The Latest in Internal Medicine News: March 8, 2021

This week, we’re sharing the most recent top stories in internal medicine news. This month, a new study showed that different factors such as weight, age, and gender affect COVID-19 vaccine responses differently. And in another study from a sample of 502 patients, convincing evidence was found for a decreased risk in CRC was associated with higher vs lower intake of total dietary fiber, calcium, and yogurt.

Additionally, the FDA approves a new generic drug to treat IBS and new studies show tocilizumab may help with lung function in people with lung disease with systemic sclerosis.

Read more on these stories below.

BMI, age, and gender affect COVID-19 vaccine antibody response MDEdge, March 5, 2021

The capacity to mount humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccinations may be reduced among people who are heavier, older, and male, new findings suggest.

Confirmed: Diet Influences Colorectal Cancer Risk Medscape, March 04, 2021

An umbrella review of studies and meta-analyses found “convincing evidence of an association between a lower CRC risk and higher intakes of dietary fiber, dietary calcium, and yogurt and lower intakes of alcohol and red meat.”

FDA Approves Linaclotide as a Generic Drug to Treat IBS-C HCPLive, February 10, 2021

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic drug to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation.

Anxiety, Depression Linked to Patient Overestimation of Psoriasis Severity HCPLive, March 4, 2021

Although data are limited in psoriasis, studies have identified discordance between physician and patient measures of disease severity in chronic inflammatory diseases, for example, among one-third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Tocilizumab may improve lung function in early systemic sclerosis MDEdge, February 17, 2021

Treatment with tocilizumab (Actemra) could stabilize or improve lung function in people with early interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD), a new study has found.