09/10/25 - #475

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Salmon Industry Wants to Fast-track New Antibiotic for Farmed Fish as Bacterial Disease Continues to Spread

• New Study Raises Questions About How Ozempic Affects Muscle Size and Strength | New Research in Mice Suggests That Muscle Mass Changes Less Than Expected, but Muscles May Still Get Weaker

• Scientists Have Now Discovered How Alcohol Can Switch Off an Immune "Alarm System" in the Gut, Allowing Bad Bacteria to Escape Their Natural Habitat to Flood Into the Liver, Rapidly Causing Inflammation to the Organ, in a Study in Mice, as Seen in Alcohol-associated Liver Disease (ALD)

• Smartphone Scrolling on Toilet Linked to Higher Hemorrhoid Risk, Raising Risk of Hemorrhoids by Nearly 50%, From Extra Minutes Spent Sitting. 66% Reported Using Phone on Toilet. 37% Stayed on Toilet for More Than 5 Minutes. Most Common Reasons Were to Read News (54%) and Use Social Media (44%)

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Salmon Industry Wants to Fast-track New Antibiotic for Farmed Fish as Bacterial Disease Continues to Spread

Salmon farms in Tasmania are dealing with a serious fish disease called P. salmonis. This bacteria has been killing large numbers of farmed salmon, with dead fish and blobs of fat washing up on beaches last summer.

Now, the salmon industry wants fast approval to use a new antibiotic called Florfenicol. They say the older antibiotic, oxytetracycline, doesn’t work as well anymore. The new drug would be added to fish feed. But experts warn it could spread into the ocean and affect wild fish.

Government officials say the disease is “endemic,” which means it is always present. They also say the number of dead fish isn’t high enough yet to require public reporting. Still, some lawmakers are worried. They want salmon companies to share more information about how many fish are sick or dying.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is watching closely. They plan to test how the new antibiotic spreads in the water. Earlier this year, wild fish near salmon farms tested high for antibiotics.

Officials say this fish disease does not pose a risk to humans. But some people are still concerned about the safety of seafood and the health of the ocean.

The salmon industry says they are working on better vaccines, stronger safety rules, and new ways to feed and care for the fish. Lawmakers are now asking for stricter rules to make sure the public knows what’s happening in the water and on their plates.

Source: abc.net.au

WEIGHT LOSS

New Study Raises Questions About How Ozempic Affects Muscle Size and Strength | New Research in Mice Suggests That Muscle Mass Changes Less Than Expected, but Muscles May Still Get Weaker

A new study in mice suggests the weight-loss drug Ozempic may lower muscle strength, even if muscles don’t get much smaller.

Ozempic helps people lose weight by lowering appetite. But some of that lost weight includes “lean mass”—parts of the body that aren’t fat, like muscle and organs. This has raised concerns that people using Ozempic may lose strength as well.

Researchers at the University of Utah studied mice taking Ozempic. The mice lost about 10% of their lean mass, but most of that came from the liver, not the muscles. Some muscles got a little smaller—about 6%—but many stayed the same size.

Still, even when muscle size didn’t change, strength sometimes dropped. The researchers say this could matter, especially for adults over 60, who are already at risk for losing muscle and strength with age. Weak muscles can make it harder to stay active and increase the risk of falls.

Some muscle loss may be normal during weight loss. When the body carries less weight, it may not need as much muscle. But the drop in strength may be more important than just muscle size.

The researchers say more studies in humans are needed to understand how Ozempic affects strength, not just weight. They also urge future drug trials to test for changes in physical function—not just pounds lost.

The study was published in Cell Metabolism. It is an early clue, not a final answer. More research is needed.

Source: healthcare.utah.edu

HEALTH

Scientists Have Now Discovered How Alcohol Can Switch Off an Immune "Alarm System" in the Gut, Allowing Bad Bacteria to Escape Their Natural Habitat to Flood Into the Liver, Rapidly Causing Inflammation to the Organ, in a Study in Mice, as Seen in Alcohol-associated Liver Disease (ALD)

A new study in mice shows how alcohol can weaken the gut’s defense system and allow harmful bacteria to reach the liver. This may explain how alcohol leads to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), a serious condition that kills around 28,000 people in the U.S. each year.

The gut normally has a “watchdog” system that helps control bacteria. Special cells use a sensor called mAChR4 to build small checkpoints. These checkpoints let the immune system check on bacteria without letting them escape.

But alcohol turns this sensor off. Without it, the checkpoints break down, and bad bacteria can slip through the gut wall and get into the liver. Once there, they cause swelling, fat buildup, and damage—key signs of ALD.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego found a way to turn this sensor back on. In mice, they used a treatment that activated another pathway (called IL-6). This helped rebuild the checkpoints, kept bacteria in the gut, and protected the liver. It also allowed the liver to start healing.

These results are early and come from animal tests. More studies in people are needed. Still, this research may lead to new treatments for ALD in the future. Right now, the main way to stop ALD is to stop drinking alcohol.

This study also shows how problems in the gut can lead to disease in other parts of the body.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.

Source: newatlas.com

Smartphone Scrolling on Toilet Linked to Higher Hemorrhoid Risk, Raising Risk of Hemorrhoids by Nearly 50%, From Extra Minutes Spent Sitting. 66% Reported Using Phone on Toilet. 37% Stayed on Toilet for More Than 5 Minutes. Most Common Reasons Were to Read News (54%) and Use Social Media (44%)

Many people use their phones while sitting on the toilet—but this habit could cause health problems. A new study found that using your phone in the bathroom may raise your risk of hemorrhoids by nearly 50%.

Researchers studied 125 adults over age 45. About two-thirds said they used their phones on the toilet. Most spent more than five minutes sitting, reading news or using social media. In comparison, only 7% of non-phone users sat that long.

Doctors say sitting too long puts extra pressure on veins in the lower part of your body. This can cause hemorrhoids—swollen veins that may itch, bleed, or feel like a bump.

The study found that phone users had a much higher risk of hemorrhoids, even after factoring in things like age, diet, and exercise. The extra sitting time—not just straining—seems to be the main problem.

Experts say it’s easy to lose track of time when scrolling. Popular apps are designed to keep you hooked. But sitting too long on the toilet, day after day, can make hemorrhoids more likely.

Doctors recommend keeping toilet time to under five minutes. If it’s taking longer, ask yourself: are you having trouble going, or just distracted by your phone?

This study doesn’t prove phones cause hemorrhoids, but it’s a clear warning. For better bathroom health, leave your phone outside.

Small changes—like less screen time in the bathroom—can make a big difference for your comfort and health.

Source: newatlas.com

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.