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Amphetamines can be extremely helpful for people with certain neuropsychiatric conditions, such as ADHD. However, they are also frequently misused and abused, creating a growing public health problem. There are currently no medicines for treating amphetamine use disorder, but hope may be on the horizon: Researchers have zeroed in on how a common microbe enhances the effects of these drugs — which means they might someday be able to do the opposite.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 09 SEP 2025 sweeping reforms to rein in misleading direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisements. The FDA sent thousands of letters warning pharmaceutical companies to remove misleading ads and issuing approximately 100 cease-and-desist letters to companies with deceptive ads.

Wild baboon microbiome offers clues to healthy aging: Researchers working with wild baboons in East Africa used microbiome data from fecal samples to develop a gut-based biological aging clock, which they used to predict chronological age with an error rate of two (2) years, outperforming human-based versions. This animal model revealed that age-related shifts in microbial diversity are influenced by sex, social status, and environmental conditions, and the findings, reported in eLife, may help scientists better understand how manipulating the microbiome can promote healthy aging in humans.

Analysis reveals medical device professionals are putting in over a quarter (1/4) more working hours than the average American — the equivalent of 69 extra workdays annually.

Peanut allergies and the search for a cure: Peanut allergies, once rare, have become a major public health challenge since the 1990s, affecting millions of children and adults and reshaping daily life in schools and homes. The causes remain unclear, with theories pointing to overly clean environments, genetics and delayed childhood exposure. A true cure is not yet available; however, new therapies such as oral immunotherapy, skin patches, biologic drugs like Xolair, immune resetting regimens and early peanut introduction in infants offer families real hope for safety and a future with fewer restrictions.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with cutting $783 million in research funding as part of its efforts to reduce federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The decision, made by a 5-4 vote, lifts a previous block on these cuts, although future funding cuts under the same directive remain blocked. The ruling has sparked criticism from Democratic state attorneys general and public health groups, who argue that it disrupts scientific research and potential breakthroughs. The Justice Department supports the cuts, arguing that funding decisions should not be subject to judicial review.

MD+DI (Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry) Senior Editor Point of View (POV) geeks out over the pop star’s MedTech comments during Swift’s recent appearance on the New Heights podcast

Trump Finds New Way to Tariff Medtech: The Trump Administration has launched a Section 232 investigation into imported medical devices, targeting cardiovascular, diabetes, and imaging equipment for national security concerns.

Apple snail’s eye regeneration could aid human therapy: A study in Nature Communications has found that golden apple snails have the ability to regrow their eyes, in a process that shares anatomical and genetic similarities with humans. Researchers using CRISPR-Cas9 to study gene function during regeneration found that genes such as pax6 are crucial for eye development. The research could lead to therapies for vision loss in humans by activating dormant regenerative genes.

Researcher challenges grant cuts: Pulmonologist Neeta Thakur, a Researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, is leading a legal challenge against the federal government’s suspension of grants for research deemed to have a diversity, equity, and inclusion component. Thakur’s research on wildfire smoke and its impacts on underserved communities was disrupted by the funding cuts; however, she won a preliminary injunction and the grants were temporarily reinstated.