McConnell’s Medical Report; Mask Mandate War Brews; OTC Naloxone Hits Stores

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had no evidence of stroke, seizure disorder, or movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease, Capitol physician Brian Monahan, MD, stated in a letter. (Politico)

But Sen. Rand Paul, MD (R-Ky.), an ophthalmologist, thinks differently. (USA Today)

Mask on; mask off: President Biden does both after the first lady tested positive for COVID. (AP)

Hospitalizations, deaths, and wastewater data indicate COVID is on the rise. (NBC News)

Moderna said its updated COVID vaccine generated a strong immune response against the BA.2.86 variant in a clinical trial.

Updated COVID booster shots are expected as early as September 13, ABC News reported.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will introduce legislation to stop the federal government from imposing new mask mandates in schools, planes, or public transportation systems. (UPI)

Medicare spending is flat — and no one seems to know why. (New York Times)

Over-the-counter naloxone (Narcan) hits retail shelves this week; here’s what you need to know about the opioid overdose reversal agent. (Washington Post)

The CDC issued a health advisory about an uptick in severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity among infants in Florida and Georgia.

One-third of HHS appointees took a job in private industry when their government career ended. (Health Affairs)

State public assistance spending was tied to overall survival for socioeconomically disadvantaged people with cancer. (JAMA Network Open)

A Mendelian randomization analysis suggested attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was a risk factor for major depressive disorder, suicide attempt, and post-traumatic stress disorder. (BMJ Mental Health)

Three hundred boxes of Wefun capsules were recalled due to the presence of undeclared sildenafil, the FDA announced.

Meanwhile, the agency rejected a label expansion for ravulizumab (Ultomiris) to include the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in adults, drugmaker AstraZeneca announced.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals said its investigational drug improved fatigue in a phase II trial of fibromyalgia-type long COVID, but did not meet the study’s primary endpoint of improving pain intensity scores.

Viatris said it received tentative approval under the FDA’s PEPFAR program for generic abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine (Triumeq PD) dispersible tablets to treat HIV-1 infection in pediatric patients.

Do the Republican presidential candidates have plans for treating opioid addiction? (STAT)

Endometrial cancer risk in Asia was lower for women with late menarche, early menopause, or a higher number of deliveries. (JAMA Network Open)

Health officials in Utah issued a warning after two bats in Salt Lake County tested positive for rabies while hundreds of bats infiltrated a local high school. (Fox News)

What’s a normal temperature? The range may be wider than you think. (JAMA Internal Medicine)

Here’s how medical schools plan to maintain diversity without affirmative action. (STAT)

Meet the woman whose kidney transplant lasted more than 50 years. (USA Today)

“Dream Weaver” singer-songwriter Gary Wright died at age 80 with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. (USA Today)