology developments have made quick delivery of drugs through the nose easier than ever, resulting in increased popularity. In a study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, investigators detailed the pros and cons of using sprays. Intranasal sprays typically deliver a maximum of 2 milliliters of the drug at once, equating to less than half a teaspoon, which tends to be the perfect dosage for kids. Midazolam is often used to calm patients down, and a squirt of this drug is great for kids who need stiches, according to the article. Furthermore, it can also relax patients having seizures. Similarly, the intranasal version of fentanyl is well-suited for some children who end up in the emergency department. Because an intranasal dose is relatively small, it can be challenging to give adult patients enough medication to fully relieve their pain and anxiety.

FDA nominee Scott Gottlieb calls for new efforts to speed up and expand the approval of lower-cost generics, according to The Wall Street Journal. Gottlieb, who was nominated in March, emphasized his believe in a gold standard of safety and efficacy at the agency. Although there are ways to speed up some clinical trials, “there are ways to modernize clinical studies without sacrificing the gold standard,” Gottlieb said in the article. The candidate said he hopes that expanding approvals of generic drugs will help lower the health care costs in the United States.